By Pauline Tom.
James Polk, Live Oak at Pin Oak, tidbitted, “It’s been a busy birthing season for baby Axis deer in our back yard. So far this year we have had four. The latest one was born Tuesday in our planting bed not more than six feet from our back door!”
Axis give birth year-round, contributing to our heavy population of these heavy deer. No hunting is allowed, and they have no predators.
Not only must Mountain Cityians plant what’s not delectable for deer or cover with some sort of protection (like wire fencing), we almost must contend with the deer trampling what’s in our yards and girdling unprotected young tree trunks.
Wire fencing might not make the cover page for a garden magazine. But, it does provide bird perches. We enjoy birds, including hummingbirds, on the wires.
Jeff Radke took my idea for a limestone boulder with natural indentations bird bath and made it 10,000 times better by creating a stack of boulders with recirculating water. Now our wire fencing that protects plants in our planter box gives birds a spot to wait in line. (Thanks, Jeff!)
This takes place in front of our breakfast window. Imagine the spectacle with showy Lesser Goldfinches and Northern Cardinals.
And, imagine my delight when I opened our office’s horizontal shade and saw the limestone boulder birdbath sculpture reflected in the mirror in front of my computer.
I also see the showy yellow blossoms that popped out on our agarita (ahhhh-garita) last week.
Now, I need to budget more time for piecing together this weekly “Montage”.
I opted to not shake out my dust mop from our back porch just before working on this column because the Yaupon holly were dripping with Cedar Waxwings and American Robins. We planted the female Yaupons about ten years ago. Each year, they produce more berries. And, each year, they attract more birds.
I mentioned awhile back that Jeff Radke ([email protected]) designed a hinged section on our neighbor’s privacy fence that would allow floodwaters to flow through. That’s in place now.
Hinging your fence is one way to help prevent water build-up. (Photo by Pauline Tom) |
In a city council meeting a few months ago, John Andersen mentioned that when his dad planned the City years ago there were no privacy fences. Storm water flowed naturally. Now, in many spots, privacy fences act as dams.
Many remember the major change that occurred when the school district cleared trees from the land south of the city. Suddenly, storm waters surged into Mountain City, without the trees to slow the flow.
Voters’ approval of the Hays County Emergency Service District #5’s collection of 0.5% sales tax in Mountain City puts a dam on any future sales tax increase. The state (currently) sets the maximum sales tax at 8.25%. That’s the amount that will be collected in Mountain City starting April 1, 2014.
No dam exists for the quantity of tidbits that can flow in for “Montage” each week. Bring them on, please! [email protected] (subject: Tidbit) or 512-268-5678.
Thanks! Love, Pauline
