Tiny Wildflower Gardens, Monarch Migration, Herbal Health

The Show

Tiny Wildflower Gardens, Monarch Migration, Herbal Health

air date: November 2, 2024

Are monarch butterflies in danger of extinction? Monika Maeckle of the Texas Butterfly Ranch explores the history and controversy in her book, The Monarch Butterfly Migration: Its Rise and Fall. Three Studio Balcones landscape architects create pocket prairies in their own small yards. Entomologist Wizzie Brown notes a new pest: muhly grass mealybug and explains how to prep patio containers to come indoors for winter. Herbalist Leighla Molina makes fire cider to ease winter’s coughs and colds.

tags:

Episode Segments

On Tour

Three Stories of Change

Three landscape architects create pocket prairies in their own small yards.

Watch more "On Tour" videos on YouTube →

Interview

Conversations

Are monarch butterflies endangered? Monika Maeckle of the Texas Butterfly Ranch explores the history and controversy in her book, The Monarch Butterfly Migration: Its Rise and Fall.

Watch more CTG Interview videos on YouTube →

Question of the Week

Muhly grass mealybug, prep patio containers to come inside.

Watch more Question of the Week videos on YouTube →

Backyard Basics

Fire Cider with Leighla Molina

Herbalist Leighla Molina mixes up fire cider to ease winter’s coughs and colds.

Watch more Backyard Basics videos on YouTube →

Comments

Recent Episodes

Garden for Birds and Pollinators

Bird populations have declined dramatically in recent years. Wildlife biologist Rufus Stephens, co-author of Land Stewardship for Birds with Jan Wrede, explores how to give our birds a helping hand, even in our backyards. Chris Garza sheet mulched his small front yard to kill weedy Bermuda grass to restore soil health and wildlife diversity. Watch | watch episode →

Changing the Winter-Tidy Mindset

Explore nature-to-garden perceptions with Dr. Bob Duke and Dr. Art Markman of KUT’s podcast, Two Guys on Your Head, produced by Rebecca McInroy. A Army Veteran’s new backyard lacked personality until she dug into gardening. Find out where beneficial insects snuggle down in winter with entomologist Wizzie Brown and get the secret to composting with | watch episode →

Tiny Wildflower Gardens, Monarch Migration, Herbal Health

Are monarch butterflies in danger of extinction? Monika Maeckle of the Texas Butterfly Ranch explores the history and controversy in her book, The Monarch Butterfly Migration: Its Rise and Fall. Three Studio Balcones landscape architects create pocket prairies in their own small yards. Entomologist Wizzie Brown notes a new pest: muhly grass mealybug and explains | watch episode →

CTG Episode Archive

November To Do List

Plant: ornamental & wildlife

Perennials, shrubs, ornamental (clumping) grasses; fall is the best time to plant
Avoid planting cold tender plants like Pride of Barbardos, Esperanza, lantana, plumbago
Trees
Strawberries (best time to do it!)
Winter annuals, including calendula, snapdragon, pansy, viola, dusty miller, ornamental kale and cabbage, alyssum, stock, cyclamen, dusty miller, flowering kale and cabbage
Early to Thanksgiving: native wildflower seeds like bluebonnets, phlox, Mexican hat, Indian paintbrush, Indian blanket (gaillardia). Also, non-native poppies, larkspurs, hollyhocks
Early to Thanksgiving: spring bulbs

Plant: herbs

Perennials thyme, oregano, lavender
Cilantro transplants, parsley, dill, fennel , chervil, summer savory, borage, chives, rue
Be prepared to cover in case of deep freeze

Plant: food crops

Keep planting winter crops for successive harvest
Water weekly with liquid seaweed
Spray cabbage loopers on broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides (Central Texas) http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/home-landscape/edible-gardens/growing-vegetables/

Prune

Avoid pruning shrubs right now unless you see damage
Okay to prune live oak and red oaks through January
Okay to prune trees
Thyme

Divide/Move

Shrubs, roses, trees, evergreen spring-blooming perennials

Prep

Mulch cold tender plants like gingers, Esperanza and semi-tropicals
Select spots where you want fruit trees, grapes, or berries to plant in January; for now, prep with compost
Get that row cover ready! Do not protect plants with plastic!

Lawn

If must mow, keep high to shade out germinating weeds
It’s really not a good idea to overseed with rye unless you have new, muddy construction and a dog!

Other tasks

Cut basil to freeze in oil in ice cube trays to use this winter in soups and stews
Collect seeds from summer annuals to dry and store indoors until next spring
Take cuttings of tender annuals to propagate in warmth to plant next spring
Rake leaves into beds to mulch over winter and return nutrients to the soil
Mow leaves on grass (if not raking to beds or compost) to break them down
Collect leaves from neighbors to add to compost pile!
Deeply water new plants; keep new seedlings moist but not drenched

[back to top]