Many people in the Wimberley Valley are needing to replace their roofs and gutters after the bad hail storm we had this spring. We are still under Stage 4 watering restrictions due to past overpumping of the aquifer. If you do not already have a rainwater collecting system in place, this is a perfect opportunity to install some rain barrels under the downspouts of the new gutters. It is amazing how much water you can collect from even small rain showers.
The rains we had this spring have provided us with exceptional summer flowers. The Crepe Myrtle and Pride of Barbados plants are the loveliest we have seen in years. Both of these beauties are not native, but they do have low water needs once established and are adapted to our heat.
Crepe Myrtles are from China. It is said that when they first came to England (1759) no one was impressed because they did not bloom. Then they were brought to the Southern United States where they got enough heat to bloom. So Crepe Myrtles became a favored Southern flowering tree. The leaves also provide some late fall color of red, yellow and orange under favorable conditions before they fall to the ground.
The deer eat them, so protect newly planted Crepe Myrtles with wire cages. You may not realize that Crepe Myrtles reseed themselves because the deer eat the new seedlings as soon as they appear. Locate Crepe Myrtles in full sun with plenty of space to expand. Fall is the best time to plant them so that you can keep them properly watered while they become established.
The Pride of Barbados bushes get to be 6 feet tall with bright red and orange flowers that the hummingbirds appreciate. When they are young and tender the deer may eat them, but once their prickly spines develop on their branches the deer usually do not bother them. Pride of Barbados like sun and heat. They die back in the winter and are slow to reappear in the spring. If the seed pods are allowed to mature on the plant they will reseed themselves.
Stay cool.
