According to the calendar, the first day of spring was Friday, March 20, 2024. Dallas natives know that early signs of spring started appearing in late February. One of the happiest moments for me was when two new additions to my garden in 2023 announced their comeback from winter’s cold. They are now showing signs of an exciting springtime welcome.
*Veggie Green Rose (Planted April 2023) – It has easily doubled in size, producing new buds over the past two months.
*Green Gage Plum (Planted September 2023) – It was thrilling to see both trees filled with delicate white blossoms during the last few days of February, continuing into March. Fresh, new green leaves started appearing in late March and early April. It’s now May and all is well.
*Black Sage (Planted September 2023) Sadly, this one did not survive those few days/nights of below freezing temperatures. But I’m not giving up on growing black sage in my garden. This time I’m trying a different strategy. Last month I ordered four new 4” plants from the same grower in California. Each one was planted in a different location of the garden with varying degrees of sun to shade. I’m encouraged today that all four plants have almost doubled in size. Hopefully, by this coming fall they will all be well established and ready for our unpredictable winter weather.
(Black Sage planted in early April 2024 is thriving)
A recent Savannah Bee email featured their Black Sage Honey and the amazing story of how it thrives in the lower mountain slopes and upper desert regions of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is a fascinating look at what it takes to produce this uniquely flavored honey. Thankfully, I still have a few jars left from my last order!
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
The allure of having a greenhouse is something that some gardeners dream of – a place to overwinter plants, start seedlings, and have workspace. How does this become a reality? First of all, determine your goals and ideas. Do your homework and decide if it is a project worthy of the investment of your time, money and efforts?
About the time Fall arrives and freezing weather makes its appearance, ads for greenhouses start flooding inboxes and social media sites. It seems like a good idea to have a place to store tender plants that can’t handle it outside during our coldest temperatures of January and February. Another bonus is the ability to provide a head-start for seedlings to sprout before they are planted in the garden.
There are a variety of styles, sizes, price points as well as optional accessories to consider – from heavy plastic, glass or plexiglass partitions, to brick surrounds, and various mortar and glass options, ranging in cost, size and function. A greenhouse can also be labor intensive, and impractical for those who don’t have the time, ability, or manpower to maintain it properly.
The preferred space needs to be of adequate size for your garden needs, level and in a sunny to mostly sunny location. Water needs to be close and the ability to heat, cool and monitor the space is an important consideration.
Dreaming of a place to overwinter my plants caused me to inquire online. My available location was not ideal-the space was not adequate and the prep and the assembly was more than daunting (in so many ways). Ultimately, the amount of time, effort and money to be invested caused me to pause, rethink and determine that installing a greenhouse was not my best move. However, a well-utilized greenhouse is much more than just a storage space for tender plants.
While contemplating this, Raincatchers’ acquired one that would be optimal for our North Garden. It was transported to the property and the plans for putting it into seedling production began to unfurl. It took about two months to get the “new to us” greenhouse relocated and in working order. The “team” at Raincatchers’ has spent many man hours preparing it for use, leveling the site, setting a brick floor on decomposed granite, anchoring the greenhouse against the strong Texas winds, building multiple two-tiered seedling tables, installing a solar powered cooling fan, and initiating water and electrical hookups. Maintenance will be ongoing.
Seedlings have now been started for our many vegetable beds and they appear to be very happy in their controlled environment. Note: vegetable seedlings are started and then set out into our gardens at the proper time.
If you are thinking about acquiring a greenhouse, either by purchase or building it yourself – the best of luck to you! Hopefully, you now have an idea of the reality of the effort to produce a functioning greenhouse and can make an informed decision It can be very useful and an asset to your gardening efforts; whether starting vegetables, flowers or show plants, or just over wintering your houseplants or tropicals.
Friends helping move our greenhouse.Joe at work, brick by brick.Many hands make light work.Bricks donated by Tig and fetched by Mark-thank you!Jon and the greenhouse floor-Jon keeps us level.Don, washing brickspre-installation.The greenhouse installation has been a true team effort with many hands involved-thank you!
