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>> Tom: Hi, there, 
I'm Tom Spencer.

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This week on "Central 
Texas Gardener",

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get the color wheel for 
butterflies with Max Munoz from

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The National Butterfly Center.

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On tour, see how new low-water 
gardens at Rollingwood's City

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Hall changed a 
neighborhood's perspective.

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Daphne explains what to do about 
bagworms and Jeff Ferris picks

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wildflowers to plant, 
even on a leach field.

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So, let's get growing, 
right here, right now.

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>> "Central Texas Gardener" is 
sponsored by the Austin Area

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Garden Center in Zilker 
Botanical Garden,

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home of 31 local garden clubs 
and the Zilker garden festival.

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Zilkergarden.org.

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[Music].

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>> Tom: What happens when a city 
hall turns lawn and foundation

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shrubs into a 
destination of discovery?

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See how Rollingwood's City Hall 
gardens changed a neighborhood's

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perspective.

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>> Unlike most city halls 
against strident pavement,

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Rollingwood's City Hall is 
nestled into a neighborhood,

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blending into nearby homes.

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The difference these days is 
that there's not a blade of

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grass, except for billowing 
clumps of fall-blooming muhly

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grasses.

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In spring, annuals 
steal the show,

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as the cut-back grasses 
pump out new growth.

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The ever-changing scenery 
against structural evergreens is

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why neighbors make it part 
of their daily strolls.

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Robert Patterson, a member of 
the Rollingwood Park Commission,

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championed the new look to 
remove lawn and conserve water.

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>> We thought, well, wouldn't 
it be cool to do something

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educational and 
beautiful and water wise?

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We have all these 
different environments.

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You know, we have the shade, we 
have hillside, we have full sun.

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And so we thought it was a 
great opportunity to create,

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right here in the central city, 
the opportunity to show people

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what they could 
do in their yard.

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>> Former Mayor Barry Bone 
supported the water wise

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initiative.

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The Rollingwood Women's Club 
and neighbors raised additional

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funds and selected 
the design team.

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Lauren and Scott Ogden, 
along with Patrick Kirwin,

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collaborated to 
change dimensions,

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philosophical and botanical.

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>> The city hall building is 
actually an older property

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that's been here a long time 
and it had the old style kind of

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line-them-up-and-shoot-them 
landscape with a foundation

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planting, and we very much 
wanted to get away from that.

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>> Since work began in fall 
2013, plants are still young,

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but filling in rapidly.

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In less than a year, the curb 
strip reversed the static

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promenade.

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>> The hell strip is something 
that Lauren has been a champion

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of for a long time.

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It's a common problem 
people have in a property.

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If you have that little narrow 
strip between the sidewalk and

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the street, it's really 
difficult to water.

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That's a place where we do have 
a lot of desert shrubs and some

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yuccas and agaves, many grasses, 
many of the dryland grasses,

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along with a lot of the 
nice perennial and annual

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wildflowers.

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>> In the sunniest 
sections, Patrick,

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of Kirwin Horticulture Services, 
chose quarter-inch Fairlane pink

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gravel to underscore plants that 
like good drainage and rocky

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mulch.

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Decomposed granite packs flat on 
wide berth pathways edged with

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limestone.

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>> They had a parking lot up 
the hill and a sidewalk that ran

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right along the foot of the 
building to get you straight to

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the front door as 
fast as you could go,

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and that works fine for 
just getting to city hall.

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But we felt like if we were 
going to try to make this into a

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display garden to 
show things off,

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we actually needed people to 
walk through the garden and not

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walk by it.

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>> Deer mosey through, too, so 
the Ogdens chose the least tasty

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menu.

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>> We wanted to make it pretty 
so that people would be excited

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about what they could 
grow in a dryland garden,

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but we also wanted to have lots 
and lots of different kinds of

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plants.

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We wanted to make it diverse 
so we could show off as many

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different things as 
people might want.

