by Happy Gardener | May 13, 2026 | Bees, Butterflies, Pests & Diseases, Pollinators
When most people think of insects in the garden, they picture chewed leaves, swarming pests, and plants under attack. But the truth is, not all bugs are bad. In fact, some insects are essential partners in creating a healthier, more productive landscape, especially...
by Happy Gardener | Apr 29, 2026 | Butterflies, Fall Garden, Pollinators, Seasonal & Gardening Tips, Winter Garden
Sulphur butterflies are some of the most cheerful looking pollinators out there. The sight of their sunshine-yellow or tangerine-orange wings flitting around your garden brings instant smiles. If you’ve noticed these happy pollinators coming around to see what you...
by Happy Gardener | Apr 23, 2026 | Evergreen Shrubs, Native/Xeriscape/Wildflowers, Trees & Shrubs, Xeriscape Solutions
Here in San Antonio, we are always looking for plants that can muscle their way through the extreme temperatures of our blazing summers and still look great while doing it. We’ve been impressed with the performance of two newcomers to this game over the past...
by Happy Gardener | Apr 22, 2026 | News & Events
Welcome to the main event! In one corner, we’ve got the bold, tropical showstopper—hibiscus. Big blooms, glossy leaves, and undeniable “vacation vibes.”And in the opposite corner, the sun-loving, drought-tough contender—bougainvillea. Bright, papery color and a...
by Happy Gardener | Apr 16, 2026 | Native Perennials, Native Shrubs, Native Trees, Native/Xeriscape/Wildflowers
There’s something special about planting a garden that feels right at home in South Texas. Native plants have spent generations adapting to our heat, our unpredictable rainfall, our stretches of drought, and even those occasional cold snaps that surprise us in winter....
by Happy Gardener | Apr 14, 2026 | Butterflies, hummingbirds, Pollinators
There’s something magical about stepping into the garden and seeing butterflies fluttering through the lantana, bees humming around the salvias, and hummingbirds zipping from bloom to bloom. But if you really want a pollinator garden that feels alive—not just...
by Happy Gardener | Apr 8, 2026 | Edibles, Fruit, Berries, Nuts, Seasonal & Gardening Tips, Spring Garden, Summer Garden
There’s nothing quite like slicing open a homegrown watermelon on a hot San Antonio summer day. Sweet, refreshing, and absolutely worth the garden space, watermelon is one of the most rewarding warm-season crops you can grow. When it comes to growing watermelon...
by Happy Gardener | Apr 6, 2026 | Annuals & Perennials, Seasonal & Gardening Tips, Spring Garden, Summer Garden
If you’re looking for a plant that thrives in San Antonio’s heat and keeps blooming for months, gaura is one of the best additions you can make to your garden. Also known as beeblossom or whirling butterflies, gaura produces delicate white or pink flowers that seem to...
by Happy Gardener | Apr 1, 2026 | Annuals & Perennials, Flower Bulbs, Seasonal & Gardening Tips, Spring Garden, Summer Garden
If you’re looking for a flower that brings big, vibrant color with very little fuss, Asiatic lilies are one of the best bulbs to grow in San Antonio gardens. Their upright blooms come in shades of orange, yellow, red, pink, and white, and they add instant impact to...
by Happy Gardener | Mar 25, 2026 | Vines
If you’re looking for a flowering vine that feels a little more refined than your typical climber, clematis is a standout. With its large, showy blooms and twining habit, clematis adds vertical interest, softens structures, and creates that “garden magazine”...
by Happy Gardener | Mar 24, 2026 | Roses, Spring Garden
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance, high-impact climbing rose, the lady banksia rose might just be your dream plant. Known for its vigorous growth, thornless canes, and breathtaking spring blooms, this heirloom rose can transform fences, arbors, and even entire...
by Happy Gardener | Mar 17, 2026 | Vines
If you’re looking to cover a fence, soften a wall, or add vertical color to your garden, you can’t go wrong with flowering vines. And here in San Antonio, Texas, a few standout choices consistently perform beautifully: Carolina Jessamine, Coral Honeysuckle, and...
by Happy Gardener | Mar 17, 2026 | Seasonal & Gardening Tips, Spring Garden, Summer Garden, Tropical Plants
If you’ve ever wanted your garden to feel a little more like a vacation, tropical hibiscus is the plant that gets you there. With big, bold blooms and glossy green leaves, it brings instant color and that unmistakable tropical feel to patios, porches, and garden beds....
by Happy Gardener | Mar 12, 2026 | Edibles, Fall Garden, Seasonal & Gardening Tips, Spring Garden, Vegetables
We are fortunate to be able to grow summer squash and zucchini two times a year here in San Antonio. When you get the growing conditions right, these are some of the most prolific vegetables we can grow in spring and fall. Today we explain those growing conditions and...
by Happy Gardener | Feb 17, 2026 | Flowering Trees, Seasonal & Gardening Tips, Spring Garden, Trees & Shrubs
Gorgeous Trees That Say Goodbye Winter and Welcome Spring When it comes to spring-flowering trees in San Antonio, nothing announces the changing seasons quite like fresh blooms popping against a winter landscape. From the sweet fragrance of Texas Mountain Laurels to...
by Happy Gardener | Feb 4, 2026 | Edibles, Vegetables
When shopping for tomato varieties, you’ll often see a string of letters after the name—something like VFNTA. That’s not alphabet soup; it’s a roadmap to fewer plant problems. These letters are tomato disease resistant codes, and they tell you which diseases a tomato...
by Happy Gardener | Jan 27, 2026 | Seasonal & Gardening Tips, Winter Garden
Ah yes—San Antonio winter weather. One day it’s 75°, the next day your elephant ears look like green Jell-O. After a freeze, it’s very tempting to grab the pruners and go full Edward Scissorhands. But when it comes to pruning after a freeze, timing and plant type...
by Happy Gardener | Jan 22, 2026 | Soil & Compost, Soil Amendments, Soil Building
Healthy soil is the foundation of every successful garden—but not all soils start out ideal. Clay-heavy beds, sandy soils, compacted ground, or lifeless potting mixes each need different fixes. That’s where soil amendments come in. They can offer better soil drainage,...
by Happy Gardener | Jan 15, 2026 | Soil & Compost, Soil Amendments, Soil Building
Believe it or not, right now is the perfect time to build better soil for your vegetable garden (and flower garden). Whether you’re brand new to gardening or have been growing veggies for years, one thing never changes: 👉 Healthy soil is the foundation of healthy...
by Happy Gardener | Jan 12, 2026 | Seasonal & Gardening Tips
Starting seeds indoors is one of the most rewarding parts of gardening—but it’s also where small mistakes can lead to big frustrations. Follow these simple, proven germination steps to give your seedlings the best possible start. Make sure you go back and read our...
