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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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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

Red Rock, TX
Freeze damage to non-native Sago Palms in Red Rock TX
I have 4 beautiful large sago palms in my rural Texas yard. All 4 have been damaged by several hard freezes this winter. All fronds are brown, with a little green at base of inner fronds. Are they ...
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Lockhart, TX
Bluebonnet Planting in January in Lockhart
My husband has yet again failed for the second year straight to put out the bluebonnet seeds in our backyard back in October. Is it too late now that it's mid January for me to get them in the groun...
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Lockhart, TX

This question may have more to do with chemistry than botany but I thought I would start here. My sister recently discovered that behind her Chili pequin plants, the brick was being dissolved leaving ...
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Lockhart, TX
Texas Ash secreting sap in Lockhart, TX
I have what I believe is a Texas Ash in my front yard that is secreting a sap with what looks like some wounds on it with some white stuff and with black and red looking ants as well as it has a lot o...
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Lockhart, TX
Baby mountain laurels are ready to move, in Lockhart Texas
I want to harvest the baby mountain laurel plants which are growing under a large bush. What height would be best for the young plants survival? Please recommend a soil mixture for the pots.
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Lockhart, TX
Blue agave with freeze damage in Lockhart TX
I recently planted a blue agave plant, and 4 days after I planted it the temperature dropped to 20 degrees at night. The plants are still alive but 75% of the outer limbs turned brown. What do I do wi...
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Lockhart, TX
Why has my Kidneywood tree not put out leaves this year in Lockhart, TX?
I have a native Kidneywood which I planted in 2003. It has grown enthusiastically since that time. It has always leafed late in the Spring, late April - mid - May. It bloomed several times in 2009. Th...
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Lockhart, TX
Scarifying seeds of evergreen sumacs from Lockhart TX
Dear Smarty Plants, We would like to grow our own evergreen sumacs. Consulting Nokes book, How to Grow Native Plants on page 310, it says to scarify fresh uncleaned seeds for 30-45 minutes. On page...
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Lockhart, TX
Mowing wildflower concerns from Lockhart TX
I went to the Texas Highway Department (Texas Department of Transportation) web site and sent them a concern or complaint about them or independent contractors shredding the roadsides before the blueb...
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Lockhart, TX
Can bluebonnet pods be gathered when green in Lockhart, TX
Can bluebonnet seed pods be gathered when green? Will the seed be capable of germinating next season?
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Lockhart, TX
Native shrubs for privacy hedge in Lockhart, TX
I will be retiring from the US Army to Lockhart, Texas in March. We have a small house with a 6' security fence. I have always been an advocate of Hedges for security, sound dampening and wildlife ...
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Lockhart, TX
Screen Tree for Lockhart, TX.
What is a good screening tree for a ranch in the Lockhart area that won't get much water.
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Lockhart, TX
Red berries growing along county road in Caldwell County, Texas
Hello, first I would like to thank you for your time. I thank it's great that you guys and girls answer questions (I'm sure y'all are busy). That being said I will get to the question. On the sides...
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Manor, TX
Lindheimer's Muhly Grass Seeds for Human Use?
Does anyone know if Lindheimer's Muhly seeds were ever used as human food source?
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Manor, TX
January good time to plant live oak in January from Manor TX
I want to plant a Live Oak in January. Is this a good time to plant it?
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Uhland, TX
Split trunk in Bald Cypress in Uhland, TX
I live just south of Austin, and near the pond (stock tank) is a bald cypress, young, about 12-15 yrs., and after this past year, drought and all, I was dismayed to find it not leafing out. When I in...
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Rosanky, TX
Overwatering Texas Mountain Laurel from Rosanky TX
I just read your article in the Statesman about over watering Mt.Laurel. Now I know why my lovely 15 year old tree is dying. We put in new grass this winter and I watered too much. Is there any hop...
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Rosanky, TX
Removing Texas cedar Juniperus ashei from Blanco River banks
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Should cedar trees be removed from our Blanco River banks to prevent them from sucking too much of our precious water before it makes it into the river system? If so, what s...
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Rosanky, TX
Life cycle of Big Bend bluebonnet from Rosanky TX
I have searched and searched and need to find the life cycle of a Big Bend Bluebonnet for a school project, but have been unable to find it. If there is a website that would have this information, ple...
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Rosanky, TX
Reconsideration of previous question from Hays County TX
QUESTION: Please reconsider this question that I sent to you last week. Our home address is in Bastrop County, but the Blanco River property that we own is in Hays County near Wimberley. Our proper...
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Rosanky, TX
Native plants and grasses for river bank from Rosanky TX
Our property owners association would like to know what native plants/grasses to plant on the Blanco River bank in our river park to help prevent erosion. Some banks are steep and some areas are a gra...
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