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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Restoring a slope in the Mississippi sandhill region August 01, 2011 We are building on 5 acres (leaving 60% as is, natural). Only building a small (900-1200 sq ft house) & clearing 1 acre of the valley for a pond. There is a steep slope (where we had to put field dra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Erosion prevention on shady Pennsylvania stream July 28, 2011 I'm looking for a few species to plant along a stream channel to help reduce erosion during heavy rains. The soil is moist and in full shade. Ferns and thorny bushes are the only current vegetation... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Water absorbing plant from Surbiton, England May 21, 2011 Ground soggy with rain, is there a plant that will absorb water? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for NY wetland yard April 30, 2011 We have standing water in our yard for the entire spring and sometimes summer if it's a rainy one. We dug a ditch and found that our yard has a natural spring, which explains a lot. I need to know ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need an attractive plant to help stabilize a wet area in East Stroudsburg PA. April 20, 2011 We have a small run off from one pond to another. At the bottom of the slope, the area is always wet--and not from the run off. Is there a low growing plant that would provide a root system to help st... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant to stabilize a stream bank in PA April 02, 2011 Native plants to stabilize steep stream bank in semi shade to full shade. Southeastern PA. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for a pond bank in NE Pennsylvania January 13, 2011 I had a 3/4 acre pond built this fall in Northeastern Pennsylvania (Susquehanna county; zone 4). The pond banks are packed, hard rocky clay. What plants can I plant in the 3 foot bank between pond ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
More than you want to know about planting a pond in Austin Texas December 10, 2010 Winterizing Water Garden QA from Nov 27 Austin American-Statesman: Would the garden (60-gal aluminum) with those plants (papyrus, horsetail, water lily) be placed in the sun, shade, part shade or ? I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Winter tank pond care in Austin Texas November 09, 2010 Suggestions for winterizing a water garden in Austin Texas. Water contained in a 60 gallon aluminum horse tank. Garden contains papyrus, horsetail and water lily. There are no fish in the pond and no... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for wet soil in turtle enclosure in Virginia September 03, 2010 We recently installed a turtle pond in our backyard in Arlington, VA. We built an enclosure around the pond to protect the turtle from raccoons and herons, and left some open area for the turtle to g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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