Raincatcher’s Garden Annual Plant Sale
Location: Midway Hills Christian Church ,11001 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75229
Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
10 AM – 3 PM
Great selection of annuals, perennials, herbs and veggies, succulents and sedums, tropicals and house plants, shrubs and trees, groundcovers, bulbs and irises grown by the intrepid Raincatchers volunteers.
All proceeds go to Dallas County Master Gardener projects.
Thank you for supporting Raincatchers’ Garden.
May 1, 2026
White Turk’s Cap is one of those effortless beauties that thrives where other plants struggle. It is a drought tolerant, partial shade loving, native Texas plant. Texas gardeners have a special fondness for the vibrant red and pink varieties, not knowing of the white blooming Turk’s Cap and it can be hard to find. The Raincatcher’s Plant Sale will have 3 of these for sale.
Join us at our plant sale on Saturday, May 2 from 10-3 and discover plants lovingly grown by our community! From vibrant native perennials to herb and vegetable seedlings, our sale offers a variety of plants suited for every garden. Our Master Gardeners carefully pot and nurture plants from their own gardens. Alongside them, friends from the Dallas Organic Garden Club and other organizations bring their homegrown treasures. Our dedicated seed starting team will bring flourishing seedlings.
Today I saw iris, horsetail reed, cannas, daylilies, and salvias. Susan was bringing succulents and Lisa brought ferns. I heard Paula was planting pots with succulents. Linda has propagated Scented Pelargoniums (chocolate, peach, old fashioned rose, carrot and snowflake) and Anise Hyssop, Nepitella, Blue Borage, German chamomile, Mexican Mint Marigold, and Cinnamon Basil.
The best sales pitch comes from my friend and fellow Master Gardener of 19 years, Sarah, who radiates for all of us when she says, “I love looking at my garden and knowing who my plants come from.”
Me too, Sarah! I will be there on Saturday morning.
Ann Lamb, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2005
May 1, 2026
As we continue our patriotic journey into the month of May, yards across the metroplex are becoming eye-catching panoramic expressions of red, white and blue. With only two full months remaining before the nation-wide celebrations reach their grand finale, we’re reminded that 250 years of freedom is a major milestone in American history!
Hopefully, you are planning to come to the Raincatcher’s Garden Plant Sale this Saturday from 10:00-3:00pm where two creatively designed patriotic pots overflowing with red, white and blue flowers will be available to purchase. We are grateful to our local garden centers that participated in this fun and colorful endeavor. The April Patriotic pot was donated to our sale by Nicholson Hardie Garden Center on Lover’s Lane. Click here for the link describing their pot. The May Patriotic pot is courtesy of Jackson’s Home and Garden Center on Lemmon Ave. Our thanks go to Alyssa Rohde, Tropical Green House Manager, and Tess Garza, Plant Department Manager, for their outstanding creation. In their own words, here is a lovely description of the plants chosen:
“The plants we chose are sun loving, timeless, tried and true plants. Over the years they have proven to be successful. These plants are known to attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds.
For our tall center thriller, we chose the ever-popular Victoria Blue Salvia, a perennial with beautiful blue-purple blooms that are great for height. Our fillers are (one of our favorites) Fresh Look Dusty Miller; great for Spring all the way into Fall and is cold hardy. It can be replanted over and over and withstand our crazy Texas weather.
We know red is absolutely necessary in a red, white and blue patriotic pot! So, we chose the best ‘pop’ of red; Red Graffiti Pentas! They are so bright we knew that only a few were needed. Pentas are drought tolerant and can handle all day sun. They have multiple clusters of star-shaped blooms; they are the best pop of color for any pot or garden.
Next we chose White Profusion Zinnas, a sun loving annual. They have distinct yellow centers and large flat petals creating daisy like blooms. Let’s be honest, they just scream classic Americana!
For our trailing or ‘spiller’ plant we chose White Scaevola or Fan Flower. It is sun loving in spring and does well in combination planters and in garden beds. This plant can typically last until fall if not in all day hot sun in the 100’s. But no worries because a great alternative to this trailer is White Cascading Vinca for a full sun, drought tolerant summer planter. Thank you for the opportunity to help support the plant sale. We hope your fundraiser goes well!”
And finally, what fun to celebrate gifts from the garden with a touch of patriotism. While waiting for the main course, enjoy these bite-size nibbles composed of English cucumbers filled with herbed cream cheese, thinly sliced radishes and freshly snipped blue borage blossoms. Nestled on petals of Hot Shot Red Tropical Hibiscus for a touch of whimsy, they’re irresistible!
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
April 27, 2026
An invitation from the Edible Landscape Team
Raincatcher’s Garden of Midway Hills.
Please join us Saturday, May 2nd for the Raincatcher’s Garden Plant Sale
from 10:00 – 3:00.
And while you are there, take a few steps over to the Edible Landscape for a parsley pleasing feature event. Sample a taste of our parsley covered “moss ball” appetizer then join Abbe for a “snip-and-go” opportunity. We invite you to cut both curly and flat-leaf parsley to take home.
