Melanie

Geeky sci-fi girl. Avid gardener. Autistic.

"for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth." J.R.R. Tolkien

Eclectic mix of interests. (see 📌 )

Profile pic is a Black Swallowtail butterfly above an empty chrysalis shell. Header is a small tree frog clinging to a window pane on a rainy day.

#TexasGarden #Zone9a #VegetableGardening #BackyardHabitat #NativePlants #pollinators #butterflies #SciFi #Whovian #Trekkie #ActuallyAutistic #SocialAnxiety

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MelsGarden_at_universeodon.com@mostr.pub

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Last Notes

2024-06-01 16:05:08

Pretty flowers for this week's #SixOnSaturday
Maybe not my best offering. I was trying for a calm & peaceful theme. Think I might have ended up w a cluttered mess instead, lol.
Oh well, it's what's in bloom right now. If it's messy, it's the garden's fault. 😂
#gardening #TexasGarden #flowers
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2024-03-23 19:44:04

This will never not be cool.
My resident garden lizards are super active today. First sunny day we've had in ages it seems. And everywhere I look it, there's one doing the throat thing.
Guess it's that time of year, lol.
#TexasGarden #lizards #wildlife #NaturePhotography
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2024-03-23 15:09:57

Probably the most random #SixOnSaturday I've ever put together (lol).
Planet Salvia has begun, the peach tree went bonkers this year, and the first dragonfly has arrived!
I usually try to come up with a theme, but it's all just one big explosion of spring out there. Is chaos a theme? 😂
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #dragonfly
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2024-03-21 20:34:23

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@npub1zt3…0v09 It's funny - I've never grown okra. Absolutely loathe the stuff. (As a Southerner, I feel guilty just typing that 😂 )
But melons I can do! It's a deal! 😊

2024-03-21 20:20:52

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@npub1zt3…0v09 I wish I had more normal gardening seasons! A spring that starts when most other people's start so I could relate.
Sometimes I feel like I live in the gardening twilight zone. No real winter. Hellish summers. Two growing seasons (fall/spring) where I basically do everything twice but also have to figure out overlapping cold/warm plants. And I struggle w really odd things that should be easy but aren't (like lettuce! 😂 ).
And always out of sync w most other people who are dealing w different issues & growing varieties that I can only dream about. So it's hard to ask advice. There's so many gardeners here I would LOVE to pester w questions!
(but it's probably best I can't or I'd annoy everyone into muting me! 😂 )

2024-03-21 17:35:29

Sorry everyone for all the long rambling posts.
Clearly I've had too much coffee today. It's made me annoyingly chatty.
Also sorry for the endless edits. Bc when I say chatty, what I really mean is excessively wordy, typo-strewn gibberish.
No more coffee for me today. 😂

2024-03-16 17:34:55

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@npub1eav…g6f3 Minnesota - wow that's a whole world away from Texas. At least in gardening terms lol.
The nice thing about social media is that by the time my spring garden is keeling over from the blistering heat, all the northern US folks (and elsewhere in the world) will be posting gorgeous photos of their gardens in full bloom.
So in that respect, it's kinda like getting to live vicariously in beautiful gardens almost year-round. Which is just really nice, y'know?

2024-03-16 17:03:24

My garden as it looked yesterday for this week's #SixOnSaturday
I put this together last night - before a monster thunderstorm moved in at 4:30 this morning. Torrential downpour for well over an hour followed by a small hailstorm (and more rain).
It's an absolute swamp out there now. A lot of cleanup & plant care to do today - but surprisingly all my baby plants (minus one sunflower) look like they'll pull thru.
But I wanted to still post this Six on Saturday bc it does actually reflect the week - and these kinda feel like my garden journal, lol.
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b
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2024-03-14 21:35:21

The inside of a tulip is so wild!
This is the first tulip I've ever grown. Bulb flowers are a new thing for me this year. Tbh this is probably the closest I've ever even been to a tulip. I mean, I've seen them in other people's gardens. I just never paid them any attention.
(I'm primarily a vegetable gardener, lol)
It's definitely the first time I've ever looked *inside* a tulip. And wow! Did NOT expect to see a whole kaleidoscope in there!
Nature is truly amazing.
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #flower #tulip
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2024-03-13 14:56:34

