Austin Gardening - Where are the Bluebonnets?

Author

Where are the Bluebonnets?

texas twang

2008-03-25, 8:25 pm

Have a couple blooming in my backyard, but those are the only ones
I've seen so far. In the past, they're usually much easier to spot by
this time.

Bill Hawk

2008-03-26, 3:25 am

On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:06:50 -0500, texas twang wrote:

> Have a couple blooming in my backyard, but those are the only ones I've
> seen so far. In the past, they're usually much easier to spot by this
> time.

Mostly dry winter - it'll be a faint crop this year, I'd think.

Rulf

2008-03-26, 3:25 am

"texas twang" <texas4me@texas.net> wrote in message
news:091ju3t6s90q7dtblct3gpq2t180adso6r@4ax.com...
> Have a couple blooming in my backyard, but those are the only ones
> I've seen so far. In the past, they're usually much easier to spot by
> this time.

they are all over bastrop and down 71 to houston

oldhickory

2008-03-26, 3:25 am

and in our front yard...this is a couple of weeks ago..they're even better
now...if we can just get the "girls" to stand still for their portraits....

http://davidandmollie.com/pictures/plants/bbons

--
ie
ride fast, take chances.

"texas twang" <texas4me@texas.net> wrote in message
news:091ju3t6s90q7dtblct3gpq2t180adso6r@4ax.com...
> Have a couple blooming in my backyard, but those are the only ones
> I've seen so far. In the past, they're usually much easier to spot by
> this time.

Victor Martinez

2008-03-26, 9:26 am

oldhickory wrote:
> and in our front yard...this is a couple of weeks ago..they're even better
> now...if we can just get the "girls" to stand still for their portraits....
>
> http://davidandmollie.com/pictures/plants/bbons

I assume one of the girls was too fast for the camera? Or are they
identical twins?

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov
Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com

texas twang

2008-03-26, 9:26 am

thanks, y'all, for the bluebonnet info. i travel almost exclusively
west of the Interstate... mostly down either 281 through Marble
Falls/Johnson City or Highway 16 through Llano/Fredericksburg. Usually
a good showing down both.

hopefully, they will start showing to the west before long. could a
good spring rain partially overcome the setback of the winter's
drought? tks

On Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:35:34 -0500, "oldhickory" <inboxie@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>and in our front yard...this is a couple of weeks ago..they're even better
>now...if we can just get the "girls" to stand still for their portraits....
>
>http://davidandmollie.com/pictures/plants/bbons

Omelet

2008-03-26, 9:26 am

In article <091ju3t6s90q7dtblct3gpq2t180adso6r@4ax.com>,
texas twang <texas4me@texas.net> wrote:

> Have a couple blooming in my backyard, but those are the only ones
> I've seen so far. In the past, they're usually much easier to spot by
> this time.

The radio announced too dry of a winter for them.
--
--

Peace! Om

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. They have never
forgotten this." - Heinlein

Omelet

2008-03-26, 9:26 am

In article <47e9d29e$0$6163$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
"oldhickory" <inboxie@yahoo.com> wrote:

> and in our front yard...this is a couple of weeks ago..they're even better
> now...if we can just get the "girls" to stand still for their portraits....
>
> http://davidandmollie.com/pictures/plants/bbons

Nice blooms, but that lawn needs water. <g>

'course sprinklers might spook the "girls"...
--
--

Peace! Om

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. They have never
forgotten this." - Heinlein

oldhickory

2008-03-27, 3:25 am

The "girls" are not even sisters, really....
http://davidandmollie.com/thegirls/ though sometimes they fight like it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_DjXrwd7g

I haven't tried to get the other two out yet--all three are rescues and the
other two get a little "twitchy" in the front yard, near traffic. We run the
sprinkler very early in the morning--they get spooked but only from inside.
They just watch through the windows....as they do most waking hours when
they're not outside--watching the bird feeder or the hummer feeders (see pic
in previous thread about hummers). They used to wake us up in the night when
bunnies or the local fox would happen by the window but the wildlife is
moving further away now, so....

Thanks for the concern over the lawn--the yard had just been "scalped" by
our local landscaping guy. He cuts it short in early spring to stimulate
fresh new growth. Who am I to argue? He did some of the neighbors last year
and a couple of them won yard of the month. Since we work 8 days a week we
figured we would turn the turf over to him this year and see what happens.
I'm hopeful.

