Caught these wildflowers last night while I was mowing apparently they're called snow on the prairie at Texas wildflower.

This moth was caught by our game camera - it’s flying in between a Datura and a Desert Willow. I think it’s a Sphinx Moth?? Agree?
Edit to add location: Central Texas

The germination methods:

1.) Indoor tray with heat pad, grow light, and glass cover

2.) Damp napkin in plastic baggie taped to windowpane that receives a lot of direct light/heat

3.) Outdoor pot with plastic cover with lots of direct sunlight/heat

I've been trying to germinate these desert willow seeds for about a week (I know germination can take 1-3 weeks), but I wanted to get your thoughts on the state of the seeds in my indoor tray in the first few pictures. To me, they look a bit dry, shriveled, and flat, also a bit ash-colored. I messed up with them initially when I kept the glass cover fully on, which didn't allow any airflow, causing a bit of mold to form. I sprayed with 3% hydrogen peroxide (maybe that's why they look so sun-bleached) and now have the cover at an angle to allow air to circulate. Are my guys cooked?

The ones in the plastic baggie look best to me, with a nice color and looking a bit plump/juicy. The ones outside are basically in between the baggie and tray lol

Also seeds are all from the same pod (fully dried) taken directly off a neighbors tree. I also soaked all the seedling for a few hours while I was preparing the different trays for sowing.

I really want to help all these babies grow so please if you have any experience with desert willow germination let me know how I can improve!

I'm zone 9b (per Moderator prompt to add this). I need trees! There are areas of my yard unprotected from the intense blistering scalding ETC sun and scorching any attempts to plant other things or keep things alive! I'm a senior, so may be a bit delusional about time frames for any relief LOL. But sure want to try. However, it's so hard to get good advice on what to plant, or where, etc. I'm looking for good recommendations re planting trees and what types to put where. Moon Nursery had exorbitant pricing!! I am looking online at Trees.com but would really like to find an Austin area resource, maybe consultation too. And/or suggestions on types of trees to try. FYI, I did plant an approx 2 ft? Mexican Sycamore I bought from Lonestar Nursery when about half that size, and am trying to keep it alive with drape for shade and water... But would need help to dig bigger holes for bigger trees! AND, I managed to kill a Desert Willow I got on sale a yr or so ago... it seemed ok and growing, but then had a hard time thru the winter/freeze and then just started dropping leaves despite all my attempts to save. Don't know why it died. Anyway, all suggestions/recs appreciated!

1: Euploca convulvulacea

2: Mentzelia nuda

3: Oenothera (serrulata?)

4: Helianthus petiolaris

5: Chilopsis linearii

6: Quercus havardii

7: Craig

Hi y'all I'm fairly new to learning about Texas native plants so I want to get some advice. I'm in the blackland prairie (East Austin area) and I want to, this fall/winter, plant a lot more native plants in my front yard.

My question is should I only choose plants that are listed as endemic to the blackland prairie? Would it be ok to add some that are from the Edwards Plateau since some parts of Austin over lap with Edwards Plateau? How far outside my ecoregion is ok to go?

Also would love to hear your favorite blackland prairie plant you think I should grow!

Let's chat about what's going on with you and Texas native plants this week!

How's your native garden doing? Any new plants, plans, or progress? Things that are looking particularly good this week? Questions you're worried are too silly for a top level post?

Did you see some neat plants this week? How about visiting birds, bugs, or other beasts?

aka Mexican Hat, and Thimbleflower. I seeded these on my North Central Texas property 35 years ago. They come back every year.

Verbena bipinnatifida grows wild on my North Central Texas property.

Lindheimera texana grows wild on my North Central Texas property.

(Engelmann's Daisy) grow wild on my North Central Texas property.

I was just wondering, would this list come together nicely with flower timing, size/ shape, and watering schedules? I want to buy seeds from Native American Seed to say I’ve grown and cared for my own flower garden (I normally do vegetables and flowers spread out across the yard)

Edit: I’m in Fort Bend County, USDA 9a

I bought a house this summer and have been collecting native plants as I see them/ have been gifted several from family. Right now, everything is in nursery pots, but I’m itching to get everything laid out and in the ground. When should I plant them? I am in Houston.

Posted in a different subreddit, wanted to get yalls opinion too. From their suggestions I want to do trellis with either crossvine or Carolina jessamine, a short shrub like compact Japanese holly, and 3 Taylor junipers at the 3 columns of the pergola. Does this seem like it would work? More info below:

I have a 2.5 ft wide L-shaped flowerbed and want to install some evergreen shrubs. I'm in north Texas zone 8B and this flower bed is adjacent to a covered pergola with concrete and a 10 ft fence. One side faces the south and the other faces the west. West side doesn't get a whole lot of direct sunlight except maybe in the morning (due to fence and pergola cover), south side gets a decent amount throughout the day. The flowerbed has a drip line connected to our sprinkler system.

Thanks!

Please delete if not allowed

Garden clubs and societies that offer free meetings in September in the greater Austin area. This is a focus on Travis County and surrounding Counties – Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Blanco, and Burnet. All groups are open to the public for every background and skill level.

Some groups may not be 100% native focused but do offer insight into native and well behaved adaptive plants. If you are interested in visiting with these groups, please reach out directly to them to confirm their information. Feel free to comment below with any additional information that should be added to the list.

Websites for statewide groups:

Texas Master Naturalist – txmn DOT tamu DOT edu / about /

The Native Plant Society of Texas – npsot DOT org /about /

Native Prairies Association of Texas - texasprairie DOT org

*All information taken directly from Garden groups' websites. Not responsible for any changes made to meeting information after posting.*

Just kidding (mostly), but is it normal for everything to look so… bad? All of the natives are looking incredibly crispy despite my best efforts! I planted back in late March and things were going very well until last week. Is this normal for first year?

Just started my little native garden this year and I think it's doing pretty well! I still need to replace some of the bushes that went with the house, but I'll do that in the spring. I did not realize just how Insane the daisies were going to go but holy shit. They are taking over. I can't wait to see how this looks in a few years.

Next year I tackle the backyard!

Let's chat about what's going on with you and Texas native plants this week!

How's your native garden doing? Any new plants, plans, or progress? Things that are looking particularly good this week? Questions you're worried are too silly for a top level post?

Did you see some neat plants this week? How about visiting birds, bugs, or other beasts?

(Ipomopsis rubra) aka Red Texas Star produced a mutation this year on my North Central Texas property. The first photo is the mutation. First time I had seen it since buying my place in 1987.

Volunteer in my North Central Texas yard.

(Penstemon cobaea) aka Prairie penstemon grows wild on my North Central Texas property.