Okay...decided to go through my yard pics. Bought this house mid-year 2002...it had a huge pencil cactus that hung over the front walkway that rubbed against the eaves and dropped that white sappy gook all over. That stuff would irritate my skin and ruin my clothes - UGH! I had it removed...along with the other cactus, yuccas and whatnot like two 30+ feet washingtonian palms and a china berry.
You can still see that horrible pencil cactus in this photo. I couldn't convince the guy that dug out the palms to remove it. Guess he knew better than touch it. I finally talked one of the men that cruise neighborhoods to mow lawns...to remove it. Mind you, he took a chain saw to it! I warned him about the dangers of that sap...but he wouldn't listen. He had that gunk all over his arms, face, hair and clothing. Not to mention gumming up the chain saw. Am sure he was cursing my name right after he left!!!
I planted a hedge of firebush (hamelia patens) a few months before this photo was taken.
~ Cat
Yard Pics...before I knew about butterflies and after...
front walk way last month....this passiflora gets stripped each year by the Gulf Frits - but that's what I planted it for. Just gotta remember not to brush up against it or I'll end up with cats in my hair and on my shirt. Have driven off to work and found I had stowaways. Had to drive back to drop them off!!!
Hmmm...decided I didn't like the sagos and they served no useful purpose to me or the butterflies. I had them removed. Actually had some man drive all the way from Bastrop to come dig out west side one. It was about six feet tall. Huge bugger. I think he had visions of making some big bucks on selling it. I didn't care...I just wanted it out without having to pay someone to remove it. He dug it up for free and hauled it away. The deal was he had to dig out the other one but he weaseled out. Had to get my brother to bring his tractor over to dig it out.
As you can see in this photo...I know have cannas growing at the end of each side of the driveway - they multiply quickly! Am seriously thinking of removing them and planting duranta, lantana or perhaps blue mistflower bushes...but alas, the Brazilian Skippers just love to munch the canna leaves to shreds :o)
This message was edited Apr 11, 2007 2:05 AM
Okay...so I have since changed my mind...I removed the black eyed susan vines, giant snail vine, sweet potato vine and rosebushes. (although they were pretty - they were useless - butterflies sometimes roosted in them but never used them for nectar)
Here's a photo of one of the brugs...this has really taken off.
uhm...the bananas are growing like crazy. The previous owner was a bit of tightwad...never wanted to use the sprinkler system. Anyway, I planted some yellow morning glory vines to grow on the security bars of the dining room window, added a yellow datura, hanging basket of bouganvilla, also bought a magnolia and pomegranate. Looks like a jungle!!!
Ended up giving my brother the magnolia and pomegranate last year...and have since cut down the yellow datura. Have planted a eupatorium odoratum - and a giant sunflower :o)
...oh and had the banana trees removed last month. A costly venture. The young kid I hired hit the sprinkler lines. My fault...I forgot to tell him they ran through there. Cost me @#$%!!! to fix...including what I paid the young man to remove the banana trees and load them in the truck. I took the naner pups and stumps to the ranch and planted them around the pond in the back forty and the pond out by the bunkhouse.
Oh well, was tired of the banana trees. They did put out fruit but they multiplied quickly. I think he dug out at least 50!!! This is the bare corner now. Am holding off planting there - as bananas continue to sprout! Guess he didn't get all the roots out. I think he was traumatized by breaking the sprinkler lines. That area got flooded before I figured out where the cut off valve was :o)
Ground is clay...haven't figure out what to plant there yet. Am thinking perhaps blue porterweed I have in pots :o) or privet I bought on the way home from dinner. Also bought several bags of soil additives...gypsum too...I need to break up that clay based soil!
This message was edited Apr 11, 2007 2:14 AM
An aristolochia elegans in the corner...awaiting the visit of Polydamas butterflies.
Those large leaves against the fence are part of the yellow morning glory vine...it has worked its way along the fence!!! I keep cutting it back...but not fast enough :o)
There is a volunteer milkweed in front...so I put a cage around it. There are also Mexican Bird of Paradise (Pride of Barbados) trees on each side of the arch...I cut them back after the cold snap last month zapped the leaves. They have already sprouted new growth. The Giant Swallowtails really like nectaring on the blossoms...wish it would hurry up and bloom again.
Yeah, I took this pic when I got home - was going to mow the lawn but a friend called to go out for dinner!!! :o) Promise I will mow it tomorrow.
Great pics! Thanks for sharing! I especially love the passionflowers :)
more of the duranta...have gobs of pots around the bottom. I pruned them back last month. You can see how big and overgrown they were by the bare spot of grass around them. :o) Have pots of Strawberry guavas, green violet, rue, figs and mulberries around it for now. Will move them later. Had put them out in the yard when it rained so they could get a good dose of oxygenated rainwater :o)
YIKES!!! After....this was taken this week.
Pots of rue, fennel, maypop passion vine, more rue, the back of a small greenhouse, blue porterweed (yeehaw), scarlet runner bean, celosia, snapdragons, more blue porterweed behind the snapdragons.
Hanging baskets of Japanese Morning Glory Raikou, a couple of hoyas and nasturtiums.
oops...front walkway from this week...passion vine arch, firebush hedge in the foreground...chalice vine and orange trumpet something or other in the front flowerbed...which is now overgrown with ruellia. I planted moonflowers in the hanging basket on my security door...hope they grow well there. So far so good.
Had about a dozen of these jar feeders hanging from the back porch eave. Had to remove them when I had the eaves worked on. Have since hung crystals from the eaves...but will put the feeders back up soon. There are five hummies in this old photo. I no longer use hummie nectar that has red dye in it. Don't want to risk harming them so I make my own using 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.
Cat - Your yard is amazing!!! I LOVE it!! Looks like a lush tropical haven for butterflies and hummers! I love the Yellow Butterfly Vine!!! I have never seen that plant before!! Gorgeous!!!
I like the fact that you aren't afraid to rip plants out if you don't like them or they serve a purpose in your yard. I need to be BRAVE like you!!!! Love the transformation of your yard over the years!!! Really lovely, Cat!!!! Thanks for sharing the photos. It's inspiring!!!
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