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And we didn't want 
to over style it,

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so we pretty much went 
for a naturalistic style,

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and that allows us to combine 
things kind of loosely in

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groupings that flood back in and 
out and it allows for us to do

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some of the stuff we 
like to do anyway,

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which is to have kind of 
a sense of spontaneity,

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so we have lots of annuals.

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And, you know, one of the groups 
of plants that people forget

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about in doing gardens in Austin 
a lot is the fact that this is a

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great place for winter annuals.

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We have a huge natural flora of 
wildflowers that typically will

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germinate in the fall, grow 
through the winter when they

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have moisture, bloom in the 
spring and then they go away.

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And so one of the things we 
wanted to do with this garden

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was show people how to use that.

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And we combine them in many 
instances with succulents or

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what we call power plants, 
plants that have a really strong

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architectural character.

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So even though we're not 
doing architectural design,

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we have plants that, you know, 
have that kind of feature,

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and so when the wildflowers come 
and go we still have, you know,

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something to hold the garden 
together with that way.

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>> Reliably perennial bulbs 
contribute to ongoing surprise

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and wildlife attraction.

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>> The lawn's just kind 
of boring in that respect,

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you know, it's kind of swell 
looking if it's all green and

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looking okay and everything but 
it doesn't really do anything.

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There's no life in it.

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There's no bugs 
really, no butterflies,

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no bees and we've got 
all of that out here.

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I mean, sometimes you can see 
three or four different kinds of

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butterflies and, you know, one 
of these bushes will come in and

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bees are all over it, you know, 
and you can hear them buzzing as

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you go by.

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All you got to do here, really, 
is just stand still and just

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look around.

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You know, if you'll just take a 
second to stop and look there's

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a lot of stuff here, 
even in the winter.

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>> We have drip irrigation 
throughout this property.

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It's, you know, it's 
subsoil so you don't see it,

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and that is what keeps things 
alive through the heat of the

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summer.

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We do irrigate here but 
we irrigate minimally.

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>> Two rainwater tanks assist.

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>> And we also plumbed one of 
the downspouts off the roof into

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a big depression.

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We created a rain garden.

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The plants in the rain garden 
are mostly plants that naturally

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grow in that kind of environment 
where they're periodically

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flooded and then they 
dry out between flooding.

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And we've got some 
native things.

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There's a little creeping clover 
fern that's in there and we've

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also got some native salvias.

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Some of the native grasses 
like the Gulf muhly,

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that's one of the 
plants that's there,

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and the hybrid of it with the 
Lindheimer muhly called Pink

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Flamingos.

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We have those in there.

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Those are plants that naturally 
grow in seasonally wet areas

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like that.

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>> Opposite the 
front door sidewalk,

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the garden heads into shade.

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Lauren designed the conversation 
area with a spiral that echoes

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ammonite fossils.

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A round table, as you 
will, without the table.

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Scott's gradually tucking 
native rocks into the joints,

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where little lizards can reside.

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>> We did come up with palettes 
of things that are drought

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tolerant and shade tolerant, 
and so that's what we have.

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Underneath the oaks we have some 
of the native sedges and some of

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the cycads that are very tough 
and drought tolerant and even,

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you know, some plants like the 
boxwoods that are, you know,

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common in old landscapes here, 
actually tried and true tough

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plants that naturally grow in 
the wild on limestone soils,

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kind of like we have in Austin, 
and so they're very tough.

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And, so, we have a very catholic 
open-minded palette here.

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We have lots and lots 
of native plants.

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We also have lots of plants that 
are adapted plants from all over

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the world.

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Coonties are also cycads.

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They're a little low-growing 
cycad that actually has its

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bulb, its tuber 
located underground.

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They don't need any kind 
of irrigation, really,

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and as a dry shade plant 
you couldn't do better.

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We have then the dioons, which 
are the cycads native to North

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America in Mexico 
relatively nearby,

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and we have those 
on the hillside.

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One of the things we like to do 
with this garden is to have some

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plants that echo forms 
all the way through it,

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so if you stand at one end and 
look at the other you do get

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some kind of sense 
of continuity.

