Happy Fourth of July! Here is a picture of spent Texas Star flowers after their glorious colored blooms. These natural and native flashy displays won’t set your county on fire or flip out your dog. And the empty casings are biodegradable. You’re welcome.

I thought the balls developing at the end of the stems of the Texas Star plant were seeds. I was leaving it be to do what it will do since it was a volunteer in the first place. If the conditions were favorable for this plant, I hope the seeds will also find it a good place to thrive.

Then I saw one ball was missing and another was cracked, so in the name of science I examined the cracked ball, broke it open and hundreds of tiny flecks poured out into the palm of my hand. An avalanche of what I hope are minuscule seeds came from what I now assume is the flower’s fruit. I thought thyme seeds were tiny, but these are at least a quarter that size. It was like opening up a new firework tube. I spread the flecks along the area I hope they will grow. The plan now is to wait until the fruit cracks, and spread the pin prick seeds along the flower bed.

Now I see how the first seed could have arrived in my flower bed. I wouldn’t take much for these microscopic vessels to hitch a ride on the leg or feather of a bird. Hm. I hope they don’t have to pass through a digestive tract to germinate. And I hope it doesn’t depend on the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow.

The hardy hibiscus is putting out daily blooms! It is worth spraying for Thrips to see these glorious huge flowers. I’m still just using a mixture of Neem oil, Peppermint oil, and Castor soap in water, but now spraying twice a week.

I think I can get one more planted in that area. Hm.

I have been diligently using clean shears to remove the spent blooms on our hearty hibiscus. I’ve read that Thrips get to the dirt when the blooms fall, and there can complete their life cycle. So any damaged or finished bloom needs to go before it falls. As I was clipping, I had one come off in my hand before the scissors could touch the stem. What? Upon closer inspection I noticed a node in the stem about an inch down from the bloom. On every bloom and bud. It takes very little effort to snap off the end at this natural weak point. Neat. No remembering to bring the scissors, I can just pop off the old buds each day as I walk by.

We are getting less Thrip interrupted buds and more blooms daily. The blooms only last a day, so many opportunities to snap stems at the nodes.

Hurray! The hearty hibiscus bloomed!

We have not won the battle with the Thrips, as I had to cut off several buds that were thrip damaged. If the bud opens, but doesn’t burst forth, I assume thrips are to blame. I cut these damaged buds off and throw them away to disrupt the thrip life cycle (they need some dirt time). The Neem oil, Peppermint oil, and Castor soap solution helps some against the insect invasion, so I’ll continue the regimen. I’m not sure I want to delve into stronger methods at this point.