Landscape-Friendly Natives Now Welcome on the Block

Jun-18-2021 | Issue 392

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LANDSCAPE-FRIENDLY NATIVES NOW WELCOME ON THE BLOCK

"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." -- John Muir, Naturalist (1838-1914) by BRENDA BEUST SMITH

Above is John Muir's actual quote. But we all probably better recognize this more famous "misquote" of the great naturalist's true statement: "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." (I just didn't want him looking down and frowning at my column.)

Either way you say it, the imagery Muir captured is perfect for National Pollinator Week, Mon., June 21-Sun., June 27.

Ecology-minded folks will celebrate in different ways a shared focus: to help protect this vital aspect of our natural world. Signs of change are everywhere. Just check the Greater Houston area celebrations in the current Houston's Citizen's Environmental Coalition's event listings! The move toward more natives to home landscapes is exciting, but it hasn't been a painless transition. I remember when nothing threw neighbors into a tizzy like news of "native plants on the block!" With some justification, as many early experiments with natives just didn't work out.

But concerned gardeners continued to experiment, demand grew, professionally-directed research stepped up and now an incredible variety of retail-available, "landscape-friendly" native flora that are easily and attractively replacing many ecology-unfriendly plants that are also less attractive to our native fauna.

Much of the time, shoppers probably don't even realize they're buying Texas natives. But in the long run, their gardens will be healthier and all their plants -- native and non-native -- happier overall.

Nothing could be worse for your garden than to remove ALL insects, etc., with pesticides. Not only are you both endangering and removing food for native & migrating birds, butterflies and other pollinators, you're laying out the welcome mat for a whole new slate of invaders with no natural enemies to keep them in check.

Still, the question always arises: where to buy native plants? Thanks toM eade LaBlanc who added The Houston Audubon native plant store, 3997 River Drive, to last week's list. Hope you'll send in your favorite if not already listed.

"9 NATIVES" -- Coastal Prairie Partnership, Katy Prairie Conservancy, HNPAT and others created a fun, informative campaign —"9 Natives" — to get us thinking about, and planting, simple prairie gardens composed of just nine species of coastal prairie natives. Need even more ideas? Try the https://houstonprairie.org/hnpat-activities/9-natives/

NOTE: "9 Natives" refers not to 9 specific plants, but rather to a doable start number of landscape-friendly natives for sun, shade, etc., all recommended as landscape-friendly for gardens, etc.: Downloadable list of plants

POLLINATORS AND NATIVE PLANTS CANNOT BE SEPARATED. Both are as important to our ecology as insects are to our gardens. With so many of us forced to fill in holes left by the freeze or weakened plants, this is a great time for transition thinking at least.

No one is saying to plant ALL natives, although lots of folks are heading this way. The goal now is to make everyone aware of landscape-friendly natives that fill the purpose of an imported plant, but will also live peacefully with our longtime favorites but do not need as much water, fertilizer or treatment, so help make our yards as ecologically-healthy as possible.

Unfortunately few of us know much about our local native plants such as the Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora, pictured), highlighted as a great ground cover in our Spotlight Article below. Author Martha Richeson of the Clear Lake Chapter/Native Plant Society of Texas gets us started on what I hope will be a succession of articles from experts on PLANT THIS, NOT THAT -- plant-specific suggestions for replacing non-returning or low- performing non-native plants with native varieties. Martha's excerpt gives us a preview of NPSOT/Clear Lake's Mon., July 12, presentation on propagating natives and other plants. MON., JULY 12: NATIVE PLANTS ON THE CHEAP by MARTHA RICHESON, WENDY REISTLE & NANCY SAINT. (Zoom), 6:30pm, Native Plant Society of Texas/Clear Lake Chapter program on Plant propagation. Register. * * *

POTPOURRI: JUNE 24 — STRAWBERRY MOON. No, not a red moon, it was named by Algonquin tribes to mark their short strawberry harvest period. In our subtropical pocket, our 10- to 14-day harvest falls late February to May/early June - or sporadically, depends on our weather. Can anyone report on this area's 2021 harvest, give the Feb. freeze?

