Rainbow Gardens

When temperatures stay in the upper 90s and 100s, plants can struggle even when they’re considered “full sun” or drought tolerant. We are all feeling the heat about now, right? The goal during extreme heat is often not to push new growth or blooms; it’s to reduce stress and help the plant survive until conditions improve. If you’re plants are struggling in the heat, today we hav...

We recently included a survey in our newsletter and asked you about your summer gardening struggles. We had a great response and are working this week to answer all who participated individually, but a couple of struggles were so prominent that I thought I’d address a few in some blogs. Summer pests were a big topic as we expected them to be. Most inquiries were about pests in g...

Today is all about the American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana). This eye-catching plant provides flowers for tiny pollinators, berries and shelter for wildlife, and spectacular late summer/early fall interest for us gardeners. But beyond that, it also has a fascinating history of culinary, herbal, and even pest control uses.

Are your plants showing signs of weakness? Perhaps they just don’t look like they are growing healthily, or maybe you’re seeing yellow leaves or leaves dropping? Mealybugs are out and about right now, and it’s possible that they may be out and about on your plants. Let’s take a closer look at these garden pests so you can clearly identify them and kick them to the curb. ...

Saffron may be one of the world’s most expensive spices, but you can grow it right here in San Antonio. Produced from the brilliant crimson stigmas of the Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus), this unique fall-blooming bulb (technically called a corm) rewards gardeners with beautiful lavender flowers and a harvest worth far more than its size suggests. Unlike