Tag Archives: The Raincatcher’s Garden

September in the Garden

Posted on September 30, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

September 30, 2023

Dear Friends,

I am reposting this on the last day of September because we had a few technical difficulties with our video last week. If you love basil or basil in a flower arrangement, you will eat this up! So please watch.

Something in the air feels refreshing and hopeful. Summer heat is beginning to drift away as  cooler nights carry us into autumn’s blissful welcome. Have you felt the delicate whisper of magic moving through the trees as leaves are beginning to reveal their fall color palette?

Our landscapes seem grateful for the transition to rainy days filled with a nourishing gift from the heavens. Plants that were scorched and spent from the blistering heat of summer have lifted their heads in gratitude for the cool breezes of our beloved fall weather. Spending time outdoors is, once again, a delightful and long-awaited experience. Autumn is the season to embrace soothing moments of tranquility in the garden!

Plentiful is one of many ways to describe the variety of botanical options available to us over the next few months. For September, our featured plants are the following: Basil is brimming with a colorful, rich display of foliage that will be used in various ways; some for filling in open spaces of fragrant arrangements, others for making tasty pesto for the freezer. Turk’s Cap survived the summer and is now ending its seasonal performance while the strong stems and slightly rough leaves of Lemon Verbena plodded through the heat of summer with steadfast determination.

In April, my raised stone garden bed was planted with a half dozen, or more, different types of basil. They continued to grow lush and beautiful with blossoms appearing as summer progressed. It was a happy place for bees and butterflies to visit daily. Several varieties I especially enjoyed were:

Balsamic Blooms: Vigorous grower with bright green leaves and deep, purple blooms appearing simultaneously. Both leaves and flowers are edible. Wonderful for pesto, garnishes and more.

Cinnamon Basil: Once again, volunteer plants from last year’s seeds filled one side of our gravel driveway with their showy presence.  Their aromatic cinnamon fragrance is a treat for the senses when used for indoor arrangements.  But I couldn’t resist making several Cinnamon Basil Cakes to share with friends!

Basil, ‘Magic Mountain’: A strong contender for its ornamental value, this plant displays large, deeply colored flowers all summer long. The purple-hued dark green leaves are showy in floral arrangements as well as adding flavor to pesto, sauces, salads and meat dishes.

A few additional observations from my garden:

*Favorite basil for the honeybees: ‘Magic Mountain’ was like a bee magnet throughout the entire summer, especially during the early morning and late afternoon hours. Hundreds of foraging bees buzzed around the blossoms drinking in the nectar. They weren’t even bothered by my camera lens just inches away from the activity.

*Best basil for using in an arrangement: ‘Red Rubin’ proved to be a prolific grower with its coppery, purple leaves and small pink flowers. It offers an interesting branching structure that serves any arrangement well. Next spring, I’ll be using it throughoutmy garden.

*Basil with the most dramatic appearance: ‘Balsamic Blooms’ There’s a good reason why this variety received the Texas Superstar rating. Brilliant, green leaves embracing tightly formed purple blossoms make a striking appearance in the garden.

Turk’s Cap survived the summer heat and is now giving us a final showing. This perennial dies to the ground in winter but emerges in early spring. It’s another great native plant for Texas landscapes attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Growing up to six feet tall, use it as a background plant alongside other natives suited for a natural growth environment.

Lemon Verbena is my perennial herb of choice and one that I feel saddened to bid farewell to when our first freeze arrives. It was over thirty years ago that lemon verbena captured my attention. During that time, I’ve made countless loaves of lemon verbena bread to share with family and friends who gratefully extend their appreciation. And, of course, every morning from April until November a fresh sprig of lemon verbena garnishes my oversized glass of green tea.

September gently sweeps us out of summer and into the refreshing music of Autumn. Let’s embrace the melody!

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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September in the Garden

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

Something in the air feels refreshing and hopeful. Summer heat is beginning to drift away as  cooler nights carry us into autumn’s blissful welcome. Have you felt the delicate whisper of magic moving through the trees as leaves are beginning to reveal their fall color palette?

