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The common agarita – NICE! shrub for landscaping
Author: Bill Ward Probably the earliest harbingers of spring in our yard are the agarita bushes. They are the first shrubs to bloom, with tiny bright-yellow flowers. Soon after that, they are putting on small round fruit that by early summer have gradually turned from green to red. Those berries
The Devils River Valley — a Botanical Wonderland
Author: Bill Ward During a Thursday morning hike last week, I saw three plants I never expected to get to see in the wild. I would have felt lucky to see just one of these plants in its native habitat, but all three in the same area was – as
October 2008
NICE! Plant of the Month (Cotinus obovatus) Family: Anacardiaceae (Sumac family) Other Common Names: Smoke Tree, Chittamwood Type: Understory shrub or small deciduous tree Natural Habitat: In Texas small populations in the hills and bluffs of the Edwards Plateau and North Central Texas; range extends into Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee
Driven Up the Wall by Herbivores
Author: Bill Ward There is an interesting story about the rare Texas snowbell (Styrax platanifolius subsp. texanus) in “Water from Stone” by Jeffrey Greene. That is the book about David and Margaret Bamberger and their Selah Ranch north of Blanco. For many years, David Bamberger has worked tirelessly to increase
Butterflies think blue mistflower is very NICE!
These days a lot of gardeners and landscapers make a point of including plants that attract butterflies. One of the best butterfly magnets is blue mistflower, the Operation NICE! (Natives Instead of the Common Exotics!) choice for September. Blue mistflower has clusters of “fuzzy” blooms, making it look like the
July-August 2008
NICE! Plant of the Month (Agave americana) Family: Amaryllis Other Common Names: Maguey, Flowering Aloe, Spiked Aloe, American Aloe Type: Rosette-forming succulent similar in size to a medium shrub. Natural Habitat: Native to Starr County in South Texas and three counties in the Trans Pecos (Atlas of the Vascular Plants
Agaves, NICE! drought-tolerant landscape plants
Author: Bill Ward This very hot and dry summer has made us appreciate the xeric plants in our yard. At a time when we don’t want to waste a drop of water, it is gratifying to have good-looking landscape plants we never have to water. For hot July, Operation NICE!
June 2008
NICE! Plant of the Month (Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash) Family: Poaceae Other Common Names: Indian Grass, Yellow Indian Grass Type: Perennial grass Natural Habitat: Indiangrass is a perennial bunch grass with a strong presence in the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains. Along with little bluestem, big bluestem and switchgrass,
No Shortage of Endemic Plants in the Texas Hill Country
Author: Bill Ward There are close to 5,000 species of plants indigenous to Texas. Of these, almost 400 are endemic (i.e., occur no where else but Texas). The Texas Hill Country, alone, has about 75 endemic species, a lot more than most states have. I think I’ve written these facts
May 2008
NICE! Plant of the Month Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea) Family: Labiatae (Mint Family) Other Common Names: Mealy Sage, Mealycup sage, Texas Violet Sage Type: Perennial Natural Habitat: Found in the southern portion of the U.S. and west to California. It is native to Texas and Mexico. It can be
April 2008
NICE! Plant of the Month (Prunus rivularis) Family: Rosaceae (Rose Family) Other Common Names: Hog plum, Thicket plum Type: Small 3-8 foot, slender stems, thicket-forming shrub; suckers freely from roots. Natural Habitat: Native to the Edwards Plateau and north central Texas near stream banks, wood edges and roadsides. Preferred Site
Dry Year or Wet Year – Mealy Blue Sage is NICE!
Author: Bill Ward This dry, dry year has given our neck of the woods the scraggliest little bluebonnet patches we’ve have in a long time. But here and there are fields of blue that almost compensate for the failed bluebonnet crop. These are blue patches of the tough little mealy
