VOLUME 22, ISSUE 31 • July 30, 2026

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Gardening This Weekend

The best thing about the last weekend of July is that you can see September just over the next hill. And September marks the beginning of cooler weather and more fun gardening in Texas. But we have a few more weeks to help our plants survive until then. I'll get us started.

Photo: Cora XDR (extra disease-resistant) vincas stand up to the heat, can be planted now.

Plan "rooms" into your landscape

Gardens have "rooms" just as much as houses have rooms. Well planned, they'll even have portals that take you from one room to the next. Let me explain.

Photo: Think of your landscape as an outdoor enclosure with rooms. Decorate it accordingly.

Take notes about pencil plants

If you enjoy cacti and succulents, it won't be long until you cross paths with this oddball plant from the African continent. You probably already have. Pencil plants look like a pile of Pick-Up Sticks right out of the box, but they're all green and growing. And they're fun. Read on.

Photo: You're looking at stems. All stems. This plant is virtually leafless.

A July Evening in College Station

I have great memories from my childhood. And, I have some tangible things that are incredibly close to my heart. This story encompasses both, and it brings in a third element - a date that passed last week without much fanfare. Let me tie them all in together.

Photo: This steppingstone holds special meaning.

Q&A – Ask Neil

Your questions this week covered the best surface for a small backyard with big dogs, controls for oleander aphids on milkweed plants, advisability of a root barrier with an oak tree close to a house, best replacement for a post oak, and cause of a hole in a crape myrtle's trunk. See how I answered.

And, in closing…

Thanks for taking a little time to read e-gardens this week. I really enjoy preparing it for you and I hope you enjoy receiving it. Please let our advertisers know you appreciate their support, and please tell your friends about us.

I'm already assembling stories for next week. We'll talk about fall gardening, and Steve Huddleston will have the most cold-hardy palm for your landscape. If you ask me questions, I'll have answers.

In the meantime, I'll be by my microphone this weekend. Join me on any of my radio programs. Here is a link to the times, stations, and other pertinent info. Many of them live stream. I hope to hear from you.

Have a great week. Wear your sunscreen and a big hat and put out water for the pets and the wildlife. Oh, and join Lynn and me in wishing our dear Gretchen, faithful employee of 34 years, and the one who takes my words and photos and converts them into e-gardens for you each week, a Happy Birthday tomorrow!

Happy gardening!