Our landscapes seem grateful for the transition to rainy days filled with a nourishing gift from the heavens. Plants that were scorched and spent from the blistering heat of summer have lifted their heads in gratitude for the cool breezes of our beloved fall weather. Spending time outdoors is, once again, a delightful and long-awaited experience. Autumn is the season to embrace soothing moments of tranquility in the garden!

Plentiful is one of many ways to describe the variety of botanical options available to us over the next few months. For September, our featured plants are the following: Basil is brimming with a colorful, rich display of foliage that will be used in various ways; some for filling in open spaces of fragrant arrangements, others for making tasty pesto for the freezer. Turk’s Cap survived the summer and is now ending its seasonal performance while the strong stems and slightly rough leaves of Lemon Verbena plodded through the heat of summer with steadfast determination.

In April, my raised stone garden bed was planted with a half dozen, or more, different types of basil. They continued to grow lush and beautiful with blossoms appearing as summer progressed. It was a happy place for bees and butterflies to visit daily. Several varieties I especially enjoyed were:

Balsamic Blooms: Vigorous grower with bright green leaves and deep, purple blooms appearing simultaneously. Both leaves and flowers are edible. Wonderful for pesto, garnishes and more.

Cinnamon Basil: Once again, volunteer plants from last year’s seeds filled one side of our gravel driveway with their showy presence.  Their aromatic cinnamon fragrance is a treat for the senses when used for indoor arrangements.  But I couldn’t resist making several Cinnamon Basil Cakes to share with friends!

Basil, ‘Magic Mountain’: A strong contender for its ornamental value, this plant displays large, deeply colored flowers all summer long. The purple-hued dark green leaves are showy in floral arrangements as well as adding flavor to pesto, sauces, salads and meat dishes.

A few additional observations from my garden:

*Favorite basil for the honeybees: ‘Magic Mountain’ was like a bee magnet throughout the entire summer, especially during the early morning and late afternoon hours. Hundreds of foraging bees buzzed around the blossoms drinking in the nectar. They weren’t even bothered by my camera lens just inches away from the activity.

*Best basil for using in an arrangement: ‘Red Rubin’ proved to be a prolific grower with its coppery, purple leaves and small pink flowers. It offers an interesting branching structure that serves any arrangement well. Next spring, I’ll be using it throughoutmy garden.

*Basil with the most dramatic appearance: ‘Balsamic Blooms’ There’s a good reason why this variety received the Texas Superstar rating. Brilliant, green leaves embracing tightly formed purple blossoms make a striking appearance in the garden.

Turk’s Cap survived the summer heat and is now giving us a final showing. This perennial dies to the ground in winter but emerges in early spring. It’s another great native plant for Texas landscapes attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Growing up to six feet tall, use it as a background plant alongside other natives suited for a natural growth environment.

Lemon Verbena is my perennial herb of choice and one that I feel saddened to bid farewell to when our first freeze arrives. It was over thirty years ago that lemon verbena captured my attention. During that time, I’ve made countless loaves of lemon verbena bread to share with family and friends who gratefully extend their appreciation. And, of course, every morning from April until November a fresh sprig of lemon verbena garnishes my oversized glass of green tea.

September gently sweeps us out of summer and into the refreshing music of Autumn. Let’s embrace the melody!

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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Enduring Bee Stories of Antiquity

Posted on September 16, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

September 16, 2023

Almost every country on the planet has a story about the relationship between humans and their bees. Let’s cruise through some of the more entertaining facts pertaining to one of the most fascinating insects in the world.
Consider how the flowing sweetness of honey has, since ancient times, given us eloquent phrases associated with “honeyed words”. Even bee behavior has been identified with our own in phrases such as a dominate female being referred to as a “queen bee”, or when hard at work it might imply that we are “as busy as a bee”. Such symbolism has its roots in ancient cultures of the world.

Bees in Mythology
*San (Bushman) of southern Africa left prehistoric spiritual rock drawings of bees and their nests suggesting that bees had a special importance in the Stone Age.
*Prehistoric cave drawings in La Cueva de la Arana in eastern Spain show images of how early humans plundered wild bees’ nests for honey.

