This summer I’ve noticed, as have others, many Bradford, or ornamental, pears with leaves that look like fall coloration. Usually these trees are older, probably in the 7+ year old range. Often these trees are also a little thin in the crown. I’ve looked at a few of these where I had access. Several of [...]

I’ve always liked the fast-growing, non-stop, blue-blooming, sun-loving, drought-enduring ‘Indigo Spires’ salvia. One weakness it does have is that grows so fast, and never stops blooming that it gets so big it tends to flop and fall over, especially in well-tended (read fertilized and watered) gardens. You can, and should cut it back occasionally, but [...]

The violet-blue color of achemines used to be relegated, at least in my mind, to hanging baskets and indoor light gardens. But several years ago, a member of the Tyler Men’s Garden Club passed along to me a handful of really small, dried coral-colored rhizomes and said for me to give them a try. They [...]

When living in Corpus Christi, I enjoyed growing a plant called Firespike (Odontonema strictum). It’s large, dark green glossy leaves emerged in late spring in a shaded spot in my yard, making a lush and luxurious clump. Then in late summer, firey red spikes emerged, drawing in every hummingbird to fight over the clusters of [...]

A few years ago while visiting the Ft. Worth Botanical Gardens, a little low growing plant in a shady grove caught my eyes. I’d never seen it before, but it had a sign right by it (bless the Bot. Garden folks for a good job of signage - the bane of many public gardens), removing [...]

Farfugium! It just kind of rolls off your tounge. At first, I really was miffed at the taxonomical change from what I knew as Ligularia tussilaginea to Farfugium japonicum. But, it acutally is a good thing, because what is still known as Ligularia are not predictably hardy here in our sultry Northeast Texas summers. Plus, I never [...]

This is a favorite time of year, when one of my favorite groups of plants stand out like shining beacons even in broad daylight. I’m talking about Japanese maples (Acer palmatum). The northeast Texas area has ideal conditions for growing Japanese maples, and Tyler is a great place to see these spectacular plants in action.
Every year [...]

e redbuds. They are great plants that fit into almost any yard and landscape. There are several great varieties, with improved darker colors, Aggie-maroon foliage (’Forest Pansy’), and even a weeping variety. These are clones or subspecies of the native Cercis canadensis. Then there are the Texas redbud and the Mexican redbud, with a tougher constitution [...]

We are seeing an interesting number of galls already this spring. Galls have always fascinated me, mainly because of the many curious shapes and colors on such a wide range of plants. Most galls we see in trees are caused by very small insects, often tiny wasps. Galls are triggered to form when a gall-making insect lays eggs [...]

Tyler is famous not only for its roses, the Tyler Rose Garden, and the Texas Rose Festival, but also for the beautiful Tyler Azalea Trail each year mid-March through the first week of April. Mile after mile of brick-lined streets and quiet neighborhoods explode with color, along with the dogwoods and and other spring-time flowers. [...]

Fran Pontasch, North Texas viticulture adviser for Texas AgriLife Extension Service, announced a July 22 workshop in Stephenville, designed for persons thinking about, or already are growing, wine grapes. Pontasch serves the North Texas area, which includes Tyler, and will be conducting the workshop at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Stephenville from [...]

2008 has been a slower year for mole activity at my home. I’ve trapped a few of them, but recently, one has been a bugger to catch. I knew there was one in the area - tunnels directly under a newly planted vegetable garden; mounds in the middle of the backyard lawn; and an occasional [...]

One of the great things about the IDEA Demonstration Garden located in the Tyler Rose Garden is the how the Smith Co. Master Gardeners are always on the search for new and great plants for the Northeast Texas area. This spring they found this cool plant in one of the box stores - a dahlia with [...]

If you like  loud, gawdy, bright, attention-getting plants, then take a look at Dancing Flame salvia. This speciman is located in the Heritage Rose Garden in the Tyler Rose Garden, and you cannot miss it. It’s bright yellow and green variegated leaves on a 2.5 by 2.5 foot bush are alone enough to catch your [...]

