Hey swappers, Are we going to let a little rain stop us? Heck, that's what the covered pavilion is for! Besides, the plants will love it and be much less stressed than otherwise. I'm getting plants together tonight, so I'll be ready to go tomorrow. I've got Indigo Spires salvia, "Blackie" sweet potato vine, Moonvine seedlings, a couple of luffa gourd seedlings, some dill, some *huge* fresh cuttings of my Peacock Rose geranium (which needed serious pruning!), a couple of very lanky Turk's Cap that I pulled out of dark shade, and probably other things I can't remember. Possibly some iris rhizomes, and some divisions of naturalized tazettas. And I plan to be there on time this time! ;-) Karen

I was reading about the BIG BURN of 1910 in Idaho where 3 million acres burned in 1 fire. It was the impetuous for the forestry Department to take on the fighting of fires as part of their mission. The riley fire in Northeast Texas has now burned 39000 acres. So many fires in North east Texas. Soxxx, stay safe. They are clustered all around you. How are you doing now?

I'm in Bell county. When we took our Master Gardener class here, a row of shrubs like what you posted were called a mustache. A great look for the 50's, but now there are soo many other better plants you could be using. I wouldn't consider "just" flowers, but I'd go with those that feed the pollinators. Our best butterfly magnet is Gregg's Blue Mistflower. Can grow in partial shade to full sun. I can't wait to relocate mine out to my hell strip just so I can dazzle my neighbors with all the butterflies that are drawn to that flower. Low water, too. One other suggestion, of course, there are some absolute beautiful native plants that do very well here. IF I could have only one plant in my yard, it would have to be the Shrubby Boneset. Blooms once a year when the Great Butterfly Migration starts. It draws the Monarchs like a magnet from a block away. Heavenly fragrance. I planted mine outside the gate. So, when I pull up and stop, I just sit for a while to watch them. Open the truck door and they lift like a curtain, I get out, open the gate and stand to watch to see the curtain lower. This last year was a definite discouragement for us in Temple, the Monarchs moved their migratory path over to Ft. Hood. They counted 3,000 there. I probably had 6. :-( I hope they come back. Spend some time looking up pollinator plants. Nothing like having life flutter all around you to greet you when you get home. And if you have some dry shade, plant Frostweed to dazzle your children. I'm planting an Anacacho orchid on each side of my front steps. Have a Wafer Ash for the Giant Swallowtails. IF it doesn't feel the pollinators, I don't plant it here. Hard to believe that the hummingbirds can return to the same houses the next year. Consider those plants while you are at it. You've got some really good plants to choose from. I have a red Shrimp plant next to the Turk's Cap, both for hummers. Can't wait to bring in some red salvias this Spring. But, I've got coneflowers and oxblood lilies plus others. Good luck! Much success to you. Oh, one last tip. We were told to make our beds 5' deep. That allows for something higher in the back and shorter in the front. Just more plants that you can bring in. And don't have any straight lines to your beds. They all need to curve. Mother Nature doesn't plant anything in a straight line. And never plant a shrub or tree directly in front of a window. I'm all out of my two cent pieces now. I just now saw how long ago you posted this question. Do you have any more current photos you can share?

That IS the problem with Texas! I lived in Weslaco for about 3 years and the summer sun was merciless. If the burr oak grows where you live, I think it would be a good bet for your shade needs ... preferable to pines. The key to getting faster growth is plentiful water. Even if you have no other irrigation, you could put the tree on its own system and get decent growth out of it. A second requirement is fertilizer. It won't grow fast if it is starved.