flowers

Mexican Mint Marigold is one of my favorite plants – they’re tough, they bloom beautifully in the Fall, and they make an amazing salad dressing! Here’s a crunchy, all green salad that works great with the Texas Tarragon flavor.

Let’s make the vinaigrette first so the flavors have a few minutes to marry while we work on the salad. You’ll need a small glass jar with a tight fitting lid and these ingredients:

a few sprigs of Mexican Mint Marigold (MMM) leaves
¼ of a clove of elephant garlic
pinch of flaky salt
¼ cup of good olive oil
1 teaspoon Ume plum vinegar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon raw honey
juice of ½ a lemon
fresh cracked black pepper

Chop the MMM leaves and the garlic together, then add just a pinch of flaky salt. Using the side of your knife blade, smash and drag the MMM, garlic, and salt across your cutting board several times until you have a smooth paste. Regular garlic is fine to use, but I like the milder flavor of the elephant garlic for this recipe. The large pieces of flaky salt help to grind the herbs and garlic. Course Kosher salt would work well too.

Add the remaining vinaigrette ingredients and your herb/garlic/salt paste to the jar and shake it up until creamy, then set aside while we make the salad.

For the salad, we’ll need only green things:

a handful of brussels sprouts
1 bunch of lacinato kale
2 chopped green onions (save the white parts for something else)
1 avocado – cubed
handful of green peas

Chop your brussels sprouts lengthwise into very thin shreds. Remove the kale stem and chop the leaves into thin strips and add to a large bowl with the brussels sprouts. Add the peas and green onions, then toss while adding the dressing a little bit at a time – not too wet. Add the avocado last so it doesn’t get mashed while you toss.

Top with a sprinkle of hemp hearts and Mexican Mint Marigold flowers – yes, they’re edible too!

Enjoy,

-Jesse

B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Container) Party

Do you have an empty pot begging to be planted? Or an interesting container you’d like to repurpose as a planter?? Bring it to Gill’s this Saturday for our B.Y.O.C. party! Bring your container, choose your plants, and plant it up! Use our potting shed and potting stations – we’ll provide the potting soil + potting tips, and we’ll clean up the mess. Here are a few ideas and things to consider.

Think Drainage!

All container gardens need drainage holes. This is a must. Either find something that already has holes, like this partially rusted-out iron kettle, or find something that you can easily cut or drill some holes in, like an old cooler!

Similar Watering Needs = Compatible Combinations

Combine plants in your container gardens that have similar watering needs. For example, you wouldn’t want to pair a cactus with a tropical houseplant in the same container. But you could do a desert bowl with different cacti + succulents or a jungle container with different houseplants. We also love combining flowers with veggies and herbs – similar watering needs and they look great together.

Think Contrasting Sizes + Textures + Colors

This is where you can really make things pop. Find something low-growing that spills and hangs to pair with plants that stand taller as a backdrop. Color, size, and texture combinations are endless.

*Houseplant combo: Crocodile fern, pilea, calathea, and Airplane plant*

Re-watch James’ Container Gardening Video for more tips and inspiration:

See you this Saturday! We’ll be potting all day 9 am to 5:30 pm – come by anytime.

S l o w d o w n watering for established trees, shrubs, ground covers, lawns, and potted plants for Fall and Winter. Once a week was appropriate in warmer temperatures, but I would water on average once every two weeks through November, and then turn off the sprinkler for December and January.

If we go 3 weeks with no substantial rain, then water beds and lawns thoroughly one time. If freezing temperatures are in the forecast, run the sprinklers the previous afternoon to add heat to the soil and fill air spaces in the soil with water to exclude the cold air.

Newly planted trees and shrubs, newly potted plants, and winter annual flowers and vegetables in active growth will need more regular watering, and may be particularly sensitive to a cold, low-humidity dry norther. If there are zero clouds in the sky, and you are licking your lips, and there is a stiff breeze blowing, that dry breeze can necessitate watering despite the cool/cold temperatures.

Slowing down watering in Fall will slow metabolism in your trees, shrubs, groundcovers, lawns, and potted plants, and this makes them more tolerant of a freeze. Also, excessive frequency of lawn watering in Winter makes grass more susceptible to Take All Root Rot fungus. So, use appropriate watering as a sound gardening tool.

-James Gill

Lots of us are gearing up to host friends and family for Thanksgiving and other gatherings this week. Can’t wait! Here are 3 ways to create the biggest impact outdoors with the least amount of time on your part.

