Views of the Neighborhood – Texas Flora Walk – Part ll

Today, we are going back to view the remaining Texas flora. If you missed last week, you can go HERE. We are catered by Roaring Fork of Austin, and our entertainment is The Proclaimers.

Menu

BIG ASS BURGER – poblano / cheddar / bacon / lettuce / tomato / onions / pickles / chipotle mayo
served with French fries
SHRIMP AND GRITS –  cheddar grits, sweet corn butter,  chorizo,  fried egg
RAINBOW TROUT –  green beans, fried capers, toasted almonds, brown butter, grilled lemon
CEDAR PLANK SALMON –  teriyaki glaze, chilled green bean salad, soy butter
ROTISSERIE CHICKEN –  cornbread sausage stuffing,  green beans,  lemon garlic jus
ROASTED DUCK –  sugar chile cured, brussels sprouts, sweet onion jam, cherry mustard sauce
DUROC PORK CHOP –  maple mustard glaze, sweet potato mash, apple chutney
BACON WRAPPED PORK TENDERLOIN –  poblano grits, charred corn, cotija, chipotle balsamic reduction
AHI TUNA – seared rare, chimichurri, marinated tomatoes and avocado salad, citrus vinaigrette

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s get going.

Here is a photo of how the walk looks. These boards describe the flora found in Texas and not necessarily on the walk.

American Beautyberry.

Texas Lantana.

American Sycamore.

Texas Red Oak.

Chinese Privet.

Salt Cedar.

Heavenly Bamboo.

Ash Juniper is commonly called a cedar.

Bald Cypress.

It is time now to relax with the food and music. I hope you have a super week.

&n

 

 

78 comments

  1. Darlene's avatar

    I’ll have some shrimp and grits, please. I love the Proclaimers. Have a super Sunday!!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you, Darlene. I have always liked this song. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Cindy Georgakas's avatar

      Sounds like a great menu and fun learning fair! Quite a menu! 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      1. John W. Howell's avatar

        Thank you, Cindy. 😊

        Like

  2. Charles Yallowitz's avatar

    Cool collection. Though I’m curious as to why it’s called a bald cypress.

    Like

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Good question. AI has the answer. “Although many conifers are evergreen, bald cypress trees are deciduous conifers that shed their needlelike leaves in the fall. In fact, they get the name “bald” cypress because they drop their leaves so early in the season.” 😀 We both learned something today.

      Like

      1. Charles Yallowitz's avatar

        Huh. Interesting adaptation.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. srbottch's avatar

    The ‘Big Ass’ burger sounds appealing but I’ll opt for the pork chop. The flora signs are very interesting. We have a cedar but not sure if it’s a Texas cedar. It’s a wonderful educational display.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you, Steve. I thought so too. 😀 Have a great week.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. equipsblog's avatar

    A nice variety of fauna. Bet there are a lot of tree allergies

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Tons of allergies, and they last from November to March. We have to cover all the outside furniture for this time because of the heavy pollen.

      Like

  5. Tails Around the Ranch's avatar

    What a fascinating flora tour, John. Sounds like Heavenly Bamboo doesn’t exactly live up to its name.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      We have neighbors who planted some, and it almost took over their yard. They pulled it out. Looked great for a while. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Tails Around the Ranch's avatar

    I’ll bet it was beautiful but as is typical, invasive species almost always cause more problems to the landscape than if people used native plants.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. noelleg44's avatar

    My husband loves lantana, and the smell of cedar is out of this world. I think ahi tuna today, please.

    Wish I could walk 500 miles!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I wish I could walk 500 miles, too. I think I would settle for a mile.

      Like

      1. noelleg44's avatar

        A mile or two is my limit!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          A block or two is mine.

          Like

        2. noelleg44's avatar

          🙂 🙂 I can walk a long way in a pool, though!

          Liked by 1 person

        3. John W. Howell's avatar

          Excellent exercise. 😊

          Like

  8. robbiesinspiration's avatar

    A lovely lot of trees you have in your area. Have a super Sunday 💗

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you, Robbie. Wishing you the same.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. tokragly's avatar
    tokragly · · Reply

    Love Lantana but my bride says they are poisonous to dogs. So we don’t have any more – and we don’t have dogs anymore. Go figure.

    Anyway 500 Miles is one of my favorite songs. And my favorite movie. Benny and June. Check it out if you haven’t watched it. A young Johnny Depp.