Baby birds!!!
Had no idea they were even there. A few weeks ago I chased a squirrel off bc it was climbing the maple tree for no good reason & just seemed like it was hunting. Now I know what it was after!
I have to laugh bc this planter keeps getting reused. Wrens have nested in it twice. This year it's Mourning Doves. Cardinals have nested in the maple tree right behind it.
For some reason the corner of my patio is a popular spot. 😂
(*Note - first photo is zoomed & cropped. I wasn't actually that close. I was standing on a step ladder a safe distance so I didn't spook them.)
#birds #BabyBirds #nest #doves #BirdPhotography #NaturePhotography
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2024-03-10 20:06:45

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Compost bin - cont'd (3/3)
Just adding this for anyone who might be interested:
I've experimented w other styles/sizes of bins in the past. But I found problems w other methods. Wood frames rot & have to be maintained. I tried a wire frame but that slumped & snagged on a pitchfork & drove me nuts.
This is what I finally settled on. There's no "right" way to do compost. This is just what works best for me. It's sturdy & efficient & the right size for the amount of garden waste I generate. And it's shaded so that it doesn't overheat or dry out - crucial in dealing w our Texas summers.
I do have an 'overflow' bin for larger stuff that sometimes get piled up. But eventually it all ends up in this bin.
Anyway - just thought I'd share. I'm a big believer in using homemade compost in gardening - no matter how you do it! 😊
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #compost

2024-03-10 19:52:05

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Compost bin - cont'd. (2/2)
This is what it looks like after it's rebuilt. All the stuff I'd set off to the side is layered back in.
It will settle & start to break down pretty quickly, thus making room for more stuff to be added throughout the year. Every time I turn it, the soil will fall to the bottom and build up a nice layer to be harvested.
It's a very efficient receptacle for garden clippings & kitchen scraps. Rather than throwing out "waste" it all gets broken down into free dirt.
And, like I said, other gardeners get way more technical about it than I do. And sifting by hand is a chore, but I'm not financially or mechanically inclined to build something fancier. My way is super "low-tech" but it works lol.
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #compost
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2024-03-10 19:37:32

Compost bin time.
One of my most exhausting & labor intensive - but oddly satisfying - garden chores.
Every spring I completely dig this thing out & harvest the thick layer of soil that has built up at the bottom. Sifting takes a while bc I do it by hand - and I have to be super careful of the earthworms - but I don't mind. It's like gardening therapy.
There's all kinds of formulas for compost & some people are super scientific about it. Bless them, lol. I'm a bit too lazy for that. I just toss stuff in throughout the year, give it a good turn & water every once in a while. Ratios, temps - all that seems to sort itself out without too much fuss from me.
The result? gorgeous earthworm-rich soil. Gotta dig for it, but it's worth it.
(1/2 - more info in next post)
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #compost
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2024-03-09 16:56:48

A theme of new life for this week's #SixOnSaturday
The veggie garden is coming along nicely - including a surprise late broccoli! The wildflowers are beginning to appear in my mini-wildflower bed.
And what I'm most excited about - a tulip! I'm trying my hand at bulb flowers this year & these are the first tulips I've ever grown!
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #flowers #VegetableGardening
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2024-03-09 04:01:26

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@npub17sh…6e06 "Coffee: the finest organic suspension ever devised." - Captain Kathryn Janeway, Star Trek Voyager
(lol - the 90s Trekkie in me couldn't resist. 100% agree. All hail the great coffee! 😂 )

2024-03-04 15:54:02

I sometimes forget that wasps are pollinators too.
Tbh I have a love/hate relationship w wasps. Love that they prey on tomato hornworms & other pests. Hate that they also go after butterfly caterpillars.
And I've been stung enough times that I'm extremely wary of paper wasps & yellow jackets. I keep a flyswatter in the garden for a reason.
But I have a genuine soft spot for these little red & black mason wasps. They're not aggressive, don't build colonies, and seem to spend as much time walking around the flowers as the bees do. Highly beneficial imo.
Also, the yarrow is blooming again! 😊
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #wasps #pollinators #BeneficialInsects
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2024-03-03 23:35:01

