trendy fiddle leaf figs | holy basil $1

tel: 512 280-1192 Thursday, August 25, 2016

Nursery notes: our perennial sale continues: plumbago (blue),

esperanza, prides of Barbados all for $12.99. Lemon and all holy

basils $1.00. Free tobacco plant with every purchase. / Fall and

winter veggies in stock: broccolli, cauliflower, cabbage, eggplant

6 packs: $3.29. 4" round $1.99. Please come by for a visit! 🌷

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Color palette exploration: designers are always telling us that

if we limit ourselves to a controlled and disciplined palette, our

gardens will have a greater sense of harmony. If you feel the need

for more 'discipline' in your gardening ; - ) you might try clicking

through this color-guide to plants to find all 'white,' all 'yellow' etc.

From the pages of Fine Gardening🌷

Garden to table: 'A summer pasta should be simple and fresh,

ideally made with vegetables straight from the garden or market,'

writes chef David Tanis, in his intro to this simple tasty recipe,

which calls for 2 cups of basil, and 2 lbs of zucchini. NYT🌷

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Central Texas Gardener: plant of the week is the fragrant David

Austin rose Abraham Darby. Trisha brings on the butterflies with

heat-lovin' zinnias. An in-studio interview with nursery-woman

Barbara Wright. Saturday: 4 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. or on-

line. KLRU. 🌷

The Fiddle Leaf and other Figs

by Chris Winslow

With over 850 species of plants throughout the tropical and sub-

tropical world, the family of plants known as 'figs' forms one of the

most useful groups of plants in the world.

Chances are when you hear the word fig, you think of the edible

fruit varieties that are planted outside. But this family of plants

also provides gardeners and plant lovers with many choices of

tropical plants that are suitable for indoor use.

With their growth habits fro m the tropical rainforest, they have

adapted well to the lower light levels required as indoor plants.

One of my favorites is the fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata). The large

leaves are broad at the apex and narrow in the middle, and resem-

ble the shape of a fiddle. Recently this plant has had a high profile

in Southern Living and Better Homes and Gardens magazines as

a top choice for indoor gardens. You might say that the fiddle

leaf fig is trending now. (in stock: $14.99: 6" pot)

Another popular one is Ficus benjamina, also known as the weep-

ing fig. Benjamina is a stately tree with weeping, shiny leaves and

it will flourish in a bright place in your household. It also has a

variegated (green and white leaf) cultivar called Starlite which is

also very striking. (in stock: $9.99 - $34.99)

Another fig that's easy to grow in indoor light is Ficus elastica, or

rubber plant. Its beautiful broad leaves come in an array of colors.

There's a green leaf form, two varieties of variegation, one with

added red tones, and a black leafed form. ($34 99 for 3 gal.)

The ground cover fig (Ficus repens) is another form that is pop-

ular in central Texas landscapes. Quite winter hardy, this clinging

ground cover is often used for covering walls and fences. It does

best if you plant it with eastern exposure and some protection from

the hot afternoon sun. ($12.99 for 1 gal.)

All of these are suitable as house plants. Be sure to set yourself up

for success by choosing a premium container potting soil with

great drainage. Best choices are the soil-less mixes with a blend

of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite.

A bright light indoor location is also best. Plants should be kept

moist but not soggy. Allow the potting media to just dry out bet-

ween watering. Water a bit more in these warmer months and a

little less during the short days of winter.

Another benefit of indoor plants is that they help to purify the air

in our houses. One website claims that indoor figs can detoxify air

that has formaldehyde. That would have been a great use for those

toxic Katrina trailers. Happy gardening everyone!

Contact newsletter editor Darrel Mayers 🌷🌲 🌿 🌵 ☀️

🌻

with any ideas for articles or interesting links:
internationalrain@yahoo.com (hitting 'reply' to this email won't work)
Visit the website: It's About Thyme or facebook