Tag Archives: gardening

“How lovely yellow is! It stands for the sun.”-Vincent Van Gogh

Posted on September 29, 2025 by Dallas Garden Buzz

September 29, 2025

Along with Van Gogh, who described yellow as “wonderful”, many people associate yellow with feelings of warmth, happiness and positivity. And still others say that yellow’s vibrant, cheerful color evokes feelings of joy, optimism and enthusiasm.

Yellow is one of the oldest colors in history. Cave paintings over 17,000 years old reveal that the yellow pigment from ochre was readily available in prehistoric times. In ancient religions, yellow was considered a sacred color. Like gold, yellow was seen as eternal, imperishable and indestructible. Today, yellow flowers are used in gardens across the globe adding vibrancy and beauty to landscapes in a multitude of imaginative ways.

From the dainty blossoms of French marigolds to the dramatic trumpet-shaped beauty of squash blossoms, yellow flowers add brightness to the garden. And don’t overlook the decorative nature of edibles such as yellow pear tomatoes dangling in clusters like drops of sunshine clinging to the vine.

Whether edible or just enjoyable, bright yellow flowers, fruits and vegetables have a magical way of lighting up our landscapes. Additionally, those radiant blooms attract a host of beneficial pollinators to the garden including bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. So, why not add some late September sunshine to your garden? Let the video photos inspire you to create a natural environment filled with yellow for all to enjoy!

Top Ten Yellow Flowers and Vegetables (Observed/Photographed) in the Metroplex:

Echinacea and Rudbeckia/Black Eyed Susan (Both plants are sometime referred to as “coneflowers” but Rudbeckia is widely known as a “Black-Eyed Susan”)

Main Differences:

*Echinacea flower petals tend to droop and curve downwards. Echinacea features a spiky, prominent central cone that may be green, brown or orange. Leaves are typically smooth.

*Rudbeckia petals usually extend straight out from a flattened or slightly raised central cone. Leaves are described as hairy or fuzzy.

(Rudbeckia ‘Sunbeckia’ Juliana)

Zinnias
Sunflowers
Daylily
Hibiscus
Cannas
Lantana
Yellow Pear Tomatoes
Cucumber and Yellow Squash Blossoms
Marigolds and More (Day Lilies, Calendula, Canna, Dill, Fennel, Gerbera Daisy, Nasturtium, Yarrow)

*Overall, it seems there is an absence of marigolds and a profusion of coneflowers; flower beds once brimming with marigolds have transitioned to the daisy-like look of coneflowers.

*Coneflowers have become soldiers of the landscape. They have an authoritative presence with their strong, upright stems and dramatic, bold color.

*Generally, coneflowers are used as “pocket” flowers. Nestled against large boulders or in “waves” of color in a natural setting, they offer countless possibilities.

*Yellow is an underused color in gardens throughout the metroplex.

*Purple is the most complimentary color to use with yellow flowers.

*The majority of yellow flowers need a minimum 6 to 8 hours of direct sun daily.

From the professionals, some tips for using yellow flowers in the garden:

Fine Gardening-Yellow blossoms carry farther, shine brighter, and remain visible longer in the evening than flowers of any other color except white.

Proven Winners-Yellow is an attention-grabbing color that makes a cheerful statement in the landscape.

Gardening Know How-Yellow flowers/plants as a single color scheme greatly enliven the garden, especially when the area is small or shaded, brightening and enlarging the garden space.

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

Remember fall is a good time to plant!

My Favorite Herb…And a Good Companion

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Dallas Garden Buzz

September 18, 2025

Here’s a hint – with its strong lemony scent and flavor, you’ll find many uses for it in the kitchen. You may have already guessed just by looking at the photo but, yes, the answer is Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla). For over 30 years it has been my very favorite herb. I’ve used it countless times for breads, cakes, cookies, puddings, in savory dishes and beverages. From early spring when it emerges from the ground and sends up those first “shoots”, a fresh sprig goes into my daily glass of green tea. The ritual continues until at least November or whenever our first freeze of the season arrives.

