October 4 , 2012
Notable natives
Even though rain and sweet cool days perked things up , I know that fall is here when my self - seed goldenrods start out bloom . Soon , they ’ll be bunch up with butterfly , bee and fiddling wasp .
They ’re already direct to the shrub / little tree diagram Barbados cherry ( Malpighia glabra ) that rebounded from a brief summer breaking to flower yet again . Later , birds will hone in on the yield to fatten up for winter .
This one ’s on the side of the house , formerly photinia - ville , joined by a white - blooming Cenizo ‘ Silvarado Sage ’ , a loan-blend of the native Texas sage ( Leucophyllum frutescens ) . A non - aboriginal thryallis ( Galphimia glauca ) joins them to screen and shadow the atmosphere conditioner .
Daphne ’s Pick of the Week , aboriginal damianita ( Chrysactinia Mexicana ) is going nifty gas pedal in the correct conditions , which I do n’t have . This one boom in the red-hot check strips at Mueller . It ’s a cervid resistant low - grower that blossom for months ( appeal pollinator ) as long as it has sunny , well - drained spots that do n’t get a long ton of water supply .
My native frostweed ( Verbesina virginica ) afford its first flowers , too , ready for the butterfly in frenzy feeding .
Oh , I got that one and many of my natives at theLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center ’s plant life cut-rate sale : this year on Oct. 13 & 14 ( member preview Oct. 12 ) . you could even click to get aprintable inclination of useable plants .
The LBJWC is where you’re able to pick up the drought - bad groundcover , favorable groundsel ( Packera obovata ) , hard to obtain in the trade . In summer , it ’s a lavish little filler in part shade .
In other wintertime , it ’s among the first to bloom , feeding aboriginal bee and other insects even during freeze day , here with oxalis .
The Wildflower sale is just one consequence duringNative Texas Plant Week , Oct. 14 -20.Check out all the mythic activities to Keep Austin Wild , include term of enlistment and workshop .
Someone you ’ll meet at the LBJWC sale is E.E. “ Mitch ” Mitchamore fromHill Country Natives , who grows hard - to - find native plants in his home - based nursery . This workweek , he joins Tomto pick a few aboriginal Tree to create a canopy for subtlety , understory , yield and wildlife appeal .
One he detail for us is Bigtooth maple . At a matured height of 15 ’ or so , it ’s perfect for smaller gardens . Athis nurseryyou can see planted specimen to get a honest feel of what they ’ll await like in a garden . I like how he ’s used save fencing to protect this young Bigtooth from browse cervid .
Here ’s his short listing for CTG.At the greenhouse , Mitch has more native and adapted plants to polish up out your diverse garden . Since accessibility varies on what ’s ready and time of day vary , contact him and get more info atHill Country Natives .
A native yield tree he and Tom vitrine is Blanco crab apple , like this stunner at the Selah Bamberger Ranch Preserve . If you ’ve never visit David Bamberger ’s habitat renovation , moderate out their tour of duty and workshop scheduleto celebrate Native Plant Week all twelvemonth long !
Andrea DeLong - Amaya , Director of Horticulture at the LBJWC , prove how to set your new acquisitionsand what mistakes to avoid .
Daphne answers,“How can I solarize to stamp out grass , weeds , and nematodes ? ” A viewer inquire if she could solarize with an old percipient plastic shower mantle . Daphne reports : Yes , indeed ! She explain why to take clear-cut or mordant charge plate and how to do it .
Last winter , my neighbour solarized front yard gage with black charge card for months .
This summer , they turn in compost and planted a aboriginal habitat . Already , it ’s boom with Salvia leucantha , Lindheimer muhly , juicy mist-flower ( Conoclinium ) , zemenia , desert willow and Gulf muhly .
On tour , see how Jackie Davis restored a typical small mass to an abundant wildlife home ground . rather of alien , dying trees and blackguard - trampled earth , herCertified Backyard Habitatis in constant movement with birds and good insects . She ’s got coolheaded tips for feast birds , too ! To jumpstart her hand - on education , she became a extremity ofTravis Audubon , theNative Plant Societyand theAustin Butterfly Forum .
Many thanks to Meredith O’Reilly , blogger and gardener atGreat Stems , for connecting me with Jackie . Meredith joins us on November 3 with more cracking aboriginal industrial plant understory selections !
Until next week , glad planting to one and all ! Linda
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