Troubleshooting
Balance: Control for Garden Pests vs. Protection for Pollinators
Today is Earth Day, and with May being right around the corner, I felt the need to write about the delicate balance of controlling garden pests and protecting our local wildlife and essential pollinators. May is generally the month that pest activity begins to...
Growing Okra in San Antonio, Texas
Okra is a popular and versatile vegetable that thrives in the warm climate of San Antonio, Texas. These are hot weather loving veggies. When many other veggies are shutting down production due to the heat of summer, you can usually count on okra to keep fruiting. When...
Junipers: Texture and Beauty in a Low Maintenance Groundcover
Juniper ground covers can be a fantastic addition to your garden in San Antonio, Texas. Junipers offer an evergreen groundcover with unique texture for year-round visual interest in your landscape. These low-growing plants not only provide excellent ground coverage...
Look at Those Melons! What Cantaloupe Needs
It’s time! Melons can be planted in our San Antonio gardens now, hooray! Have you always wanted to plant a melon, but just didn’t have the information you needed to be successful? Well, it’s your lucky day today. We’re sharing some tips for growing melons in our area....
Composting 101: Compost Class Recap and Extra Tips
We recently hosted a great Composting 101 class with Karen Gardner, BCMG and vegetable specialist, and came away with some great tips for how to easily make your own compost. Easy is the key here. We are not diving into anything too complicated. The consensus of the...
Laura Bush Petunias: Reseeding Annuals that Take Texas Heat!
Last week I bragged all about Vista® Bubblegum® petunias, and rightly so. They are fantastic! Many of you came out and scooped them all up (we got more... just saying). But today is all about Laura Bush petunias. If you haven’t yet heard of these, they are just as...
Bubblegum® Petunias: Tons of Blooms in a very Hardy Annual
The Supertunia Vista® Bubblegum® petunia is truly a sight to behold with its vibrant pink flowers that add a pop of color to any garden. This delightful plant is not only beautiful but also tough, especially when it comes to surviving in a place like San Antonio,...
Hurry! Window is Closing to Prevent Sticker Burs (Grass Burs)
Field sandburs, also known as sticker burs or grassburs, can be a pesky problem for those in San Antonio, Texas. These prickly weeds are especially prevalent in our region and can quickly take over your lawn if left unchecked. Understanding the lifecycle of sandburs...
Plant Early to Extend Early Spring Color
When it comes to planting cool weather spring annuals, perennials, or herbs in Texas, timing is everything. By planting these colorful or flavorful early offerings, you can enjoy a longer flowering and/or harvesting season and have your garden bursting with vibrant...
Pests & Diseases
Balance: Control for Garden Pests vs. Protection for Pollinators
Today is Earth Day, and with May being right around the corner, I felt the need to write about the delicate balance of controlling garden pests and protecting our local wildlife and essential pollinators. May is generally the month that pest activity begins to...
Prepare Now for Fall Migrating Pollinators!
Fall is the most active time for all butterflies in our city. This is one of the reasons it is important to stay on task with your timing for preparing your landscape to be a nectar haven for these hungry pollinators. Taking action now, will ensure that you have...
Dallas Red Lantana: Fiery Red Blooms Face Off the Heat.
As our San Antonio summer scoots along and the heat shuts down many flowering plants, the sight of something red in the garden is a delightful sight for a hummingbird, which will zoom in for an expected meal. Lantana does extremely well in our Texas climate. You can...
Duranta: A Feast for the Butterflies and Hummingbirds
More and more people are learning about Duranta being an amazing pollinator plant for butterflies and hummingbirds and I couldn't be more thrilled. If you've never heard of this plant, or seen it in action, you are in for a treat today. I'm taking you on a...
Pollinator Gardening 101 and The Butterfly Landing
Today we are tooting the horn of pollinator expert, Laura Jarvis, of The Butterfly Landing, in blatant attempts to get you to come to our class! Whether you carve out a special patio garden at your apartment, or plant a plot in your landscape, the more pollinator...
Mexican Mint Marigold: A Tarragon for Texas
My goal today is to share one of my favorite herbs to as many people as I can because I want everyone to get to enjoy this amazing plant. There are so many things to love about Mexican Mint Marigold, that once you read about them here, I just may have you making plans...
Mexican Heather: An Annual or Perennial Depending on Weather
When spring weather warms up and colorful annual and perennial plants are filling the nurseries, I get especially excited to welcome back Mexican Heather. Not only is Mexican Heather the perfect size for the front borders of my annual or perennial gardens, it also...
Quick Look: Perennial Pollinator Plants
Today I am offering a "quick look" at some perennial pollinator plant options that we have been bringing into Rainbow Gardens lately. If you desire pollinators to visit your garden in abundance, you might want to consider adding one or all of these to your landscape....
Maximilian Sunflowers: A Perennial Treat for Native Pollinators
A stop in to one of my favorite Facebook pages, The Butterfly Landing, inspired this week's blog on Maximilian sunflowers. Laura Jarvis, owner and operator of The Butterfly Landing, often highlights amazing pollinator plants, many of them native, on her Butterfly...
