“Oh My Gourd, that Gourd is Gourdeous”

ESPatch Jun 20, 2015 3 comments

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

The first tiny gourds were met with excitement,

when we checked in on them the other day…

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

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.

I think you know where I am going with this.

Moving quickly along…

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

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.

Some things never change even though his dimensions do.

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.

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.

Seems like yesteryear.

My sago palms have also responded to the moisture influx,

with lots of new growth,

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

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

This high-rise came with some permanent residents.

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

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

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

These are about as interesting as lichen :-)

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

see_no_evil

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

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

The adults attacked this plant earlier this year.

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

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.

“Beans, Boots & Mullein”

ESPatch Sep 28, 2014 6 comments

I usually go through work boots as fast as cowboys-of-old would have gone through beans and mullein.

No idea where that analogy came from.

http://www.eastsidepatch.com/2013/05/brains/

Most disintegrate within a year but these Timberlands just keep on going like stinky protective slippers.

This is year three and I must say, apart from some disapproving downward glances from the flamboyant mustache brigade in my local Quickie Pickie they are holding up ‘relatively’ well.

With the leather long-worn from the toe (exposing bone), the boots pair remarkably well with a disheveled iced turban on a hot work day.

I refer to them as having ‘character’…you know…soul

(oh dear).

Smoking-Gun But the best thing about these old boots is the fine particles of decomposed granite that now waft out of the prow when feet are inserted.

‘Smokin’ hot boots’!

Staying with bowls and beans for a moment:

The recent rains have grown a dense mat of these “birds nest fungi”,

Cyathus striatus

The nest acts as a splash cup…when raindrops hit the nest, the eggs are splashed out at a distance. If they land on a suitable medium they will grow into new fruiting bodies. These fungi usually grow on wood and mulch and are common in the fall months, (very hard to spot though).

I did notice some subtle differences in the eggs.

Okay, perhaps the reptile guarding this gold was a little more…

Moving humbly Along:

Pyracantha berries are ripening up for Halloween.

“Yes but let me see you get a candle in there.”

Here is a silvery pairing that works really well:

Whales tongue agave and thunder cloud sage,

Leucophyllum candidum

Inland sea oats are now wearing their fall coats.

These decorated plants transform so much throughout the year you can guess the month by looking at them.

panning back a little:

Mexican firebush,

Hamelia patens

also starts to bloom this time of the year. This plant dies to the ground in the winter but quickly gets to 5ft by fall.

Whatever you do do not fall asleep…

…on my garden bench.

This evergreen wisteria would envelop you overnight…there is a reason we no longer sit on this garden feature.

Finally:

Some great Japanese Aralia on Trinity.

First blooms from duranta ‘sapphire showers’ (Picotee Sky Flower)

Bambusa multiplex ‘Fernleaf’ (one of my favorite Clumpers along with alphonse karr).

Stay Tuned For:

“Under the Knife”

All material © 2014 for eastsidepatch. Unauthorized
intergalactic reproduction strictly prohibited, and
punishable by late (and extremely unpleasant)
14th century planet Earth techniques.