Category Archives: Spring

Each year in mid-November I make a trip to our local garden center in search of red lion amaryllis bulbs. Hoping for those showy red blooms to burst open before Christmas, the bulbs are placed in one of my favorite holiday containers. If the timing is favorable, we get to enjoy a profusion of large, velvety flowers for a few weeks, or longer. Christmas somehow seems more colorful and festive with a touch of nature decorating our home.

Over time, I began to wonder what to do with those lovely plants once the blooming ceased. Shamefully, many times, bulbs and all went straight to the trash. Thankfully, I remembered having seen a friend’s amaryllis in a garden bed nestled up against her house. It was mid to late April of 2012 and the amaryllis was filled with beautiful red blooms. That sweet memory changed my attitude about amaryllis. Going forward, I would be a bulb keeper.

Now, ten years later, there is a special place in our garden where those leftover Christmas amaryllis bulbs are placed in their new outdoor home. We chose to locate them in an area that receives morning to early afternoon sun. For the remainder of the day, it is partial shade. As you can see from the photos, they are thriving and gracing our garden with their spectacular springtime surprise. One Christmas, we received a white amaryllis as a gift. It’s now part of the red brigade and looks very stately among the “reds”.

If you would like to enjoy amaryllis year after year, be kind to your bulbs by planting them in the garden. Here are a few simple considerations:

*Amaryllis are easy to grow outdoors in our Zone 8 climate. They can tolerate both sun and shade but, typically, do best with morning to midday sun and bright shade throughout the afternoon.

*Bulbs prefer well-draining fertile soil. Improve drainage by creating a slightly raised bed or mix in some organic matter.

*Sets the bulbs with 5 to 6 inches of soil above them, followed by 5 to 6 inches of mulch.

* When the flowers fade, cut the flower stalk back to just above the bulb. Leave the foliage throughout the summer until it succumbs to the first fall frost. 

*If the plants become overcrowded, divide the clumps and separate as needed. 

FYI…Once planted outside, forced amaryllis bulbs will eventually revert back to their natural spring blooming cycle. Our 15+ amaryllis plants generally start blooming in mid to late April, continuing for a few weeks. 

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

PLANT SALE 

RAINCATCHER’S GARDEN OF MIDWAY HILLS 

11001 Midway Road, Dallas 75229 

Thursday, May 19^th 

10:00 am – 3:00 pm 

You are invited to shop our wide variety of plants grown, nurtured and donated by our fabulous volunteers at Raincatcher’s.  There will be annuals, perennials, tropicals, sedums, peppers and herbs as well as decorative pots, yard art and other gardening related items. 

Prices start at $2 per 4” pot.  Come to the Courtyard to find that special plant or whimsical item to enhance your garden. 

Raincatcher’s Garden of Midway Hills is a research, education and demonstration garden and project of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Dallas County Master Gardeners located on the campus of Midway Hills Christian Church.  This sale is a significant fundraiser for the Dallas County Master Gardener Association, which supports our garden.  Thank you for your continued support of RAINCATCHER’S. 

Sarah Sanders, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2006

March 30, 2022

At Raincatcher’s Garden of Midway Hills we feel incredibly thankful for the refreshing sights and sounds of springtime. Walk with us along the garden path and discover the flourishing stages of development: bright green buds on shrubs and trees, tiny shoots of radish and lettuce peeking out of the soil joined by poppies poking out of the walkways while a wave of wildflowers explodes in a colorful display. Allow the sights of vivid greens to soothe you out of the grayness of winter and into the splendid joy of spring.

Linda Alexander

Beverly Allen…Vegetable Garden
After all the winter freezes, it is wonderful to be able to get all the plants we started indoors
from seed into the ground. I’m hoping for bountiful harvests of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers
and eggplant.

Fern Brown…Edible Landscape
It’s amazing how a plant can transform in a short period of time. Just a couple of weeks ago, I
thought the asparagus was in plant Heaven but, lo and behold, it is alive and thriving!
Gardening, especially in the spring, is nourishment for the soul, a sign of new beginnings.

Jon Maxwell…Raincatcher’s Garden Leader
I really enjoy and look forward to the return of our families of purple martins. They add such a
spirit of joy and happiness to our gardening activities. They also are a wonderful indication that
the garden is awakening from its winter slumber and that bright, sunny, warm days are just
ahead for us.

Jackie James…Courtyard Garden
“Walking through the courtyard this morning, I was so excited to see a big yellow iris just
starting to bloom. It’s the first iris I have seen this year and I was so happy to catch it blooming
at Raincatcher’s Garden!”

Ann Lamb…Wildflower Area
“Bluebonnet seedlings have sprouted all over the front area of our garden. I think we have the
best and prettiest stand of bluebonnets in North Dallas. This year Indian Paintbrush seeds were
planted in the early fall of 2021.

Dates to Remember:

Dallas County Master Gardener Spring Tour-April 30 and May 1st

Raincatcher’s Plant Sale-May 19th