tel: 512-280-1192 Friday, March 23, 2012
Nursery Notes: New shipment in of decorative stepping stones.
Also new whimsical ceramic artisan crafts in the gift shop. Lots
of pretty blooming vines to choose from: 5 gallon Passion Vine
and Crossvine: $34.99. 5 gal Carolina Jessamine $29.99 1 gal.
Mandevilla Vine $12.99 1 gal. Crossvine $12.99 3 gal Lantana
Topiaries $40.00. Lots of veggies and landscape plants too!
Lecture this Sunday at 2 p.m. Caroline Foley's guide to a creating
a water-wise landscape. Free. Learn about the best plants to choose,
and how to create a water-wise plan for your garden. Caroline - a
dynamic speaker - runs the Manchaca-based landscape company
Diamondscape - named "Best of Show" at the 2011 Austin Spring
Home and Garden Show. www.diamondscapeaustin.com/
(Coming next weekend - Zilker Garden Festival!)
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Central Texas Gardener (KLRU-TV): This week, advice from Pat
McNeal on plants that can take the heat, and a visit to the restored
gardens in east Austin's Mueller community. Sat. noon or 4 p.m. or
Sun: 9 a.m. www.klru.org/ctg/
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So sad to read in the Hays Free Press this week of the felling of an
ancient grove of oaks in Kyle, to make way for Sonic and Walgreens.
http://haysfreepress.com/2012/03/16/saving-the-trees-some-residents-call-for-ordinance-after-developer-fells-live-oak-grove/
The Heat Lovin' Jerusalem Sage
by Chris Winslow
The driest short-term drought in Texas history happened between
the fall of 2010 and the fall of 2011, with 90-plus days of triple
digit temperatures.
Though it was a terrible curse for gardeners and farmers alike, and
we all lost trees and plants dear to our hearts, it did turn out to be
an effective test of drought-tolerance for xeriscape plants. Could
they really take the heat?
Many proved that they could… but there is one special and often
overlooked plant that I place at the very top of my list for hardiness
and heat tolerance: Jerusalem sage.
Native to the Mediterranean region and in the Lamiaceae (mint)
family, Jerusalem sage performs exceptionally well as an evergreen
perennial in Texas. (Just to confuse us all, though commonly called
‘sage,’ this plant is un-related to the sage family.)
It is a tough plant that can reach a height of 4 feet and a spread of
6 to 8 feet. The foliage, soft and furry is grey-green and non-
reflective. Its yellow, tubular flowers emerge in pretty whorls of 20
or more on short spikes above the foliage.
We had planted Jerusalem sage in two areas around the nursery. The
ones planted along Frate Barker by the fence line were exposed to
full sun all day, as well as car exhaust. The second patch was in
nearly full shade beneath a live oak in our parking lot.
Both performed very well throughout the drought. The plants along
Frate Barker were never watered and the shady area under the live
oak was watered only occasionally.
I am impressed. This plant beat the worst drought and heat in Texas
history and did it with no water! An added short list of other worthy
performers would include agaves, yuccas, mountain laurel, blackfoot
daisy, four-nerve daisy, Mexican feather grass, and the native muhley
grasses.
Happy Gardening everyone!
Visit the website: www.itsaboutthyme.com 