They are so pretty. I want to get my yard landscaped for native plants. Finally, the city is on board here in Austin too and offering some rebates to encourage water conservation. That should have happened over a decade ago, but people move to an area and then want to change it and bring what they left with them.
We do tend to want to landscape with plants we regard as familiar, even if they really don't love the places we bring them. The thing we forget (in addition to water conservation and less need for chemical enhancements like fertilizers) is that plants are the backbone of community, and if they aren't at home in the places we plant them, they can't form community. Without the webs of relationships they depend on, they're less healthy and so are our landscapes. I wish for you a lovely landscape featuring Austin-area natives! And I have one suggestion: start small, with an area you spend time in, so you can enjoy the natives.
When I was fairly young in Yuma County, Arizona, I happened on a hill that was then home to a group of fishhook cacti (Mammillaria grahamii.) They were in bloom and I Was enchanted with their small magenta flowers that ringed the top of each cactus. It was a sight that i never have forgotten.
The best I can do here in the manicured midwest is appreciate the columbines, which pop up everywhere. Some people in these parts call them weeds. I say they’re the most rambunctious and glorious weeds I’ve ever seen. They are gorgeous when they bloom. I always correct my neighbors with, You mean wildflowers!
I love columbines too, and I am glad you have some there to brighten your neighborhood, even if they are misunderstood by some folks. BTW, the gardener's definition of "weed" is generally a plant growing where we don't want it. My definition of weed is very different: a plant that doesn't play well with others, and harms the community. One definition is human-centric, the other is relationship-centric.
Happy you are enjoying my former property..There are many wild flowers that grow thru it.Wild asters and the beautiful cactus that I hoped survived as they were looking like they were dying after many yrs..I tried to keep most of the property a bit wild and planted native bushes and plants..Hope you get to enjoy the Rosemary plant when it blooms..Dianne
I love this place! The rosemary bush is already blooming and has been for a week or so (it's been unusually warm and dry for weeks). The wildflowers are sparse this year because of the drought, but the claret cup cactus under the juniper below the driveway have lots of buds on them, and the cholla have some buds. We're still in severe drought, but we just got some good rain today--finally--so that should help a bit. I hope you are settled in your apartment there. Blessings!
Hi Susan - I so enjoyed this post with so many details. I felt that your prose read like poetry with the wonderful names of plants and pollinators filling the mouth. In an entirely different environment here in the US Northwest (New York), we have had so much rain in April and May that the evergreen and deciduous trees are hanging heavy and lush, the environment is darker with the thick foliage. Your arid landscape with resilient native plants and the cacophony of birds that I hear every day here give me hope for the planet..
Marlena, Thank you for the lovely compliment! As you can tell, I love this place even deep in drought. I'm glad that your forests are getting a good dose of moisture, and I hope the birds are finding plenty of insects to feed their young. Life is more resilient than we realize, as long as the relationships that weave the great web continue. Many blessings to you!
Thanks, Cherie, and congrats on making it through the Native Plant Master program in Colorado--it's a good one, and a great start. And yes, there is always more to learn, but that keeps life interesting, right?
This is wonderful, Susan. Resilience, community, and "cooperation between vastly diverging lives." Such beautiful examples in these tenacious wild flowers. I so nice to hear your voice:).
Thanks, Emily! It seems to me that we have a lot to learn from the various lives with whom we share this planet. Especially those who are not at all like us. :)
Thank you for Weekly Wildflower! I learned so much, like that daisies are a composite flower. I had thought a daisy blossom was one entity. How interesting! Flowers are a wonder. Both the Banana Yucca and Perky Sue are beautiful, and it is fun to learn more about them.
Thanks for reading/watching this newsletter, Jenny. Plants are so amazing, and every time I learn a bit more about them, I find myself even more fascinated by their forms and communication and lives. Blessings!
Humans tend to be plant-blind, and it's always a joy to share plant-neighbors with those who appreciate them, Helene. The wild ones are so full of wisdom. Blessings!
He's right about that, and plant-blindness is an actual thing that has been studied. If we are aware of nature, we are biased toward lives that move, not lives rooted in place. So even if we are aware of nature, we tend to ignore or devalue plants as so much green backdrop, but not as thinking, behaving lives. I'm writing a talk about plants' "fantastical" lives right now for a series in Boulder next week so I have quite a few plant-stories in my head, but I won't prose on! You might like a new book just out that summarizes all of the recent research on plants' agency. It's called The Light Eaters and is by Zoe Schlanger.
I'm sorry that you missed your weekly dose of wildflowers, and glad to bring some into your day even if only virtually! Send your rain our way. We're back in severe drought again. Sigh....
They are so pretty. I want to get my yard landscaped for native plants. Finally, the city is on board here in Austin too and offering some rebates to encourage water conservation. That should have happened over a decade ago, but people move to an area and then want to change it and bring what they left with them.
We do tend to want to landscape with plants we regard as familiar, even if they really don't love the places we bring them. The thing we forget (in addition to water conservation and less need for chemical enhancements like fertilizers) is that plants are the backbone of community, and if they aren't at home in the places we plant them, they can't form community. Without the webs of relationships they depend on, they're less healthy and so are our landscapes. I wish for you a lovely landscape featuring Austin-area natives! And I have one suggestion: start small, with an area you spend time in, so you can enjoy the natives.
