The Waxwing have a high pitched tone, similar to the Cardinal, you will most likely hear them before you see them, especially in large groups. It is a very intense sound.

This species is called B. Cedrorum or Bombycilla Cedrorum. These amazing and beautiful birds will migrate as far as South America and there have even been rare sightings in Western Europe and Great Britain.

Here are some plant names and things you can do to attract these wonderful birds to your property.

* Dogwood

* Serviceberry

* Juniper

* Hawthorn

* Cedar

* Winterberry

Plant plenty of tall evergreens to create housing and a safe haven. They love water, installing  fountains, a bird bath or a pond will make them very happy.

See these lovely photos below provided by Reality Photography!

Waxwings gather before the feeding.

During the feeding.

Hovering similar to a Hummingbird.

A short video I took while the Waxwing were feeding in my front yard.

This is after removing all the grass in the front and preparing it for the Pavers. We actually brought in a tractor to help with the grading. I really like installing Pavers in Houston. It is a very porous application and they offer more flexibility due to the constant movement of the earth between Summers and Winters. Plain concrete will just crack over time and that usually means a complete demolition and redo. With Pavers, you can just go in and make simple repairs and adjustments if there is ever noticeable movement or shifting.

Placing the Pavers, sometimes they need to be cut with a saw to fit just right. Especially in curved or rounded areas.

Since there is so much area being done in Pavers, in this case, approximately 240 square feet. I suggest creating a green space to break it up a bit. This will offer a softer, more inviting feel.

These projects, whether it is Decking or other types of patios, Arbors or Pergolas, Pavers or Flagstone; are always great to do in the Winter time so by the time Spring rolls around, this will be complete and we will be ready for landscaping

So this is it for now. I will revisit this project again real soon and document the process and completion. Until then, see you soon. For any questions, feel free to contact me through my website or call 713-426-0649.

Look what I found in my front yard……

Here we have a Monarch Chrysalis with it’s jade green pupa trimmed in gold and black. This beautiful creation will undergo a complete metamorphosis in the next 7-14 days, depending on the weather. I will document the process of this magnificent creature and watch this chrysalis transform into a gorgeous Monarch Butterfly.

We will see this Pupa change from this green color to transparent, then we will begin to see the true colors of the Monarch appear with it’s black and orange tones.

This was the only Chrysalis found in the yard. Being that we are in January, it seems a bit early for Butterflies, but maybe it is natures way of saying….”Spring is coming”. What do you think? We shall see?

We wait all year for warmer weather and longer days. Once we get them, it seems new problems for farmers rise to the surface every week: overnight temperatures plunging close to freezing, early disease, aphid attacks. Another day, another problem.

The latest trouble is the explosion of late blight, a plant disease that attacks potatoes and tomatoes. Late blight appears innocent enough at first — a few brown spots here, some lesions there — but it spreads fast. Although the fungus isn’t harmful to humans, it has devastating effects on tomatoes and potatoes grown outdoors. Plants that appear relatively healthy one day, with abundant fruit and vibrant stems, can turn toxic within a few days. (See the Irish potato famine, caused by a strain of the fungus.)

Most farmers in the Northeast, accustomed to variable conditions, have come to expect it in some form or another. Like a sunburn or a mosquito bite, you’ll probably be hit by late blight sooner or later, and while there are steps farmers can take to minimize its damage and even avoid it completely, the disease is almost always present, if not active.

But this year is turning out to be different — quite different, according to farmers and plant scientists. For one thing, the disease appeared much earlier than usual. Late blight usually comes, well, late in the growing season, as fungal spores spread from plant to plant. So its early arrival caught just about everyone off guard.

And then there’s the perniciousness of the 2009 blight. The pace of the disease (it covered the Northeast in just a few days) and its strength (topical copper sprays, a convenient organic preventive, have been much less effective than in past years) have shocked even hardened Hudson Valley farmers.

Jack Algiere, head vegetable farmer at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture (where I have a restaurant that purchases from the farm), lost more than half his field tomatoes in three days. Other organic farmers were forced to make a brutal choice: spray their tomato plants with fungicides, and lose organic certification, or watch the crop disappear. Even for farmers who routinely spray, or who reluctantly spray precautionary amounts, this year’s blight lowered yields. (Fungicides work only to suppress the disease, not cure it.) As one plant pathologist told me, “Farmers are out there praying and spraying.”

Of course, farmers aren’t the only ones affected. If you love eating flavorful organic field tomatoes, good luck — they’ll be as rare this summer as a week without rain. And those that survive will cost you; we’re already seeing price increases of 20 percent over last year.

So what’s going on here? Plant physiologists use the term “disease triangle” to describe the conditions necessary for a disease outbreak. You need the pathogen to be present (that’s the late blight), you need a host (in this case tomatoes and potatoes) and you need a favorable environment for the disease — for late blight that’s lots of rain, moderate temperatures and high humidity.

Does that last bit sound familiar? It has been the weather report for the Northeast this summer, especially in June. Where we saw precipitation fit for Noah’s Ark, late blight found something akin to a four-star hotel. Those soggy fields and backyard vegetable plots? Inviting, and all too easy to check into.

