Archive Listing
for monthly garden descriptions from Horsetail Haven, a home garden located in Austin,
Texas
Austin, Texas is in a new USDA hardiness zone and a trio of Monardas are growing at Horsetail Haven.
Some plants can survive 112° F days and very little
water. Orthosiphon labiatus, Talinum paniculatum and Quisqualis indica were winners at Horsetail Haven.
Yes, a pineapple top really will root and provide fruit, but it may be a long wait.
The rain did not last, and was replaced by snow and
water pipe freezing temperatures. But,
gardener’s vision continues, Salvia discolor and eggplant
will adorn this
year’s garden.
The skies turned grey bringing rain and a renewed
enthusiasm for gardening, learn about a March educational opportunity
August 2010
Two hot peppers produce in the roasting
temperature of an Austin summer.
June 2010
When is a Daucus
carotus not at carrot? When it is Queen
Anne's Lace!
May 2010
Summer vegetables replace winter greens and
photos are shown from a trip to Reiman Gardens.
April 2010
Gorgeous flowers fill the garden, see photos of Billbergia
nutans, Mexican buckeye (Ungnadia
speciosa) and Pelargonium 'Gardener's Joy'.
March 2010
Spring brings sorrel, Oxalis or Rumex, which do we nibble?
February 2010
Heart filled cards in the
mailbox tell us it is time to head for the garden with pruning shears in hand.
January 2010
Lettuce grows in the Austin
winter garden, try some in yours.
December 2009
The first frost of winter has changed the
garden. Try a tasty slow cooker recipe for soup,
see a photos of the beautiful new kitchen and two roses.
October 2009
Autumn rain means it is time to plant
vegetables and flowers for the winter garden. Plus, see a photo of the
bottle tree at Festival Hill.
September 2009
In the summer of all summers Caesalpinia gilliesii,
Jatropha gossypifolia, Aristolochia fimbriata and Capparis spinosa came through!
January 2009
Grow Osmanthus
fragrans, the sweet olive, in your garden
October 2008
A trio of culinary trees provides
inspiration for gardeners who cook.
May 2008
Members of the Acanthus family
growing in the garden are highlighted.
April 2008
Pelargonium salmoneum
and 'Freestyle' Ivy Pelargoniums grow beautifully in the garden.
March 2008
Suggestions for growing an Austin tolerant Clematis plus a new, but very old,
reference for Pelargonium enthusiasts.
February 2008
February is the month to place
orders for plants not available at Austin nurseries and plan on attending a
garden seminar or two.
January 2008
The New Year begins with a
report on rosemary cultivation at the garden.
October 2007
Autumn showers bring March flowers - time to
broadcast a multitude of seeds. Learn about a new publication, The Herb
Society of America's Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs.
September 2007
Polianthes tuberosa and Hibiscus syriacus
are easy to grow plants that Ann Marie thinks should be in all Austin
gardens, plus see a photo of a wonderful spider visiting the garden.
August 2007
A Mexican Olive, Cordia boissieri,
has been planted in the garden and Ann Marie shares a photo of a magnificent
cactus, Echinopsis thelegona,
taken at The Desert Botanical Garden.
June 2007
Vegetables and fragrant blooms
grace the summer garden.
January 2007
Read an update on the front
perennial border including information about a drought tolerant corner with
Aloe, Ghost Plant, Pregnant Onion and Rat Tail Radish.
September 2006
Hungry caterpillars visit an Aristolochia vine, and the vine soon vanishes.
July 2006
Sunflowers, birds and a good
book (A Garlic Testament by Stanley Crawford),
entertain Ann Marie in her summer garden.
February 2006
Underutilized herbs for Austin
that might not be hardy but are well worth trying. Learn about Capparis
spinosa, Ocimum
selloi, Pimenta
dioica, Satureja
biflora and the cool weather Anthriscus
cerefolium
January 2006
Try some herbs that are underutilized in
Austin, Calamintha nepeta,
Mentha longifolia
'Habak', Pelargonium grossularioides,
Diplotaxis muralis
and Vetiveria zizanioides.
August 2005
A pond allows one to grow more in the
Texas heat than waterlilies. Learn about
Hibiscus, Cannas and Lobelia in the pond.
June 2005
Two vines, Mascagnia
macroptera and Clitoria
ternata, thrive in summer heat. Pelargonium
species are discussed.
March 2005
Try some "new to you"
plants this year; Ann Marie suggests Salvia 'Newe
Ya'ar', Barleria cristata and Crinums
September 2004
Butterflies visit the garden
during the summer and fall
January, 2004
The winter garden is producing and Murryea paniculata is
discussed as a houseplant
January, 2002
It's time to plant seeds and admire a
hedge of Vetiveria zizanioides
October, 2001
A whimsical fence is built at in the
garden and the Brugmansias are in bloom
August, 2001
Herbal trees are introduced
including Camptotheca acuminata,
Vitex agnus-castus
and Pimenta diocia
June, 2001
Vegetables are growing in the
Texas heat
March, 2001
Learn how to differentiate between the
delicious bay laurel and a bay impostor
February, 2001
Catch up on how the three year old front
border has grown.