2021 BULB & PLANT MART Online pre-orders are now being taken for the Garden Club of Houston's 79th annual Mart Oct. 14-16, 2021. gchouston.org.

79 years! WOW! Takes me back to working booths through '60s-'70s, even slogging barefoot through rain & mud to keep up with enthusiastic customers! Remember those days, gals (& Conrad)? This premier plant sale paved the way for the incredible array of group sales now. Featured also is a designated list of "Natives In The City" recommendations.

DEER LOOKING FOR FOOD The 2021 Freeze played havoc with native flora that kept deer full so they're turning to home landscapes. Need ideas for substitutes? Try these links: 1. For natives: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center (wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?collection=deer) 2. Texas A&M deer-resistant list 3. Monrovia (deer-resistant list -- wholesale with nursery notes)

Note these all say: "deer-resistant." A 7' fence might stop a well-fed deer. A 10' fence probably wouldn't stop a hungry deer. On top of that, their appetite range expands when native flora is diminished. For more thoughts, drop me a request for my Deer-No! flyer — thoughts collected over 50+ years of interviewing gardeners. Even better, send me names of YOUR shrubs that deer leave alone! [email protected] * * * Brenda's LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER column is based onher 40+ years as Houston Chronicle's Lazy Gardener Email: [email protected]

* * * Spotlighting the ...

PLANT THIS, NOT THAT Landscaping with our ecology in mind

BY MARTHA RICHESON Clear Lake Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas

(Excerpted from Martha's "This Evergreen Instead of "That” article on the CLC NPSOT website - Complete Article.

While our eye for beauty has been trained to appreciate a finely mowed lawn with neat rows of foundation plantings, we are learning that much of what has been planted around our homes has been placed without any thought as to the ecological services they provide.

The deep freeze has given us opportunity to rethink plantings. Consider adding natives to benefit insects that feed birds and other critters. I confess when I first started choosing shrubs, one selling point was “not bothered by insects”. After reading Bringing Nature Home and Nature’s Best Hope by Doug Tallamy, I look for things caterpillars eat to produce beautiful butterflies and plants leaves eaten by not-so-attractive, but necessary insects in the food web.

Our local Southeast Texas natives are tough, but they can't be stuck in the ground and ignored.

“Drought hardy” and “standing water hardy” labels may apply to establish plants a year or two old.

Filling voids left by the freeze or want to plants for other reasons? Look at these native recommendations. Each supplies a service other than filling a spot in a landscape,

EVERGREEN SHRUBS: Instead of Ligustrum or Privet, consider: • Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) for a tall shrub/small tree or • Dwarf Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’ or ‘Stoke’s dwarf’, a cultivar) for a 3-4’ tall evergreen shrubette. Note: most dwarf cultivars sold are male. Female yaupon specimens produce red berries loved by birds. Purchase these in fall when berries will be evident on female plants. • Possumhaw holly (Ilex decidua) is not evergreen, but bright red berries stay on the bare branches through winter providing a striking display. Just know in spring, Cedar Waxwings take just a few hours to eat every remaining berry on the tree.

• Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera). Train as a small tree or leave shrub-like and even shear if necessary. Leaves smell like bayberry candles. Birds eat seeds. Like Yaupon, plants are male or female. It is not picky about soil and thrives in sun and part shade. Harder to find are 3-4’ tall dwarfs (Morella pusilla aka Myrica cerifera var. pumila). Wax Myrtle is a larval host for the hairstreak butterfly.

EVERGREEN VINES Instead of English ivy, consider: • Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). It doesn't have the invasive Japanese honeysuckle pleasant scent, but its blooms offer nectar to hummingbirds and long-tongued bees off and on spring through fall. It is not too aggressive and twines around a structure, making it a great plant for an arbor. Several kinds of birds are served by the small fruit in the fall. It is happy in sun and part shade, but blooms fuller in the sun.

• Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempirvirens). A vigorous evergreen vine that will twine around whatever structure is present, including trees if not monitored. It provides nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies. Cheery yellow, trumpet-shaped blossoms are among earliest to bloom, even in late January if the weather is mild. Although poisonous to humans, the plant is the larval host for the Snowberry Clearwing Moth.

EVERGREEN GROUNDCOVER. Instead of perennial Vinca Minor, consider: • Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora). This tough, 3- 4” tall, root-at-the-nodes Verbena family ground cover is so small, we walk on it without notice along trails, in ditches, on roadsides. It is evergreen except in a harsh winter when it will go dormant. It tolerates flooding and drought, is sun to part shade friendly. Tiny flowers attract small butterflies; host plant for Phaon Crescent butterfly eggs. Birds, in turn use the caterpillars for baby bird food.

* * * EDITOR'S NOTE: Learn more in Martha's complete article: npsot.org/wp/clearlake/. Martha will present more thoughts during the Native plant propagation lecture at the NPSOT/Clear Lake Chapter's MON., JULY 12: NATIVE PLANTS ON THE CHEAP (Zoom) by MARTHA RICHESON, WENDY REISTLE & NANCY SAINT, 6:30pm, Register: //uhcl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0sce6uqDwqHNU- Rk2TNrvofz77FF-NqVV0 * * * NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS # 156

I read today that organic food sales set a new record in 2020 of $56 Billion! More and more people are learning that most of our health problems are caused by the extremely poor quality of our food supply, hence turning to organic products and growing one’s own food.

The Pesticide Action Network (PAN) database has a lot of information on the quality of food and the toxic chemicals that are on them. One can learn more at the link below.

Once the website is open there are 3 links, PAN’s home, What’s on MY Food and Honey Bee Haven which is all about pollinators. The One shown below allows one to click on a food type (carrots, blueberries, etc.) and shows the pesticides that have been found on them. One can then click on the “Organic” and see what was found on them.

In recent years more and more research articles are finding that plants and even microbes have a form of intelligence. A paper in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021) has found that the single cell organism Physarum polycephalum a common slime mold, has several properties of intelligence. A few weeks ago, I mention that studies have shown that slime molds have memories.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute and Technical University of Munich, have found slime molds also have the ability to solve complex problems like finding the shortest path through a maze.

“It does this by growing and disintegrating its tubes, hence weaves memories of food encounters directly into the architecture of the network like body and uses the stored information when making future decisions.”

The University of California -Riverside has released a new study on parasitic plants like mistletoe. Mistletoe has the ability to use sunlight to produce its own food even though it prefers to siphon off water and nutrients from host trees.

However, when two different mistletoe plants were attacking the same tree (host), they increase their photosynthesis to produce the nutrients they need, sharing the tree and causing the tree less harm.

Somehow the mistletoe plants know they are sharing and change their metabolism to prevent killing the host. Journal Current Biology (2021)

I read an interesting finding in the newsletter ‘ecofarming daily” a while back. Studying a single rye plant (Secale cereale), they found the plants has about 13,000,000 (13 million) roots, with a surface area of 282 square yards.

It also had 14,000,000,000 (14 billion) root hairs with a surface area of 480 square yards. All this root mass was in only 0.06 cubic yard (1.6 cubic feet) of soil.

The surface area of the below ground plant was 139 times larger than the above ground portion.

This illustrates why even small changes to one’s soil can have large effects on a plant. This finding strengthens the argument: “healthy soil = healthy plants”.

A study from the University of Guelph has found that the neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid is extremely harmful to bees, especially ground nesting bees. They found that ground nesting Squash bees dug 85% fewer nests, collected less pollen, and produced 89% fewer offspring when exposed to this chemical.

Ground nesting bees make up 70% of all bee species that are important to pollination of our food supply. Scientific Reports (2021).

Comment: I wonder what it does to a women’s reproductive cycle when we eat produce with this toxic chemical on it?