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And so we have 
grasses that repeat.

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We have things -- architectural 
plants like the cycads that

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repeat all the way through 
it and then things like the

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succulents like the 
agaves and yuccas.

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Again, if you stand and 
view the whole thing,

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there is some 
continuity that way.

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>> But let's make it clear, this 
is not a no-maintenance mow and

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blow yard.

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>> That's one of the, I think, 
the fallacies of landscape

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architecture makes a lot of 
people think that an initial

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vision and an installation 
and you're done,

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and a garden isn't 
that way at all.

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It's actually an evolutionary 
process and most of the good

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decisions come about responding 
to what you see evolving rather

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than whatever preconceived 
notions you may have had at the

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beginning of it.

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>> I think it is -- 
has ongoing impact.

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I think when people 
first saw it, you know,

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when it was just a few little 
bitty plants and nothing was

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flowering and there were 
some cactus and, you know,

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sitting out in the middle of 
some rocks people just kind of

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went -- you know, there were 
some skeptics, you know.

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Plant nerds like me dug it 
from the get-go, you know,

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but now that it's coming along 
and it's becoming, you know,

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more mature and people can see 
that wow look at that thing.

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I never realized it was 
going to be that way.

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Like this bush here, you 
know, once you see, you know,

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what the potential is and you 
see how it matures over time,

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and there are cycles.

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You know, there's 
the spring cycle,

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the fall cycle and all that.

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People were starting 
to get interested.

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I talked to somebody a 
couple of days ago, I said,

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"What do you think 
about the garden?"

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And they're like, wow, you know, 
like we had no idea it was going

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to be like this.

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>> Tom: Visit Rollingwood City 
Hall Garden yourself and meet

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one of the designers on the 
Garden Conservancy's Open Days

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tour on October 17th.

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You can find out more 
at gardenconsevancy.org.

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And right now we're going to 
take a spin around the color

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wheel with Max Munoz.

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He is the director of operations 
from the National Butterfly

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Center down in Mission, Texas.

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And welcome back.

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>> Max: Thank you 
for having me here.

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>> Tom: No, no, it's 
a real pleasure.

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You came on the show when 
the center was first getting

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underway.

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>> Max: Yes.

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>> Tom: And I'm sure 
you've been busy.

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>> Max: We've been 
pushing plants.

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We've been trying to 
garden as much as we can.

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>> Tom: Yeah, well, it's a 
great idea and, you know,

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we have the National Wildflower 
Center here in Texas,

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now the National 
Butterfly Center.

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It's a great pairing, I think.

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>> Max: It sure is.

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>> Tom: Okay.

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Well, when I say take a 
spin around the color wheel,

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we're going to talk about kind 
of colors of the rainbow because

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it literally, they all 
attract butterflies, right?

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>> Max: Yes.

238
00:10:43,643 --> 00:10:45,778
There is no bad color.

239
00:10:45,778 --> 00:10:48,848
If you ever think that 
there is a bad color,

240
00:10:48,848 --> 00:10:51,117
that particular flower will have 
a color within that color to

241
00:10:51,117 --> 00:10:52,352
attract butterflies.

242
00:10:52,352 --> 00:10:53,119
>> Tom: Okay.

243
00:10:53,119 --> 00:10:56,723
So, you know, there are some 
wide scales out there that say

244
00:10:56,723 --> 00:10:58,258
avoid this color, 
use that color.

245
00:10:58,258 --> 00:10:59,359
>> Max: Yes.

246
00:10:59,359 --> 00:11:00,059
We've heard them all.

247
00:11:00,059 --> 00:11:00,860
We've heard several.

248
00:11:00,860 --> 00:11:04,831
One of them was the 
purple, the color purple.

249
00:11:04,831 --> 00:11:05,732
>> Tom: All right.

250
00:11:05,732 --> 00:11:09,168
>> Max: You know, and we 
can actually talk about the

251
00:11:09,168 --> 00:11:10,570
different plants that 
attract so many butterflies,

252
00:11:10,570 --> 00:11:12,038
and they are purple.

