Tag Archives: earth day

Gardening 101: What to Plant in April

Garden

In honor of the approaching Earth Day (Monday, April 22 if you’re curious), we’d like to touch on the beauty of growing your own veggies, fruits and herbs. If you’re at all like me, the idea has always sounded appealing, but I have yet to actually jump in and take a stab at it. I think mainly because I just plain haven’t made the effort to learn anything about it!  So, now — a chance to get informed. Not sure what to plant?  The county and the all-knowing internet has made finding this out pretty easy for us, providing calendars of ‘what to plant when’ online.

So what’s on the list for planting in April in Travis County?

Between April 1 & April 15, plant:

  • Lima Beans
  • Snap Beans
  • Beets
  • Cantaloupe
  • Chard
  • Sweet Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Eggplant
  • Okra
  • Black-eye Peas
  • Pepper Plants
  • Pumpkin
  • Radishes
  • New Zealand Spinach
  • Summer Squash
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Tomato Plants
  • Watermelon

Between April 15 & April 30, plant:

  • Lima Beans
  • Snap Beans
  • Beets
  • Chard
  • Okra
  • Black-eye Peas
  • Pepper Plants
  • New Zealand Spinach
  • Summer Squash
  • Sweet Potatoes

For a full list and endless additional resources for gardening in Travis County, visit http://www.co.travis.tx.us/agext/garden/veggies/planting/aprjun.asp

Not in Travis County? Check out your county’s .gov website for resources specific to your region.

Go ahead, give it a go — and let us know how it turns out for you.  Happy planting, and happy early Earth Day!

 

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Regain An Appreciation For The Beauty Around You

Image

One of the MANY wonders of living in Texas….all the stunning flowers!!!

We never noticed the beauty because we were too busy trying to create it. (Anonymous)

by Catherine Hearn

by Catherine Hearn

Earth Day is this Sunday, and with incredible wildflowers blooming all around it’s easy to appreciate and marvel in the beauty of the earth. In light of Earth Day, make tiny efforts this month to regain an appreciation for your natural surroundings. Take out our your ear buds when you work out, go for a walk outside and listen to the birds and the rustle of the leaves, connect with the smells and sounds of nature, the beauty of the flowers and the lush greenery.

To enhance your appreciation – and possibly improve your random trivia scores – Here are a few not-so-widely-known facts about some of those Texas wildflowers you will see as you stroll:

 

Texas Bluebonnet 

  • As each flower ages, one of the top petals turns purple-red.

    Texas Bluebonnet

  • Looks like a little bonnet when you look at it closely. After it rains, look for a drop of water in each bonnet or bowl-like petal.
  • Part of the Legume family

Mexican Hat 

  • Looks like a Mexican sombrero
    Mexican Hat
  • The tall, finger-like stem growing above the petals turns brown as the flower ages
  • Can be used for making dye

Indian Paintbrush

  • Many species are parasitic, using the roots of other
    plants to help them grow
  • Often seen in fields with bluebonnets
    Indian Paintbrush
  • Grow in sandy soil

Now, go ahead and fully appreciate these beauties as you pass them on your daily errands and impress your friends with the new knowledge you’ve just acquired!

JOIN THE DISCUSSION- WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FLOWERS AND WHY?

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