Figs are a classic southern treat that grow especially well in South Central Texas south of the line from Houston to San Antonio. The fruits are prized for their rich sweet taste and are high in natural sugars, minerals and soluble fiber.

It’s time again to release trichogramma wasps to prevent destructive fall worms from defoliating and stressing trees and plants. Depending on the current weather conditions, we could be seeing webworms and possibly a few other destructive worms any day now. I have already had a couple of gar…

I often feel that dealing with nature can be so much like dealing with our bodies. When someone comes to me with a plant problem, it can sometimes take a lot of questioning and discussion to figure out exactly what’s going on with the plant. Just as your doctor would do for you if you were t…

African hosta (Ledebouria petiolate) is a native of Southern and Eastern Africa that performs very well in the Victoria area. Also known as “false” hosta, it is not a hosta at all but shares many of the beautiful characteristics of a true hosta. This is welcome news for local gardeners who f…

Gardening has changed from yesterday to today, and tomorrow is our challenge in the lives of our children.

Last week, I wrote about houseplants that are dangerous for dogs. This week, I want to share some of the harmful things our dogs could find in our landscapes.

Althea (hibiscus syriacus) is an old-fashioned, deciduous shrub that blooms from spring through the summer.

True gardeners obviously enjoy, to some degree or another, being in their gardens. Many are totally obsessed with being out in nature and growing all sorts of plants. But over the years, I have discovered these same people who enjoy and love all the aspects of gardening also love and enjoy h…

Mention the word spider and many people freak out. I don’t know what it is about these little creatures, but I do know that many people hate them. The majority of spiders are actually very beneficial, especially to gardeners because they eat many bad bugs we battle in our gardens. Spiders ar…

Are you looking to get in shape, burn calories, strengthen your muscles, become more flexible, make your step quota, find your Zen state, get your head on straight and absorb some vitamin D? Of course, you are. But wait, there’s more.

The yellow butterfly vine (Mascagnia macroptera) is the 2019 Texas Superstar selection. This designation is reserved for beautiful plants that have passed rigid statewide testing and are found to be relatively disease-free, easy to propagate and grow well all over Texas.

When asked to define organic gardening, sometimes referred to as natural gardening, I usually say it’s all about the soil. A rich, healthy soil full of biological life is the main ingredient in an organic garden. Today’s gardeners can have a variety of soil types to deal with – from loose an…

The native section of Victoria Educational Gardens (VEG) is part of the original Phase I. For several years, I have been the chairperson of this area. Gardeners often ask for information about native plants, so I have created a list of six favorites to incorporate in Victoria and surrounding…

Spend some time walking around in a forest and odds are good that you would see the root flares of most of the trees growing there. It is natural to find tree root flares in nature but not so much in landscapes. Nature knows how important the exposed root flares are for trees. Slowly, tree g…

Events of recent weeks have renewed patriotic spirit in and for the citizens of this country. Observing the 75th anniversary commemoration of D-Day on the beaches and cliffs of Normandy, France, on June 6, parades and fireworks displays in our nation’s capital and across the country July 4, …

Anyone who has been involved with gardening for a few years has probably heard some garden myths. Many garden tips can be scientifically proven facts, while others have been proven to be untrue.

Recycling dead wood limbs to create a succulent display by adding natural elements to your home or patio can be very rewarding. I have worked with succulents as in one to a pot or a group to a container but not dead wood.

Most experienced gardeners realize that some plants need more water than others. When is the best time to water? There are so many variables involved, I don’t believe there is a concrete answer. For a very general answer, the best of time would be during the early morning hours.

Do you enjoy gardening and want to learn more while making new friends who share this avocation? Do you want to share your accumulated knowledge with other gardeners and your community?

It’s about this time of the year when many spring vegetable gardens start fizzling out. Most of the crops have produced to the best of their ability and are now getting leggy and nonproductive. It’s time to pull most of these plants out and get ready for the fall garden. Nonproductive plants…

Colorful, dramatic leaf and flower combinations. Easy to grow and maintain. It likes most South Texas soils. It will produce leaves year-round and flowers in spring and summer in our area of Texas. What are you waiting for?

I realize that spending much time outdoors these days just isn’t very pleasant. It is hot, and the humidity just makes the outdoors so much more unpleasant. But those of us whow are passionate about our gardens and lawns know there are outdoor chores to be done almost every day of the year, …

Gardeners realize that most flowers and plants have a scent. This fact is probably something that most people never care to think about, but here are a few facts that some might find of interest.

When I first heard the name “standing cypress,” I thought it was a tree. I have since learned that it is a beautiful, flowering biennial herb and wildflower.

What’s in a name? To quote William Shakespeare, “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Well, Bill, I’m not so sure about that.

In my gardens, I grow all kinds of plants plus a lot of other things. Things like birds, squirrels, raccoons, lizards, snakes, turtles and lots of assorted insects and butterflies. Someone commented the other day on all the lizards he had noticed as he was walking around. He seemed to find i…

Many times when people look at their landscapes, all they see is an area full of green plants. They might be called by different names, but to many, they are just plants. They don’t realize that not all plants are the same.

Have you ever wondered where the vegetables we eat came from? Well, I did – and decided to find out. To start with, I made a list of different vegetables. Then I started researching ones that were of interest to me.

The coral bean is a deciduous, lanky, small tree with beautiful dark red blooms making it a striking garden accent. You can find it growing in the xeriscape area at the Master Gardener Victoria Educational Gardens at Victoria Regional Airport. You might know the coral bean as cardinal spear,…

For several years, the end of May through the first of June has brought different varieties of unwanted worms and caterpillars to our landscapes. Recently, I have had a few reports of spring cankerworms being a problem. I usually don’t hear much about spring cankerworm problems, but periodic…

As production in the spring vegetable garden begins to wane with the approach of high summer temperatures, many gardeners assess what went well and what did not.

If you have paid any attention to your flower beds or vegetable gardens in the past few weeks, chances are you have noticed lots of small garden snails. You might have also noticed damage to some of your plants caused by these garden snails.

Have you ever longed for a plant that came up year after year, bloomed late spring to fall and was relatively trouble-free? Yarrow could be the plant for you.