253
00:11:12,038 --> 00:11:12,705
>> Tom: Okay.

254
00:11:12,705 --> 00:11:13,406
Well, let's do it.

255
00:11:13,406 --> 00:11:15,375
Let's start with purples.

256
00:11:15,375 --> 00:11:17,844
And a lot of these will range 
from purples to pinks, right?

257
00:11:17,844 --> 00:11:18,545
>> Max: Yes.

258
00:11:18,545 --> 00:11:20,380
Yes, it all depends 
on how you look at it.

259
00:11:20,380 --> 00:11:22,282
I've seen some plants and 
people will say, well,

260
00:11:22,282 --> 00:11:23,616
it was a purple one.

261
00:11:23,616 --> 00:11:25,919
And I have it and 
I call it a pink.

262
00:11:25,919 --> 00:11:27,287
You know, so it all depends.

263
00:11:27,287 --> 00:11:28,288
[Laughter].

264
00:11:28,288 --> 00:11:29,322
>> Tom: Depends on the viewer.

265
00:11:29,322 --> 00:11:29,989
>> Max: Yes.

266
00:11:29,989 --> 00:11:31,324
>> Tom: Now there's a plant 
that we've never talked about,

267
00:11:31,324 --> 00:11:33,159
it's called tube tongue.

268
00:11:33,159 --> 00:11:33,793
>> Max: Yes.

269
00:11:33,793 --> 00:11:36,329
>> Tom: And this sounds like a 
great garden plant on top of a

270
00:11:36,329 --> 00:11:37,997
great butterfly plant.

271
00:11:37,997 --> 00:11:40,600
>> Max: I actually use it in our 
gardens there at the National

272
00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,202
Butterfly Center as 
a ground coverage.

273
00:11:43,202 --> 00:11:43,970
>> Tom: Okay.

274
00:11:43,970 --> 00:11:46,272
>> Max: You know, there's areas 
where you plant a very nice

275
00:11:46,272 --> 00:11:47,340
tree.

276
00:11:47,340 --> 00:11:50,243
For example, I have 
a soapberry tree.

277
00:11:50,243 --> 00:11:51,010
>> Tom: Okay.

278
00:11:51,010 --> 00:11:53,613
>> Max: And nothing underneath 
grows really nice because it

279
00:11:53,613 --> 00:11:54,981
creates a pretty good shade.

280
00:11:54,981 --> 00:11:55,715
>> Tom: Right.

281
00:11:55,715 --> 00:11:57,650
>> Max: So then I place 
tube tongue under it.

282
00:11:57,650 --> 00:12:00,420
And tube tongue does 
wonder in the shade.

283
00:12:00,420 --> 00:12:01,154
>> Tom: Okay.

284
00:12:01,154 --> 00:12:02,989
>> Max: It starts growing and 
then all of a sudden you see

285
00:12:02,989 --> 00:12:06,092
just a purple, or pink, 
color all around you.

286
00:12:06,092 --> 00:12:06,793
>> Tom: Okay.

287
00:12:06,793 --> 00:12:07,894
All right.

288
00:12:07,894 --> 00:12:09,395
So a fantastic groundcover.

289
00:12:09,395 --> 00:12:10,229
>> Max: It is.

290
00:12:10,229 --> 00:12:12,632
>> Tom: And I understand its 
blooms are pretty much year

291
00:12:12,632 --> 00:12:13,366
round.

292
00:12:13,366 --> 00:12:14,334
>> Max: Pretty much, depending 
on where you place it.

293
00:12:14,334 --> 00:12:15,134
>> Tom: Okay.

294
00:12:15,134 --> 00:12:17,503
>> Max: The first thing you have 
to do before a garden is making

295
00:12:17,503 --> 00:12:19,572
sure you know where you're going 
to place it to make sure you're

296
00:12:19,572 --> 00:12:21,274
going to have shade 
or enough sun.

297
00:12:21,274 --> 00:12:22,141
>> Tom: Okay.

