Gardening with Texas Native Plants; The Wildflower Slope.

Hello Cville, good to have you here. I am sure we share a lot of native plants so we should be able to share information and learn from each other.
I am so glad you came over for a look and I hope you will be a regular visitor and contributor.
Josephine.

There are some great native azaleas and other rhododendrons in your neck of the woods. Lots of other pretty understory plants with berries.

TN isn't as big as Texas (of course. Who is? Big whoo, they just look bigger because they are covered in ice), but yall similarly cover a lot of different ecosystems. You might keep an eye also on Kentucky and even the near parts of Missouri for ideas and plant sources.

Have fun!

My memories of TN are of a very green place, plant wise that is. Lots of rainfall and hot humid summers in Nashville and just perfect for growing a lot of different plants. Not exactly like here in N. TX but certainly milder than the midwest where I grew up. I think there was one slushy snow fall the one winter I spent there and very mild temps.
C

Thank you all for the pleasant welcome!

Yes, it is very green here and usually ample rainfall through the hot summers although last summer was very dry. I got a bit weary of hand-watering the new plants. And this winter has been a real bugger. We've had snow and ice every week since before Christmas. It has been down to 9* with many nights in the teens. So far, the plants look mostly okay, but it is still too soon to tell about some of them ... and Feb is usually our coldest month. :(

I have been looking at the native azaleas/rhodies and many of the other natives recently. Quite a few to choose from and several nurseries that specialize in them. And, yes, numerous different ecosystems here. If I had the manpower (hubby is disabled) I'd tear up the entire backyard which is fairly large. I may hire someone to help me do some work and try to tackle perhaps 1/3 of it at a time.

I now have numerous perennials that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. We had so many bfs last year, I was amazed! I'm excited to see what happens this year. Our yard is now a certified Monarch Waystation and I have plans to expand my bf garden this Spring.

How wonderful, please post some pics when its blooming/attracting the butterflies.
C

I will post some pictures, I hope, although my photography is sometimes rather poor (understatement).

I am pondering what has been written about Bermuda grass. I do have quite a bit of it in the backyard but it appears that you all just dig and plant and let things shade out the Bermuda. That certainly sounds like a good way to go about it.

I am still clinging to my desk here in order to keep from falling onto the floor after reading about the person who killed all those acres of wildflowers to plant Bermuda grass. Ummmm ... I don't even know what to say about that ... dumbfounded would be a gross understatement!!!

Here is one of my resources in TN:
http://www.sunlightgardens.com

You all have a lovely rest of the weekend.

I know this is an old thread but I have questions about my effort at sowing wildflower seeds. Following the guidelines of a couple of TX wildflower sites, I got the area all prepared (and had to constantly battle the growth of weeds and invasion of stray cats) and finally sowed the seeds at the end of November 2012 -- nothing has germinated as of today --- am I expecting results too soon? Haven't had much rain (changing as I write this) and have done practically no watering. Also, I have seeds for a couple of things that will probably get larger than the wildflower perennials (I think frostweed and forget what else). Can I sow those now? Throw 'em out like I did the earlier sowing? Any thoughts and opinions would certainly be appreciated...
Mary

Hello Mary, and thank you for bringing this thread up to the top, all the things in it still apply and are good information.
You can scatter the Frostweed and other seeds now, but be prepared for a long period of building up your stock.
It took us 5 years to get the slope totally full, but every year it gets better.
I think that water is very important for seedlings and new plantings, so if it doesn't rain you need to water at least once a week to get them started.

Please keep us informed about your progress and be sure to show us some pictures too.
Good luck with your project!!
Josephine.

Oh please take some pictures! I love to see how a new garden progresses. If you want good coverage until the perennials take off did you plant any native annuals?
Coreopsis tinctora and basalis make quite a show and germinate in mass.
Tahoka daisy does the same.
C

I sowed a wildflower mix with some additional seeds for bluebonnets and ... mixed 'em too long ago so I don't remember what else. Right now my little area has one tiny little agarita transplant and a small but multibranched TX mountain laurel. And we are currently getting quite a bit of rain so I'll be checking in a few days for any 'sprouts' -- crossing my fingers. Throwing any more seeds will be delayed as I might melt if I get out in the rain!

This rain is really wonderful, 21/4 inches here, Enjoy!!!

wildflowers aren't fooled that much by warmer weather in January- they know when their daylite hour req'ments are met and come on then, so don't get disappointed- they'll be along...