We’ll provide a “take-it-with-you” plastic bag for your freshly harvested parsley. Enjoy collecting a generous bunch of either curly or flat-leaved parsley, the choice is yours. Also, before leaving, take a photo of several recipes with suggestions for using your parsley cuttings.
FYI…Did you know that chefs and gourmet cooks today prefer flat-leaf for its superior flavor?!?
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
Bye Bye Parsley, Thanks for the Greens. An article from 2018.
April 21, 2026
A few years ago, the Edible Landscape team at Raincatcher’s Garden made the decision to add a colorful new ornamental plant to the Sensory Garden. We were drawn to its woolly, lance-shaped leaves with a silvery-gray color and felt-like, fuzzy texture which would lend a unique tactile element to the “touch” component of our garden. But it was the whorls of buttery-yellow flower spikes that intrigued us most. Their “tiering” formation of spherical clusters promised to give us a dramatic floral display for the springtime garden. It fulfilled its promise!
Jerusalem Sage is a stunning evergreen shrub native to the rocky, Mediterranean region. Historically, it was known as the lamp wick plant. After harvesting, the soft, gray-green leaves were carefully rolled and placed directly into olive oil to act as a wick. The fine, tiny hairs on the leaves served to absorb the oil and maintain a continuous flame. Interestingly, the plant’s genus name, Phlomis, is derived from the Greek word for “flame”, giving it a direct reference to its historical use.
The Jerusalem Sage in my home garden was planted in May of 2024. Now, two years later, it has grown into a dense, mounding shrub with a unique architectural-type form. Current size is about 3 to 4 feet in height and width. Our plant is thriving in an area that receives around 6+ hours of morning to mid-day sun. The nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
If you are looking for a plant well-suited for a Mediterranean-style garden, consider the durability and structural integrity of Jerusalem Sage. Here are a few specifics to get you started:
Genus Name Phlomis fruticosa
Common Name Jerusalem Sage
Plant Type Perennial, Shrub
Height 2 to 4 feet
Width 3 to 5 feet
Flower Color Yellow
Foliage Color Gray/Silver
Zones 8, 9, 10
Propagation Division, Seed, Stem Cuttings
Jerusalem Sage is a member of the mint family that requires minimal care. Plant it in a location with similar conditions to the Mediterranean area, a sunny spot with well-draining soil. It is a tough, low-maintenance plant that, once established, is drought tolerant. It doesn’t require fertilizers and will do fine with a scattering of compost around the base of the plant in early spring.
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
April 17, 2026
Last week I met Cindy at the garden to deliver 2 Black Prince tomato transplants. Cindy and Roger were busy with a customer buying fresh compost from our garden. I wandered through our garden captivated by the moody sky and challenged by the productiveness of our garden efforts.
Wooly Mullein, is invasive to natural meadows and forests openings, we keep ours in check.
Bluebonnets of course, and see below for information on planting bluebonnets. The yellow wildflower is Englemann’s Daisy. It is very authentic to see the pile of mulch in the background; a Raincatcher’s standard procedure.
Are you liking the vibe of our garden, do you long for yours to be productive and attractive to pollinators? Shop at the Raincatcher’s Plant Sale on May2nd, 2026.
And/or come to the May 9th Dallas County-Spring 2026 DCMGA Garden Tour.
Ann Lamb Dallas County Master Gardener, Class of 2005
Type Bluebonnet in our search bar when you have an ample amount of time, some of our best pictures and write-ups will appear.
April 7, 2026
Having recently been to places that are not in the North Texas Hardiness Growing zone (8a/ 8b), I’ve come to appreciate plants that are not usually grown here. The region of Phoenix (9a), located in the Sonoran desert, provided an opportunity to experience a very different variety of plants and trees.
During late March the streets were lined with yellow blooms on medium sized trees. These are known as Yellow Palo Verde Trees. A blue variety also exists, but yellow ones were most common. These trees are located in The Sonoran desert, Southwestern US and in Northwest Mexico.
Yellow Palo Verde tree at entrance of Desert Botanical Garden along with Yuccas, Cacti and even some Chihuly glass sculptures.
The Desert Botanical Garden was in bloom around every corner. Here are a few of the blooms and interesting specimens. The red rosettes of baja fairy duster, Calliandra Californica, were beautiful against the feathery fernlike leaves which close at night.
Several varieties of the hedgehog cactus sported different color blooms. This one caught my eye and is suited to zones 5-9 in North and Central America.
However, there are some plants that we have adapted to our landscape due to their drought tolerant nature. The yucca being one. The Scientific and common name is the same. With over 50 species, The range of the Yuccas extend from Southern Canada through North America and down to Panama.
These pictures were all taken at the Botanical Desert of the Southwest in Phoenix. https://dbg.org
Starla Willis. Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2011
A few more prickly facts about Texas cacti here.
