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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.

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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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topicquestion
Location of Elbow Bush and Gregg's Saddlebush at the Wildflower Center
March 10, 2016
I have twice looked for Forestiera pubescens (Elbow Plant) and Mortonia greggi (Gregg's Saddlebush) in your gardens and have been unable to find. I have looked on the trails as well. Would you be a...
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Information about person who handles invasive species at the Wildflower Center
October 01, 2015
Would you please provide me a name, phone, and email address, of the person in your office who handles invasive species? Thanks,
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Souce for Glass Mulch in Austin
September 02, 2015
Is there a special reason that broken glass is used in the courtyard flower beds? It's beautiful, wondering where to purchase some.
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Color of crystal gems uses on bowling ball yard art
August 06, 2014
I would like to know the color of crystal gems used on the bowling ball yard art
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Stick with tried and true plants for a green roof in New York
May 12, 2013
If I use Virginia creepers in a ground covered application for a green roof, how much soil should I provide depth wise?
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Source for silver ponyfoot from Temple TX
March 19, 2013
Where can I purchase dichondra argentea -- I live in Bell Co. but am willing to come to Austin if need be. Thank you.
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Wheelchair access to the Wildflower Center from Converse TX
March 09, 2013
Hi. I hope you can help. I've written two emails to the Contact Dept but to no avail in receiving a response. I wanted to know if wheelchairs can access the flower fields and the trails? I get the fe...
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Wildflower blooming in Austin in mid-March from Laceys Spring AL
February 27, 2013
Hi I will be at and around the center the weekend of March 9 & 10 to exhibit in the Art and Artisan's Festival and plan to stay a few extra days to "wildflower" either before or after. What is you...
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Identification of pink flower photographed at the Wildflower Center
January 08, 2013
Last August I took a photo at the Wildflower Center and now I'm trying to identify it. The flower has many pink petals that either stick straight out or downward and the center has pink frills edging...
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Is installing irrigation with Habiturf a good idea in Round Rock Texas?
December 05, 2011
Mr. Smarty Plants, I am in the process of planning a new lawn in my front yard. We have decided to plant the Habiturf seed mix (thank you, by the way). Originally, we planned on installing a spri...
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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!
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Hungry turtles trample pond in Houston Texas
October 17, 2011
I have a very large back yard pond (actually, a former swimming pool) that's home to a bullfrog, four Red-eared slider turtles, and scads of gambusia (little mosquito eating fish). I'd like to add n...
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Source for Crushed Limestone Used at the Wildflower Center
July 01, 2011
Dear Mr. Smarty plants, Do you know where I can find the pulverized limestone that you have at the entrance around the front of the building? It's right around where you have Clematis texensi...
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Will Copper Canyon Daisy be at the Plant Sale from Georgetown TX
March 21, 2011
Can you find out if Copper Canyon Daisy will be sold at the plant sale? I'm having trouble finding it in any of your databases. The scientific name is Asteraceae Tagetes lemmonii. It's a shrubby ...
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Source for Signs at the Wildflower Center
January 24, 2011
Hello. Where can we buy the black, metallic plant identification tags used at the Wildflower Center? Thanks in advance.
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Why is Hamelia patens, a species listed as invasive, in the Wildflower Center database?
September 29, 2010
Hamelia patens (Firebush) is listed as an invasive plant at Invasive.Org, the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, which partners with the US Forest Service, Univ of GA and others. LBJ ...
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Flowers at the Wildflower Center
September 09, 2010
What common wildflowers are in the Wildflower Center?
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Name of speaker at Wildflower Center on maintenance of oaks trees in Austin
July 28, 2010
Sometime in the recent past my wife heard a speaker at the Wildflower Center talking about the pruning and maintenance of oak trees in Austin. We are now in need of tree maintenance services and are ...
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Name five non-flowering species at the Wildflower Center.
April 30, 2010
Can you tell me the names of five non-flowering plant species (true mosses, conifers, ferns) currently growing at your center?
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Color of Englemann's daisy (Engelmannia peristenia)
April 11, 2010
I'm in Austin and just bought some Engelmann's Daisies at the plant sale on Fri. The picture had them with white petals, and your plant database has them with yellow petals. I specifically wanted wh...
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When does Ziziphus obtusifolia leaf and flower in Austin?
March 22, 2010
Hello Mr. S.P., Do you know when the Texas buckthorn, Ziziphus obtusifolia (I believe), flowers (and leafs out) in Austin? Is there one at the Wildflower Center?
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Update on Wildflower Center's Turffalo plot
February 11, 2010
Hi, I was wondering if you can provide an update about the Turffalo grass installed at the Wildflower Center? The last update was June 26, 2009. We are investigating options for a lawn in South Aus...
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Does the Wildflower Center sell Endangered Plant Species?
January 25, 2010
Do you guy's sell endangered plants in Austin? Such as the Basin Bellflower, or the Texabama Croton?
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Grass at Wildflower Center with purple glow
October 31, 2009
What is the clumping grass along the WFC meadow trail that has a seedhead resembling bermudagrass and a glow similar to purple three-awn when backlit by the sun. I saw it yesterday (Oct. 2) and wonde...
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Does the Wildflower Center plant sale include plants or only seeds?
September 24, 2009
Does the list of plants for your Fall Plant Sale imply that they are availble to be transplanted or only as seed? Thanks
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Plant growing in mid-September at Wildflower Center
September 18, 2009
Would you please identify the pink/mauve composite flower growing in the members garden. A large grouping is growing in the bed between the center bed and the pathway up to the demonstration gardens. ...
