Texas Gardening

Texas Gardening: What Works / What Doesn’t

Basket of Gold Columbine in Texas Landscaping

Agave with cotoneaster shrub, cedars and lantana.

Agave with cotoneaster shrub, salvia greggii, cedars and lantana.

Native plants in Texas landscaping include the Agave, seen here mixed with cedars and cotoneaster shrubs.

More on Texas landscaping best shrubs here …

Texas Roses	Texas Perennials	Japanese Maples

Texas Blooming Trees	Flowering Shrubs and Vines	Gates – Doors

Concrete raised gardening beds can leach out PH from your soil. Learn how to address that issue.

Red Japanese Maples thrive in Texas. This deep cut wide leafed maple is still young. Cannot tell which one it is with azaleas just blooming out.

Wide spreading Japanese Maple

Bloodgood, upright, urn shaped, deep red, broad leafed Japanese Maple.

My question in terms of landscaping design is would the house on the right have been more pleasingly landscaped with a wide arching Japanese Maple rather than a broad upright Japanese Maple and could they / should they have placed the Japanese Maples more forward and away from the home?

Japanese Maple in Texas Landscape Design fundamental element in Texas

Japanese Maple in Texas Landscape Design a fundamental element in Texas

More on Japanese Maples in Dallas landscaping here …

Spring and Autumn Lettuces in the Texas Garden

Best Shrubs for Texas

Landscaping can change a home’s appearance. Lovely example of traditional and native Texas plants.

Thrift and Summer Phlox – Not the Same but Both Great

Thrift or Phlox with Japanese Maple in background

Thrift with Japanese Maple in background. Sometimes people call Thrift a phlox but it’s not. Phlox completely dies back during the winter but Thrift will keep a slight green mound. You can see the perennial Salvia Gregii just beginning to bloom out.

Read more about Thrift and Phlox here …

The garden tool I use more than any other: mini-pick axe.

I never walk into the yard without this in my hand. This little pick lives at my back door with my gardening shoes. The Truper 31615 5-Pound Pick Mattock with 36-Inch Wood Handle is close to the one I have used for over 25 years. See a weed? Hack it out. Need to plant a perennial, hack a hole and pop it in. This is essential maintenance.

Cross Vine with Wisteria

Cross Vine with Wisteria.

Spring in Dallas Container Gardening

Japanese Maple and Dallas Container Gardening.

My Fundamental Gardening Tools

The fundamental tools for gardening for me are: Osmocote fertilizer, a five pound pick ax, water retaining pellets or crystals and timer soaker hoses. The little pick ax lives at my back door with my gardening shoes. I use it to hack out a weed, pop a hole for a plant or trench for fertilizer.

I always use water retaining pellets for new plants with a bit of Osmocote. I have tried the sprayer fertilizer feeder and other fertilizers, Osmocote is easy and always works. The soaker hose saves water and is much more effective than a sprinkler system.

Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher Sculpture Center Gardens

Dallas Musuem Art Entry Genesis Gift of Life Henry Moore Sculpture

Nasher Sculpture Garden Rodin: Eve

Weeping Cedars

Weeping Cedars. Cedars are wonderful and I love them with nandinas. Old fashioned and out of style, to be sure but they add a lot to any garden. Did you know Mahonia is a cousin of nandina?

Read more about cedars here …

What’s Blooming Early March Texas

Dogwoods Blooming

Spirea and Oklahoma Redbud blooming early this spring … global warming after a winter that barely happened. For ‘new’ gardeners it’s important to understand blooming companions!

Spirea white flowering shrub with nandina. Don’t trim those long flowing branches!!!

Redbud Trees in Texas: Match Made in Heaven

Oklahoma Redbud Tree

Texas Perennials

Rudbekia – Black Eyed Susan: Plant size varies greatly, from dwarf one foot varieties like ‘Becky’ and ‘Toto’, to the giant Rudbeckia maxima, which can reach nine feet tall.

My Fundamental Gardening Tools

Roses over Dallas impacted by Rose Rosette disease.

Crape Myrtles in Texas

This beautiful hedge of Arapaho Crape Myrtles continues to thrive. The Knockout Roses, however, are now gone, a victim of Rose Rosette disease, which is not a disease but wingless airborne mites that attack roses. They burrow into a rose and there is no cure. You can cut the rose back but the mites will only go deeper.

Many are turning to miniature crape myrtles to fill the void left by Rose Rosette disease and declining roses in Texas.

Read more about Crape Myrtles here ….

Lovely grouping of dwarf crape myrtles at the World Collection Park. Good substitute for hard hit Texas roses with Rose Rosette disease.

Pink Texas A&M SuperStar Crape Myrtle with Vitex Tree

The irrefutable proof that crape myrtles are Texas hardy and Texas friendly is found in the crape below. Its trunk is damaged from repeated careless weed eaters, it is located in a parking median at a building abandoned for at least four years and yet with no water, no fertilizer and no care, this little crape is a powerhouse bloomer!

