Looks like we’ve already made it past the middle of the President’s & Valentine’s month. We had some more moisture, and still looking for some pretty weather to get going in the yard & garden. I did see a couple of Peach trees at the ol’ Teachridge at Algerita this past week, so spring might be breaking a bit early. It might be a pretty good time to list some of the trees & shrubs that are recommended for our area of the Hill Country.Looking at a list of some of the Natives that fit into our local’scapes, many of the Oaks do pretty well for our locale. Red Oak might be one of the more rapid growing, while the Bur Oak and Live Oak seem to fit fairly well. The Bur Oak can be a bit more difficult to transplant and most folks think the Live Oak is more slow in growth. Live Oak and Pecan can both grow fairly fast following establishment if you provide proper placement and management. Placement can be a big factor concerning success, as you need to consider the placement as if the tree were mature. Western Soapberry is pretty in the bloom stage but can be sort of messy when the “China” berry fruit ripens. Bald Cypress & River Cypress do OK around here if you plant them near water or provide ample irrigation. Being as we’re in San Saba, we should also consider the Pecan and you can plant an “improved” variety or a seedling, depending upon whether you want one in the yard or put them in an orchard. Don’t plant them near your Peaches, as some of the management practices are not complimentary. I’ll list some of the favored varieties in a future edition.Some of the smaller trees and shrubs that fit well for our area areRedbud, Mexican Persimmon, Yaupon Holly, and Golden Raintree. Crabapple, Mexican Plum (wild Plum), and Jujube will give you some fruit that can be put up in the Larder. Texas Mountain Laurel is one of my favorite flowering shrubs in the spring and seems to fare very well by Lady Z’s front porch.Patty Sue likes the ol’ tried & true Lilac that so many of our Ancestors liked in the yard. We can learn a lot from their choices as they planted shrubs & trees that pretty well took care of themselves. Do yourself a favor and take time to plan before you plant. Having the hole dug prior to getting the shrub or tree is also a pretty good idea. These are merely a few of the trees that I like for our area, and any good yard & garden person might have one more species to add to the list.The rainfall received over the County this past week was monumental in preparation for spring. The trees will be breaking bud in better condition. Our pastures are looking like small grain fields, and there will be some Bluebonnets to lure the Gawkers up into the Hill Country come April.As to the rain , I heard that Sloan got around 2.50" and Will said that Post Oak was running over the road. Robert Trujillo and Rainbolt both got between 2.5-3" and T.Noel said that Richland Creek is flowing. I even saw some odd species of fish making it’s way over the gravel crossing in the shallow flow down in the Gaddy on Monday. Both our gauges in Town measured right at 2.5" and Will poured out 2.80 down at the Towerton on the Colorado at the Colony. We have traversed a good bit of the County since last weekend and all the springs, draws, creeks, and Rivers are still at full flow. Clear, running water is a welcome sight.I’d guess I’d better get on with this as time and space are justabout to run out & Bob Millican or Thomas Bowden won’t have as much to talk of towards the Mayor & yrs. truly, anywhere out around———Harkeyville!!!!!