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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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
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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Tuesday - September 02, 2008
From: Giddings, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders
Title: Keeping cows from eating the garden
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a flowerbed area outside of our new split-rail fence available for planting, but cattle roam outside the fence also! Do you have any suggestions for plants that cows tend not to eat (unless there's a drought!), or plants that the "pruning" would help?ANSWER:
You are not the only one that has written us about that problem. In the interests of not retyping basically the same answer, we would like to refer you to our previous question. We should also mention that after we posted that answer, another online correspondent pointed out that lantana berries are very poisonous, and should not be in an area that children can access. The whole point is, cows will eat anything, and the only way to protect a plant you don't want to be cow fodder is to move the plant where the cow can't get it.More Diseases and Disorders Questions
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April 02, 2008 - What would you do if the WFC bluebonnets developed a bad case of red spider mites? That is what has happened to many of mine here in Austin. I noticed them the other day and I must have been asleep be...
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March 24, 2013 - Are American elms at all allelopathic?
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Decline in willow tree in West Virginia
June 15, 2008 - I planted a willow tree about three years ago and it was progressing just beautifully with full leaves this spring in a nice green color. We staked it back about three weeks so it would grow straight...
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Mutation in bluebonnets from Elgin TX
April 16, 2013 - What causes bluebonnets to mutate..grow as if three or four are combined into one flower on one very flat, wide stem. I have these in my yard; they are beautiful! I have taken several pictures.
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A year and a half old live oak tree is doing poorly in Nevada, TX.
May 08, 2012 - We planted a live oak tree about a year and a half ago. the tree is still rather small. The leaves are of a vibrant green, however the leave have only grown through the center of the tree and not out...
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