Troubleshooting
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...
Read Labels for Effective Pest and Disease Control
When it comes to gardening and using pesticides or fungicides, one of the most crucial steps that gardeners often overlook is reading the labels on these products. The information provided on the labels is not just there for legal reasons; it serves as a valuable...
How to Properly Prune Crape Myrtles: Do’s and Don’ts
Crape Myrtles are a beautiful addition to any garden or landscape. To ensure they grow to their full potential, it's essential to prune them the correct way. Here are some tips to help you properly prune your Crape Myrtles and maintain their health and beauty. Do's...
Early Tomatoes Spring or Fall, Grow Now to Enjoy Them All!
Tomatoes. They are one of our favorite harvests to enjoy, but they do take some work to produce. You can’t plant too early; you can’t plant too late. They’re hungry and thirsty plants, but when you take a bite out of a fresh, homegrown tomato, most of think they are...
Rooted In: Planting Beets in San Antonio
Planting root vegetables, like beets, can be a rewarding and delicious experience for any gardener. They tend to be some of the easier vegetables to grow, making them great choices for teaching young gardeners. Late winter/early spring or mid fall are great times to...
Pests & Diseases
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...
Gayfeather (Liatris spicata): A Pollinator-Attracting Perennial
Pollinator season has begun and along with that comes the search for some amazing pollinator attracting plants to offer them nectar for energy and food sources for butterfly caterpillars. With that being said, Gayfeather, or Liatris, has been voted this year’s...