East Texas Gardening

I just wanted to make a short note to encourage folks hassled and bothered by moles. I got the 4th one this year, including 3 in the last 4 days. I've mentioned before - try trapping in the same run, especially if the tunnel is a bit deeper and larger. At this time of year, family members are probably using the same tunnel system to get to various feeding grounds. Earlier this year I caught one mole, and about a week or 2 later, they were using that tunnel again.

I probably had to reset the trap (Victor Out O Site) at least 6 or more times before I got it. It was just passing through without tripping the trap. The last time I made sure the trap was as deep as I could go without it being in the tunnel pathway, and made sure the "jaws" were perfectly straddling the runway. I also make sure there is no soil blocking the other end of trigger, so when it is pushed up on the action end, it can move up with out resistance on the other. - - Persistence pays off!

More and more folks are being drawn by the allure and romance of growing wine grapes. But before getting involved, it pays to do your homework on this intensive enterprise.

Fran Pontasch, North Texas viticulture adviser for Texas AgriLife Extension Service, announced a July 22 workshop in Stephenville, designed for persons thinking about, or already are growing, wine grapes. Pontasch serves the North Texas area, which includes Tyler, and will be conducting the workshop at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Stephenville from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 22. The program will present "the basic know-how of commercial wine-grape production as well as some of the economics associated with a owning and operating a commercial vineyard." Some of the topics addressed at the workshop will include site selection, risk factors, vineyard labor and operational costs.The fee is $100 and includes lunch, beverages and study materials. Pre-registration is required to ensure space and to get an accurate lunch count.

For more information, contact Pontasch at 254-968-4144 or fmpontasch@ag.tamu.edu or see the news release at: AgNews

Mark you calendars June 26 for the Horticulture Field Day. This is a fun and free event, where you can see the latest flowering plants going head-to-head in the field at Texas A&M at Overton. You can vote for your favorites, which eventually become the "People's Picks" and listed at the flowers.tamu.edu web site. It starts at 8:30 at the Horticulture Farm north of the Overton Center, and then moves mid-morning to the Center where you can enjoy more flowers at the Demonstration Garden. After lunch, enjoy presentations by Dr. Brent Pemberton, Texas AgriLife Research horticulturist, and Jimmy Turner, research horticulturist at the Dallas Arboretum, on what's new and exciting in the world of annuals and perennials, plus a talk by Dr. Terry Stallman, AgriLife Research horticulturist on Container Gardening Research Trials. Click here for the a map and schedule.

It's June, and in East Texas, that often means blossom end rot on tomatoes.

Tyler is home to thousands of azaleas that put on a dazzling display in late March and early April. These azaleas are all hybrids with different species, mostly hailing from the orient.

Did you know that there is also an azalea native to Texas? Maybe you've heard of the Azalea Canyon near Newton, Texas where the deciduous azaleas draw visitors every March to see the show. But, did you know that there is another azalea native to Smith County in Northeast Texas? I was so surprised when one day one of my Master Gardeners casually mentioned she had native azaleas blooming along a creek in her backyard. Sure enough, she had a very nice colony of Rhododendron oblongifolium, better known as the Texas Azalea. It is not a show stopper, but it is very cool to have a local, native representative of one of our favorite plant groups.

Texas Azalea is a deciduous azalea, coming out of domancy in March. It blooms in mid to late May, with sprays of pure white flowers,having a clove-like fragrance. The leaves, buds and flowers are covered with sticky glands, a distinctive characteristic of this species. By the time it begins blooming, it has put on a lot of new growth, which partially obscures the flowers.

I'm not 100% positive it is R. oblongifolium. I remember reading somewhere that some taxonomists or Rhodie specialists felt it was a type of Swamp Azalea - R. vicosum. Both bloom late, in May, have clove-like fragrance, have sticky buds. I not sure it really matters all that much - I just like having it in my yard,where it blooms alongside an oakleaf hydrangea.

Texas Azalea is difficult to propagate, and not especially showy, so it won't ever become a common centerpiece in the landscape. But, it's nice to know that Smith County is home to native azaleas.