tel: 512 280-1192                                      Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014

Nursery Notes: the Great Palm Tree Sale continues! 25% off all 
palms. Selection of 2 gal perennials also on sale: reg. $14.99, on
sale - $9.99. Bougainvilleas 2 gal on sale for $9.99 (reg. $19.99).
1 gal. pink muhly grass $5.99 this weekend (reg. $7.99).
_____________________________________________________
'Planting and Cultural Practices for New Tree Success' - free
lecture this Sunday at 2 p.m. by local arborist and horticulturist
Lisa Killander. Learn all about species selection and proper place-
ment of new trees within a new or existing home site. You'll also
learn about watering and fertilizing, and how to know when it is
time to pull the plug on mature trees. Please join us.
 
Model Train Jamboree comes to the nursery this Sat. and Sun.
 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Engineer in Chief Ralph Harner  (pictured
above with rail fan Satchel)  promises a selection of some of his
best engines for the event - so expect longer trains as well as some
exotic stuff' whizzing around the nursery's 400 feet of track.
____________________________________________________   
Join the Rain Garden Movement - keeping water on the land.
The idea is simple enough: create a shallow, vegetated depression
in your landscape to absorb and filter runoff from roofs, sidewalks,
and driveways. It's good for the environment, and also it can look
beautiful when planted with colorful native plants and grasses.
Check out this link from Grow Green:  Rain Gardens
 
Day of the Dead: we have a beautiful Dia de los Muertos life-size
sculpture by Julián Lopez by the gift shop for sale. ($319)  
_____________________________________________________
Fettuccine with Swiss Chard, Walnuts and Lemon: an interesting
recipe from Chef Michael Schlow from the Victory Garden/Edible
Feast website, that looks both tasty and easy. Victory Garden
____________________________________________________
Central Texas Gardener:  Let’s pick some perennial favorites for
fall and spring flowers to plant right now. Visit a garden where re-
cycled scavenges add perennial art to layers of flowers, succulents,
and home-made pond. Sat., 4 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. www.klru      
  
 
Awsome Ornamental Grasses
by Chris Winslow 
 
Besides being a great time to locate and identify fall color trees
and shrubs, a quick drive up Brodie Lane this month offers a
wonderful display of fall blooming ornamental grasses.

The entrance to Brodie Springs, Randall’s shopping center, apart-
ment complexes south and north of William Cannon, and the
shopping centers in Sunset Valley, all have this in common.

These grasses have been promoted during the last few years be-
cause of three common attributes: they give multiple seasons of
color; they are drought tolerant; they are virtually free of insect
and disease pests. In addition, they provide three distinct seasons
of color.

Starting in late winter and early spring their new growth provides
shades of green to grey to blue to purple.

 During their bloom season in late summer to late fall, their showy
bloom stalks exhibit colors ranging from white to tan to brown,
purple and pink.

Their last color change occurs when the first hard freeze turns their
foliage to bronze, straw, and rust colors – great for winter.

Here are my top five favorites that are showing their colors this
month:

1. Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis)
This has fine, green leaves with a silver center strip. Maiden grass
can grow to a height of 4 to 6 feet and can tolerate light locations
from full sun to bright shade. Its wavy flower tops are light tan.
2. Big Muhley Grass (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri)
A clumping blue-green grass native to the Texas Hill Country. It
grows 3 to 4 feet in height and width and its feathery seed heads
are tan.
3. Bamboo Muhley (Muhlembergia dumosa)
A tough, graceful grass, 4 to 5 feet tall. An Arizona native. It pro-
duces bamboo-like foliage (not invasive) that moves gracefully
in the wind. After the first hard freeze, it changes to a straw color,
adding a new season to the landscape.
4. Coastal or Gulf Muhley (Muhlenbergia capillaries)
Grows to about 2.5 feet in height and width, with green foliage.
It produces cloud-like pink feathery seed heads, looking like a
mist. Outstandingly beautiful!
5. Dwarf fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)
Creates white seeds on foliage that rarely grows to 2 feet. Its
larger cousin – purple fountain grass – grows to 4 feet with bur-
gundy foliage and bloom stalks. This plant is less hardy and has
been known not to return after a cold winter. Mulching and the
proper location are crucial to its success.
__________________________________________________
My favorite way to use them in the landscape is to mass plant
them, placing lower grasses in front of the taller ones.

If you have an unused flower bed and are wondering what to do
with it, try planting, in a mass, 3 to 4 Gulf muhley grasses in
front and place 3 to 4 maiden grasses behind. They will grow
thick and help to keep the small weeds at bay.

There are dozens of ornamental grasses that are suitable for our
climate that you can experiment with.

The maiden grasses come in a variety of mature sizes and leaf
and flower colors. There is one to look for that has stripes in
the foliage called zebra grass. There is another one that has
variegated foliage called cabaret. Then there is adagio and morn-
ing mist. Ornamental grasses can make your landscaping easy!
Happy Gardening Everyone.
 
  Visit the website: www.itsaboutthyme.com
 Visit the nursery:11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, 78748  Like us
 
Powered by YMLP.com