Native Plants
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Smarty Plants Question Topics
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| Native Plants for Galveston February 12, 2012 I'm looking for low maintenance, drought tolerant plants for Galveston, on the bay side, in a well drained area with morning sun. I was thinking of Phlox, Muhly grass, Lantana.....and I am looking f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are there drug cartels on the bluebonnet trails from Lake City FL February 08, 2012 We plan to fly to TX to see bluebonnets but do not know if the weather and forest fires have destroyed them. If not, can you estimate the peak bloom time? We are 75 and 81 and move around rather s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Best wildflowers for Lamar County TX February 02, 2012 What are the best wildflowers for northeast Tx? We live right below the Red River just north of Paris. Can they only be planted by seed in the fall? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Reducing Allergens in Yards and Gardens January 31, 2012 What are some allergen-free native plants to Central Texas that thrive in the soil and can survive in the weather? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought resistant flowering plants for Spring, TX January 25, 2012 Hi Mr. Smarty Pants. I live in Spring Tx. and wanted to plant a garden in my front yard. I'm looking for flowering plants that are colorful, easy to manage, and drought resistant but so far can't fi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting bluebonnets on UT Campus in Austin January 07, 2012 Hello! I am with a student organization on the University of Texas campus. Walking around campus, I have noticed the lack of the state flower of Texas, the bluebonnet. Our organization is hoping ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trees and wildflowers for Matagorda County, Texas January 06, 2012 My family has a fish farm in Palacios, Matagorda county. I would like to plant trees and wild flowers on the property. Can you suggest the appropriate kind that can withstand the salt water around an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Preparing for planting wildflower meadow in Austin January 02, 2012 We are in the midst of prepping beds for wildflower plantings in the spring. We spent the last month pulling up our existing lawn and invasive grasses so we are now wondering how to secure the beds f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Color year round, welcome to Austin Texas. December 04, 2011 I am new to Austin and want to plant colorful flowers for fall and winter that get a "wow" reaction. I have not seen much at the local nurseries. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bee-pasture recommendations for AR November 30, 2011 Hello, I live in Melbourne, Ar, up in the NE corner of the state. I keep bees and would like to put in a couple acres of something for them. I'm leaning towards Viper's Bugloss. Do you know where I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When Should Wildflower Seeds be Planted in Dallas, Texas November 28, 2011 Mr. Pants: I have received some seed packets of wildflower seeds from GO TEXAN. How late can I plant these in central Dallas (8 a/b)? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Early wildflowers for PA November 25, 2011 What spring wildflower is the first to bloom in Erie, PA? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Overwintering Texas bluebonnets November 17, 2011 I planted Texas Bluebonnet and I want to know how to save them through the winter months. I think they are so beautiful. Can I cover them with something? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Desmodium spp. (beggar's lice) in Leander TX November 11, 2011 Our home backs up to a greenbelt on Blockhouse Creek in Williamson County, Texas (FM 1431 and Parmer Lane). The combination of the flood and drought has left our beautiful greenbelt with an abundance... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing bluebonnets in pot in Flower Mound TX November 01, 2011 We received a package of bluebonnet seeds along with the DVD Wildflowers: Seeds of History as a gift. In the film, Andrea DeLong mentions that bluebonnets did not grow well in a rich organic soil. W... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for seed of Blackfoot Daisy from Amarillo TX October 29, 2011 I need help finding Melampodium leucanthum seed. I have spent the last few hours on the web searching for them. I checked the resources in your lists and cannot find seed. I live in Potter Coun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When to reseed wildflowers in a drought year? October 18, 2011 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? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Time for seeding wildflower seeds in Castle Rock CO October 03, 2011 I live in Castle Rock, CO. When is the best time to plant wildflower seed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blue wildflowers for Massachusetts meadow garden September 30, 2011 I am restoring a 1980's era barn in Massachusetts. To celebrate the roll-out of the restored barn, I would like to plant wildflowers in the hayfield next to the barn (aprox. 3 acres). I would like ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Early spring wildflowers of Pennsylvania September 30, 2011 What native wildflower is the first to bloom in Weedville, Pa? (Jay township, Elk county) I am working on a research paper for my Environmental Problems class, and this would be very helpful. Thank y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| 2012 wildflower forecast from Friendswood TX September 29, 2011 What is your current view of the 2012 Wildflower Forecast? What weeks might be best for someone traveling from Colorado to see our flowers? We are concerned about what the drought will do to the 20... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Need help growing plants in red dirt in Mount Pleasant, NC. September 17, 2011 I live in N.C. and I have had the hardest time getting plants to grow;I have red dirt at my house. Can you suggest a few colorful plants that would do real well in red dirt? Thank You So Very Much!!!!... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildseed Planting in a drought September 14, 2011 Due to the extreme drought and no rain in the near future in central Texas would it be prudent to have a wildseed planting in October? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for a pond in MO September 10, 2011 I have a spring fed pond in Missouri and would like to plant perennial wildflowers in the area around it. Are there any that would do better or others that are not recommended? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for Daleville AL September 08, 2011 What wildflowers will grow in Daleville AL, in almost all day sun ? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Survival of wildflowers after Hurricane Irene in Perkasie PA September 03, 2011 Mr. Smarty Plants, We have (had) a beautiful row of wildflowers and sunflowers along the one side of our house. Now that Hurricane Irene has passed, most of the flowers are matted down from the wind... