Viewing post #623683 by flaflwrgrl

Do you recall that I was sowing wildflower seeds on the knocked down pocket gopher mounds? I promised I would report back on the results. I'm thrilled to say it's working!
Almost every single mound I sowed with seed has *something* growing on it. It's early days yet so the plants are small & many have not grown enough to bloom yet but I see progress every week. In particular, the phlox are showing up in every flattened mound as well as cosmos. These are just some random pics I've shot over the last 2 weeks. Be sure to click to embiggen or you won't see much.








I'm not sure what this is --- some kind of coreopsis? --- lousy photo -- the skeeters were buzzing my ears so I was anxious to get out of there.


Here's the leaf




For the most part, you really can't see these flowers yet as you look out over the property as they are not large or profuse enough yet & the grasses & weeds already had a head start on them. But Rome wasn't built in a day & 6 ac. does not get covered in wildflowers in a year. But it's a start! And now I know it works. I will be sowing more this year. Sorta funny to wish the pocket gophers make lots of mounds so I can sow lots of seeds.

Before we bought this place, they kept a low-boy trailer parked out in the field so underneath where it had been parked was pretty bare. I had some seed heads from rudbeckia hirta & last year about this time, I tossed some over that whole area. Never saw any sign of life from them until this year. Now look! They're just coming into bloom.



I didn't plant these; they are native orchids & much to my great joy, there are thousands of them all over the place. The blooms are so tiny that you will not notice them unless you are walking amongst them & then you begin to see them. As you start looking around, you spy more & more & more. These are so charming & I always am in awe when I see them. Spiranthes or Ladies Tresses.




And there is some native lantana growing at the edge of the oaks on our east boundary.