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Feb 1, 2020

Growth in Gardening: The healing power of nature - San Marcos Daily Record

Joe Urbach is the publisher of GardeningAustin.com and the Phytonutrient Blog. He has lived in the Central Texas area for over 30 years.

Feb 1, 2020

Growth in Gardening: Weathering our weather - San Marcos Daily Record

Joe Urbach is the publisher of GardeningAustin.com and the Phytonutrient Blog. He has lived in the Central Texas area for over 30 years.

Nov 9, 2019

Obituary: Arthur A. Black Jr. - Press Herald

Arthur A. Black Jr. SAN ANTONIO – Arthur A. Black Jr., 93, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 1, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas, where he was living comfortably with family. He was born Jan. 21, 1926 to Arthur A. and Ruby S. Black and raised in Portland, Maine (and Gray during summers).Arthur enlisted in the Air Force at 18 and after serving, graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S. in business in 1949. He had a successful string of entrepreneurial ventures over the years (apartment and shopping center management, aerial property photography, real estate in Florida). He worked through his late 80s but always spent as much time as he could relaxing on Little Sebago Lake at the family camp or taking a vacation abroad. He cared about family more than anything and was a warm and loving man who made everyone he met smile, laugh, and feel heard. Arthur or ...

Nov 9, 2019

MYSTERY PLANT: Mystery Plant closely resembles holly | Features - Aiken Standard

This is one of the most common woodland understory shrubs in Eastern North America, occurring from Quebec and Ontario down to Texas. It is present in a wide array of habitats, on both low ground and in the mountains, and it seems to prefer damp places. It is a shrub that does very well indeed in considerable shade.Sometimes it's hard to distinguish a large "shrub" from a small "tree," and this plant is sometimes in between. Normally, though, it gets to about 6-7 feet tall. Its leaves are smooth and dark green and shape-wise are fairly boring. In the autumn, though, the leaves put on a terrific show, becoming bright yellow. Its flowers appear early in the spring, before the leaves. The flowers are quite small and yellowish, crowded into small clusters up and down the stems. This species is dioecious. That is, individual plants are either male or female, as the flowers are unisexual. The flowers of "male" plants produce only pollen; "female" plants produce ovules, and, ultimately, a one-seeded, fleshy fruit. The fruits are brilliant red and quite conspicuous. Various birds like to eat the fruits and so scatter the plants throughout the habitat they are in. There's more natural history, too: This plant is a favorite food source for the ca...

Oct 10, 2019

Growth in Gardening: Fall flowers - San Marcos Daily Record

Always plant bulbs pointed side up. And as a Texas gardener, I recommend we all adjust the depth of planting bulbs to twice the width as opposed to the general recommendation of three times the width of the bulb. Over the years I have also learned that for the best, most eye-pleasing displays, we need to plant our bulbs in scattered groups of five or more and not in straight lines. Firm the soil around the bulb and water well to settle the soil. Fertilize once or twice during the spring. Mark the location with the date and variety name so that you don’t plant something else there and damage the bulbs. This also helps you remember which ones you put where. It is important to allow the foliage to die back naturally and not cut it back until it is yellowing. The yellowing leaves are feeding the bulbs for next year’s blooms. Interplant bulbs with other perennials like daylilies to hide the unsightly foliage. Tulips (other than naturalizing Cluisianas) will only bloom one year, so can be discarded after the blooms fade. After several years, naturalizing bulbs will become crowded and will bloom less. Dig up the bulbs after the foliage has faded and divide the clumps. Prepare the soil and replant bulbs and share the extras with friends or plant in other areas. If you need to add some beauty now you should start thinking about some frost-tolerant additions to your beds. Plants that are tolerant to frost can survive the harsh conditions with little to no damage. Ice plant, hellebore and goldenrod are a few such frost-tolerant plants. Ice plant: (Delosperma cooperi) grows in USDA zones 8 through 10 in full sun. It reaches heights of about 6 inches or less and produces pink or purple blooms. Hellebore: (Helleborus × hybridus cvs.) can bloom in temperatures below freezing and grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. The cup-shaped flowers tilt downward and appear throughout the plant’s glossy green leaves. Goldenrod: (Solidago rigida) has clusters of yellow blooms that appear at the top of tall flower stalks. It grows in full sun to part shade in USDA zones 3 through 9. We are in zone 8 so these will work for us. A Few others to think about are: Chrysanthemums: These fall flowers can be planted in beds and actually will outperform most container planted ones. Proper preparation begins one year before peak performance. Plant in full sun in the fall of the first year. During the next year, keep the plants trimmed back to a rounded shape and do not allow them to produce flowers. In August quit cutting off any flower buds that form. That fall you will have beautiful mums just covered in flowers. Repeat this procedure for the following year. Dianthus: If you plant these flowers in the fall, by spring they will be covered with blooms. This is a cool season flower. It is considered an annual in some places but many times it will overwinter for several years here and provide you with lovely flowers both in the spring and in the fall. Plant in full sun. Fall Asters: Lovely natural looking mounding perennial that blooms in the fall with masses of daisy like lavender flowers. Wonderful for the wildflower bed or in combination with mums. Larkspur: Larkspurs should be planted in the fall for spring blooms. They are tough, cool season flowers with spikes from pink to purple and blue. The "Bunny Bloom" larkspur is a favorite as the center of each flower seems to have the shape of a white rabbit's head in the center. If you have never tried bulbs before trying them this fall will bring you real pleasure come spring. -- Joe Urbach is the publisher of GardeningAustin.com and the Phytonutrient Blog. He has lived in the Central Texas area for over 30 years.