Seasonal garden planning and preparation

Just by the by... I gave my front yard its final fall raking and mowing. Yes, I DO know it's January, but we live in Texas, remember. Besides, now I am ready for winter, which I understand arrives tomorrow. And next week when it is FINALLY spring, I will start planning what to put in the now cleared out and emptied beds....

Hirsute Seed Pods

Well, would you look at these hairy little guys! I don't know what they are, but they are cute as all get out. I found them all over a vine that covered the fence of yard near by... I thought that maybe here was a neighbor who appreciated the beauty of vine-covered fences and so I peeked over the fence to see if they showed other signs of kindred spiritedness... but instead I saw a swiming pool filled with green, algae clogged water. Yuck. I suppose that means that the vine-covered fence is just another indication of their complete disinterest in the outside of their property. Maybe that would also mean they wouldn't mind someone helping themselves to some of their vine.... hmmm. (Luckily they aren't that close a neighbor as to pose a mosquito concern.)

Christmas Cactus in flight

Safe inside, the Christmas Cactus clearly wants to soar off on crimson wings towards the warm sunlight. I tell it to stay here with us. The heat and light are deceptive. It IS Texas, but the cold is coming... it's just around the corner.... then you'll be glad of the confining walls, I say.

And the dance goes on....

Stalled

I went out this morning to cut back the old, nasty, dead Copper Canyon Daisy bush as part of my winter pruning, and discovered a beautiful lover's embrace, and delicate paper stars, and clusters of golden pods waving in the cold winter air, and I couldn't cut them. Not quite yet.

Lily's Eden

Lily has found her own Eden within mine. I am sharing quite willingly with her, because after questioning her closely, she assures me that she has no intention of bringing in big, ugly, red metal things, and she quite likes vines that grow on fences....
I told her she's in, but she has to leave Archimedes alone, which she is fine with as long as he doesn't try and mess with her. Well, fair enough I guess.

Chinese Tallow

Thanks for the identification. And, of course, I had to pick another invasive, toxic, bad bad bad plant to want to have in my yard. damn. (but i still want one...)