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A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members 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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topicquestion
Plants for making dyes for organic cotton
October 07, 2006
Looking to dye my own organic cotton for my new line of organic clothing and I want to grow the plants for making the dyes in my own garden. Any suggestions?
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Lists of edible plants in region of Pennsylvania for school project
September 12, 2006
Please Help! I'm a grade four teacher in Philadelphia. My students and I are assigned a theme project that involves listing edible plants that grow in our region. Can you recommend a web site(s)...
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Wine from Ampelopsis arborea?
September 06, 2006
Hello, can you eat or make wine from the fruit of Ampelopsis arborea? I have found a few vines that are very fruitful and are ready to pick!
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Bitterness in cucumbers
June 24, 2006
Bitter Cukes: We have a question about Burpless Burpee cucumbers. We've planted them with success several years in a row in our Austin backyard. This year, although the cucumbers look fine, they a...
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Best vegetables to grow in San Antonio
June 06, 2006
What vegtables are the safest bet for growing in San Antonio? Thanks
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Information on herbs for Northeast Ohio
May 03, 2006
Hello there, I am writing you seeking some information on Northeast Ohio's native plants. This has been rather difficult to find—specific native plants that can be used as herbs. If you could h...
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Use of cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens) for tea
February 20, 2006
Back in the 50's when I spent the summers with my grandmother south of Hondo, Texas, she use to pick leaves from the cenizo (purple sage) bushes, dry them and then brew them for tea. I asked one of m...
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Odor and flavor of oils in Mints as insect repellants
December 19, 2005
I am trying to find information on "How does mint plants repel insects" It's for my grand daughter's science project. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you
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Edible wild plants in Montana
September 30, 2005
Where can I find information about wild edible plants in Montana?
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Native edible plants
September 24, 2005
Hello, I would like some resources for identifying native edible plants in Central Oregon. Good clear images will be very helpful in links or books. We do alot of hiking and would like to...
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Smarty Plants wild sweet pea
July 28, 2005
We were asked if the seed pods of the wild sweet pea are edible. (California)
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Smarty Plants on wild edible plants
July 28, 2005
Do you have classes or information on identifying wild edible plants that could be found in Texas?
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Smarty Plants on edible and poisonous plants
June 06, 2005
I am trying to gather information regarding edible and poisonous plants in Utah's Salt Lake City area. Can you help? Thanks.
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Smarty Plants on Texas cherry tomato
April 24, 2005
We just bought 2 Texas cherry tomato plants at the plant sale. We have to container garden in a walled courtyard due to deer. (Would deer be attracted to the plants in a garden with herbs and high de...
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Smarty Plants on edible and medicinal native plants
October 06, 2004
I would like a list of edible & medicinal native plants for the San Antonio area.
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