May in the Garden | mother's day gift idea

Nursery Notes: The Lumber Society helps out at Festival Beach Community Gardens this Saturday: 10 - 1 p.m. All are welcome. (This society is a sort of Girl/Boy Scouts for adults.) Join them for a free drink at Buzz Mill Coffee afterwards. Lumber Society /// Visit the Natural Gardener this Saturday, 10 a.m. for a free class: 'Creating an English Style Cottage Garden in Texas.' the Natural Gardener.❦

Moody Pavilions at Laguna Gloria: drop in this Saturday from 11 - 3 p.m. to celebrate the opening of the new visitor center, museum shop and cafe - and wander through the 14 acres of gardens and sculptures. Free. Moody Pavilions ❦

Evan Taniguchi describing the life and work of his grand-father Isamu at the 50th anniversary of the opening of gardens on April 25th. Wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the charater for 'love' in Japanese, Evan spoke of his family's history as immigrants, and of his grandfather's vision for the garden. ❦

Wisteria controversy: experienced gardeners urge caution when dealing with this indomitable vine. Designer Tim Callis calls it 'a thug... that wants to conquer the world.' For writer Amanda Gutterman it's 'the houseguest that never leaves.' However she believes that wisteria in the garden can work well in a garden if you set strict limits. Gardenista ❦

Air Bee'n'Bee: these beneficial bug houses provide great support for the myriad of solitary bees - such as the masons and leafcutters. Available at Wheatsville Co-op for $32. ❦

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Mother's Day gift: culinary herbs Pick a beautiful ceramic pot or hanging basket. Fill it with good quality potting soil, and plant four or five 4” potted herbs. Pick some that will cascade from the top of the pot. Creeping herbs like thyme, oregano and rosemary can also be mixed with popular, upright herbs like parsley, sage and chives. Tie a bow around the top of the pot, add a card, and you will have made a unique and thoughtful gift. (Chris Winslow) ❦

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The Austin Garden is sponsored by Hays Free Press

Central Texas Gardener: on tour, a visit with the daylily enthusiasts at Tanglewild Gardens in north Austin. In the studio, a chat with Flint Fancy from Lone Star Nursery about plants and medicine. Saturday 4 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. KLRU ❦

May in the Garden

by Chris Winslow

1. Plant flowers: This is a perfect time for flowering annuals and perennials. Begonias, zinnias, marigolds, moss-roses, purslanes (photo above) and vinca are all good choices. Perennials might include lantanas, salvias, and verbenas.

2. Vegetable garden care: 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.

3. Mulch: Place around all plants to conserve water and keep the temperature around the plant roots comfortable. Mixing some compost with the mulch will help replace nutrients as the plants grow.

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.

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 transplanting.

6. Insect control: All this new spring growth is attractive to every kind of critter imaginable. Be nice to the environment (and to yourself) 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.

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-resistant root system. Install rain sensor.

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.

9. Feed the birds: With lots of new birds in the area, keep those feeders full.

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!