#buffalograss

6.25.25

Laughing Gull

Leucophaeus atricilla

Observed most days on Galveston Island. They are native to the area and are a common sight year round. Populations live from North America to South America with so vagrant populations in Europe. Northernmost groups will migrate south for the winter.

They are usually active during the day but during breeding season will also be active at night, busy foraging. They are susceptible to toxins and pollutants since they have a wide range of feeding habitats.

They are monogamous and will stay with the same mate for several breeding seasons. They both build the nest and incubate the eggs. The female will lay a clutch of 2-4 eggs and once the eggs hatch the adults will remove the shells from the nest.

#laughinggull #Leucophaeusatricilla #citizenscience #native #gull #bird #nature #outdoors #june #june25 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day176

6.26.25

Metallic Bluish-green Cuckoo Wasp

Chrysis angolensis

Observed 6.26.25 at Galveston Island State Park. They are not native but are found worldwide excluding Antarctica. They are invasive but not considered pests since they contribute with pollination.

They are kleptoparasitic meaning they lay their eggs in the nest of a different species of wasp or bee. The cuckoo wasp larvae will eat the other wasp larvae, stored food and eggs. They have also adapted to this by having a hard exoskeleton that protects them from the host insect and some can even mimic the odor of the host insect to better blend in.

The striking color comes from structural coloration that is similar to the indigo bunting in that it has microscopic structures that refract light instead of having pigment.

#metallicbluishgreencuckoowasp #Chrysisangolensis #citizenscience #nonnative #invasive #cosmopolitan #insect #wasp #nature #outdoors #june #june26 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day177

6.27.25

Chestnut Bolete

Gyroporus castaneus

Observed 6.22.25 at Galveston Island State Park. It is native to Europe and the Eastern half of North America, including Texas, but is typically not going to be found on Galveston. It prefers oak trees to thrive and I did find this one under some of the live oaks at the park.

I didn’t get a spore sample on this one but they will leave a pale yellow print.

As it matures the stem becomes hollow and this mushroom does not bruise.

It is edible but again, I’m a novice so I’m not trying it in case I incorrectly identified it.

#chestnutbolete #Gyroporuscastaneus #citizenscience #native #mushroom #fungus #nature #outdoors #june #june27 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day178

6.29.25

Whitemouth Dayflower

Commelina erecta

Observed 6.20.25 in my sister’s yard in Cleburne. It is native to Africa, Western Asia, South and North America including Texas. The plant can survive in various habitats and the strong root system can help with soil erosion control.

The flowers usually only live for a few hours in the morning, hence the name. The bright blue of the flowers attracts pollinators which supports local biodiversity.

The young shoots or leaves, seeds and flowers are edible but it’s always good to use caution. It has the potential use medicinally as well and culinary.

#whitemouthdayflower #Commelinaerecta #citizenscience #native #wildflower #dayflower #nature #outdoors #june #june29 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day180

6.30.25

Green-striped Grasshopper

Chortophaga viridifasciata

Observed at Galveston Island State Park 6.12.25. The native range is from Canada to Costa Rica. They prefer grassy areas that are sunny yet moist. They mainly feed on the grass or forbs or flowering plant.

They can be green (usually female) or brown (usually male) and this is called color polymorphism.

They are one of the first grasshopper species to emerge in the spring from being eggs or larvae that overwintered.

The males are slightly smaller than the females. Females will have multiple broods per year, this was found to happen in the Southeastern US.

#Greenstripedgrasshopper #Chortophagaviridifasciata #citizenscience #native #grasshopper #insect #nature #outdoors #june #june30 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day181

7.1.25

Buffalograss

Bouteloua dactyloides

Observed in my parent’s backyard in Cleburne 6.19.25. Its native range extends from central Canada and down to Mexico and all through the central plains states of the US.

It gets its name, Buffalograss, from being the primary food source for buffalo in the past.

It is a drought tolerant grass that grows in the warm seasons. The root go deep which help it get through long periods without water. Those deep roots also help prevent soil erosion.

The male and female flowers grow on separate plants. The female flowers are hidden down low in the leaves and the male flowers stand out above and look like combs (pictured on the right).

Scientific Name: Bouteloua dactyloides Common Name(s): Buffalograss, buffalo grass Family: Poaceae (grass) Life Cycle: Perennial Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen Habit: Graminoid USDA L48 Native Status: Native Location: Plano, Texas Season(s): Spring

Flowering.

Seep willow antler press against the memory of the first man I saw naked.

His tongue a mosquito whispering its name a hymn on mesquite,

my cheek.

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Your Buffalo or Kikuyu Lawn Isn’t “Hard.” Your Routine Is Just Random.

Most Aussie lawns don’t fail because of one big mistake. They fade because of a messy pattern that looks like this:

You water when it feels hot. You fertilise when you remember. You mow a little too low because it looks neat for a day. Then two weeks later the lawn starts sliding backwards again.

If that’s you, you’re not doing anything weird. You’re just missing one thing that good lawns always have:

a repeatable system.

Buffalo and Kikuyu Need Different Respect

These two are the main characters of Aussie lawns, but they don’t behave the same way.

Buffalo is a steady builder. It loves consistent feeding and rewards patience with a dense, soft, premium look. If you want the full breakdown, start with Buffalo grass care.

Kikuyu is pure energy. Fast, aggressive, sun-loving, and incredibly satisfying when managed properly. But it punishes sloppy mowing and erratic feeding. The best reference point here is Kikuyu grass care.

The 3 Things That Make a Lawn Look Expensive

If you want that thick, even, deep green look, you don’t need 10 products.

You need three habits that are boring but powerful:

1) Mow for density

Your lawn thickens when you stop scalping it for short-term visual neatness. Both varieties respond better to consistent height and regular trims.

2) Water deep

Shallow watering creates shallow roots. Deep watering builds durability and colour stability.

3) Feed consistently

This is where most lawns quietly fall apart.

Not because you don’t care. Because measuring, mixing, and timing isn’t always realistic.

That’s exactly why something like Lawn Grow Hose-On Lawn Fertiliser is so useful. It makes consistency easy, and consistency is the real upgrade.

If You Want a Simple Fertiliser Path

If you’re growing Buffalo, follow the variety-specific strategy in best fertiliser for Buffalo grass.

If you’re growing Kikuyu, the clean path is outlined in best fertiliser for Kikuyu grass.

The difference between “okay” and “wow” is rarely the fertiliser brand alone. It’s whether your feeding matches the turf’s behaviour.

Summer Is the Moment of Truth

Summer is where lawns get exposed.

Heat stress + inconsistent watering + low mowing = the classic mid-season fade.

If you want the high-performance summer routine, don’t guess. Use how to care for your lawn in summer as your checklist.

That guide is especially valuable if you want your lawn to look better in January than it did in November.

The Shortcut to a Better Lawn

If your lawn is patchy right now, here’s the fast, sane reset:

Raise mowing height slightly

Water deeper, less often

Start a simple fertiliser rhythm

Stick with it long enough to see compounding results