Skyward
Bill of Prairie Point pointed out that the sphinx moth in my previous post looks like a prop plane. Speaking of propellers, this military helicopter (a Chinook?) just buzzed our house while I was in the garden this morning. A National Guard camp is located less than a mile away from our house, just over the highway that the pilots must use for a visual aid, because they always fly right over our back yard and down the street (which parallels the highway). It’s kind of exciting to see these choppers—they’re absolutely massive, and the chop-chop of the rotors fills the air long before they can be spotted flying low over the trees. But they also give me the willies. I assume the pilots are flying them on training exercises—right over our neighborhood. If one of these came down on a house, there wouldn’t be much left.
In the garden, the vitex is in full bloom. Here’s the view from the street.
And some close-ups . . .
This purple coneflower seems to dance in the breeze.
Bulbine mingles with Parry’s agave.
The butterfly vine is beginning to bloom. This is the vine that has seed pods shaped like brown butterflies in the fall.
Oh my goodness, what a fabulous gorgeous garden you have made. I will be coming here for inspiration while trying to learn the basics for my new place in South Austin, which has a huge and totally neglected yard. I have never gardened before, but there is a first time for everything.
Thanks, Alice. Welcome to Austin. Another great place to learn the basics is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in SW Austin. When I was a gardening newbie I often went there with notebook, pencil, and camera in hand to record what I liked. The Wildflower Center grows only plants native to Texas (and mostly native to central Texas), so you know the plants stand an excellent chance of surviving our blistering summers and periods of drought. Plus, if you’re new to Austin, its gardens introduce you to the rugged and sometimes prickly beauty of our native plants. I grow plenty of non-natives too now, but it’s nice to have a bunch of natives. They make your garden look like it belongs here. Happy digging!
You have a beautiful garden. I love vitex. Up here in North Texas they are just beginning to bloom.
I think pilots of helicopters and small planes tend to use major roads as navigation aids. At least the ones I have flown with did that.
What an incredible view of your front porch! Your yard is absolutely beautiful!
Thanks, Cindy.