~photo by Suzanne * Fort Worth, TX * Nov. 9, 2013
G'Day to you all. Did you know that there is actually a 'G'Day' week in Australia? I think it was during the first week in November, so 'G'DAY'!!! And above is my private garden, also flourishing during the first week in November. Looking good with begonias, mondo grass, vinca ground cover, a pot of mums, and fern. I was actually pleased that two pots of my mums from last October did come back for a repeat performance of blooms this fall!
***
Last weekend, we took a day trip to Karo's hometown, Bridgeport, Texas. He drove us through town, showing us where the old Rock Island train depot used to sit...torn down now. All that's left are the tracks that still go through town.
~photo by Suzanne * Bridgeport, TX * Nov. 16, 2013
We visited the site where one of Karo's parents' first cafes, The Frontier, had been in the 1960's. Somewhere near 1966, The Frontier Cafe was moved to another part of Bridgeport. The empty lot is really grown up with brush and, our shoes were full of goat head stickers when we got finished walking through!
~ The Frontier Cafe * Bridgeport, TX * 1961
Along the way we stopped to visit the cemetery where Karo's parents and other family members are buried. The cemetery is called 'Old Town Cemetery', and, you'll find quite a few old tombstones from the late 1800's and early 1900's here.
Not being a really large cemetery, it's easy to walk through most of it. Well, I was just looking around for items of interest, and spotted a strange looking tree off in the distance. The tree had sort of a blue cast to it...my curiosity urged me on to get a closer look.
Looks like a giant Christmas tree doesn't it?
~photo by Suzanne * Bridgeport, TX * November 16, 2013
~Some kind of fir tree * photo by Suzanne
Last weekend, we took a day trip to Karo's hometown, Bridgeport, Texas. He drove us through town, showing us where the old Rock Island train depot used to sit...torn down now. All that's left are the tracks that still go through town.
We visited the site where one of Karo's parents' first cafes, The Frontier, had been in the 1960's. Somewhere near 1966, The Frontier Cafe was moved to another part of Bridgeport. The empty lot is really grown up with brush and, our shoes were full of goat head stickers when we got finished walking through!
Along the way we stopped to visit the cemetery where Karo's parents and other family members are buried. The cemetery is called 'Old Town Cemetery', and, you'll find quite a few old tombstones from the late 1800's and early 1900's here.
Not being a really large cemetery, it's easy to walk through most of it. Well, I was just looking around for items of interest, and spotted a strange looking tree off in the distance. The tree had sort of a blue cast to it...my curiosity urged me on to get a closer look.
Looks like a giant Christmas tree doesn't it?
* So, after doing some digging around, which is what I do best, lol, I discovered that this tree is called an Ashe Juniper, or 'Blueberry Juniper'.
The Ashe Juniper is native to central Texas, and considered a weed by many ranchers and landowners. The pollen from this shrub can cause a severe allergic reaction to some people who are allergic to cedar. It is commonly known as 'cedar fever'. The tree can grow from up to 33' to about 49'. They are drought tolerant and serve to control erosion. It provides great shade for the livestock and wildlife, too!
* The berries are actually seed cones, containing only 1 or 2 seeds, and, distributed after eaten by birds. Believe it or not, the male seed cones are yellow, and turn brown after pollen release in the winter. I didn't see any yellow ones. But, beware, the seeds are bitter tasting, and are even avoided by cattle.
*The wood is naturally rot resistant and provides raw material for fence posts. Posts cut from old-growth Ashe junipers have been known to last in the ground for more than 50 years. Over one hundred years ago, most old-growth Ashe junipers were cut and used not only for fence posts, but also for telegraph poles and railroad ties.
~ Blueberry Juniper * photo by Suzanne * November 16, 2013
You can bet that I probably won't be trying to raise one of these big guys in my yard, as I would be worried about our little Scootie trying to taste these tempting berries!
That would produce a photo like this, lol!
~Scootie * November 9, 2013 * Fort Worth, TX *
Even tho he is five years old now, we still have to keep an eye out for what he puts in his mouth when he's at our house. We have Chinaberry trees, and the berries are a bit toxic also. The birds won't even eat them! Scootie likes to pick them up and throw them, but I have banned him from touching them. So, there's no 5 second rule here on the China berries or the Juniper Blueberries! "What's the 5 second rule?", you ask. Well, according to Karo, if you drop an item-say a lifesaver candy, on the floor or ground...you legally have 5 seconds to pick it up and pop it in to your mouth! I know, I know...it's not funny!
Oh, here it is...one of our China berry trees. The berries come on in the fall.
And, if they fall, no living thing cares! They are not edible.
~ China berry tree * photo by Suzanne * Fort Worth, TX
* Well, my dearest readers, I really must close for now. I promised 'Miss Thing' over at the KardKorner some help with a short post before Thanksgiving gets here! And, there will be a project coming up for Mom and her herb study group in Kansas City. Time is nearing to announce the Herb of the Year for 2014!
I'll tell you what it is later!
Before I go, I would like to thank:
Yahoo
Google
Wikipedia
Thank you Karo for the fun day trip to Bridgeport!
And, thank you all for coming by. I appreciate you so much. And, I wish the best to you all. Step in and say hello if you get the chance.
Best wishes for a safe and Happy Thanksgiving
go out to you and yours from my family at MyTexasGardens!
~Photo by Suzanne * November 2011 * Fort Worth, TX
"Whatever a Bluejay feels he can put into language, straight out and out book talk. You never saw a Bluejay get stuck for a word...he talks the best grammar of all the animals."
~Mark Twain * Morals Lecture, July 15, 1895
Remembering Mark Twain on the date of his birth:
November 30, 1835
See you next time xoxo!