Lemon Verbena Tea Garnished With Freshly Cut Lemon Verbena

Why should lemon verbena be growing in your garden? To start, lemon verbena is considered by some to be the queen of aromatic herbs, myself included. One whiff of its sweet lemony aroma explains why Southern ladies suffering from the “vapors” mopped their brows with a decoction made from its leaves. For this reason, it is sometimes called the Scarlett O’Hara herbs. Growing in our Zone 8 climate, you can expect lemon verbena to easily reach 4 to 5 feet in height when planted in full sun and in good garden soil. Consider placing it toward the back of your garden bed where it will become a nice informal shrub. Also, keep in mind that it tends to ramble off in different directions but can easily be trimmed to the shape you desire. Lemon verbena is a woody perennial that will start losing its slender, elongated leaves in late fall. If heavily mulched, it will survive a moderate winter. However, in the northern part of Texas, it may succumb to temperatures lower than 25° F. Over the years, I’ve lost at least five or more lemon verbena plants during a hard freeze. But once spring arrives, most local garden centers have it in stock. And, thankfully, it is a relatively quick growing plant.

Lemon Verbena Growing Gracefully in My Garden

Recently, I discovered a recipe in one of my 1995 herbal cookbooks that gave me a new appreciation for using lemon verbena with another well-loved herb, Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). In the summer section of ‘Today’s Herbal Kitchen’ published by the Memphis, Tennessee Herb Society, the recipe that caught my eye was Anise Hyssop Lemon Cake with Lemon Sauce.

Anise Hyssop is a pollinator-friendly plant whose blossoms are filled with honeybees

Reading through the short list of ingredients, I learned that anise hyssop was called for in the cake along with lemon verbena leaves in the sauce. Hooray! With both herbs growing in my summer garden, it was time to start baking.

Freshly snipped anise hyssop flowers ready to be chopped and mixed into the cake batter

Once out of the oven, and allowed to cool, it was time to slowly pour the luscious, warm lemon sauce over the top. I tried to imagine how the minty, licorice flavors of the cake would blend with the citrusy, floral taste of the sauce. Should I wait for my husband to come home from work before tasting? After carefully slicing the cake for the “photo shoot”, I yielded to temptation and willfully gave in to that first bite. It was a divine experience. My taste buds were rejoicing at the thought of this wonderfully harmonious combination. A new discovery is usually very satisfying and, in the case of anise hyssop and lemon verbena, I’ve determined that for as long as herbs are growing in my garden, these two “companions” will be there.

Anise Hyssop Lemon Cake with Lemon Verbena Sauce

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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Posted in Herbs To Grow In Dallas and tagged Anise Hyssop, Dallas County Master Gardener, Dallas County Master Gardener Association, Dallas County Master Gardeners, food, garden recipe, gardening, health, herbs, Lemon Verbena, recipes, The Raincatcher's Garden. Bookmark the permalink.

Growing Figs in Texas

Posted on September 6, 2025 by Dallas Garden Buzz

September 6, 2025

Dig a hole through time and you will hit a fig tree’s roots. Figs are one of the oldest cultivated plants.

Figs are interesting little fruits but not in the traditional sense. The structure of the fig is a called a syconium, a fleshy sac lined with tiny flowers inside. When you eat a fig, you’re technically eating hundreds of tiny inverted flowers that bloomed inside the syconium.

The word “fig” comes from the Latin ficus
There are over 700 species of fig trees worldwide
Figs grown in the USA are self pollinating but in other countries pollination is provided by fig wasps which crawl into the fig, complete their mission and then die inside the fruit.
Figs conatin fiber, copper, potassium, maganese, vitamin K and other nutrients
Plant your fig tree in full sun in soil with good drainage, mulch regularly and monitor moisture needs

My experience with growing figs started with a fig tree propagated by Master Gardener, Jim Dempsey. It was planted in my backyard about 10 years ago. Every year I have looked up into my trees large, deeply lobed leaves longing for figs. The winter storm of 2021 nicknamed “Snowmagdeddon” caused the tree to die back and it would be several more years of waiting and hoping as it recuperated.