298
00:12:22,141 --> 00:12:24,010
>> Max: Also understand 
what the plant needs.

299
00:12:24,010 --> 00:12:24,711
>> Tom: Sure.

300
00:12:24,711 --> 00:12:27,180
>> Max: And the tube tongue 
is one that loves the shade.

301
00:12:27,180 --> 00:12:27,814
>> Tom: Okay.

302
00:12:27,814 --> 00:12:28,381
Very good.

303
00:12:28,381 --> 00:12:30,216
>> Max: So if you have it in the 
shade and you water it just the

304
00:12:30,216 --> 00:12:32,252
right amount, not too much 
because you don't want to rot

305
00:12:32,252 --> 00:12:35,021
anything under there, and you 
don't want to give it too little

306
00:12:35,021 --> 00:12:36,789
water, depending on 
also where you live.

307
00:12:36,789 --> 00:12:37,490
>> Tom: Sure.

308
00:12:37,490 --> 00:12:39,392
>> Max: And you will have a 
wonderful plant that will give

309
00:12:39,392 --> 00:12:42,061
you flowers and butterflies 
through the whole year.

310
00:12:42,061 --> 00:12:43,663
>> Tom: What butterflies 
does it attract?

311
00:12:43,663 --> 00:12:45,431
>> Max: It will attract 
some of the smaller ones.

312
00:12:45,431 --> 00:12:48,968
For example, some 
of the hair-streaks,

313
00:12:48,968 --> 00:12:50,169
the smaller hair-streaks.

314
00:12:50,169 --> 00:12:52,071
It does attract a lot of 
Bordered Patch on it too.

315
00:12:52,071 --> 00:12:52,705
>> Tom: Okay.

316
00:12:52,705 --> 00:12:53,773
Beautiful butterflies.

317
00:12:53,773 --> 00:12:55,808
>> Max: Bordered Patch uses 
it -- yes, very beautiful.

318
00:12:55,808 --> 00:12:58,344
The Bordered Patch uses 
it as a nectar source,

319
00:12:58,344 --> 00:12:59,746
so you get to see a lot of that.

320
00:12:59,746 --> 00:13:00,580
>> Tom: All right.

321
00:13:00,580 --> 00:13:03,850
Well, let's talk about some 
other purple and pink ones.

322
00:13:03,850 --> 00:13:05,351
I love the horsemints.

323
00:13:05,351 --> 00:13:07,787
>> Max: Oh, horsemints 
are wonderful.

324
00:13:07,787 --> 00:13:11,224
This time of year, since it's 
summer, they start dying back.

325
00:13:11,224 --> 00:13:12,425
>> Tom: Sure, sure.

326
00:13:12,425 --> 00:13:13,559
>> Max: But in the 
spring, I mean,

327
00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:15,895
you see a field of 
purples all around.

328
00:13:15,895 --> 00:13:16,529
>> Tom: Right.

329
00:13:16,529 --> 00:13:17,330
>> Max: Purple and whites.

330
00:13:17,330 --> 00:13:18,431
>> Tom: Right, right.

331
00:13:18,431 --> 00:13:19,365
Glorious plant.

332
00:13:19,365 --> 00:13:22,969
And, again, usually mixed in 
with a lot of other colors,

333
00:13:22,969 --> 00:13:23,903
you know, in nature.

334
00:13:23,903 --> 00:13:27,373
>> Max: In nature, you 
will find it, you know,

335
00:13:27,373 --> 00:13:29,242
in a wildflower patch.

336
00:13:29,242 --> 00:13:31,611
There at the center, if you come 
to the center at the pavilion

337
00:13:31,611 --> 00:13:34,714
itself, we have a 
wildflower refugium.

338
00:13:34,714 --> 00:13:39,752
And you will find the Indian 
blanket, the bee balm or --.

339
00:13:39,752 --> 00:13:40,887
>> Tom: Right, horsemint.

340
00:13:40,887 --> 00:13:42,055
>> Max: Horsemint.

