VOLUME 12, ISSUE 38 • October 20, 2016

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Today's cold front dropped some of those high temperatures a bit in the past few hours, and that's a good thing. This ought to be a grand weekend for gardening.

In this issue we have:
• Gardening This Weekend - your favorite part of e-gardens,
• An "Editorial Opinion" (my first here)
• Steven Chamblee's return
• Question of the Week
• Digging and dividing spring perennials, last call!

Please, my two e-gardens favors in return: please thank our advertisers, and please tell your friends.

Photo: Maximilian sunflowers (Helianthus maximiliani) along a Collin County highway a few days ago.

Gardening This Weekend

Yeah! It's been warm this fall. But that won't continue forever, and wise gardeners are already making their plans. Be forewarned. I have tips for you for the upcoming weekend.

Photo: This aglaonema has spent the summer outdoors, but it will soon have to come into our house or greenhouse.

Native Son

My great friend Steven Chamblee must be feeling his age. His story takes us from caves to children, from wildflowers to redwoods. You’ll love the journey. Even more, you’ll love his writing. It’s so… well, it’s so “Steven."

Photo: Steven Chamblee

From the Sperry Gardens

It's prime time for dividing spring-flowering perennials, and St. Joseph's lilies, also called "hardy amaryllis" are prime examples. I'll tell you the story of these plants in our gardens

Photo: It's time to dig and divide St. Joseph lilies and other spring perennials. Now!

Question of the Week

"Neil, I saw your Facebook post showing the beautiful crape myrtles still in bloom last weekend in McKinney. Mine hardly bloomed at all in 2016. Why?"

I've been receiving this question repeatedly the past several weeks.

Photo: What an unusual year for crape myrtles.

Editorial Opinion

After last week's e-gardens story regarding overseeding with ryegrass, I received a note that some cities ban residents from using it. They claim it overtaxes available water resources. I disagree, and I'll tell you why.

Photo: Should overseeding with ryegrass be banned? Neil says "No." See why.

And, in closing…

That's e-gardens for this week, but we'll be back just seven short nights from now. Be waiting and watching, and gather your friends around, too.

Until then, join me on the radio, on Facebook, in the newspaper or on my website. You'll find podcasts on the website as well.

Or we can spend time together in my newest book, but you'll need to bring your own copy. Don't have one? We can help you right here. (You won't find it in stores or on Amazon.)

Until next week, happy gardening!

Neil