But weather alone doesn’t explain the early severity of the disease this year. We’ve had wet, cool summers in the past, but it’s never been this bad. Instead we have to look at two other factors: the origin of the tomato plants many of us cultivate, and the renewed interest in gardening………..

For more information go to: NYT’s article.

The damage of a Pine Beetle

Sick or dying trees will attract Termites. The tree should be removed immediately.

Call Leyendecker Landscape if you need help with this matter. We will diagnose, treat and remove small or large trees, if necessary. Or we can thin out and just trim your existing healthy trees. We will also grind out and remove the stump for you.

Here we are trimming  and removing dead branches.

Dead pine tree

Mrs.  Annasandra Weiss

Moss Boulder with Asian statue

Asian Rock Sculpture

Giant Walking Iris

A year and 9 months later. Notice the Giant Timber bamboo in the back corner and the dried bamboo panels installed to hide their  A/C  unit.

African Iris

Installing Dwarf Mondo grass between concrete squares back in March 2008.

www.realityphotography.net

Family: Rosaceae

Genus: Rosa

You can not go wrong with either of these wonderful Texas shrub Roses. A great choice for Houston landscapes. They thrive in moist, well drained soil that consist of high amounts of organic matter (Compost). These conditions will develop a strong plant with an amazing amount of blooms.

Things you want to remember:

* Water in the mornings, not at night. This will help to avoid mold or fungus problems.

* Make sure the roots get watered not the foliage. If you have a sprinkler system, adjust the heads to spray low not too high.

* Use organic fertilizers rather than synthetic fertilizers. This will promote a more compact, dense and  stronger plant. Synthetic fertilizers will just force the blooms instead of creating a overall healthy plant. You can even add a layer of pine needles around the roots to add some acid to the soil and roses. Azaleas, Camellias, Gardenias and Roses all really like a bit of acid in the soil. Therefore,  are all good to plant together.

* These roses are much less susceptible to getting Black Spot, a fungus common in roses. If Black Spot does occur in these roses, simply cut off the infected stem, make sure to remove any other fallen leaves and discard them. In a spray bottle, add a combination of liquid Sulphur and fungicidal soap, then spray the infected rose. This will treat the rose and prevent ongoing problems from this fungus.

* When planting them, consider spacing out the roses 2-3 feet apart to promote good air circulation. Especially in a humid climate like Houston.

* It is a good idea to dead head the roses on a regular basis to encourage new blooms. once or even twice a month or every two weeks. Just to clip off the spent flowers. You should prune back the rose once a year. Right after the last frost in early Spring.

Again, these roses are a great pick for Houston Landscapes and offer great return on your investment.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions and have a great week

All my best,

Portia Leyendecker

The month of November is a great time to do fall planting and spruce ups.

Things to do:

* Trim shrubs and prune trees.

* Do your bed cleaning, remove unwanted debris and weeds.

* Add a good 1-2″ of Mulch.

* Add fertilizer to your grass and flowerbeds.

* Add new plantings including fruit trees, cool weather veggies and herbs.

In many ways, fall is a better time to plant veggies and herbs because the days are warm and the nights cool. There is good rain with less severe conditions.

What to plant:

*Leaf lettuce

*Spinach

*Chard

*Chinese cabbage and regular cabbage

*Carrots

*Onions

*Radishes

*Salad greens

*Beets

*Brussels sprouts

*Broccoli

*Cauliflower

*Peas

Herbs:

*Rosemary

*Basil

*Mexican mint marigold

*Lavender

*Oregano

*Thyme

LET’ S GET OUR YARDS AND GARDENS READY FOR WINTER

Leyendecker Landscape came in to begin the clean out phase and prepare the new Flowerbeds. The next step was to add the stone border.  Moss Rock was the stone of choice here to add a natural look.

Here we have a combination of texture and monochromatism, with a splash of color using      perennials  for a low maintenance design.

Thank you to the Massing family for giving me the chance to make a difference in the Heights, once again

There seems to be a growing trend on sustainable landscapes. This is a wonderful thing, more and more people are inquiring on how to live off their own land. Even if you are not a big gardener or do not have a great deal of time to invest in a big vegetable or herb garden. You can still incorporate your favorite herbs or vegetables in your existing landscape. It’s easy!  With a bit of planning and design, anyone can live in a more sustainable manner and have fun growing their own food. By simply customizing  a small unused space, extending a flowerbed, by using containers or even filling in the large gaps in your current landscape. Leyendecker Landscape can help. Whether you have the interest and desire to grown herbs and vegetables in your front or backyard and just need some direction or if you have been afraid of the unknown. Call Leyendecker Landscape. We specialize in organic methods of landscaping and treating ailments of existing landscapes.

It always starts with your soil. With good soil, good sun and the right watering, you can easily prosper in growing your own herbs, fruit, or vegetables. Next thing you know… you will be sharing amazing recipes with friends and family. That is a wonderful thing

For questions or to set up a consultation call me at 713-426-0649 or contact me by visiting my blog @ Leyendeckerlandscape.com

All the best,

Portia