VOLUME 22, ISSUE 30 • July 23, 2026

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

The hottest week of the year across Texas put the pressure on me to choose more topics you could enjoy indoors as you plan for cooler times ahead.

In this issue…
• Textures in landscaping;
• Marantas and calatheas;
• This weekend's prime tasks;
• Diane Sitton shows her beachcombing finds; and
• I answer your questions.

NEIL SPERRY'S LONE STAR GARDENING
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Photo: ‘Lemon Lime’ maranta’s leaves are representative of a colorful group of tropical foliage plants.

Gardening This Weekend

Really hot weather ramps up a bunch of important gardening tasks. I've shortened my list even more. Click through so we can compare notes.

Photo: Sow seed of heirloom cockscombs now for stunning tall blooms this fall.

Transforming sea treasures into garden art

Diane Sitton is always finding art forms in nature to highlight in her gardens. Today’s story features seashells she’s brought home from beach trips, but not this week from Bertha. That will be another time.

Photo: There's no simpler way to showcase beach finds than by displaying seashells by a fountain.

Can you name my topic here?

My photo gives clear comparison, but I'll bet than you can't guess what I'm going to tell you about it. It's an important feature in landscaping, and it's just one click away.

Photo: Celosia and coleus were on a nursery cart together at Calloway's two days ago. I couldn't pass up a photo.

Time for a prayer and confessional

Marantas, calatheas, and their sisters and cousins are some of the showiest plants in our tropical collections. They can also be some of the more challenging. But I'll outline tips to success.

Photo: Colorful calathea is a lovely tropical if you meet its requirements.

Q&A – Ask Neil

Stars this week are hammerhead planarians, sticky honeydew, lanky lawngrass, Certainty, and Prodiamine. Don't miss 'em.

And, in closing…

That's it for another riveting edition of e-gardens. (Or are you just too sweaty to get out of your big leather chair?) Either way, I hope you've found it to be a fun read.

That's enough. I'll be listening for you live on the radio this weekend or via my podcasts of the programs. Give me a call. And I'll see you in church and maybe at some great burger joint down the street.

Until next week, thanks for reading…

And happy gardening!

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