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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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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
Checklist of native plants
March 03, 2008
I have recently submitted my membership. I would like to know if there is a complete list of wildflowers, that one may check off as they are seen, such as the birders check off their lifetime list.
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How do plants living in various climates differ?
February 25, 2008
Do plants that live in different climates have different tecture or are they just totally different?
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The most important part of growing plants.
February 21, 2008
In your opinion what is the most important part of growing plants.
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Why is water used for plants.
February 19, 2008
Why is water the most popular thing for watering plants if is so plain?
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Withering plants recover with water
February 17, 2008
Why do withering plants stand up when you give them water?
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USDA Plant Hardiness Zone of Haskell, TX
February 17, 2008
What region are we in --- Haskell, Tx. (Between Abilene and Wichita Falls)
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Looking for leaves of milkweed plants for experiment
February 09, 2008
I am an undergraduate chemistry student at the University of Portland and want to perform an experiment using milkweed leaves. How would I get milkweed leaves at this time of year? Any help you can p...
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Thickness of liquid when growing plants
February 09, 2008
Q: Does the thickness of liquid matter when growing plants?
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Effect of epsom salts and gray water on plants
December 04, 2007
We live in Phoenix where water is a precious commodity. We have decided to use as much of the gray water as we can for watering our garden, shrubs and trees. One of the suggestions we heard about w...
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Plants killed by frost
October 31, 2007
In a frost why do flowers etc. die where grass will not die?
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Information about glucose concentration in plants for Science Fair project
October 24, 2007
I am a high school student enrolling in science fair. MY topic is as follows, "Can a plant be removed from the sun and put in dark and still survive if I directly inject glucose into the stem/roots (...
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Century plant dying after bloom
August 12, 2007
My century plant is so tall that it is up to the top of the telephone pole top lines that carry our streets electric. I was wanting to know if you knew if I cut the stock off would it save the plant ...
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Correct spelling of Passiflora caerulea
August 07, 2007
What is correct, passiflora coerulea or caerulea ?
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Percentage of flowers that close up at night
July 19, 2007
Percentage-wise, approximately how many species of flowers close up at night? Is there a list anywhere?
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Percentage of worlds flowers of each color
July 14, 2007
What percentage of the world's flowers are blue? red? white? yellow?
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Where do plants grow?
June 23, 2007
Where do plants grow?
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Inducing flowering out of season
June 22, 2007
We are currently conducting research on insect transmission of a plant virus to flowering weeds. Is there a process to trick biennials into flowering in their first year?
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Identification of first flower on Earth
June 14, 2007
When was the first on Earth and who find it and what was the name of the flower. Also what part of the Earth was if find?
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Herbarium locations for Bifora americana
May 12, 2007
Dr Hampton: I am trying to find specific locations of populations of Bifora americana (prairie bishop). Apparently, many collections of this species have been made in the Dallas-Ft Worth area as we...
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Identification of Cryptomeria japonica for homeowners association
May 09, 2007
Good morning. We are wondering if Cryptomeria japonica trees can fit under the term "pine like". We used the term pine like when asking for our home owners associations approval and we put in a Cr...
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20 years to bloom
May 02, 2007
My girlfriend and i have come up with an interesting question, we were wondering if there is a plant in existance that takes over 20 years to bloom, and how many different kinds (if any) there are? We...
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Native plants that will grow under alleopathic black walnut
March 03, 2007
I have a large, beautiful black walnut tree in my yard and have trouble growing the annuals, begonia, impatients, etc., that I have always grown. They don't do well in the ground and I have resorted...
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Plants that might absorb moisture from air
February 27, 2007
I am searching for a plant that will reduce the relative humidity of a building. I work for a manufacturing company that is experiencing problems with water condensing on ceilings and equipment due t...
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Alleotrophic effects of caffeine found in Ilex species
January 24, 2007
I'm doing research for my biology class on the alleotrophic effects of caffeine. I'm planning to use Ilex vomitoria as the caffeine-producing plant. As the control I want to use another non-c...
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Definition of what constitutes a native plant
January 23, 2007
Hello, I am doing research concerning "native plants" for the Northeast. I am "befuddled" as I am finding conflicting definitions for what constitutes a native plant. Do you have a good definiti...
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topicquestion

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