Hey guys..
this is growing down my dirt road near the driveway.. I’m fairly certain that it’s milkweed, maybe Green Milkweed? Also, anyone have success by planting their seeds?

My flame acanthus is very poorly maintained but at least it’s getting some love

Leon County, Texas in May

Was fishing yesterday and found some honey mesquite seed pods. Going to “kill” my front lawn over the next year or two.

Anyone have experience with planting mesquite in your yard? Pros / cons? Things to be aware of?

Thank you!!!

I have a project in working on and want the detailed ecological site description. The ecosystem dynamics interpretive tool (EDIT) has been down for over week for maintenance. I can't find any updates on the expected return.

USDA Zone 8a
EPA Ecoregion Level IV: Rolling Plains Cistern / Limestone Plains

Does anyone have experience growing Purple Passionflower? I think the blooms are so unique!

ETA: EPA Info

Just got garden bed edging done and had this awkward area next to my back patio closed off to make a bed. I initially wanted to do a rock garden but it's too shady for the xeriscape plants I had in mind. It gets about 2hrs of sun max so I think ponyfoot is out. I'm trying to get better at design/plant placement but would welcome thoughts. I'd prefer lower/short perennials and if flowering to be in either white, blue/purple, or orange to keep in theme with the rest of the garden. Thinking maybe wild petunia, lyreleaf sage, and sedges? Maybe more big rocks for interest? And maybe a foot of rocks against the house as I've read it's best to avoid vegetation against the foundation.

edit: Thank you for all your input! I'll have to go to the nursery before it rains this week and see what plugs I can pick up. And maybe find another large rock or 2 on fb marketplace

Some flowers from the remnant prairie. It was bone dry last time I was here. Nice to see the colors again.

1: salvia azurea

2: Indiangrass

3: Some showy goldenrod

4: American germander

5: Narrow leaf 4 o'clock seed pod

6: Liatris punctata

7: Sneezeweed

8: tall boneset

9: some purple aster

10: Maximilian sunflower

11: some white aster lol

12: not so happy paper wasps

13&14: their plant list

So many orange butterflies on Greggs Mistflower!

Photo 1- Monarch
Photo 2- Queen
Photo 3- Gulf Fritillary

Working on art project to draw all 50 states through their native/official floral theme and here is Texas state 💛

Hope you like it,

🌸 Flowers I picked for this art: Texas bluebonnet, Indian blanket, Indian paintbrush, Pink evening primrose, winecup flower (Callirhoe involucrata), and White prickly poppy 🌸

Hello from South Texas! 🌵
I’m a lifelong Texan and cactus enthusiast with a special passion for Astrophytum and unusual collector varieties.
One species especially meaningful to me is Astrophytum asterias, commonly known as the Texas Star Cactus, which is native to South Texas and northeastern Mexico.
Pictured is a cultivated Superkabuto variety from my collection. Although its distinctive markings differ from those typically seen in the wild, it’s a beautiful reminder of the diversity within this remarkable species.
Looking forward to connecting with fellow Texans who appreciate our native cactus and the importance of preserving them in their natural habitats!

Leon County Texas in May

It is enjoyable to watch so many monarch butterflies frolicking around Greg's mist flower for nectar. I planted them in 7 to 10 places in my yard. Hopefully, we'll have even more butterflies next year.

Loving all the butterflies and bees that come to my pollinator garden, but the Monarchs are extra special!

Leon County, Texas

Edit: Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! I've ramped the number of plants and they're going in today!

I'm overthinking and trying to do the best I can this fall as a newcomer to native plants (and a bit of a new transplant to Texas too). Am I being too ambitious with spacing for this redo of my front bed? I'm in 9a just outside Houston in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes ecoregion. I do have decompressed shale to amend the soil for the blackfoot daisy and autumn sage but I don't know if I'll be able to establish the daisy. I'm excited to make my front bed a happier place for pollinators while still keeping my HOA off my back!

There’s a ton of these little green sprouts coming up all over my bed with my Bluebonnets. I know the first stage of the lifecycle of Bluebonnets is growing and storing nutrients underground in their roots which is why I hate for them to get taken advantage of by weeds at such a small size. There used to be Tropical Milkweed there but it was never that big or produced that many seeds. iNaturalist just said it was a Dicot, well no duh 🤦.

If anyone knows what these are I would really appreciate input. I’m outside of Houston.

Let's chat about what's going on with you and Texas native plants this week!

How's your native garden doing? Any new plants, plans, or progress? Things that are looking particularly good this week? Questions you're worried are too silly for a top level post?

Did you see some neat plants this week? How about visiting birds, bugs, or other beasts?

I just love the blooms on this sage. In a couple of years, it should be huge.

Hey fellow plant folks! How are y'all watering your beds until your natives are established? I'm loathe to use a sprinkler, not impressed with soaker hoses, and tired of hand-watering, especially since I have doubled my native area this fall. I really, really don't want to spend a lot on drip irrigation, but I don't know of a better way. Help!