Moving in for the Winter
Our first cold front is due this coming week-end, predicted to fall into the 30s by Saturday, October 5th or Sunday night, the 6th. Up here the smart thing to do is move plants in at least by mid-October to avoid the fun of moving them in during blizzard conditions,...
A Delightful Little Lithop
I bought this pair of little lithops with hopes of keeping them alive, which isn’t always the easiest thing to do, and not only have they lived, but bloomed beautiful yellow flowers! The little horned lizard, or as they are colloquially known in Texas, horny toads,...
Plastic vs. Wire Hangers for Hanging Pots
Trailing succulents are good choices for hanging baskets. Their fleshy growth stands up well in high winds, and the fact that they are succulents means they don’t wilt if they miss a watering. That’s the good news. The bad news is that if they thrive, over time they...
Notocactus Magnificus-Another Good One to Add to Your Collection
Notocactus magnificus, also known as parodia magnificus, is native to Brazil and Uruguay. This cactus is easy to grow and will bloom several times during warm weather. Even though in its native habitat it can withstand lots of daytime heat and cold weather at night,...
Spanish Broom
Spanish broom makes a nice addition to any yard, but works well in a xeriscape-style landscape. Once established, they do take less water than other flowering bushes, but from my experience, more water or rain in the Spring contributes to a thicker cover of blooms....
Stinky Flowers
I was on my way home from Austin in November of 2011 with a back seat full of treasures and trinkets bought during the trip. The sun was shining, and it was a lovely day for traveling. But as I covered the miles home, I began to notice that an unpleasant smell was...
Bombax Tree Update
The last time you saw the bombax tree (“The Bombax Tree, AKA The Shaving Brush Tree,” May 31, 2013), it had bloomed and had very few leaves. Well, time has passed, rain has come, and the tree looks considerably different. So I thought that you needed to see that it...
Succulents Instead of Annuals
I have been so frustrated with the drought that this year I decided to use succulents in some places where I might have put annuals. The wind, coupled with the lack of moisture, has made it hard the last few years for bedding plants to make a showing in my yard,...
A Late Summer Surprise
I brought several echinocactus home from the Marfa, Texas, area a few summers ago, thinking they were another form of horse crippler. Turns out they are related, but not considered horse cripplers. Several that I have bloomed early in the Spring, and I enjoyed...
Acanthocalycium Thionanthum v. Glaucum
Just thought I would share these little cacti with you. I have three of these little beauties and have enjoyed the yellow flowers in combination with the gray body of the plant. The plant on the left is also acanthocalycium, but a different variety that I have not...
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