Raincatcher’s Garden Annual Plant Sale
Location: Midway Hills Christian Church ,11001 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75229
Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
10 AM – 3 PM
Great selection of annuals, perennials, herbs and veggies, succulents and sedums, tropicals and house plants, shrubs and trees, groundcovers, bulbs and irises grown by the intrepid Raincatchers volunteers.
All proceeds go to Dallas County Master Gardener projects.
Thank you for supporting Raincatchers’ Garden.
April 4, 2025
Spring has arrived! Local garden centers are unloading trucks filled with outrageously colorful plant material every day. My trips to each of these nurseries is too numerous to count while staying within a carefully drawn plan is an idea that has “fallen apart”. However, as boundaries are being pushed, the original plan of creating a monthly patriotic infusion of red, white and blue is “falling into place”.
A small bed in our backyard was the starting point for my in-ground approach to the theme. As that colorful little spot transitioned from cool, spring days and chilly nighttime temperatures to a blast of extreme highs in the lower 90’s, a few tweaks were needed. The blue bonnets were spectacular until their bloom time ended. Ranuculus pouted when hit with the heat wave. Mystic Spires blue salvia along with Autumn Red salvia powered through it all and are preforming beautifully. So, out with the ranunculus and in with a few red Pentas.
Next on the master plan was to create a gentle wave of red, white and blue flowers in what we loving to refer to as our “cross bed”. It was an anniversary gift over 15 years ago and is still the focal point for that bed. As the existing “Autumn Sunburst” azaleas were completing their bloom cycle, colorful new selections that would take us well into fall were next on the agenda.
As you can see from the photos, once again, the taller Mystic Spires blue salvia provides a strong curving line to define the area. Spunky little ‘Compact Red’ Sunpatiens are serving as “fillers” while Magadi Compact Dark Blue Lobelia creates a colorful border, (the abundant flowers invite butterflies). A new white Drift Rose was planted at the base of the cross with Easter lilies and Foxglove surrounding it temporarily. Hopefully, most of the newly planted flowers will gift us with three seasons of bold color, or more!
We are grateful for the neighborhood garden centers that have graciously offered to partner with us in creating spectacular, patriotic pots. First on the list is the Nicholson Hardie garden center on west Lover’s Lane. Their manager, Samantha, used her botanical talents to create something special.
She chose to fill a 15” x 15” white acrylic pot with the following: Blue Ageratum (butterflies love it), White Dianthus (great for filler and loaded with blooms for full sun), Red Profusion Zinnias (heat loving plant), Blue Lobelia (a filler that loves the sun) and Red Calibrachoa as a spiller. And for a touch of “sparkle”, she filled the center with White Diamond Frost Euphorbia, which will bloom all summer.
This stunning power-packed patriotic pot will be for sale at the Raincatcher’s Garden Plant Sale on Saturday, May 2nd. Sale starts at 10:00am. Thank you to Nicholson Hardie for making this such an enjoyable experience!
May you find joy this season as we move into another month of great gardening adventures!
Instead of sharing a monthly “red, white and blue” recipe with our readers, our culinary experience this time comes straight from my garden. It is a creation of fresh edible gifts that were ready to be harvested on the same day. This lovely salad is compliments of the following: vibrant green romaine lettuce as the base for cradling ruby red strawberries, blue borage blossoms and a sprinkling of white caraway blossoms. Just a light splash of honey balsamic vinegar provided a simple and refreshing uniting of flavors. Bon Appetit!
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
More red, white and blue:
April 2, 2026
It’s special when you find yourself in the right place at the right time. The “Golden “ or “magic” hour is often that for photographers and for those that are blown away by the beauty that is experienced during that time. The few minutes around sunrise, and then yet again just before and shortly after sunset is known as the golden hour.
Recently, a trip found us in the air chasing the sunset. Upon landing the sun was just setting and it created some interesting shots reminding me of how the angle of the light changes the pictures taken during what is known as the golden hour.
During the rest of the day, the shining sun can create situations where the lighting is very harsh. But during the golden hours, the light softens the subjects and creates a warm look. The natural light is easier to work with because the light is more even than at midday. The low angle nearer the horizon creates a softer look with the golden hue.
During these times, the constant changing of the light creates ever changing scenes and scenarios and there is a greater opportunity for creative effects to be used. Backlighting, silhouettes, and side lighting can bring interest to the photos. Some people plan carefully for specific pictures during this time, but for others, the spontaneity of the moment creates magical shots.
For this trip, every evening brought different opportunities. Initially, the interest was the sunset and ever changing ground and sky in the plane and on the ground; the second day found us at the Botanical Garden of the Desert, which softened even the most prickly cactus, and lastly, golden hour was observed at a baseball game complete with palm trees and a pink and orange sky. Each different, each unique, and mesmerizing.
But you don’t have to be on vacation to experience this phenomenon – it could occur on your way to work, or as you travel home and it may not always be welcomed especially when the rising or setting sun is directly in your line of view. Embrace and Enjoy the beauty of this magical time when it appears.
Starla Willis, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2011
DALLAS GARDEN BUZZ 