Finally this year my family tasted the fruit! About 12 pounds of figs were harvested from our Celeste fig tree. We let it grow to a height of over 20 feet. Rather than try to protect the tree from birds with a net or other artificial means, we let the birds eat the fruit in the branches way up high leaving the rest for us. There’s nothing like the taste of a fig eaten at peak ripeness from your own backyard tree.

*Our Celeste Fig Tree, note the neighbor’s two story chimney for height comparison.*

Another personal story: My son and wife and three little children moved to a new house last year. They have a “Texas Everbearing” fig tree. To my great delight, my grandchildren are eating figs from thier own tree. Imagine me walking into their kitchen and seeing figs on their high chair plates. Surely this is tender hearted beauty!

Ann Lamb, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2005

Extra figs were made into Fig Jam!

More Fig Facts here

Fig Fest

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There is always something there to remind me.

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Dallas Garden Buzz

August 28, 2025

Why do gardeners keep going? Its hot—get up really early start to work to beat the heat—and find the mosquitos got up earlier.

Work hard on weeding feel successful–turn around–and find more weeds.

Wonderful to have so many flowers–until its obvious many flowers mean alot of deadheading.

Sometimes the problems pile up. It can be easy to forget the blessings gardening brings. Of course there is the functional fitness aspect–digging those weeds is actually a good thing. Fresh air and sunshine help the body and the mind.. Just being needed by the garden can be seen as a burden–but really its a blessing to be needed.

But remember another aspect of gardening that brings lasting joy. That is the way our plants and gardens connect us to others.

Some of our connections are to friends and family that we see regularly. Those who share successes –and some failures—and sometimes plants. Others are gone now but the plants they shared long ago ensure that they are not forgotten. Somehow they are not gone at all but with us still as we garden.

This was the first plant I ever had, well, a descendant, of course. I was about 6 years old. My mother and I were visiting one of her friends. She had Ghost plants in a huge iron kettle used by generations before to heat water over a fire and wash clothes. The plants spilling out of the kettle, now used as a flower pot, enchanted me.

So for sure–gardening is hard work somehow conditions never seem “just right” too hot too cold too dry too wet–it all happens. And we have to get out there anyway.

But don’t just work. Pause and take a step back every so often. Think about all the people and all the stories that surround your plants.

Then you will remember why you keep gardening. Remembering will lift you and bring joy to you even in difficult times.

This is Red Dragon. I was given a few stems in a glass of water by a friend and now it’s being shared.

Thank you plant sharing friends:

Jim has grown so many seeds for the plant sale. This is Pride of Barbados, one of his specialty plants. Hope it blooms soon but even if it doesn’t, I am reminded of Jim and all his work for the garden.

Mark started these cuttings and generously shared. Be sure to notice Althea when you visit The Raincatcher’s Garden. It has been blooming all summer and thank Mark.

Susan Thornbury, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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Posted in Summer and tagged althea, Dallas County Master Gardener, Dallas County Master Gardeners, garden, gardening, ghost plant, pass along plants, pride of barbados, Raincatcher's Garden, rose of sharon. Bookmark the permalink.

Surprise Lily

Posted on July 22, 2025 by Dallas Garden Buzz

July 22, 2025

*Surprise Lily-The interesting thing about the name of this lily is that I was the one met with a surprise – in my own back yard!*

Just a few days ago, with the temperature hovering around 93 degrees, I decided to run the sprinkler system in my raised edible bed. It was a hot afternoon and overspray from the system felt good hitting me in the face, so I sat down on a bench and waited for it to complete the cycle. Interestingly, something in the blue blooming salvia bed just to my right side kept catching my eye. Curious to figure out “why” a single, and very lovely, pale pink flower was peeking out at me, I got up, walked a few steps and stared in amazement.