--
ie
ride fast, take chances.

"oldhickory" <inboxie@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:47e9d29e$0$6163$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> and in our front yard...this is a couple of weeks ago..they're even better
> now...if we can just get the "girls" to stand still for their
> portraits....
>
> http://davidandmollie.com/pictures/plants/bbons
>
>
> --
> ie
> ride fast, take chances.
>
>
> "texas twang" <texas4me@texas.net> wrote in message
> news:091ju3t6s90q7dtblct3gpq2t180adso6r@4ax.com...
>
>

Victor Martinez

2008-03-27, 9:25 am

oldhickory wrote:
> I haven't tried to get the other two out yet--all three are rescues and the
> other two get a little "twitchy" in the front yard, near traffic. We run the

No need to get them out at all. Indoor cats live longer and healthier
lives. And so do the birds and other critters outside.

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov
Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com

oldhickory

2008-03-27, 9:25 am

Thanks for your concern--I know exactly of what you speak. Actually, they
are only allowed out in the backyard (which is very secure) supervised, to
play in the grass, roll on the patio, and dig in their own barrel of cat
grass and catnip. We have all the bird feeders outside the fenced area
(save one hummer feeder up very high where they can't jump to) . Any toxic
plants are also outside the fence, or in hanging baskets. And if we have
yard treatments done we have to keep them in for a few days.

The only issue we have is with them catching and eating crickets once in a
while (and puking them up inside...eewww), but other than that, they do very
well. Since we put a "cage" over the herb garden, they can't use it as their
own private giant litterbox (I had to empty it, re-fill with fresh earth and
build the cage last year after they took liberties with it).

We have discussed with their vet and she agrees that, as long as they are
supervised and we keep them current on appropriate vaccinations and
treatments, and keep the poisonous plants out, they can enjoy the garden
without worry. Of course, that makes my landscaping plans more challenging
:-)

We do have a neighbor who lets theirs roam, and I've mentioned the danger to
them, but...I worry about him. He does come to visit sometimes usually at
night when we are in, (at least I am sure he is current with
vaccinations--he has the same vet) but since we have seen fox and coyote in
the area, I am concerned but I've said my piece. They have mentioned trying
to find a cat-proofing system for the top of the fence to keep him from
leaping over, but nothing yet.

Anyway, we are careful with our little jewels, we want them around for a
good many years to come.

--
ie
ride fast, take chances.

"Victor Martinez" <me@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:651dokF2e74a4U2@mid.individual.net...
> oldhickory wrote:
>
> No need to get them out at all. Indoor cats live longer and healthier
> lives. And so do the birds and other critters outside.

>
> --
> Victor M. Martinez
> Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
> Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov
> Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com

Omelet

2008-03-27, 1:26 pm

In article <651dokF2e74a4U2@mid.individual.net>,
Victor Martinez <me@nospam.com> wrote:

> oldhickory wrote:
>
> No need to get them out at all. Indoor cats live longer and healthier
> lives. And so do the birds and other critters outside.

Agreed. ;-)
--
--

Peace! Om

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. They have never
forgotten this." - Heinlein

Omelet

2008-03-27, 1:26 pm

In article <47eba8d5$0$4953$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
"oldhickory" <inboxie@yahoo.com> wrote:

<snipped>

> Anyway, we are careful with our little jewels, we want them around for a
> good many years to come.

Good show. :-)

I've considered a covered "run" for our kids to give them outdoor time,
but so far, I just bring fresh (home grown organic) catnip in for them
from time to time and make sure they have access to windows.
--
--

Peace! Om

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. They have never
forgotten this." - Heinlein

Victor Martinez

2008-03-27, 8:25 pm

Omelet wrote:
> I've considered a covered "run" for our kids to give them outdoor time,
> but so far, I just bring fresh (home grown organic) catnip in for them
> from time to time and make sure they have access to windows.

We have an enclosure that allows them to go out and smell the birds
without eating them.

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov
Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com

oldhickory

2008-03-28, 3:25 am

got any pics of it? Our cat deflection system for the herb garden is PVC
pipe and plastic mesh. Works well. I guess it would work as well for a
detention system....though they'd try to dig under. They try to dig under
our fence sometimes. We had to fortify the plastic edging at the bottom
with bricks because they were digging it up and flattening out and sliding
under the fence. Little buggers...of course Cleo just likes to dig in
anything. We keep asking if she's planning a trip to China....

