Lazy Gardener & Friends
Weekly Newsletter
Welcome to the Lazy Gardener & Friends Weekly Horticultural Newsletter!
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2026 Newsletters
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 626 – Miyawaki Forests: Could Houston Grow Butterfly Forests?
Could tiny Miyawaki forests bring butterflies back to Houston neighborhoods?
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 625 – Houston Shade Gardening: Better Plants & Bluebonnet Tips
Better shade gardening in Houston, plus reader-tested bluebonnet growing tips.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 624 – Bluebonnets in Houston: Can You Grow Them at Home?
This week’s Lazy Gardener explores whether bluebonnets sold as plants can successfully grow in Houston gardens and what conditions they need to thrive. The newsletter also highlights upcoming plant sales, wildflower tips, and a deep look at remineralizing soils with mineral-rich rock dust.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 623 – Plant a Tree Now: Best Houston Trees & Free Tree Giveaways
Thinking about adding a tree to your landscape? This week’s Lazy Gardener newsletter explains why now is the best time to plant a tree in Houston and highlights native species like Eastern redbud, Chickasaw plum, and Nuttall oak. It also shares upcoming local tree giveaway events and seasonal gardening updates.
The Lazy Gardener & Friends – 622 – Native Mulch Benefits: Soil Health Tips for Houston Gardeners
This week’s Lazy Gardener newsletter celebrates Trees for Houston planting its one-millionth tree while exploring how climate shifts are affecting local gardening practices. Readers will also find seasonal gardening reminders and a deep dive into why native mulch is one of the most beneficial materials for soil health and plant growth.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 621 – Azaleas From A to Z: History, Care Tips, and the 2026 Azalea Trail
Azalea history, growing tips, Azalea Trail 2026 details, and turf disease insights in this week’s Lazy Gardener newsletter.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 620 – Don’t Say Plants Died Yet: Cold Damage, Tree Planting, and Color Tips
Cold weather plant recovery tips, tree planting season advice, garden color ideas, and a greensand soil guide in this week’s Lazy Gardener newsletter.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 619 – Crape Myrtle Bark & Cold Weather Tips for Houston Gardeners
Cold weather tips, crape myrtle care, kalanchoe highlights, and a biochar deep dive in this week’s Lazy Gardener newsletter.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 618 – Planting Native Milkweed for Monarch Butterflies in Texas
More monarch butterflies are expected to pass through Texas this spring. Learn why planting the right Texas native milkweed matters, which varieties to avoid, and where to find trusted sources.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 617 – 2026 Gardening Trends: Color Fads, Texas Plants & Rose Care
This issue explores 2026 gardening trends, questioning color fads while highlighting Texas Superstar plants, climate-ready choices, and essential rose freeze protection tips for Houston gardeners.
2025 Newsletters
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 616 – Monarch Butterfly Update: Cautious Hope for 2026 Populations
This newsletter shares a monarch butterfly update with cautious optimism for 2026, examining recent population data, migration challenges, and the role gardeners play in conservation.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 615 – Native Caterpillars & Birds: Why Plants Matter in Houston Gardens
This issue explores why native caterpillars Houston ecosystems depend on are critical for birds and biodiversity, alongside timely poinsettia care advice from local gardeners.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 614 – Cold-Hardy Plants for Houston: African Bush Daisy & Winter Color
This issue highlights cold hardy plants Houston gardeners can grow for winter color, featuring African bush daisy, freeze-tolerant favorites, and tips for navigating unpredictable temperatures.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 613 – Houston Rose Winter Care: Freeze Prep, Mulch Tips & Recovery
This edition focuses on Houston rose winter care, featuring expert advice from Gaye Hammond on preparing roses for freezes, mulching properly, and reducing cold damage during unpredictable weather.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 612 – Houston Tree Canopy: Why Urban Trees Impact Every Neighborhood
Nature's Way Resources is proud to bring you this free weekly newsletter. While we don’t run ads, generous sponsors help support this project as a public service. Their names are listed below, please consider showing your appreciation by supporting their businesses! Nature's Way Resources honors...
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 610 – Miniature Roses: Tips, Sources & Winter Gardening Ideas for Houston
Miniature roses, winter garden ideas, expert tips, and fresh insights from friends in John’s Corner.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 611 – Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving from Brenda and the team!
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 609 – Houston Gardening: Winter Prep, Strawberries & Easy Roses Guide
Houston gardening tips for winter prep, strawberries, easy roses, and monarch updates.