I haven’t written much about moles lately, mainly because I haven’t caught any recently - until today. Quite awhile back I wrote that I haven’t had much success trying to trap in deeper tunnels that connect between mole mounds. Seems like the tunnels connecting mounds are so large that maybe the mole runs into part [...]

ke left a mess all across East Texas in his wake, and the extensive tree damage will take awhile to completely clear up. Many trees will retain scars for their rest of the life, though those scars will eventually be hidden. I’m referring to broken branches not properly pruned, or stripped bark, leading to internal [...]

Now is the time to be purchasing and planting bulbs for next year’s blooming display. Not all bulbs are equal in terms of having long-term stay in your garden and landscape. Too often, bulbs will bloom the first year, and then just come back as leaves - no flowers, or worse, not come back at [...]

Give beneficial pollinating insects a home by making a bee hotel. The female of the non-aggressive mason bee species spends most of her life searching for hollow stems to use as a nest. So why not make a bee hotel for her in which she can lay her eggs? Collect old flower stalks or bamboo [...]

For the boldest, brightest display in a hanging basket choose a large container (no smaller than 35cm) and pack it with plants. But keeping them flowering is thirsty work, so for a really successful show the plants will need plenty of water on a regular basis.
You will need to water hanging baskets every day, morning [...]

Regular watering is essential for summer bedding, vegetables, pots and hanging baskets as well as newly-planted trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Our tips show how to water your plants properly so that they can make best use of it and so that we don’t waste this valuable resource.

Do it:
late-March - early September

Takes just:
20 minutes

Always water [...]

Plants are able to make their own food by capturing the energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar. But in order to stay healthy and give the best results they take additional nutrients out of the soil or compost, so it’s important to provide them with supplementary fertiliser. The basic nutrients [...]

Autumn is very with us and the days are getting much shorter. I notice it particularly as we walk the dogs early each morning and at the moment we have to start in the dark - a little depressing except that about half way round the sky splits with lines of pink and orange as [...]

There are a lot of gardening blogs out there, so I thought it would be interesting to take you on a short tour of some that might be of interest. One of the advantages of the internet is that anybody, anywhere can create a blog about anything.
Unsurprisingly, there are blogs covering every aspect of gardening, [...]

Parents are constantly looking for summer activities which they can do along with their children’s something to absorb but should not be a waste for their kid’s time & their own. Planting with your children’s is perfectly one of the finest things which can be done during summer time. It’s educational, rewarding, productive, and get [...]

from Natural Life Magazine, May/June 1995
Growing Wildflowers
by Wendy Priesnitz

Aldo Leopold wrote, “Our ability to perceive quality in nature begins, as in art, with the pretty.” The growing popularity of landscaping with wildflowers can be traced back to the simple fact that wildflowers are pretty.
However, many people find wildflowers [...]

1. Check the company’s website to see how it sends the flowers. Are they in a vase or are they boxed? “Flowers sent through a local florist typically arrive professionally designed in a vase or container, ready to be displayed,” says Jennifer Sparks, vice president of marketing for the Society of American Florists. “Flowers sent [...]

Some People are perfectly content with a few foundation evergreens gathered around their front door and a smattering of sedate little blossoms in the back yard. However, I have never been of that persuasion. I prefer shock appeal, which might explain why I’ve developed a penchant for passion flowers.
No one will ever accuse passion flowers [...]

Blazing sun and drought conditions have you worked up into a sweat? Cool off with this list of pretty plant alternatives that go beyond cacti and succulents. These fuss-free, heat-tolerant hot shots are tough enough to handle whatever Mother Nature dishes out…and they’ll crank up the color in your garden, too!
Blanket Flower

Gaillardia species and cultivars
Perky [...]

Tulips are a favourite for spring weddings, perfect used alone or as part of a mixed bouquet with other spring blooms. Although they have a tendency to droop your florist should know how to condition them properly and use them in the right design to show them off to perfection. Available from January to Spring [...]

Flowers in Season for a Spring Wedding
Choosing your flowers by their season is a wonderful way to theme your day. Be inspired by the seasonal countryside for your Spring Wedding Flowers and find a sensational choice of colours, scents and styles. By choosing flowers that are in season you can create a truly timeless and [...]