Summer
Summer has settled in. Unlike our spring which had very little rain, we have been inundated here in Tallahassee. Almost every day there have been heavy showers. One feels like our area has become a tropical rain forest. The vegetation is particularly lush. Some plants and so-called weeds are so water filled that they droop with excessive growth.
If you have centipede or other fairly low growing grass, there is a simple way to keep your yard looking presentably groomed without mowing much or at all. I have about a thirty foot band , more or less, of grass around the house. Before the property was "developed" it was heavy woods with a few small open areas of bahia grass. When the house was built in one of the open areas centipede grass was laid down around the house. Over the years as bahia and other weeds tried to gain a foothold in the centipede they were pulled up. This practice has kept this small yard virtually free of anything taller than the centipede. Since centipede grass is fairly short, even when not mowed it looks acceptable, especially in a rural environment.
This year I have had several very tall weeds come up in my yard. Right from the start they looked impressive. They grew very straight and tall and thick bodied. I was quite impressed with their stature and have left them. I have mowed only once this summer, and when I did I mowed around these stately beauties and even came back with hand shears and clipped right up next to them. Beautiful!
Passon vine has lent itself to a lovely way of climbing recently. Passion vine is also known as maypop and are perennial. I let a few vines grow in some beds. It has grown up my torches, with a little guidance from me, that are set around the pond. Passion vine is a good looking vine and is a stong grower. It can take over. I watch it carefully. I value it as a larval and food plant for butterflies. My children and I have had many intriguing times watching the phases of butterfly development on just this one plant. We watch for eggs on the underside of the leaves. We watch for the tiny larvae and when we spot one we clip the plant, put it in a vase of water and watch the caterpillar eat and continue to develope.
When you are out and about look for agalinis, a somewhat tall annual with narrow leaves and pink flowers, and then watch for buckeyes visiting this plant. Rabbit tobacco, which is a small biennial with silvery tawny cottony looking stuff on top, is host to painted ladies.
Along the edge of my bird station butterfly pea has been growing year after year. It is a legume, small and vining, very delicate looking. When you notice natural things coming up, leave them for awhile and see what develops. If you dismiss them as unwanted, or as weeds and pull them out, you might be missing out on some unusual and interesting plants.
Also in my birdstation stands a lovely ashe magnolia. This small understory tree is actually endemic west of here in the panhandle of north Florida. Few people recognize this as a magnolia because of its huge deciduous leaves. Likewise the flower of the ashe is large,10 inches across. The ashe magnolia is an endangered species due to loss of habitat,however, it is easily grown from seed and many nurseries carry this unique tree.
Around the territory we have dewberries, elderberries, and blueberries. All excellent food for a wide variety of bird and mammal life. The pokeberry is developing fruit right now. I have two of these volunteers in the yard now. One came up in an azalea row just as proud as can be. It drank so much rain that it became floppy with excessive growth and fell over. I took a forked stick and propped it back up to its former splendor. Its berries are eaten by waxwings, cardinals, bluebirds, brown thrashers, and several mammals. Remember! Remember! Pokeberry at certain stages is very poisonous to people!!!
Also around the territory the sabatia is blooming, pink, pink, pink. Button bush is growing along swamps and wetlands. Another plant that occurs in wet areas is meadow beauty with a rosy pink bloom. Squareheads have square buds and is a perennial. American beauty is blooming and will be forming violet fruit in long spike-like clusters later on. It is an excellent wildlife food source. Lots of morning glories are twining around the place. Lots of butterfly weed with clusters of orange flowers, a native perennial. Another native perennial blooming now is ironweed. It has small thin leaves and dark pink flower heads. a very interesting plant is the sensitive briar. The flowers are roundish and pink. There is a touch of yellow at the end of each little part of the flower. The small leaves fold when touched.
The middle of summer can be hot, but remember in nature there is no dull time. Things are happening now that will affect next fall, next winter, and next spring.