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Nature’s Way Resources owner John Ferguson, “The Lazy Gardener” Brenda Beust Smith and Pablo Hernandez welcome your feedback and are so grateful to the many horticulturists who contribute their expertise

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Left, Monarch on native pink milkweed (or swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata). Right, volunteers sought to seed Texas prairies. (Katie Sierra photos)

WANTED: HELP PLANTING 20,000 MILKWEEDS IN 2 YEARS

BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH 

NATIVE PLANTS are sure to grow in popularity as do Gardeners concerned for our native wildlife and planet. As KATIE SIERRA of Coastal Prairie Conservancy begins her invitation below to area gardeners: . . .

“If you’re really serious about incorporating more natives into your landscapes, a smart route would be to take time out to learn more about HOW Mother Nature gardens.”

Corporate & many other groups and individual volunteers are needed to plant specific Greater Houston prairies with additional 20,000 milkweeds in 2 years! Ideally they will provide acres of new nesting habitat for the monarch butterflies this summer.

As CPC points out, Monarchs are being considered as threatened species additions under the Endangered Species Act. Milkweed is the ONLY plant on which monarch butterflies lay eggs . . . and also supports other pollinators essential to healthy ecosystems. Milkweeds being grown in CPC’s natives nursery need to be planted soon.

Before you decide, view this inspirational video. This CPC pollinator restoration project is undertaken in cooperation with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Volunteer here, or email Bethany Foshee.

Primary species CPC is growing include (left) below) Asclepias viridis (green milkweed), Asclepias oenertheroides (Zizotes milkweed). Zizotes is a tough, mowable milkweed that grows wild in many landscapes — sun, shade, wet, or dry. Wavy leaf margins resemble primrose, hence the species name “oenotheroides.”

Zizotes photo by Iris Poteet  

This month, you really should . . . (*EXCERPTED FROM ‘LAZY GARDENER’S GUIDE):

• Mow lawn once now to allow sun to reach roots.
• Prune grafted roses; Valentine’s Day is traditional pruning time to trigger healthy new growth.
• Plant later-blooming bulbs, corms and tubers like amaryllis, canna and gladiolus.
• Appreciate the beauty of bare bark! Show kids how to spot bird and squirrel nests.

If the spirit moves . . .

• Root vine cuttings now. Should grow quickly.
• Plant Louisiana phlox and oxalis around late-appearing shrubs like lantana and hamelia.
• Plant beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, chard, collards, green onions, Irish potatoes, lettuce, mustard greens, turnips. In pots, start crookneck and zucchini squash.
• Divide crowded perennials like daylilies and daisies.
• In water gardens, raise potted water lilies closer to warmer surface water.

If you’re really feeling energetic . . .

• Pinch tops off groundcovers to make them spread faster.
• Pot plumerias. Set outside on pretty days; move inside at night. Make sure bring in for late freezes.
• Put in plants, not seeds, of alyssum, asters, delphiniums, hollyhocks, larkspur, marigolds,poppies, snapdragons, stocks — they need cold. (Most fade when it gets hot.)
• Remove spent blooms on pansies, daffodils, dianthus, calendulas, cyclamens, snapdragons and other early-bloomers so they will produce more flowers.

Great Don’t-Do tips for really Lazy Gardeners

• Don’t fertilize plumerias or lawn yet. Wait until needs to be mowed so you’ll stimulate grass root growths, and not winter weeds.
• Don’t remove greenery from fading daffodils and other naturalizing bulbs. Dying foliage replenishes bulb. If too unsightly, roll foliage up, anchor to ground.
• Don’t prune climbing roses. Wait until after they bloom.

Our Gardening Year Starts This Month . . .

. . . so I’d like to share some personal observations made over (now 50+) years I’ve been writing as the “Lazy Gardener”:

• Watch pecan trees. They bud after all danger of freezes have passed. (Smart old wives suggestion!)
• Quit looking north or west for gardening advice. Not like us! Stick to LOCAL!
• Put drought-tolerant plants in beds 10-15″ above ground level or otherwise EXTREMELY well-drain. Don’t overwater! Especially important with native flowers.
• Use our County Extension centers‘ beautiful demonstration gardens manned by Master Gardeners. They test for right varieties for YOUR area.
• Make soil your primary focus. Leaves make great compost.

• Since another cold spell’s ahead, good time to think about where to put colorful new bloomers. Check Texas hot sun tolerance! In blasting hot sunny areas, pale pastels may wash out, variegated plants may look like dying if used all alone. Strong solid greens, reds, oranges, yellows, etc. may compete better.
• Less-than-preferable views in backyard? Use hot colored plants to draw visitor’s eye to more attractive off-site view from house, patio, etc.
• Color’s impact multiplies when coupled with hardscapes (rocks, birdbaths, fences, benches, etc.). Large rocks draw the eye, anchoring us to Mother Earth offering sort of a strong metaphysical protection from the stresses of everyday life. Locate at least one large interesting rock somewhere near the site where you sit outside at night.
• If you’re new to a subdivision with HOA/POA regulations about gardening in the front (and sometimes back) yard, be sure to check these before spending a lot of money on plants. Sometimes these are VERY strict.
  
  

  (Above quoted Lazy Gardener Guide’s advice no longer in print. For pdf version, email lazygardenerbrenda@gmail.com)

• JACOB MARTIN, Mercer Horticulture Greenhouse Manager, says their frost-damaged perennials & annuals are now being cut back, dead leaves/stems removed to help prevent future disease problems.

Mercer‘s famous camellia collection (above right) is looking great despite snow and freezes. Dropped flowers are being cleaned up, hopefully preventing thrip damage. texasinsects.tamu.edu/thrips/  Check calendar below for Mercer events.

ATTN. GARDEN/PLANT GROUPS — In wake of Hurricane Beryl, Nature’s Way Resources offers free guided tours of NWR’s extensive nursery/soil/mulch facilities for garden clubs, plant societies and other plant-oriented, organized groups. As usual, NWR’s now-expanded meeting site is free to above groups. Reservations a must for both.

• Just realized John’s column below touches on one of my most favorite, most fascinating plant articles. It’s about how Houston Cactus & Succulent Society member and concert pianist CHADEN YAFI was going to “play” a barrel cactus!! https://www.natureswayresources.com/lazy-gardener-friends-478/

Brenda Beust Smith’s column is based on her 40+ years as the Houston Chronicle’s “Lazy Gardener” column — lazygardenerbrenda@gmail.com Brenda’s column focuses ONLY on the Greater Houston Area

John’s Corner

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD

OF SOIL AND PLANTS 

John’s colum will be back next week

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