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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

Burton, TX
Vine with wine-colored flowers in Washington County, TX
I'm trying to identify a deep purple wine colored flowering vine in Washington County, Texas. It looks very similar to Texas wisteria, but it is something else. I've seen them growing in vineyards...
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Burton, TX
Killing a century plant from Burton TX
How do you kill the century plant, they are taking over?
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Burton, TX
Can you produce hay and bluebonnets on the same field?
Hi - We have a field that produces wild bluebonnets every spring. Is it possible to grow and bail hay in this field and not kill off our bluebonnets? Thank you.
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Carmine, TX
Care for heritage roses
Dear Mr. SmartyPlants, I took some cuttings from an antique rose my grandmother had.I had good luck , had some of them grow for me. Some of them have blooms and others are long and lanky stems but n...
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Round Top, TX
Source for purchase of Texas ash tree in Round Rock, TX
Where can I purchase a Texas Ash (Fraxinus texenis)?
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Brenham, TX
When to mow after bluebonnets bloom in Brenham, TX
I live in Brenham, TX, and thanks to spreading 80 pounds of bluebonnet seeds last fall, we had a very small but promising showing of bluebonnets this March and April. The bluebonnets still appear to b...
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Brenham, TX
Oak tree with browning leaves in Brenham TX
I have a large oak tree in my small back yard. I also have a sprinkler so the tree has been receiving some water. Nevertheless, some of the leaves are turning brown in patches. Would drip watering ...
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Brenham, TX
Optimum mowing times for wildflower garden
I live in Washington County and have 4 acres that contain both an abundance of spring wildflowers and native grasses (silver and little bluestem, Texas grama). The homeowners restrictions require that...
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brenham, TX
More on bluebonnets
Do bluebonnets, being a legume, contribute anything beneficial to the soil?
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Brenham, TX
Drought and Fire Resistant Plants for Round Top, Texas
Dear Mr. Smarty Pants Do you have any advice on plants which are drought tolerant and fire resistant for a central Texas location near Round Top Texas? Thanks
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Brenham, TX
Plants for shady area in Brenham, TX
I have an area which receives shade all day, but gets a lot of sun just before sunset. What sorts of plants would do well?
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Brenham, TX
When to reseed wildflowers in a drought year?
My acreage with extensive wildflowers was mowed in 2010 before annuals had seeded. Only a few returned this year. Considering the predicted lonterm drought should I postpone reseeding this fall?
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Brenham, TX
Turk's Cap and Pavonia insect problems
My Turk's cap and Pavonia lasiopetala (rock rose) plants both have quite a few leaves that are skeletonized in appearance. I do not see any insects on the underside of the leaves. What could be cau...
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Brenham, TX
Bluebonnet party for April 17 in Brenham TX
I wish to have a Bluebonnet party. I planted seeds in the spring and fall and the plants have come up like crazy. Given our unusual weather, when can you predict they will peak.?? I was planning t...
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Brenham, TX
Native plants for deer
I live on 5 acres near Brenham and want to plant FOR the deer, without using non-natives. I leave unmowed islands of Buffalo grass, little bluestem and many native forbs. I know they are using it for ...
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Brenham, TX
Optimum mowing time for acreage with spring wildflowers
I have several acres where wildflowers grow in the spring, & would like to know when and how often to mow this field for optimum blooms?
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Ledbetter, TX
Spreading bluebonnets in pasture from Ledbetter TX
I've found a small patch of bluebonnets in my back pasture in Ledbetter, tx. What is the best method of encouraging their spread across the pasture? I've heard that one can pull up the plants and ...
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Ledbetter, TX
Preventing Oak Galls
How do you prevent live oak galls? Do you have a solution? Many of our live oaks are infested with them.
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Giddings, TX
Trees with white blossoms in Crockett, Texas
What are the trees that are blooming just East of Crockett Texas (off of Hwy 21) right now - fairly large trees - multitude of white blooms - almost like a wild plum or pear, but tree seems too large?...
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Giddings, TX
Keeping cows from eating the garden
I have a flowerbed area outside of our new split-rail fence available for planting, but cattle roam outside the fence also! Do you have any suggestions for plants that cows tend not to eat (unle...
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Chappell Hill, TX
Need suggestions for plants for a privacy screen for a pecan orchard in Chappell Hill, TX.
Mr. Smarty Plants, My family has just begun converting our land in Chappell Hill, TX (Washington County) into a pecan orchard. We had to clear a lot of the overgrowth around the edge of the proper...
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