VOLUME 18, ISSUE 41 • October 13, 2022

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

It's been a grand gardening week across Texas and there's more yet to come. Let's celebrate!

In this issue…
• This pest isn't as bad as it looks;
• This weekend's assignments;
• Pumpkin festivities;
• Rockers in the landscape; and
• Put Neil to the test.

LAST CALL!
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NEIL SPERRY'S LONE STAR GARDENING

• Fewer than 200 copies remain at this price.
• 344 pages. 840 photos. Hardback.
• Covers all aspects of landscaping, lawn care, flower, fruit and vegetable gardening.
• Written for entire state of Texas.
• I sign every copy as it sells.
• Satisfaction guaranteed.
• Not in stores and not on Amazon.

ORDER FROM NEILSPERRY.COM
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(800) 752-4769

Photo: Rich colors of pumpkins and gourds let you know that fall has really arrived.

So does this sign I observed this week in Allen.

Gardening This Weekend

This is the time to get lots of your big gardening tasks done. Nurseries are still well stocked. The pros aren't as swamped as they will be in the spring. And there's plenty to get done at home. Let's make a list.

Photo: Spruce things up with fall container color. (Puckett's Nursery, Allen)

Rocking chairs…
The American invention that keeps on rockin’

After a year like this one, we deserve some time to sit and relax. Diane Sitton invites you to pull up a rocker.

Photo: Painted white, basic country-style rocking chairs help furnish this spacious porch.

Pumpkin Shows Abound

Ever see a pumpkin that weighs lots more than a ton? I'll show you one and tell you a couple of stories. They're a fun group of plants, these pumpkins and squash.

Photo: And they're also beautiful!

A Pest of Little Concern

It's nice to be able to report that what seems to be a huge problem is little more than a gnat gnibble. If you have hackberry trees that have been stripped bare of their clothing, I'll tell you what did it and why.

Photo: My photo from early this week in Plano. This may be what you've been seeing.

Q&A
Ask Neil

From sticky to stickery, lavender to Emerald, we're pretty much going to cover it all. See what you've written me.

And, in closing…

We've journeyed our way to the end of another outpouring of e-gardens. But I'll be back with more next week, same time and same e-mailbox. Hope you'll be watching for it.

In the meanwhile, please join me on the radio, and look me up in your newspaper. (I write for about a dozen across Texas.) Please visit my website for my 1001 FAQs and podcasts of my programs. And I'll see you in nurseries. (I'm a shopper, too.)

I'll close with a great little time-lapse video of an industrious mom. Our son Todd sent it to me. I'll bet you'll enjoy it.

Screen capture from video: 8 fledglings
two days before their departure.