Things have changed quite a bit in my back yard since I last updated this page almost 4 years ago. For one thing, the trees are a LOT bigger. We have lots of shade thanks to our live oak tree, and our Satsuma Orange tree produces massive amounts of oranges each fall.

We also added a covered patio in March 2004. (The lawn looks spotty due to the construction.) Ellie's still around. So are Sparky the Garden Gnome and the Squirty Cow! We're also attracting large numbers of beautiful green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea), including this one that showed up in my back yard last month. Compare the view below with a picture I took from the same spot in October 1999.

New plants include a mass of Katy Ruella (next to the Squirty Cow). Beautiful purple flowers from April-late October. We cut down the wonderful crepe myrtle because it was too close to the house. We also wouldn't have been able to put the covered patio in with it there. Compare the view below with a picture I took from the same spot in October 1999.