Basham’s Party Pink has been named a Texas A&M SuperStar. The purple Vitex Tree had already been named a SuperStar. The problem with naming a crape myrtle a SuperStar for Texas is that virtually ALL crapes are “super stars” in Texas. Our weather, hot and dry, short winters, is ideal for all crapes. This is one SuperStar that has little meaning, unlike so many others which recognized legitimate breakthroughs for Texas such as Basket of Gold Columbine. Pictured above is Basham’s Party Pink blooming along side the Texas Vitex tree.

Rudbekia – Black Eyed Susan: Plant size varies greatly, from dwarf one foot varieties like ‘Becky’ and ‘Toto’, to the giant Rudbeckia maxima, which can reach nine feet tall.
Read more about Rudbekia here …

This magnificent little crape lives alone in a parking lot of a building that has been abandoned for five years. It blooms its heart and and is proof crape myrtles are heat hardy in Texas.

This group of young Arapaho crape myrtles will be come a lovely 30 foot crape myrtle alley.

Centennial Spirit: My favorite crape (today). Favorites change constantly for me but certainly in the top ten.

Tonto: a small crape that will reach six to eight feet tall.

Pink Velour: Love the velour series in party pastes of pinks, magenta and lilac.

Fountains in Dallas gardening.

The Dallas Arboretum

There was a dragon fly in the summer phlox; there was a butterfly in the clematis.

I know I should be there with you. I miss you – and I am sorry to be apart.

Wood fern with Japanese Maple. Dallas Arboretum landscaping design.

Poetry_Garden_Arboretum_Lee_Ann_Torrans-15

Lilac Vitex Trees Arboretum Read More Here

What’s New in Dallas this Week?

Yellow Blooming Trees in July.

The Laburnum Tree

The Laburnum Tree – Beautiful and Poisonous

While there are no reported deaths from the Laburnum Tree in one hundred years the tree carries that label. It is certainly lovely with Yuccas, Palms and Agave.

Books on Poisonous Plants from Amazon

This tree reminds me of William Blake’s poem, A Poison Tree.

A Poison Tree

I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine.
And he knew that it was mine,

And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

Chinese Parasol Tree

Chinese Parsol Tree or Firmiana simplex and known as wutong is native to Asia. It reaches 50 feet or more and its leaves have been used as tobacco. Its wood has been used for musical instruments in China.

Chinese Parasol Tree Seed Pods New to USA and Potential to Become Invasive

Rain Tree with red and yellow Yuccas.

Yellow Yuccas with Rain Tree and Red Yuccas

Poisonous Plants Dangerous for Children

Agave

Agave’s can be dangerous. Use care if you have young children when deciding to plant an Agave. There are over 150 varieties. Read more about the agave here.

Althea_Tree_Purple_Blooming_Tree_Texas _Lee_Ann_Torrans-2

Whales Tongue Agave

Desert Willows

Another plant known to be dangerous and poisonous is the Desert Willow. Use care again with this plant if you have young children.

Desert Willow with Agave and Myrtle Spurge.

Chitalpa with Homerun Rose and Day Lily

Chitalpa is a cross of Desert Willow and Catalpa.

While I was not surprised to find the poisonous Desert Willow in a community area in Cuba I was very surprised to find it in a shopping center in Dallas, Texas.

Lantana

It is not commonly known that Lantana is considered to be a poisonous plant. If you have young children consider whether you want this plant in your garden. Texas A&M notes the green berries are fatal. Yikes, I just never knew this. I have always had lantana. Most modern or recently produced Lantanas are sterile and do not have berries, but be aware many lantana do have berries.

Lantana

Purple Shamrock

Purple shamrock can be poisonous to cats and dogs. Read about alternative purple perennials to the very popular Purple Shamrock.

Purple Shamrock

Yew Shrubs

The yew, I am sad to note, has been reported as poisonous as well. This is my favorite shrub. I must admit to having eaten the leaves of the Yew as a child – and having no ill effect.

Spreading Yew with Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Dallas Arboretum on a Rare Evening Visit

Poetry Garden

Dallas Arboretum

Woman’s Garden

A beautiful spring hydrangea and geranium garden.

A Woman’s Garden. Arboretum

Read and see more here.

Dallas_Arboretum_Womens_Garden_Landscaping_Lee_Ann_Torrans-5

Womans Garden Dallas Arboretum

The Fairy Miniature Rose at Sunset DA

Not the Only One Getting Serious About Crape Myrtles!

Catawba_Purple_Crape_Myrtle_Large_Lee_Ann_Torrans-4

Crape Myrtle Garden McKinney

Purple Crapes Say Hello, Finally!

Twilight Purple Crape Myrtle

Purple Muskogee Crape Myrtle – Painting with a Lavender Palette

Read more here on Lavender Crape Myrtles: Muskogee and Bashan’s Party Pink.

