As a species, I’ve found, we tend to remove ourselves from the natural world. I contemplate the reasons for this, but I can say, I don’t understand it. By choice, I search for my place in nature and let that dictate my place in this ‘other world’ created by mankind.

Though we have access to more information than any prior generation, true knowledge and understanding comes from tasting, smelling, seeing, hearing, and feeling the world around us. Hunting is a resource that allows me to use these senses to learn my place in the ‘Big Picture’. Gathering plants and learning their uses is another one of those resources. By using these resources, I’ve not only opened myself up to the ‘real world’ that surrounds me but also to another side of my psyche that posesses the best traits of a true ‘Human Being’. This part of me is linked to a people all of us are connected to somewhere deep inside ourselves, ‘The Hunter Gatherers’.

Where these two worlds and these two ‘pieces of me’ collide, I find myself hunting every chance I get, to establish my niche among the animals, and working with plants, not only to pay the bills but also to allow these two worlds to coexist.

Back in December, Jason Parrish posted an article he had found on the National Wildlife Federation’s website called, “Why Garden For Wildlife?“  Under the comments section of this post I wrote the following statement.

“For a time I worked clearing sights for new homes to be built. We would go into an area that was once a ranch and wildlife would be everywhere. Lot by lot we would remove every bit of native vegetation save oak or elm trees. Slowly the wildlife would disappear. Then the landscapers would replace everything with nonnative plants, that not only didn't attract wildlife, but required extensive watering. I would cringe watching youpons, persimmons,agarita, turks cap and other wonderful native plants stripped away and hauled off to a landfill somewhere. I guess the thing that struck me the most, was people would buy into these subdivisions because they were surrounded by beautiful countryside. Inevitably all that would disappear as another and another developer would move into the area. Sometimes I just gotta scratch my head.”

I’ve kept in contact with some of the owners of the site clearing companies and am able to go into areas that are being cleared to rescue as many native plants as I can before they are scraped away. I’m able to use these plants from time to time in my work.

As a business, I provide lawn care, tree trimming, and landscaping services to my customers. Every now and again I get a chance to take property and restore some of the wonderful native plants that grow here in Texas and are attractive not only to my customers, but to wildlife as well.

Since I’ve been so busy lately and have had little time for hunting, or much of anything else, I’d like to share one the projects I’ve just completed with ya’ll.

First, here are some before and after pictures of the area I worked with.

This is the back center of the yard before we got started.

 ...and after, with a little time the entire fence area will be  covered with native vegetation.

 Here I am trying to look busy in the back corner.

 ...and a veiw of the same area after completion.

>

 This is looking at the house from the fence.

I used a few tons of local stone and gravel to fashion the wall around the plant beds and to create this patio area.

Into this area, I was able to plant twelve species of native plants, all of which have flowers, fruit, or both that are attractive to butterflies, birds, and mammals. Now, if I could get everyone to tear down thier fences we’d be in business. The following are pictures of the plants as well as a little infomation on each of them. 

These first three I planted in a shady area as understory plants.

Roughleaf Dogwood: a cousin to the flowering Dogwood we all know. Flowers in April and May. Fruit is eaten by turkey and quail as well as many small mammals. The plant is also a host to the azure blue butterfly. Why is it called dogwood? The bark from an English species can be boiled to make a bath that will kill the mites that cause mange on dogs. HMMMMM. 

Above: The fruit of the Roughleaf Dogwood

Below: The Azure Blue Butterfly

American Beauty Berry: Songbirds and small mammals eat the berries which ripen in the fall. I eat them as well, they have a bit of a medicinal flavor but they’re pretty good. Maybe a little better for making jelly.  Beauty berry is a great shade loving plant that flowers in late spring and early summer.

Above: The fruit of the American Beauty Berry

Below: The form of the Beauty Berry shrub

Red Bud Tree: Edible flowers and young seed pods, fast growing, drought tolerant, pest resistant, and a host to Henry’s elfin butterfly. One of the first tree to bloom in spring with it’s beautiful pink flowers. What more could you ask for?  

Above: The flowering tree and the seed pods of the Texas  Red Bud   

Below: Henry's Elfin Butterfly                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

The next area recieves sun part of the day, but becomes shady in mid-afternoon. 

