Understory Garden

06/05/2026

Joey keeping it real as usual. No, Californians moving to Texas aren’t the problem. Lots of people are in need of a wake up call, we’re only as good as we treat each other and the land.

TEXAS needs to hear this, and I know I'll be deleting comments from dumb-as-a-brick meatheads for the next three days but it's worth it to me :

Another small lot full of rare plants in Austin is now set to be bulldozed and turned into - of all things - a car dealership. I've seen Pediomelum latestipulatum growing here along with all kinds of other cool and unique pieces of the Edwards Plateau and hill country prairie/juniper woodland landscape.

This isn't "CALIFORNIANS MOVING HERE", you jadrool-bastard-morons, it's your people and the s**tty corrupt politicians that Texans choose to elect. So tired of hearing this "locals only" rhetoric that you'd normally hear coming out of burnt out surfers in Southern California.

Texans love being "anti-outsider" because it's easier than admitting that greedy, sleazy elements of your own culture encouraged and supported this. If you had a culture that supported conservation over money, and if you elected politicians that weren't owned by developers, you wouldn't be facing these problems. If you had politicians that INCENTIVIZED conservation and offered the kind of tax breaks or buyouts that they offer to developers, you'd have more beautiful land around you. Start cultivating that kind of culture ... It's not that hard to do.

I see this same nonsense happening in Florida. "Stop moving here". Yeah, sure, believe me, you couldn't pay me to...but how about you stop voting for greedy slimey dirtbag politicians who are owned by developers and construction companies. You realize the financial incentives to turn every last little bit of YOUR land into the ugliest, most bleak commercial s**t imaginable are huge?

At the end of the day these are Texans (whatever that even means anymore) that are choosing to sell their lots rather than conserve them. These are Texan politicians that are giving tax incentives to developers in order to try to get them to erect their s**tty projects. These are Texan construction companies that are getting the contracts to build these monstrosities. Worry about keeping your own side of the street clean and then you can start s**tting on Californians.

If you're tired of over-development, start voting like it.

To all the snobs whining about me posting the location : without the location the entire point of this post is missing. People need something they know and can connect it to.

To anybody who wants to "rescue" (steal and loot) plants : we don't know the full status of this parcel yet. There's a small chance it could be saved or the owners can be convinced to steward it. Don't get stupid and greedy. The "rescue" can kill the plants and should only be done by professionals who know what they're doing and know that you have to remove 80% of the shoots so that they don't keep trying to pull moisture from roots that are severely damaged. It is something that needs to be done by professionals with experience or else the plants die.

06/03/2026

Harvested a little garlic today!

05/27/2026

Progress update of our front yard after last night’s soaking rain. We could not have asked for better weather this year while things get established, all from seed and small transplants. In just 6 months we’ve gone from grass to this diverse mix of 40+ species of 100% Texas native plants. In the pics are heartleaf skullcap, common sunflowers, and a mass planting of inland sea oats surrounding our oak. We’re looking forward to sitting on the front porch this fall and watching the birds feeding on seed heads.

05/21/2026

Before and after of a little native planting we’ve been working on. There’s many varieties of native species in the mix but right now lemon beebalm and black-eyed susans are the stars of the show.

05/15/2026

Front porch plant sale this weekend starting Saturday! Update: Yes still plants available Sunday. Lots of our favorite natives and other hard to find plants! Seed packs gathered from our garden too, sorted for planting now - melons, okra, cucumbers, more! Our sales are honor system and contactless, we trust y'all to be cool and not take things without payment. All plants are grown in organic soil from seed or cuttings. Cash, Cash App, Venmo only, no other payment method. Scan codes on table or PM me for cash instructions. I’m not able to hold plants. PM if it's your first time visiting and need our address!

I have limited ability to answer detailed growing instructions but names of all plants are included below for your Googling convenience.

Native Western Ironweed- Important host plant and forage for pollinators. Masses of show stopping magenta flowers. Sun, part sun, dappled shade under trees. $6, 6 packs and larger singles available.

Native Coralberry- Sun, part sun, dappled shade under trees. Produces hot pink berries that make excellent bird forage. It’s a great option for tricky shady areas where other things won't grow. $10.

Native Maypop Passionflower- if you are looking for a host plant for fritillary butterflies only native passionflowers will work. They cannot live on most of the ones commonly found in garden centers. This vining plant produces huge beautiful blooms and edible fruit that tastes like lemon cream. Used in herbal medicine. Most of us have fences, why not use the space for vines to support pollinators and grow food? Sun or part sun. $10. Two plants in most of the 1 gallon pots, divide if you like or plant them together.

