Insects and gardeners: it’s a long relationship, and all too often, it’s needlessly antagonistic. Very few insects are actually the enemy. Successful gardeners should learn the difference between good insects and pests, as well as how to encourage the beneficial bugs and sustainably manage the harmful ones.
This year, guests to the Botanic Garden will notice construction work underway as we embark on several major projects, thanks to the support of the City of Fort Worth and many generous donors. Read on for a rundown of what we have planned for 2022, plus tips on planning a new flower bed in your garden
Many people regard winter as a bleak and barren time in the garden. Deciduous trees have lost their leaves, perennials have died back and the garden has entered its period of rest. Such a setting, however, provides the perfect foil for the “gems of winter”—those shrubs that put forth their blossoms in January and February and enliven the winter landscape with beauty.
December is bulb-planting month in the Garden. This year, nearly 150,000 bulbs, including tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, are being planted by grounds staff and volunteers. “It’s a lot of work to plant this many bulbs, but the results will be stunning in March and early April,” says Sr. Horticulturist Steve Huddleston. Home gardeners should also get their bulbs in the ground this month for the best results come spring. Learn more about the best bulbs for north central Texas to get started.
Every autumn, guests to the Japanese Garden frequently stop and marvel at a magnificent tree located just inside the east entrance. In the fall, the leaves turn bright lemon yellow. The color is so brilliant the leaves almost appear fluorescent, as if a bundle of yellow highlighters had taken root and sprouted. This is one of the Garden’s Ginkgo biloba trees, and it holds a remarkable story. “If you are looking for a tree to add to your landscape, consider the gingko. It is not only a reliable performer and beautiful tree but also a unique horticultural specimen,” says Sr. Horticulturist Steve Huddleston.
As FWBG | BRIT begins its ¡Celebramos! events, you might notice one flower taking center stage: marigolds. These brightly colored yellow or orange blooms are closely associated with Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebrations in Mexico, Texas and throughout the world on November 1 and 2.
The Mexican or Aztec marigold has been used for centuries in Mexico to represent the fragility of life. Known in the Nahuatl language spoken by the Aztecs as cempasuchil, the flowers are native to Central Mexico and have been cultivated since ancient times.
FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN
3220 Botanic Garden Blvd
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
(817) 463-4160
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We respectfully acknowledge that the Fort Worth Botanic Garden is located on traditional lands of Indigenous Peoples. We honor the ancestry, heritage, and gifts of all Indigenous Peoples who were sustained by these lands and give thanks to them. We are grateful that these lands continue to provide enrichment for many people today. [More…]
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