VOLUME 15, ISSUE 21 • May 23, 2019

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

With many hitting the highways a bit early for Memorial Day travels, we're sending e-gardens out a few hours early so it won't get jammed in e-mailboxes all weekend. This will be, after all, your last good chance to get many things done before summer pours in. Let's take a look.

In this issue…
• Lightning strikes;
• Lichens grow;
• Black spot persists;
• Tasks shift;
• This fern shines.

That's sounds simple. Why did it take me a long day to write it?

The book that pays for itself…
Written just for Texas - written just for you!

Neil Sperry's Lone Star Gardening
• Self-published, so it's the book I always wanted to be able to hand to you.
• 11 chapters, 344 pages, 840 of my photos.
• Hardback. Printed in Texas!
• I attended the press checks to be sure it was done perfectly.
• Not in stores and not on Amazon. Those would have run up your cost.
• Available only from my office (M-F, 9-5, call 800-752-4769) or my website.
• I sign every copy.
• Only $33.95 plus tax, postage.

Photo: Trouble identifying this one? It's an ultra close-up of blue (kinda) verbena in bloom at Pappadeaux in Richardson last weekend.

Gardening This Weekend

As warmer weather pushes across Texas our gardening responsibilities change very quickly. I've made a list of the things I'm doing in my own landscape in the hopes that they will be of help to you as well. Please click through to see them.

Photo: Rose-of-Sharon 'Woodbridge' can be planted now.

Autumn Fern 'Brilliance'

I first saw this selection several years ago at the Dallas Arboretum and I started looking for it immediately thereafter. I've had it in our landscape for four years and I still love it. Let me tell you why.

Photo: Coppery new growth of Brilliance autumn fern.

Question of the Week - Number 1: May 23, 2019 - Black Spot of Roses

"Why are all the leaves on my rose developing black spots, turning yellow and then falling off?"

That's black spot. I'll help you.

Photo: Example of black spot posted by Carolyn C. to my Facebook page.

Question of the Week - Number 2: May 23, 2019

"Lightning may have hit our tree. What can we do to help it heal?"

Click through to read my input.

Photo: It's easy to see the path the lightning took.

Question of the Week - Number 3: May 23, 2019

"What is this fungus that is now growing all over the bark of my tree? What can I do to stop it?"

My answer may surprise you.

Photo: These are funguses and algae growing together.

And, in closing…

That's what I have for e-gardens this Memorial Day weekend. Please be safe. Please remember those who have given us the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful country. You can do so by doing something wonderful in return for your country. And spend a little time gardening to boot!

I'll be broadcasting all of my radio programs live this weekend so I hope you'll join me and call me. Please check out my newspaper columns in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, San Antonio Express News and a dozen or so other papers across Texas. Join me on Facebook, and check out my website where I've just archived information on diagnosing St. Augustine issues. Our family will save you a part of our pew in church this Sunday morning.

Until next week, happy gardening!

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