Master Gardeners work together to maintain a community garden. | Photo Credit: Alan Hale By Mary Sirgo, Permian Basin Master Gardeners When we talk about gardening, most of us picture spring wildflowers, summer storms, and the Texas sun warming our shoulders. But anyone who’s spent time in a community garden knows its impact stretches far beyond one season. These spaces don’t just grow plants, they grow connections. And that work doesn’t stop when winter settles in. Even as t

Tiny sprouts peek through the soil surface. | Mary Sirgo By Mary Sirgo In Umeå, Sweden, a team of researchers examined how organic matter breaks down during cold seasons, particularly when snow cover is reduced. The researchers removed snow from plots of land to simulate the predictions of their region’s trending weather forecasts. While the results of their study were not surprising, the scale was. The removal of the snow cover made the soil much colder and drastically reduc

pulchella & Coreopsis tinctoria | Mary Sirgo By Mary Sirgo, Permian Basin Master Gardeners Lawns first came on the scene as a status symbol in Europe, indicating that a landowner was so wealthy they could devote large swaths of their property to recreation rather than food production. Later, in the late 1800s, lawns became popular in North American landscapes, with the invention of the push lawn mower enhancing their accessibility for maintenance. Today, invasive grass turf

Photo by Mary Sirgo By Mary Sirgo, Permian Basin Master Gardeners As nightfall creeps in earlier and the air begins to cool, we may notice that just as nature slows down, so do our own energy levels. The pace of the year begins to shift as holiday gatherings approach, followed by winter festivities and soon enough, the pressure of New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps this year, we might take a cue from our gardens. Instead of pushing forward into another round of goals and growth,

The Food and Oxygen factory Illustration and Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider By Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardener   Before I retired, I taught science to fourth graders in Midland’s GT program.  As a scientist myself, I wanted my students to love science as I knew it:  asking and answering questions about big ideas.     And one of those big ideas was looking at how our world functions:  Where does the energy come from that keeps most living things on earth alive?  How is that ene

Picture by Bradley Ward By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener   Do you miss having fresh produce, herbs, and flowers in the winter?  There is a solution. One of my kids lives in a condo in central Texas.  Because he travels and isn’t home much to water plants, he decided to try an indoor tower garden.  I have to admit that I was skeptical.  He invested in a vertical, hydroponic growing system that lets you grow herbs, leafy greens, and even some fruits indoors and year-round with

Chicory and Garlic Growing with Native Sunflowers, Helianthus annuus Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider By Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardener As a member of the Texas Native Plant Society, I always enjoy reading their quarterly publication.  On page 20 of their 2025 Summer issue of Texas Native Plants, I found Martha Whitehouse’s article Where  Salsa Meets Sage Edible Gardening with a Texas Twist .  See https://www.npsot.org/resources/member-magazine/ . Her article confirmed somethin

Fall Prerequisites Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider By Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardener If you garden, especially if you have a native yard, you can see and feel the changes that tell you fall is just around the corner.    Although we are accustomed to the terms spring, summer, fall, and winter, technically there are two ways used to describe these same seasons.  Meteorologists use temperature to define seasons; at the other end of spectrum, astronomers use the Earth’s position

Photo by Debbie Roland By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener   If you've been considering switching to a xeriscape landscape in your yard, this is a good time of year to do that.  Many people are mentioning this due to rising water costs and the need for everyone to conserve water.  Traditional lawns are pretty, there is no doubt about that, but the drain on our natural resources is enormous.  The following are methods used to remove turf and begin your xeriscape journey. ·     

Photo by Debbie Roland By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener   We recently took a trip to visit one of the kids in the Hill Country.  After...

Seeds Photo by Debbie Roland By Sara Moran, AgriLife Extension Agent for Midland and Ector Counties Fall is the perfect season to...

Lindheimers muhly Photo by Debbie Roland By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener   Ornamental grasses are some of the most reliable plants...

Crinum Lilly from Stock Photo By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener The time is approaching to plant the bulbs you will need for beautiful...

Monarch on Frostweed Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider By Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardener   It may still be summer outside, but it is not...

By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener   SAVE THE DATE:  The Fall Master Gardener Plant Sale is planned for September 6, 2025.  Flame Acanthus...

Pollinator Information Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider By Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardener   Recently, Texas Master Naturalists counted...

Cosmos Photo by Debbie Roland By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener   Cosmos are a gardener’s dream in West Texas.  They are beautiful,...

Blackberry bushes with Frog Fruit as ground cover Photo:  Debbie Roland By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener   July is a quiet gardening...

French Hollyhocks Photo:  Debbie Roland By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener   French Hollyhocks, also known as fig-leaved hollyhocks (...

Compost Tea Photo:  Debbie Roland By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener   Compost tea is a liquid concentrate made by steeping compost in...