Episode of the Week
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May 5th, 2012
Preview the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's Gardens on Tour for native plant and design ideas. On tour, see how Lynne and Jim Weber captivate wildlife in their small garden all year long. Daphne analyzes why a native winecup is dying from the center. Pick of the week is stunning summer annual, Celosiaspictata 'Flamingo Feather'. John Dromgoole picks the right mulch for your plants.
Plant of the Week: Celosia spictata 'Flamingo Feather'
Tips of the Week
- Collect seeds from spring flowers when the seed heads are brown. Clean them, dry them for a week or so, and then store in airtight containers or baggies in a cool spot.
- Continue planting summer annuals like celosias, cosmos, pentas, angelonia, sunflowers, globe amaranths, and zinnias to attract butterflies and bees this summer. Pentas and Salvia coccineas brighten up partly shady areas and attract butterflies.
- Lightly prune spring blooming plants to clean them up. Don't do heavy pruning at this time.
- Put out shallow bowls of water to attract toads. Small dishes filled with decomposed granite make good puddling spots for butterflies. Make your own hummingbird nectar for feeders with 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Dissolve well. Be sure to change and clean your feeders on a regular basis.
- Do clean birdbaths and other water bowls every few days to fend off mosquitoes and to keep the water cool and clean for your wildlife friends.
- If fire ants are a problem, use fresh spinosad-based bait and an orange oil drench directly on the mounds.
- More Tips
Question of the Week
Why are my winecups dying from the center?
Featured Garden
Native plant garden design|Lynne & Jim Weber
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