Yes, we had outdoor cats at one time but no mas. I'm glad. We were very
lucky they were never eaten. WTFWWT?

--
ie
ride fast, take chances.

"Victor Martinez" <me@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:652nlbF2a0jtiU1@mid.individual.net...
> Omelet wrote:
>
> We have an enclosure that allows them to go out and smell the birds
> without eating them.

>
> --
> Victor M. Martinez
> Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
> Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov
> Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com

oldhickory

2008-03-28, 3:25 am

Thanks for the kind words. They're cuties--we love em!

--
ie
ride fast, take chances.

"Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ompomelet-649589.11211927032008@news.giganews.com...
> In article <47eba8d5$0$4953$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
> "oldhickory" <inboxie@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> <snipped>
>
>
> Good show. :-)
>
> I've considered a covered "run" for our kids to give them outdoor time,
> but so far, I just bring fresh (home grown organic) catnip in for them
> from time to time and make sure they have access to windows.
> --
> --
>
> Peace! Om
>
> "Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. They have never
> forgotten this." - Heinlein

Omelet

2008-03-28, 1:25 pm

In article <652nlbF2a0jtiU1@mid.individual.net>,
Victor Martinez <me@nospam.com> wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
>
> We have an enclosure that allows them to go out and smell the birds
> without eating them.

<lol> That's the basic concept!

Build an enclosure with bird feeders near so they can watch "TV".
Cats love nature shows...

Do you grow catnip for them? Being a mint, it does well with no babying.
--
--

Peace! Om

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. They have never
forgotten this." - Heinlein

Omelet

2008-03-28, 1:25 pm

In article <47ec60a8$0$4943$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
"oldhickory" <inboxie@yahoo.com> wrote:

> got any pics of it? Our cat deflection system for the herb garden is PVC
> pipe and plastic mesh. Works well. I guess it would work as well for a
> detention system....though they'd try to dig under. They try to dig under
> our fence sometimes. We had to fortify the plastic edging at the bottom
> with bricks because they were digging it up and flattening out and sliding
> under the fence. Little buggers...of course Cleo just likes to dig in
> anything. We keep asking if she's planning a trip to China....
>
> Yes, we had outdoor cats at one time but no mas. I'm glad. We were very
> lucky they were never eaten. WTFWWT?

I do so understand what you mean...

One car hit cat, dead with an eye dangling out of the socket was the
final "lesson" about letting cats run free.

His name was "Onyx" and he was a beloved stray my sister brought home.

<sigh>

No mas indeed!
--
--

Peace! Om

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. They have never
forgotten this." - Heinlein

Omelet

2008-03-28, 1:25 pm

There are many that understand.
Persephone is currently purring in my lap:

http://i26.tinypic.com/rr4mqd.jpg

One of the darkest torty's we've ever met!

Been fighting for her life now for a couple of months but she appears to
be doing better. She's only 7 and even after a dental, she's having
mouth issues. Vet says it might be auto-immune. <sigh> Possibly tongue
cancer based on the swelling. Now that she just finished the current
course of Prednisone, I need to take her back and see what she says.

It's a matter of spoiling her thru the pain to get her to eat and keep
weight on.

At least she's feeling good enough right now to want to snuggle! Cats in
serious pain just want to hide.

Hill's A&D, various flavors of Fancy Feast, Whiska's "Cat Milk" and well
chewed bits of whatever meat I'm eating, as well as 9 Lives Gravy poured
from the cans for the wet food feeding for the other furkids.
She actually gained 1/2 lb. :-)

In article <47ec70c7$0$30520$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>,
"oldhickory" <inboxie@yahoo.com> wrote:
[color=darkred]
> Thanks for the kind words. They're cuties--we love em!
>
> --
> ie
> ride fast, take chances.
>
>
> "Omelet" <ompomelet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:ompomelet-649589.11211927032008@news.giganews.com...
--
--

Peace! Om

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. They have never
forgotten this." - Heinlein

Bill Hawk

2008-04-01, 5:25 pm

On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:45:39 -0600, Omelet wrote:

> In article <091ju3t6s90q7dtblct3gpq2t180adso6r@4ax.com>,
> texas twang <texas4me@texas.net> wrote:
>
>
> The radio announced too dry of a winter for them. --

Durn, why didn't I say that?

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