A gardener’s considerations for Installing a greenhouse:
Manpower to construct the unit (most come in sections that require construction)
$$ Cost (from a few hundred dollars to several thousands)
Overall Size and Options
Site selection –
Sunny to mostly sunny location
Ground leveled for structure
Anchoring against the wind
Inside Flooring (Hard surface with the ability to drain) several options Shelving options (Water resistant)
Storage options (Greenhouse supplies)
Heating and Cooling Capability, i.e., a solar operated cooling fan
Electrical Considerations
Water Availability (For plant watering and seedling misting)
Shade Capability (For the long, hot sunny days)
On-going Upkeep (several hours a week)
Construction Permit (If required)
Starla Willis, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2011 with input from Jon Maxwell, Class of 2015
A view of 3 Snowball Viburnums, looking thru my blackberry bushes.Eleagnus flanking the west side, hellebores underneath.
Spring comes and this is what I see every year out my south-facing windows. What a sight! I planted these 3 snowball viburnums 11 years ago. They have been the showiest, easiest plant choice I have ever made. The buds are chartreuse and and bloom into softball size white blossoms.
As you can see from my picture above, mine are now feet 15 tall and slightly crowded but I don’t mind. The winter honeysuckle that has gotten bigger than I ever expected is pushing one snowball to the East. It is going to be pruned!
Last year even with the unbearably hot temperatures, my viburnums bloomed a second time. There were’t as many blossoms but in that terrible summer heat it was nice to see a few snowballs.
Plant Attributes
This picture from Neil Sperry’s website shows the early chartreuse bloom.
Common Name: Chinese snowball viburnum, Chinese snowball tree
Botanical Name: Viburnum macrocephalum
Family: Adoxaceae
Plant Type: Perennial, Tree, Shrub
Mature Size: 6–20 ft. tall, 6–15 ft. wide (grows larger in warmer climates)
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained loamy, sandy, or clay soil
Soil pH: Acidic
Bloom Time: Spring
Flower Color: begins chartreuse then becomes white
Hardiness Zones: 6–9 (USDA)
In Dallas, Snowball Viburnums do not loose their leaves in winter
Excellent cut flower with long vase life!
Ann Lamb, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2005
Early last fall I planted a 4” pot of caraway in my raised garden bed. That little plant has now more than tripled in size.
Just a few days ago tiny white flowers appeared atop the feathery foliage. Blooming should continue until sometime during late spring or early summer when spent flowers yield those small, but wonderfully aromatic, hard brown seeds used in cuisines throughout the world.
If you’ve never grown caraway in your garden, follow along as we learn more about this carrot-like plant which is edible from root to shoot!
Caraway is a hardy herbaceous biennial requiring two seasons to complete its life cycle. The first year, bright green threadlike foliage resembling that of a carrot form a mound 1 to 3 feet high. Next comes the umbels of creamy white, delicate flowers that resemble Queen Anne’s Lace.
Once the flowers are spent, brown ribbed seeds appear. The familiar caraway seed is actually the fruit of the plant. It is recommended that seeds should be harvested about a month after they have blossomed. To accomplish this, clip off the seed heads and place in a paper bag to finish ripening.
While caraway seeds are most often associated with rye (or dark rye) breads there are a many other applications for using it. Some include: desserts and baked goods, liquors, stews, casseroles and as a flavoring for beef and pork dishes.
When the plant has produced seed, dig up the taproot and use as you would any other root vegetable.
Caraway is a pleasing plant to grow in your herb garden. The lovely little flowers attract beneficial insects, including honeybees.
For two different dinner options recently, we enjoyed caraway leaves straight from the garden in the following ways:
Tossed in a green salad along with radishes, tomatoes, and avocado slices Sauteed yellow squash and onions with a generous sprinkling of fresh caraway leaves for a flavorful lift
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardner Class of 2008
This is the time of the year when everyone wants something to change and improve advertisements that didn’t attract a bit of concern a while ago now seem tempting–the newest skin treatments that absolutely promise “younger brighter fresher” The poor child in the picture seems still a bit concerned but yet now doing better–well she should be concerned of course she is probably past Fourteen and knows its all downhill from here. Now if you want to buy thats fine after all it won’t hurt–although the price might be a real surprise and the bottle is so small and then there are two more things you absolutely must have if you really want “results” But we will go no further with this.
Baby Larkspur with maybe a weed-don’t worry about the weed.Baby poppy-same warning!Winter Honeysuckle does not give up.