*The Myceneans, an indigenous Greek civilization dating back to the 16 th century BC, used images of bees on their beehive shaped tombs.
*Ancient Mayas of Mesoamerica kept native stingless bees and celebrated the bee god, Ah Mucan Cab, by downing honey and balche, an alcoholic honey drink.
*In 1653, construction workers near the church of Saint-Brice in Tournai discovered over 300 beautiful gold and garnet cloisonne bees in the tomb of Childeric (440-482), king of the Franks. Sadly, in 1831, thieves broke into the library of the Bibliotheque nationale de France, where they were stored, stealing hundreds of pounds of gold artifacts, including Childeric’s treasure. A significant portion was melted down, leaving only two little bees in existence today.

The story of Childeric’s bees made such a strong impression on Napoleon Bonaparte that, ultimately, the bee became the new emblem of the French Empire. Even more specifically, the bee came to represent Napoleon intimately, serving as his personal emblem. He was given the nickname, the Bee. Shortly afterwards, Napoleon’s friend and miniature portraitist, Jean-Baptiste Isabey, took to the task of redesigning Childeric’s bees. His resulting design was immensely handsome. Soon enough it became suitable for fashionable wear, and would come to dominate the interiors, decorative art, fashion and material culture of the Napoleonic court. Even today, the bee emblem is used on French glassware, cutlery, linens, upholstery fabric and cosmetics.

Globally, we continue to celebrate the influence of the honeybee found in themed fabrics, jewelry, paper goods, decorative items and so much more. Looking back across time, it is an enduring reminder of the indelible mark bees have left on mankind.
Enjoy these timeless images of the impact honeybees and their beloved honey have in our world today!

September’s featured honey recipe transitions us from a cherished summer fruit…peaches…to some time-honored autumn favorites…pecans and sweet potatoes. Feast on a stack of these warm and lightly spiced pancakes and you’ll be swooning with joy. Just don’t forget the maple syrup!

Sweet Potato Pancakes with Spiced Pecans and Fresh Peach Butter, recipe below

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

Sweet Potato Pancakes with Spiced Pecans and Fresh Peach Butter

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Slow Gardening, Texas Style

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR DCMGA’s EDUCATION DAY

Make plans to join us on Saturday, October 14, for a unique day-long educational event sponsored by the Dallas County Master Gardener Association and Dallas College featuring well-known horticulturalists Felder Rushing and Callie Works-Leary.  The $20 cost of registration includes lunch.  To review the schedule of presentations, to read more about our speakers, and to register, visit dallascountymastergardeners.com.  All who love gardening are welcome to attend!

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Honoring the Energetic Hummingbird

Posted on September 5, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

September 5, 2023

Did you know that the first Saturday in September is National Hummingbird Day? These small hovering winged creatures are from 3 -5 inches long (smallest mature birds) and are known for their long beaks and very fast beating wings.

These two pictures of male hummingbirds were taken by Starla in the Grand Canyon.

A group of hummingbirds is called a charm and charmed you will be if you have them in your yard.

Hummers are only found in the Americas today; however, they once inhabited Europe. Fossils were unearthed in Germany according to Science Magazine-May 7, 2004, but none are found today in Europe. The range is from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego in South America. The Rufous species migrates from Alaska to Mexico. The ruby throated migration is in early spring and their range is from the East coast to a line from West Texas to North Dakota . Not all migrate, and the most common in the DFW area are the black chinned and ruby throated hummingbirds.

The male birds are more colorful, but both are equally fascinating.

The Packery Channel Nature Park on Padre Island, Texas, shared these interesting facts:
 Wings flap up to 200 times per second and oscillate in a figure 8 pattern.
 Heart beats about 1,200 times a minute
 Lungs breathe 250 times a minute
 Tongue is forked and brushy and can lick nectar 10-15 times a second (and can
consume small insects).

Are you interested in having these amazing creatures in your habitat? Here are some tips to attract them.

First, think RED – Hummers see in the ultraviolet range and RED is their favorite.

