I found ATP this afternoon, and have been getting quizzical looks from my husband for the past couple of hours (quote: "I thought you'd be outside all afternoon."). I have been working with varying degrees of intensity, health permitting, on building a diverse wildscape on our half acre near Magnolia, Texas, for the past 10 years. I had had gratifying success with a front yard xeriscape on black gumbo in North Dallas, but have been much more ambitious in the sand here. of course, the biggest drawback - and advantage - of sand is that it drains so well; this prolonged drought is making a mockery of regional native plant lists, and forcing me to water plants that have traditionally been native here. I am tempted to introduce some Edwards Plateau plants, in hopes of their thriving here. I do have some non-native plants, mostly hardy survivors from our predecessors' garden, but also the odd gift that I have been unable to say no to. Like most Texans, I also have a hard time saying no to volunteer Lantanas!
I would love to show you what's blooming right now - Pavonia lasiopetala grown from seeds from my Dallas back garden, Eupatorium coelestinum (time to limit it), Ludwigia octovalvis (ditto), Eupatorium havanense (which appeared a few weeks ago in the area I cleared of grass only last year), Solidago gigantea (8-9' this year), Malaviscus drummondii (bent on taking over a raised bed from the Salvia coccinea), Hamelia patens (which needs more sun), &c, &c, &c. Unfortunately, I am lacking in expertise when it comes to moving photos from one device to another, so that will have to wait.
I have lots of seed collected this year, both from my plants and from the wild, and would be happy to share them with y'all!!.
