Too Hot, Too Cool

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Tina

Truthfully, I haven’t had the courage to follow too closely, but here in Austin, we’re at about 30 days of over 100º F for this summer, with most of those days occurring in August. I’m ready to pull the plug on the August oven, but I’m having trouble finding the cord.

The garden is holding up well, even with afternoon heat which delivers a tired, wilted look–for both garden and gardener. August in Texas is always hot, but thankfully it also ushers in the cool purpling of the American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana.

The diminutive pink beautyberry blooms of June are long gone and the replacement purple fruits will remain until birds eat or cold withers–which ever happens first.

Autumn is coming–eventually. The cool of the purple must suffice and for now, that’s enough.

Joining today with Anna and her Wednesday Vignette. Check out her beautiful Flutter and Hum for musings of various sorts.

If Wishes Were Fishes

Posted on July 24, 2019 by Tina

In this particular instance, I think Astrud’s wish is for an Green Anole lizard, Anolis carolinensis, rather than fishes, but I’m confident she’d accept fishes, if available.

Taken through a window with questionable clarity and a screen which wants cleaning, this photo didn’t prevent Astrud from wishing she was out and the lizard’s appreciation that she wasn’t. I watched these two as they eyed one another through the protection of and limit by glass and screen, grateful that Astrud was in the house and the lizard safe in his environment.

I guess we all want fishes of one sort or another: gardens which weed and mulch themselves, windows and screens which never dirty, cats who don’t catch wildlife–the list is endless. Still, there’s value in wishing, and then working, toward a goal. I would prefer the eating of lizards remain off the list, but in these fraught times, maintaining hopes and wishes–augmented by action–is vital.

Just leave the lizards alone.

I’m pleased to join again with Anna and her Wednesday Vignette. Check out Flutter and Hum for musings of various sorts.

In the Pink

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Tina

After a sweaty morning of gardening–tweaking in one area, planting in another, I was wrapping up the work by stowing shears and shovels. As I bumbled down the pathway, a single deep pink spot on one petal of a Rock rose, Pavonia lasiopetala, caught my eye. It was no heat related mirage that I spied, but a resting Pink moth, Pyrausta inornatalis.

The pink winged thing wasn’t nectaring, flying, or laying eggs. It perched–very still and very pink–on the topside of the petal, its deeper hue augmenting the floral pad on which it rested. As I maneuvered for a photo, the moth attempted concealment. I found it on the flip side of the petal, readjusted my position, took one quick shot, and left it to its day.

I spent the morning focusing on a big picture project in one part of the garden, but it was a gentler, quieter scene which made my morning in the garden worthwhile.

I’m pleased to join again with Anna and her Wednesday Vignette. Check out her blog, Flutter and Hum, for musings of various sorts.