Promoting Beneficial Insects in Your Garden
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.
Build a Strong Foundation for Your Garden By Focusing on Soil
Many people give little thought to the soil under their feet. It’s just dirt, after all. But gardeners know that healthy soil is essential to healthy plants. If you’re looking to up your gardening game this year, invest in your soil.
Garden To Begin Major Renovations—Plus, How to Plan Your Own Garden Updates
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
Look to Winter-Blooming Shrubs to Bring Color to Your January 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.
Start the New Year with Plants Grown from Seed, Save Money
It’s true that in a few months you’ll be able to walk into a garden center or home improvement store and find row upon row of vegetables ready for you to transplant into your garden. But there’s a certain magic to growing plants from seed, not to mention opportunities to save money and grow exactly what you want.
For Brilliant Spring Color, Plant Your Bulbs Now
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.
For Brilliant Fall Color, Look to the Living Fossil, Ginkgo
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.
Celebrate Color and Culture with Marigolds
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.