Place feeders in your yard where they are easy to observe. The food is a sweet solution that can be purchased or made. One recipe is 1 cup water, ¼ cup sugar (nectar is
preferable). Change out every other day to keep it clean and ready for winged guests.

Did I mention that there should be some RED on the feeder? – that’s a must.

Note: Starla took this picture from her family’s kitchen table in Fresno, California.

Plant flowers that attract hummers – They prefer tubular flowers so their long beak can get to the nectar that other pollinators might not be able to reach. They like bright
colors and of course, red is a favorite, but not exclusive.

Note: Hummingbirds enjoying red Turk’s Cap and Blue Salvia Guaranitica.

In our area of Texas, zone 8a here are some options: Perennials – turks cap (red), coral honeysuckle, Texas star hibiscus(red), salvia greggi (red), columbines, standing cypress(red), day lilies, lupines.

Biennials –foxgloves and hollyhocks; Annuals – cleome, impatients, and petunias are a few to consider.

Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures that captivate and enhance our habitats and can remember where they have been and where feeders are located. These hovering
winged creatures are an asset to any yard.

Starla Willis, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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WHEN YOU DON’T GET WHAT YOU WANT, YOU GET EXPERIENCE

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

August 30, 2023

Old sayings are so often true and in the garden this summer, there is no doubt at all.

No way, is this post full of cheer, the summer is miserable for gardeners and plants alike. But as always we can learn a lot and really we have to. Like it or not gardens are just essential for birds and lizards and insects of all sorts. They count on plants for their very life—and what would a gardener be—without a garden —so what to do?

Don’t forget about grasses. This is seep muley, not dramatic but looks good in a quiet way.
Common Mullein has lots of bad habits but don’t overlook all the good ones.

Observation comes to the rescue and brings a bit of joy and hope. Some plants are holding on—and even blooming—if not right this minute they are planning to—soon.
These are the plants we must remember, be sure to plant again for the next summer—which we sincerely hope will be more pleasant but –we can’t count on it.

Mealey blue sage is a self seeder, sometimes too much, but tries hard and what lovely color in hard times.
When plants self seed, they find what works for them and are often far healthier than the ones planted by us.

Some of these plants are not the most spectacular but they are lovely in their own right and most important provide essential nutrition for the little lives counting on the garden. Fennel is a host plant for black swallowtails, plus we can enjoy using fennel and it is still alive.

Carry on watering mulching deadheading and trimming—it honestly isn’t so bad early in the morning. But don’t stop there. Take pictures make notes do what it takes to keep the plants that are surviving and even succeeding in your garden in your mind. That way there will be less wasted work and money next year. Sadly of course remember also what failed miserably. When the going gets tough—some plants just give up. More than likely not their fault at all they just were never intended for this weather. Best to face it and remember it clearly.

Yarrow, not blooming, but healthy and will bloom again when the time is right.
Candelstick trees seend themselves then send down roots before they grow tall. This is a great plant for dealing with adverse conditions.
Amaranth has a long history of living in hot places.
Clammy weed doesn’t give up. This plant is in a little shade which helps.
Tithonia requires upkeep but it’s worth it for flowers in serious heat.

Hope isn’t the best strategy for the summer garden –at least around here. Look at what works in your garden and in gardens you visit, Raincatcher’s welcomes visitors any time. Tuesday mornings there will be gardeners available to answer questions. You might even enjoy summer gardening!

Make experience; even of this dreadful summer—count for knowledge of what works—and what doesn’t. That will make us all better gardeners!

Susan Thornbury, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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Garden Gifts, August Flora Feature

Posted on August 23, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

You’ve probably noticed them in numerous landscapes across the metroplex. Their bold, bodacious, fluffy flowers create an eye-catching spectacle in the garden. They grow tall and strong in almost any type of environment from morning sun to full sun, dappled shade to mostly shade. How can you not love those dramatic blooms that hang around from late June until mid-October with colors ranging from lime green to creamy white to dusty rose and sometimes burgundy?

