VOLUME 13, ISSUE 42 • October 19, 2017

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

I have a great e-gardens in store for you today…

In this issue…
• Turk's cap, a favorite fall flower;
• Grassburs, scourge of the season,
• Pruning goof that hurts later;
• Tips for weekend warriors; and
• Sr. S. Chamblee, Sleuth of the Southwest, is back.

One for you, two for friends…
Save money on holiday gifts! Or scatter books all about your house in case you lose one. My newest book Neil Sperry's Lone Star Gardening - on sale! Not in stores, not on Amazon/only available from my office (800-752-4769) and website.

Buy first book at regular price of $31.95, second and third books shipped to same address only $26.95 each. (All books: plus tax and postage.) I sign every book, personalize them if requested (short inscriptions appreciated). Limited time offer.

Much more thorough than my "cowboy boot book" from 1991 and a quarter-century more up-to-date. (That's the one you'll find in stores and on Amazon.)

Sale price is for limited time only. Order today!

That's it for the warm-ups. Let's get e-gardens underway.

Photo: Turk's cap steals the show every fall.

Plant of the Week - October 19, 2017

If you're looking for a tough-as-nails perennial that you can share with butterflies, hummingbirds and fellow humans as well, Turk's cap is waiting to serve. I have important details.

Photo: Turk's cap is in full bloom across Texas right now.

Native Son: October 19, 2017

Stephen Chamblee raises his bar of writing honors a couple of notches higher. If you like plants, you’ll love what he’s crafted.

Photo: Steven peers through the 1X power glass that came in his box of Rice Krispies.

Gardening This Weekend

Time is running out for several of your important gardening tasks, while it's just beginning for others. I have your list.

Photo: Gloriosa daisies bloom in spring, are divided right now.

Question of the Week: October 19, 2017

"Neil, how can I eliminate grassburs? They're awful this year."

This question has popped up almost daily. I have the answer.

Photo: The burs are next year's seeds with this weed.

Tiny Pruning Error, Huge Consequences

I walk past this poor tree several times a year and it always makes me sad. You see the small stub of a branch that was left at some point in years past. What I'll show you is what developed as a result.

Photo: It doesn't take any longer to prune a tree properly.

On a closing note…

Coming here in a week or two, at the request of several: photos showing measurements of the armadillo trap I featured last week, for those who want to construct one.

Until next week, that's another edition of our little baby. We hope you agree that she’s pretty, and if so, all I ask is that you tell all your gardening buds.

Other places we can meet:
• Radio
• Podcasts
• Facebook
• Website
• Nurseries (independent)
• Church
• Hamburger joints

Until next week, thanks for reading, and

Happy Gardening!

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