VOLUME 22, ISSUE 18 • April 30, 2026

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Welcome to the final Thursday of April and the first weekend of May. I've prepared what I hope will be a fun and useful e-gardens accordingly.

In this issue…
• A zest for Texas;
• This weekend's prime tasks;
• Not from Boston/Not an Ivy;
• Here's your ivy, and it's poisonous;
• Your questions and my answers.

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Photo: If you ever want to hide a wall in lush greenery, Boston ivy is just the right plant.

Gardening This Weekend

The first weekend of May marks the transition into late spring in my mind. In fact, it's been warm enough in many parts of our state that we're already planning for summer. Here are the most critical things to get done over the next several days.

Photo: This was part of a study bed of new coleus varieties I came across two years ago.

Boston ivy thrives in Texas

You might have just the right spot for Boston ivy in your Texas landscape. It's a handsome vine with many fine features. It also has many fun facts associated with it. Let me share a few with you.

Photo: Boston ivy getting its start for the season.

A Real Zest for Life

It's odd that you don't see this plant more often. My first experience with Cestrum 'Orange Zest' came about 10 years ago. I saw it in a landscape and started paying more attention. But it must need a little more press space, so I'll volunteer. Take a look.

Photo: Orange Zest loves the heat.

A lesson for everyone

Can you name this spring seedling? I found it in a groundcover bed alongside our driveway last week. It gave me a chance to share some important facts with a young relative. Click through to see them.

Photo: What is this little seedling?

Q&A – Ask Neil

A rare question about applying potassium to a lawn. A non-flowering hydrangea. A really tough weed to eliminate from groundcovers. Small twigs falling from a red oak. All those and several more questions. See how I answered them.

And, in closing…

That's it for this week's e-gardens, but you never know what important things will crop up before next Thursday evening.

As example, our son Brian and I were talking yesterday morning and he brought up the subject of "Fenway Farms." As much as I love Fenway Park and have been there twice, I'd never heard about it. It's a wonderful rooftop garden hidden on the 3rd base side of Fenway. This is in a beloved park that's more than 110 years old.

Images clickable for larger views.

Brian took the photos while he was on a tour. Here is a link to a short video that explains it all. Great job, Boston! Wonderful photos, Brian!

I hope you have a great weekend and week. I'll be back with another e-gardens same time same e-mailbox next week. And I'll be on the radio this weekend as well.

That's it for this week. Thanks for reading. And until next time…

Happy gardening!

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