We are finally cooling down here in Texas. We actually had a freeze warning in October, which seemed unusual. I did a few additional things this year in addition to shutting down sprinklers and disconnecting hoses. Basil turns black if the temperatures drop below 40 degrees. In past years I’ve tented the raised bed with plastic, with minimum success. This year I actually gathered my remaining basil and brought it inside to dry.
Photo description: A bundle of fresh basil hung on a utility rack to dry.
I also cleaned out the cat bench and put in new straw. I don’t think any of the neighborhood cats use it, but just in case, it has fresh bedding and a handful of dried lavender to deter bugs. I made this bench with the insulated compartment several years ago.
Photo description: Open hope chest style bench made from 2x4s with two compartments, one lined with styrofoam and additional wood for insulation. Both sections are lined with straw.
I added a rider to my meadow deer for Halloween. The deer was purchased as a holiday decoration a couple years ago, and I liked having it in the meadow so much I decided to make it a year-round ornament. I have a few more projects on my plate this year than last, so an ornate Halloween sculpture wasn’t going to happen. But a simple three foot plastic skeleton twist tied to the back of the deer, with a length of scrap white ribbon for a bridle, well that was very doable.
Photo description: Golden wire and plastic deer sculpture with a white plastic skeleton riding on its back standing on the edge of a dry meadow.
Our Texas sage bush bloomed! This is supposed to be a sign of coming rain, but it has not panned out. I’m pleased to see blooms, though. This little bush has seen some trauma; it originally lived in the flower beds by the house, but that was too much water and its roots were wet. Not a happy plant. When a freeze came through and we thought we lost it, we moved it to the meadow, just in case. We were quite surprised when the following spring it sprouted leaves. That was two or three years ago; this is the first time it has bloomed since the transplant.
Photo description: light purple blooms on a Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) with trees and the chicken coop in the background.
This summer has been hot, so very hot. Our plants and yard have definitely taken a hit and are looking quite sad. I was surprised therefore to find that the pepper plants have actually been producing peppers. Small, yes, but still there. I saw a couple that had turned red and started to decay. These were mid-planter and high up against the fence. Where the dog can’t reach. Ah. That is where all the rest of the peppers went. To test my hypothesis, I tossed this pepper to him. He picked it up and took it off to eat it. Yup. Pepper pup. Sigh.
Photo description: Small red pepper with brown spots surrounded by semi-chewed pepper plant leaves and a couple white blooms.
The hibiscus out front is also putting out an effort, despite receiving a full dose of Texas summer sun and being host to a myriad of insects. It has produced a couple small blooms despite the scorching temps.
Photo Description: Hearty Hibiscus in bloom with a white flower with red center surrounded by green and yellow-green leaves.
I know technically we have passed the autumnal equinox and are in fall, but nobody tells Texas.
Mr Tom, our neighbor’s outdoor cat, has taken to hanging out in our back woods, rather than just the meadow between our houses. I went back to see where he was hanging out and found that our ATS system sprinkler had a pool. Oops. Something (probably an armadillo) dug a burrow near the sprinkler head, and the hole filled with water. A problem for us, but it made a nice cool “beach” for cat lounging in 100 degree weather.
Photo description: White cat laying in the mud around a broken sprinkler head
My husband collapsed the hole, repaired the sprinkler head, and filled the area with rock to support the head and discourage digging. I asked him to also get a large flat paver, so there was still a place to lounge.
Photo description: Same area, but now filled with rock, a new sprinkler head, and a large flat rock.
The next water woe happened when the hose feeding water to the garden and the coop split, in the middle of the night, and flooded the area around the coop. That was not fun to find at 5:30 in the morning.
Photo description: Garden hose with a two inch slit at the top of the bend where it connects to a brass manifold.
I bought a new hose, and rather than running it along the ground, so the hose had to come up and make a tight bend to attach to the manifold, I used heavy duty cable ties to run the hose along the top of the metal fence, so it would come down to connect, thus avoiding stressful bends. We’ll see how it holds up.
Photo description: New black hose coiled on the fence above the manifold, secured with black cable ties.
The waterways around the coop still work, and the flood went around the hens’ doors and food. The birds in the woods were particularly happy that day. We really need rain.
Critters and Craft 