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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| Smarty Plants on Iris native to Louisiana May 19, 2005 A friend of mine has discovered white iris growing alongside of a swampy habitat in southeast Louisiana where there are blue, yellow and copper/red irises. We presume it is wild because it is in a na... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cut wildflowers for wedding in June in Panola Co., TX May 17, 2005 I need fresh picked Texas wildflowers for my son's wedding dinner on June 3. The wedding is in Carthage, Panola Co, Tx. I'm from Austin and am not familiar with that vicinity. What flowers should b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas native wildflowers viable in Michigan May 14, 2005 Can you tell me what wildflowers native to Texas would also thrive in Michigan?? I'd like to surprise a "transplant". View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When to mow bluebonnets May 12, 2005 I have approx. 2 acres on the side and front of my house in Austin County. When can I mow the remaining high grass and not disturb the natural renewal? Also, I plan to purchase more bluebonnet seed ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower seeds planted in May for summer in Fairfield, TX May 12, 2005 Are there any wildflower seeds which can be planted in May for the summer? I have planted a wildgrass seed mixture I purchased from Turner Seed Company and planted it today (5-2-05). It was supposed... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets May 12, 2005 My bluebonnet plants have seed pods (I guess they are, they look like pods of snap peas). Can I collect these or do I just leave them alone and hope they multiply? If I can collect them, what is the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on Rohel’s saxifrage May 11, 2005 Hi, can you help? Do you know what is a plant named: Rohel’s saxifrage? "Bulgaria - Cenral Balkan National Park - Kozya Stena (Chamois Wall) Reserve was established on December 22, 1987. With an a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellow Indian paintbrush, Castilleja indivisa May 09, 2005 Does entireleaf Indian paintbrush, Castilleja indivisa, come in yellow in the wild? I have Indian paintbrush in the front pasture and noticed last weekend that there were 5 or 6 that were light yellow... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seeds of mayflower May 03, 2005 Although I now live in Virginia, I grew up in eastern South Dakota. Several years ago while visiting SD I was walking in the pasture and noticed that many of the wild mayflowers (pasqueflowers) had ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plant initiatives for universities in Southeast U.S. April 26, 2005 Hello, I am an undergraduate student majoring in botany at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN. I am a native plant enthusiast and would like to promote n.p.'s on campus. Do you kn... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Asters bloom period April 16, 2005 When do the asters bloom? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Rain-lily April 12, 2005 What is the common lily (I think) that grows in the ditches and especially this year because of all the rain. The flower is trumpet shaped and has red stripes in the petals? Very common everywhere t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Possibility of survival of Genus Castilleja in Wisconsin April 04, 2005 In traveling through Texas last week we noticed many many little orange flowers which are absolutely fascinating. I found a picture of that flower in your website for Wildflower Days 2005 in the to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 28, 2005 I am flying a photographer in on April 7, 2005, for a special art project on Bluebonnets. We have 3 days set aside for the shot. Where are THE best places to capture Bluebonnets in the wild? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 23, 2005 When (month and week) do you think the "peak of bluebonnet blooming" will be this year in the Austin, Fredericksbug, and Llano, Texas area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Helianthus annuus March 22, 2005 I am doing an Earth Fair project on the Helianthus annuus. I would like to know if you possibly had any information on this subject. Some of the things I would like to know are: How big does it get? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflower driving tours in Texas March 06, 2005 I am looking for suggested wildflower driving tours in Texas. Do you perhaps have a listing of suggested driving routes one might take for a day or two in order to view the Springtime wildflowers? A... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 02, 2005 There are several different species of bluebonnets that grow in Texas. Which one is the official state flower? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets February 17, 2005 We live on a farm and have recently had a cow that was deathly sick, then finally got better. We also had a couple of calving problems with the cows. I was reading about how toxic tailcup lupine is to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sunflower with large, thick, fuzzy leaves February 03, 2005 Hello Smarty Plants: I live in Green Mt. NC and am a Master Gardener Volunteer in Buncombe County (Asheville). In summer several years ago we visited a garden which had a beautiful sunflower with lar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Virginia crownbeard January 29, 2005 I recently moved to the Hill Country and notice some "weeds" that seemed to into explode into ice formations when the temperature first fell below freezing. Can you tell me the name of this plant an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Locating wildflowers for school project in March January 27, 2005 I have been assigned a school project to collect 10 wildflowers by March. I don't see any around to collect this time of year. Do you know where I could find some? I live in San Antonio. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Peak times for viewing wildflowers in Texas January 25, 2005 We are planning a trip to Texas to see wildflowers this spring. I have time off March 17-25. Would you expect to see much in bloom then? What area might be the best to visit? Does anyone put reports o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Isocoma pluriflora January 07, 2005 I would like to know when isocoma pluriflora (rayless goldenrod) blooms in the Santa Fe, N.M. area. I'd also like to know its height. Other info will also be appreciated. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Visiting Texas for bluebonnets December 29, 2004 I know rainfall amounts in the winter affect the blooming of bluebonnets in the spring. I am thinking about visiting Texas this spring. What should I be looking for in rainfall amounts? I will watch... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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