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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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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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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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topicquestion

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