Of course, this proven winner beauty is the plant known as ‘Limelight’, Hydrangea paniculata. It’s a unique hydrangea that has literally revolutionized landscaping across North America. Mine were planted in a backyard bed flanking our fire pit area about a year ago and I am still captivated by their huge, football-shaped irresistible flowers. During periods of extreme heat (100 – 110+) as we’ve experienced most of August, blossoms will go through a time of weeping and loosing their vibrancy. Just hold on until September when a refreshing rain will perk them up!

Driving around neighborhoods in our area and beyond, I’ve seen them used in some pretty imaginative ways: as a showy flowering hedge to screen off those unsightly air conditioning units, in circular beds surrounding old, stately live oaks, and in large entry way stone containers welcoming guests to a front door.

For me, the real bonus is found in the drama they bring to floral displays in my home. When height is needed, Limelight stems are snipped close to the ground and used in long, slender vases. Shorter stems can be carefully arranged in floral foam for a low-profile option. Placed in the center of a dining room table set for dinner with guests or gracing a cherished antique entry chest they never fail to lend an air of elegance to any room.

Another summer flower that goes into my garden around mid-April and stays until late October is the showy, colorful little darling known as Pentas (Pentas lanceolata). Did you know that they are also known as Egyptian stars for the bloom’s five-pointed petals?

Pentas color palate offers gardeners a profusion of jewel tones that range from white to pink, red, lavender and purple.  Across Dallas you’ll find everything from single tone beds to the most stunning mixed combinations of two, three or four colors. The possibilities are endless with pentas filling both in ground beds and gorgeous containers. Each year I like to experiment with a different color combination. So far, my favorite is pink, purple and red!

Some of the perks for growing pentas include:

*Pentas are low maintenance plants. Give them plenty of water, sunshine and heat and they will perform beautifully and reward you with an abundance of flowers.

*They are not prone to many diseases.

*Once in the ground, their blooms continue until a cold snap or light freeze. In Zone 8 we get to enjoy them for around six to seven months.

*Pentas can be enjoyed as cut flowers for your indoor arrangements.

*Bees love pentas!

FYI…After taking so many photos of limelight’s, I’ve observed that when the temperature soars to 100+ degrees they tend to do best with some afternoon to evening shade. The limelight’s  flanking our firepit are covered with shade starting at 3:00pm and continuing for the remainder of the day.

Limelights in the Spotlight and Pentas on Parade

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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Honeycomb Construction…The Building Block of the Hive

Posted on July 20, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

July 20, 2023

In 2016, a wonderful new cookbook was published by the Dallas County Master
Gardener Association. The title was ‘A Year on the Plate’. One of the cookbook
committees’ favorite photographs was taken late in the afternoon with long
shadows stretching across the yard as sunlight drifted slowly behind the trees.
The dish to be photographed was from the honey section of the book. It was a
charcuterie board featuring an assortment of salty cheeses and nuts with a lovely
round honeycomb serving as the main attraction. Looking through several
options, we were thrilled with the dreamy look of one particular photograph that
captured the essence of our star ingredient.

Since that day over seven years ago every imaginable type of charcuterie board
has been created. And, as you might have guessed, each one is almost always
designed around a honeycomb. Carefully cut and oozing with sweet honey, it is a
magical gift of nature that comes from honeybees.
During the months of July and August, we’ll take a look inside the hive to discover
some of the most amazing facts about honeycomb construction and why it is
considered to be the building block of the hive.

What is honeycomb?
Honeycomb is a cluster of repeating hexagonal beeswax cells made by honeybees
and used for raising brood and storing honey and pollen. Honeycombs store
honey because honey is valuable to bees. It feeds their young and sustains the
hive.

Why are honeycombs constructed using the hexagonal shape?
First consider spheres, pentagons and octagons. All of these produce gaps. Bees
are efficient creatures so anything with gaps isn’t the answer. As it turns out,
there are only three geometrical figures with equal sides that can fit together on a
flat surface without leaving gaps: equilateral triangles, squares and hexagons. So,
which one is best?
It’s a very old question and one that a Roman soldier/scholar/writer named
Marcus Terentius Varro proposed an answer to in 36 B.C. Ever since then, Varro’s
answer has been referred to as “The Honeybee Conjecture”. Simply stated, he
thought that a honeycomb built of hexagons could hold more honey and, maybe,
hexagons require less building wax. Why is the issue of wax important?
It takes thousands and thousands of bee hours, tens of thousands of flights back
and forth to the foraging source to gather nectar from countless flowers just to
start the process of building a honeycomb. Is it, therefore, reasonable to assume
that bees want a tight, secure structure that is as simple to build as possible?

