Lisa’s Wildlife Haven Near the Southernmost Point of Texas

In the extreme and punishing conditions of South Texas, this garden is a oasis for local wildlife and pollinators

Hi GPODers !

Today we ’re venturing to a part of the US we do n’t get to see very often on the blog ( If you ’re from this area and lurking on GPOD , please send in some photos of your gardens ! ) . We ’re heading to Weslaco , Texas to see the pollinator and wildlife harbor that is Lisa Kay Adam ’s garden .

For the last four years , I ’ve lived in a bungalow in a 55 + community near the very southerly edge of Texas ( geographical zone 10a ) . I have a little terrace of container plant and three garden beds around my 850 sq . ft . house . I use my grooming as a Texas Master Naturalist to help oneself me select plant that bet right , last our brutal summers , and serve wildlife . Even in my limited infinite , I ’ve identified over three dozen species of animals directly using my industrial plant for food for thought or shelter .

This farseeing bed filled with just a few species is where most of the action is . Despite its small blush , the row of magniloquent turk ’s cap(Malvaviscus arboreus var . drummondii , Zones 7–11)is a hummingbird buffet , both for migrate crimson - throated heater and our year - round buff - bellied species . Turk ’s hood also provides yield for mockingbirds and kiskadees , and serves as a butterfly stroke host plant . Mounding Orange River zexmenia(Wedelia acapulcensisvar.hispida , geographical zone 8–11)serve as legion and ambrosia plants , and less goldfinch gobble their germ . In the corner , American beautyberry(Callicarpa americana , Zones 6–10)and ( not visible ) a native Chile pequin(Capsicumannuum , Zones 9–11)give extra fruit for birds . Interspersedred yucca(Hesperaloeparvilfora , Zones 6–11)provide nectar during blooming .

A fountain and boo feeder , as well as the live oak(Quercus virginiana , Zones 8–10)in a shared courtyard , draw additional species . ( I do n’t commend the granite mulch , by the path — in this area it raises the temperature too much and does n’t add nutrients to the dirt — but it is required by my residential district . )

It would n’t be Texas without a Texas “ sage ” or cenizo(Leucophyllumfrutescens , Zones 8–10 ) , which is also a host plant life for the Theona checkerspot . Also featured in this photo are a young Rio Grande bbl cactus(Ferocactus hamatacanthus var . sinuata , Zones 7–10 ) , pale leafage yucca(Yuccapallida , Zones 6–10)frogfruit(Phyda nodiflora , Zones 7–11),and a cultivar of Lantana camara . I add the frogfruit soil cover as a master of ceremonies plant for the white peacock butterflies I often see nectaring at the lantana .

Many of our aboriginal species have small leaves and flower as an adaptation to reduce moisture personnel casualty . This heartleaf hibiscus(Hibiscus martianus , Zones 8–10)still puts on a show in part shade with its 2 column inch blooms .

I opt to use native plants , but I sometimes acquire specie slenderly out of my kitchen stove , magnetic north or due south . Hummingbirds and carpenter bees both love the tubelike blooms peek out of flushed bracts on the Mexican shrimp plant(Justicia brandegeeana , Zones 9–11 ) .

queen regnant flirt flock to the ambrosia of Gregg ’s mistflower(Conoclinium greggii , Zones 7–10 ) .

On trellises , I have 3 kinds of passionflowers(Corkystem passionflower , Passiflorasuberosa;blue passionflower , P. caerulea;and twoflowered passionflower vine , P. biflora , Zones 6–11)for fritillary butterflies . I ’m delighted when cat eat them down to the stems ; the plants have evolved to come back sizable after louse depredation . Above , Passiflora biflora .

gloomy passionflower , Passiflora cerulea

A peek - a - boo fritillary cat chomping on the leaf of Passiflora cerulea .

give thanks you so much for sharing your beautiful and beneficial garden , Lisa ! For northerly gardeners like myself , see your planting is a delightful maraud into plant we ’re only capable to grow as yearbook or are not familiar with at all .

Have photos to share ? We ’d love to see your garden , a particular aggregation of plant you love , or a wonderful garden you had the prospect to see !

To submit , station 5 - 10 photos to[email protected]along with some selective information about the plants in the movie and where you take on the photo . We ’d love to get a line where you are located , how long you ’ve been gardening , successes you are majestic of , failures you learned from , hopes for the future , favorite plants , or funny history from your garden .

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