Gently pushing back some of the ‘black and blue’ salvias that had been growing in that spot for over 5 years, was the most unexpected sight. Droplets from the sprinkler that had just watered that area were gracefully clinging to the petals and seemed to be inviting me to come closer and take a look. What was this mysterious plant that I had never even noticed in the 19 years we’ve lived here?

After taking a few photos with my iPhone and then doing a quick plant search, the answer was revealed to me. I was pleased to learn that the botanical name Lycoris, is from plants in the Amaryllis family. Some of their common names, however (resurrection flower, surprise lily and magic lily) refer to the trumpet-shaped blooms that resemble lilies. Also known as ‘naked ladies’ for the absence of leaves, these striking lilies start blooming around the end of July. She almost looked like a flamingo standing stiff-legged in my garden bed. I wanted to learn more about her!

Lycoris includes around 20 different species found in China, Japan and a few other Asian countries. However, the tall, pink flowered Lycoris x squamigera is the most common in American gardens. If you are interested in growing this lovely, delicate pink lady, here are a few tips to get started:

*The surprise lily is a perennial bulb in the Amaryllis family and is the hardiest of all the plants in the Lycoris species.

*Bulbs are about 3 inches in diameter with long necks that can persist for many years once established.

*Lycoris prefer full sun to partial shade.

*When planting, bury bulbs to a depth of 8 to 12 inches, spacing them 6 inches apart.

*They grow best in well-drained, fertile soils.

*Foliage emerges in late winter to early spring. Silvery gray greenish strap-like leaves measure 12 inches long and 1 inch wide. They grow in clumps.

*Foliage dies away in late spring followed by the late summer “surprise” lily that emerges like magic and produces 5-7 four-inch pale pink trumpet-like blooms atop the 2-foot tall stalks.

*Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the fragrant flowers.

Now that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting this remarkable lady, I’ll be especially watchful next spring while awaiting her return!

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged Dallas County Master Gardener Association, Dallas County Master Gardeners, flowers, garden, gardening, Lycoris, nature, Southern Bulbs, Spring, Summer bulbs for Texas, Surprise Lily, The Raincatcher's Garden. Bookmark the permalink.

A Necessary Distraction

Posted on July 12, 2025 by Dallas Garden Buzz

July 12, 2025

Travel with me for a few minutes and you’ll understand why!

A long, long time ago (over 1,000 years or more) in a far away land (China) a lovely little ornamental tree was discovered. It was given the name “Pai Jih Hung” meaning hundred days red for its beautiful color and long bloom season. While another name sometimes used is “monkey tree”, monkeys could not climb the smooth, slippery trunks but, perhaps, they never stopped trying. Today we know it as the very familiar “Crape Myrtle”! (Lagerstroemia indica)

*A lovely white crape myrtle at Raincatcher’s Garden is allowed to grow naturally*

Over time, Crape Myrtles made their way to England and then around 1790 they were introduced to the United States. Cultivation has continued for over two centuries. The oldest known crape myrtle was planted in 1790 and is still blooming in Charleston, South Carolina.

And what about the spelling? Is it crepe or crape? Depending on the source, you’ll find it spelled either way. So, let’s move forward with “crape”. And the next question to answer is in regard to the meaning behind the name. There are more explanations than you can imagine but here is one that seems to offer a nice horticultural fit: the shedding bark is as thin as crepe paper and as crispy and curled as French crepes. Beyond that, the internet offers a lengthy list of botanical research that you might want to explore. For now, let’s just enjoy the beauty of these colorful trees that can be found blooming in the metroplex and throughout the southern United States.

From vibrant, fiery reds to a wide spectrum of pinks and luscious lavenders, crape myrtle flowers add a stunning splash of color to landscapes during the summer months. (All photos were taken within the metroplex over the previous two-week period.) Numerous stops along the way included everything from residential yards to churches, schools, and commercial sites.

