Same / Different

Last week has been the same and different at once.  I really thought summer would be moving in with it’s hot humid days but . . . . no.  We had another little tiny cool front blow in.  Lasted only a couple of hours but they were very nice hours in the mid-60°.  Now, we are in the 90°’s and I’m pretty sure we’re going to be staying there.

Many businesses here and throughout the state have opened (and as of yesterday, many more) but they are limiting the numbers of people allowed in at any given time.  I’m still pretty much at home with limited trips, mask wearing, and much handwashing.  I’m pretty sure I did something last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday but whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t exciting.

Thursday, my sister and I drove over to San Antonio for a day trip.  We went to look at manufactured homes at a specific place.  Going over we drove on county roads and state highways.  Very scenic.  We went through a number of small towns, like

Cuero, TX.  According to the internet the population as of 2010 is 6800 but based on the size of the town we drove through – I’d say it has tripled in size.  And, it has some really cool buildings and homes!

Then, we went through Nixon which has a total area of 1.6 square miles and a population of 2300.  I’d say it’s gotten smaller.  And - Smiley, TX, which is really small with a population of 500-odd.  I'm always amazed by the numbers (and names) of small towns.

That night it rained – a lot.  Big thunder boomers shook the windows and lots of lightening.  Rain started late in the evening and continued off and on through Friday early morning.  That’s good, we needed the rain.

Saturday, I took a walk around the neighborhood.  Quiet as usual.  I did notice . . .

The sago palms are starting to bloom.  As a point of interest, these are actually not palms at all.  They are cycads which is one of the oldest groups of plants and dates back to the Jurassic period.  (A cycad is a seed plant and typically has a stout woody trunk with a crown of large, stiff evergreen leaves.)

Sago palms are easy to care for needing only bright light and dry conditions.  Mine sat in water for 3 days during the GREAT FLOOD OF 2017 and are just now recuperating.  (I'll try to put up a picture of them when I dig them up for a container.)

They are likely to freeze in climates that have real winter but they do very well as a container plant.  Another interesting thing – these plants are dioecious – meaning each is either male or female.

 Any question on the sex of this one?

The first, very large sago pictured above is female and here is her brood.

One other thing – sago palms are toxic to humans, dogs and cats if eaten, including the seeds and sharp leaves.  I have to wear long sleeves when I do anything with mine or it breaks me out in hives.  And, finally I this fact found amusing – the male plants are considered allergenic, but the female plants case no allergies. 

Well, I think that’s all I know right now.  Tomorrow I have to go in, fasting, for lab work.  Ugh.  I hope they have all the correct paperwork ready.  I’m not necessarily a nice person when I don’t eat.

19 May 2020