On the positive side, there is a new movement in the sustainability organic agriculture area called “Regenerative Farming or Regenerative Agriculture”.

This modern method not only produces high quality and nutrient dense food, it has the ability to solve the soil crisis, the food crisis, the climate crisis, and the crisis of democracy.

Ronnie Cummins of the “Organic Consumers Association” had a nice article on this subject.

* * * Have you tried ... WATER CANNA (Canna glauca) Also known as Louisiana Canna, this 5' butterfly- attracting native perennial is ideal for lower spots where water stands after a rain, although it grows equally as well in less soaked areas and along the South Texas coast.. Striking flowers appear April- Oct. on bold, upright, tropical-looking light green foliage. Rhizomes easy to divide. Ideal for back of a pond or in very wet soils. Propagated by dividing rhizomes. Host plant for Brazillian skipper.

WATER CANNA is carried by Nature’s Way Resources ( Map). Or contact our other sponsors below or your neighborhood nurseryman for possible sources * * *

LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER CALENDAR EVENTS All events in Houston unless otherwise specified. See Farmers Markets at end of calendar

ADULT GARDEN PLANT EVENTS ONLY ALWAYS CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOUR EVENT IS IN! HOWEVER . . . PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING EVENTS! Events NOT submitted in the EXACT format below may take 2 weeks or longer to be reformatted/retyped and added to calendar. FARMERS MARKETS -- Normally we do not run non-gardening/plant events. During this pandemic, when most gardening events have been cancelled,we are happy to publish a running list of local Farmers Markets. See at end of calendar.

Submit events to: [email protected]. PLEASE ALWAYS put group's FULL name in email subject.

NOTE: IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT MASKING POLICIES AT EVENTS, CHECK WITH CONTACTS LISTED

SAT., JUNE 19: HOW TO KEEP INSECTS AWAY THIS SUMMER, 10-11am, Wabash Feed & Garden, 4537 North Shepherd, free, wabashfeed.com, register: https://bit.ly/3bUWKlq, 713-863-8322

FRI., JUNE 25: BEYOND BEES!, 9:30-10:30am, Mercer Botanic Gardens. Free. Register: 713-274-4160

SAT., JUNE 26: ALL ABOUT INVASIVES, 9am-11am, Mercer Botanic Gardens. Free. Register: 713-274-4160

SAT., JUNE 28; FIELD DAY FOCUS ON BERRY PRODUCTION, 8am-12pm, at Froberg’s orchard, 3601 Texas 6, Alvin. Forberg's Farm, Brazoria County Master Gardener Associaion and Brazoria County AgriLife Extension Service event. Register: tinyurl.com/tf5tthb4. [email protected]; 979-864-1558.

THURS., JULY 8: AMERICAN HANDS IN HYBRIDIZING EASY CARE ROSES by PING LIM (virtual), 7-9pm, Houston Rose Society/Houston event. Free. Meeting link: houstonrose.org/

SAT.,JULY 10: AQUAPONICS by ROBIN COLLINS, 9-11:00. In-person, AgriLife Extension Office, 4102-B Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. Preregister: galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/mgseminars/

MON., JULY 12: NATIVE PLANTS ON THE CHEAP by MARTHA RICHESON, WENDY REISTLE & NANCY SAINT (Zoom), 6:30pm, Native Plant Society of Texas/Clear Lake Chapter program on Plant propagation (Zoom). Register.

MON., JULY 12: FALL VEGETABLE GARDENING (virtual), 10-11:30am. Harris County Master Gardeners with Houston Community College event. Free. Register early: hccs.edu/community-learning-workshops

THURS., JULY 15: GARDEN HUMMINGBIRD SAFETY (virtual) by BRANDI KELLER, 10am. Must register: homegrown2021Q3.eventbrite.com/

TUES., JULY 20: FALL VEGETABLE GARDENING (virtual), 11am-noon, Free. Watch via Facebook Live at: facebook.com/harriscountypl/live

