We have set meeting dates for the rest of the summer and into fall. We are available to meet:
Dallas/Ft Worth/Denton
Friday, August 22nd, at 3pm
Friday, September 12th, at noon or 3pm
Saturday, September 13th, at 9am or noon
Friday, October 10th, at 9am, noon or 3pm
Saturday, October 11th, at 9am, noon or 3pm
November and December dates are still pending.
Corpus Christi area
Monday, September 29th, at 9am, noon or 3pm
Tuesday, September 30th, at 9am, noon or 3pm
Friday, November 7th, at 9am, noon or 3pm
October and December dates are still pending.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Monday, August 04, 2008
Hot Enough For Ya
Today's temps might reach 109. What the heck? Hardly livable conditions, I tell ya. And it doesn't help matters when some wisecracker asks if it's "hot enough for ya." Anybody ever answer, "why no, it's not. I'm Satan, I need 130, 135, minimum"? Come on. We all know it's hot, we all know the heat is relentless. We don't need to be assaulted with silly questions.
What we need is a diversion. That's it, something to take our minds off the baking heat. Something that gives us the illusion that it's cooler than it really is. Let's talk about shade-loving natives.
Take a walk along creeks or shady natural areas (they are still around, I promise) and you'll find abundant waterwise, colorful, low-maintenance plant life. Golden Groundsel (Senecio obovatus) -- one of our favorites -- is a low-growing perennial with dark green foliage and delicate yellow blooms. It's a challenge to find in retail nurseries but a worthwhile treasure hunt. Petal Pusher's Garden Emporium in Cedar Hill grows it onsite. I think they have a 3-tray maximum limit on this plant.
Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohioensis) has a thin, strappy leaf and blue-to-purple bloom. Its foliage looks sort-of like a small iris. Sort of. Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum, formerly Eupatorium coelestinum) is another great blue-blooming plant for shade. One word of caution, however. If your planting areas already over-planted, or if you like a more structured look, you won't like the Mistflower. It tends to ramble -- which is great for me, but not for everyone. Lyre Leaf Sage (which I've mentioned in previous posts) also has a blue bloom, and some cultivars have maroon-to-dark purple foliage.
Scarlet Sage, or Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea) is a terrific red-blooming plant. Technically it's categorized as an annual for our area. It will, however, readily re-seed itself. Simply gorgeous plant, Scarlet Sage works well in sun or shade. Magic Lily (Lycoris radiata) also has a red bloom, and like Golden Groundsel, is sometimes difficult to find in retail nurseries. On occasion I have found it in 1-gallon at a wholesale nursery, or just the bulb through a wholesale grower.
Of course, you can't go wrong with Crinum Lily (Crinum americanum) or Texas Spider Lily (Hymenocallis liriosme). Tropical-looking strappy leaves with lightly fragrant white blooms. Perfect for sun or shade.
There are many more species of native plants growing in our local natural areas. You just have to get out and take a look. Take inspiration from nature before you landscape your home. You will discover plants that really work in our area. Besides, you'll finally get that exercise you've been talking about.
What we need is a diversion. That's it, something to take our minds off the baking heat. Something that gives us the illusion that it's cooler than it really is. Let's talk about shade-loving natives.
Take a walk along creeks or shady natural areas (they are still around, I promise) and you'll find abundant waterwise, colorful, low-maintenance plant life. Golden Groundsel (Senecio obovatus) -- one of our favorites -- is a low-growing perennial with dark green foliage and delicate yellow blooms. It's a challenge to find in retail nurseries but a worthwhile treasure hunt. Petal Pusher's Garden Emporium in Cedar Hill grows it onsite. I think they have a 3-tray maximum limit on this plant.
Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohioensis) has a thin, strappy leaf and blue-to-purple bloom. Its foliage looks sort-of like a small iris. Sort of. Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum, formerly Eupatorium coelestinum) is another great blue-blooming plant for shade. One word of caution, however. If your planting areas already over-planted, or if you like a more structured look, you won't like the Mistflower. It tends to ramble -- which is great for me, but not for everyone. Lyre Leaf Sage (which I've mentioned in previous posts) also has a blue bloom, and some cultivars have maroon-to-dark purple foliage.
Scarlet Sage, or Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea) is a terrific red-blooming plant. Technically it's categorized as an annual for our area. It will, however, readily re-seed itself. Simply gorgeous plant, Scarlet Sage works well in sun or shade. Magic Lily (Lycoris radiata) also has a red bloom, and like Golden Groundsel, is sometimes difficult to find in retail nurseries. On occasion I have found it in 1-gallon at a wholesale nursery, or just the bulb through a wholesale grower.
Of course, you can't go wrong with Crinum Lily (Crinum americanum) or Texas Spider Lily (Hymenocallis liriosme). Tropical-looking strappy leaves with lightly fragrant white blooms. Perfect for sun or shade.
There are many more species of native plants growing in our local natural areas. You just have to get out and take a look. Take inspiration from nature before you landscape your home. You will discover plants that really work in our area. Besides, you'll finally get that exercise you've been talking about.
New market!
Over the past year I've hinted about taking our rebellious by Nature message to other markets. A few of you guessed our first secondary market would be Austin, others thought it would be Destin, Florida, area. In a way, both are correct: we already offer online designs and consultations across Texas and along the Gulf Coast. But now, for the first time, we will be offering onsite meetings in the Corpus Christi area. That means, we will continue to meet with clients in Dallas-Ft. Worth one or two weekends per month. At least once per month -- or perhaps once per quarter, initially -- we will hold meetings in Corpus Christi/N. Padre Island/Mustang Island/Port Aransas. Our first Corpus area event will be Bayfest on Saturday and Sunday, September 27th and 28th. If you are in the area, drop by and visit with us in the Adventure Tent. More news soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)