Crouches Trail's End Ranch Retreat

Crouches Trail's End Ranch Retreat Beautiful 20 acre property being developed into a guest retreat for those wishing to escape the city

Anyone want a kitten? šŸ˜‰  Found this little stinker near a shed we are refurbishing at Trail’s End.  This palm-sized baby...
06/06/2024

Anyone want a kitten? šŸ˜‰ Found this little stinker near a shed we are refurbishing at Trail’s End. This palm-sized baby was all alone in the tall grass for a couple of hours with no mama or littermates around. Took her to Austin Wildlife Rescue down the road, and they told me it’s a female, a couple of weeks old. She was given a bottle and had a cute little milk mustache when I left. She now has six new friends just like her to play with and will be learning to eat crickets and grasshoppers!

Bee inspection yesterday for new Hive 6.  We created this hive from a two-way split on 5-29.  Had intentions of queening...
06/05/2024

Bee inspection yesterday for new Hive 6. We created this hive from a two-way split on 5-29. Had intentions of queening this hive today but found they have started the queening process themselves. At least eight queen cells have been formed in this hive since the split on 5-29. Decided to go ahead and let them create their own queen, and will check back next week for cell progress and to reduce the number of queen cells to the best two or three. The colony is calm and seems to be doing good. Great beginnigs!

Getting a little crowded in the hives!  The bees are really growing their colonies but are being finicky about using som...
05/29/2024

Getting a little crowded in the hives! The bees are really growing their colonies but are being finicky about using some of the new frames. The solution? A coat of wax on the foundations to entice them to build out comb! CCBeeLady, Mary Ann Green, brought over her waxing materials and we must have waxed two hundred foundations. We’ll find out soon if they will accept our offerings! Installing them today.

04/07/2024

They’re moving in! This woodpecker is still hollowing out a spot - but it looks like home!

We have a new tenant making a home near Nestle Inn!  This pileated woodpecker has decided on our utility pole for his ne...
03/30/2024

We have a new tenant making a home near Nestle Inn! This pileated woodpecker has decided on our utility pole for his nesting spot. Bluebonnet Electric has been out to okay the work, telling us it’s common for the woodpeckers to choose utility poles. The humming and vibration of the wires causes the birds to think there are insects inside the pole. We are watching for more activity!

It was a great day to be outdoors today!  Walking the trail this morning, I noticed the bluebonnets and other wildflower...
11/16/2023

It was a great day to be outdoors today! Walking the trail this morning, I noticed the bluebonnets and other wildflowers have started sprouting after the perfect rains we received over the weekend. They were all over the trail, including smack dab in the middle! I spent the afternoon transplanting at least 50+ seedlings, moving them to areas where they won’t be disturbed. The soil was moist and made it easy. Can’t wait till spring!

The cowpen daisies have weathered this summer’s drought and are the bumblebees’ favorites at Trail’s End!  It’s so relax...
10/22/2023

The cowpen daisies have weathered this summer’s drought and are the bumblebees’ favorites at Trail’s End! It’s so relaxing to watch them forage.

Eclipse magic happening today at Trail’s End!  A perfect day to be outdoors, the (perpetual) task is clearing yaupon.  B...
10/14/2023

Eclipse magic happening today at Trail’s End! A perfect day to be outdoors, the (perpetual) task is clearing yaupon. But it’s also the coolest thing to see the eclipse in the shade where I’m working! What are you seeing where you are? Post a photo! šŸ˜Ž

Nestle Inn update: Three years ago, in the early days of our ownership of Trail’s End, we noticed this huge post oak tru...
10/07/2023

Nestle Inn update:
Three years ago, in the early days of our ownership of Trail’s End, we noticed this huge post oak trunk down in the bottoms on the property. We knew then it would have purpose(s), but it took a while to determine what this log would become. Enter Seth Jones of Cowpoke Lumber Mill. He ended up refining our thinking on the possibilities for the wood. Once he delivered the slabs of the oak (and also cedar from the property) I knew some of them had to belong in Nestle Inn. This week work started on creating a utility bench and the kitchen island, making the old tree an important and meaningful part of the house. I love that it has been repurposed and can’t wait to see the end results!

I work with some great friends as I gain skills in beekeeping!  Working together is so much more fun and the tasks and t...
08/05/2023

I work with some great friends as I gain skills in beekeeping! Working together is so much more fun and the tasks and time pass quickly! Thank you Mary Ann Green (aka CCBeeLady) and Pam Brenner Robinson šŸšŸŒ»ā£ļø

Trail’s End is the nursery for several fawns this year.  Four regularly show up with their mamas and aunties at the feed...
07/19/2023

Trail’s End is the nursery for several fawns this year. Four regularly show up with their mamas and aunties at the feeder. With the conditions so dry, the deer are foraging a little closer than usual -this baby is eyeing the container garden! Time to break out the liquid fence!

Yesterday was tree planting day at Trail’s End!  We planted 20 mostly flowering natives so our bees would have additiona...
03/16/2023

Yesterday was tree planting day at Trail’s End! We planted 20 mostly flowering natives so our bees would have additional nectar sources. Native trees also have gorgeous seasonal color and smell so wonderful when in bloom! It will be a while before these mature, but they were carefully placed so that they will be admired when they finally decide to show off. Thank you Amad Ramirez for your help in getting these trees properly planted! Here are a few of those we planted.

Address

176 Trail's End Ranch Road
Cedar Creek, TX
78612

Telephone

+15125202722

Website

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