    Thanks for the tour.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Time to bring back one or the other. 😀

      Like

  10. T. W. Dittmer's avatar

    The Flora Walk looks very pleasant, John, and the describing boards are so nice that they must add to the pleasure. The Proclaimers music is great. Have a blessed Sunday.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you, Tim. So far, it is blessed. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      1. T. W. Dittmer's avatar

        Good!! 😊

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Annette Rochelle Aben's avatar

    I do believe it is time that I journey to Texas!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Have you never been?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Annette Rochelle Aben's avatar

        Not really… there was a brief layover at Dallas/Fort Worth (2 hours) ages ago. I do have several family members scattered throughout Texas.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. circadianreflections's avatar

    You have a lovely variety of flora and fauna there. Which is surprising because my brain thinks all of TX is like parts of CA and NV all Sagebrush and Rabbitbrush. It’s nice to be wrong in this case. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      We do have great wildflowers, too. Thanks, Deborah.

      Like

  13. Dan Antion's avatar

    This has been a lovely walk, John. I like that they do this. I’m forever trying to figure out what I’m looking at when I go for a walk.

    Pretty hard to pass up a Big Ass Burger

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Big ass burger is a great choice. Thanks, Dan.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. joynealkidney's avatar

    Duroc Pork Chop please. Grandpa Clabe Wilson’s father was a famous purebred Red Duroc raiser, selling one in 1907 for $2000. I thought Grandma’s amount was off by a 0, but found it in a newspaper clipping. The hog was LaFollette 36563, which can google!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Amazing. That $2000 in 1907 would be $70,800 today. What a story

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Dale's avatar

    I haven’t had cedar plank salmon in ages… I’ll go with that. Always a pleasure to learn about your area.

    Hope you are having a marvellous Sunday!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I didn’t think they still made cedar plank salmon. Thank you, Dale.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Liz Gauffreau's avatar

    I LOVE that Proclaimers song! I have it on my playlist.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I like it too. Make one want to march.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Resa's avatar

    Thanks for finishing the educational tour, John!

    I know how difficult it is to take pics of something covered with glass or plastic, especially on a sunny day.

    🌸X 🪻X 🌼X 🌺X

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      It is very difficult. Thanks, Resa 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar

    I’m hungry. So, please send me nice big portions of shrimp and grits and cedar plank salmon. Thanks!

    Like

  19. Author Jan Sikes's avatar

    I am a week behind on visiting your blogs, John, but I love this tour of the wild flowers!

    Like

  20. thomasstigwikman's avatar

    A lot of interesting signs and it is great that you can relax with music and food I have to say that I would prefer a Big Beef Burger or a Big Bison Burger over a Big Ass Burger. Anyway, have a super week you too.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Ha ha ha. How do you know what kind of ass that is?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. thomasstigwikman's avatar

        Well the roaring fork restaurant need to tell me that before I have their Ass Burger

        Liked by 1 person

  21. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.'s avatar

    You really do live in a lovely neighbourhood John and obviously much cared for… thanks for the tour and I will have the salmon please..hugsx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      One planked salmon is coming up. Thanks for joining us today, Sally.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Teri Polen's avatar

    Cedar plank salmon for me, please! I grow lantana every year – it always does well – but not sure if it’s the Texas type.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I’ll bet there are hundreds of them

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Sorryless's avatar

    You nailed this sequel Boss. And the song . . . love that song.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I do too, Marc.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. dgkaye's avatar

    Lovely tour John. I enjoyed the big ass burger, lol 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I’m glad Debby. 🤣

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Michele Lee's avatar

    Lantana is popular here. Would be a most vibrant walk if the actual plants were included!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I think so too, but this is a changing display, and we don’t know if it will be back again. Thanks, Michelle.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Michele Lee's avatar

        The variety of things happening in your community is inspiring. 😊

        Liked by 1 person

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          I think I might talk to the local horticulturist and suggest they plant native plants near the signs next year. We’ll see what happens. Thanks for the suggestion, Michele.

          Like

  26. Jennie's avatar

    I really enjoyed this, John. It’s like a story walk, except with flora. Love the song!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      That is exactly what it is like. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  27. kethuprofumo's avatar

    Wonderful flora presentation! Thank you, dear John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I’m glad you liked it, Maria. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

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