1. Instant Color!

Fall flowers look ahhhmazing right now. Plant a few Pansies, Violas, Ornamental Cabbage and Kale, or Snapdragons in beds or in pots for an instant pop of color. Plant or set your containers in the most visible locations (like near walkways and entryways) that get at least 6 hours of sun throughout the day. Feed with organic Plant Tone when you plant for a quick bloom boost.

2. Quick Cleanup

Now is a great time to do light trimming on trees, shrubs, and perennials. Don’t do any major surgery right now, just a little light shaping goes a long way. For trees, always trim up from the bottom, not down from the top.

If you have oak trees, we bet you’re seeing more acorns than ever this year! The freeze in February + all the rain we’ve had throughout the year increased acorn production big time. They’re not fun to walk on, and some will sprout and grow into saplings, which you don’t want either. They can be difficult to rake up but try this amazing acorn hack using the back side of a leaf rake!

3. Seal the Deal with Fresh Mulch!

Fresh mulch can transform a space with very little time and effort on your part. A couple of tips: 1) estimate 1 bag of mulch per 12 square feet of bed space. This gives you a good mulch depth of 2-3”. Good depth makes it last longer, holds in more moisture, protects from cold, and helps keep weeds at bay. 2) Make sure you get a nice straight line at the back of the bed where the mulch meets the foundation of your house, or wall/fence. This is a quality check we use on landscape projects – makes all the difference!

Making your list, checking it twice, hoping the gardeners in your life, have been very nice! Come take a stroll through our garden and do a little stress-free shopping. Here are 10 gift ideas that gardeners will love.

North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits

Grow your own Shitake, Blue Oyster, Pink Oyster, Golden Oyster, and Lion’s Mane mushrooms. Indoor spray and grow kits are easy and produce a lot. If you’re more adventurous, try a log kit. Comes with instructions and spawn to inoculate a log and grow tons of Shitakes outside!

Flower and Herb Hang Dryer

Great gift for those who like to cook with fresh herbs or make homemade tea blends or pressed flowers.

Mossify Bendable Moss Pole

Great option for houseplant lovers. These bendable moss poles allow you to stake up your favorite climbing plants in any fun shape you like.

Wind Chimes

Lots of different tones for relaxation. Our favorites are Music of the Spheres chimes made in Austin, TX and hand tuned to various musical scales. Or these new iron bell chimes imported from Japan.

Custom Planted Pottery

Creative combinations of flowers and herbs, succulents, or tropical houseplants. So many possibilities. Grab one that we have ready to go or create your own!

Something for the Birds

Birdbaths, feeders, houses, seed, and native plants to attract birds to your loved one’s yard. Watching birds is better than TV!

Natural Stone Planters

Hand-carved boulders with space to plant something nice and a hole drilled for drainage! Peaceful and dramatic at the same time. Yes, they’re heavy but we can deliver.

Poinsettias

THE classic holiday décor and centerpiece for holiday meals.

Plant a Tree

You will remember this holiday as you watch your tree grow. You’ll remember it even more vividly if you dig the hole yourself! Or we can take care of that part for you.

When in Doubt – Gift Cards!

Fits nicely into a stocking 🙂

We are beyond excited to host you all in person for our first Garden Talk of 2022! James’ ‘Get Ready for Spring’ talk is a long-standing tradition. If you’ve got questions or just want to learn more about how to prep your garden and landscape for big Spring growth, join us at 10am this Saturday. Here’s a preview from James of some of the topics he plans to cover.

Prune Old Growth to Make Way for New Growth

Clean, sharpen, and lubricate your pruning tools before starting, and before putting tools away. Remember that once you have cut it, you can’t put it back on, this applies to tree limbs, and to human digits, so proceed carefully! My feeling is, cut old growth before new growth has started, to avoid wasting carbohydrate reserves of the plant, and to minimize damage to tender new growth when dragging cut branches out of the plant.

Prepare Your Soil and Get Planting!

Before planting new shubs, vegetables, or annual or perennial flowers, we should prepare the soil with compost. My favorite is Natures Blend Compost, the closest thing to “magic in a bag”. It keeps clay soil lighter and looser, or in sand, helps hold moisture and nutrients available for roots, and provides slow release organic fertility and growth stimulants. Cold tolerant trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials benefit from being planted as far away from summer heat as possible, so NOW! And it’s time to get your spring veggie garden planted too. Follow up with a good organic mulch after planting, such as our hardwood mulch, that will suppress weeds, retain moisture, moderate soil temperatures as it gets hotter, and contribute to soil texture and fertility as it decomposes.

