tel: 512-280-1192 July 8, 2011
Nursery Notes: A new shipment of Pride of Barbados has just
arrived: 3 gal. $ 19.99! 20% off all grasses - prices range from $7.99 -
$19.99 (list price). 20% off all metal art: arches, trellises and animals.
50% off all antique roses.
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Desert Rose - a deadly beauty Various parts of this plant are highly
toxic - and this was omitted from last week's article. (Thanks to reader
Tila Post for pointing this out.) It produces a sap that's so toxic that
hunters in Tasmania and Africa use it to poison their arrows. Do
not ingest anything from this plant, and be super-careful when pruning.
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Although Renee Studebaker is no longer writing for the Austin
American Statesman, we can still enjoy her writing at her new blog:
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On this week's Central Texas Gardener (KLRU), a visit to the very
with William Welch about Native American, Spanish, English and African-
American influences on the gardens of the South. Sat. noon and 4 p.m.
Marigolds of the Meadow
by Chris Winslow
When gardeners think of marigolds, they think of annual color that lasts
from the spring to the fall. This versatile family of plants also has two
notable species that are wonderful perennials in our Central Texas
gardens: Mexican mint marigold (Tagetes lucida), and Copper Canyon
daisy (Tagetes lemonii ).
Mexican mint marigold, known also as yerba anise in Spanish, has an
enchanting anise fragrance to its leaves, and pretty button-size yellow
flowers in the fall. It emerges in the spring and makes a deeply green
plant which grows to a height and width of three feet by the end of summer.
And it makes a beautiful flower display in the fall.
In the kitchen, you can use its leaves as a substitute for French tarragon
in culinary recipes. Some gardeners call it ‘Texas tarragon.’ This marigold
is also good for cut flowers and is not invasive.
Copper Canyon Daisy (pictured above) is the other perennial flowering
marigold. It grows to a height of 3 feet and spreads out to a width of 4
feet. The foliage has a strong scent and you can expect a show of yellow
flowers in the spring and fall.
Both of these marigolds are easy to grow and deer resistant. Give them
at least a half day of sun, and once established, they will need very little
water. Happy Gardening Everyone!
The nursery has Mexican Mint Marigolds and Copper Canyon Daisies
in 4.5" rounds for $3.29, and in 1 gallon pots for $ 7.99.
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Backyard Birdcare 101 for Long-Term Drought Conditions
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 Our natural seed crop is very poor because of the absence
2. Food Our natural seed crop is very poor because of the absence
of water. Buy good quality seeds 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 something to retreat into.
5 Native landscapes Our native birds grew up with native berries,
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 www.travisaudubon.org
© Chris Winslow 2011
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