VOLUME 13, ISSUE 39 • September 28, 2017

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Colorful Crotons

I love this plant! Obviously I'm not alone, because you see it everywhere you turn. And nurseries are full of them now. They're great in the fall garden, and I'll tell you how.

Photo: Crotons dazzle their surroundings in fall.

Best Plant for Wildlife: Turk's Cap

They're blooming their heads off all across North Texas right now, and butterflies, bees and hummingbirds are going crazy. You need to grow this dependable perennial. I have the details.

Photo: "Turk's cap" name is appropriate.

Gardening This Weekend

It's finally fall. We'll still have warm spells, but our gardening activities will take some dramatic swings these next couple of weeks. Here are the important things to get done first.

Photo: Oxalis blooms in landscaping border.

Question of the Week 1: September 28, 2017

"Neil, what is this weed, and how can I eliminate it?"

Brian L. actually posted the photo on the left. I inserted the photo on the right. I'll tell you all about it.

Photo: The most bothersome weed of the fall.

Question of the Week 2: September 28, 2017

"Neil, why are my trees turning brown and losing their leaves so early?"

This is all a relative thing. You may be surprised by my answers. There actually are a couple of possibilities.

Photo: Leaves beneath a cedar elm.

And in closing…

That's the end of our road for another week. I hope you've enjoyed this issue of e-gardens this week. If you did, please let others know about us.

In the meantime, please check out my podcasts at my website (where you'll also find my 1001 FAQs). Join me on Facebook, and read my work in one of almost 20 Texas newspapers across the state. I'll be on the radio live soon, and my family and I will see you in church this coming Sunday.

As always, thanks for reading, and

Happy gardening!