Garden

Out in the Garden: November 2016

Cool fall weather seems to be settling in. Now is the time to plant winter annuals that will bloom until January and again in March and April. These cool natured plants include snapdragons, stocks, dianthus, and calendulas. Snapdragons, depending on type, grow to various heights up to three feet. Stocks are fragrant, usually white or blue, and grow to 18 inches. Dianthus are red, white pink, and lavender, do not grow tall but do well in hanging baskets. Calendulas have yellow or gold blooms on one and a half foot stems.

With the cool weather, now is the time to put about 1/4 inch compost on lawns and in flower beds. If you have not yet done so you can still put out a good organic fertilizer. The combination puts needed nutrients in the soil.

It is not necessary to water lawns as often as we go into fall and winter. About every three weeks should be enough. Put automatic sprinkler systems on the manual setting and use only as needed. Remember, your sewer charge for next year is based on your water usage from November to March.

Tired of cutting and trimming a lawn or want to make changes in your garden so it is not so labor intensive? Consider putting in a xeric landscape using drought tolerant plants. A good example can be seen at 112 Mission St. Take a look.

From Wisdom of Mark Twain: A Book of Quotations:“To promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing.”

Garden Note: A beautiful garden is a work of love. -Alan Cash

Out in the Garden: October 2016

Last month I wrote about a visit I made to the Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard. I have since discovered an olive tree growing nearby with olives on it. The tree is growing in the vacant lot in the 1600 block of S. Presa at Jacob Street. The owner of the lot happens to be a King William neighbor and told me that any newsletter reader was welcome to go by and pick as many olives as they like.

I found out during my tour of Sandy Oaks Orchard that you do not just pick an olive and eat it. Olives contain a bitter tasting compound and must be “cured” to make them palatable. I did a little internet research and found that at “Olives-Safe Methods for Home Pickling” there are directions for the curing process. If you are adventurous give it a try.

We are approaching fall and there are things to do to get ready for winter...

Out in the Garden: August 2016

It is 105 degrees as I write. Summer is here. HOT, HOT, HOT. This will be an abbreviated article since it is too hot to do much in the garden other than to water to keep things alive.

To save water, this is the time I discard many plants that I have enjoyed since spring but which are now too distressed from the heat to warrant keeping them. These include begonias, impatiens, zinnias and other annuals. You may want to do the same.

Out in the Garden: September 2016

Here is a suggestion for how to spend a pleasant Saturday. Take the short ride, about 30 minutes, to the Shady Oaks Olive Orchard near Elemendorf (sandyoaks. com). I recently visited and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The tour, conducted by owner Sandy Windkur, takes you through the 10,000-tree orchard and explains the process and things made from olives. Besides olive oil, there are creams, lotions, soaps and even tea. The tour usually starts about 11:00 a.m., only on Saturday. The orchard is open from

Out in the Garden: July 2016

Walks can be more enjoyable if you have a destination. Here are two. On the west side of the river, just north of Caesar Chavez Blvd. toward town, is a Texas Naturalist Wildscape Demonstration Garden. It has been there awhile, but with the good weather we’ve had, it is looking very good. It contains many native and adaptive plants that do well in San Antonio and South Texas. Many have tags giving the plant name and its growing habits. Take paper and pen because you may see something you want to add to your garden. The second destination is at 310 E. Arsenal between City St. and S. Main Ave. The home is a new addition to the neighborhood and the front garden is signed as a “Pollinator Habitat.” Here also the plants are native and drought tolerant with the added benefit of attracting visitors such as bees and hummingbirds.

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