Driving along the North Dallas Tollway, colorful blooms draping over unattractive concrete walls transformed the otherwise dull and drab roadway into something spectacular. (FYI…my husband was driving while I quickly snapped as many pictures as possible!) Crowded parking lots at grocery stores, restaurants, banks and drive-throughs seemed to share in the showy parade of magnificent color!

So, please enjoy my ‘necessary distraction’ of photos featuring a vast and diverse display of crape myrtles dotting the metroplex. These lovely trees provide interest and appeal whether used as a single specimen, in groupings of three, defining driveways or providing a privacy screen outside fences. They are especially striking when featured flanking stone walkways and steps in expansive landscapes.

From tiny bungalows to homes with rambling landscapes covering several acres, crape myrtles are ready to grace the south with their glory. Let’s celebrate this beautiful explosion of color gifted to us seasonally by the elegance of crape myrtle trees!

A few observations to share:

*Symbolism – While their crinkled flowers have a rich history, they are typically associated with marriage, chastity, good luck and prosperity.

*Placement – Crape myrtles thrive when planted in full sun and with ample space to grow and develop a large canopy. (However, as you can see from several photos, it is very common to see them planted in groupings of “three” which eventually become one giant canopy).

*Most used color – White, then pink, followed by lavender and finally that vibrant watermelon red. (My personal favorite, for now, is lavender)

*Most creative display – Crapes and Cactus! Not something that I would think to use together but in this setting it created an intriguing touch of drama. Very effective!

WHITE

PINK

LAVENDER

This Lavender
Crape Myrtle at the Entrance to a
Local Children’s School is My Favorite ‘Canopy’ Photo

RED

Hopefully, Whoever Builds On This Vacant Lot Will Include This Lonely Red Crape Myrtle In Their Plans

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

More about Crape Myrtles coming!

Best Crape Myrtles for Texas

Crape Myrtles for Texas

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The Recreation of The Raincatcher’s Arbor

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Dallas Garden Buzz

June 23, 2025

There is something transformative about walking under an arbor. It is a marker for some kind of change, possibly an entrance to a new space, or a transition from one area to another— One thing for sure, is that an arbor sets the space apart. Arbors come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. It’s difficult to understand all the work that goes into putting up an arbor–Only when you see it unfold before your very eyes will you fully see the scope of the project. Thanks to all who take the time, make the plans, and see it to its final position in the garden.

At Raincatcher’s we’ve been reworking an arbor that was first constructed in 2012 as an Eagle Scout Project at Joe Field, a previous Dallas County Master Gardeners site. changes came and we relocated in November of 2014 to Raincatcher’s Garden of Midway Hills. It was reassembled at the entrance to the North Field Pollinator Garden in 2015.

Arbor reassambled late 2015, notice the stark contrast between these 2 pictures. Our pollinator garden was just beginning.

This arbor served faithfully for several years, supporting multiple kinds of vines, such as passion vine (host plant for gulf fritillary butterfly), crossvine, coral honeysuckle and others added a touch of shade, some color, and best of all, the attraction of pollinators. In 2024(after about 12 years), the elements contributed to the deterioration of portion of the structure. Some of the original posts remained and were used in the new arbor.

Dallas County Master Gardeners and Raincatcher’s project specialists, Jon Maxwell (class of 2015 and Joe Labay (class of 2008) put a redo of this arbor on the to-do list. . Work began in January 2025 – first, devising a plan, then acquiring materials, and then came execution. This entailed many little things that made big differences, such as , measuring twice, or 3x if needed, so they cut once; leveling the wood and adjusting yet again. The original design was enhanced for functional and aesthetic purposes, the base was reinforced in concrete to better withstand the weather; more slats were added to the top, and the posts and beams leveled and adjusted numerous times.

Teamwork in action as speacialists measure and asemble the new arbor at Raincatcher’s.

It was meticulously assembled after measuring, sanding, painting and placement. Finishing touches included grading the walkway, mulching, adding decomposed granite, placing stepping stones and adding a brick border to complete this garden work of Art. The project took about 5 months, partially due to only meeting once a week on Tuesday mornings. At times, other issues took precedence, or weather altered plans. It has been well worth the wait!

