Winter has actually made its way to Texas. Tree leaves are down, the temperature has dropped (mostly), and we’ve seen ice. So I was surprised to see a splash of yellow in the front yard in the form of a dandelion head.
I leave the dandelions, I admit. The thistles I remove, but the common dandelion and lawn daisies get to stay.
This is my Dad’s favorite seed jar, and my folks sent me one. I absolutely concur with my Dad’s assessment; this is neat. It is basically a jar with a built in hook and a stand so the jar can hang upside down to drain. The lid is metal mesh to allow the water through. A few times a day, you rinse the seeds and hang it back up to drain. I have my set on the back of the sink, so it is easy to remember. When the sprouts fill the jar, I put them in the fridge and start a new round. It has been a very good way to encourage me to eat salads.
I don’t have an Amazon affiliate (I should probably look into that), but here are the links to the jar and seeds I’ve been using.
Seed jar: https://a.co/d/8tJRb5s
Salad seed mix: https://a.co/d/7gnsriQ
It must be getting close to Christmas, my Thanksgiving cactus has its first bloom!
I think mine blooms at this time of year because it only starts to really cool down in Texas in late November. The branches against the window finally get cold enough to trigger flower buds, then I turn the pot so the other side can experience the temperature change. Here is a link for more information.
Walking into the grocery store just before Halloween, I saw these petunias that are such a dark purple as to appear almost black. I bought them and planted them in a container in the front of the house (one of the few places that gets some sun.)
I have trouble with the words “petunia” and “pansy”, continuously getting them switched. Getting an actual petunia plant hasn’t helped. They are pretty though.
It is a bit perplexing when you fill a watering can, feel the weight of the water, but when you tip it over to pour, nothing comes out.
The tree frog was the right size to plug the watering can, and was quite panicked when its tiny front legs couldn’t find purchase to pull itself out. After I took its picture as proof, I offered assistance. It easily crawled on to my hand, and was not wedged forever in the plastic tube. I returned it to the garden and was able to water the plants without further incident.
Critters and Craft 