Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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Smarty Plants Question Topics
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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| Smarty Plants on arborvitaes March 28, 2005 Hello, I live in Allentown, PA and have a 7-foot arborvitae shrub in my backyard, planted in the corner of the yard where a wood fence intersects with the brick wall of the garage. I have had ma... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 28, 2005 I am flying a photographer in on April 7, 2005, for a special art project on Bluebonnets. We have 3 days set aside for the shot. Where are THE best places to capture Bluebonnets in the wild? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Luring wildlife in Longview March 27, 2005 I live in Longview, Texas and am in the process of trying to restore a natural habitat for wildlife in my area. Could you give me a list of plants that are native specific so that I can lure local bi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on native plant purchases March 27, 2005 I am looking for an article(s), white paper, policy, etc. that addresses responsible native plant purchases. I have your genetics piece, but am looking for something more broad that addresses what a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of Eastern Redbud March 25, 2005 I have collected seeds from an Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) and I want to learn how to germinate them. How can I find out this information? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on epiphyllums March 25, 2005 I don't have a digital cameria, but I hope you can identify my plants easily by description. I believe they are called something similar to the word "epithelium". They look like a "mother-in-la... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing grass with native Texas sedges March 24, 2005 I have been trying to grow native Texas sedges instead of grass in my back yard for the last two years. Much of it is shaded by a canopy of elms, juniper, and oak. I have put a local organic fertili... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tropical-looking landscape in Austin, TX March 24, 2005 I'd like to have a tropical-looking landscape in my front yard. What plants would you recommend for Austin, Texas? I would prefer plants that can stay outside year-round, but will take suggestions on... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting crabapple tree from root sprouts March 24, 2005 I have a Crabapple tree that is sending up sapling shoots. Can these be dug up and planted? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting for parrots March 23, 2005 I have 2 parrots, a sun conure and a nanday conure, and I would like to find some plants to put in their aviary room that are safe for parrots. Can you help me with this question? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of colicroot and yellow colic-root March 23, 2005 There is a green flowering bush with yellow blooms off Taylor road in Dale, Texas (Caldwell County). What type of wildflower or weed is this? Could it possibly be Yellow Colic Root? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| More on bluebonnets March 23, 2005 When (month and week) do you think the "peak of bluebonnet blooming" will be this year in the Austin, Fredericksbug, and Llano, Texas area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive, non-native Eragrostis cilianensis, stink grass March 22, 2005 I am writing a children's book for Darby Creek Publishing about smelly plants and animals. I have read that Eragrostis cilianensis is one of the few bad-smelling grasses. Would the purpose of the o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on Helianthus annuus March 22, 2005 I am doing an Earth Fair project on the Helianthus annuus. I would like to know if you possibly had any information on this subject. Some of the things I would like to know are: How big does it get? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Smarty Plants on Hypogon March 22, 2005 How many sides does a hypogon have? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Little birds for Little Rock March 21, 2005 I would like to plant flowers that hummingbirds and butterflies like. I live in Little Rock, Arkansas. What do you suggest? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on aceae March 21, 2005 How is the family suffix "-aceae", as in Asteraceae, pronounced? I find disagreeing claims in my searches- "ay-see-ee" and "ay-see-ay" seem to be the most common, but I've also seen just "ay-... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Garden/landscape software for native Texas landscape March 17, 2005 What garden/landscape software program(s) would you recommend for a native Texas landscape design? I haven't found one that includes Texas plants in the standard plant encyclopedia. Any hints would b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Hill Country grasses, flowers for April garden show March 17, 2005 I will be a first ever (!) exhibitor in my garden club's garden show this April 7. Our theme is The Passion of Texas - my specific category is The Hill Country. Help!!! All materials I use must be al... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Smarty Plants on plant names March 16, 2005 I want to learn what the scientific names of plants indicate about the plant physiology, its namer, its evolutionary relation to other plants, etc. Could you give a print or web source for looking up ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of mustang grape March 10, 2005 I'm looking to plant several vines of mustang grapes near my parents retirement home in Beeville, TX (78102). I really have two questions - what's the best way to find them at a nursery or relocate... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vine with red flowers, fern-like leaves March 10, 2005 Last year I saw a plant at the State Fair. It had small fern like leaves to it with beautiful little red flowers. It was a vine plant of some sort. They told me that it was native to the Hill Countr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Asclepias curassavica March 09, 2005 I have some plants given to me by a neighbor, here in Florida. She says they are called Butterfly Reel or by another name Asclepias Curassavica. I have been unable to locate any info. on this plant. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower driving tours in Texas March 06, 2005 I am looking for suggested wildflower driving tours in Texas. Do you perhaps have a listing of suggested driving routes one might take for a day or two in order to view the Springtime wildflowers? A... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Returning empty landscape to native plants March 03, 2005 I live in a subdivision that backs up to a 40 +/- piece of land that is called Texas Safari, I think. Between TS and my fence is a piece of ground about 50-60' wide and 100-150 yards long. Some of th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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