Articles - Neil Sperry's GARDENS

Question of the Week Number 2: January 23, 2020

By Neil Sperry • January 20, 2020

“What is the best way to keep a moth orchid growing and blooming? I was given one recently and I want to keep it thriving.” Moth orchids, botanically Phalaenopsis varieties, …

Blackberries Prevail

By Neil Sperry • January 20, 2020

As I sat there eating blackberries on my breakfast cereal, I realized that I needed to share the good news with you right here – blackberries are easy to grow. …

Gardening This Weekend: January 23, 2020

By Neil Sperry • January 20, 2020

Once the curtain goes up, the play is underway. And that’s the way it is with the gardening season. It’s ready to start. Here is the opening of Act 1 …

Plant of the Week: Compact Nandina

By Neil Sperry • January 13, 2020

I’ve always been a big fan of nandinas. I grew up mowing around them in College Station. But those were the big dogs – standard Nandina domestica, theoretically called “heavenly …

Gardening This Weekend: January 16, 2020

By Neil Sperry • January 13, 2020

Forget the “spring” housecleaning in our landscape. We’re doing it now. There’s too much to save it for March and April. Clean things up now, and beyond that, here’s the …

Beautiful Name, Fabulous Fragrance

By Neil Sperry • January 7, 2020

Senior horticulturist at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens Steve Huddleston talked about winter honeysuckle a couple of weeks ago on my radio program. I enjoy sitting back and hearing Steve …

Ever Need a Weed ID?

By Neil Sperry • January 7, 2020

In the 50 years that I’ve been answering gardeners’ questions I’ve probably been asked to identify 500 kinds of weeds. They’ve been pulled out of pockets and purses, off dashboards …

Grow Your Own Pineapple

By Neil Sperry • January 7, 2020

I touted this as “the ultimate form of garden recycling,” so I’d better start with my list of materials. Here’s what you’ll need:• A fresh pineapple with a good-looking top. …

3rd printing of Neil Sperry’s Lone Star Gardening