Gardening in Central Texas can be a tricky proposition to new comers to the area. At first glance, it seems that the long summer would be ideal for growing all kinds of fantastic items, but in fact no. The heat is too intense, the rain too infrequent, to support most of what northerners consider viable summer crops. If you insist upon gardening in the summer, you must plant early. Long-maturing crops, that is crops that need 90-120 days, are best for summer gardens. The average last freeze date in Austin is March 18. With that in mind, plant the following from mid-February to mid-March: * Beets * Your cole crops, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi * Carrots * Chard * Garlic * Okra * Onion * Parsley * Radishes * Spinach * Turnips * Asparagus April to May is good for corn, cucumbers (if you are brave enough to even try), beans, peas, tomato and pepper transplants, and watermelon. You'll find that more traditional southern crops, like okra, greens, a

These days a stroll through the Zilker Botanical Gardens could lead to an encounter with a small herd of Bambiraptors, dinosaurs with feathered wings similar to a turkey. The word "raptor" means thief and these little creatures, named after the Disney character, were known to steal the babies of other dinosaurs. The usually sedate gardens are full of all kinds of life-size dinosaurs, like the ferocious cousin to T- Rex, a Daspletosaur, standing at 33 feet tall. The 30 creatures from the DinoLand traveling exhibit will continue to have a temporary residence among the flora and fauna of the Botanical Gardens until November 30, 2008. The scientifically-accurate exhibit, created by Lost World Studio founder Guy Darrough, is a terrific reason to visit one of Austin's great outdoor venues. The Zilker Botanical Gardens is a non-profit organization established in 1955, with the gardens making a home in Barton Hills since 1962. It takes an average of eight months for one of the dinosaurs

Wondering what to gift your gardening buddies this Christmas? We have compiled a list of great Christmas gifts just for you

It's been years since the red imported fire ant first made an appearance, and the situation is still not entirely under control. Now a new species has arrived. They are known as `crazy raspberry ants' and they are concentrated in 8 counties in and around Houston. The ants have been in Texas since 2002, but their growth has exploded in the past year, with three more counties added to the list of those already infested. The ants are called "crazy" because they scurry about in a seemingly random pattern, and they're called `raspberry' not for their appearance, but for Tom Raspberry, the pest controller who first discovered them six years ago. Unlike the much-reviled fire ant, the crazy raspberry ants don't sting and their bite is relatively inoffensive. But this doesn't mean these ants don't cause problems. What they lack in bite, they make up for in sheer numbers. When crazy raspberry ants infest a property, they tend do so in spectacular fashion. An infestation can number in the

In the first place, if you’re reckoning about the perfect present, there is nothing out of the ordinary regarding the idea of purchasing a gardening present for a companion or a beloved, specifically when they love gardening. They might end up prizing the gardening present far more than any other present.

To open, you need to know that gardening is not just like many other activities. It is an art which entails real love, caution, as well as passion for vegetation. If you’re serious about the subject, you have got to be very passionate about plant life. A lot of folks do not get concerned about gardening unless they FEEL like it. Different folks fail to remember the importance of gardening magazines and this is a big flaw. Gardening magazines, in lots of examples, are reliably packed with helpful ideas on how to control weeds, controlling diseases, nutrients required by plants, and the right time to supply them to the plants, along with several more helpful info of tremendous benefits to gardeners.

Since I can remember, I always had the drive for gardening. When I lived in a house with my parents when I was a teenager, I remember having a flower and

Shaping the landscape or landscaping if you prefer signify any activity or process that alters the features of a piece of land in a noticeable way, such as

If you are looking for direction on what to plant in that achingly empty plot outside your front door and the thought of watering every day has you retreating to your living room sofa before you can say soil-prep you will not have to look any further. The City of Austin has excellent recommendations for you. You will be the smartest person on the block with minimal maintenance and delightful results. Writing a smaller check to Austin energy for water consumption helps too. Earthwise, sustainable plants that are native to or have successfully adapted to Central Texas are the focus of their free picture filled 41-page booklet compiled and sponsored by a joint effort between the City of Austin and a host of their earth conscious partners. The goal is to preserve Austin's water resources. This not only equates to watering less but using fewer chemicals and fertilizers, if any, to maintain your own piece of paradise. Austin is sitting at the mouth of the recharge zone and watershed of

If you own or manage any business then you may have already thought of incorporating plants into your decorating scheme. It just makes so much sense.