No because YOUNG honestly is a state of mind more than anything and at this time of the year–well we may have to work at realizing that–and most importantly acting on our knowledge.
WE can’t let the season get us down. Its absolutely true that the leaves lying about have totally lost their charm –and how on earth did there get to be so many sticks and stalks everywhere. We have to look at things closely–after we clean up a bit of course. But take your time don’t be hasty, baby plants can be deceiving. The last thing you want to do is accidentally “weed” your precious spring flowers when in doubt don’t pull it up. Better to leave and weed than loose a poppy! Let your imagination take you to the blooms that will be here soon and you will be surprised at how much happier you will feel. Anticipating good things to come–well that is a receipt for real joy.
This is nothing but pure potential and hope!
Try to see bare patches as “Potential” not “Problems”. All the fresh seeds are here–stop and look . For some people this can be as much temptation as the five hundred dollar skin serum so do be careful. READ the labels and remember that if it says avoid heat you must avoid buying no matter how chilly and misty the day is right now. But maybe choose something new to try and go home and plant it–nothing worse than buying seeds and forgetting them–that doesn’t lead to happiness. But the choosing and preparing and planting–that can make a big difference for anyone. Feelings of accomplishment and planning for the future and feeling hopeful–well that makes anyone feel younger and fresher and its a feeling that lasts! Just the work in the fresh air helps so much even if you have to wrap up and use plastic shoes.
If it gets really cold take the time to protect your plants you will be glad you did–its work but it pays off and that makes us feel powerful. Just a little cover saved this lettuce.
If there are plants in the house don’t just pass them by they aren’t sofa cushions they really will respond to attention. water them and clean their leaves look for changes and growth–if you are fortunate even flowers–its the natural time for orchids to send up flower spikes–look carefully. Just noticing will brighten the whole day and who knows what tomorrow might bring .That is the key.
When we think about it–isn’t YOUNG really anticipating the future–the good exciting things to come? That feeling may get a little harder to come by sometimes but if we really notice our plants and gardens and care for them that feeling just seems to catch us and carry us forward–and that is FOREVER YOUNG.
Susan Thornbury, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
Walking in the garden early this morning just as sunlight was spreading its glowing rays, I stopped for a moment to gently caress the winter savory. Dew had fallen softly upon it, leaving the cascading branches with a shimmery presence. It seemed to be saying…” use me please”. And that is exactly what happened!
My husband and I love a cozy wintertime dinner by the fire. Thankfully, my winter herb garden had supplied me with the three ingredients needed to infuse the marinade for Balsamic Herb Baked Chicken Thighs: fresh rosemary sprigs, sage leaves and winter savory. This herb-garden inspired recipe delivered a pleasing amount of comfort and flavor for the perfect fireside meal.
Balsamic Herb Baked Chicken Thighs prepped and ready to bakeReady to serve!
Hopefully, you are growing a nice selection of herbs in your winter garden. If so, remember that they liked to be snipped, trimmed and used for culinary and decorative purposes in your home.
*For information about growing winter savory, click here.
*All herbs were harvested just before the cold front and freezing temperatures arrived. They were kept in a damp paper towel lined plastic baggie for two days.
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
This is the time of the year when one things about past efforts and plans ahead for what’s to come—naturally the future must be vastly improved over what came before. Its been that way for a long time. After all January is named for Janus the god who is able to look to the past and the future.
All useful so far. Evaluating past efforts and planning for the future is important for just about everything.
However this is also a time when one is most susceptible to promises of perfection if only you buy something—well not just anything of course but the new and improved item currently on offer. Let’s not consider the diets and health promoting supplements and the body that would be ours if only a new and improved fitness machine was ordered. All available right now and payment can be easy—there is a plan available.
Gardeners are not immune to these thoughts by any means. Emails seem to arrive daily to showcase the “must haves” for this years garden. All involve buying the new and improved plants from all sorts of places. Catalogues have pictures that are simply astonishing The flowers in glorious colors. Petals are now double and triple and maybe more. Some seem to be very small “fit any space” How can this be exactly. Surely they would want to grow at least a little bit.
Even shrubs and trees are new and have amazing flowers and turn all sorts of colors. Buy now” really seems the only reasonable thing to do after all “supply may be limited”.
