HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
MASTER GARDENER
JEAN LAIRD
Dear Fellow Gardeners and

Future Gardeners,

March came stumbling then storming into East Texas this Spring, But isn't Texas wonderful? You can have rain, sleet and snow one day, and 70 degree weather the next day. The snow was really beautiful, I hope you took pictures. The weather evidently shocked our trees and spring flowers out of the ground. Everything is beginning to bloom…ah, sweet, beautiful Spring! It is an adventure to walk out to your last years' dead and depleted garden and see new life there.

I hope you will try several new plants and shrubs this year in your garden. I will list a few 'old faithfuls' and some different ones I have found to be hardy in our climate.

1. Geraniums…several colors, hardy, likes a little shade and a little sun.

2. Marigolds…old plant, prefers the sun

3. Begonias…Faithful plant. Some are coming up now from last year, and they are supposed to be an annuals. This is the second year they have appeared since planted.

4. Dianthus…pretty, beautiful colors

5. Dusty Miller… hardy, perennial, lowgrowing, good fill-in plant

6. Louisiana Blue phlox…hardy, replenishes itself, stays green all summer

7. Lantana…These come in yellow, yellow and orange, white, and purple. Hardy perennial. Prefers sun

8. Salvia…Red, Blue and pink. Hardy. Likes sun and water. The blue is perennial.

9. Verbena…Yellow, red, blue, white and purple and pink with dark centers. I have the pink which was given me by Billie Oliphant, who is an avid gardener. It spreads and does extremely well in sun, if you keep it watered. I will share with anyone who is interested. It is perennial, also. The pink and blue or purple ( a Texas Star) are the healthiest at my house.

Other Plants To Try:

Astilbe- hardy in zone 4-8. We are in zone 7b- 8. Thrives in shade and in sun if provided with adequate moisture. Prefers acid soil (like our azaleas).Produces attractive mounds of fern-like foliage topped with delicate plumes of colorful flowers from June thru August. Several varieties in pink, white, dark pink, purple, and variegated pink and white- Excellent plant. Will die back during winter, but returns in the spring. Try mixing with hostas if you have a shady spot. To be continued…….next week.

At this season of the year, I am humbled at what our wonderful God has done. March and April is the time of awakening, and resurrection. Let us remember to celebrate the rising up of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who is the giver of life and all the beauty we see. May you have a Glorious, Happy , Resurrection Day!

The Happy Gardener When gardeners garden, it is not just the plants that grow, but the gardeners themselves. Ken Druse