PBMG Blog

Great Blue Heron photographed by Brandy Goodman. Brandy Goodman, Permian Basin Master Gardener Intern At first, our pond began as something we created for ourselves. We wanted a place to sit in the evenings and listen to the waterfall. We stamped out the shape with sharp shovels and sliced out the outline. It ended up looking like the letter “b” (for Brandy, I thought). Our neighbor used his Bobcat to clear the dirt at a gradient with a shallow, rocky sid

By: Mary Sirgo, Permian Basin Master Gardener Native and adapted plants are on their way to becoming part of a landscape that uses less water and does a little more for the wildlife that calls it home. | Mary Sirgo Spend enough time talking with homeowners, and you begin to notice a change in the questions they ask. A decade ago, conversations often centered on achieving the perfect lawn. Which fertilizer should I use? How often should I water? How do I get rid of weeds? Toda

Snow and Bottle Tree Photo: Barbara Porsch By Barbara Porsch, Permian Basin Master Gardener What comes to your mind when you hear the term “yard art”? I love yard art because it usually fills a void in my landscaping or garden. Welcome to my yard. My favorite decoration in my yard is my first bottle tree. It is a tall cedar post with long screws holding the bottles. A friend helped me with it, and we planted it in the middle of what was then my vegetable garden. I hav

Photo by Amanda Green By Amanda Green, Permian Basin Master Gardener Now that spring is here, you may be thinking of planting your patio planters. Some do vegetables, some do ornamentals, but we do small native butterfly gardens. As we’re trying to move towards more native plants, we had trouble finding a good fit. Texas native plants are known for having deep roots, some up to 15 feet long, so they wouldn’t work. Would they? Through trial, error, and lots of practice, we’ve

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. ·

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

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

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

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

Passion Vine on Trellis Photo: Debbie Roland By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener You may have walked along fences or trellises and...

Wildflower Spring Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider By Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardener To lawn or unlawn, that is the question! We think...

Frog Fruit being trained to cover former lawn area Photo by Debbie Roland By Debbie Roland, Master Gardeners Replacing your Bermuda...

Lights at night can affect hatching Loggerhead Sea Turtles Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider By Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardener We have...

References for Researching Native Plants Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider By Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardener You are ready to take the...

By Debbie Roland and Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardeners We have written about the importance of planting native plants, stressing the...

Side Yard Garden Photo: Kristi Clemmer By Debbie Roland and Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardeners If you live in a newer development in...

www.fanpop.com By Debbie Roland and Mike Callaway, Master Gardeners This article was prepared with input from Frank Wells, a former...

Rattlesnake Master Photo: theplantnative.com By Emmy Ulmschneider and Debbie Roland, Master Gardeners I have been visiting Tallgrass...

Illustration by Olga Akbarova By Debbie Roland and Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardeners Lavender is a hardy low-maintenance plant that is...

Photo: Emmy Ulmschneider By Debbie Roland and Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardeners The name Pink Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa)...