Snapshots from the spring veggie garden.
It's that sweet spot in the year when I have an endless supply of carrots & greens (planted over the winter) and the peas are coming in. It's awesome.
And the spring veggies are under way! Tomatoes are a good size & looking strong. Peppers & eggplant on track to go in the ground in a few weeks. The first round of beans are thriving - bush, pole, long beans & scarlet runner. Backups also under way just in case we get a cold snap.
I'm a bit early on the cucumbers & squash, but it's so ridiculously warm that I think it'll be okay. They're inside under lights.
Anyway, just wanted to share! 😂
(*I meant this for yesterday's #SixOnSaturday but I was busy in the garden. Better late than never? lol)
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #VegetableGardening #Veggies
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2024-02-22 18:59:34

First butterfly of the year!
And omg what a wild story. I found this swallowtail IN MY HOUSE!
So here's what I think happened. We had a freeze last month & I brought both of my calamondins inside to protect them. Citrus are hosts plants for Giant Swallowtails.
I'm guessing a chrysalis was accidently knocked off one of the calamondins & it hatched in my house. I found the butterfly in the same spot where the pots were. It was on the floor, unable to fly (which is why I'm guessing newly hatched - the wings were still wet.)
Gently scooped it up & put it outside. It's been resting in the same spot for the last hour. I've seen other newly hatched do exactly the same to dry their wings.
And honestly I have to laugh - I tried ALL LAST YEAR to get a decent Giant Swallowtail photo. Never managed it. Every one was blurry. And this year starts off w one my "holy grail" butterflies right in my own house! 😂
#butterfly #swallowtail #Lepidoptera #NaturePhotography #TexasGarden #Zone9b
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2024-02-18 21:27:27

Happy bees!
So I've had good luck w broccoli rabe in the past. This year - nope. It's just too warm. There was like a 5 min window where I might've gotten a few meals. I blinked... and they bolted.
The joys of gardening, lol. Sometimes even w my best efforts the plants have other ideas.
But wow the bees are THRILLED. I'd forgotten how much of a magnet brassica flowers are for bees. It's like a full on rave out there. 😂
So that's nice. Technically a gardening fail, but I'm gonna call it a win lol.
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #bees #pollinators
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2024-02-14 20:18:19

Sorry I've not been on Mastodon much. Just wanted to to explain a little bit. Not that I expect anyone has noticed (lol) but I still feel like I should explain.
It's been a difficult year so far. Personally, financially. And last week I got hit w severe food poisoning. I'll skip the details & just say it was violent & horrendous. I literally prayed for death. Recovery is going very, very slowly.
My silence is bc I've been dealing w real life & I don't post about my personal life. Mostly for privacy reasons & bc I try to keep things as positive as I can. So I've not had much to say. But it's also because I still feel like a stranger on this platform. It's been hard for me to overcome that.
But I hope people know I'm not trying to be standoffish. I'm just struggling - a lot - and other than a few quick posts that I hope people enjoy - I just haven't been able to participate in anything more than that.
It's been a rough year.
Anyway, I just wanted to explain.

2024-02-09 00:48:53

Really interesting article from PBS NewsHour tonight.
"These pansies are evolving to rely less on pollinators. Here’s why that may spell trouble"
Definitely makes you think about the interconnectedness of it all & the warning signs we may be missing.
Makes me more determined than ever to make pollinator-friendly gardening one of my highest priorities.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/these-pansies-are-evolving-to-rely-less-on-pollinators-heres-why-that-may-spell-trouble
#PBS #science #pollinators #biodiversity