I've had bluebonnet sprouts for a few months now...no blooms of course but I am really happy as I've never had success with them before!
I bought some "Alamo" bluebonnets when we were in San Antonio last year. They will be red if these are them.

Congratulations!! bluebonnets are picky about where they will grow, so it is always a joy when they decide they like it at your place.

I am REALLY happy now, as my bluebonnet is in bloom & I also have the "Alamo red" in bloom as well!!

Josephine, I know you have nothing better to do with your time, but it would be cool to have a monthly look at the slope to see what it looks like through the year.

Congratulations Cindy, bluebonnets are so beautiful!!!
Stephanie I will try to take pictures often, but can't really promise.
Josephine.

My bluebonnet is just starting to send up a bloom and I'm in zone 8a I have zone envy.

neat thread. I have sprouted one bluebonnet that I can see so far. I grow wildflowers to feed the bees...

I think one of the hardest things to remember is that most Wildflower seeds need to be sown in the fall/winter. Many of the stores have the seeds out now, which is misleading.

I put in my wildflower seed no later than January, before a rain if I can. Anywhere I can find a patch of bare dirt that I don't have "plans" for. I try to remove bermuda grass, rake and loosen the soil first. So I get a really good germination rate. Been running on the same bag of wildflower seed since 2006, I keep it in the fridge.

Same here no later then Jan. but I really try to get them tossed in the fall. It always makes me mad to see the seeds out now and people wonder why they don't grow.

Yes, me too!

My bluebonnet is a surprise really as I didn't plant any seeds in that location!! hahahah...the trick is to keep the seeds/area moist but not wet. Sorry to put this thread on yours Frostweed!

No problem, it is all good and talking about Texas native plants is what it is all about.

yyeeahh!! ;0)

What a great thread!! Josephine, I love what you've done. Looking forward to pics of your butterfly garden too.
I'm going to have to invest in a kit (or packet) so I can be sure I'm on the right track with my Texas native garden.
I think I'm doing ok though, even if sort of accidentally. We have a well, and it's an Arte$ian, but DH remind$ me it $till require$ electricity to get the water from the well to my garden$ Thusly, I have set out to incorporate VERY drought tolerant sweet things.

Thankfully, the butterflies and hummers love a lot of the ones I've chosen too. I love watching them dance on the Lantana, and dip in for a sip on the Salvia. I don't know if they're native or not, but I have quite a few surprises that survived our severe drought of 2011 and hubby's heavy hand. My passion vine, roses, gardenia and Texas sage performed beautifully.

This is so fun, and you're right... addictive! Making hubby AND me happy at the same time is fantastic!

p.s. I remember my MIL pointing out Ironweed on the property, but forgot what it looks like. (Can you tell she instructed me to pull them all up?) Can someone post a pic of a young plant? I just looked them up and the purple blooms are so pretty!! (and if I can ID them, I can hopefully get some seeds to share, right?) I need to post pics of my sweet yellow blooms that i'm certain some may consider weeds, but are so well-behaved, I actually welcome them every year. would love to know their names.

This message was edited Apr 8, 2013 9:48 PM

I love the Wildflower Slope, Josephine! Reading about it has been an inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing it!!

It makes me feel like I'm not the one who should be writing articles from Texas!!!!

Thank you Cajun2, the words you speak are music to my ears, it makes me so happy to know that more and more people are becoming aware of native plants, and are learning to love them as I do.

Thank you Covenantgarden, I hope to meet soon at the R.U. and share plants with you.

Carrie, I think you do a great job with your articles, keep up the good work.

Josephine.

Cajun2, here is a picture of an emerging Western Ironweed, maybe it will help you identify your plant;

Josephine, would you find it creepy if I drove slowly by your house once a month snapping pics?? LOL I really enjoy seeing this slope come to life and change through the seasons.

Only if you let me be your escort! LOL! It isn't just the slope anymore, she has converted the whole front yard!

Of course you girls can come by any time, that is what it is there for, to be enjoyed by everyone.
But you have to let me know you came by so I can give you a hug.
Josephine.

Well, I'm envious. ♥

Tee, is that phlox on you picture? Good to see you here, I wish you lived closer.
Josephine.

Yes, pink creeping phlox, Josephine. One of my faves. I really would love to visit that yard of yours. Who knows? Maybe someday. ^_^

LOL - To a drive by wildscape viewing! I actually need to do that myself. I haven't seen it in the spring.

That is a lovely bed you have there Tee, phlox is one of my favorites.

Thank you. They were my grandmother's favorite and always make me think of her.