Jesse Jenkins

As we continue to monitor public health guidance and talk to our friends at other garden centers across the country, we’re reminded how important gardening is right now, at a time when sunshine and fresh air are especially good for us all.

While you’re spending more time at home, why not start a small food garden? Now is a great time to plant squash, cucumbers, peppers, okra, and lots of different herbs. A fun food project for kids (and adults too) is a 3 Sisters Garden. The 3 Sisters (corn, beans, and squash) all benefit each other when planted together, and you can get a sizeable harvest from just a 4’ x 4’ space.

Or find a not-so-exciting spot in your yard and get creative! Now is THE time for Spring flowers like Zinnias, Begonias, and Pentas. Periwinkles will be here very soon. If you’re planting flowers in the ground, be sure to condition your soil with compost. If you’re planting in pots, a good potting mix goes a long way. Use a good organic fertilizer when planting for healthy plants and better blooms.

Since we’re limiting our close contact with people for now, gardening can provide us with a connection to other living things – plants and wildlife. We planted a small garden here at Gill’s with Butterfly Weed, Gregg’s Mistflower, Jerusalem Sage, Shrimp Plant, and more to attract pollinators (bees, butterflies, hummingbirds) and it’s taken off in just a few weeks!

-Jesse

Family holidays, like Easter this Sunday, are different this year. BUT, special meals and (virtual) gatherings with family and friends are still on!

We’re offering reduced pricing on in-town delivery of gift plants for Easter weekend.

If you’d like to send a cheerful arrangement to a local loved one or decorate your space for a holiday video-chat gathering, give us a call. We’ll put something together for you and drop it off on the porch of your choice.

These three insect groups are or will be the source of many gardeners’ angst this Spring. All three can do serious damage to food gardens from chowing on leaves to boring holes to piercing tomatoes… but don’t worry! One organic solution takes care of all.

Flea beetles are tiny – about ¼” or smaller. They leave their signature pin size chew holes in newly planted herbs & veggies. They’re also fond of flower buds just before they open.

Squash borers are the larvae of the squash borer moth. They lay their eggs at the base of the squash stem where the larvae bores into the plant. This causes the plant to die.

Stink Bugs and Leaf Footed Bugs are famous for the spots they leave on prized tomatoes. They pierce the fruit leaving holes that begin to rot. The immature-nymphs look like red spiders. But not to be confused with the nymphs of the boxelder bugs which are NOT detrimental to gardens. Boxelder bugs are a mild nuisance, but they don’t damage plants.

Your best solution for all three of these pests is Natural Guard Spinosad Soap. This organic spray controls all of these plus other garden pests very effectively. Plan to spray late in the day or early evening when bees are not foraging. It is safe for bees once the spray dries. Follow the instructions and these bad bugs will leave your food plants alone.

-Debbie

Choosing Texas native plants provides you with a beautiful, resilient landscape, and provides native wildlife with food and habitat. Native plants attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, lizards, frogs – all of which are critically important to the environment. Texas natives range from large trees like Cedar Elm down to small shrubs and flowers like Blackfoot Daisy. We stock a lot of native plant varieties here at Gill’s, so I picked my five favorites:

Henry Duelberg Salvia (Salvia farinacea) – A Texas superstar with purple blooms that grows 2-3 feet tall and can take a good bit of sun. Henry Duelburg brings in hummingbirds as well as moths and butterflies.

Red Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus) – Turk’s cap is a great native that you can grow in the shade! You can find Turk’s cap growing wild as an understory plant around South Texas and even at parks like Hazel Bazemore County Park and Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve. Its red tubular blooms are great for butterflies and hummingbirds, its dense foliage provides shelter for lizards and frogs, and it produces fruit for the birds.

Gregg’s Mist Flower (Conoclinium greggii) – Gregg’s Mist Flower is one of my favorite plants to recommend for attracting butterflies. It has low-growing foliage with small light blue flowers that are a magnet for butterflies. It is a must for any butterfly garden and does well in part-shade areas.

Copper Canyon Daisy (Tagetes lemmonii) – These yellow blooming natives provide great pollen for bees. Their fragrance is released by wind and smells great and it also will help repel mosquitos!

Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides) – This Native variety of lantana loves the sun! Its orange and yellow blooms attract a variety of butterflies, bees, and the occasional hummingbird moth. Birds love the seeds.

Texas Parks and Wildlife even offers a backyard wildlife habitat certification if you plant over 50% natives in your landscape and meet a few other simple requirements. In addition to supporting wildlife, these plants are also drought tolerant, helping us all save water!

-Wyatt

COVID-19 Health and Safety Practices:

If you’re feeling sick, please do not come in
Face coverings required
Only enter in groups of 1 or 2
Maintain a 6ft. physical distance from others
Wash hands, use sanitizer, limit contact

We’re thankful that many of you come to Gill’s to look for special gifts – we want to help you find something memorable for Mom! Here are a few ideas. Happy Mother’s Day!

1. Give Mom Butterflies!

You don’t have to go out and catch them – just get Mom a few plants that butterflies love (Butterfly Weed, Henry Duelberg Salvia, Mistflower) and they’ll arrive very soon.

2. The Garden Book

A comprehensive guide to gardening in Corpus Christi and South Texas. Great for Moms at any gardening level.

3. A Hanging Basket of Flowers

Quick, easy, simple, and BEAUTIFUL!

4. Let Mom Decide

When in doubt, a gift card is great. We always have gift cards at the register or give us a call to order with a nice gift envelope for Mom.

As a young girl, I loved going out into the garden and cutting Zinnia flowers. They were such prolific bloomers and in so many different colors – reds, salmons, roses, oranges, yellows, purples, and white. They always cheered me up!

Starting tomorrow (May 15) we’re giving away a packet of Zinnia seeds, California Giants (with blooms 4”-5” wide) upon request with purchase (we have 100 packages of seeds to give away). Along with the seeds, we’ll give you a lesson sheet on how to successfully grow Zinnias. What a cool Summer garden project for you and your kids! You’ll find they are easy to grow and bloom all Summer long. What fun!!

Once plants are growing and you’re harvesting flowers, PLEASE take photos and tag us on Instagram and Facebook or email them to us at info@gillnursery.com. We’ll repost and share for all to see and enjoy!

– Sally Gill