If you have been waiting for a sign that it is time to start your spring vegetable garden, this is it. Late January through February is when East Texas gardeners roll up their sleeves and get onions and potatoes in the ground. These two cool‑season staples are always the first act of the spring garden,…
Valentine’s Day has a funny way of sneaking into the garden. It arrives when most flower beds are still bare, the soil is cold, and gardeners are pacing the yard like impatient parents waiting for spring to wake up. But for those who love plants as much as people, February 14 is less about roses…
Winter is the prime season for planting and pruning fruit trees, and a little thoughtful work now pays off in healthier trees and better fruit later. When pruning mature trees, the goals are simple: reduce the number of fruit so the remaining crop grows larger, stimulate new fruiting wood, remove damaged or poorly situated branches,…
My name is Iris, and I have lived many lives. I first bloomed decades ago beside a farmhouse fence, where my roots learned the rhythm of East Texas rain and heat. I survived long summers, sudden freezes, and years when no one remembered to water me at all. One spring morning, a gardener knelt beside…
In this new day of earth friendly gardening vining or climbing plants certainly have a role to play. Flowering vines can bring us a vibrant wall of color during the blooming seasons. Whether it’s tumbling over a fence or creeping up over a pergola or arch they can add shade and a feeling of privacy,…
Tyler, Texas, made a huge impression on me, especially since I was enamored with its scenic beauty. I arrived in Tyler during the winter season 5 years ago. The roadside was beautiful. Green grass covered the city’s roadside. It was different from the barren and yellow roadside of Abilene, Texas. When I decided to move…
Just when we’re all weary of the long, dark days of winter, a little bright spot decides to make an appearance. Right around the first of March each year, beautiful small white bell-shaped flowers with green dots on the tip of each petal spring up to provide a bright and cheery display. The green of…
Keeping potted plants properly hydrated requires more than just sporadic watering. With the right method, you can ensure consistent moisture, encourage healthy growth, and even conserve water. Self-Watering Pots: Hassle-Free Hydration For those who struggle with daily watering, self-watering pots offer a solution. These containers have built-in reservoirs that store water and gradually supply moisture…
Every beautiful butterfly was once a caterpillar, and caterpillars have to eat. This may surprise you, but the average caterpillar has a very restrictive diet, feeding on only a few plants, and some caterpillars can only eat one type of plant. We call these host plants. And without them, there would be no butterflies. So, what…
As we close out another year in East Texas gardens, sometimes soggy and sometimes sun‑scorched, it’s worth looking ahead to a concept that’s gaining real traction across the country: regenerative horticulture. It’s a mouthful, but the idea is simple. Instead of gardening in ways that merely sustain the soil, regenerative gardening actively improves it. Think…
Ah, Christmas gardening – that glorious time of year when we attempt to impose cheer on plants that would frankly prefer we leave them alone until spring. If you’ve ever decorated a cactus, tried to convince poinsettia to live past New Year’s, or fought a squirrel for custody of your outdoor lights, congratulations, you’re probably…
There’s no plant that says “Christmas” in the South quite like a holly. Those glossy green leaves and bright red berries have been woven into our holiday traditions for centuries, symbolizing hope, resilience, and cheer in the darkest days of winter. Here in East Texas, we’re fortunate to have several native hollies that not only…
During a visit to a friend’s garden, I noticed some vines on the fence that had the most beautiful yellow flowers. There were also long green pods, resembling zucchini, that measured about 18 inches in length. When I asked about them, my friend explained, “Oh, those are loofahs.” In the fall, the outer part of…
When the days shorten and summer’s riot of color fades, East Texas gardeners are rewarded with one of the most elegant shrubs we can grow: the sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua). These graceful evergreens step into the spotlight just as many plants are winding down, offering blooms from October into December. Their timing alone makes them…
I always look forward to gardening in the spring because I know I will no longer have to rely on supermarkets for a tasteless, mushy tomato on my sandwich. The tomato plant is one of the most popular garden food plants in North America. Most tomatoes sold today are commercial hybrids of heirloom varieties. This…
November in East Texas is a season of change. The mornings are crisp, the afternoons are pleasant, and the leaves crunch underfoot as the landscape shifts into its autumn wardrobe. Many folks assume the garden is finished for the year, but the truth is this is the very best time to plant trees, shrubs, and…
As the weather gets cooler we know that winter will be just around the corner. Now is the time to start making plans for the winter months ahead. Here are some suggestions: Pine straw helps provide favorable growing conditions and stimulates healthy plant development by insulating tender roots, conserving soil moisture, eliminating erosion and protecting…
When I first visited Mrs. Lee’s Daffodil Garden around forty years ago, I left a note in their suggestion box letting them know that they needed to cut or thin some trees in order to keep the daffodils blooming. I was teaching horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University at the time and had my…
When we think of Thanksgiving, we usually picture roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and family gatherings. But beneath all of that is a deeper truth: Thanksgiving is, in many ways, a celebration of plants – of harvest, seeds, foliage, color, and the natural rhythms of the earth, thus – Plantsgiving! Thanksgiving is more than just…
As summer’s grip finally loosens, and crisp, cooler air settles over East Texas, our forests and neighborhoods begin their quiet transformation. Fall color is one of nature’s most noticeable gifts, and even though it can vary greatly from year to year, it always manages to lift our spirits after the long, exhausting heat. The turning…