Vernon has checked the garden most weeks during December and January, but this is the first time I've been out here since mid-November.
The seeds have all disappeared–either eaten or blown away– and the old stalks and stems stick up from the ground and look pretty miserable. But, between the drab stalks and the cold dirt, green masses of leaves are beginning to spread out. The new Chimney Swift house rises up tall and substantial in the field and the Purple Martin House looks ready for spring residents. The Welcome sign will soon be out for native pollinators.
Depending on the weather–as always–the garden work will increase from here on out. Vernon is anxious to plant more Blackland Prairie plants, I'm anxious to finish the fence, we are both anxious to get the expansion to the garden laid out and ready to plant, and then–as always–we want to get a head start on the weeds.
And the bees will start arriving within the next few weeks. For a few weeks in January and February, it is hard to find a native bee in the garden. With the first spring blooms, however, I'll be on native-bee patrol. If you are a bee-watcher in the Austin area, let me know if you are interested in coming out on a ACLPG workday. Workdays will be posted here.
I like how you can post current photos here. I am looking forward to seeing how the bees and plants change over the year. Most of my native bee plants made it through the freeze. My non-native bulbine took a hit, however.
Posted by: Kevin | 01/27/2010 at 10:09 AM