Interns assisted Jon and Joe with border and stone placement around entrance.

We at Raincatcher’s are grateful for the commitment and expertise of Jon and Joe to make this beautiful arbor a reality.

It is a statement piece that welcomes everyone to walk under it and into a pollinator paradise. Come and stroll through the garden and check it out! We have workers at the garden on Monday mornings and Tuesday mornings; pollinators are more frequent. See you soon!

Starla Willis, DCMG class 2011, Jon Maxwell, class 2015, and Joe Labay class of 2008

Constructive tips:

* Use the best quality materials you can afford. The better the materials, the longer it is likely to last. Cedar is a better choice than treated lumber. Treated lumber, especially the 4×4 posts tend to warp badly unless thoroughly dry, which are hard to find at the box stores. Cedar, while more expensive, will last longer and will not warp. If treated lumber is chosen based on cost, be sure to prime and stain it immediately upon installation.

* Using materials from the existing arbor may save on the costs, but not necessarily time.

* Plan on it taking longer than you expect —projects have a way of evolving.

Starla Willis, DCMG class of 2011, Jon Maxwell, class of 2015, and Joe LeBay class of 20

Here’s our step by step decomposed granite walkway instructions.

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LARKSPUR A BEAUTIFUL LIVING LINK TO THE PAST——AND TO THE FUTURE

Posted on May 3, 2025 by Dallas Garden Buzz

May 3, 2025

What a great plant larkspur is. Coming up from the seeds of last springs plants–living all winter as little fluffy greenery and suddenly growing tall and blooming before most other flowers.

Winter can be a challenge but finding the tiny larkspur seedlings and thinking of whats to come lifts the spirits. What a bonus that they honestly do not need a great deal of help from the gardener to grow and thrive.

As with most self seeding plants they come up where they wish to and may require some editing. If they are too crowded they won’t be their best so don’t hesitate to thin out the smaller ones. This will allow the remaining plants to grow tall. This adds structure to the spring garden. The color honestly goes with everything. Pink poppies–nigella–combined with the blues and purples of the larkspur–its a picture waiting to be painted–at least admired by you and anyone lucky enough to pass by.

Watch carefully larkspur is a magnet for native bumblebees. As we know bumblebees have been struggling. Seeing so many enjoying the larkspur makes growing them worthwhile in itself.

But wait–there is more!! When you grow larkspur you are growing a plant that has been grown by gardeners for hundreds of years. The Victorians were very fond of them–they were popular gift flowers.

In medieval times they were grown in monastery gardens. These gardens had to be useful not just beautiful.

Now–lets pause–important information will follow: all parts of larkspur are toxic. Do not consider internal use. But its great to know that people tried their best to help and use what they saw around them. Potions were made to treat a variety of problems including depression and anxiety. The seeds were used to make a solution to kill lice. That had to be a welcome relief as lice were a horribly common problem. In fact this use continued for a long time –soldiers used it during the revolutionary war..

The flowers can be used to make a dye and were used by the monks to make a blue ink.

So think of all those before you as you work in your garden–and remember you are a link in this long chain. Remember yes–but as always–there is more.You obviously must let the plants finish their blooming and go to seed–yes this can be a bit untidy but its essential. Lots of seeds will fall and they will lie in wait until next winter when the cycle starts again. But don’t let them all fall–gather some seeds.

Share some seeds with friends and neighbors–answer their questions about how to grow larkspur.

So the chain that links the plant and the gardener to the distant past will extend into the future–and you are and will be a link in that chain.

**Larkspur and Poppies far better together**

Susan Thornbury, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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WE ARE THE PEOPLE WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Dallas Garden Buzz

March 21, 2025

Music in shops–usually just more noise to be ignored—but then, just every now and again a line from a song provides a useful and welcome bit of advice. A helpful insight for the volunteer gardener.