As was eventually determined, compactness matters. The more compact your
structure, the less wax needed to construct the honeycomb. Wax is a precious
material. A honeybee must consume about eight ounces of honey to produce a
single ounce of wax. It is an accepted fact that the hexagon shape uses the least
amount of wax.
Additionally, years and years of research have demonstrated that honeybees use
the shape of their bodies as rulers to build each cell exactly the same. Even
Charles Darwin himself once wrote, the honeycomb is a masterpiece of
engineering. It is “absolutely perfect in economizing labor and wax.”

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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Garden Gifts, Exploring the artistry of seasonal flora

Posted on July 12, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

Beginning this month, dallasgardenbuzz.com will introduce a new idea which allows the natural world to speak to us as seasons change and our gardens evolve. Once each month, we hope to share with our readers the joy of using seasonal gifts from the garden in floral displays, arrangements and more. 

Look for fresh and innovative ways of gathering unusual combinations of flowers, herbs, branches and other natural ingredients to display in your home.  Let creations from your garden bring happiness to a friend, neighbor or family member. Embrace a mindset of filling your life with beautiful gifts from the garden every month of the year. 

To start, we’ll begin with a quintessential summer flower – zinnias! Offering one of the most colorful palates found in the garden, zinnias bold and bright blooms range from white to orange, pink, yellow, purple and red. We’ve chosen to combine our blooms with another plant that is thriving in the Dallas heat – basil.

With dozens of varieties to consider, two types currently growing in the garden were the perfect complement to our monthly arrangement. Basil ‘Wild Magic’ is a robust grower with purple/violet flowers and dark green leaves with purple margins. For leaves with an even deeper purple presence, ‘Red Rubin’ also adds an aromatic touch to arrangements.

If a compact, tight arrangement seems a little too crowded, consider going in a different direction. Give each zinnia  space to breath while making its own individual statement. A flower show judge might suggest that a more open design reflects the natural habit of flowers growing in the garden. In this type of arrangement, there’s plenty of room for “a butterfly to move from bloom to bloom”.

And finally, for a moment of simplicity, use individual blooms as illustrated in this arrangement. A collection of vintage ceramic vegetable vases sitting under an oil painting of our house needs only a delicate touch to enhance its beauty. The soft tones of puffy little salmon zinnias are the right choice!

Our promise to you is that all of our displays will feature botanical material growing in the home garden. In other words, these are not flower shop creations. We want you to be inspired and encouraged to appreciate the simple elegance of using gifts from your garden to bring a touch of beauty and charm to everyday life.

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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Tomatoes, I Owe You an Apology

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

Tomatoes, I owe you an apology.  All is forgiven.  We had some rain and a mild beginning to the summer. You behaved reasonably under those circumstances and gave us an abundance of delicious fruit.  I’m sorry for all the negative things I’ve said about you.  I have called you names. I have described you as difficult. I have suggested to beginning gardeners that they avoid you and try peppers instead. 

Our biggest problem with you this year was that certain bushy tailed scoundrels found you irresistible even when you were green. That was not your fault.  Never fear, we are planning our squirrel defense strategies for next year.  

Now our high temperatures are in the triple digits and you have developed blight and begun providing food and shelter to stink bugs.  You held out as long as could be expected and for this I thank you. 

Diane, our photographer friend, snapped this picture of a stink bug. Notice its fierce mustachioed look. It has already begun assaulting our tomatoes.

Tomatoes, despite the pain of previous seasons, I am grateful for what I have learned from you-mostly patience.

Beverly Allen, Dallas County Master Gardener, Class of 2018

Tomatoes are the Jerkiest Plants

Tomatoes Will Break Your Heart

Squirrel photo by Don Heaberlin and stink bug photo by Diane Washam

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