2024-02-06 00:23:41

This is why I like my seed storage system.
12 year-old tomato seeds with a 50% germination rate (so far).
Granted, 12 years is not all that remarkable for tomato seeds, but it's still pretty great. And it's nice knowing that most of what I've got in my little stockpile will last more than just a few seasons, y'know?
I also have 12 year-old bell pepper seeds coming up & everything I've got growing outside is at least 5+ year-old seeds. The peas are 10 years old.
I've been making an effort to thin out the oldest seeds. My hoarding is getting a bit ridiculous, lol. So far my storage system is not letting me down!
#gardening #Zone9b #TexasGarden #seeds #SeedStarting #vegetableGardening
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2024-02-04 23:21:39

The first seedlings of 2024!
For the warm weather veggies, anyway. I'm still sowing new carrots, lettuce & other "winter" stuff outside. But these little cuties are SPRING veggies!
Lol. Tomatoes, peppers & eggplant started inside. So far 3 varieties of cherry tomato & the first bell pepper are up.
And for once I'm nearly on schedule. Normal start time for this trio is by mid-January. This year I was only a week late, lol.
So anyway, my spring has officially sprung! Woo-hoo! 😂
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #seedlings #SeedStarting #VegetableGardening
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2024-01-15 20:28:26

The freeze has arrived!
It was in the mid 30sF and raining off & on earlier today. I've been out winter prepping & the pots I was moving went from wet & drippy to actually shedding ice as I dislodged them!
Guess we've dropped a few degrees, lol.
***For context & those who don't know me - I live in Gulf Coast Texas. I realize a lot of the US has dangerous winter/deep freeze conditions right now & this may seem trivial, but actual freezes don't happen all that often for us.
#TexasGarden #Zone9b #winter #ice
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2024-01-15 02:15:59

Found a new author!
(new to me anyway lol)
The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu.
This one's been on my to-read list for quite a while. I'm about halfway thru (switching back & forth btwn audiobook/library book bc I'm weird like that).
I'm really into it. The whole thing is fascinating - deep, complex, thought-provoking, mysterious, mind-bending. It's honestly like the epitome of really cool sci-fi.
Always such a thrill to find a book that just pulls you in, y'know?
#NowReading #Bookstodon #TheThreeBodyProblem #CixinLiu #SciFi
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2024-01-06 19:18:01

A "pretty leaves" theme for this week's #SixOnSaturday
Soggy & wet in the garden this week. Other people's winters are beautiful snowy landscapes. Ours are swampy jungles & muck boots. 😂
#TexasGarden #Zone9b
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2023-12-30 18:39:26

A splash of color for the last #SixOnSaturday of the year. I didn't want to miss it!
(Editing to add/explain that I'm poking fun at myself bc I've missed quite a few of these lol. But I'll try to do better in 2024! 😊)
Details in alt-text.
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b
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2023-12-27 23:28:44

Adorable little mushroom in the yard this evening.
So tiny & nearly hidden amongst all that scraggly grass. Makes it feel like a secret hideaway. And I absolutely believe there were magical creatures having tea underneath it just before I went outside.
#mushroom #fungi #NaturePhotography
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2023-12-27 22:18:22

So for me it's always a gut punch whenever I discover a mutual has unfollowed me. Particularly if it's someone I thought was a friend.
The unfollow = an instant sledgehammer of RSD followed by lingering stress & anxiety.
Bc of course my brain spirals into immediate self-loathing. Did I do something wrong? Are they just sick of me? That little voice in my head sneers, "See, this is proof everybody hates you..."
(they don't - but my brain absolutely does)
But here's the thing: when a mutual unfollows me, I feel compelled to unfollow back.
I worry they'll think I'm being petty & vindictive. It's not that.
It's that I feel awkward & embarrassed. I read the unfollow as a clear "go away" signal. To keep following feels like I'm still hanging around even tho all the social cues are screaming "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE JUST LEAVE."
So I unfollow & slink away in shame - a feeling that never quite fades away.
#ActuallyAutistic #SocialAnxiety #RSD

2023-12-26 22:45:30

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My 2023 Garden 2/🧵
A short thread looking back over the year - see 1st post for details! 💚
(commentary in alt-text!)
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #butterfly
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2023-12-26 22:12:46