The History of a Fern!

The amazing story of a new born fern. Read more about fern gardening in Texas here.

The Wilson Historic District Dallas, Texas

Preservation Dallas Swiss Avenue Dallas

Join me this week touring the Wilson Historic District. Brought to Dallas by the Meadows Foundation. Link Here

Week Three of June in Dallas: Looking at those front drive medians

A detailed look at the best medians and understanding of what makes them work. Hint: layering. Next week.

Making the Median Work. Read more here.

June to July: Crape Myrtle Months and I am getting serious about Crapes!

See redesigned page on Tuscarora – I love the blooms, the shape, the texture, just don’t care for the color. Read an honest evaluation of the MOST popular crape myrtle in Texas, the Tuscarora.

Dwarf, Miniature, and Baby Crapes! Which one is right for you?

Stay tuned for two years of images on dwarf and miniature crapes and everything my client and I know combined! Good thing he is a Crape Myrtle expert. I still get confused?!?!? Is it a dwarf, a miniature or just a baby. It really takes an expert to make the call. Next week.

Tonto Crape Myrtle Watermelon Colored and Vaselike

Tonto Crape Myrtles with Yuccas, Russian sage is the blue plant in the background and Summer Phlox, the tall purple plant at the base of the crape myrtle.

Week Two of June in Dallas. Because gardening is like poetry.

The Crapes are blooming! They have been slow to bloom this year because of the long winter. They are now putting on a stunning display in Dallas!

Sometimes the best landscaping is very little. The house says it all.

	I taste a liquor never brewed –From Tankards scooped in Pearl — Not all the Vats upon the Rhine Yield such an Alcohol!
	Inebriate of Air — am I — And Debauchee of Dew — Reeling — thro endless summer days — From inns of Molten Blue —

	When “Landlords” turn the drunken Bee Out of the Foxglove’s door — When Butterflies — renounce their “drams” — I shall but drink the more!–
	Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats — And Saints — to windows run — To see the little Tippler Leaning against the — Sun —

Emily Dickenson

How has Austin influenced Dallas gardening?

Simply and irrevocably, until the shade sets in!

June_Perennial_Garden_Dallas_Texas_Lee_Ann_Torrans

June Perennial Garden

Getting the Crapes So Right!

Texas Top Ten Crapes

Japanese Maples

It’s About the Trees and the Ferns

My picks this week for Dallas Best Landscaping.

See and read more here.

The Classic “Fern Urn” Comes Alive!

Shade Gardening Perfection

Shade Gardening to perfection. Limelight hydrangea now comes in dwarf and miniature forms. Here with purple Persian Shield. See slide show here. Law and the Librarian addresses issues facing unwary librarians such as man eating plants from the Little Shop of Horrors.

Texas Gardening: What Works / What Doesn’t

Best Shrubs for Texas

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Thrift and Summer Phlox – Not the Same but Both Great

The garden tool I use more than any other: mini-pick axe.

Spring in Dallas Container Gardening

My Fundamental Gardening Tools

Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher Sculpture Center Gardens

Weeping Cedars

What’s Blooming Early March Texas

Dogwoods Blooming

Spirea and Oklahoma Redbud blooming early this spring … global warming after a winter that barely happened. For ‘new’ gardeners it’s important to understand blooming companions!

Read More About Spirea Here ….

Redbud Trees in Texas: Match Made in Heaven

Texas Perennials

My Fundamental Gardening Tools

Roses over Dallas impacted by Rose Rosette disease.

Crape Myrtles in Texas

Pink Texas A&M SuperStar Crape Myrtle with Vitex Tree

The Dallas Arboretum

What’s New in Dallas this Week?

The Laburnum Tree

The Laburnum Tree – Beautiful and Poisonous

Books on Poisonous Plants from Amazon

A Poison Tree

Poisonous Plants Dangerous for Children

Agave

Desert Willows

Lantana

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Purple Shamrock

Yew Shrubs

Dallas Arboretum on a Rare Evening Visit

A Woman’s Garden. Arboretum

Not the Only One Getting Serious About Crape Myrtles!

Purple Crapes Say Hello, Finally!

Purple Muskogee Crape Myrtle – Painting with a Lavender Palette

The History of a Fern!

The Wilson Historic District Dallas, Texas

Week Three of June in Dallas: Looking at those front drive medians

June to July: Crape Myrtle Months and I am getting serious about Crapes!

Dwarf, Miniature, and Baby Crapes! Which one is right for you?

Week Two of June in Dallas. Because gardening is like poetry.

How has Austin influenced Dallas gardening?

June Perennial Garden

Getting the Crapes So Right!

Japanese Maples

It’s About the Trees and the Ferns

My picks this week for Dallas Best Landscaping.

The Classic “Fern Urn” Comes Alive!

Shade Gardening Perfection