But wait—take a deep breath and consider—where will all these new plants go? Go back and look at your garden photos (you know they are right there) and when you look you see that not only was the garden actually lovely it was pretty full.
Now there is nothing all wrong with buying new plants. There are indeed new discoveries to be made. Plus its just fun and adds excitement to the garden—and may be the key to the perfection everyone is looking for—this could happen.
Just think carefully about replacing the tried and true plants. The ones you have counted on for years—that have stood the tests of time and weather. Afterall they hold memories of past gardens—yours and so many others—and even of the gardeners who loved them before you and maybe even shared them. It’s a lot to think about.
Tithonia requres a lot of dead heading but you can enjoy the butterflies that love it.How could you resist this dusky purple color in a plant that loves to live no matter what.Strawberry fields globe amaranth does seed out but appreciate it?When zinnias reseed they are usually single pink. But is there something wrong with that?Grasses aadd grace and stability so forgive a little mess.Common mullein adds a sense of drama and plants itself.Pothos is common but that’s okay there is nothing like it for brightening a dark corner. Why pay more?Annual salvia is wonderful for late summer. Yes, it seeds but think what a virtue that can be in a hot dry summer. This is coral nymph salvia.
The little song children used to sing sums it up:
Make new friends but keep the old— one is silver and the other gold.
Susan Thornbury, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
This past fall, I decided to try several different varieties of broccoli in my garden. A few are still growing and I’m hoping they reach the harvesting stage very soon. But, as you can see from the photo, this particular variety produced a beautiful head of broccoli just a few days ago. There are five or six smaller side shoots, but none will be as large as the original.
One definition of “monty” describes it as the whole thing; everything that is wanted or needed.
The recipe I selected for ‘monty’ is from our family cookbook. We refer to it as Bethy’s Crunchy Broccoli Salad. It is delicious any time of year but bringing it in straight from the garden on a chilly winter morning was the best ever! It certainly met, and exceeded, our expectations.
*Johnny’s Seeds currently has packets of Broccoli, Monty seeds in stock.
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
A Chritmas gift from a dear friend tied up with a fuzzy peach ornament
How could we enter into the new year without knowing the big announcement from Pantone? In 1999, the Pantone Color Institute created the color of the year educational program to engage the design community and color enthusiasts around the world in a conversation around color. Their hope is to inspire us to look at color in a different way. It is interesting to read about the process Pantone global color experts follow to arrive at the selection each year. You can do that by going directly to their website at pantone.com.
For 2024 we are encouraged to “Embrace the Warmth”. They suggest that we look for ways to nurture ourselves and others. To help guide us along in our yearning for closeness and connection, the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman, made the following announcement on December 11, 2023.
Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2024 is Peach Fuzz, a velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body and soul. Officially, the number you need to know is PANTONE 13-1023. For like-minded gardeners, it is gratifying to learn that they selected a perfectly peachy nature-inspired fruit.
As a Texas girl, my mind went quickly to a lifetime of memories revolving around fresh peaches. If you are like me, the thought of ripe summer peaches makes this color choice especially meaningful. Going forward you can expect to find Peach Fuzz making an appearance in the design industry, fashion industry and in home décor. Also, it appears that Peach Fuzz will open the door to a wide assortment of lipstick, blush and contouring options. Nail color options will be available, as well.
Just last week I embraced that fuzzy feeling by ordering a pair of Peach Fuzz tennis shoes from Cariuma. If all goes well, I’ll be wearing them on one of our summer trips to the Texas Hill Country where we hope to visit a ‘pick your own peaches’ roadside orchard.
If you feel inspired to start growing your own peach trees this year, go to aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu for a full list of varieties recommended for our area. Wishing you all the joys of a heartfelt peach hue that enriches mind, body and soul.
Here are a few of our favorite peach recipes from ‘A Year On The Plate’ 2016 Master Gardener Cookbook.
Jon and Joe meticoulsly laying the floor for the greenhouse.We’re excited to be getting the space to start seeds for the north garden. The other greenhouse gets extremely crowded in spring with the combination of north garden and plant sale seedlings. Tig said the brick floor is too nice to cover up with a greenhouse!
Here are a few pictures by Starla from our recent Christmas lunch.
DALLAS GARDEN BUZZ 