VOLUME 16, ISSUE 5 • January 30, 2020

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

What an incredible week for the Sperry family. Lynn and I are proud to introduce our first great-grandchild Jacklyn May born just yesterday to Sam and Kyrstin. She is a love, and we are proud to have her in our family! Welcome, Jackie!

In this issue…
• Kalanchoes are beautiful;
• Best small and medium trees;
• Best large shade trees;
• It's fruit and pecan program time; and
• This weekend's important assignments.

A library in one hand!
I think my book might be the only reference you'll need for 98 percent of your Texas gardening activities. At least, that was my goal as I wrote it.

Neil Sperry's Lone Star Gardening
• I’ll say it. This book should pay for itself before this year is finished!
• Chap. 2, "the calendar" telling you when to plant, prune, feed and protect all of your plants month by month, will save you scores of dollars. I've never had it in a book before.
• 10 other chapters cover basics, trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers, annuals, perennials, lawns, fruit and vegetables in incredible detail.
• Thoroughly illustrated (840 photos and detailed charts).
• Hardback. 344 pages. Printed in Texas.

Only $33.95 plus tax, postage.
• I sign every book before mailing.
• Not in stores and not on Amazon.
• Order from my website, or call my office weekdays (800) 752-4769.

Photo: Iceland poppies may be the most cheerful flowers of springtime - and that says a lot! Plant them now to enjoy them in pots or beds come March and April.

Kalanchoes Perfect Flowering Gift

Looking for a small flowering plant to give or to get? This one's a winner. Let me tell you about it.

Photo: Kalanchoes come in many colors and are available year 'round.

Fruit and Pecans this Sunday!

For the 37th year in a row, my special guest on my radio program this Sunday will be Dr. George Ray McEachern, fruit and pecan specialist with Texas A&M. It's one of the most popular programs of the year. I have the details.

Photo: Ripe peaches can be as near as your own backyard. Learn how this Sunday morning on my radio program.

Best of the Large Shade Trees

You don't really have a landscape here in Texas until you have one or two shade trees. If you have ample room, I have the best of the big ones. Click through to see them.

Photo: Shumard red oak provides superior fall color many years.

Best Medium and Small Trees

Hand-in-hand with the list of large shade trees, here is a list of the best trees for smaller spaces and urban lots. In many cases these will be better choices.

Photo: A bee gleefully works a fragrant blossom of Mexican plum in spring.

Gardening This Weekend

Things are about to get hectic over the next couple of months. To get you tuned up and ready, I've assembled this weekend's important assignments.

Photo: Iceland poppies are perfect to plant right now.

And, in closing…

That's it for this week's e-gardens, but no babies expected next week, so maybe I'll be able to concentrate a little bit better.

In the meantime I'll be watching for you on my website, and talking to you on the radio. See you on Facebook and in church.

Until then, love you Jackie!

Happy Gardening!

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