HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

Is anyone having trouble with animals in their gardens? I just caught my 6th raccoon today. I say that I am recycling raccoons, because we took 4 of them to the farm. I know they will be happy out there. The other two, I gave to the city. I think I still have an armadillo or a wild hog because so many of my plants have been uprooted and displaced. We keep the trap out and set hoping to eliminate these critters.

The worst problem has been the weather, but now we have been blest with these wonderful rains. I am very grateful, and I know all of you are too.

We have to learn to take the bitter with the sweet. Some of the sweet is the beauty of watching parched areas become green again. I have been talking about wise watering, but here in East Texas, watering is essential to carry us through the extra dry times. I am looking forward to the cooler days. The best way to stretch your water is mulching.

Now is the time to bed down your plants for the winter. Fertilize your azaleas, and mulch with a 3 inch mulch. You will find it helpful to mulch all your beds. Fertilize your chrysanthemums to prepare them to bloom in September. You should be able to find bargains at the local nurseries. If you find perennials, plant right away and their roots will be prepared to come back next season. It is not too late to start some seeds to germinate. This is the cheaper way to have more flowers until the frost.

Perhaps you need to fill in some annuals and perennials. Penstemon palmert is a pink beauty for dry places. It thrives in the harshest conditions and is a true show stopper when in bloom in late spring and early summer. This perennial wildflower is one of the largest and most dramatic penstemons. The best rule of thumb is to group it together with other waterwise plants. Because of its height, it can be used in the back of the border. It looks great planted alongside other native penstemons and grasses. Bumble bees love this plant. This plant will not tolerate much water. It hates to have its crown wet, so plant the crown an inch or two above the soils surface. Does not like fertilizer, extra water or mulch. This plant can be short lived, allowing a few flowers to go to seed and self-sow can help prolong its stay. Another up-andcomer is a new catmint suited for small spaces. This hybrid, named Psfike only reaches 8 to 10 inches high and 12 to 16 inches wide. A perfect size for containers, bed edges or other small nooks and crannies, likes full sun to part shade, and has beautiful lavender blooms and a well-drained soil. Another new plant pick is the New baptisia selection, Twilite Prairie-blues. In late spring or early summer, pealike, violet-purple flowers with dramatic yellow keels emerges. This plant is a member of the legume family and a little slow to start but tough as nails if you persevere. If you are patient, you will have full-blown baptisia by the third or fourth gardening season. Give this plant a spot at the back of the border.

One more up-and-comer is a small tree called Lavender Twist. This impressive tree, also known as 'Covey' takes the beautiful spring blossoms and attractive disciduous foliage of our native Redbud and displays them in a weeping form. Lavender Twist reaches 6 to 8 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide and makes a good specimen plant near walk ways or patios. It is hardy in zones 5 to 9. Prefers full sun to partial shade. This is a new tree that I hope you will be adventurous and try. These are all new plants on the horizon and worth our attention.

Now go, give attention to your gardens, experiment on new plants and enjoy this wonderful season. Your Happy Gardener

The Happy Gardener Gardening requires lots of water... most of it in the form of perspiration. Unknown