Tuesday's Surprise... Boxelder Seed Clusters.. How Exciting!!

I got to enjoy the beautiful dry weather today and work outside for a few hours before getting some indoor chores done. I went outside to spray for fire ants, plant some transplant tree seedlings that I discovered out near the fence row, and trim some dead blooms from my rose bushes. As I was walking around some of my larger sized trees on my tree row, I discovered that my boxelder tree had several clusters of seeds. This was a delight because I had not expected this at all and it was absolutely beautiful to the clusters swaying in the wind. I picked some of the clusters to alllow them to dry so that I could start them in pots or in one side of the larger flower beds. I am looking forward to seeing these seeds grow out a new tree. Check out how cool my tree looks as it grows in my tree row... sorry if that sounds too nerdy.. :D

I can not believe how tall my tree has gotten since doing minor pruning as needed, as I really do not like to trim my trees very much, because to me, it adds to their beauty as well as providing privacy, a wind break, and something for the birds to enjoy perching on each day. I used to hang out bird feeders, but in 2023, there was a tornado that came through this area, which brought strong winds, and I lost every bird feeder I had, including my hummingbird feeders. This was ok by me, because I am so glad that God allows all of my beautiful flowers to bloom so that the hummingbirds can enjoy them. It brings my heart such joy to watch hummingbirds visit each flower and never missing a single bloom. As you can see in the photos, the leaves resemble poison oak/poison ivy, which for the times that I never could think of the name off the top of my head, I would call boxelders "poison oak trees". Please note that they are not poison oak/poison ivy.. just a nickname I gave them when I couldn't think of the name.

The seed clusters are so unique that they just seem to stand out, as they are shaped like miniature boomerangs, with lumps where the actual seed is. I have the seeds drying on the mantel and plan to plant them this week sometime before the 5-6 days of rain comes back. Yes... more rainy days ahead... I know.. this means getting to get seeds planted is going to be further delayed. This means late gardening, but I have to admit, I just can not get over how wet this spring was and how wet this summer is actually becoming. Praying this does not mean that we will have a droughty, how late summer and fall.

Awesome seed clusters above as you can see... aren't they just lovely??? I just really love how my beautiful boxelder made seeds for the first time and I have had this tree since 2019, when it was a transplant that was around 4 foot tall. It came from a neighbor, who had no idea what it was, but brought it to me to see if I knew what this oddity was. I love how people will bring plants, seeds, trees, or vines to me for identification.. I guess I realized 26 years ago, I should have been a horticulturlist... it took me that many years to realize my calling. I absolutely adore gardening and working with flowers. I have learned how to root things from trial and error which has helped me fine tune my gardening skills. I think of myself as a garden nerd, because I always have 5-7 vases of water with plants, tree seedlings, or cuttings that I am rooting all through the growing season. I also have a vat which I start cuttings in, using my home-made rooting agent.

I hope to have a lot more black willow cuttings planted by the end of summer, and I just may decide to plant some of them in the tree row beside my boxelder. I have also figured out a few things about dealing with crepe mrytles.. but that is another story for another day. Hopeing to have more plants ready to fill in bare spots of the 2 larger flower gardens in order to help reduce grass and weeds from growing and I am 85% of the way towards that goal. If I can succeed in my goal, I have found a way to maintain my flower gardens, using less maintainence which means only working through them once or twice during the course of the entire growing season. I love this concept and have been working agressively towards that goal for many years now. I have tried to explain my method to others, and several folks have shown interest in it.

The goal is getting closer, as I have found ways to provide a way to mulch areas where there really thick grass and weeds. I worked last week on getting most of the artemesia and mint trimmed a little lower, which was used for mulching as much as I could. I also trimmed back the yellow flag irises, as they have completed their blooming cycle and gone to seed. The thicker the cut back material is, the better the results. No worries... the flag irises, mint, artemesia, and spidewort have already grown back out. The spiderwort is already blooming out again. I will end it here for tonight... planning to update net post with some photos of the process so far.. to understand it you have to see it. Take care and until next post.. may God bless!!