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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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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

Ponce de Leon, FL
Identification of giant lilies
I have giant lilies that I can't identify. The bulbs are about 4" in diameter, the leaves are 4 ft long. The flowers of the pink emerge only in the early summer, the flowers of the red emerge in s...
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Bonifay, FL
Should I purchase wax myrtle plants as liners or pots
I want to buy some wax myrtle over internet.Place has wax myrtle "liners" They look very thin. Will these bushes grow quickly or should I spend more $ for 1 gallon plants. Just need a hedge fairly q...
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Bonifay, FL
Liriope spicata for erosion and dust suppression from Bonifay FL
I want to plant Liriope 'spicata'. I know it can be aggressive and that's what I want. We live on dirt road and need something by road for help in erosion and it's also hard to mow this are...
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Freeport, FL
Privacy screen for wet area in Florida
What are the best type of bushes/trees to plant in a low-lying area which is very wet--has sitting water after rainfall and drains slowly that is fast growing and serve as a good privacy border near f...
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SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL
Flowering of pineapple guavas
I have two pineapple guavas in their second year of planting. Both have grown extremely well, but have not flowered. I live in zone 9 near the Gulf and they receive normal irrigation. Do they take ...
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Rosemary Beach, FL
Tree for screening along road
What would you recommend for a linear tree lined street that needs to act as a buffer to hide less desirable backyards of ugly houses. The road is on lake travis near austin, texas. was hoping for a...
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Rosemary Beach, FL
Source for lady lupine in Rosemary Beach, FL
Where can I buy the lady lupine? I live in Rosemary Beach, Fl.
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Panama City Beach, FL
Source for non-native white Mexican petunias in Panama City, FL
I'm looking for tall white Mexican Petunias. Can you please tell me where I can get some?
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Panama City Beach, FL
Plants for 16th floor of condo in Panama City Beach, FL
My husband and I have a COSI on the west end of Panama City Beach, Fl. I love plants and flowers and live out of state. Our condo is on the 16th floor and directly on the gulf. What type of plants ...
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Panama City Beach, FL
Need resource to learn about plants to grow in Panama City, FL.
Please provide me with a resource to go to and learn what I can plant and will thrive in Panama City Beach area (sand). I enjoy color and flowering plants as well as a variety of greenery. I am movin...
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Wicksburg/Newton, AL
Low native groundcover for Wicksburg/Newton AL
I am laying a rather wide-set flagstone pathway in our back weeds (planning some native grass and wildflowers in the fall on either side of the path). I am looking for some very low native groundcover...
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Panama City, FL
Groundcover or grass for Panama City, Florida
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants I live in Panama City Florida and am having great difficulty growing a lawn. I would prefer no lawn as grass, it seems a pointless use of resources but my husband requires gr...
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Panama City, FL
Green fruit dropping from non-native navel orange tree
Hi, I have a seedless navel orange tree that is dropping the green fruit as of late and when I find the oranges laying there they have a large split in them that exposes the fruit. I don't think the...
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Panama City, FL
Bluebonnets and paintbrushes for Florida
Will bluebonnets and indian paintbrushes grow in the Florida panhandle?
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Panama City, FL
Native plants for a garden in Panama City, FL
I live in zone 9 in Florida. We are looking for plants which will be attractive all year long for the front of our house's landscaping which faces north. I need a specimen bush which doesn't get ov...
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Enterprise, AL
Is cat palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum) poisonous?
I have a Cataractarum (Cat) Palm and am wondering if it is poisonous. I have a Cockatiel who likes to play in it. Thank you!
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Daleville, AL
Wildflowers for Daleville AL
What wildflowers will grow in Daleville AL, in almost all day sun ? Thank you.
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Fort Walton Beach, FL
Regulations for transporting plants to Texas from Florida
We are relocating to TX from FL, I have a collection of potted palm trees and quite a few potted tropical plants (none are invasive)that I would like to bring with us, we will be traveling by car and ...
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Dothan, AL
Wax myrtle in partial shade in Dothan AL
Will the Wax Myrtle do well in the 36303 area code in partial shade?
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Dothan, AL
Elimination of Whitemouth dayflower in Dothan AL
I am infested with Widow's Tears in my yard. I would like to get rid of them. Can you tell me how?
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Dothan, AL
Apple trees for Dothan, AL
I would like to plant early, mid and late season apple trees in my area Dothan Al.What types can I plant that will help pollinate each other? I have plenty of room and planting some crabapples trees w...
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