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Could 14, 2024
Planting Fairly Ponds and Gardens, Seed Saving Libraries
I by no means had luck with native coneflowers till they confirmed me the place they needed to be. As an excessive amount of shade begins to impression their desired spot, they edge nearer and nearer to sunnier borders, however they nonetheless get solar breaks through the day.
I really like these multi-taskers since pollinators of every kind sip nectar, birds love their seeds, and solitary bees snuggle into their stems to hibernate in winter. These are the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), however there are a lot of different native species, together with angustifolia and pallida.
Nancy Corridor has gone by way of the identical “proper spot” quandary since 1985 when she purchased her home. She admits to a whole lot of errors since she began with a clean garden and chain hyperlink fence. However alongside the best way, she discovered the way to match crops with Texas climate and her Blackland Prairie clay soil. Learn CTG’s weblog about her backyard.
She begins our program this week to spotlight the Austin Pond and Backyard tour, introduced by the Austin Pond Society on June 1st and 2nd.
Meet Nancy on June 1; she seems to be ahead to answering your questions! You’ll need to take a look at her paintings, too.
As all the time, stroll by way of extremely lovely gardens and ponds, and meet the designers, from DIY gardeners to professional groups. Uncover ponds massive and small (the one above is Lisa and Shane Lamb’s) and get particulars from fish to filters. Learn how to get tickets and preview the gardens.
Then, we get along with Steve Kainer of Hill Nation Water Gardens and Nursery, now celebrating its twenty fifth 12 months! My information don’t return that far, however he was concerned with CTG fairly rapidly. I do know that he joined us in 2004 to speak about disappearing fountains, a novel concept for us all again then! Steve’s been a terrific good friend and trusted advisor to us all whereas he grew his nursery as we’ve grown CTG.
He joins John Hart to enchant us with beautiful foliar and flowering crops which can be largely chilly hardy. His standout colocasias (taro/elephant ears) usually are not invasive, be assured! He covers plant particulars with ideas for dividing and fertilizing.
One in every of his showoffs is ‘Sangria’ water lily, a magnificence that’s positive by way of winter.
And considered one of his pond or lavatory crops that’s a landlubber, too: Louisiana iris! A pricey good friend handed alongside mine over 20 years in the past, and it nonetheless blooms yearly in its half shade spot. It will get no particular care from me per water or fertilizer, both.
And have a look at this fabulous lineup for his or her twenty fifth Annual Spring Celebration! Nice talks, stay music, enjoyable distributors, meals, drink and crops! This Saturday, Could 18 from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. 
This week we additionally launch a first-timer visitor, Adler Asher, Blackshear Elementary scholar and son to John Hart and Bonnie!
Adler’s no stranger to prairie restoration, since he’s joined his dad on many expeditions. So, he explains why prairies disappeared and why restoration now issues a lot to our future ecology.
They assist prairie canine that in flip assist the endangered black-footed ferret, prairie rooster and Ferruginous hawk. All of us within the studio have been so impressed that he pronounced “ferruginous” and not using a stumble. I certain couldn’t!
As a result of many prairie crops have deep roots, they assist stabilize soil and preserve water, and so they lock carbon within the soil as soil natural carbon.
“The prairie soils are also house to a universe of microbes that type useful relationships with grasses and flowers,” he reminds us. And naturally, they supply habitat for wildlife and nourish our sense of surprise! (And watch our dialog with soil well being practioner Andie Marsh concerning the soil meals net!)
Seeds are an enormous a part of our future, particularly as native crops turn into endangered. So, panorama guide Colleen Dieter based Central Texas Seed Savers in 2018, now a venture of Fruitful Commons. Simply since then, they’ve shared tens of 1000’s of seed packets with the group! One of many packages they assist are seed libraries the place you may take a look at seeds to plant the long run.
Colleen explains the way to package deal your seeds to deposit on the circulation desk or e book drop. Many of the Austin Public Library branches take part and a whole lot of suburban and exurban libraries in Central Texas have seed collections, too. You do need to ensure your seeds are fully dry in order that they don’t get moldy (I’ve made that mistake, consider me!).
Write on a card what seeds you’re donating. “And the date that the seeds have been collected, as a result of the seeds, as they age, lose their skill to sprout, so we have to understand how previous they’re.” Colleen explains. “After which write “For the Seed Assortment” so the librarians will know what that is.”
Be part of fellow gardeners for enjoyable seed swap get-togethers. Get dates at Central Texas Seed Savers, on their Instagram and on Fb.
And hearken to “Horticulture Hangover” with Colleen and Leah Churner each Saturday morning from 8 – 9 a.m. and stream anytime!
Watch now!
Thanks for stopping by! Linda
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