VOLUME 14, ISSUE 11 • March 15, 2018

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

It's an exciting time to be a gardener in Texas. Long evenings. Warmer weather. The danger of frost either behind us or nearly so. I've prepared what I hope you'll find to be a great e-gardens for this week, including…

• Our featured plants, gorgeous geraniums;
• Textures in landscaping;
• Comparing two white-flowering trees;
• Gardening tasks for this weekend, and
• Our friend Steven Chamblee is fresh back from Mexico!

The best book I could write for you…
Many authors now self-publish, and I decided to do so as well. That gave me the chance to make the decisions, and I'm really happy with what we turned out (my editor, graphic designer and I):

• 11 chapters covering all aspects of Texas gardening;
• 344 pages and 840 of my photos;
• Hardcover and high-quality paper;
• Printed right here in Texas (not China!).

• Only $31.95 plus tax and postage;
• I sign every book and personalize if requested;
• Satisfaction guaranteed.

• Not in stores and not on Amazon.
• Order from my website, or call my office weekdays: (800) 752-4769.

Photo: A happy honeybee visits Mexican plum.

Plant of the Week: Geraniums

I have an affinity for geraniums. But it's a love I've learned to temper and time. There are some facts you'll want to know to get the most out of this colorful crop, so you might want to check what I've written.

Photo: Few plants have more cheering colors than geraniums in springtime.

Native Son: Ruminations on Mexico

Our friend Steven Chamblee spent a few days in Cancun and Yucatan. From the looks of his story, he got the most out of every last moment. This is one of his best. You're sure to enjoy it.

Photo: This is what Steven looks like on a calm day.

Gardening This Weekend

With weather becoming more and more spring-like, folks are turning their attention toward their landscapes and gardens. I've made a list of the most-timely tasks. Click through to see them.

Photo: Tomato transplants ready to set out into garden.

Question of the Week: March 15, 2018

"Neil, what is the white tree that's been blooming for the past two weeks everywhere I've been driving?"

There are two possible answers, one good and one bad. Click to read them.

Photo: Bradford pear (L) and Mexican plum

Texture - Forgotten Feature of Landscaping

Every gardener thinks about flowers. Many think about growth forms. Some even ask how tall and wide a plant will grow. But only a few consider plants' textures. But texture is a valuable part of landscaping.

Photo: Wood ferns, English ivy and mondograss provide contrast in textures.

And, in closing…

We've come to the end of another e-gardens, but we'll be back at this same time next week. Please let your friends know about us. You're our best means of advertising our free newsletter.

So until we meet up here again, I hope to see you on Facebook, at my website or in a nursery near you. Or visit with you on the radio or via my podcasts. Maybe we can meet up at church, or I'm sure we'll be out at a burger joint sometime soon.

Enjoy this great time of year!

Happy Gardening!

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