Go "Parking"

We all enjoy our Matzke Park and its playground, Butterfly Garden, and walking trails.  Some even enjoy the weekend cricket games, I would imagine.  But Harris County Pct. #4 has a wonderful park system with many other options.  Today we explored one of the newest, Dennis Johnston Park in the NW part of town. Dennis, of course, is the Pct #4 Park Director who has been so helpful with the Matzke Butterfly Garden project as well as the other improvements there.  This park was named in his honor.




 It used to be a Girl Scout camp, but the county has transformed it into a real garden spot, particularly suited for events and meetings.  The "cabins" are used for Pct #4 county offices.  It has a nice pond for fishing, a developing butterfly garden and trails as part of the Spring Creek Greenway system.

You can CLICK HERE  for a map of its location as well as other useful information.    Take the time to explore some of the many "green space options" we have available to us within a reasonable drive.

I took these pictures just this morning.

This Is the "Grand Lodge"

The New Butterfly Garden

Not Real Large, but Perhaps the Fish Are

A Large Pavilion 

Spiders and Queens

We have a new set of blooms in the backyard of the Fawnview Ranch. The white spider lily plants have decided to show themselves.  Spider lily is the common name for a number of different plant species within the family Amaryllidaceae which belong to the genera Lycros;  a genus of about 20 species of flowering plants formerly treated in the family Liliaceaepider lily.



Perhaps the summer's most magical bulb, spider lily pops up, seemingly overnight, with its colorful flowers sitting tall upon a single stem.  The exotic look of the long petals and stamens accounts for the common name.  It also bears the monikers hurricane lily (because of its bloom season) and naked ladies (the flowers appear without leaves).  

With trumpet shaped blooms that resemble an amaryllis, spider lily forms a brilliant border in partially shaded places.

Light:  Part Sun, Sun   Type:  Bulb   Height: 6 inches to 3 feet
Width:  Up to 1 foot   Color:  Blue, Orange, Pink, Red, White
Foliage Color:   Chartreuse/Gold   Season:  Fall Bloom or Summer Bloom
Added Benefits:   Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers

By clicking HERE you can take a look at some of the other colors

It is useful to deadhead the plants.  In other words, remove dead blooms as they begin to fade to prevent the plant from seeding.   Seeding requires significant energy, and deadheading allows the plant to rest and flower more than once.

Also.. dig out and divide mature bulbs as soon as the lily's leaves begin to yellow.  After 4 or 5 years, crowding and sinking can hinder flowering in these plants.  Replant the bulb necks slightly above the soil surface.

NOW THIS IS SOMETHING WE DIDN'T KNOW  (OR PERHAPS FORGOT)

This is not a picture of Monarch butterflies.



Nor is this of a Monarch caterpillar. 


To assure yourself this is correct... check one of our favorites other blogs by clicking HERE