the Austin Garden | gardening through the dog days | purslane tacos

Nursery notes: Far South Nursery has a fine selection of plants that "aren't afraid of the Texas summers." Nolina, sotol, agave and a variety of cacti. Far South / At the Natural Gardener: 20% off roses and shrubs from today through Aug. 15. TNG / The Wildflower Center is open, but reserve a place ahead of time: admissions / Wimberley Gardens: 1 gal. annuals (coleus, marigolds, zinnias, petunias) $4 (reg. $7): bougainvillea hanging baskets $25. Fresh shipments in of fall veggies and pottery. Wimberley Gardens ❦

From golf to prairie: the Austin Garden stands in full support of a movement to turn Hancock Golf Course (near Hyde Park) into a beautiful mixed-use park open to all (writes Darrel Mayers). Please help the cause by filling out this Survey More info can be found on facebook: Imagine Hancock Prairie Gardens ❦

New water garden. Austin Garden artist Linda Anderson has been busy with this new creation. "The drip starts in the dove's cage bath," she writes, "and then goes down through a pipe to a cascade of pottery, and finally waters the herb garden." ❦

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Mysterious seed from China: authorities urge caution to gardeners who unexpectedly receive seed packets from China in the mail. While some think it might just be a form of marketing, others believe darker forces may be at work. "My suggestion is burning them," said a Cornell professor. New York Times ❦

Purslane tacos: this plant has it all. It's a superfood loaded with vitamin E, it's tasty, and it grows like a weed. In some farmers markets in Mexico you find it inside a taco. For this recipe, if you don't have any Maggi Sauce, substitute a 50/50 mix of soy and Worcestershire sauce. Buen provecho. Latin Kitchen ❦

Central Texas Gardener: from producer Linda's blog comes this tribute to Hazel Wilson (1917 - 2019!) written by nephew Roy Wilson. "A seamstress of note, humble, frugal, neighborly and a master gardener by nature." CTG Blog ❦

August in the Garden

by Chris Winslow

For gardeners in the heat of the summer
1. Mulch and water: Your vegetable garden, landscape, flowerbeds and trees need some help to make it through this torrid month. Mulch generously, and water deeply.

2. Lawn care: Your grass also needs deep, infrequent watering (5 day schedule) and keep the cutting height for your lawnmower as high as possible. This will help shade the roots and conserve water.

3. Vegetables: This is the month to start sweet corn, okra, snap beans, cream peas and black-eyed peas from seed. Because the first frost (on average Nov. 27) is likely to occur within 120 days, use transplants for your peppers and tomatoes. During the second half of this month, plant your broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.

4. Survive! While it is nice of you to nurse your plants through this brutal month, it is perhaps even more important that you look after yourself. Three rules to follow: A. Garden early in the morning. B. Wear sunscreen and a large brimmed hat. C. Drink gallons of water.

For the birds in the heat of the summer
1. Water: Set up a birdbath in your garden. Keep it topped up every day, and clean once a week. Keep the area nearby clear, so that predatory cats have nowhere to hide.

2. Food: Help our feathered friends survive with good quality seeds. Buy in bulk from feed stores to save money.

3. Hummingbirds: mix 4 parts water to 1 part sugar and place in a feeder, and enjoy the magic of the visiting hummers. Make sure your feeder is red (their favorite color), and you can tie a red ribbon nearby to help them find their way.

4. Brush piles: While out in the yard, create little brush piles here and there out of twigs and branches. This will protect the birds so they can feed on the ground, and if a cat appears or a hawk swoops down, they’ll have somewhere to retreat.

5. Native landscapes: Our native birds grew up with native berries, and they are the best form of nourishment. Keep this in mind when shopping for plants. Sunflowers, salvias, yaupon holly, possum haw holly, agarita, coral berry, American beautyberry and Turks caps are all good choices. (More details at Travis Audubon Society) ❦

Prepping the Garden for Fall

by William Glenn

As the mercury remains perched in the upper strata of our thermometers, it’s tough to get motivated to work in the garden. Some easy preparations now, though, can yield tremendous results in a few weeks. Fall is the most productive and (in my opinion) most enjoyable gardening season in central Texas.

There is more interest in growing our own produce now than I’ve ever seen. It’s a wonderful thing to grow your own food, and it also allows you time to literally be grounded - to escape for a moment into nature’s care.

Gardening has been proven to supply its participants with excellent health benefits, and get us out of the dang house for a bit. A quick read on ecotherapy or Shinrin yoku (Japanese for forest bathing) will beckon even the most intractable AC-dwellers to help beautify the yard.

When you’re in the garden, your heart rate slows, your cortisol levels drop, and you will simply feel better!

It’s a great time to clear weeds, and prepare compost-rich beds now for veggies. You can start seeds indoors, and transplant them outside in September. Baby fruit trees are going to be available soon too, so selecting a spot in your yard where you can enjoy a new tangerine, fig, or pear is a worthwhile endeavor too.

Finally, it’s important to consider the fall critters, like butterflies, birds and bees, that will be looking for a nectar-rich flower to power their journeys. A shallow dish of muddy water will be appreciated too.

At our great local garden centers, they’ll have a whole suite of pollinizer-plants like milkweed, mistflower, lantana and more. It’s truly a treat to have a yard a’flutter when things cool down, so now is the time to get it drawn up, cleared out, and fluffed with rich compost to prepare for vibrant fall season. See you in the garden. ❦

William Glenn is a manager at Barton Springs Nursery.