Huisache: I first became familiar with this tree on the trail that leads down to the Boquillas crossing in the Big Bend of Texas. It’s a member of the Acacia family and it’s flowers are among the most fragrant I’ve ever smelled. Birds eat the seeds and bees make honey from the blossoms. Humans use the flowers to make a perfume; seed pods to make an ink, and the sap to make a glue. 

Above: The early spring flowers of the Huisache Tree

Turk’s Cap (Texas Mallow): Edible flowers and fruit; flowers start blooming in June and the fruit ripens from August through September. Flowers are an important source of nectar for Ruby Throated Hummingbirds and many butterflies. Fruit is also eaten by birds and mammals. Although this plant generally loves the shade, it will tolerate some sun.

Above: The flowers then the fruit of Turk's Cap

Below: The Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Agarito (Agarita): The flowers are an important food source for bees, and the fruit from this bush is ripe in late spring ( right now ). The taste reminds me of cranberries; they are good fresh or can be used for making jelly. The berries are hard to gather with your hands because of the pointed leaves. I use a glove, but still the task can be tedius. The roots of this plant can be used to make a yellow dye. Just peel a little bark away from from the base and you’ll see why. 

Above: The flowers Of the Agarito

Below: The Fruit of the Agarito

The next area recieves sun all day. Here I used all desert plants. 

Red Yucca: This plant has a nice red flower that  attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, while being drought and deer resistant. Plus, it’s just plain pretty. 

Above: A Red Yucca Plant (how the one I planted will look in a few years)

Below: The flower of the Red Yucca

Purple Sage (Cinezo) : This plant will bloom after rains from spring to fall. Deer will sometimes brouse the leaves, and bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers. It is a host plant to Theona Checkerspot Butterfly. 

Above: The flowering Purple Sage bush (though this plant is not a true sage, that's what I've always called it)

Below: The individual flowers of the Purple Sage

Below Again:  The Theona Checkerspot Butterfly

Spanish Dagger: Another member of the Yucca family, this plant had many uses to Native Americans. Soap was made from the roots for washing clothes and hair. Rope, cloth, mats, baskets, and sandals were made from the leaves and fibers. I’ve eaten the flowers raw, but I learned from a friend in Mexico they’re better cooked in oil, boiled, or steamed. Birds nest in this plant for protection, deer brouse on the flowers, and it is a host plant for the Yucca Moth.

Above: The Spanish Dagger I planted

Below: What it will look like as it grows and blooms

Below Again: The Yucca Moth ( not much to look at  but they have thier space )

I also added three varieties of cacti into the mix, because it wouldn’t be Texas without them. 

Prickly Pear: I planted two variety: a Blind Prickly Pear  which has minute spines that can get the eyes of cattle when they feed on the pads, hence the name; and a Texas Prickly Pear, which most of us are all too familiar with. In both varieties, the young pads can be eaten raw or cooked. The mucus from the pads can be used as a hair conditioner and the fruit is frequently made into candies or jelly. The fruit can also be eaten raw, if either carefully peeled to get rid of the hair like spines; or dipped into boiling water for a few seconds to soften the spines, then peeled. The flowers attract bees and butterflies and the pads are a staple of the javelina (not that we’ll see any in Austin). 

Above: The Texas Prickly Pear I planted with yellow flowers

Below: How the fruit will look as it matures

Horse Crippler: A barrel like cactus that get’s it’s name from the stiff thorns it posseses. The fruit has a citrus flavor and is ripe in the fall. At times, I’ve sustained myself for hours on this fruit while walking in the desert across from the Big Bend.

Above: The Horse Crippler Cactus  in bloom (the thorns say it all)

Below: The Horse crippler as I planted it

I enjoy my job immencely, working physically outdoors has always been appealing to me and as I’ve said, “It’s not my job that has taught me about plants, but my search for knowledge about my natural enviroment that has led me towards this career.”

We are all a part of nature, no matter how much the seductions of ‘ civilized ‘ society tries to pry us away from it. As my time in this place passes, I hope, wish, and pray that people realize what has been and is being taken from them. Little by little, with time and understanding, I’d like to see us all pitch in and Take It Back. 

http://picasaweb.google.com/aiyubing/LandscapingProject

Here is a link to a slide show my client put together for her website.

Images and Files: View all 31 photos / videos here.