tel: 512 280-1192 Friday, Nov 1 2013
Nursery notes: Despite the massive 10" rainfall on Wed. night the
nursery is up and running, and we're looking forward to the won-
derful weekend ahead - and especially the visit of Pam Penick on
Sunday. Some sales: Halloween metal art 75% off. Ornamental
grasses 20% off including pink muhly, bamboo muhly, Lindheimer
muhly and pampas grasses. Pottery 20% off (excluding Talavera).
$5 off corn gluten 40lb bag - sale price $40.99.
We're so lucky to have author Pam Penick visit the nursery this
Sunday to give a lecture - Essential Design Tips & Alternative
Plants - and sign copies of her acclaimed book Lawn Gone! 2 p.m
(free) Learn all about some low-maintenance, sustainable, attractive
alternatives for your yard. (Nov 3). Pam's book will be available
for $20. Website: Pam Penick
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Gardening's good for your health. A study of 4,000 people shows
that gardening on a regular basis can prolong life by as much as
30% in 60-plus age group, reports the Guardian. garden for health
THIRST: currently on exhibit on Austin's town lake, a stunning
tree sculpture to memorialize the loss of 300 million trees that have
died in recent Texas droughts. (It's to the east of the Lamar Blvd
bridge.) More details at: Women and their Work
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Central Texas Gardener KLRU TV. Meet in-studio guest John
Gambini from Texas Hill Country Olive Company, who grows
organic olive trees and presses pure oil. On tour in Dripping Springs,
Carla Jean Oldenkamp grows organic good eats for all, including
the chickens in her Zen Hen House. Sat. noon, 4 p.m. or Sun. at
9 a.m www.klru
Plenty of blooming annuals at the nursery, including pansies and snapdragons.
November in the Garden
by Chris Winslow
1. Plant a tree: now is still a perfect time to get that shade or orna-
mental tree in the ground.
2. Plant flowering perennials: it’s never too late. Even though their
tops will be burned back with the first hard freeze, their roots will be
hardy. During the cool days of winter, they will establish a healthy
root system for a show in the spring.
3. Plant some winter blooming annuals: in central Texas, we can
grow pansies, snapdragons, violas, stock, cyclamen, flowering
cabbage and kale. Remember to work in some organic plant food
such as blood and bone meal. These slow release plant foods will
feed your plants throughout the winter and into the spring. Pansies
love blood meal.
4. Plant fall bulbs: there is still plenty of time. There is a great selec-
tion of late winter to early spring flowering bulbs to choose from.
Look for tulips, narcissus, jonquils, muscari, daffodils, ranunculus,
and anemones. Bulbs benefit from the slow release phosphorus found
in bone meal. Mix a tablespoon in the root zone when planting.
5. Force some bulbs indoors: this is a fun activity for Thanksgiving
and Christmas time. The easiest are paperwhite narcissus. Add some
potting mix to a clay or plastic 6” bulb pan (fill about ½ way). Place
3 to 5 bulbs on top of the soil and add some decorative gravel to keep
them upright and firm. All you need to do now is water the bulbs in
and place the pot in a sunny location. It takes around 3 weeks for the
bulbs to force out their foliage and open their flowers.
6. Winterize your lawn with a slow release organic lawn food. This
will give nutrition and strength to your lawn for the coming cold months.
7. Cutback your perennials after the first frost, and mulch your beds
with compost and mulch mixed together. This combination will feed
the roots while conserving water and warming the bed.
(Average day for first fall frost: November 28)
8. Onions, scallions, garlic: November is onion, scallion, and garlic
month. To be successful with these vegetable gems, don’t wait until
the days get long again. Success requires growing in the short days
of winter. You too can grow an onion 6” across! Timing is most important.
9. Keep on the lookout for a world of fall bedding (annual) plants.
As temperatures cool, we can begin to plant dianthus, snapdragons,
and petunias.
10. Watch for black spot and mildew on roses. With cooler weather,
these pesky rose diseases will begin to show up. An organic spray of
Neem oil or wettable sulfur should help in keeping it at bay.
Happy gardening everyone!
Visit the website: www.itsaboutthyme.com Visit the nursery:11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, 78748 Like us
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