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Survival of bluebonnets in extreme heat from Tioga TX September 03, 2011 Is there anything I can do for my bluebonnet patch in this extreme drought for the rest of the summer and fall? Should I have watered this summer? I had a good show and think seeding was fairly normal... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need suggestions for plants for a bird/small wildlife refuge in Wichita Co, TX. August 26, 2011 With our continuing drought in North Texas, I'm planning to transform my small backyard into a bird/small wildlife "refuge". What types of native plants and grasses can I plant in dry, hot Wichita ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Questions about Clematis virginiana in Austin, TX. August 26, 2011 Hello! I have a few questions regarding Clematis virginiana. Is it scented? Does it attract birds and butterflies? Do only female flowers get the feathery plumes? If yes, how do I know if ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Information on what Texas wildflowers are disappearing August 02, 2011 I was shocked to find that Texas Bluebells were vanishing. What other Texas wildflowers are vanishing? There is an endangered species list but I want to help before my wildflower neighbors before t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Plant Suggestions for Dripping Springs August 02, 2011 I have a very dry commercial property in Dripping Springs TX where the dry sand/dust isn't a good rain conductor (whenever we get rain). What can we plant there? We have no irrigation and use a rai... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Favorite Wildflower July 31, 2011 Dear Green Guru - What are your favorite wildflowers? Signed Curious View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting wildflowers on roadsides in Dallas July 23, 2011 Am interested in leading Y Princess group in community effort to plant wildflowers along roads in Dallas area. Do you have any advice on how to approach the problem or sources for the seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| A&M maroon bluebonnets for Hawaii July 10, 2011 My daughter graduated from Texas A&M and has moved to Hawaii. She would love to have the maroon bluebonnets developed by A&M to plant in her new home. How would she need to prepare the seeds since t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Short wildflowers to interplant with grass in PA July 05, 2011 I live in NE PA and would like to grow short wildflowers throughout my yard mixed in with my grass. Is this possible? If so, what would be a good match for my zone? I will be mowing the grass once a w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mosquito-deterring plants for shady hillside July 05, 2011 We have a part to full shaded hill side/ native woodland area that was once covered with english ivy..we managed to get rid of all the ivy but now we are overtaken with violets..maybe they are even na... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Petals not developing on blackeyed susans from Nashville TN July 05, 2011 I have an established "patch" of black eyes susans. This year, the leaves are beautiful, the centers black..but the petals are practically non existent. They didn't seem to develop correctly. Any... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to grow under a black walnut tree in PA July 03, 2011 I want to plant some shrubs and flowers in an area with southern exposure that is dry, sunny, and within the drip line of, and partially under a large black walnut tree. I had been told that native pl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Container plant to grow in late afternoon sun July 02, 2011 I have a shaded brick walkway that leads to my front door. It faces west, and can get very hot late afternoon Houston sun, although it is shaded for the remainder of the day. I have been successful ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Care of wildflower meadow dried out in drought June 30, 2011 Mr Smarty Plants, Our wildflower patch is completely dried up here in Lucas,Tx. What do you do with the field? Mow it? Trim it? Let it be? The patch is about 1/2 acre.. Thanks, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Something eating Monarda didyma in Washington DC June 30, 2011 Please Help, I have a couple of Bee Balm, Jacob Cline, plants, whose leave are being eaten, by what I do not know. None of the nurseries around here seem to have ever heard of this happening to this p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Light requirements for Heartleaf Skullcap from Smithville TX June 29, 2011 How much sun or shade does Heartleaf Skullcap need? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for a Vacant Lot in the Big Apple June 24, 2011 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, We have recently gone in to restore a vacant plot in Harlem. This soil is varied, but mostly rubble, old slag, some sand in one area, old fill- pH 7-8.5. We dug a small tren... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers that grow in woodlands June 22, 2011 Please tell me the names of wildflowers that grow under your oak trees in Texas. I am only familiar with those open meadow plants, not those that live under the deciduous trees. Thank you for your t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for decorating for a wedding from San Marcos TX June 16, 2011 I am in the early stages of planning my wedding for next year. I would like to decorate with wildflowers in mason jars. I need to set a date! What is the peak season for wildflowers blooming in centra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting ironweed in Valley Forge June 07, 2011 I work in a national park and we have one population of Vernonia glauca (tawny ironweed), a state-listed endangered species in Pennsylvania. Last year we collected seed and have been successful in gro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Re-blooming bluebonnets in May in Kyle TX May 30, 2011 My bluebonnets in flower bed bloomed beautifully this spring. Now it is late May and they bloomed again. Why is this? I never saw these flowers bloom twice in a season. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Mountain Laurel in Georgia May 28, 2011 While in Texas a few months ago I saw your beautiful Sophora Secundiflora blooming and decided to bring one home to Gainesville, GA and try my luck. I have not planted it yet and it is doing well in ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing bluebonnets from seed in Maitland FL May 17, 2011 Can I grow bluebonnets from seed in Maitland? The soil is quite sandy, and I do have sunny, dry places to grow them. Are there any special requirements necessary away from their native habitat? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| East Texas Natives and Botanical History May 05, 2011 I am looking for flowers &/or flowering shrubs that are native to east Texas, especially that would have been in this area over 100 or more years ago. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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