My 2023 Garden 🧵
A short thread looking back over the year. This is something I loved doing on the other site, so I'm trying it out here.
Not necessarily my best photos - more like a representative sample of things that stand out in my memory. Happy moments, celebrations, and gardening topics that are important to me personally.
Alt-text has commentary on each - the context & why I chose that particular photo, as well as goals for next year.
It was a busy year & I'm looking forward to 2024! Happy #gardening everyone! 💚
#TexasGarden #Zone9b
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2023-12-08 19:20:26

A few #FlowersOnFriday for my friends who like roses. 💛
Descriptions in alt-text.
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #flowers #roses
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2023-12-07 00:42:32

Just discovered #GardenAdventCalendar
Had no idea that was a thing, and I've no idea what the rules are, and *of course* I found it after it's probably too late to start 😂
But it's gorgeous. Highly recommend following the hashtag!
(just wanted to share!)

2023-12-02 19:37:39

Interesting news for US gardening folks - USDA updated the Plant Hardiness zones to reflect a warming trend.
My zone is one of the ones that shifted. I'm both surprised & not at all surprised. It's been getting steadily warmer & drier in my area for years. This last year has been surreal. Shocking & disorienting. It feels like I've moved somewhere new...except I haven't.
So the zone change comes as no surprise. But it's still jarring to see it reflected in an official guideline.
Makes it a bit too real, y'know?
#gardening #ClimateChange
https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2023/usda-unveils-updated-plant-hardiness-zone-map/

2023-11-02 20:12:15

That difficult thing of really, really needing to explain something...
but you just can't seem to find the right words to truly convey what you're trying to communicate...
so you keep explaining, and it turns into a novel length ramble that goes on & on...
and every cell in your body is cringing bc you just *know* it's too much - overthinking, oversharing - and you have this sinking feeling that people are rolling their eyes bc you're *being weird* and you're desperately afraid they just want to get away from you...
and the alarm bells are clanging in your brain that you should STOP TALKING IMMEDIATELY...
but you can't.
bc you just *need* to explain.
Yeah, that's a fun part of autism, isn't it?
(sarcasm, half-joking, laughing but wanting to cry sort of feeling)
#ActuallyAutistic #SocialAnxiety

2023-10-14 01:52:11

Something I never thought I'd be lucky enough to witness, much less photograph!!!
(and ok yeah it's bug sex lol - I'm just super fascinated w #dragonflies lately & this is so cool, please don't think I'm weird!)
Also interesting - I've only seen a Common Green Darner once in my garden - presumably just migrating thru. They're not one of the regular crowd. But they're super common & my guidebook says pretty much any pond will do. Well okay then. 😂
#TexasGarden #dragonfly #Odonata #NaturePhotography
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2023-10-12 00:52:12

Also...
Sorry I've not been scrolling since I returned - thus my lack of likes/interactions. I don't mean to be anti-social I swear!
It's bc images take *so long* to load. Like glacial, dial-up, dentist chair levels of torture slow. When I scroll I just see blurry boxes. I wish I had the patience for it but, yeah, no. 😂
But we finally got our 1000 back, so hopefully this will get resolved too & I can go back to scrolling again (and stop feeling like an anti-social troll lol). 💚

2023-10-12 00:39:32

The peach tree is acting a bit strange...lol.
I think the wild weather this year has just thrown everything so completely off. I know I feel topsy-turvy & stressed so I can only imagine how the plants feel. I actually asked my poor tree if it realized it was October. 😂
(description in alt-text)
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #PeachBlossom
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2023-10-04 23:39:24

Rain lilies popping up this week.
Some of the first flowers to return after an absolutely hellish summer - which *finally* seems to be over. We've dropped down to highs in the upper 80s & have been getting fairly reliable rain the last few weeks.
Such a huge relief to finally have my garden back. Now I've gotta get moving on fall veggies lol.
(details & musings in alt-text)
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #flowers
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2023-09-01 18:30:41

