So this stuff seems to have made itself a native down here. One more thing to dodge with the lawn mower in hopes of supporting our Monarch, Queen, and Soldier Butterflies.
I have some of those in pots around the property.

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So this stuff seems to have made itself a native down here. One more thing to dodge with the lawn mower in hopes of supporting our Monarch, Queen, and Soldier Butterflies.
Oh well before you know it they will spread once they go to seed. It usually takes about a 3x3 spread of those to raise a batch of Monarch's, but if you run out it seems they will accept butternut squash as an alternative food.I have some of those in pots around the property.![]()
Oh well before you know it they will spread once they go to seed. It usually takes about a 3x3 spread of those to raise a batch on Monarch's, but if you run out it seems they will accept butternut squash as an alternative food.
Best wishes with that if you manage to get any artichokes up and going please let me know. I keep trying and failing this close to the coast. I bet it is something I will have to order from Grime's Nursery in Harlingen. We were able to get them going in Harlingen, just not here we didn't have chicken there just dogs. We saw them growing fine in coastal France, just I can not get them up and growing here. Plus they seem too be tasty to chickens especially as young plants.I hope I can get some veggies growing this spring. I didn't have much luck with them but I had a late start.
I need to get some out in the field and see if I can avoid mowing them.
Best wishes with that if you manage to get any artichokes up and going please let me know. I keep trying and failing this close to the coast. I bet it is something I will have to order from Grime's Nursery in Harlingen. We were able to get them going in Harlingen, just not here we didn't have chicken there just dogs. We saw them growing fine in coastal France, just I can not get them up and growing here. Plus they seem too be tasty to chickens especially as young plants.
BTW Mike Heep's Nursery in Harlingen is your go to place for native plants in this area just be ready for a spider car.I do hate that stupid spider that will not die. I probably should fog the car just to be rid of that scary thing. In Texas all wildlife is threatening and I sure ain't going to put my faith into the notion that we only have 2 types of harmful spiders.
Better to get a farmers help. We fail at most of our gardening projects. I'm sure I wont be eating any brussel sprouts next year! Bugs take them, the climate takes them or the chicken take them. I do have high hopes for the carrot graves my wife dug up, I just hope carrot tops don't appeal to the chicken. It is hard to exclude our chicken from anything as they can all fly easily clearing 6 foot fencing and I have no intention of clipping wings not the silkies. For us it is just a survival thing as we have predators around here like Jaguarundi and such, not to mention the neighbors wild and unrestrained dogs. Good luck getting Cameron County Animal control out to service a call. That just ain't happening.Maybe I need you to come over and help me get set up. I have never set up my own garden. I had a huge one in WV that my landlord set up for me and graced it with a nice coating of chicken poop. I couldn't give food away fast enough that thing grew so well. I have space for one here...I'm just not sure where to put it for the best results and all that jazz.
I had never seen an artichoke flower until we were in Germany a few years ago. We were at a market that was selling them. Prettiest flowers ever!
I will check out the nursery. I'm sure I have spiders in my Explorer....I just try not to think about it. I'm getting better at not freaking out. I was watering my plants the other day and disturbed a tarantula and it didn't freak me out like it used to.