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS

URBAN HARVEST FARMERS MARKET, Saturdays, 8am-noon, in St. John's School parking lot, 2752 Buffalo Speedway. FULSHEAR FARMERS MARKET Saturdays, 9am-1pm, 9035 Bois d'Arc Lane @ FM 1093, Fulshear. THE WOODLANDS FARMERS MARKET AT GROGAN'S MILL, Saturdays, 8am- noon, Grogan's Mill Shopping Center Parking Lot, 7 Switchbud Pl., The Woodlands BEAUTY'S GARDEN. Acres Homes Farmers Market Saturday, 10am-2pm, 4333 W Little York Rd. WESTCHASE DISTRICT FARMERS MARKET, Thursdays, opens 3pm, St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church, 10503 Westheimer Road (at Rogerdale Road, one block west of Beltway 8) MEMORIAL VILLAGE FARMERS MARKET, Saturdays, 9am-1pm, 10840 Beinhorn Rd.

Although normally we do not run out-of-garden events, during this pandemic period when most gardening events have been cancelled, we are happy to publish a running list of local Farmers Markets. Send notices to [email protected]

For event submission rules, see top of calendar If we inspire you to attend any of these, please let them know you heard about it in . . . THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS NEWSLETTER! & please patronize our Newsletter & Calendar sponsors below!

THIS NEWSLETTER IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact us at 936-273-1200 or send an e-mail to: [email protected] About Us

BRENDA BEUST SMITH

WE KNOW HER BEST AS THE LAZY GARDENER . . . but Brenda Beust Smith is also:

* a national award-winning writer & editor * a nationally-published writer & photographer * a national horticultural speaker * a former Houston Chronicle reporter

When the Chronicle discontinued Brenda's 45-year-old Lazy Gardener" print column -- started in the early '70s as a fun side-, it then ranked as the longest-running, continuously- published local newspaper column in the Greater Houston area.

Brenda's gradual sideways step from reporter into gardening writing -- first as a just-a-fun side Chronicle assignment in the early '70s -- ed first to an 18-year series of when-to-do- what Lazy Gardener Calendars, then to her Lazy Gardener's Guide book which morphed into her Lazy Gardener's Guide on CD. which she now emails free upon request.

A Harris County Master Gardener, Brenda has served on the boards of many Greater Houston area horticulture organizations and has hosted local radio and TV shows, most notably a 10+-year Lazy Gardener specialty shows on HoustonPBS (Ch. 8) and her call-in "EcoGardening" show on KPFT-FM.

For over three decades, Brenda served as as Production Manager of the Garden Club of America's BULLETIN magazine. Although still an active broad-based freelance writer, Brenda's main focus now is THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER with John Ferguson and Pablo Hernandez of Nature's Way Resources.

A native of New Orleans and graduate of St. Agnes Academy and the University of Houston, Brenda lives in Humble, TX, and is married to the retired Aldine High School Coach Bill Smith. They have one son, Blake.

Regarding this newsletter, Brenda is the lead writer, originator of it and the daily inspiration for it. We so appreciate the way she has made gardening such a fun way to celebrate life together for such a long time.

JOHN FERGUSON

John is a native Houstonian and has over 27 years of business experience. He owns Nature's Way Resources, a composting company that specializes in high quality compost, mulch, and soil mixes. He holds a MS degree in Physics and Geology and is a licensed Soil Scientist in Texas.

John has won many awards in horticulture and environmental issues. He represents the composting industry on the Houston-Galveston Area Council for solid waste. His personal garden has been featured in several horticultural books and "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine. His business has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for the quality and value of their products. He is a member of the Physics Honor Society and many other professional societies. John is is the co-author of the book Organic Management for the Professional.

For this newsletter, John contributes articles regularly and is responsible for publishing it.

PABLO HERNANDEZ

Pablo Hernandez is the special projects coordinator for Nature's Way Resources. His realm of responsibilities include: serving as a webmaster, IT support, technical problem solving/troubleshooting, metrics management and quality control.

Pablo helps this newsletter happen from a technical support standpoint.