Texas Huisache(Acacia farnesiana)

• Abstract: ...See Picture Below! Huisache is pronounced "weesash" derived from the Aztec Natuhl meaning "many thorns". A, drought tolerant, showy, multi trunk tree with small fernlike compound leaves is a member of the legume family related to the mimosa. The branches have, profuse, needle sharp spikes along branches, typically appearing in pairs. Intensly scented flowers arrive in early spring (this image was taken in late February). They are cold hardy as far north as Austin, TX. Extremely drought tolerant, needs very little water. Wonderful cover for many kinds of wildlife. Can grow in rough, rocky terrain.
  

• Natural Habitat: Mexico and south Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau as far north as Austin, Texas. Does not do well north of USDA Zone 8.
  

• Flowers and Fruit: Bright, fragrant, gold yellow flowers appear in early spring. These flowers attract pollinators and insects for the honey production and food. Leaves have a delicate fernlike look. White tailed deer, Javelina and other animals eat the fruit while Quail love the black pod seeds.

• Propagation: Fumigate seeds and store in refridgerator. Use concentrated sulfuric acid -soak for 30 minutes or nick seed with knife for germination. Plant 3/4" to one inch and grow under strong sunlight. This tree/shrub can grow in harsh, open, rocky areas (2001 Jill Nokes)

• Note: click Title for A&M description.
  

Texas Huisache in Urban Setting - Autin, TX

• Flowers and Fruit: Bright, fragrant, gold yellow flowers appear in early spring. These flowers attract pollinators and insects for the honey production and food. Leaves have a delicate fernlike look. White tailed deer, Javelina and other animals eat the fruit while Quail love the black pod seeds.

Mexican Plum Tree (Prunus mexicana)

Mexican Plum Tree - a Texas Native Plum ...its showy flowers signal the end of winter.



When these strong scented flowers bloom they will attract various pollinators like bees and butterflys. Some consider this a small tree or a large shrub. Mexican Plum has a single trunk and is deciduous (leaves turn yellow in winter). It can grow to a height of 25 - 30 feet with a spread of 20 - 25 feet.

The bark is furrowed and peals like a birch tree. It bears fruit approximately one inch in diameter. The fruits are edible and can be used for jellies
and preserves. It doesn't like full sun but is drought tolerant and is known as an understory tree(vegetative layer between the top canopy of the forest and the ground).



The natural habitat for the Mexican Plum is the East Texas Piney Woods through the Edwards Plateau. Note: If you click the title of this post it will take you to a profile of the Mexican Plum at the U.S. Forset Service site. Enjoy!

Texas Pistache (Pistacia Texana)...click this too!!

Abstract:
Tree is Drought Tolerant evergreen, needing little water. Can act as a great privacy(& sound) barrier in tight urban settings. Known as a shrub or small tree with clusters of small fernlike leaves, emanating from slender branches along multiple trunks.

Typical height is 10-20ft tall and 10 foot wide. Texas Pistache is in the Sumac family (ANACARDIACEAE). Highly adaptive as long as it has well drained, alkaline soil and a sunny location.

Natural Habitat: Found in Mexico, central and southern Texas. Occurs abundantly in Texas along Rio Grande canyons, particularly
near the intersection of the Pecos River. It can be grown in Central Texas and I have successfully grown several in Northwest, Austin.

Flowers & Fruit: The tree is Dioecious(two households - greek), meaning male and female trees are required for reproduction. The female tree bears white flowers, followed, in late summer by red to purple berry clusters. Birds and wildlife are attracted to the berries. Game and livestock will browse these berries as well.

Propagation: Can be propogated from seed or hardwood root stock. If seed, best to germinate immediately after harvest in August or September timeframe.

Desert Willow (Chilopsis Linearis)

Desert Willow is a Texas Native, Drought Tolerant, fast growing tree. It blooms in spring, summer and fall. The trumpet shaped blooms vary in color from pink, to rose, lavendar, wine and white. Best planting time for the Desert Willlow is during the window from fall to spring.

This tree requires lots of direct sun, but is cold hardy to five degrees. It can survive most Central Texas winters without severe damage.

An average in dimension is at 10 feet wide and 15ft - 20 ft high.
Desert Willow attacts various pollinators. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees frequent this tree.

Great for ornamental settings where you have limited space requirements or Xeriscape.

Texas Red Yucca(Hesperaloe parvifolia)

Native of the Texas Hill Country

Drought Tolerant yet can withstand cool temperatures.

Low water requirements

Succulent of Agave family

Showy pink flower wands bloom throughout the summer.

Flowering wands can grow up to 8 foot high!!

Pods have abundant seeds, that can be germinated.

Known to attract humming birds

Don Juan Rose - An easy keeper!!

Colour, I warrant you, is as red as any rose, King Henry IV, part II: II, iv...Shakespere


This was the first rose I grew successfully.
Don Juan is a very heat tolerant rose, beautifully fragrant, with profuse blooms. It's deep crimson red is striking in a vase or just left on the bush.

This rose is a climber. You can attach 4x4's to a fence and stretch goat panel or chicken wire across and watch it climb. Looks great against a white picket fence.

My experience is that it blooms much of the year.
The petals are like velvet to the touch.

Georgetown Weather Station at Extension

This link http://texaset.tamu.edu/ will take you to Texas A&M website for weather stations across the state. There is a new weather station in Georgetown at the County Extension on the inner loop. When you arrive at the site select: Georgetown II.

Lots of useful stats like rainfall levels, Solar Radiation, Home and Farm Irrigation, etc.

Enjoy

GW

Vegetable Planting Guide - Travis County, Texas

A&M's take on Frostweed (Click Here for Pic)

Early Tifton-85 Stolens

Sprigging a hay field

If you want to develop land into a high protien, drought tolerant pasture or a production field for hay you can "Sprig" it with Coastal Bermuda Grass or Tifton-85 Grass. Either of these are a good choice to produce Horse Quality Hay. These two grasses were developed in Tifton, Georgia and are both in the Bermuda family. You can only propogate them by sprigging, since they do not produce seed.

Sprigging is the process of taking loose grass roots and tops and replanting them into prepared soil. The root part that goes under ground is called a Rhisome and the top portion is called the Stolen. The Stolens end up being runners that travel and put off new plants as they go.

In March of 2008 I took 48 acres of land and planted both Coastal and Tifton-85 in alternating ten acre tracts. By the grace of God, there was a good rain on the night after I sprigged them.
By now I am beginning to get what is known as a "stand". A "stand" means the grass you planted is actually covering the field. It can take up to several years to get a stand, in some cases. Because we have been in a drought since my plantings, I was surprised I got anything.
This just goes to show how drought tolerent both of these grasses are.

In the beginning you will get alot of weeds, sunflowers and Johnson Grass along with your desired grass. It takes a great deal of patience and alot of hard work to rid the field of these unwanted plants. That can be the subject of another post. I welcome your posts on this topic, since I am not an expert and we can all learn from each other.

May I be the first post?

Sept 1st, 2009...Believe it or not I raked some Johnson Grass and weeds that I had shredded a couple days ago. Can you create square bales if the hay was cut with a shredder instead of a cutter? I will let you know this weekend. My Sickle Bar mower is in the shop, been using that to cut my Coastal and Tifton-85 this year. If the Shredder works I will have to get by with it.

GW