tel. 512 280 1192 June 28, 2018
Nursery notes: We are starting to wind down our operation this
weekend. Tomorrow (Friday) our 25% OFF closing sale begins.
Everything (except for gifts in the Gift Shop) will be discounted.
The sale will continue through July. Please drop by to say farewell,
and pick up some bargains ; - ) ❦
Over the years many kiddos and adults have delighted in our
miniature railway line. A big thank you to Ralph Harner, Scott
Bloom and Don Douma for all of your creativity and tender care
over the years. One Sunday afternoon we filmed a fun video by
precariously balancing an iPhone on the front engine of the It's
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An appreciation from KLRU's Linda Lehmusvirta: Bid fare-
well to a good friend today: It's About Thyme Garden Center. I
met Chris Winslow at Marbridge Garden Center long ago and then
Diane Winslow (and Chris) at IAT. Over the years, I've learned so
much from them and their rock star team including Amanda Moon
and David K Sargert. Mick Vann brought them tastes to propagate
from around the world that grew into our vocabulary and gardens.
They changed our perceptions about WHY our locally-grown nur-
series matter so much. Facebook ❦
Another summer soup from Spain: since so many readers were
interested in last week's white garlic soup, here's another variation
called salmorejo - 'gazpacho's thicker, creamier cousin,' with tom-
atoes, garlic, bread, olive oil and vinegar: Salmorejo ❦
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Amanda Moon's blog: you can read two of her 'Back to Basics'
series here: 'Buying the Perfect Plant,' and 'Transplanting and
Caring for your New Plant.' Easy Texas Landscapes ❦
____________________________________________________Fighting rose rosette disease: if your roses start to grow strangely
deformed stems, leaves and flowers, they may have been infected
by this insidious disease, spread by the tiny eriophyid mite. The ad-
vice from the experts: dig it up and put it in the trash, and replace.
Two helpful articles to share: Fine Gardening, Rose Geek. ❦
____________________________________________________Central Texas Gardener: an interview with light specialist Leslie
Halleck; on tour a visit to the gardens of the Bauers. Daphne and
Wizzie Brown examine the wound on a live oak. See the show on
Saturday 4 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. or click here: KLRU ❦
by Chris Winslow
Although we have enjoyed some rains this spring, I can't help but
notice that we have entered the oven-hot months of the summer,
and I also notice that my life has a certain repetitive rhythm to it:
water all day long at the nursery, drive home… and more watering.
With all these hours spent holding the hose, I am having ample
time to reflect on which plants perform the best during the summer
months.
There are seven trees which stand out: Monterrey oak, Texas per-
simmon, Texas mountain laurel, Chinese pistache, Chinquapin oak,
mesquite, and Chitalpa. They all seem to thrive on little or no water
at all. They were established trees when I moved to the property
in 2001, and all are native except the Chinese Pistache and the Chit-
alpa – which I find loaded every day with a profusion of flowers
that the hummingbirds love.
Some perennials and grasses that hold their own: Mexican feather
grass, miscanthus (maiden grass), muhly grass, blackfoot daisy, lan-
tana, thyrallis (golden showers), Salvia gregii (cherry sage), Mexican
bush sage, Copper Canyon daisy, four-nerve daisy, and esperanza
(yellow bells).
Perhaps the showiest plant of all is pride of Barbados. Flowering
daily throughout the summer, they are providing the butterflies
with much needed nectar.
On the herbal side, rosemary, Mexican mint marigold, garden sage,
and Mexican oregano seem to be doing just fine with infrequent,
deep waterings.
We can’t forget the yuccas and agaves. No water – no problem. I
planted an Agave americana (century plant) out by my front gate
7 years ago and without any extra water it has turned into 15 plants.
For annual color, tops are vinca-periwinkle, with purslanes and
moss-roses in second place.
For another opinion I consulted with Jerry Hinton, who works with
me at the nursery. Here’s Jerry’s list: Mexican mint marigold, Mex-
ican oregano, Mexican feathergrass, santolina, dwarf Barbados
cherry, thyrallis, silver bush germander, yaupon holly, silver pony-
foot, and Gregg’s dalea.
With a little planning and a great number of drought tolerant and
heat hardy plants to choose from, one could most certainly create
a beautiful and water conserving landscape. Happy gardening
everyone! ❦
