Blues ‘n berries
An anole on a glass dragonfly amid the ‘Blue Elf’ aloe
The weather continues to hold its breath. Still, muggy air from the Gulf of Mexico and overcast skies hang heavy over Austin. Meanwhile, explosive storms and tornadoes have been leveling small towns in Kansas, Oklahoma, and west Texas.
Spring is the beginning of tornado season in Texas. Though Austin has been spared as far back as I know about, I still get a shiver thinking about the F5 tornado that touched down 40 miles north of Austin, in Jarrell, Texas, in 1997.
Only scattered thunderstorms are predicted this week, however, and I wouldn’t mind seeing more rain. We’ve had a wet spring so far, but knowing that the hot and dry season is approaching, I’d be happy to see more rain soaking into the garden.
My morning stroll through the garden turned up blues ‘n berries and lots of anoles like the one pictured above.
‘Black and Blue’ sage (Salvia guaranitica ) has returned and looks gorgeous in the shade—a winning combination of electric blue and lime green. Heartleaf skullcap (Scutellaria ovata ), at the bottom of this photo, is a fuzzy silvery green, its lavender spires just beginning to open.
A close-up of the S. guaranitica
A few red berries not already devoured by the birds still cling to the agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata ).
My s. guarantica “Black and Blue” that I rescued from a pot (where I thought the freezes had killed it this winter) and planted right next to the new porch is just about to bloom. I bet I’ll see the first blue tomorrow. It’s certainly happier in the ground. And I planted the passalong heartleaf skullcap that you so kindly gave me right next to it, so — thanks to you — next year I should have a similar winning combination in my garden!
Excellent! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. —Pam
Anoles are beautiful. I had never heard of them, nor seen one.
I was thinking how scary it must be to live in tornado country, then I remembered I live in earthquake country.
Hi, Anna Maria. Yes, anoles are quite pretty when they’re green. They can turn brown, also, like chameleons. I enjoy watching them, and they’re great bug eaters.
And yes, earthquakes are scary too, as there’s no warning system for them and nowhere to hide when one hits. But there’s always something, no matter where one lives, isn’t there? —Pam
Those blue and green photos are just gorgeous. Where did you get the dragonfly ornament?
Oh, I don’t remember, Nicole. I’ve had it for quite a while. I’m glad you liked the photos. —Pam
Your anoles are so cool. Do you live near open space? It’s hard for me to imagine wildlife like this in developed areas.
Well, yes and no. A large cemetery is located at the end of my street, and greenbelts abound in Austin, including nearby Shoal Creek Greenbelt that harbors a few deer and a growing number of coyotes. But my neighborhood, a suburb in the 1950s but now considered in-town, is that mix of urban-suburban: close to town, but still a grid of streets and houses with lawns, all under an extensive urban-forest canopy. The anole is perfectly content to live amid the closely built homes. My garden attracts them, but anyone around here with a porch light will see them, as they show up to hunt insects.
You’d be surprised by how happily wildlife has adapted to the suburbs and even urban areas in Austin. I saw five deer grazing on a neighbor’s lawn last night, just on the other side of the highway from me. Raccoons, skunks, and opposums are commonplace. And now coyotes are moving in. Anoles are welcome. Coyotes, I’m not so sure. —Pam
Thanks for giving me the name – ‘anole’. I’ve got lots in my Florida panhandle urban garden…even one who likes to check out our bills in the mailbox! Now I’ll just have to work out how to pronounce it.
We have coyotes too, though they prefer the military reservation.
Thanks for visiting, Sarah. It’s pronounced ah-nole-ay. Hmm, I wonder what your anole is finding to eat in the mailbox? —Pam
Love the site. Happened upon it while searching for pics of agarita holly. Especially like the photo of the cicada, plan to show it to my kids in the morning. I have you bookmarked and will check back. I’m also gardening in Austin.
Thanks for dropping by, Lisa. Here’s hoping for a break from the triple-digit heat and maybe some rain, right? —Pam