Pokeweed

container

We threw a few gourd seeds into this container a few months back and with all the rain they went ballistic.

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The first tiny gourds were met with excitement,

when we checked in on them the other day…

vine

…the conversation immediately went to “so what are we going to make with them?”

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I did notice that some of the smaller gourds have been cut from the vine this past week and I fear they are not for the creation of tiny tribal drums, decoration, or drinking vessels.

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I think you know where I am going with this.

Moving quickly along…

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Rain on top of rain on top of rain on top of Lamar Blvd.

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It is a good thing these steps had a hand rail.

Pathways have turned into rivers many times over the past few weeks and I cannot recount ever emptying out the rain gauge so many times.

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Some things never change even though his dimensions do.

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This enormous sun flower had it’s stalk flattened and split by the rain and wind.

It continued to grow and curled around an old cedar stump before shooting up two feet to deliver this impressive flower.

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Phytolacca americana

This pokeweed volunteer,

Phytolacca americana

 

has got very large at the base of my post oak.

I will let the berries mature for the birds.

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Seems like yesteryear.

My sago palms have also responded to the moisture influx,

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with lots of new growth,

fronds

and another one of these to put under my trench coat:

http://www.eastsidepatch.com/2013/07/trouble-with-the-old-strobilus/

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This high-rise came with some permanent residents.

largus nymphs

I guess these two Largus nymphs have not found my ‘Macho Mocha’ mangave yet.

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I found this odd looking purple martian-mold earlier this year on an old post oak branch,

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and now this striking tan growth, complete with velveteen texture.

These are about as interesting as lichen :-)

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“He’s wittering on about mold and lichen again dear!”

 see_no_evil

See no weevil, hear no weevil, speak no weevil!

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Okay, not so much a weevil as a whole bunch of bordered plant bugs (this time largus nymphs).

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The adults attacked this plant earlier this year.

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What is it with Largus bugs and ‘Macho Mocha’ mangaves?

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Stay Tuned For:

“Carry On Camping”

 

All material © 2015 for eastsidepatch. Unauthorized
intergalactic reproduction strictly prohibited, and
punishable by late (and extremely unpleasant)
14th century planet Earth techniques.

Here is my entry to this months Gardening Gone Wild’s Picture This Photo Contest : http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=19018.

This month’s theme is portraits.

I caught this strange explorer lurking under this pokeweed plant with its ripening berries. Indians used the juice from these very attractive berries for staining feathers, arrow shafts, and garments, but do not eat them (or any part of this plant), as the result would be violent and most uncomfortable.

 

Stay Tuned for:

“Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart”

 

All material © 2011 for eastsidepatch. Unauthorized
intergalactic reproduction strictly prohibited, and
punishable by late (and extremely unpleasant)
14th century planet Earth techniques.

 

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