I would use more wandering jew, Euphorbia rigida, nolina texan , nolina lindheimeri, salvia madrensis (shade lover), salvia gregii, salvi chamaedryodes, and mexican oregano. I cover my bulbine on the big freezes. I also grow Aloe maculata, aloe peglarai, aloe aristada. I covered them with frost cloth and 5 gal pots stuffed in leaves. I also grow Flame acanthus, kninophia, salvia chiquita and lots of agaves, big and small. Maybe some yellow lantana, nepeta walkers low gives a long show of color. Artimesia powels castle is a good silver leafed low maintance plant. Silver ponies foot is a good xeric ground cover..Santolina gives a nice xeric low shrub for the hell strip.Mexican primrose. yes it is a different look.and it takes a while for things to grow in. Use some much, either bark or rocks to minimize the bare dirt look. It also helps hold in the water. There is a lot of work on the front end and things will look better and better. I think it ALREADY looks better than burnt bermuda. Hang in there. and look around at other plantings. I think you are well on your way.I think that the fact that your yard changes with the seasons is great.Flow with it and pick up some cheap anuals to stick in there if it really bothers you. I find that oxalis (wood sorel) will work nicely where the wandering jew is. Growing in the late winter early spring and dying off when the wandering jew starts. Watch out oxalis can spread. So will Mexican primrose.

Beautiful day for our swap and I really did like the Buda park location, although I miss seeing the river in San Marcos. It was fun meeting some new swappers and I love all my new plants. I am sorry that John is moving to NM but I will take good care of his salvia karwinskii and hope I can share some of it next spring. Brarygirl, your cacti violacae is doing well at my house (traded 2 yrs. back) and I heard others talking about the same plant they had gotten from you. That's so neat---sort of like plant geneology. ha. Thank you, Charlotte, for organizing us again. Everyone, the food was great, especially Carla's sausage and rice. Marjie PS: If your meant me, Diana. The big plant was a brugmansia Desiree.

Ron and I had a wonderful time. He commented that I might actually have come home with less than I took, which is exceptional!! Thank you Charlotte for a great get together. It was wonderful seeing everyone and I am very pleased with all the plants I have acquired. Bob, thank you for answering my plant identification questions. I can't wait til spring! I also think there was a nice diversity in the plants. Ally & Lindsey - I will be digging purple iris' this weekend and promise to get them in the mail by monday. Lindsay you should be getting mail today, it's the seeds you wanted. It was wonderful meeting new swappers as well as seeing people from the last swap. Thank you to everyone who came and hopefully we will see you all in the spring! Jani & Ron San Marcos & Round Rock

This was my first swap and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed getting to meet everyone! You are a great bunch of people which really made it a wonderful experience; I am definitely looking forward to the spring swap when I will actually have stuff to contribute. I'm very, very grateful to all of you who so generously shared plants - and ideas & information - with me even though I had nothing to swap this time. I was able to get most of my new plants potted up late yesterday, got the rosemary frozen (thanks Sheila!) and will plant the last couple plants today. They all look great! Thanks again ~ Jo Ann