I was adjusting the blinds at one of my front windows, when I stopped to appreciate, then photograph, this late afternoon, late winter scene.
The ceramic container holding the American century plant, Agave americana, is hugged by a cushion of poppy greenery. I should have thinned the seedlings long ago, but their verdant green beguiles, enchants the gardener, and therefore remain. As the weeks pass and the days lengthen and warm, the poppy stalks will grow to at least 18 inches in height, eventually topped by scarlet blooms, with plenty of pollinators in attendance.
Just behind, Big muhly grass, Muhlenbergia lindheimeri, acts as a halo, fanning out gracefully, late day sunshine highlighting leaf and panicle which are toasty at the upper ends, spring green near the bottom. That green indicates the time to prune in nigh; I’ll trim all of my grasses in the next week–the last of my winter pruning–in preparation for new growth, a new season. Of course in nature, these grasses aren’t pruned by anyone, they simply continue: brown-to-tan leaf structure sloughing off, its work done, making way for the new, the green–a process practiced and followed, year in and year out.
An evergreen Barbados cherry, Malpighia glabra, barely visible behind the muhly, echos fresh green growth, its dense cluster of foliage perfect for wildlife cover. Garnishing the scene and in the far distance, a neighbor’s Live oak tree, foliage intact, towers over all.
For more garden scenes, vignettes, thoughts, see Anna’s Flutter and Hum and her Wednesday Vignettes.
My Gardener Says... 
That grass is gorgeous! I was just out there yesterday, lopping off a few grasses, and wondering how I should treat my ferns. Obviously whatever is brown will be snipped off, but I’m tempted to take off ALL the old fronds to make room for all the freshies. I want to see all the new fronds unfurl.
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Isn’t it? I love it so much. I used to have in my back garden, but it’s now too shady. Fortunately, I’ve got plenty of sun in the front and now, plenty of muhlies!
Like you, I enjoy observing the unfurling…:)
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I’ll planning a complete backyard redo for a friend and may try a Barbados cherry now that winters are milder. Something good to come of the climate changing while we hope the worst doesn’t come too terribly soon.
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B. cherry is a great shrub, though it’ll start off slow. Currently, in my longest established cluster, there’s a pair of mockingbirds defending their shrubbery! Lots of singing going on.
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Nice!
Have you done a walk about yet? Looks like it got colder than forecast. I’m worried my “Wait till after the freeze” was a bad plan for my broccoli… 🤞🏼
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Yes, it’s def 32 here–the bird baths are all icy, though I don’t think thick. I think things are ok. My only concern was for the open iris flowers. The one that has been open for two days, is wilted, but it would be no matter what. I think the buds are fine, time will tell.
You’re north of me, I’ll bet you got colder. Hope everything is fine. I was thinking about when I actively veggie gardens–when my little ones were little ones–and March was just too chilly, too wet to start the garden. My, things have changed.
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Luckily, you captured that scene before the sun moved.
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Actually, the light was even better a little bit later, but I had the shot and had moved on to other responsibilities. Still, I enjoy that view on days with full sun. Next week, the grass will be pruned down.
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There’s been a lot of burning on the prairies here — larger sections than I’ve ever seen now blacked and ready for regrowth. I found a good portion of Brazoria burned last weekend, and I heard today that they’d been burning over at Anahuac. I certainly hope they didn’t burn today! It was way too windy for that — but they may have sections that run down to the water, and that would make a difference.
I’m not sure I know the big muhly grass. I’ll have to look it up and see if it’s around here. It may well be, and I’ve either not paid attention or confused it with something else. You certainly have a beautiful stand of it.
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Those who plan the controlled burns are usually pretty good about choosing the proper times/conditions, but yes, burning with the kinds gusts that were around today wouldn’t be so great.
I haven’t looked to see if it’s in your part of Texas, it may be more of an Edwards Plateau thing. I just love it and am so glad to have a few places for the native grasses.
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It amazes me that agaves are as popular as they are in other regions. They are no fun to work with, and not many gardens can accommodate them. They should be more popular than they are here, in our chaparral climate.
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Yeah, I’m with you. I do like cacti/succulents in pots. Their color/form/texture add a lot to the garden, but otherwise, I’m not really a fan. I’m also surprised that agave and the like aren’t more popular in your area. They’re stupidly popular here. 🙂
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Most people here are from somewhere else, and want to grow what is familiar. Even as a Californian, I happen to like species from the East because it is what is familiar to me right here.
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Most people in Austin are from somewhere else too. Yeah.
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In Austin I’ve noticed Lindheimer’s muhly being increasingly planted around commercial and public buildings.
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Yup, a very popular landscape plant. What’s not to love? Beautiful and tough!
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Cool. The muhly grass makes me think of a throne for the Agave.
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I totally see that, Jason!
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