Raptor Risks Raiding Ranch

Actually it was more of a brief visit to our Fawnview Ranch but the alliteration is not quite as nice.  

This afternoon an adult female Northern Harrier dropped in to sit at the edge of our fish pond, 15 feet from our large backyard windows.  

She eyed the pond (perhaps the fish ?) for several minutes before I went outside to shoo her off as the fish “feared for their lives.”  

Upon some reflection:  I wished I had used my regular camera instead of the cell phone, I wished I had taken a little video of her with it, and finally I thought it was likely she was just preparing to drink as I don’t think these birds go after small goldfish.  They hunt on the wing.. some birds but mostly small animals. 

Even with the “shoo away” she just flew a few yards to the top of our swing arbor and sat there looking at me with obvious disdain.   She did not seem to bother the adolescent cardinals on the feeder nearby, nor was she interested in them.  After another 5 minutes she flew away without accomplishing whatever she had intended.

In our blog post of Feb 7, 2014 we had a visit from a Cooper’s Hawk.  The Northern Harrier is noticeably larger with a different face. You can see that post by clicking HERE

"Cleome" A New-To-Us Plant

Our dear gardening friend, Mamie, shared her Cleome plants with us this spring. Thank you Miss Mamie. This was a new experience for this gardener and the results are pictured here.    Pronunciation is: klēˈōmē

Cleome, or spider flower, is an annual known for its exceedingly long seedpods. They develop below the flowers as blooms progresses upward on the stalk to give the plants a spidery look, as do the projecting stamens of the flowers.

Cleome is a showy annual that is fragrant, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Before sowing cleome seeds in the spring, they need to go through "stratification."  In horticulture, stratification is the process of pre-treating seeds to simulate natural winter conditions that a seed must endure before germination. Many seed species undergo an embryonic dormancy phase, and generally will not sprout until this dormancy is broken. 

 

You can save seeds for new plants or for friends. Begin watching your blooming cleomes during the summer when seed pods begin to develop. The slim, bright green, elongated pods are about 2 inches in length and resemble a cat's whiskers. They'll turn a light tan color and feel dry to the touch when the seeds are mature enough to harvest.

Choose a warm, sunny day with no rain in the forecast. The pods should be picked when the weather is dry to reduce the chances of mildew forming on the seeds because of moisture collected from the air. Pluck a sample pod and roll it between your fingers. If mature, it will release hundreds of tiny black seeds into your hand.

Pick a few mature pods and take them indoors. Hold one over a bowl and roll it between your fingers to release the seeds into the bowl. Dump the seeds into a clean glass jar. Cap it tightly. Label it with the seed variety and the date. Store the cleome seeds in the refrigerator until you're ready to plant next year or share with others.

Latin Name:  A member of the Capparaceae family, genus Cleome

Common Names:  Spider Flower, Rocky Mountain Beeplant, Stinking Clover

Zone: All growing zones; perennial in zones 10 and 11

Size: 3 to 6 feet tall

Exposure: Cleome flowers grow best in full sun, as shady conditions can make them grow so tall as to topple over.

Latin Name:  A member of the Capparaceae family, genus Cleome

Common Names:  Spider Flower, Rocky Mountain Beeplant, Stinking Clover

Zone:  All growing zones; perennial in zones 10 and 11

Size:  3 to 6 feet tall

Exposure:  Cleome flowers grow best in full sun, as shady conditions can make them grow so tall as to topple over.

Bloom Period:  Mid to late June, depending on the climate

Garden Phlox

Yes... it has been quite awhile since our last post.  It has been a busy early summer.

John Fanick Perennial.. or... Garden Phlox

Phlox paniculata "John Fanick" is a Texas Superstar.  

It is named after an outstanding San Antonio nurseryman and true gentleman. It is a hardy perennial with showy clusters of light pink blossoms with darker pink throats. Growth habit is compact, on a stiff 3 foot stem with dark green foliage.  It tolerates heat, drought and powdery mildew.  

The Phlox pictured here have been in bloom for well over a month in our yard. It is fragrant and a great plant for butterflies.

Additional details may be found by CLICKING HERE