Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
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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Smarty Plants Question Topics
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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| Care of non-native, hybrid petunias August 31, 2004 I have a beautiful Petunia Tiny Tunia Violet plant which has been flowering nicely (in sun and shade environment). Suddenly, a few days ago, it began to look like it's dying--stalks all dried out. Is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| From hay to meadow August 31, 2004 I have just acquired a 90 acre farm in the Hudson River Valley and would like to turn some hay fields into natural meadows. One, for example is 20 acres, and has been let go to weed (goldenrod, thistl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Bluebells August 26, 2004 Do you have Bluebells growing at the Wildflower center and if so how much longer will they be blooming ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| More on bluebonnets August 26, 2004 This year's strange summer weather has lead to a very unusual event. I have a second bloom on my Bluebonnet garden. I first noticed the blooms last week, and contacted my local nursery to confirm the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on wildflower collecting August 23, 2004 Is wildflower collecting a good school activity? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on showiest time for wildflower blooming August 22, 2004 I have been to Austin a few times, but never during wildflower season. Can you suggest to me what would be the ideal time to come? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Gloxinias August 20, 2004 How do I care for my newly acquired Gloxinias? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-invasive alternatives to winter rye August 20, 2004 Re-vegetation requirements include winter rye, which is considered by some to be invasive to native wildflowers planted along the roadway. Is winter rye considered invasive to native wildflowers? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small to medium specimen native tree for Texas Hill Country August 20, 2004 Can you recommend a small to med. 'specimen' tree to plant near our patio? Full sun, drought tolerant, interesting during different seasons. Thought about Blanco Crabapple, Rusty Blackhaw, Smoke Tr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Articles on landscaping with native plants in Kansas August 18, 2004 I work for the Kansas Department of Transportation in Topeka, Kansas and would like to receive information on growing native wildflowers. I have a catalog titled "Wildflower Favorites" that was pub... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on seed harvesting August 09, 2004 I am interested in learning more about harvesting native seeds. I manage a number of sites where restoration projects will involve planting, and we would like to use native seed stocks. Could you te... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low growing native shrubs to go next to a rock pool deck July 29, 2004 I have a pool surrounded by a rock deck, & want to plant some low-growing shrubs next to the deck. However, I want to ensure the root system of the plant isn't invasive enough to crack the rock deck ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets July 28, 2004 My bluebonnets are still blooming out of season! What is the general season for bluebonnets to grow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Age at which native agarita produces berries July 28, 2004 At what age does agarita produce berries? Is this plant self pollinating? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on Germination July 23, 2004 I just planted wildflowers and I was wondering how long before I know if they will grow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of wild grape vines July 14, 2004 How can I propagate wild grape vines where I want them to grow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Possibility of root rot in Praire flame-leaf sumac July 08, 2004 I bought a prairie sumac two years ago and it was fine until recently when we had a lot of rain in Austin. Now the leaves are all brown and it appears to be dying. Is there something I can do? I reall... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Patience for slow-growing Baptisia July 07, 2004 I have three different varieties of well established Baptisia that I have had for several years ... none of them bloom. One of my plants got a very small flower in April, but just pooped out after th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native groundcover plants for septic drain field July 02, 2004 I'd like to plant wildflowers over my newly installed septic drain field, but am told they should not have deep root systems. What would you suggest? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on wildflowers in Wisconsin June 28, 2004 May I have information on wildflowers in Wisconsin and how to grow them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Invasive Plants June 22, 2004 What is an invasive plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets June 22, 2004 When do the bluebonnets bloom in the Austin - San Antonio, Texas area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Solarization and hand-pulling to remove invasive weeds June 20, 2004 We are planting a field of native grasses, and prepared the landscape by solarization last July. However it now seems that the weeds returned with great vigor. Is there any other method to get rid of ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on native plants March 26, 2004 What is a native species? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants Exotic Species March 26, 2004 What is an Exotic Species? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants Exotic Species March 26, 2004 What Makes an Exotic Species Invasive? (When is a Guest a Pest?) View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Invasive Plants March 26, 2004 How many plants are invasive? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Invasive Plants March 26, 2004 How bad are invasive species? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on invasive and exotic plant species March 26, 2004 Where can I go to learn more about invasive and exotic plant species? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Deer-Resistant Plants March 22, 2004 Do you have a list of Texas plants that are deer resistant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low maintenance native plants for sun in Dallas March 22, 2004 What low maintenance ground cover would you recommend for a sunny backyard in Dallas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 22, 2004 My Bluebonnets have taken over my flowerbed. Are there plants that can be planted along with Bluebonnets in a flowerbed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Bird attracting plants in Northeast U.S. March 22, 2004 What plants will attract birds in zone 6 (Northeast) in the spring and early summer? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bluebonnet Seeds March 20, 2004 Where can I get bulk quantities of Bluebonnet seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mowing Bluebonnets March 20, 2004 When is it safe to mow Bluebonnets? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bluebonnets and Texas March 20, 2004 Can I plant Bluebonnets outside of Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plant bibliography March 20, 2004 What book do you recommend for identifying the native plants and wildflowers of my region? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflowers of my region March 20, 2004 How can I learn more about the native plants and wildflowers of my region? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where to buy wildflower seeds March 20, 2004 Where can I buy wildflower seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Central Texas wildflowers March 20, 2004 How do I propagate specific central Texas wildflowers? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant a wildflower garden March 20, 2004 How do I plant a wildflower garden? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Managing Roadsides March 20, 2004 I’d like to plant some wildflowers as part of a community or roadside project. Will you provide the seeds or grant money? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Managing Roadsides March 20, 2004 I’d like to plant some wildflowers along the roadside. What do I need to do? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for my location March 20, 2004 Which native plants would you recommend for my location? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Backyard habitat March 20, 2004 I’d like to start a backyard habitat. How do I begin? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plant water gardens March 20, 2004 I’d like to have a native plant water garden. How do I begin? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Container Gardening with Native Plants March 20, 2004 I live in an apartment and I’d like to grow native plants. Will they grow in containers? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sale of plants at the Wildflower Center March 20, 2004 Does the Wildflower Center sell plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for native plants for Austin, TX March 20, 2004 Where can I purchase native plants for my area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plant landscaper source in Austin, TX March 20, 2004 Can you recommend a native plant landscaper for my area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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