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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers Nan Hampton, Jimmy Mills and Barbara Medford to be the culpable and capable parties. Yet, others think staff members Damon Waitt, Joe Marcus and Philip Hawkins might play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

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Questions From Near You

Colorado Springs, CO
Native grasses for medians in Colorado Springs
Our city has stopped watering our historic landscaped medians due to severe budget shortfalls. The medians were historically tree boulevards but have had curb and gutter and blue grass added over th...
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Colorado Springs, CO
Meadow garden for Colorado Springs CO
We recently purchased a restored home on a mesa just above the downtown area of Colorado Springs on the front range. The previous owners seeded the front lawn with blue gramma and told me that all I ...
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Colorado Springs, CO
Forecast for 2008 Spring wildflower season
Has there been a forecast made for this spring's bluebonnet and wildflower season?
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Colorado Springs, CO
Current forecast for wildflowers from Colorado Springs
What is your current forecast for wildflowers this spring?
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Colorado Springs, CO
Can a soapberry tree be grown in Colorado Springs?
I live in Colorado Springs and I was wondering if it is possible to grow a soapberry tree here?
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Colorado Springs, CO
Lawn Maintenance in Colorado
When do I begin to fertilize and water my grass in Colorado Springs? I am selling my house and want my lawn to look green?
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Colorado Springs, CO
Is cement leaching into flower beds in Colorado Springs?
I have posed this question to a number of garden centers in our area around Colorado Springs--only to rec. a repeated--"Gee, I don't know." When we moved to our new home there was a rock concrete ...
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Colorado Springs, CO
Name for paloverde look-alike near Colorado Springs
I don't know where this plant comes from. However, I am wondering what the name of plant of the following description would be. It is a shrub, about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. It grows in zone 6 t...
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Colorado Springs, CO
Non-native. Why are my potted Royal Empress trees dying?
I have purchased several Royal Empress trees over the past two years. Why won't they grow? Some sprouted leaves and then died while in the pots I planted them in. While others, that are 2 years old ...
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Colorado Springs, CO
Plants for under pine trees in Colorado Springs CO
What can I plant under pine trees in Colorado that will grow every year? Would like ground cover; tried bishop weed.
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Falcon, CO
Planting Clover in Falcon, CO
What is the best clover to plant here on the front range? It must be durable, able to survive harsh climate and changing conditions and thrive on little rain.
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Florissant, CO
Transplanting aspens and Colorado blue spruce trees
Please help me with info on transplanting aspen and blue spruce trees in Colorado. I live at 8600ft and have tons of deer. thx
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Pueblo West, CO
Butterfly bushes and weed killer in Pueblo West CO
I have 3 previously healthy butterfly bushes that have one by one developed masses of tiny yellowish-green compact leaves. The entire bush went from its normal healthy appearance to something that res...
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Castle Rock, CO
Native Plants for Colorado
Please advise me where I can find a list of native plants for the Castle Rock, Colorado area. This is for a home garden landscaping initiative.
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Castle Rock, CO
Time for seeding wildflower seeds in Castle Rock CO
I live in Castle Rock, CO. When is the best time to plant wildflower seed?
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Castle Rock, CO
Need a smallish evergreen shrub that deer do not like, native to Colorado.
I live south of Denver Colorado. I am looking for an evergreen shrub that doesn't grow wider than 3 feet and not taller than 4 to 5 feet - something that is native to Colorado or grows well here. (...
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Elizabeth, CO
Least common flower color
What is the least common flower color in the world?
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Sedalia, CO
Is it quantity that makes silver nightshade poisonous to people?
I have a recipe for Asadero cheese that uses silverleaf nightshade and have eaten this cheese many times. Is it too much quantity that makes it poisonous to people?
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Parker, CO
Transplant shock in Dakota mock vervain
We just planted some Verbena bipinnatifida in our back yard and when we planted it, it had purple flowers on it but now they've all dried up. We live in central Colorado and thought this plant was fa...
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Parker, CO
Trees for Parker, Colorado that will not harm horses
we are searching for trees that will grow well in Parker Colorado and not be poisonous to our horses
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Parker, CO
Rocky Mountain Juniper Grazed by Deer
I have four Colorado red cedar (Juniperus scopulorum). The deer have eaten from their height down. Now these narrow top to bottom evergreens have only tops left. Will the bottom fill in if I protect t...
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