VOLUME 12, ISSUE 21 • June 23, 2016

Neil Sperry, editor. Gretchen Drew, design.

 
 
 
 

If you ever opened up an e-gardens and sat down to read it, let this be the one! I've written about four of my favorite plants (crape myrtles, fall tomatoes, Cora periwinkles and a cheerful type of peace lily you may not have grown.

I've answered the question I'm most frequently asked in the summer, "How often should I water my (insert plant name here)?"

I've given you an ultra-timely list of things you need to accomplish this weekend, and I'm introducing you to the handiest tool you've probably never seen.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoy it. If so, hope you'll tell everybody you see!

Photo: Crape myrtles are highlights of Texas summers.

 
 
 
   

Gardening This Weekend

If you time things right, you can get out and get your garden tasks done before it turns really hot. Some things can be put off for a while. Others, including the ones I've listed for you here, cannot. Do a quick scan through our list.

Photo: Late June is prime time for planting periwinkles. This is the superior, disease-resistant selection 'Cora.'

 
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From the Sperry Garden

When you garden in shade, it's hard to find flowering plants that will cheer the dark areas up. Spathiphyllums do that. This is a special one I wanted to share with you. This plant and I have been great friends for more than 10 years.

Photo: 'Domino' peace lily in the Sperry home landscape.

 
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Success With Crape Myrtles

They're often referred to (correctly) as the most popular flowering shrub in the South. Crape myrtles were first planted around 1800, and they've grown more popular with each passing year. But not every gardener who plants one ends up being satisfied. I have tips to success.

Photo: Nurseries are fully stocked with blooming crape myrtles now.

 
 
 
   

Question of the Week

"Neil, how often should I water my plants?"

I'll do my very best to answer, but I also want to introduce you to the best tool no one ever saw.

Photo: Meet a water bubbler. Read on and I'll tell you why I love this device!

 
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You Gotta Be Kidding! Tomatoes?

I'm going to make a case for the best tomatoes you will ever have grown here in Texas. And once again, timing is everything. Snooze and you'll lose on this one. Learn the important details!

Photo: First harvest of fall tomatoes from Sperry garden

 
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And, in closing…

I really look forward to our visits here each Thursday at 6. There are 45,000 of you here, and another 53,000 of you (with some overlapping) on Facebook. Please let your friends know where they can find me.

Please let our e-gardens advertisers know you appreciate their support. They make this all possible.

 
     
 

Coming Next Week...

• Growing pumpkins in Texas
• My favorite ornamental grass and why
• Our weekly calendar of timely tasks
• Whatever question has come up most often
• … and a bunch more!

Until then, thanks for reading! And…
Happy Gardening!
Neil


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