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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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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!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

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Kenosee Lake, SK
Winterizing non-native sedum in Saskatchewan CA
What should be done to winterize a autumn joy (sedum)?
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kipling, SK
Apples, pears and geraniums in Kipling, Saskatchewan
My geranium's leaves became yellow - Why? Where can I buy a good nice apple tree? Will apples and pears grow in south Saskatchewan?
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Pt. Richmond, CA
Drought-resistant plants for Paradise, California
We are moving to a new home in Paradise, CA. What drought resistant plants do well in Paradise ? Thank you !!
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Greeley, CO
Groundcovers for area under blue spruce in Colorado
I have a 40 ft blue spruce limbed up 6 ft in my yard on the west in Greeley, CO (50 mi N Denver, zone 4 or 5). It gets some sun underneath in the later afternoon and evening. Can you suggest 4 to 5 ...
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Lake Francis, MB
Plant with poisonous thorns
Is there a bush or tree out there that has thorns on it that can make you swell and cause you to feel like you can hardly move you're whole hand.
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Winnipeg, MB
Plant identification request for a vine
I would like to identify a wild vine that I have just discovered in our bush. It has leaves similar in shape to a maple leaf,approx.4"wide, has white flower spikes, and some kind of a fruit or pod t...
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petersfield, MB
Growing Indian Wild Rice
Could you tell me who has the Canadian rights to wild indian rice grass. It is a drought tolerant grass used in flour production for gluten free products. thanks
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Saskatoon, SK
Transplanting Virginia creeper
I have a large Virginia creeper plant approximately 15 feet in length. Is it possible to transplant the whole thing without killing it? If so how do I care for it after it has been moved? Thank yo...
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Blumenort, MB
Identification of Monotropa uniflora
I found a peculiar flower in Nopoming Provincial Forest, Manitoba last weekend (August 4th). I found it growing in moss on top of rock (the Canadian shield). It was in shade. About 3 or 4 were clum...
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Valley CIty, ND
North Dakota Riverbank Stabilization
Can you suggest plants to prevent and stabilize river bank erosion on Sheyenne River, ND? Must be tolerant to cold, varying level of salts and sulfates and water level (from drought to flooding)
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Carmichael, CA
Non-native creeping fig and non-native nutgrass in Carmichael CA
Will creeping fig choke out nut grass?
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Carmichael, CA
Legal to kill non-native invasive fig ivy in Carmichael CA
Is it legal to spray round-up on invasive fig ivy from my neighbor's yard? Will we be responsible for killing his plant? He refuses to install a barrier between us or discuss a remedy.
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Hadashville, Manitoba
Propagation of cedar cuttings in Manitoba
How to propagate cedar cuttings to form a hedge?
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Mclaughlin, SD
Information on medicinal plant uses by Dakota Indians
I would like to know what the plants were that were used for medicinal purposes by the plains Indians in the Dakotas. Is there a place/site that I can go to to research the data?
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Fargo, ND
Trumpet flower side effects
What happens if you eat a trumpet flower, what are the side effects and dangers?
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Paynton, SK
Hardiness of non-native Lycium barbarum for Saschatewan
Lycium barbarnum. What is its hardiness and where can it be grown?
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Stratford, SD
Can Calycanthus floridus survive in South Dakota?
Calycanthus in South Dakota? I've recently purchased some seeds for a calycanthus plant (floridus I think). I'm going to start them indoors but am wondering if this can survive a South Dakota winter...
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Enning, SD
Recommendations for house plants for South Dakota
Thank you for your web site! I live in Enning South Dakota, and I am new to this beautiful part of the United States. I would love to grow house plants but don't know where to start looking or what k...
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Sturgis, SD
Deer Resistant plants in South Dakota
Plants and flowers that deer wont eat and will grow in Black Hills, SD
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Sturgis, SD
Problems with spreading juniper in Sturgis, SD
I live in Sturgis, South Dakota and I have two different varieties of Spreading Juniper in the yard as ground cover. They have developed an orange colored fungus that goes dormant in the winter but a...
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Box Elder, SD
Grasshopper invasion in Box Elder SD
I just bought a new home and there is an infestation of grasshoppers throughout the neighborhood. What shrubs and/or flowers could I plant that they may not like to eat?
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