341
00:13:42,055 --> 00:13:44,090
And the combination of the 
purple and the yellows,

342
00:13:44,090 --> 00:13:45,091
it's just --.

343
00:13:45,091 --> 00:13:45,658
>> Tom: Yeah.

344
00:13:45,658 --> 00:13:46,459
>> Max: Wonderful.

345
00:13:46,459 --> 00:13:47,360
>> Tom: It's a 
great combination.

346
00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:48,227
>> Max: Yes.

347
00:13:48,227 --> 00:13:50,029
>> Tom: But it's a 
tough as nails plant,

348
00:13:50,029 --> 00:13:52,932
very easy to grow from seed, and 
one that every Texas gardener

349
00:13:52,932 --> 00:13:54,200
should be using.

350
00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,036
>> Max: And it's one that we 
use because every year we get a

351
00:13:57,036 --> 00:13:58,371
beautiful garden.

352
00:13:58,371 --> 00:13:59,505
>> Tom: Right, right.

353
00:13:59,505 --> 00:14:00,707
>> Max: So it is a great plant.

354
00:14:00,707 --> 00:14:02,041
>> Tom: Now I love 
passion vines.

355
00:14:02,041 --> 00:14:03,643
And while we're 
talking about purples,

356
00:14:03,643 --> 00:14:05,344
we've got to mention 
the passion vines.

357
00:14:05,344 --> 00:14:07,113
And this attracts the Gulf 
fritillaries and a lot of

358
00:14:07,113 --> 00:14:08,014
others.

359
00:14:08,014 --> 00:14:09,515
>> Max: Well, it is a host 
plant for the Gulf fritillary.

360
00:14:09,515 --> 00:14:11,184
>> Tom: Right.

361
00:14:11,184 --> 00:14:13,086
>> Max: You can get Mexican 
fritillary or just all the

362
00:14:13,086 --> 00:14:14,721
fritillaries on it.

363
00:14:14,721 --> 00:14:16,656
Longwings, like the 
zebra heliconians.

364
00:14:16,656 --> 00:14:17,657
>> Tom: Those are beautiful.

365
00:14:17,657 --> 00:14:18,524
>> Max: They come to it, too.

366
00:14:18,524 --> 00:14:21,094
And not only is it a 
good, you know, host,

367
00:14:21,094 --> 00:14:23,830
but the flower itself 
is just amazing.

368
00:14:23,830 --> 00:14:24,664
>> Tom: Spectacular.

369
00:14:24,664 --> 00:14:26,065
>> Max: Yes, it's very pretty.

370
00:14:26,065 --> 00:14:29,736
>> Tom: It's almost like an 
alien but it's a really superb

371
00:14:29,736 --> 00:14:30,837
plant.

372
00:14:30,837 --> 00:14:33,873
Now you also had some reds 
that you want to talk about.

373
00:14:33,873 --> 00:14:37,310
And there's one called the musk 
flower that I've never seen

374
00:14:37,310 --> 00:14:38,845
before, I don't think.

375
00:14:38,845 --> 00:14:41,247
>> Max: Well, this particular 
plant I stumbled into it a

376
00:14:41,247 --> 00:14:42,515
couple of years ago.

377
00:14:42,515 --> 00:14:43,149
>> Tom: Okay.

378
00:14:43,149 --> 00:14:45,318
>> Max: I was walking the bank 
of a canal and I saw this pretty

379
00:14:45,318 --> 00:14:47,987
red color.

380
00:14:47,987 --> 00:14:50,890
And on it was a 
large swallowtail.

381
00:14:50,890 --> 00:14:51,824
>> Tom: Okay.

382
00:14:51,824 --> 00:14:53,426
>> Max: So I figured, 
well, why not try it?

383
00:14:53,426 --> 00:14:55,595
I went and picked 
up the root on it,

384
00:14:55,595 --> 00:14:58,297
placed it in one of my gardens, 
and then I kept doing the same

385
00:14:58,297 --> 00:15:00,500
thing over and over until 
I had a real nice patch.

386
00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:01,234
>> Tom: Right.