📷 From the archives
The one (and only) time I was able to get shots of a hummingbird! Strictly amateur pics that don't hold a candle to professional photographers. Shot thru a dirty window no less. 😂
But omg I can't tell you how thrilling it was! Actual non-blurry pics! Three months after the fact & I'm still giddy lol.
(Info & context in alt-text)
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #hummingbird #birding #NaturePhotography
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2023-08-24 01:41:25

A request...
Please use hashtags when discussing news & politics - particularly US politics.
And PLEASE add hashtags to your post when linking to news articles.
I've filtered every keyword & hashtag I can think of but a lot is still getting thru - particularly links & pics w no alt-text.
Please. I'm not asking for CW or censorship. Just please take a second to tack the hashtags of whatever you're discussing on the bottom of your post. I will be so very grateful! 💚
#politics #USPol #USPolitics

2023-08-17 20:37:52

Hello all,
I hate to say it but I'm close to giving up on Mastodon. 💔
Ever since the previous owner left & the server changed hands it's become frustrating to use.
For a while the problem was extremely slow load times (which was honestly really tedious). Now it's frequent error messages & trouble even logging in.
I'm not tech savvy. I've no idea why this server is having trouble. I've been hoping it would get better but it's just getting worse.
Please don't tell me to 'just migrate' like it's so simple. It may be easy for the tech folks but it was stressful & intimidating for me the one time I tried it. And with the fragmented & hyper-political nature of Mastodon I've no idea where I could even go that I would be welcome.
Anyway - just wanted to explain my absence. I feel so helpless & incredibly sad at this situation and I don't know how to make it better.
And I miss everyone here. I hope everyone is doing okay 💚
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2023-08-05 17:00:24

There's something really satisfying about letting basil flower & then seeing it covered in bees.
It's a side of #gardening that for a long time I didn't realize existed. I was focused on growing things I could eat & then promptly tearing them out as soon as they were "done."
But eventually I realized I might be done w the plant - but the wildlife certainly isn't.
(This morning a long-tailed skipper was laying eggs on old pole bean vines that are done producing but still green. I grew them for food but now they're a host plant for a butterfly I love.)
It's a really lovely side of gardening that makes me feel very connected to nature.
Anyway - just a few Saturday musings & a lot of happy bees lol.
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #bees #pollinators
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2023-08-04 19:04:19

A new dragonfly!
If I've got the ID right (Common Green Darner) then it's probably not very remarkable.
But I'm so excited bc it's a new type of dragonfly! All the others in my garden are skimmers. This one's in a whole new section of my dragonfly guide & that just makes me so ridiculously happy lol.
And wow is it gorgeous! Reminds me of antique jewelry - like something in a museum.
Most likely just migrating thru & not a new resident - but it absolutely made my day!
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #dragonfly #Odonata #NaturePhotography
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2023-08-03 16:40:36

This year's spring butterflies.
All of these were photographed (by me) in my small suburban garden.
I wanted to post this to show that #biodiversity does still exist. With all the climate doom & gloom in the news it sometimes feels really hopeless. Like a battle we've already lost.
But the butterflies are still here. So are the bees & other vital pollinators. It's not too late to protect them.
Gardens don't have to be expensive or elaborate to provide them a home. What matters is that we create space for #pollinators in our landscaped lives. Just adding a few flowers can make all the difference & help ensure these lovely creatures continue to survive.
It's worth the effort. I promise.
Thanks for reading this. 💚
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #butterflies #Lepidoptera
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2023-07-15 18:18:40

Just when I'm feeling frustrated & depressed about the sad state of my garden - this lovely Queen butterfly flutters over the fence and lands right in front of me.
Only the 2nd time I've ever seen one and that was 2 months ago. I didn't know any were still around. One quick landing & a single lucky photo. Then it was gone.
But it was the smile I needed.
(info in alt-text)
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #butterfly #Lepidoptera #NaturePhotography
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2023-07-15 16:28:54

Pretty pinks for this week's #SixOnSaturday
This might be my last Six on Saturday for a while. I hope not - but we've never had such a brutal summer before. Not like this. My garden has gone crispy.
I've a few flowers bravely trying to hang on but there's not many pretty photos I'm afraid. I might have to ration them, lol.
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #flowers
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2023-07-10 19:58:06

