VOLUME 22, ISSUE 7 • February 12, 2026

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Happy Valentine's Day!
From a gardening perspective, this weekend looks like it might get a bit messy, but as dry as it's been, "messy" would be good. Let's talk about plants!

In this issue…
• Broccoli in the spotlight;
• This weekend's prime goals;
• Loving those Lithops;
• Diane Sitton talks gardening Valentines; and
• I answer your questions.

NEIL SPERRY'S LONE STAR GARDENING
A career's worth of experience

• I worked a year writing this book, but it took a career to learn what I put into it.
• 11 Chapters. 344 pages. 840 of my photos. 3 weeks of press checks in San Antonio - I was there for it all!
• Covers every aspect of landscapes, lawns, fruit, flower, and vegetable gardening for every county in Texas.
• I sign every copy and I personally guarantee your satisfaction or I'll refund every penny.
• Not in bookstores and not on Amazon.

Only $34.95
Order from my website
Or call my office
M-Th afternoons, F all day (800) 752-4769
Also available at Calloway's and
Cornelius Nurseries

Photo: Single red roses take us back to the good old days!

Gardening This Weekend

Some nice early spring weather is on our horizon across Texas. Let's talk gardening - the things you'll want to get done in the next several days. See how many of these are already on your list.

Photo: Aphids congregating rapidly on flowering stalk of ornamental kale.

Gardens that say "be my valentine"

Our creative friend Diane Sitton brings ways to combine special loves: your sweetheart, Valentine’s Day, your imagination, and one of your favorite holidays.

Photo: Craft a valentine card - garden style -- using a chalkboard. Surround it with spring flowers.

Big time for broccoli

Since it's prime time for planting broccoli in home gardens across Texas, I thought it might be a good time to outline a few pointers. It's a relatively easy crop for beginners, but you must follow a few rules. I'll outline them for you.

Photo: Green Magic broccoli is recommended for Texas.

Hide-and-seek succulents

When it comes to succulent plants, my benchmark has always been, the stranger the better. And, when I saw my first Lithops I was ready to do backflips (a seismic event). Let me tell you about these mystical plants.

Photo: A collection of Lithops I ran into at Calloway's a year or two back.

Q&A – Ask Neil

Lots of questions regarding pre-emergent weedkillers. Others on planting blueberries, ants in the garden, squash vine borers, and hollies that have suddenly developed really prickly leaves. I've answered 'em all.

And, in closing…

It's an honor to have you as an e-gardens subscriber. For 21 years I've provided this weekly gardening newsletter at no charge.

All I ask in return is that you let our advertisers know that you appreciate their support. Also, please let your friends know about it. Encourage them to sign up at my website just as you did.

So, that's it for now. I hope you'll tune me in on one of my three live radio programs this weekend. Here's the page on my website where you can find times and stations. And here is a link to podcasts of prior programs.

Until next week here, this weekend on the radio, or at a nursery or burger joint, thanks for reading…

And happy gardening!

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