This spring was glorious for wildflowers here in Tucson. They are such plucky little critters.
And they support so many other lives, plus they bring us joy. I'm so glad your spring was generous there!
When I was fairly young in Yuma County, Arizona, I happened on a hill that was then home to a group of fishhook cacti (Mammillaria grahamii.) They were in bloom and I Was enchanted with their small magenta flowers that ringed the top of each cactus. It was a sight that i never have forgotten.
That's a lovely memory, David. What a gift to carry with you through life!
What fun facts on two varieties new to me! Thanks Susan!
You are welcome, Sue! Many blessings to you.
The best I can do here in the manicured midwest is appreciate the columbines, which pop up everywhere. Some people in these parts call them weeds. I say they’re the most rambunctious and glorious weeds I’ve ever seen. They are gorgeous when they bloom. I always correct my neighbors with, You mean wildflowers!
I love columbines too, and I am glad you have some there to brighten your neighborhood, even if they are misunderstood by some folks. BTW, the gardener's definition of "weed" is generally a plant growing where we don't want it. My definition of weed is very different: a plant that doesn't play well with others, and harms the community. One definition is human-centric, the other is relationship-centric.
I like that distinction!
Happy you are enjoying my former property..There are many wild flowers that grow thru it.Wild asters and the beautiful cactus that I hoped survived as they were looking like they were dying after many yrs..I tried to keep most of the property a bit wild and planted native bushes and plants..Hope you get to enjoy the Rosemary plant when it blooms..Dianne
I love this place! The rosemary bush is already blooming and has been for a week or so (it's been unusually warm and dry for weeks). The wildflowers are sparse this year because of the drought, but the claret cup cactus under the juniper below the driveway have lots of buds on them, and the cholla have some buds. We're still in severe drought, but we just got some good rain today--finally--so that should help a bit. I hope you are settled in your apartment there. Blessings!
Hi Susan - I so enjoyed this post with so many details. I felt that your prose read like poetry with the wonderful names of plants and pollinators filling the mouth. In an entirely different environment here in the US Northwest (New York), we have had so much rain in April and May that the evergreen and deciduous trees are hanging heavy and lush, the environment is darker with the thick foliage. Your arid landscape with resilient native plants and the cacophony of birds that I hear every day here give me hope for the planet..
Marlena, Thank you for the lovely compliment! As you can tell, I love this place even deep in drought. I'm glad that your forests are getting a good dose of moisture, and I hope the birds are finding plenty of insects to feed their young. Life is more resilient than we realize, as long as the relationships that weave the great web continue. Many blessings to you!
Wonderful, informative, interesting presentation. Love learning about these desert plants! Thank you!
Thanks for reading, Wendy!
Love these lessons on native plants! Thank you!
I’m about to complete the CO NPM certification next week but there is sooo much more to learn!
Your posts are awesome 👩🌾🐝🐛
Thanks, Cherie, and congrats on making it through the Native Plant Master program in Colorado--it's a good one, and a great start. And yes, there is always more to learn, but that keeps life interesting, right?
This is wonderful, Susan. Resilience, community, and "cooperation between vastly diverging lives." Such beautiful examples in these tenacious wild flowers. I so nice to hear your voice:).
Thanks, Emily! It seems to me that we have a lot to learn from the various lives with whom we share this planet. Especially those who are not at all like us. :)
Absolutely, especially those.
I love this! Thanks for teaching us about your plant friends.
Thanks for reading, Karen! I always appreciate and enjoy your posts.
Likewise! Sometimes I read them late and on my iPad which is hard to comment from, but I enjoy reading every one of them!
Thank you for Weekly Wildflower! I learned so much, like that daisies are a composite flower. I had thought a daisy blossom was one entity. How interesting! Flowers are a wonder. Both the Banana Yucca and Perky Sue are beautiful, and it is fun to learn more about them.
Thanks for reading/watching this newsletter, Jenny. Plants are so amazing, and every time I learn a bit more about them, I find myself even more fascinated by their forms and communication and lives. Blessings!
Plants are my friends too. My companions. My Teachers. Thank you for sharing yours with me. We share neighbors.
Humans tend to be plant-blind, and it's always a joy to share plant-neighbors with those who appreciate them, Helene. The wild ones are so full of wisdom. Blessings!
Interesting wording: humans being plant blind. I"ll contemplate that. Dave says humans tend to be Nature blind.
He's right about that, and plant-blindness is an actual thing that has been studied. If we are aware of nature, we are biased toward lives that move, not lives rooted in place. So even if we are aware of nature, we tend to ignore or devalue plants as so much green backdrop, but not as thinking, behaving lives. I'm writing a talk about plants' "fantastical" lives right now for a series in Boulder next week so I have quite a few plant-stories in my head, but I won't prose on! You might like a new book just out that summarizes all of the recent research on plants' agency. It's called The Light Eaters and is by Zoe Schlanger.
Loved learning about Perky Sue. Been busy lately and missed my weekly dose of wildflowers. Thanks for brightening my rainy day.
I'm sorry that you missed your weekly dose of wildflowers, and glad to bring some into your day even if only virtually! Send your rain our way. We're back in severe drought again. Sigh....
high winds last night and some are still cleaning up this morning and we could still use more rain here
High winds are no fun. I hope we both get rain. I can't say "more" for us since more than none isn't much!