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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!

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Questions From Near You

Woodbury, TX
Drought tolerant grass for small lawn from Woodbury TX
Trying to establish small lawn area, needs to be drought tolerant, water wise. Have tried Turffalo with poor results. Recommendation please.
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Hillsboro, TX
Is dichondra repens native from Hillsboro, TX
What about diachondra repens? Is it native? Thank you,
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Hillsboro, TX
Fast growing tree for pasture in Coolidge, Texas
Hello, we purchased some land around Coolidge Tx., it has NO trees on it. This is open pasture land, can you suggest a fairly fast growing tree for shade? And if you know can you give us some names ...
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Hillsboro, TX
Source for Dichondra plants
I thought I was looking for "Dollar Weed" because the leaf is round and flat like a silver dollar and a little bit like wild violets, is extremely low growing and is in a lot of lawns especially und...
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Hillsboro, TX
Source for Dichondra from Hillsboro TX
Where can I get dichondra and info about it?
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Hillsboro, TX
Wide appearance of Texas Bluebells in Hillsboro TX
I thought Texas Bluebells were rare, endangered and liked wet places. So why, after at least a dozen years of not seeing any and during this horrible drought am I seeing them where I have never seen t...
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Hillsboro, TX
Why are invasive, non-natives being sold from Hillsboro TX
Why are nurseries allowed to grow and sell seed from invasive non-native plants like: johnson grass, bermuda grass, and king ranch bluestem? Many times when I contact a nursery or seed distributor as...
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Hillsboro, TX
Book about Texas native bulbs from Hillsboro TX
Hi! I'm looking for a book about Texas native bulbs.
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Hillsboro, TX
Source of dollarweed for shady lawn in Hillsboro TX
I live in Hillsboro,Tx - Where can I get Dollar Weed for my shady lawn?
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Hillsboro, TX
Request for native grasses from Hillsboro TX
P.S. I forgot to mention one very important fact: my neighbor specifically asked for "native grass" recommendations. He thought he was getting a native grass recommendation.
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Whitney, TX
Removing a hackberry stump from a non-native fig tree
I have a fig tree that is at least 50 years old. A hackberry tree is growing up through the fig. I have cut it back several times (it is probably 3 inches in diameter at ground level), but have been...
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Whitney, TX
Yellow bands around edges of leaves in Whitney TX
How can you tell whether esperanzas are getting too much water or not enough - ours have a small yellow band around the edges of the leaves - crape myrtles - same question
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Whitney, TX
Plants for oak shade from Whitney TX
I live in Whitney, Texas and have a number of beautiful Live Oak trees in a portion of my yard providing deep shade. Asian Jasmine grows in about 5 ft circle around them and then nothing! I have walk ...
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Whitney, TX
Sticky film on oak tree leaves from Whitney TX
What is the sticky film that is coating leaves on our oak trees?
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Carls Corner, TX
Prairie Paintbrush and Managing Roadsides
I have been visiting a piece of land beside I-35 for quite a few years now.  It is home to tons of different plants, but it really has a fantastic show of Prairie Paintbrush - the multicolored ones, n...
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Bynum, TX
Safe time to trim live oak trees
Our live oak trees need a little trimming, as some of the branches are hanging too low, almost to the ground. We planted them about 5 years ago, so they are well established, healthy trees. My husband...
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Rio Vista, TX
Native wild plum trees for Johnson County, Texas
What native wild plums will grow in southern Johnson County? And where can I find the trees locally? Thank you
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Grandview, TX
Identification of purple flower near Ft. Worth
I'm doing a Flower Project for my Biology class. My partner and I have found a flower that we cannot identify and neither can our teacher. I found it on Interstate 35 going through Ft. Worth, Texas. ...
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Grandview, TX
Brown leaves on possumhaw holly in Grandview TX
What would be likely causes for brown leaves on possumhaw holly? We have 2, one was planted in spring 2008, and a slightly larger one planted late winter/early spring this year. Most of the leaves a...
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Italy, TX
Italy in Texas
Just want to clear up that I'm not in Italy, VERMONT. I'm in Italy, TEXAS. I don't know how the state slot changed from TX to Vermont, but please, I'm like you, lets just stick to TEXAS !
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Italy, TX
Promote blooms on non-native plants
I am trying to promote blooms on my several types of flowering scrubs and ornamentals, but not having much luck. I have used Miracid SuperBloom occasionally but not sure I am using enough, yet I may ...
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