Making Sense of the Christmas-Tree Market
For most of my time at Stephen F. Austin (SFA), I’ve wondered if the Christmas-tree market makes sense. Do we need to do something different? First, don’t be alarmed. I’m not against Christmas. I love...
View ArticleJacksonville Tomato Fest
For decades, America’s favorite garden vegetable has been celebrated in Cherokee County. Jacksonville, Texas, was touted as the “Tomato Capitol of the World” during the height of railroad-shipping...
View ArticleThe 10 Commandments of Tomato Success
Tomatoes are the queen of the vegetable garden. Each year, gardeners strive for a bountiful harvest of beautiful, tasty fruit (yes, tomatoes are fruit). Through my own gardening experiences and...
View ArticleSpring-Flowering Trees
After the last three years of climate torture, I’ve concluded that spring is my favorite season of the year. It’s the fresh start we all need. Redbuds, dogwoods, deciduous magnolias, hawthorns,...
View ArticleEasy-to-Grow Snap Beans
The most colorful and tasty snap beans you will ever eat are the ones you grow yourself. You seldom find purple or yellow beans in a grocery store or farmstand, and the commercial green varieties just...
View ArticleSome Like It Hot!
When summer temperatures soar, many plants that were enthusiastic bloomers in spring begin to wither under the onslaught of the summer sun. Many plants touted as “heat tolerant” in other parts of the...
View ArticleSweet Shrubs for Your Landscape
Let me introduce you to two “sweet” shrubs that may not be familiar to you. I introduce them as “sweet” because that epithet is in both of their common names. I’m referring to Virginia sweetspire...
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From Vine to Vino – A Toast to Homemade Texas Wine
Each Independence Day my wife and I get up before the sun and put on a big pot of coffee. Then we wander through the house and wake up any of the kids who were nice enough to come for a visit. As they...
View ArticleFall Gardening Starts Now
Take a walk outside now and the last thing on your mind might be fall gardening. Veteran gardeners know that despite the temperature, now is time to begin preparations for our fall gardens. Don’t wait...
View ArticleZoning Landscapes for Water Conservation and Ease of Management
It’s hot! It’s dry! I’m writing this in early spring, but like any of us who have lived in Texas for even a few years, we know that July and August in our great state will be brutal. You can be...
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