The Lazy Gardener & Friends – 608 – Plant Propagation Tips: Seeds, Cuttings & Fall Garden Guidance
Fall gardening is the perfect time to multiply your favorite plants. This issue covers plant propagation tips using seeds and cuttings, seasonal garden insights, chrysanthemums, and guidance from SFA Gardens expert Jordan Cunningham.
Lazy Gardener & Friends – 606 – Houston Native Plants: Winter Color, Marigolds & Manure Insights
Fall is a perfect time to explore Houston native plants and winter blooms. Discover deer-deterring marigolds, tips for low-care natives, and insights on manure and sustainable gardening from Lazy Gardener and John’s Corner.
2024 Newsletters
Lazy Gardener & Friends 565
DO OUR PLANTS WISH WE’D HELP BIRDS STICK AROUND ALL WINTER? YES, THEY DO!
Compost
Lazy Gardener & Friends 564
WITH WINTER COMES DIFFERENT (NEW?)
GARDEN OUTLOOKS!
DESPITE CHALLENGES, GINGERS REALLY DO LIKE HOUSTON AREA!
Mulch
Lazy Gardener & Friends 563
NEW MOON AT WORK — MILD WINTER OUTLOOK GOOD NEWS FOR PLANTS
Molybdenum
Lazy Gardener & Friends 562
Thanksgiving Issue
Lazy Gardener & Friends 561
GRAB WHAT’S LEFT OF 2024 TO ENJOY YOUR GARDEN BEFORE PREDICTED FIRST FREEZE
BARONS – Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry by Austin Frerick, Island Press, 2024, ISBN: 978-1642832-693
Lazy Gardener & Friends 560
COTTAGE GARDENING TIPS GOOD ROUTE FOR ALL OUR GARDENS!
Benefits of Gardening
Lazy Gardener & Friends 559
SALUTING A GARDENER EXTRAORDINAIRE
TIME TO BE ‘FORCE-FUL’ WITH BULBS FOR HOLIDAYS!
Hybrid plants and nutrients in our food
Lazy Gardener & Friends 558
“Boo-tiful treats for the garden!
HOME GARDENS AND PRAIRIES — LEARNING TO LIVE TOGETHER
Manure-based fertilizers
Lazy Gardener & Friends 557
Didn’t realize goldenrod has so many fans — wow! Looking ahead to more color…
IS ALL COPACETIC IN YOUR VEGGIE PATCH?
CAMELLIAS: QUEENS OF THE WINTER GARDEN
Books: Soil Science for Regenerative Agriculture and The Regenerative Agricultural Solution
Lazy Gardener & Friends 556
“Ah, Walt, what have you wrought?”
Fungi intelligence fungi and sound GMO soy
2023 Newsletters
Lazy Gardener & Friends 515
Thanksgiving Issue
Lazy Gardener & Friends 514
COMMUNITY GARDENS (LIKE BEAUTY’S) GREAT RESOURCES FOR WINNERS FOR YOUR AREA
Herbicides (glyphosate) and health
Lazy Gardener & Friends 513
WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON PLANTS
~THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!
Carbon pollination plants sound black cumin ungi leather
Lazy Gardener & Friends 512
Saving our Earth, one landscape at a time
CAMELLIAS — QUEEN OF WINTER BLOOMERS! HYDROPONICS WORTH TRYING!
Glyphosate fluoride & IQ tree sweat EMF and health
Lazy Gardener & Friends 511
Lookin’ for marigolds for Dia de los Muertos?
WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU A LANDSCAPE LEMON . . .
Tires – elderberry – bumble bees leaf mulch.
Lazy Gardener & Friends 510
SECRET WISH? SECRET WITCH? SECRET GARDEN? OR, JUST AN HERB LOVER?
COOL WEATHER HERBS PLANTING CALENDAR
Straw mulch glyphosate food contamination seaweed extracts cover
crops and tarping birds and metal health
Lazy Gardener & Friends 509
‘HOUSTON’S DIVERSE ECOLOGY’ CHALLENGE FOR GARDENERS BUT NATIVES ARE THRIVING!
fungi-algae bioinoculants sprayable mulch gardening and mental bees
Lazy Gardener & Friends 508
‘I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers’
TEXAS TOUGH NATIVES LIFT COLLECTION
TO NEXT LEVEL!
Fluoride Frogfruit ginger edible fungi and books diet and dementia