Protect your garden from water stress caused by too much, not enough rain
Texas gardens are often water stressed, plagued by too much or too little rain.
Portulacas and fun plants to observe at the beach and inland
As summer approaches, scorching afternoon temperatures might make for a stressed-looking garden, leaving the hardiest plants those that are coming up between the cracks of a sidewalk.
Beyond milkweed: Creating a migratory oasis for monarchs
Texas A&M AgriLife experts encourage planting nectar-producing plants ahead of fall migration.
Striped Skunks don’t mind living in the suburbs
Getting a photograph of a skunk was not on my bucket list so I have never written about skunks.
Emerald ash borer moves south: Invasive insect confirmed in 5 new Texas counties
Texas A&M Forest Service confirmed the presence of the invasive emerald ash borer, EAB, in Grayson, Hill, Hood, McLennan and Palo Pinto counties. The pest is infesting and killing ash trees in new areas of the state and continues to spread south.
Flor de Jamaica: From garden to glass
Hibiscus sabdariffa, also known as Roselle or Flor de Jamaica, is a many-branched shrub that grows well in South Texas. Although native to south Africa, this hibiscus is found in subtropical and tropical gardens around the globe and is used both as a garden ornamental and an important medicinal tea.
Sometimes it’s just an interesting bush
An estimated 1,200 plants are native to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, making it an enormous selection from which to choose when considering populating a native habitat in your home garden. That number includes plants, vines, shrubs and trees. That is a lot of choice.
Going, coming and just passing through: Spring bird migration begins
A unique looking mockingbird came to the birdbath as I was looking out our kitchen window recently. I grabbed a photo to try to identify it. It was not a mockingbird, but a close cousin — a gray catbird. A bird I never expected to photograph because they are not permanent residents in the Rio Grande Valley.
Ocelot found dead in Hidalgo County suggests range expansion
Two nonprofit conservationist groups on Wednesday announced that an ocelot killed in Hidalgo County in 2021 has resulted in some positive news for the cat that is endangered in Texas.
Raucous laughing gulls: Timeless soundtrack for a day at the beach
A rapid series of loud ha-ha-ha-haah-haah commands attention on the beach. It’s not rowdy beachgoers enjoying a fun story, it’s the clatter of the laughing gull, so tagged because its noisy vocalization sounds like human laughter. A happy bird? Perhaps. Certainly, a gregarious one.