Survival tips for August: It's About Thyme

Weekend sales

new shipment of metal yard art: 20% off
all roses: 20% off

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Gardener's weekend forecast: We have entered the 'sunny and hot'

phase of the calendar, and it is time for us gardeners and our plants to hunker

down into survival mode. Highs are going to linger around 100 degrees for

some time now. See below (Surivive!) for tips from Chris on how you -

and your plants - can make it through this difficult month.

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Meet master gardener/designer Sue Nazar, and visit with the creators of

Flat Flower Cards. www.klru.org/ctg/ Saturday at noon and 4 p.m.

Sunday: 8 a.m.

BUTTERFLY GARDEN LECTURE LAST SUNDAY

The new Garden Auditorium had it's first official lecture with a visit from

Samantha Elkinton of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Despite the heat of the day, the auditorium was blessed with summer

breezes, and all agreed that this was a fine new addition to the nursery.

Samantha suggested that beginners start by trying to attract these
four butterflies, and then expanding from there.

1/ Black Swallowtails: host plant - prairie parsley

2/ Queens: host plant - milkweed

3/ Gulf Fritillaries: host plant - 'maypop' passion vine

4/ Buckeyes: host plants- plantain and toadflax

Apart from growing the correct plants, butterflies also need a dripping hose

or some form of water for drinking and 'puddling.' Samantha also said that

they like to have a safe place for 'basking,' where they can spread their wings

and warm up. Visit the Wildflower Center to see Samantha's butterfly

gardens, and you can learn more about the subject from Leah Mathison's

informative article posted on the Wildflower Center's website: butterfly garden

Samantha holds a purple coneflower, a popular summer nectar plant.

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A TRIO OF SUMMER ANNUALS THAT CAN TAKE THE HEAT
Top of the pops on my list (writes Chris Winslow) are purslane, moss
rose, and vinca. The first two are called ‘chismes’ in Spanish , which
means gossip… and it’s true that purslane and moss rose do indeed
spread like gossip. They also tolerate a lot of heat and drought. Vinca
grows a little bit taller, comes in a world of colors, and is deer resistant.

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Activities for 'this Brutal Month'

by Chris Winslow

1. Mulch & water Your vegetable garden, landscape, flowerbeds and
trees need some help. Mulch, 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 your sweet corn, okra, snap
beans, cream peas and black-eyed peas from seed. Because the first
frost is likely to occur within 100 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's even more important that you look after yourself. Here are three
gardening rules that you must follow! A. Garden early in the morning.
B.Wear effective sunscreen and a large brimmed hat. C. Drink gallons
of water. Stay cool everyone! [© Chris Winslow 2010]