Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Monday - March 15, 2010
From: Brenham, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Bluebonnet party for April 17 in Brenham TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
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 the party for April 10, but now must move it back to the 17th.ANSWER:
Having lived not too long ago in Brenham, and driven through it today en route from Houston to Austin, we think you can count on having a good showing on your target date. Ordinarily, Lupinus texensis (Texas bluebonnet) blooms from March to May, with the heaviest bloom in the last week of March to the first week of April. It appears the late, severe weather (snow!) may have inhibited their development a little bit in Central Texas, so it would seem that the third week in April should still be fine. If you think they are developing too fast, you can always deadhead them before they go to seed, which will usually inspire another bloom, as plants all need to bloom in order to have seed to propagate themselves.
From our Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Wildflowers Questions
Is Tropical Milkweed Harmful to Monarchs?
April 24, 2015 - I believe I recently read that the orange flowering Mexican milkweed carries a virus(?) or something that harms monarch butterflies. What are recommendations if I use this plant in my northern CA yar...
view the full question and 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 the full question and answer
Rules for picking wildflowers
May 30, 2008 - I've always heard that, if not in a park or posted area, it is ok to pick one wildflower for every 13 and therefore leave a dozen. Is this at all true?
view the full question and answer
Wildflowers for Murphy NC Clay
August 24, 2012 - I live on a ridge in Murphy NC. The property has trees so most of the land is in partial shade. The soil is good 'ole mountain red clay. I have some steep bankings in front of the house that I wou...
view the full question and answer
Blue mistflowers fail to bloom in Austin, TX
September 02, 2015 - We live in Austin, Texas and we have several blue mistflower plants that are not flowering. In a previous year we had lovely flowers but last year and this year we have no flowers in spite of the fact...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |