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Nature’s Way Resources honors the contributions of our late owner, John Ferguson. “The Lazy Gardener” Brenda Beust Smith and Shelby Cassano welcome your feedback and remain grateful to the many horticulturists who share their expertise.

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Published July 15, 2026

Old favorites that bloom in hot sun, l to r, Crepe Myrtle ‘Queen Lace’; Swamp Rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos);  daylilies with giant white spider lilies and giant white butterflyweed (caution, grows higher than our 1-story house!) 

Note, all these are so popular, they may have other names depending on who’s got them for sale! Irritating, I know!

“This is not a time for wimpy plants . . . 

Our landscapes can still be beautiful in summer 

if we choose plants that can take the heat!”  

 – – “TEXAS MONTH-BY-MONTH GARDENING “

by ROBERT “SKIP” RICHTER

by Brenda Beust Smith | The Lazy Gardener

This quote from Skip Richter (hugely respected Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for 32 years in Montgomery, Travis, Harris, and Brazos Counties, and host of Gardenline Radio) pretty much says it all! If you buy willy-nilly, with no pre-research on tolerance of OUR HEAT, then I hope your bets pay off. But odds are, they may not. 

We mentioned before the use of umbrellas (adult or child’s) to protect outdoor plants from the afternoon sun. The added advice below may seem a little strange given this week’s predicted rain. But it’s good advice all summer through (what we delightfully call) “Fall”:

• (Once we’re past these welcome downpours) Always water well at the base of important plants BEFORE it rains. Don’t laugh! Heat quickly causes topsoil to “crust over,” reducing amount of water that seeps downward. If that doesn’t work into an early morning schedule, wait until night, so you’ll lose less to evaporation.  
• Don’t remove sunburnt foliage. It’ll shade growth below it.
• If you don’t have mulch down, please consider it. It will make a difference in summer
• If you can, water outdoor plants earlier rather than later. Slightly moist soil is more absorbent than even-completely-bone-dry topsoil (which can even temporarily repel rainwater).  
• Leave heat-burnt leaves on to 1. provide shade for healthy inside leaves, and 2. add nutrients to the soil. 
• Water as early as can before soil heats up (and before evaporation reduces how much reaches plants!)
• Most importantly, if you haven’t mulched treasured plants yet, better get to it! Brown is recommended over black in our area, but black is better than no mulch at all. I’m determined to get back to asking neighbors for their leaves — my favorite mulch. Life has just gotten in the way lately.

Don’t overlook heat’s effects on inside plants!  Rainwater’s better than our additives-heavy city water.  Make sure indoor plants aren’t exposed to mid-day sun (usually west/south-facing windows — but check other glass areas too). Even inside, even indirect rays may quickly dry the air.  

Any other indoor/outdoor plant tips you’d like to add will be welcome . . . especially for folks new to our area who aren’t used to our extreme heat from reflected sun even inside the house! Do share! Lazygardenerbrenda@gmail.com.

Once our rains stop, plants will appreciate a little extra watering in the morning. The closer to soil the watering, the less would be evaporated away before it hits soil. During very hot sunny periods, experts advise setting small-medium plant pots in larger pots full of water (for a short while only) and leaving inside and outside fans on to keep the room/area’s air from heating up. Don’t set plants near AC vents. That’s too drying. 

This next tip, overheard in a nursery, was new to me. A customer was advised to wrap her dark-colored decorative pots (outdoor and even indoor-near-windows) with white paper or cloth so less heat will be absorbed around the roots! 

If you lose any plants just from a lack of time to take heat-protective measures, keep a record. If you must replace now, consider these usually very hardy choices (be sure you mulch WELL) : 

Anything not mentioned that you do to protect your plants? How about which of your plants laugh at our heat? PLEASE DO SHARE to help our newcomers from less-sun-baked areas!  lazygardenerbrenda@gmail.com.

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John’s Corner

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS

This week’s issue of John’s Corner will consist of a guest article from Jeani Tuttle with Custom Inspirations Home & Landscape. Originally published for Facebook, we have gotten Jeani’s permission to reuse it for our readers here.

CHINESE CROWN ORCHID, Eulophia graminea,

Custom Inspirations Home & Landscape

Chinese Crown Orchid PSA

Together, we can stem the tide!

Jeani Tuttle

Custom Inspirations Home & Landscape

See the photos to assist in identifying and locating, and please read the following.   I recently found a few of these volunteer plants in a landscape, and was almost entertained by it. I properly ID’d the plant, quickly finding that it is an Invasive Species that has just recently been naturalized in Texas as of this year, 2026. (You can look up and read how it has affected Florida since its naturalization there since 2008).   This information led to a quick action to reach out to TAMU, Texas Invasives, and our local Montgomery County AgriLife Extension Office to report this matter and gather more information. My contact informed me that he had not found any publication specifically for Texas, but Florida extension does have some good information:   https://plant-directory.ifas.ufl.edu/…/eulophia-graminea/   The lack of information for Texas is in part due to its newness and lack of knowledge among homeowners and gardeners across Texas. Because of this, we need everyone’s help to stem the tide of this invasive species before it becomes a costly issue to all of us.   We can all be a saving part to stop the Spread before it becomes a very costly issue in our own Community, to our gardens, and our neighboring communities.   To stop the spread, we need everyone’s help.   1. Keep an eye out for these new sprouts and volunteers. Invasive plants can come from anywhere and spread very quickly. 2. If needed, use a Plant ID app, i.e., Seek by iNaturalist, to properly identify the volunteers. 3. Report your findings: • Montgomery County Extension Office: Phone: (936) 539-7822 Email: montgomery-tx@ag.tamu.edu Or: mpotter@ag.tamu.edu (Or contact your local Extension Office in your county). • TexasInvasives.org, Take Action, Report, and use the form: The form will ask for photos of your findings as well as coordinates. https://www.texasinvasives.org/action/report_detail.php?error=recaptcha&alert_id=#form   • Also, contact your Community Manager’s Office and share this information. 4. If you find and identify this particular Invasive Species, and if you find stems coming up, especially ones that have flowered already, cut the stems off at the base, place in plastic bag, and seal it before placing it in your trash receptacle. • Proceed to dig up the rest of the plant, being very careful not to leave any parts of the plant in the soil. • When disposing of invasive plant material, consider whether any seeds, fruits, or cuttings could re-sprout. • At a minimum, bag these materials to help prevent their spread, and Please Dispose of these invasive plants carefully. • Keep an eye on your property. • Inform your neighbors and friends.   Thank you for your attention to this matter and for everyone’s help to stop this unwanted plant from spreading in our beloved communities!   Please feel free to share this message with your Community, Landscape and Lawn Maintenance Crews, Friends, and Family.   Together, we can stem the tide!

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