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Texas Gardening

New to site & Gardening in Austin Texas.

16 years ago

I am a newbie and like my dog at the site of a visitor or my babies on Christmas morning, I am just about wetting my pants with excitement. But I am a newbie. I haven't a clue how to start but I have a vision...and my driving forces: my love for the outside, my children & my childhood dream of having a garden like my abuelitos.

Anyone from Austin?

~Mariposita

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Comments (9)

sewnmom7
16 years ago
mariposita,the new "butterfly" at this garden site. WELCOME, i'm not from austin, but i'm from abilene,Texas.you will so enjoy this site. everyone is so nice & helpful,well,most of 'em, anyway.enjoy! !!,molly[sewnmom7@yahoo.com]
mariposita
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you Sewnmom7! Abilene...been there--a long time ago for a HS football championship game.

I am super excited about learning to garden so any advice you can offer on how to begin---will be appreciated!

Here is a link that might be useful: The Mariposita Diaries
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David Austin's site lists the roses that do best in hot sun (see the link below--scroll down on that page). I don't know if he hasn't gotten around to classifying his newer roses or not, but most of them are not on the list. Abe Darby is, however. The only one that I grow on that list is Molineux and July and August here are often 100 degrees or higher, so I guess that might qualify as hot. Molineux does fine through most of hot July as long as I don't forget to water it. However, a few weeks into August, and it tends to give up struggling against the heat and goes semi-dormant, waiting for the cooler autumn weather to return. While some Austins get fried edges in the strong sun, others aren't that much affected--Molineux being one of them, although there have been occasional days when its blooms get wilted in the sun. Usually that means they need a drink. By the way, I do not find that my Austins need noticeably more water than my other roses, but that may be because I don't grow GC which some claim is a waterhog. On the other hand, my Austins definitely do not like missing their watering when it gets that hot. so just water regularly. That said, many Austins prefer some afternoon shade -- to look their best. Kate Here is a link that might be useful: Austins for hot weather
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AFAIK, the only pitcher plant that could use water in their pitchers are what is called Sarracenia purpurea. That's an American pitcher plant. Yours is a Nepenthes, which is an Asian pitcher plant. I think your salesperson may be mistaken in this area, but direct sunlight could easily "fry" her. That happened to my Neps last summer, and I was living in PA at the time. I wouldn't put water in the pitchers. Misting is what many Nepenthes growers do, though. It is not at all unusual for older or existing pitchers to dry or die out. Either their time was up or they might have been in shock, with the change of environment. Nepenthes could several weeks to adjust. With some variation (highland vs. lowland), Nepenthes naturally grow in warm, humid environments, from near the equator. Texas may be a tad too hot and dry come summer. Nepenthes also do well by window sills, in hanging baskets, which is what I do. Many people also put them in terrariums. I think your sunlight is adequate and as long as your plantis producing new pitchers, it seems to be adjusted and doing fine. When CP's lose old leaves but are producing healthy new ones, don't worry about the old ones. Always look at your new growth as an indicator of how things are going. It is not unusual for other critters to take up residence at the mouth of a pitcher plant - as long as we're not talking about spider mites or aphids. Seems like everybody using this discussion forum has Nepenthes and orchids! Below is an example of a Nep in a hanging basket:
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Thank you all for the warm welcome, and thank you Rick for confirming our zone. The husband and I haven't figured out what we're going to do gardens wise for the long term, we have planted 2 very small annual beds in the front for some color and some shrubs along the house (Indian Hawthorne and Boxwoods), we have lots of ideas though! We've mainly been concentrating on our back lawn as it had been taken over by Puncture Vine. After much pulling and spraying we decided to till and lay St. Augustine sod in a checkerboard pattern with Bermuda seed going in the non St. Augustine parts (we're on a budget and the in-laws suggested this method). So far it's starting to look good and it's filling in nicely. It's great to be able to walk barefoot in the backyard. My MIL just gave me her copy of the Neil Sperry book and I haven't put it down yet. We'll use this summer and fall to plan out for next year and hopefully with the planning we'll be able to do it right and not waste money on things that won't work here. We've talked about a small veggie/herb garden, vines for privacy along the fence line (probably Virginia Creeper), he would like a cacti/succulent area (he thinks they look like they're from outerspace). I'm leaning more towards Native plants and Xeriscaping as I'm more of a low maintenance weekend gardener that tends to over water :) Phew, I think that's it! I should snap some pics for everyone so you can see what we're working with, a neglected yard and we're North/South/West facing so I'm sure it will be interesting.
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Welcome!! You're going to love gardening here. I'm originally from Pennsylvania and gardening is really different here. The most important thing I learned is Amend, Amend, Amend your soil! I'm just north of Houston and there's no dirt in the dirt here. We've had to bring in amazing amounts of soil and organic materials to build each bed. To do it right you can have your soil tested or get a home test kit. The rewards are worth it! Another lesson I've learned is "Full sun" in catalogs doesn't mean full, baking, relentless Houston sun. Check here for advice before you plant. You've found the best place for area specific gardening advice in this forum. I've found the answers to almost all my questions here, usually from a search. There's more I'd like to share, but the sun is coming up and I want to get out there before it gets too hot. This is the time of the year to prep beds for fall planting.
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ridleycat
16 years ago
Welcome, Mariposita!

