Late summer greetings on this Thursday, August 9, 2018. By now, for most of us in Central Texas, gardening is truly a labor of love. Emphasis on the word "labor". Getting up at dawn to water and check on plants is a reflex, and the routine is getting old. Any cooling of the morning breeze, any hint of changing weather, is heartily welcome.
There's some rain in the 10-day forecast, but it's a few days away, and sometimes I think the forecasters just put it out there to keep us checking the weather report. Those 30-40% rain chances tend to evaporate with the morning clouds.
This morning I reflected on this as I dutifully paced around the garden, blessing the backyard plants with a foliar feeding of fish emulsion (Medina Liquid Fish Blend, 2-3-2, purchased at the Natural Gardener.) I'm diluting 2 tbsp of fish emulsion in about 1-1/2 gallons of water, which is what I can carry without spilling or further injuring my lower back. But, I digress.
As I was wandering about the backyard garden, watering and thinking about signs of fall, I stumbled on some welcome changes to this beauty, none other than American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana.
This is still Year One of this plant in my garden, so I didn't know when the berries would start to color. The stems have borne gradually swelling clusters of green berries that started out looking a bit like cooked quinoa. My 4-year-old son can hardly resist picking them, and has given into temptation at least a few times. Fortunately, there are thousands. I keep asking him to please wait until they turn purple. As of this morning, just a few clusters are starting to turn a cabernet color.
This aptly named perennial is getting water every 2-3 days this year. By next summer, it'll be getting watered weekly, tops, unless it looks like it's about to die and it's only 8AM. Even then, my ultimate goal is to have self-sustaining plants, so I can't baby this one forever.
Sure is nice to have a purple hint of eventual autumn... which around here, might really still be two months away.
I'm curious to see what my Fall Aster does this fall, given that it bloomed in May this year.
Happy gardening!
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