Sorry for the confusion on the paintbrush. I think it was just the perspective that fooled you, Audrey.
When we moved to the Hill Country sixteen years ago, I filled the bed of the pickup with plants that I grew in Houston. We unloaded them and put them on the front porch to await planting in our new gardens. The next morning I went out to check on them and scared three white-tail deer away. You guessed it - my plants were nubs. I knew there were deer in the area, but I had no idea they'd come right up to the front door! I've learned a lot since then....and most of those plants I brought with me wouldn't have survived here anyway. The term "Texas Native" covers too many regions in our big ole state!