Our big rain was over a week ago. After a summer of 100 degrees everyday and no rain, the fields and most yards were yellow. One big gusher and a few days and almost everything is green again. We did have some losses, and I think the accounting is not finished, but I was surprised by rain lilies and school house lilies this week.
Our very hot, very dry summer killed off most of our clover. Most, but not all. One small clump managed to survive by setting root under the watering manifold (which has a small leak so the soil is damp beneath). The small collection of three-leaved clover managed to provide me with a four-leaf. I did not pick it when I found it, which was good because it hadn’t fully grown. Later the fourth leaf filled out better. Can you spot it in the photo below? Remember to think squares as you are looking, as opposed to triangles.
A four-leaf clover. My first time ever finding a four-leaf clover!
I recently read an article on four-leaf clovers, and one finder suggested looking for squares amongst the triangles made by three-leaf clovers. Apparently this works. Day 2 of thinking of squares and triangles, I spot one. I carefully laid it flat between layers of wax paper and put it in one of my book presses that my Dad helped me make years and years ago.
The method for looking works for me, because I found a second one the next day, and two more the following day. My eldest also found one after I told her the trick to it.
We currently have a very pretty edge plant growing in our front flower bed. The Common Oxalis is native to the area, the leaves resemble clover, and they have lovely delicate yellow blooms. I’ve read that they will flower all spring, summer, and fall. We have another Oxalis growing in the shade of the trees that can’t take the Texas heat and goes dormant during the summer. We’ll see how these do. The kicker? I didn’t plant these. They grew in as a border plant on their own. I do need to corral a few wayward explorers, but on the whole, they did quite a nice job filling in a space that needed filling. If they survive our summer, I think I’ll keep them.
One of our first wild flowers to bloom here is henbit, with their delicate purple flowers. As they grow in the meadow outside the run, the chickens appreciate it when I gather some to share with them. Appreciate might not be quite the right word, as they are hopping before I get in the run, and the bouquet doesn’t last long against the ravenous hoard.
Critters and Craft 