Poor little tadpoles.
Spotted the babies this morning (very exciting). Went out just now to try for better pics. Found this little bubble stranded in the middle of the pond.
It is scorching hot today. My weather app says it's 98° right now (feels like temp 115°).
Dunno how long they were stranded, but I'm glad I found them in time. They seemed okay & swam off when I tipped them back into the pond.
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #tadpoles #BackyardHabitat #pond #NaturePhotography
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2023-07-10 00:51:12

Gorgeous new arrival to my garden!
A male Needham's Skimmer
Surprisingly territorial. It's making a play for the pond - which 100% belongs to the male Blue Dashers. (Of the 8 species in my garden, they're the smallest but the fiercest - like little blue Chihuahuas lol)
There's quite a dragonfly battle going on out there. It's kinda fascinating.
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #dragonfly #Odonata #NaturePhotography
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2023-07-09 20:32:21

Time to say goodbye to my sunflower trees.
These are birdfeeder flowers that grew themselves. I sorta shrugged & said have at it. They took me literally lol.
They've been bee & butterfly magnets for months. It's been glorious.
But they've gone to seed & there's lots of stuff buried in there I actually planted intentionally. So it's time to tame the jungle.
More baby sunflowers are already on the way. And knowing me (and my lazy self) I'll probably let them go wild too. 😂
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #flowers
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2023-07-05 21:06:53

Okay so I know this dragonfly isn't actually smiling at me...
But I mean... 😂
Descriptive info in alt-text.
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #dragonfly #Odonata #NaturePhotography
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2023-07-02 18:31:09

A new butterfly!
A Sleepy Orange
Not a great photo but wow was I lucky to get it. It was behind the hedges & this was the best angle I could get without disturbing it.
It still fluttered away almost immediately. Bc of course, lol.
But it's so exciting! A butterfly I've never seen before & I got enough of a photo to ID it!
(please excuse me while I do a butterfly happy dance 😂 )
Info in alt-text.
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #butterfly #Lepidoptera #NaturePhotography
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2023-07-02 02:18:43

Caught in the act!
Now I know for sure what's been eating my Hibiscus flowers.
*my beautiful Hibiscus flowers that I absolutely adore*
Bad grasshopper. Very bad grasshopper lol.
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #grasshopper #insects
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2023-06-29 19:05:00

One of my fav volunteer flowers. They're just so pretty.
I know these as Tievine, but I've also seen it called Pink Morning Glory & Purple Bindweed.
I didn't plant it, and yeah, technically it's invasive. It's super aggressive & can cause problems if not kept in check.
But I have a very liberal attitude towards gardening lol. These are currently decorating a very boring set of hedges and I just think that's delightful.
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #flowers
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2023-06-27 15:15:53

Hello little ones 💚
The last week or so I've started finding these adorable little lizards all over my garden. It seems like every clump of foliage suddenly has a teeny tiny new resident.
Guess there's been a few hatchings, lol.
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #lizards #NaturePhotography
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2023-06-26 16:38:41

This made me smile.
I watched the carpenter bees gathering pollen from the Woolly Mallows this morning.
This one was so loaded down it actually had trouble flying. It had to land & sort itself out.
It made me laugh bc it had the exact same vibe of having too much stuff exploding from a suitcase and having to stop in the middle of the airport & repack it all to make everything fit. 😂
(see alt-text for notes on the photos)
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #bees #pollinators #NaturePhotography
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2023-06-24 22:23:26

A new butterfly in my garden!
A Long-Tailed Skipper
This one has been on my wish list for such a long time. I took over 200 pics of it (yes really). I was that giddy lol.
Its tails are shredded - but apparently that's common. My guides say it's nearly impossible to find one in perfect condition bc the tails are so fragile.
But oh it's just so beautiful!
And I spotted that caterpillar 2wks ago - so hopefully this is a sign my garden is a good host habitat for them!
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #butterfly #Lepidoptera #NaturePhotography
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2023-06-15 17:07:35