387
00:15:01,234 --> 00:15:03,736
>> Max: It's a 
beautiful red color.

388
00:15:03,736 --> 00:15:06,072
And, like I said, the larger 
swallowtails will come to it,

389
00:15:06,072 --> 00:15:07,974
the bigger butterflies will.

390
00:15:07,974 --> 00:15:09,008
So it's a really good plant.

391
00:15:09,008 --> 00:15:10,109
>> Tom: Right, okay.

392
00:15:10,109 --> 00:15:12,245
And this is one that I've 
not seen in the trade,

393
00:15:12,245 --> 00:15:15,047
but hopefully you can 
help introduce it.

394
00:15:15,047 --> 00:15:16,048
>> Max: Well, we're 
working on that.

395
00:15:16,048 --> 00:15:18,651
We're working on being able to 
have it available for anybody

396
00:15:18,651 --> 00:15:19,919
who needs it.

397
00:15:19,919 --> 00:15:24,423
>> Tom: There's a hibiscus 
relative as well that you use.

398
00:15:24,423 --> 00:15:26,426
And these attract a 
lot of butterflies.

399
00:15:26,426 --> 00:15:27,593
>> Max: Yes, the 
heartleaf hibiscus.

400
00:15:27,593 --> 00:15:28,261
>> Tom: Right.

401
00:15:28,261 --> 00:15:30,630
>> Max: The heartleaf hibiscus 
is one that a lot of people have

402
00:15:30,630 --> 00:15:33,533
a hard time trying to propagate.

403
00:15:33,533 --> 00:15:37,036
But we worked a way to 
propagate it easier.

404
00:15:37,036 --> 00:15:37,837
>> Tom: Okay.

405
00:15:37,837 --> 00:15:40,339
>> Max: And it has worked for 
us, but it is a beautiful red,

406
00:15:40,339 --> 00:15:41,440
red, red color.

407
00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:42,241
>> Tom: Yeah.

408
00:15:42,241 --> 00:15:44,010
>> Max: And it does attract 
a lot of butterflies.

409
00:15:44,010 --> 00:15:46,646
And one that you'll see 
there is a lot of sulfurs.

410
00:15:46,646 --> 00:15:48,447
So it is a wonderful plant 
to have in your garden.

411
00:15:48,447 --> 00:15:50,850
>> Tom: A sulfur butterfly on 
that color would be beautiful to

412
00:15:50,850 --> 00:15:51,717
see.

413
00:15:51,717 --> 00:15:52,518
>> Max: It stands out.

414
00:15:52,518 --> 00:15:53,252
>> Tom: Yeah, right.

415
00:15:53,252 --> 00:15:54,453
Really beautiful.

416
00:15:54,453 --> 00:15:56,522
Now there are lots of oranges 
and yellows that we can talk

417
00:15:56,522 --> 00:15:58,191
about.

418
00:15:58,191 --> 00:16:02,495
I always think that oranges 
are -- I've heard, I think,

419
00:16:02,495 --> 00:16:05,164
people say that orange 
is the number one color,

420
00:16:05,164 --> 00:16:06,799
but I don't know that 
that's true or not.

421
00:16:06,799 --> 00:16:09,936
>> Max: Well, at the National 
Butterfly Center we do have all

422
00:16:09,936 --> 00:16:14,440
of these colors, but the 
orange is not used as much.

423
00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:15,174
>> Tom: Oh, really?

424
00:16:15,174 --> 00:16:15,975
Okay.

425
00:16:15,975 --> 00:16:17,677
>> Max: You know, you'll 
see them, like honeysuckles,

426
00:16:17,677 --> 00:16:23,082
you'll see the calico 
or the Texas Lantana.

427
00:16:23,082 --> 00:16:26,352
The flame miscanthus.

428
00:16:26,352 --> 00:16:27,186
>> Tom: Right.

429
00:16:27,186 --> 00:16:29,088
>> Max: And they do attract 
a lot of butterflies,

430
00:16:29,088 --> 00:16:31,958
but it's very limited on how 
many plants will attract that

431
00:16:31,958 --> 00:16:33,092
much.

