Plastic vs. Wire Hangers for Hanging Pots

Trailing succulents are good choices for hanging baskets. Their fleshy growth stands up well in high winds, and the fact that they are succulents means they don’t wilt if they miss a watering. That’s the good news. The bad news is that if they thrive, over time they...

Spanish Broom

Spanish broom makes a nice addition to any yard, but works well in a xeriscape-style landscape. Once established, they do take less water than other flowering bushes, but from my experience, more water or rain in the Spring contributes to a thicker cover of blooms....

Stinky Flowers

I was on my way home from Austin in November of 2011 with a back seat full of treasures and trinkets bought during the trip. The sun was shining, and it was a lovely day for traveling. But as I covered the miles home, I began to notice that an unpleasant smell was...

Bombax Tree Update

The last time you saw the bombax tree (“The Bombax Tree, AKA The Shaving Brush Tree,” May 31, 2013), it had bloomed and had very few leaves. Well, time has passed, rain has come, and the tree looks considerably different. So I thought that you needed to see that it...

Succulents Instead of Annuals

I have been so frustrated with the drought that this year I decided to use succulents in some places where I might have put annuals. The wind, coupled with the lack of moisture, has made it hard the last few years for bedding plants to make a showing in my yard,...