So this was unusual - a bee & butterfly sharing the same flower.
I'm sure it happens all the time...
But in my garden the bees almost always come barreling in and knock the butterfly off the flower. I mean the number of times I've said "Well that was rude" when snapping photos. 😂
So this was a very sweet moment.
(details in alt-text)
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #butterfly #bee #NaturePhotography
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2023-06-11 18:49:27

Another Lady!
Painted Lady has been on my wish list for a long time. A few days ago I was so thrilled to spot an American Lady - a variation I didn't even realize existed.
And now a Painted Lady has arrived!!! Two similar but uniquely exquisite butterflies. I've put them side-by-side for comparison for anyone who is interested (details in alt-text).
I just feel so incredibly lucky.
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #butterflies #Lepidoptera #NaturePhotography
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2023-06-02 23:59:18

Was taking pictures of a pretty sunflower in my garden when a butterfly landed on it.
Mid-click.
Well okay then. Guess I'm taking pictures of a butterfly. 😂
(lol - this legit made my day)
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #butterfly #Lepidoptera #NaturePhotography
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2023-06-02 15:06:17

A thrilling (and lucky) new find!
A Red-banded Hairstreak
This little beauty was so small & sitting so still I didn't even see it. I was trying to focus the camera on something else & had a major OMG moment when I realized it was there!
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #butterfly #Lepidoptera #NaturePhotography
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2023-06-01 15:21:44

The Woolly Mallows are blooming in my garden!
I just adore these flowers. They only last a day, but fortunately the buds open in succession so I'll get to enjoy them for quite a while.
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #flowers
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2023-05-29 02:22:39

I finally got a Sulphur photo!
These are a reliable butterfly for my area - very common. But they're so fast & fluttery. All I've ever gotten before are yellow blurs lol.
I'm a bit stuck w the ID. It's either a Cloudless Sulphur or an Orange-barred Sulphur. Both equally likely. The Cloudless are usually more neon-green tinged...but this could also be a newly emerged Orange-barred, which are yellow.
Dunno. But absolutely ecstatic either way. 😂
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #butterfly
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2023-05-20 14:07:18

I deleted my dragonfly post.
I really really love that photo. It's far & away the best I've ever taken. I'm still just in awe of it.
Then someone said to me "You know it'll get stolen, right?"
It was like being punched in the gut. Bc no, that hadn't even occurred to me.
And honestly? I'm seriously rethinking posting any photos. Maybe social media altogether.
Which makes me unbelievably sad.

2023-05-19 23:03:33

Held my breath for the longest time, watching, waiting for it to land.
I'm absolutely stunned I got this shot. This must be what magic feels like.
#TexasGarden #Zone9a #dragonfly #insects #NaturePhotography
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2023-05-18 18:06:01

Another first for me! Fairly certain this is a Queen butterfly.
Photo snapped just now & I was so excited I had to share. Thought it was a Monarch at first, but those white spots say otherwise.
I'm absolutely thrilled. Can't believe the luck I'm having w butterflies this year!
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #butterfly
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2023-05-17 22:52:23

A new butterfly!
Fairly certain it's a Variegated Fritillary. But someone absolutely please correct me if I'm wrong.
Oh, I'm so excited. I've seen them in my garden before but have never managed to get pics. It was fluttering around a little wildflower bed I have in my yard & believe you me I RAN to get the camera. 😂
#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9a #butterfly
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2023-05-09 00:31:41

Hello lovely folks! Reposting my #Introduction for my new instance. So happy to be here!
My interests are all over the place, but these are the things I'm most likely to post about:
#gardening #VegetableGardening #NativePlants #pollinators & sharing my very amateur #NaturePhotography from my #BackyardHabitat
#autism #SocialAnxiety #RSD & my #ActuallyAutistic experiences.
The occasional #baking #BreadBaking & #HomemadePizza
And I'm a huge #SciFi & #FantasyFiction nerd. If there's an alien or dragon involved, I'm here for it. #Whovian #Trekkie and a #hobbit at heart.
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