VOLUME 16, ISSUE 48 • November 24, 2020

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Happy Thanksgiving! May it be a safe and quiet one for you and yours.

I figured some of you would appreciate getting
e-gardens a couple of days early this week.

In this issue…
• My favorite ferns;
• A patchful of briars;
• Pruning shrubs back;
• Tasks for Thanksgiving-time; and
• Why red oaks don't drop their leaves.

Neil Sperry's LONE STAR GARDENING
Order immediately if you want
the Christmas Special!
• Great gift for the holidays, birthdays or housewarmings.
• 344 pages. 840 of my best photos. Hardback. Printed in Texas on superior-quality paper.
• Covers every aspect of outdoor gardening: lawns, landscapes, flowers, fruit and vegetables.
• Written for every county in Texas.
• A 48-page chapter (4 pages per month) telling you when to plant, prune, feed and protect every plant that you're growing.

First book only $34.95
2nd and 3rd books only $30 each*
• I sign each book as it sells.
• Satisfaction guaranteed or I'll refund every penny.
*Sent to same address. Limited time only - special will expire very soon!

My office will be closed much of this week. Please click to order from my website.

Photo: Pansies 'Jewels 'n Jazz' add pizazz to Texas gardens in winter.

Gardening This Weekend

I'm throwing in a couple of extra days in the off chance that you'll find some time over Thanksgiving to do a tiny bit of gardening. Here are the top tips for this weekend.

Photo: Lovely solid-colored Matrix mix pansies from Calloway's.

My Favorite Fun Fern

I love unusual plants. Living stones that mimic rocks along the coast of Africa. Stapelias that are beautiful in bloom, but that are pollinated by flies. And ferns that look like huge sets of antlers, aptly named "staghorn ferns." Let me tell you about them.

Photo: Fertile fronds of a staghorn fern.

Question of the Week - Number One: November 24, 2020

"What is this thorny vine that is clambering all over plants on some land we just bought? How can we get rid of it before we build?"

I've lived your "dream." Click to see my reply.

Photo: Smilax briars.

Question of the Week - Number Two: November 24, 2020

"I have Texas sage bushes that are 6 to 7 feet tall. I'd like to reduce their height by 2 to 3 feet. When and how can I do that?"

Read on for my reply.

Photo: Pruning Texas sage isn't difficult.

Question of the Week - Number Three: November 24, 2020

"Why do the leaves on my Shumard red oak not fall like leaves on other trees?"

I'm asked it many times every fall. I'll do my best to explain it.

Photo: Shumard red oak in Sperry landscape.

And, in closing…

I hope you've found this issue of e-gardens to be of interest. I'm already working on topics and photos for next week. And signing books! Don’t forget to click here if you’re planning to order.

I'll be doing my radio programs live as usual this weekend. I hope you'll tune in and give me a call. Here's a list of the stations and times. Join me on Facebook and at my website. And, I'll see you at virtual church this Sunday morning.

But I won't be seeing you at any of the Thanksgiving feasts. Lynn and I will be staying home and calling our kids and grandkids. We've made it this far. We can make it a little bit farther.

Please have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and take the best possible care of yourself.

Until next week…

Happy Thanksgardening!

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