January 28 , 2010
Invasive options, butterfly birth, freeze clean up
well-chosen Birthday !
I had n’t kept an eye on the chrysalis in the window after all . I thought it was too early . But with Friday ’s warmheartedness , I fare home that even to see a butterfly stroke between the windows !
It take a little coordination to get him out of his tight spot , but he was n’t too upset about all the attention .
Then he gleefully flew off into the hint . I was n’t as joyous . If I ’d kept a better eye on it , I could have had some food quick . I surely hope he found something to exhaust out there .
For more new birth , I ordered five Hymenocallis ‘ Sulphur Queen , ’ an heirloom from 1830 . Last summer they were so beautiful that I ’d contrive to go to Garden ’s this leaping for more .
Alas , that wo n’t fall out . So I ordered fromBrent and Becky ’s . Most masses call up of the white “ wanderer lilies ” of summertime . I like those , too , but this easy yellowness won me good , a perfect touch in semi - shadowy smirch . The leaf was lovely , too , until it score 10º in my garden . I do n’t know if they pull through , but I ’m optimistic my three will fall . Now , they ’ll have some raw friends .
I ’m also optimistic about the abutilons .
They look a chip ragged , but the root word are dark-green . When I scratched the bark , it showed green , too . I ’ll waitress at least a calendar month to prune them , though . Who knows what ’s still coming ?
The bamboo muhly ( Muhlenbergia dumosa ) was n’t thrilled about the freeze , either . But it ’s a pasturage , so in a few weeks , I ’ll snub it down , along with the other ornamental grasses , and see what happens .
Since questions about freeze out damage top CTG ’s emails right now , this week Daphne analyzes how to evidence if a plant is dead or sleeping . And since drought is still on our minds , get her bakshish for Water Efficient Gardening on February 9 , when you’re able to meet her in person at the Lost Pines Garden Club in Bastrop . She ’ll be there from 7 to 8 p.m. at theBastrop Public Library .
This weekend in Austin , she ’s also presenting“Gardening 101 , ” a free workshop on Sat . , Jan. 30 , from 10 a.m.- noon .
introduce unexampled plants to a garden is always dodgy . It ’s promiscuous to spot troubles in a few month . But when things go well for a few years , it can take one like this to find out our plant ’ true sand .
It can also take years to recognize that advocate , hardy plant sometimes turn into invasive freak . This week on CTG , Kelly Bender , Urban Biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife , joins Tom to put the finger on a few that are destroy native multifariousness . Then , she offerssome beautiful alternatives to please usand the wildlife that depend on them .
Also , check out Kelly ’s late book variant : Texas Wildscapes : Gardening for Wildlife . It even includes a DVD !
The first edition help fix me on the path to garden for wildlife . I refer to it forever for wildlife ID and crest , so I ’m thrilled for this recent publishing to guide new nurseryman .
link up Kelly & champion on the invasion of the plant snatchers in Texas Parks and Wildlife ’s “ When Plants Attack . ” Scary , so get your woobie ( or your shovel ) .
To discover out more about gardening for wildlife , distinguish your calendar for February 13 for theGardening for Wildlife Workshop , present by Austin Parks and Recreation and Texas Parks and Wildlife . It ’s $ 10 per person/$15 per couple , with light refreshment provided . infinite is limited , so contract up before February 5 !
Since weeds are openhanded encroacher mighty now , Sweetpea Hooveris back with products , tools , and technique to fend them off . Personally , I ’m interested in the constitutive crabgrass grampus she contribute : Garden Weasel Crabgrass Killer , a fragrant intermixture of cinnamon , turmeric , and broil soda ( it also kills other weeds ) . I drop a lot of time last twelvemonth digging up crabgrass that sprouted in the side yards between the neighbor ’ houses and us . Although I promote the “ barb ” version of weed ascendance , I would n’t mind a little helper .
And boy , right now , do I need help ! We ’ve got some busy weekends ahead of us .
Until next week , Linda
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