tel: 512 280-1192 Thursday, June 23, 2016
Nursery notes: 20% off all pottery (except Talavera). Tropical
plants also on sale: variegated corn plant (Dracaena massangeana)
$19.99 (reg. $25 - 30). Hibiscus tropical double reds and single
yellows: $19.99 (reg. $24.99). Bougainvilleas: $14.99 reg. $24.99.
Bridal bouquet plumarias: $19.99, 2 for $30 (article below).🌷
Hanging baskets aplenty: from a simple old tin bucket stuffed
with periwinkles and begonias, to beautiful cone-shaped baskets
with plumbago and golden lantana, Southern Living offers a host
of creative and different ideas. Southern Living 🌷
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Gardeners fight front yard vegetable ban: a couple from Florida
has been ordered to stop 'cease and desist' from growing 75 varieties
of organic vegetables in their front yard, or face a $50-a-day fine,
reports Modern Farmer🌷
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Central Texas Gardener: design ideas by Ginger Hudson. Why
some irises formed seeds this year. On tour, a rocky hillside garden
that handles drought and rain bombs. Fun with Hypertufa containers.
Saturday: 4 p.m. Sunday at 9 a.m. or on-line. KLRU. 🌷
Bridal Bouquet Plumarias
These beauties are by far, the heaviest and longest blooming of
all the plumerias (writes Brenda Martinez). Though not fragrant
like their flashier cousins, they make up for it by blooming virtually
non-stop from spring through fall. The two-part seed pod contains
winged seeds that are easily propagated, as are cuttings.
They're root hardy only during a mild winter, so plan on keeping
in containers for easy protection from freezing temps. They grow
and flower best in sunny areas with rich soil and regular moisture;
in winter when plants are dormant they require very little water.
Caution: The white sap from broken leaves and stems can irritate
skin. Avoid skin contact or wash immediately. (On sale for $19.99
or 2 for $30.) 🌷
Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) grows fast, attracts pollinators, can handle drought.
4" pots for $3.59. 1 gal. for $7.99
My Drought-Tolerant Stars!
by Chris Winslow
Although we have enjoyed some rains and cooler temperatures
this year, drought conditions remain with us, and as we enter these
oven-hot months, I notice my life has a certain repetitive rhythm
to it: water all day long at the nursery, drive home… and more
watering!
With all these hours spent holding the hose, I’ve had ample time
to reflect on which plants are doing the best during these arid times.
There are seven trees which stand out: Monterrey oak, Texas per-
simmon, Texas mountain laurel, Chinese pistache, Chinquapin oak,
mesquite, and Chitalpa.
They all seem to thrive on little or no water at all. They were estab-
lished trees when I moved to the property in 2001, and all are native
except the Chinese Pistache and the Chitalpa – which I find loaded
every day with a profusion of flowers that the hummingbirds love.
Some perennials and grasses that are holding their own: Mexican
feather grass, miscanthus (maiden grass), muhly grass, blackfoot
daisy, lantana, thyrallis (golden showers), Salvia gregii (cherry
sage), Mexican bush sage, Copper Canyon daisy, four-nerve daisy,
and esperanza.
Perhaps the showiest plant of all is pride of Barbados. Flowering
daily throughout the summer, they are providing the butterflies
with much needed nectar.
On the herbal side, rosemary, Mexican mint marigold, garden sage,
and Mexican oregano seem to be doing just fine with infrequent,
deep waterings.
We can’t forget the yuccas and agaves. No water – no problem. I
planted an Agave americana (century plant) out by my front gate
3 years ago and without any extra water it has turned into 15 plants!
For annual color, tops are vinca-periwinkle, with purslanes and
moss-roses in second place.
For another opinion I consulted with Jerry Hinton who works with
me at the nursery. Here’s Jerry’s list:
Mexican mint marigold, Mexican oregano, Mexican feathergrass,
santolina, dwarf Barbados cherry, thyrallis, silver bush germander,
yaupon holly, silver pony-foot, and Gregg’s dalea.
With a little planning and a great number of drought tolerant and
heat hardy plants to choose from, one could most certainly create
a beautiful and water conserving landscape.
Happy gardening everyone!
Please contact newsletter editor Darrel Mayers 🌷🌲 🌿 🌵 ☀️ 
🌻
🌻 with any ideas for articles or interesting links:
internationalrain@yahoo.com (hitting 'reply' to this email won't work)
Visit the website: It's About Thyme And here for facebook
internationalrain@yahoo.com (hitting 'reply' to this email won't work)
Visit the website: It's About Thyme And here for facebook
