Jul 2007

Feb. 2, 2007      Century plants transplanted...

I transplanted 36 century plants from central Austin to the farm...These plants grow to a height of approximately 4 feet. The smaller plants grow at the base of the central plant....The smaller plants are not easy to remove because of the jagged sawtooth-like thorns on the edges of the parent leaves. These plants will not need watering and will provide habitat for rabbits and small mammals . I planted most of these shallow rooted plants in full sun and a few in the partial shade of some mesquite thickets.

Feb. 7, 2007      Juniper (cedar) budworm .....

I am looking for more information on these creatures. The larvae of the juniper budworm feed on the juniper foliage, they construct silken tubes and pupation occurs in the shelter where the larvae fed.

Many people are very allergic to the pollen from the juniper ashei (cedar). The male trees pollinate from December through February. The years of greater rainfall accelerate the production of pollen. The windblown pollen is produced mostly between 5am and 10 am on warm days. The least pollen is released during cold or rainy days during or immediately after rainfall.

The male trees are easy to identify in the winter when the pollen is evident. On the tips of the leafs are bulbous, golden structures that house the pollen. When the tree is saturated with pollen the tree has a rust color visible from a distance.

I have removed 25 juvenile junipers this month...I removed most of the male junipers on the top 5 acres of our 40 acre farm though two pollen producers that remain close to the farmhouse are causing my allergic reactions this month.

This website discusses juniper issues...
http://www.peopleagainstcedars.com/html/body_cedar_control.html

Feb. 15, 2007

I transplanted 5 bois d'arc (hedgeapple - osage orange) trees. Each was approximately 1 year old. They survive well with minimal watering and provide a grapefruit sized fruit much appreciated by the birds and small mammals, particularly squirrels who seem disappointed by the quality and quantity of my pecans this year.

There is another photo and info in the Oct 06 entry.

I am propagating many osage orange seedlings as well as olive size Texas persimmons. The seeds are embedded in the sticky fruit of the plant.

I planted two fig trees which I rooted from cuttings from a neighbor last year. The figs that will be produced are quarter sized.

Feb. 17, 2007 ......Barred Rock Rooster Eaten by Unknown Creature

The barred rock rooster met his end during the night. Apparently he didn't go into the chicken house. I close the door after dark. There are approximately 40 chichens altogether. Something dismembered the head and ate a small amount of the of the body not touching the legs or the meaty breasts.

A possum was on the porch a couple of nights ago looking for some dog food I guess. He took off promptly when I went to retrieve my camera.

Feb. 18, 2007 ......Baby Sheep Born

Another chicken eaten last night. One of the laying hens that normally sleeps in the tree outside the protected chickenyard was killed by an unknown creature during the night.

Two baby male sheep were born today. Immediately after birth the mother licks them clean which helps her bond to them and forever recognize their individual smells. By cleaning them she will prevent coyotes or other predators from being attracted to the smell of the new births. The baby sheep instinctively search for her teets and finally begin to suck the nutrient rich colostrum which gives them immunity to disease. Soon the colostrum free milk will sustain them. Once the babies begin to suck from the mother the placenta is released from the uterine wall. The mother then will eat the nutrient rich placenta which provides her with energy and eliminates all evidence of the birth which helps protect the new born from predators.

All of the native mammal wildlife birth in this way.

Feb. 18, 2007 ....Unidentified Egg

This nest is in a small hackberry tree approximate 4' off the ground. The egg is the size of a chicken egg. Another egg of that size couldn't fit into this nest. Do you know what kind of bird it might be?

JimLutz@bolaman.com

Feb. 24, 2007 ...."Look What the Cat Dragged In"

Our "Curious George" housecat is quite the hunter. He entered an evening party of guests with a mouthful of cardinal and them let the bird go to recatch in the kitchen. I was able to catch the bird who survived. I put him on a tree branch...later the cat got out of the house and brought the cardinal back in...I was very surprised that the cat recaught this majestic creature.....When the guests left I recaught the cardinal, once again placed him outside and grounded the cat for the remainder of the night in the confines of the farmhouse.