Outdoor
Grazing North Texas
By Tony Dean, [email protected]
Bumelia is one of our more important wildlife browsing plants. It is native to much of the Southern United States, including most of Texas except the extreme north and western parts of the state. It also goes by a long list of other common names, including Chittamwood, Gum-elastic, Wooly-bucket bumelia, Gum bumelia, Wolly buckthorn, and others.
Bumelia is a perennial root-sprouting shrub usually growing 12 to 18 feet tall. It often retains its leaves for extended periods and is thus considered a semi-evergreen. Crude protein for new leaves can reach 20 percent to 25 percent in spring and mature leaves in the fall can be at 14 percent.
Cattle will browse on the shrub at times, but sheep, goats and deer are usually heavy users. Quail, turkey and dove eat the ripe fruit. White Winged dove will sit in the shrub and eat the fruit before it falls to the ground. Unless it becomes too dominant, Bumelia is a good plant to have on the ranch due to its obvious high value as a browse plant.
To read more, pick up a copy of the October issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Norman Winter | Horticulturist, Author, Speaker
The Garden Guy was a scaveola guru when scaevola was not cool. Well, maybe that is a slight exaggeration, let me explain. The year was 1997, and your humble columnist was the coordinator of the Mississippi Medallion Award program whereby we selected outstanding plants for promotion, based on how they performed in trials. That year, we chose Proven Winner’s New Wonder scaevola as one of the Mississippi Medallion Award Winners.
It just so happens that Louisiana chose New Wonder scaveola as a Louisiana Select Award Winner and Georgia chose New Wonder scaveola for their Georgia Gold Medal Award program. Louisiana and Georgia still recognize outstanding plants but under different names. This little flowernamed after a Roman hero Mucius Scaevola may now have a star associated with his name.
Gardeners may not know or even wish to know that this hero decided to show his bravery by burning his right hand off and showing no pain. Thus, scaevola, a fan shaped flower reminiscent of a hand, later became a prized flower. Now however, still botanically named Scaveola aemula, the flower has evolved to a star as the Stardiva series makes its debut under the Proven Winners label in 2025. It is funny as the tag says, Stardiva fan flower, even though it is now a star.
To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Andy Anderson
It’s August, which means hunting season is right around the corner. Hunters will soon begin to venture back into the woods to start prepping. Part of this annual ritual is checking out the deer stand, camp area and to getting things cleaned up. This is dangerous and will make you scream for your mamma if you are not prepared!
A few weeks ago I was clearing some fence line out. I had just cut the wire and kicked the wire fence to push it out of the vegetation and away from the T-post. It was then I realized I had just entered into a very painful situation. Now, I’ve been stung by honey bees, wasp, hornets, ground hornets and more, but what I had just angered was unlike anything I had ever experienced.
As I stepped back to move down to the next post, I heard a buzzing sound and the all too familiar bug flying around my face. I gave a quick swat of a hand, a swat that seemed to kick it all off. All of a sudden, BAMM! Before my mind could catch up and process what was happening, I had been hit four or five times in the head. As I turned to run, two more hit me in the back and right above my belly button.
To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Jelly Cocanougher
An array of majestic and alluring oddities are encapsulated on Route 66. The highway of mystery and amusement is a beacon for those who are curious enough. Filled with the stories of artists who have paved the way forward, the gratitude and plethora of visitors who use this area as a beacon for sentimentalism and wonder. This scenic highway holds the inspiration to iconic art, the road to Hollywood, and a glimpse into the past. Stay curious.
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