VOLUME 22, ISSUE 20 • May 14, 2026

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

The next few days ought to be great for gardening. I've planned e-gardens accordingly.

In this issue…
• Lovable larkspurs;
• Pumping iron into your plants;
• Your goals for the weekend;
• Diane Sitton visits Kingwood - wow!
• I answer your questions.

NEIL SPERRY'S LONE STAR GARDENING
Finish up spring. Get ready for summer.

• 11 Chapters. 344 pages. 840 of my photos. Hardback and printed in Texas, not China.
• 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.

Only $34.95
Order from my website
Or call my office
Weekday afternoons
(800) 752-4769
Also available at Calloway's and
Cornelius Nurseries

Photo: Purple coneflower and Coronation Gold yarrow are available in Texas garden centers right now.

Gardening This Weekend

Hopefully your part of Texas got a soaking in one of the recent rains. Wherever you are, it's a great time for gardening, and I've brought the topics - the things that ought to be on your list. Take a look.

Photo: Lavender-pink yarrow offers an uncommon shade of a durable late-spring perennial.

GardenScapes celebrates spring

When the Kingwood Garden Club puts on a tour of their homes and gardens, it's nothing short of spectacular. Diane Sitton was there and she has a report from the event.

Photo: Glass flowers accompany real flowers in this exquisite border.

Ever-lovin' Larkspurs

There's a place in any garden for a shiny new plant with bold and colorful blooms. And then there's a place in everyone's garden for pass-along plants that have been handed down for generations. That's where these plants fit in.

Photo: Reseeding larkspurs keep performing their magic spring after spring.

Ironing your plants

Iron may be one of the "minor" elements, but its impacts are critical. When plants don't get enough iron, their growth is impeded. Let's take a quick look at how it's used by plants, how we can recognize its shortage, and what we can do to correct it.

Photo: Classic iron deficiency on a sweet gum.

Q&A – Ask Neil

You asked me how to prune a Hoskin Shadow yaupon that is growing way off course. Also, how Epimedium would be as a groundcover. About eliminating snailseed vine, and for help with identifying a poison-ivy lookalike. Finally, about cedar-pear rust. Great questions. See my answers.

And, in closing…

I mentioned last week that we would be handing out 2,000 crape myrtles - one to each 5th grader in the McKinney ISD to take home Friday as a Mother's Day gift. Hats off to the 15-20 Calloway's management people who turned out to help us. You were terrific! Thank you!

Helping us load the plants, we had 15 strapping youth from the McKinney North football team. Since this was our 19th year for this project, I asked them how many of them had gotten a plant when they were in the 5th grade. 12 raised their hands.

Photo: From a 1-gal. Mother's Day gift to this lovely crape myrtle in 7 years. Well done, Colt L. and Mom in McKinney! Image clickable for larger view.

When I was finished thanking them for helping, Colt L. tapped me on the shoulder and showed me this photo. "This is my plant." I noticed he had taken the photo the day before. Colt is proud of his gift to his mom. Bet she is as well. That really made the day!

That's it for this week. Next Wednesday is Graduation Day for Serenity High in McKinney. Another big day.

Until then, join me on the radio and in church.

Happy Gardening!

Subscribe to Neil's Podcasts!

Available for both Apple and Google Play

Click here to listen on Neil's web site »