Wildflowers Time For Fall Sowing Is Here

I always smile when my neighbor talks about her lantana. Emily loves the little orange and yellow flowers on these plants. As she describes it, "These flowers just aren't as temperamental as my roses.  They just grow."  Lantana like many other wildflowers grow because they are native to an area.

So as a group these plants have learned to adapt to the sun, the wind, sometimes even snow. Too often when we garden we pick blooming plants and other plants because we saw them in a gardening magazine not necessarily our planting zone.

I'm as guilty as everyone else. I miss the spring bulbs blooming in the early spring (which is why I'm forcing some this year).

But if we can step back and take a look at some of our native plants we may be pleasantly surprised with the color and variety available. With natives there's fewer pesticides needed as the  plants are not quite so picky about their homes.

In the Texas fall and elsewhere in the country fall is the time to sow wildflower seeds.  As I read many of newspapers and blogs from around the country, whether New England, California, or Colorado now is the time to start planting those wildflowers.

The Texas Legacy: A Lady Bird's Dream

Now if you ever have the opportunity to drive any of the major  Texas highways including interstates in Texas from spring to late fall you'll catch the legacy of Lady Bird Johnson, former First Lady.  This past weekend was the fall plant sale at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center outside of Austin.

Texas has always been a combination of farming and ranching. Both endeavors require having good soil to use. Wildflowers hold an important function in the stabilization of the soil.

With the many storms that come from the Gulf of Mexico or down from the Rockies, quick storms with their accompanying flash floods tear away the soil leaving huge gullies.

Wildflowers serve to stabilize and at the same time beautify an area.  But wildflowers don't have to be planted just along roadsides.

These native flowering plants  can be an addition to your yard and garden bringing butterflies, hummingbirds and other nectar hunters. These native plants can also be added to plant containers ready to sprout and bloom when the warmth of spring awakens them.

By their very nature wildflowers require less care than other plants. This makes them perfect when you want to make an accessible garden or an enabled garden. By their very nature wildflowers and native plants are adaptable gardening at its best.

Wildflowers require minimal care which makes them a perfect choice for container gardening.  When planted in a potting container they will require some additional assistance as their roots can only go so deep.

If you are using container gardening to plant your flowers make sure you have drainage holes on the bottom. Unless you are planting bog or swamp flowers, wildflowers do not like wet feet.

Texas Wildflower Seed Grants

If you're a Texas teacher or volunteer in Texas schools you may want to consider the seed grant program. The Center funds a partnership with Texas schools K-12  to "increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes."  The purpose of the seed grants, is to "sow the future, one seed at a time."  To get an application form and learn more go to http://wildflowers.org

Not A Texan?

Now I know not everyone is lucky enough to live in Texas, but the Wildflower Center took everyone in North America into consideration  If you're unsure what wildflowers grow in your area? The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center maintains a database of North American native plants.  If you'd like a little bit of Texas, I found this website which has screensavers of Texas wildflowers.

You can choose plant varieties by amount of sunlight, time of year and color of plant.  Contact your local extension service or provincial government offices to find locations selling wildflower seeds native to your area.

Consider adding wildflowers to your gardening mix whether you want an adaptive garden, enabled garden or just want some gorgeous color in your life.

All in a gardener's day,

Photo courtesy of Clinton & Charles Robertson