Magilla Purple Perilla for the Porch

  

Finding something that will tolerate our hot, humid Gulf Coast summers and thrive (or at least not immediately die) in my concrete planters is always something of a challenge. On a trip to Lowe's, right before the state went into lockdown in March, I found these beauties.

MagillaPurple Perilla looks a lot like coleus and the amount of sun it gets determines the color of the leaves. Even though they are on the front porch (north side of the house), we are far enough south that they do get sun in the morning and afternoon. The plant on the right gets more than the other so some of its leaves are more purple than green.

The planters came from my Grandmother's house and are at least 70 years old. They are about 1 cubic foot so the planting area is not very large. The plants are spreading out nicely and so far there is no sign of roots coming out the drain hole. According to the tag in the pot, purple perilla needs "regular watering". I have no idea what that means so I just give 'em a drink every other day and it seems to be working. As our summer heat ramps up I may need to make that an every day occurrence. They came through last week's flooding rain and wind from Tropical Storm Cristobal with flying colors. The tag also says they are good for USDA plant hardiness zones 10-11 and since our area is zone 9a, which is further north than that, they might have a chance of making it. I'll let you know what happens.

My Favorite Bird I Have Never Seen

© Luke Seitz - Macaulay Library

Every year, between May 1st and 5th, I wait to hear the first Chuck-will's-widow calling out in the evening. His very distinctive call cannot be mistaken for anything else. This year he was in one of the trees in the backyard and he called out all evening and into the night. I've have never been able to spot one of these elusive birds, but I know exactly when to start listening for their night time calls. 

Early Morning Visitor

Great Horned Owl

Since he can't move his eyes from side to side, he has to turn his head.

The birds were going crazy in the far back corner of the yard - blue jays screaming, crows squawking, and red-winged blackbirds letting out ear-piercing whistles. After a bit of searching the trees with the binoculars, the Taller Half scoped out this magnificent fellow - a great horned owl. We often hear the deep, haunting calls of great horned owls in the evening, especially in the spring, but he didn't have anything to say that particular morning. Just sitting, not talking. The lot on the other side of our neighbors has recently been cleared for development and we think he may have lived in one of the now gone trees. For several mornings now, he's been sitting in one of our oaks - maybe he's house hunting. He's welcome to stay.

Lizards Wear Blue Eye Shadow?

Carolina green anole

This little Carolina green anole (Anolis carolinensis) was definitely ready for his closeup. I took the photo a couple of years ago and since then we have seen fewer and fewer of these colorful lizards around the patio and yard due to the invasion of Cuban brown anoles (Anolis sagrei). Green anoles eat lots of the insects that plague us so in the Deep South but the Cuban browns are devastating their population by eating their eggs and babies. Research has found that the green lizards have shifted to living higher in the trees in order to stay out of the Cuban brown lizards' reach. My own research has revealed that even though my cats will catch a green anole any time they get a chance, they are not at all interested in the brown ones. Maybe they aren't so tasty? Who knows? Little Bubba and Lady Gaga the Cat are keeping pretty schtum on the matter.

Coffee with A Turtle

Gulf Coast box turtle

We had an early morning visitor during our Stay at Home time. I believe she is a Gulf Coast box turtle (Terrapene carolina major) and I'm basing my assumption that she is a she on the fact that males have red eyes and she did not. She marched out from under the huge Southern Indian azaleas (Rhododendron indicum) where I think she has a nest, and was headed for the woods behind the house. I interrupted her stroll long enough to put her in the red wheelbarrow and snap a few photos before taking her back to the pile of dead magnolia leaves and sending her on her merry way. 

They're Not Weeds to Me

Daisy Fleabane & Blue Toadflax

Spring on the northern Gulf Coast comes early and doesn't last very long. Daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus) and blue toadflax (Nuttallanthus floridanus) began blooming in early February this year and I picked these in mid-March before the Taller Half could begin his assault with the mower. They lasted almost a week on the patio table before they finally wilted. Naturally I used an heirloom Solo cup to display them. We're all about style here at the mansion.