VOLUME 14, ISSUE 25 • June 21, 2018

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Aha. Longest day of the year! So you can read this as soon as it arrives in your "in" box and still have three hours to garden before you come in. I like that!

In this issue…
• Flocking to phlox;
• Steven Chamblee visits Aggieland;
• Watch for these pests;
• Garden tips for this time; and
• A disease that comes out of nowhere.

Book a delivery quickly!
Time's running out. The 3rd printing of Neil Sperry's Lone Star Gardening will be on the presses only a few more days. Then it's off to the bindery for 2-3 weeks. And then… and then….

Pre-order price continues briefly!
I'll honor the special pre-order price of only $26.95 for a little bit longer. When the book comes out of the bindery, the price will be $33.95 (all prices plus tax, postage).

If you need a copy of the book immediately, I have a limited supply of 2nd printing copies at their regular price of $31.95 plus tax, postage.

Lone Star Gardening is back on the presses! It’s hard to imagine that every page of it went through all of this process. Get the lowest price I’ll ever offer now!

Book is not in stores and not on Amazon. Order the book from my website or by calling my office M-F, 9-5 at (800) 752-4769.

• 344 pages, 840 of my photographs
• Hardback and printed on high-quality paper
• Printed in San Antonio - not China!
• Covers all aspects of outdoor landscapes and gardens.
• I sign every copy. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Photo: John Fanick summer phlox

Gardening This Weekend

These are your longest evenings of the entire year. There's ample time to accomplish your tasks, and I have the most timely ones lined up and ready to check.

Photo: It's prime time to choose and plant crape myrtles.

Native Son: Aggieland Turnaround

Steven Chamblee ventured to my native home College Station to see what the Aggies have dreamed up. It’s pretty exciting. Check out Steven’s story – fun as they always are!

Photo: Dawn breaks over a new era for Aggie horticulture, illuminating beauty and enlightening minds.

Plant of the Week - June 21, 2018: Summer Phlox

If you’ve lived up North you know summer phlox as a great garden perennial. Here in Texas, however, only a few types hold up to our weather. I’ll share a couple.

Photo: Summer phlox is blooming now in Texas.

Question of the Week Number 1: June 21, 2018

"Neil, what is causing the leaves of my loquat and several other plants to turn tan?"

Photo: Loquat leaf, back (L) and front.

Question of the Week Number 2: June 21, 2018

"Neil, what has killed this Bradford pear suddenly?"

A disease that attacks a wide assortment of plants. I have details.

Photo: Bradford pear in Plano a few days ago.

And, in closing…

That's e-gardens for this week. I hope it's been attuned to your needs and I hope you've enjoyed it. If so, please tell your friends.

I'll be back at this same post next week with more gardening info. Between now and then, let's meet up on Facebook, on the radio, via my podcasts, in the newspaper, on my website and in church this Sunday.

Thanks for reading,

And happy gardening!

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