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Flowering native plants for Evanston IL
July 12, 2009
What flowering, native plants would be suitable for a backyard garden in Evanston Illinois?
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The flower on the Plant Price page of Wildflower Center website
June 04, 2009
What is the name of the flower that is on the Plant Price page of the Center's web site? I saw it for the first time this spring near Weatherford. It's red/orange & white and resembles a snapdrago...
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What is the acreage of your gardens?
May 20, 2009
The wildflower gardens and display areas comprise about how much, either percentage or acreage, of the entire 279 acres at the Wildflower Center? Does that also include areas for growing flowers for ...
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What are those bushes with purple flowers around the Wildflower Center?
March 09, 2009
Hello! We were just at the Wildflower Center earlier this week (March 1 or so, 2009), and there were several large bushes with purple flowers on them. The very helpful docent told me what they wer...
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Living lightly on the land
November 21, 2008
Are most of the materials used in the Center recyclable materials? For instance, the wood floors and HVAC systems? Thanks, Joel Rodriguez
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Potting soil used in Wildflower Center nursery
October 23, 2008
I recently purchased several beautiful little plants at your Fall plant sale and notice how very happy and healthy they all are! Please tell me if you mix your own potting soil and what your potting ...
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Purchase of herbs from Wildflower Center
October 18, 2008
Can I purchase herbs from the Wildflower Center?
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Official definition of native plants
March 06, 2008
Does the Wildflower center have an official definition of "native" plants?
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Maintenance policy for Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
February 04, 2008
Greetings, I am a volunteer at the University of Washington’s Elisabeth C. Miller Horticultural library. I am currently developing a maintenance policy for our database of gardening questions and ...
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Where can one learn about gardening with native plants
August 20, 2007
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Where can I go to learn more about gardening with native plants?
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Online list of plants in Wildflower Center gardens
May 15, 2007
Hi I was able to see some of the wonderful gardens on tour today (gardens on tour)..they were out of the list with plants listed but told me I could find it online...I can not find it..could you ...
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How to search the Wildflower Center website
March 28, 2007
How the heck do I find a list of local native low-growing plants that are shade tolerant on this web site? The search functions don't seem to be specific enough. I searched specifying Texas, subshr...
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Purchase access to plants at Wildflower Center
February 08, 2007
I am interested in purchasing some of your plants. How can I do that? Do you send plants thru the mail or is their a nursery near you that has access to your plants that does? I am interested in Sa...
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Native plants for pots for wedding in November
October 03, 2006
Will any of the plants that are in your big plant sale be flowering in November? I am looking for plants that would do well in pots because I'd like to use them as center pieces at a wedding (in Aus...
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Wildflowers to see at Wildflower Center in September
September 12, 2006
My wife and I will be coming to Austin for the Quilt Show September 29, 2006. Will the wild flowers and gardens still be active? We would very much like to visit if there would still be plenty to se...
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Possible identification of plant purchased at Wildflower Center
June 17, 2006
Hi - I'm looking for the name of a plant I bought at the Wildflower Center. It's currently in a gallon container and about 8 inches high. The leaves are green (on the yellow end of the spectrum), ...
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Epiphyte growing on oak trees in Wildflower Center
June 16, 2006
Thank you for your response to my question on what is the epiphyte growing on oak trees. I should have been more specific to say " the epiphyte growing on the oak trees around Lady Bird Johnson wi...
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Medicinal plants at the Wildflower Center
April 19, 2006
What kinds of medicinal plants do you have at the Wildflower Center?
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Ball moss (Tallandsia recurvata), epiphyte on oaks at Wildflower Center
April 06, 2006
I visited your center a couple weeks ago, was very impressed with the educational aspects. I noticed the epiphyte commonly growing in the oak trees, and also on the elm oak. Do you have the name of t...
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Information on green roof demonstration site at Wildflower Center
March 10, 2006
I visited your green roof demonstration site and am interested in putting a green roof on a structure. There seemed to be at least two layers of growing medium in the planters; one layer looked like r...
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True date for Earth Day
March 09, 2006
My grandson asked me to verify the correct date for Earth Day 2006. Sites on the internet say (a) Earth Day USA is April 22, 2006. (b) International Earth Day is M...
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Design and installation of trails at Wildflower Center
July 24, 2005
I am a Park Commissioner in a city near Austin and am researching a firm to help design a trail system in our park. Would you please tell me who designed and installed the trails at the Wildflower Ce...
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Plants available for viewing in Wildflower Center in October
May 19, 2005
We are thinking of bringing a group to visit the Wildflower Center during the weekend of my son's wedding in Austin in early October. Will there be much to see at the garden at that time of year? ...
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Sale of plants at the Wildflower Center
March 20, 2004
Does the Wildflower Center sell plants?
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Ways to learn more about native plants of region
March 20, 2004
How can I learn more about the native plants of my region?
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Native plants for my location
March 20, 2004
Which native plants would you recommend for my location?
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Get started in native plant landscaping
March 15, 2004
How do I get started in native plant landscaping?
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Why use native plants
March 14, 2004
Why use native plants?
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Native plant landscaping
March 14, 2004
How does native plant landscaping differ from xeriscaping?
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Native plant education
February 18, 2003
Do you provide resources about native plants to middle school educators?
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topicquestion

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