Thanks to all of you! | May activities | the Lorax

tel. 512 280 1192 May 3, 2018

Your plants and flowers will grow on in our gardens and the

beauty of it all is your legacy ...thanks so much ! (Robin Byrd)

After last week's announcement of our closure, we have been over-

whelmed by love and support from all of you. While there is much

sadness, you have reminded us how we have touched and enriched

your gardens and your lives over so many years. We really apprec-

iate every conversation, every Facebook post and every phone call

that we've had over the past week. We are going to miss all of you

profoundly. Thank you!

- Diane and Chris

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Nursery notes: hanging baskets - bougainvilleas, purslane, gera-

niums, and portulaca - are plentiful right now - the perfect Moth-

er's Day gift ; - ) For all you 'Austin weirdos,' David has some

Native American popcorn and Bolivian Rainbow peppers. Also

in the greenhouses, patchouli, scented geraniums (nutmeg and lem-

on), datura - white, double yellow and double purple, Vietnamese

coriander, honeydew melons, lace-leaf lavender, elder-berry, goji

berries, Mexican oregano and Mexican mint marigold. If you have

gift cards, please spend them soon. ❦

The Lorax: on Friday (tomorrow) the Wildflower Center teams

up with the Alamo Drafthouse to present this 2012 animated Dr.

Seuss classic as a fun outdoor picnic event in the Family garden.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk. Tickets: $12.

($6 for members.) Wildflower movies ❦

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Make your own garden lanterns: original, home-made pierced-

tin candle holders can brighten your garden at dusk, and are fun

and easy to make: an instructional video from Fine Gardening ❦

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Central Texas Gardener: sedges, sages and sedums for sun to

shade. Liz Morphis from Barton Springs Nursery helps gardeners

bring life to those shady corners. In Waco, a healing garden of

flowers and food. Saturday 4 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. KLRU ❦

Ten Activities for May

by Chris Winslow

1. Plant flowers: This is a perfect time for flowering annuals and

perennials. Begonias, zinnias, marigolds, moss-roses, purslanes,

and vinca are all good choices. Perennials might include lantanas,

salvias, and verbenas.

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2. Vegetable garden care: Remember to water deeply to encourage

a deep, drought tolerant root system. Still time to add a few warm

season crops: sweet and hot peppers, green beans, okra, eggplant,

and black-eyed peas. Fertilize tomatoes.
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3. Mulch: Place around all plants to conserve water and keep the

temperature around the plant roots comfortable. Mixing some com-

post with the mulch will help replace nutrients as the plants grow.
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4. Care of roses: Dead-head spring flowering roses to encourage

a new flush of flowers. Apply fertilizer to produce new flowers.

Watch for powdery mildew, black spot and western flower thrip.

Treat with organic sprays: Neem oil and wettable-sulphur.
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5. Move houseplants outside: Put them out for a spring breather.

Move them slowly towards their new light exposure. Too much

sun too fast will burn the leaves. This is also a good time for trans-

planting.
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6. Insect control: All this new spring growth is attractive to every

kind of critter imaginable. Be nice to the environment (and to your-

self) and only use organic sprays. If you have larvae (caterpillars)

eating holes in your plants and trees, look for products that have

B.T. as the main ingredient. If sucking insects like aphids, spider

mites, whitefly, scale, and mealy bug are the problem, use Neem

oil or Spinosad.

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7. Maintain irrigation: If you own an automatic sprinkler system,

it would save water and money to have it tuned up. Set the controller

for deep, infrequent watering to encourage a deep, drought-resist-

ant root system. Install rain sensor.

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8. Fertilize lawn: Use an organic blend with a 3-1-2 ratio. Ten

pounds per 1,000 square feet of turf area should be adequate.
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9. Feed the birds: With lots of new birds in the area, keep those

feeders full.
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10. Grow basil: The top herb for the summer months is basil. With

the nights getting warmer, this wonderful herb should finally have

the temperatures it needs to take off. Happy Gardening Everyone!