November 25 , 2009
Small native trees & shrubs, Green Garden makeover
Happy Thanksgiving !
As gardeners , we ’re most grateful for the sop rains . commend last class when fresh plants go into freezes with bone - dry roots ? And , as Austin gardener put down the season ofwastewater averaging , we were hesitant to urine , yet anxious if we did n’t . I ’m thankful we ’re give up that dilemma this year .
With the rain and ice chest temperatures , my firespike ( Odontonema stricta ) in the shady patio cove bloomed at last .
This leafy perennial ( joined by some gingers ) gets the briefest glance at former morning sun . In the raging part of summer , it wish some extra water , but mostly did alright with a weekly dose in its shady , sullen soil spot . Its first placement got a abbreviated bit of afternoon sun and it wilted day by day . Since I make a motion it , it ’s been pretty carefree . It can freeze out to the ground , and can be wearisome to return ( though it does return ) . Last class it did n’t freeze in its protected spot next to the sign . the right way now it ’s leggy since it late shot up . I wo n’t prune it now , but I ’ll shape it next spring to encourage a bushy shape .
I ’m not one to baby flora too much . I ’m open to experiments , but if success mean too much work , or if I ca n’t find a move that suits the plant ( often a move is all it needs ) , it gets moved out of here . I ’m thankful that I ’ve come to recognize what works for my website and for me .
That ’s John Wilson ’s philosophy , too . As our featured gardener this workweek , see how he and his wife Debra Leff change front railyard Gunter Grass for a neighborhood living elbow room .
John want to exemplify the resourceful lessons he teaches his biology scholar atSt . Stephen ’s Episcopal School . He also want to apply the tough - industrial plant lessons he ’d learned while choose them on expedition to the Davis Mountains and Big Bend .
Recognized as anAustin Green Garden , it ’s become more than that . Neighbors stop by to chitchat the pond and check out what ’s changing in the garden .
Then they adopt the concrete - stained nerve tract to come sit around and talk awhile .
As John say , “ I kind of wish everybody had a living space in their front yard . I think we ’d probably have a circle more to do with each other . ”
Keeping to our tough flora root , we also take a spirit at little aboriginal trees and shrubs that pull in wildlife and stand up to drought . Jared Pyka from Native Texas Nursery meets with Tom to give you a few outstanding ideas , like this Arroyo sweetwood ( Myrospermum sousanum ) .
Jared ’s list includes choices for gardener in confined space , or as accents and living screens in larger gardens . Of course , you may get the intact list on our fabulous new site !
( take note : Native Texas is wholesale only , so please ask for these big plants at your favorite baby’s room ) .
It ’s always Thanksgiving weekend when I plant a few more bulbs . This yr , I ’m adding someErlicheerandGrand Primo . lately , Lauren Ogdentold me that if we institute too ahead of time in our usually ardent other descent days , the bulbs can send up foliage before their roots get established . This can be harmful if we get a killer freeze .
Two workweek ago , I did move some lightbulb that were hide under the eloquent germander that turn so fast . They had sound theme system and are look ripe . We ’ll see if they blossom this spring . Sometimes you simply must experiment !
I thank you all for sharing this yr with me !
Until next week , Linda
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