Native Missouri Violet- Spreading shade groundcover with tiny purple flowers. Butterfly host plant. Used in herbal medicine. $6.

Creeping Ruellia- spreading groundcover with showy purple flowers. Non native but non invasive. Not the same as as Mexican Petunia which can be highly invasive. This is well-behaved Ruellia squarrosa, ‘Blue Shade’. Part sun to shade. $6.

Celeste Figs $10

Lots of Mint! Chocolate, English, Kentucky Colonel, Thai, Apple, Eu de Cologne, Strawberry, and Basil Mint. Pay what you can.

Seeds packs from our tried and true favorite high producers in our garden- $3.

05/04/2026

Pics of all the wonderful things in the gardens right now. Everything is abuzz with life and beauty! We can’t get enough of this Texas native echinacea, the colors are jaw dropping!

04/11/2026

Garden visitors today- green anole in a patch of native Heartleaf Skullcap, firefly hanging out on Tulsi seedlings, interesting species of flower moth on Antelope Horn Milkweed, and a coachwhip snake. Ursula, just so you know the snake was at the Community Garden and is the fastest snake in North America 😆

04/03/2026

There's two forms of natural pest control in this picture. But only one made me scream 😅

Hint- it's not the mosquito bucket of doom. If you haven't yet, please consider setting one of these up! Mark suggested I put the ratsnake on a leash and use it to scare the squirrels out of our garden!

03/21/2026

For anyone who missed the last post- Front porch plant sale is happening now! Grown in organic soil with seeds saved from our own garden.

$4 hard shelled kettle gourds for crafting. They are unbothered by squash vine borers and are fun and easy to grow. Seeds saved from gourds pictured. They’re a great shape for birdhouses, bowls, lamps, or whatever else you can imagine.

$4 Japanese Tiger Melon, Sakata's Sweet Melon- delicous small melons that are prolific and easy to grow! If you have a hard time growing watermelons grow these. They never disappoint.

$4 Heartleaf Skullcap - Texas native perennial plant for part sun or shade. One of our favorites for ease of care and pollinator support. Rare to find in nurseries.

$6 Cardinal Climber- hummingbird favorite annual vine. Covers a trellis quickly with tons of tiny red flowers.

$6 Elderberry- beautiful large shrub with tons of uses! culinary, wine, traditional medicine, and feeds birds and pollinators. Very easy to grow. This variety is Texas native Sambucus canadensis.

$10 rooted Celeste fig cuttings. Some cuttings have taken well, some are still in progress. Buy the whole pot and get multiple trees for a great price. Figs are among the easiest fruit to grow in Texas.

$2 seed packets from our own garden. All of these varieties we have personally tested over the years and found to be top performers. Melons, cucumbers, Mexican Sunflowers, lots more!

Self serve front porch pickup in Block House, Leander. PM for address. Venmo scan code is on table or PM if you need to pay cash. Everything set up now! I’m not able to do reservations so try to come early because some things sell out quickly. Thank you for supporting our little garden 💚

03/20/2026

Front porch plant sale this weekend- Saturday and if anything left Sunday! Grown in organic soil with seeds saved from our own garden.

$4 hard shelled kettle gourds for crafting. They are unbothered by squash vine borers and are fun and easy to grow. Seeds saved from gourds pictured. They’re a great shape for birdhouses, bowls, lamps, or whatever else you can imagine.

$4 Heartleaf Skullcap - Texas native perennial plant for part sun or shade. One of our favorites for ease of care and pollinator support. Rare to find in nurseries.

$6 Cardinal Climber- hummingbird favorite annual vine. Covers a trellis quickly with tons of tiny red flowers.

$6 Elderberry- beautiful large shrub with tons of uses! culinary, wine, traditional medicine, and feeds birds and pollinators. Very easy to grow. This variety is Texas native Sambucus canadensis.

$10 rooted Celeste fig cuttings. Some cuttings have taken well, some are still in progress. Buy the whole pot and get multiple trees for a great price. Figs are among the easiest fruit to grow in Texas.

$2 seed packets from our own garden. All of these varieties we have personally tested over the years and found to be top performers. Melons, cucumbers, Mexican Sunflowers, lots more!

Self serve front porch pickup in Block House, Leander. Venmo scan code is on table or PM if you need to pay cash. I’ll have everything set up by 9 am Saturday. I’m not able to do reservations so try to come early because some things sell out quickly. Thank you for supporting our little garden 💚

PM for address