April 12 , 2012
Plants that survived the Texas Two-Step: Freeze and Drought
Although my spuria iris flowers astound me just once a year , they do it every yr — drouth , flood , or freeze — since Scott Ogden share a few divisions with me geezerhood ago .
My garden is resilient , too , thanks to the words he ’s shared with me through all his books . Lauren Springer Ogden is another wise man , through herThe Undaunted Garden(recently revised with Fulcrum Publishing ) for garden purpose , flora resumes , and the poetry of word that express our sexual love of the garden .
Lauren and Scott collaborated onPlant - beat back Design , which ought be be in your dingy hands , if not already . Their latest ( and very timely ) partnership isWaterwise Plants for Sustainable Gardens , a agile - read , hands - on template to peruse as you head to the nursery .
icon quickly indicate each plant ’s favour consideration ( include deer resistance and wildlife drawing card ) . With each feature plant , the Ogdens admit other options and companions .
Wow on CTG this weekwhen they get together Tom in a passionate conversation about the plants that took the “ two-fold spanking,”—Lauren ’s on - target description about last year ’s uttermost freeze and drouth .
One they note as a perdurable replacement for sago palms ( cycads ) isDioon angustifolium(formerlyDioon edulevar.angustifolium ) . That ’s one on my list for this twelvemonth . In the meantime , I cop aDioon edule .
Another is Lady Banks resurrect ( Rosa banksiae‘Lutea ’ ) . Here ’s mine in full blossom in the cat cove . I do n’t cerebrate I ’ve watered it since it was a youngster .
The Ogdens passion seasonal medulla and rhizomes as much as I do . I ’ve split the original spurias again and again to include their strappy foliage in several section of my garden .
When they embrown up in a few month , I ’ll issue them back . In some areas , neighboring perennials fill out to cover the spot or I ’ll seed annuals .
Here ’s a heavy lesson to instance the tenacity of Lady Banks . days ago , I found the fragrant white one ‘ Alba Plena ’ ( include inWaterwise ) at the back fence . Primrose jasmine grow up to put out it . No irrigation , plant food , or even attention until it sent its light - deprive staunch into the trees to bloom .
In our late project , when I fag out the primrose jasmine , I bring out that she was still there and had even settle down a 2nd one .
A few weeks after I began its restoration , it had already filled out and bloomed . White Lady Banks is sweet fragrant .
I ’ll keep form to advance her renew form , but I mistrust she ’ll cover that fencing by summer ’s end ! I ’m training some long stems to cover that back fence , too .
InWaterwise , the Ogdens include various Jerusalem sage ( Phlomis ) . ThisP. fruticosais blooming like screwball in a hot median strip at Mueller .
I make out this profuse display , accompanied by pink helmetflower , in an east Austin garden .
I ’m treasuring myP. lanata , a nanus pattern , that fits so well into one of my front beds .
That bed includes another Ogden divine guidance , aYucca recurvifolia‘Margaritaville ’ . I see it in one of their books and apprehend one for myself .
Although some thing in this seam are new from last fall , many others have made it through the Texas Two - footstep for several years .
Jerusalem sage is one thatMerrideth Jiles includes in his Backyard Basics listof “ threefold spanking ” plants that made it in his due east Austin garden . Get his leaning here .
Among his success taradiddle : Olive tree ( Olea europea ) . Since 2006 , this one ’s been uprise in the garden of my friends , Molly and David .
They also have a fine - calculate sotol ( Dasylirion wheeleri ) , another that Merrideth and the Ogdens include on their tilt .
sure coinage of sedges ( Carex ) make the list for Merrideth , the Ogdens , and me . I ’ve bought it as Texas sedge ( Carex texensis)/Carex retroflexavar.texensis/Scott ’s Turf .
Merrideth explain how to add Globe mallow ( Sphaeralcea ambigua ) , another two-fold hassle lead . A few month ago , I at last have one when I dug out dead grass and had a good sunny spotlight for it . plainly , I got this motion-picture show on one of our luscious cloudy day !
Texas deal laurel , Daphne ’s Pick of the Week , favored us this class with great functioning , a keeper for double tumultuous Texas garden . But every year , TV audience require us why theirs did n’t bloom . There are many factors , but one is by pruning off the heyday bud that spring almost immediately after flower .
You also require to watch out for the Genista cat , which can defoliate a tree while you ’re at the grocery store . bridge player - option or spray Bt ( Bacillus thuringiensis ) to save the ravage .
On term of enlistment , see how Anne Bellomyreplaced lawn and encroaching works with waterwise specimens that have turn her formerly wildlife - bereft lot into a garden for resident and migrant wildlife .
Now , what about those exposed oak tree roots ?
A spectator asked if she can embed groundcover ( like sedges ! ) in between , and how much soil can she tot . Get Daphne ’s solution .
See you next hebdomad ! Linda
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