VOLUME 20, ISSUE 35 • August 29, 2024

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

This issue of e-gardens has some very special topics. It's a great way to look ahead toward fall while you have a little time this Labor Day weekend.

In this issue…
• Pay attention to trees' longevity;
• Drive the hummingbirds wild;
• This weekend's prime tasks;
• A rare native orchid and the tallest tree on the planet; and
• Your questions and my answers.

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Photo: Gregg's mistflower is one of Texas' finest pollinator plants. Bees and butterflies can't leave it alone.

Gardening This Weekend

With temperatures trending downward the next several days, this would be a good time to finish up your late-summer tasks. I've made a list of those that are absolutely the most critical. Scroll through to see if you don't find a few that match up for your place.

Photo: Wildflower seeds for spring should be sown over the next several weeks.

A Hummingbird Favorite

If you're looking for a magnet for hummingbirds as they make their way back across Texas, flame anisacanthus is holding its hand high up in the air. Let me tell you about this little-used perennial.

Photo: The small, tubular flowers are a perfect fit for hummingbirds' beaks.

North Dakota's rare orchid and the world's tallest tree

Here are a couple of stories I thought might make for fun reading over a holiday weekend. One's about a rare orchid that's being tracked by technology, and the other speaks to the tallest plant on the planet.

Photo: Western prairie fringed orchid (photo by Kimberly Emerson/USFWS)

Playing the "Tree Longevity" game

Longevity is probably the least-considered feature when we start thinking about shade trees. At least that's true our first time around the block. But once we've had a bad experience, we learn to ask questions. Let me give you some suggestions. Keep on reading.

Photo: This live oak was planted on the grounds of The Alamo 100 years ago.

Q&A – Ask Neil

Chewed up althaea buds. Dead spots in a yaupon. A Redpointe red maple. A brand new Gulfstream nandina. All calling for help. Let's see what I can do.

And, in closing…

Here's wishing you a safe and wonderful Labor Day weekend. Sit back and relax. If you get some rain, rejoice and be grateful. If you don't, soak the soil deeply.

I have some fun ideas for next week's edition. And I'll be on the air live this weekend hoping you'll give me a call.

Thanks for reading, and…

Happy Gardening!

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