We have lots of great garden webloggers in Austin, whose sites you might find interesting and educational.

There's actually a directory of them that you can check out.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blotanical listing for Austin
marlingardener
16 years ago
Mariposita,
You have landed in a great spot for gardening--all year long! Right now you can plant pansies and kale for spots of winter color--annuals, but useful. May I suggest that you contact the Travis County Master Gardeners for advice? Also, there is a great group, the Capitol Area Master Naturalists, who have experts in native plants--very useful in helping you choose plants that will do well here. In addition, the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center is in Austin--another great source for advice and suggestions. And then of course there is the Native Plant Society, who are very helpful and chock full of knowledge. All the above have web sites--just do a search on them. You are also fortunate to have a lot of very good nurseries in Austin--when you have doubts, just ask. They want you to succeed so you will come back and buy more plants! Until you are more knowledgeable, you might want to avoid Lowe's and Home Depot garden areas, except for annuals or vegetable plants. Their workers are sometimes not very up on plants. Because of your dog and your babies, avoid oleander (poisonous).
So, welcome to gardening in Central Texas, and welcome to the Gardenweb where there are lots of helpful folks.
mariposita
Original Author
16 years ago
Ridleycat: Wow that site was perfect! I have already found it to be most useful and resourceful and made a couple of gardening friends since you posted that link! THANK YOU!!! I love reading the blogs and learning--I love learning! (Nerd at heart here.)

Marlingardener: I truly feel I chose the right place to land. The TCMasters are actually helping identify a weed I have been fighting with (read my blog-link is below) and they have been very helpful. So, no Lowe's and Home Depot---gosh I just read and posted about this on another entry...I love HD. Why not shop there? Is it the people? The plant quality?

Thank you both for the welcoming me--I am super excited about getting to know this community of Austin/Texas Gardeners!

Here is a link that might be useful: My Blog
marlingardener
16 years ago
Mariposita,

Just got in from weeding (yes, that also is year around here!) and read your answer. I too love to shop at Home Depot, but because some customers pick up a plant tag to read it and then put it back in a different plant; because the plant material is not selected locally and sometimes is inappropriate for our area; and because the plants are watered on a schedule, not necessarily when they need it, buying plants at a big box store can be iffy. But, when you know what the plant looks like; you know it is good for your area; and you know is healthy, go ahead and buy wherever you find it. It just requires you to exercise a little more knowledge and care at some garden centers. You will do fine, and we all make mistakes (ask my about camillias sometime). Happy gardening, and happy holidays!
mariposita
Original Author
16 years ago
Weeding...ugh--I have nursed bleeding fingers from my weeds. (I should post those to see if anyone knows what they are!) I actually find a normal amount of weeding to be relaxing and good exercise.

I see. So just be careful and know your plants, what to plant in your area. Great.

I will want to know the Camellia story...you can always learn from someone else's mistakes. Right? :-)

Happy Holidays too.

~Mariposita!
gardenspice
16 years ago
Hi Mariposita -
Welcome!
I noticed your herb selections and I just wanted to warn you about the mints: They tend to be very invasive and will take over a bed.
Happy Gardening!
red_geranium
16 years ago
The most important part of gardening in Texas is adding compost to it's generally depleted or thin topsoil. And lots of it. This is easily accomplished (lots) in this summer heat. The best way to add is to go up with "lasagna" beds (search the posts and you will discover how easy these are to make). Beds are best since we do get such downpours of rain and sometimes due to rock it is impossible to dig down. Next important is water---make sure you incorporate soaker hoses into the beds before mulching. And third is "mulching", to even out such variations in temperature and water. I think those are the basics. Oh, and if you are planning on doing any hardscape do it NOW before the heat (begins in March).

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