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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| Mixing of bluebonnets and buffalograss in a lawn April 22, 2007 I have moved into a house with a yard full of weeds. I would like to plant Buffalograss but understand Buffalograss is sparce and difficult to keep the weeds out. So, I was considering mixing it wit... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower seeds that may be planted in late spring April 21, 2007 Monday April 09, 2007 Is it too late to plant wildflowers? I know nothing of the planting season of wildflowers however we are doing a residential ranch development and I would love to throw some see... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bluebonnets in Colorado mountains April 21, 2007 Will Bluebonnets grow up in Colorado in the mountains? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets April 19, 2007 Are pink bluebonnets still considered very rare? I discovered several growing amongst normal blues on the National Instruments corporate campus here in Austin. I wasn't sure if the Wildflower Cente... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets April 19, 2007 I am a displaced Austinite - As of last week now living in upstate New York (Binghamton). As I was leaving town - a friend presented me with a pound bag of bluebonnet seeds. A thoughtful gift - but I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Obtaining seeds for mutant white bluebonnet April 18, 2007 I have seen a white bluebonnet in Brenham on Easter and wondered how rare the white ones are and how you get seeds for those. Are there any special directions on collecting seeds for planting next fa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets April 14, 2007 Do bluebonnets, being a legume, contribute anything beneficial to the soil? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lupines for attracting deer in South Carolina April 06, 2007 I live in SC and was watching a TV show called "Making it Grow" and they did a segment on Lupine. The lady on the show said that the plant attracted whitetail deer and I was wondering if that was t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets April 05, 2007 I live in Hereford, Texas, near Amarillo. What would be the closest area for us to see fields of bluebonnets and when? Is it Wichita Falls? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive common giant mustard March 14, 2007 I have been seeing a lot of a small shrubby plants with yellow flowers all over Austin, mainly along roadsides. Back in my day the first wildflowers of Spring were the paintbrushes and the bluebonnets... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 13, 2007 I want to go to the Willow loop north 7 miles or so of Fredericksburg to see the bluebonnets in bloom this year but don't know when the best time would be to see this spectacular view. I plan to be ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blooming time in Austin for wildflowers March 12, 2007 Hi Mr. Smarty Pants!! I am a wildflower artist coming for my first spring visit to Austin to exhibit in the Artisan's Festival. As a wildflower fanatic, I am hoping to see and photograph some of "... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 10, 2007 It is the first week of March in northeast Oklahoma and I received a wildflower mix that is 60% Lupinus texensis or Texas bluebonnets. Should I wait until fall to plant or can I cold treat or do som... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sources of cut native wildflowers March 06, 2007 I am preparing for my garden club's annual flower show and I have been assigned Southern Graces in San Antonio. Is there a source for cut bluebonnets or indian paintbrushes? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Reversion of maroon bluebonnets back to blue March 01, 2007 In the fall, I bought a flat of Texas bluebonnets. They are blooming now, and it turns out they are actually maroon bluebonnets! Which is really too bad, because I want blue bluebonnets. Do you know i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Prediction on 2007 wildflower blooming chances February 25, 2007 Do you have a prediction on the wildflower season this year? Last year was very poor compared to other years and my sister from Georgia is wanting to visit this spring to go on wildflower expeditions... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Best planting time for wildflower seeds in Austin, TX February 13, 2007 When would be the best time to plant wild flower seeds and mow an area where we want to grow wild flowers in Austin Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Prime wildflower bloom viewing times in Texas January 31, 2007 I am planning to drive from Wisconsin to San Antonio in the spring. My schedule is flexible, so I would like to time the trip with the wildflower bloom. I grew up in Texas, but I can't remember when ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets January 30, 2007 When will the bluebonnets bloom in the Hill Country this spring? Please let us know. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of Sphaegneticola trilobata as non-native invasive plant January 24, 2007 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants, I have some wedelia growing but would like clarification on the type whether it is the texana or trilobata. Is the texana a bushy plant? Mine is more of the sprawling/tra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets January 09, 2007 My wife has recently contacted and met relatives from Texas (her father was a war baby born in the 1940's). Her new found Aunt Sarah has kindly given me some Bluebonnet seeds to plant "a corner of T... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets January 09, 2007 I have had an area in my yard where I have established bluebonnets. Since we had such a dismal showing in the spring of 2006 I was looking forward to a great show for 2007. Lo and behold I had about... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rhizobium inoculant for Leucaena and othr leguminous tree seedlings January 02, 2007 What sort of Rhizobium inoculant would be appropriate for Leucaena and other leguminous tree seedlings? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflowers for wedding mid-spring in Austin, TX November 10, 2006 My fiancé and I are both native Texans, and we are looking to have a beautiful yet simple wedding on March 31, 2007. We would love to use TX wildflowers. Our colors are white, orange, and blue. Wo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Viewing times for wildflowers from Ouchitas to Austin November 03, 2006 I'm a geographer and wildflower enthusiast considering a spring visit to the Austin area and want to find out the best time to view wildflowers and farm crops around Austin and also on the drive from... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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