Early Spring Lawn Care

Do not apply lawn fertilizer on grass too early. When lawns are actively growing and need mowing once a week, that is the time to fertilize grass, usually around the first of March. Some weeds will be coming up in beds and lawns, and some of them can be controlled by hand pulling after a rain, some by mowing regularly so they don’t get tall enough to make seed. But some will be best controlled by applying Bonide Weed Beater Complete, LAWNS ONLY, to kill existing broadleaf weeds and prevent new weeds from sprouting. Or in beds, Bonide Crabgrass and Weed Preventer, which will not kill existing weeds, but prevents new weeds from sprouting. Always read and follow label directions for best results. I like Ortho GroundClear Weed & Grass Killer to help control emerged weeds in flower beds. It is organic, and safer to use around desirable shrubs.

Feed Your Fruit Trees

Now is time to fertilize fruit trees with Espoma Organic Citrus-tone, or Fertilome Fruit, Citrus, and Pecan Tree Food. The nitrogen in both is critical to production of healthy foliage, which is what provides necessary carbohydrates for fruit. You will repeat application later in spring, and again in fall. Also, citrus trees should have sprouts removed that come from below the graft, as they will produce only sour fruit.

When to Remove Stakes from Newly Planted Trees

If you have trees planted in the last year or two, with stakes still holding it upright, late winter/very early spring is a good time to check that staking. Loosen the ties, then try to rock the tree. If the rootball stays stable but the trunk bends, remove the staking and ties. If the rootball still moves, the staking should stay another season, but the loop around the trunk may need to be loosened so the new growth is not choked by the staking tie.

Check Your Sprinkler System and Hoses

If you have an automatic sprinkler system, hopefully it has been turned off most of the winter. It would make sense to do a run-through now, to take notes and make repairs on any plugged, sunken, or missing heads, line breaks, or non-functional valves. You may need to start watering once a week in March. If you use hoses and sprinklers, now is time to mend hoses and replace missing hose washers.

Fire Ants and Other Pests

If you are seeing fire ant activity, you can apply Come and Get It Fire Ant Bait now, but my favorite times are at the spring and fall daylight saving time changes. All Seasons Horticultural & Dormant Spray Oil is best applied before new leaves emerge to control scale, mealybug, and other problem insects that may be overwintering on your shrubs or ornamental trees, such as bicolor iris and bird of paradise.

-James

Nothing says Spring like planting flowers! Our South Texas climate gives us lots of options for blooms right now and blooms through the Spring and Summer. Here are our tips for timing, planting, and care to get the healthiest plants and brightest blooms.

Timing – What to Plant, What to Expect

Plant Impatiens, Petunias, Begonias, Gerbera Daisy, and Geraniums right now for intense, amazing color for the next 2ish months. As temperatures warm up in April/May, we’ll transition to a new palette of flowers like Vinca, Zinnias, Moss Rose, and Purslane that will last and bloom through the Summer. Right now is also a great time to plant blooming perennials like Salvias, Coreopsis, Lantana, and Penta that will bloom again each year and look their best for 2-3 years.

Planting – Tender Plants, Tender Roots

For small, tender annual flowers like Petunias and Begonias, use a good fluffy potting soil in pots to allow tender roots to penetrate. When planting in the ground, amend existing soil with Nature’s Blend compost to loosen up clay soil and add nutrients. Whether planting in pots or in the ground, be sure not to plant too deep – plant level with the surrounding soil so the tiny feeder roots on the surface are not buried. Allow adequate spacing between plants for good air circulation and healthy growth. Spacing depends on the flower you’re planting. For example, Petunias should be about 8” apart, while Periwinkles should be 12-16” apart.

Feeding and Care

Fertilizing is essential if you want the best blooms. We recommend Medina Hasta Gro every 2 weeks and Rose Glo once a month – both are organic and excellent for promoting new blooms. For annual flowers, pinch off any old/faded blooms to encourage new blooms. Blooming perennials need to be cut back right now before they start growing rapidly. This is the best opportunity to promote more blooms and a nicer look and shape overall.

-Debbie and Jesse

Bea discovered earthworms in her garden with Nana Sally!

Many of us will be gathering with family & friends this weekend to cook, eat, play games, and visit. Wonderful times and good weather for relaxing outside!

We’ve been working hard to stock the store with beautiful blooming annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, and tubs of flowers for last minute “dress up” for your garden for the holiday! Come see us this Friday & Saturday for the best of the best in gardening supplies to get your home, yard, and patio ready to greet your guests. We all wish you a very happy holiday weekend!

… and we’ll be closed this Sunday for our time with family. Thank you!!