January, 2001
There are a few spring bulbs showing their
faces and three confusing Oreganum are
described.
December, 2000
Learn about a culinary sage for
the South, find good books to read or cook up a Herb
Crusted Porkchops
November, 2000
Get some hints for a "home made holiday"
October, 2000
See photos of "Bat Faced Cuphea" and see suggestions of plants to include in a
Halloween Garden.
September, 2000
With daytime temperatures rarely
dropping below 100°F , plant and animal life are still
seen in the garden. Learn who the real heat lovers are.
August, 2000
Use some creative thinking to
have fun making container plantings.
July, 2000
Whip up a tasty couscous salad while you
read about great garden color combinations
June, 2000
Get a brief update on the
flowers and veggies and learn about a beautiful flower called Trachelium
May, 2000
The best things in life are free...birds
help plant the garden.
April, 2000
Yarrow is blooming, egg shells
become mini flower pots and a rosemary orange cake is baked.
March, 2000
Bake a loaf of fennel seed
squash bread, plant Inland Sea Oats or meet a China Rose
named "Rouletti"
February, 2000
View flower photos, find out
what to do in the garden in February and see how the two year old perennial
border has changed.
January, 2000
Ever wonder how in the world one remembers
those latin plant names? Here are a few tips.
December, 1999
Learn how to make herbal topiaries.
November, 1999
Bring
in plants, take cuttings and decorate a harvest table as cold winds blow.
October, 1999
After
planting pansies and broadcasting seeds in the garden try some spicy Adobo
Pumpkin Soup.
September, 1999
Try out some fall
flowering plants, sow cool weather seeds or bake a peach, pineapple and
rosemary pie.
August, 1999
Have fun with an herbal pond or
try out a spicy, baked shrimp recipe.
July, 1999
The four Teucriums
growing at Horsetail Haven are described and the featured recipe is for grilled
Oregano Burgers.
June, 1999
Descriptions of five agastaches growing in the garden are given and a recipe for
Pineapple Rose Freeze is presented.
May, 1999
The pelargonium collection has expanded, Epitaph
for a Peach by David Mas Masumoto is reviewed and a chocolate mint pudding
recipe is shared.
April, 1999
Suggestion for growing herbs in
containers, an update on the perennial border and culinary uses of thyme are
featured.
March, 1999
Blue flowers decorate the garden,
herb cuttings are rooting in water and a recipe for Swiss Chard
enchiladas is given.
February, 1999
It's time for rose pruning in Austin,
Texas. Also discussed is Persian Shield and a tomato soup recipe is given.
January, 1999
Freeze damage is reported, a
hummingbird visits the feeder and a mulling spices recipe is given.
December, 1998
Herbal holiday hints, discussion
of a new thyme bed and photos from Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge fill this
page. Two new ornamental oreganos have been added to the garden.
November, 1998
Learn what roses did well for Ann Marie and read her book recommendations for
herb gardeners.
October, 1998
Trips to the Missouri Botanical
Garden in St. Louis and Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa
are described. Be sure to see the photos of Giant Victoria Water
Lilies!!! Vines are discussed.
September, 1998
Hummingbirds and dragonflies
flit through Horsetail Haven, flowers bloom despite the drought and it is time
to plant seeds of parsley, dill, fennel and salad greens.
August, 1998
Calamint blooms in the garden, Roses in the
perennial border and the mysterious 'Grandma's Yellow Buttons' has been
identified as Ranunculus repens.
July, 1998
Baby goldfish dart between the
blooms of water lilies in the pond and the search for the tree Jamaican Tea
Hibiscus has ended.
June, 1998
Many flowers are blooming, there have been
several new scented geranium purchases and photos from a May vacation in
Louisiana are shown.
May, 1998
The Goodnight Garden scents the
evening air with the perfume of Brugmansia, Datura and Four O'Clocks.
April,
1998
Roses scent the air, crossvine is blooming and new mints have been planted.
March,
1998
Bluebonnets are blooming, pond
cleaning time approaches, seeds are sown and planting in the perennial bed
continues. Costmary is discussed.
February,
1998
A large perennial bed is being placed
the width of the front yard. Spring trees and flowers are in bloom and
seeds sown in January are being transplanted.
January,
1998
The cool weather garden features salad
greens. A few flowers are brightening the days and seed planting is
proceeding at a fast pace. Spanish Lavender is discussed.
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