Two dainty vines growing in my back yard are easily overlooked in summer, but now, while other vines are dormant, the potato vine flowers and the butterfly vine seed pods add life to the winter garden.

Potato vine in flower. The flowers droop in clusters on thin stems. This vine is growing in heavy shade on the post of a birdhouse. Keep in mind that all parts of potato vine are poisonous.

Mascagnia macroptera. Butterfly vine seed pods really do look like drab butterflies in the winter garden. Native to Mexico, this vine also produces yellow flowers in spring and summer.

In the front garden, the Whale’s Tongue agave slowly unfurls new spike-tipped, toothy “leaves.” On a rainy day, water pools in the concave leaves.

Whale’s Tongue agave

Nearby, Ice Follies daffodils make their appearance, accompanied by a late-blooming bulbine. The diminutive grape hyacinths bloom at the sidewalk’s edge. If you get way down on your elbows, you can enjoy their fragrance. Needless to say, that only happens when I’m taking a low photograph.

Ice Follies daffodil with bulbine

Grape hyacinth

The white gaura has been resting all winter, but I leave the foliage until spring to enjoy its red winter color. In the next week or so I’ll cut back my perennials in preparation for spring growth.

Winter gaura foliage

Ahh, the prize of spring blooms here in Austin: the Texas mountain laurel. Mine is in bud and just beginning to open. When it’s in full bloom, you can catch a whiff of the heavy, grape Kool-Aide fragrance while just passing by. I really love this ornamental tree. It’s a slow grower but worth the wait, and it performs well in both sun and shade. It’s also very drought tolerant (just be sure to get it established with regular water the first year).

Texas mountain laurel in bud

While my mountain laurel blooms just fine, I’ve noticed some troubling areas on its bark. It looks like something is gnawing on the branches—and it’s definitely not deer. Here are some images of the wounds in the bark. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this and what’s to be done?