It can happen that for this volunteer a sneaking feeling that all is not well–a creeping feeling of discontent appears and can grow and affect every hour in the garden. A feeling that the task is too big just too much. And the reward–where is it??? Why aren’t there more volunteers? Does anyone see what I am doing–much less care or appreciate it??

Sadly once this happens –if nothing changes–the next step can be a vanished volunteer.

What needs to change?

The basic situation isn’t going to change. Garden work can be hard and it can be repetitive. Weeds come back without fail. Treasured flowers and veg can seemingly fail for no apparent reason. Add in garden tours to be led, fundraisers, plant sales,and extra work days- all need volunteers and they seem to come around way too often.

So what to do. Everyone has heard it but now its time to believe it. The situation is the same–the response to it that’s different-it can change–a lot–and for the better.

Take a step back and think clearly don’t just react. Remember respond don’t react.

Maybe part of it is listening to a lot of talk of self care. One thing often mentioned is just saying no to requests for help. And of course no one can say yes to everything.

We must take time for ourselves and our own homes and gardens.

But don’t lose sight of the personal benefits of helping either. There are friendships and connections–yes we may have to work on them but its valuable work.

We all want our communities to be better–greener–safer for plants wildlife –and ourselves.

Plant sales and garden tours–well those aren’t just things to get through–they can make a difference. If just a few people learn about plants that will grow and provide help for the bees and butterflies–isn’t that valuable.. If people learn that insects are the foundation of life on earth and they can help protect them, that is your time well spent. If you help a child develop a love for living things not a fear–well what could be better–that is the highest form of self care.

Can you save the earth? No you cannot–but can you make your part of the world a little better? Yes, you can and you make yourself a little better with the time and effort.

We can’t wait for all the others who should be there helping.. Those others that should be appreciating us more. Give them time!! But for now–

We ARE THE PEOPLE WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR

Susan Thornbury, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

Join us at the garden, 11001 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75229 on the grounds of Midway Hills Christain Church. Our work days are Monday mornings and Tuesday mornings. This is a Dallas County Master Gardener approved project.

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Posted in Spring and tagged Dallas County Master Gardener Association, flowers, garden, garden work, gardening, Native Plants, nature, The Raincatcher's Garden, vegetable gardening, volunteerism. Bookmark the permalink.

January appreciation–it can be hard

Posted on January 11, 2025 by Dallas Garden Buzz

January 11, 2025

Here we are in January–its cold and can be dark and gloomy. So how to appreciate it?

January is named for the great Roman God Janus. This God could look to the front and to the back–seeing both the past and the future–thats a lot right? But really his powers were far greater. Janus was a God of practical importance. When asked by mere mortals assistance could be given to turn dreams into reality. Janus had the power to help the followers to see and understand what actions were needed to recognize an abstract goal and take the necessary actions to make it real.

There seem to have been other powers but those seem quite enough for us to think about in this time of the year that can seem a bit bleak.

In fact it seems very possible that Janus was fond of gardening and was able to use the powers to make gardeners happier.

Well it is hard to say it was all a very long time ago now–but some things don’t change. We want things to be brighter and more cheerful. we know we can’t just wait for it to happen–its up to us–we are going to have to be inspired by ancient wisdom but we are the ones who must make it happen. OK lets turn the idea “make things brighter” into action to make it so. Remember–no just hoping for a good day–make it a good day!

Let’s decide on what to do:

Go and pick some of the lettuce and arugula in the garden make and enjoy a salad–delicious and healthy too.

Take a walk around the yard–Yes its cold but the hellebores are starting to bloom but you will never know unless you go out and look. Winter honeysuckle is covered in lovely white flowers a treat for people and bees but again it requires a good close look those flowers are beautiful but they are small.

Houseplants are right there for enjoyment. Don’t take them for granted and let them become just part of the furniture. Of course do the routine care but take the time to really look closely they will appreciate it and you will reap the benefits. Even the most common of the plants are amazing on close inspection.

Even January can be a wonderful time for gardeners. Lets learn from Janus and take action to make it so!