432
00:16:33,092 --> 00:16:33,693
>> Tom: Okay.

433
00:16:33,693 --> 00:16:34,527
Well, interesting.

434
00:16:34,527 --> 00:16:36,062
>> Max: But they are good 
nectar sources, though.

435
00:16:36,062 --> 00:16:37,563
>> Tom: Well, and 
there's a lot of them.

436
00:16:37,563 --> 00:16:38,231
>> Max: Yes.

437
00:16:38,231 --> 00:16:41,868
>> Tom: A lot of -- I like the 
Mexican Flame Vine, the senecio.

438
00:16:41,868 --> 00:16:43,669
>> Max: That is one 
of our favorite.

439
00:16:43,669 --> 00:16:44,837
>> Tom: Yeah.

440
00:16:44,837 --> 00:16:48,207
>> Max: That is one that you can 
plant and cover a whole wall,

441
00:16:48,207 --> 00:16:51,777
say a fence, and not only 
will you have butterflies,

442
00:16:51,777 --> 00:16:53,179
but hummingbirds.

443
00:16:53,179 --> 00:16:54,247
The hummingbirds 
go crazy for it.

444
00:16:54,247 --> 00:16:55,014
>> Tom: Really?

445
00:16:55,014 --> 00:16:55,781
I didn't know that.

446
00:16:55,781 --> 00:16:56,749
>> Max: Yes.

447
00:16:56,749 --> 00:17:01,287
I actually did a little test and 
I placed that red dye liquid for

448
00:17:01,287 --> 00:17:03,756
hummingbirds and the sugar water 
that you create at home --.

449
00:17:03,756 --> 00:17:04,757
>> Tom: Right, right.

450
00:17:04,757 --> 00:17:06,092
>> Max: And they 
chose the senecio,

451
00:17:06,092 --> 00:17:07,193
which is the flame vine.

452
00:17:07,193 --> 00:17:08,194
>> Tom: I'm sure.

453
00:17:08,194 --> 00:17:08,961
Yeah.

454
00:17:08,961 --> 00:17:12,999
Well, it's a spectacular plant 
and a very bright, cheery color.

455
00:17:12,999 --> 00:17:14,433
>> Max: The flowers 
are just amazing.

456
00:17:14,433 --> 00:17:17,069
>> Tom: Well, yellows fall into 
this kind of range as well and

457
00:17:17,069 --> 00:17:19,939
there's a ton of 
yellows and, you know,

458
00:17:19,939 --> 00:17:22,775
the gaillardias and the 
coreopsis and a whole bunch of

459
00:17:22,775 --> 00:17:25,444
other things fall 
into that category.

460
00:17:25,444 --> 00:17:28,981
>> Max: We do use a lot of 
gaillardias because, I mean,

461
00:17:28,981 --> 00:17:31,183
not only are they beautiful, 
I mean, the color stands out.

462
00:17:31,183 --> 00:17:31,884
>> Tom: Oh, yeah.

463
00:17:31,884 --> 00:17:32,852
>> Max: But it is 
a good, really,

464
00:17:32,852 --> 00:17:34,320
really good nectar source too.

465
00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:38,257
>> Tom: Well, and even white, I 
understand, can be a good one.

466
00:17:38,257 --> 00:17:39,158
>> Max: Very good.

467
00:17:39,158 --> 00:17:42,194
I don't know if you know 
plumbago, the white plumbago.

468
00:17:42,194 --> 00:17:43,129
>> Tom: Of course, yeah.

469
00:17:43,129 --> 00:17:44,897
>> Max: The white plumbago 
is one that attracts so many

470
00:17:44,897 --> 00:17:45,865
butterflies.

471
00:17:45,865 --> 00:17:46,465
>> Tom: Right.

472
00:17:46,465 --> 00:17:47,500
>> Max: We use it all over.

473
00:17:47,500 --> 00:17:48,968
Frog fruit, another 
ground coverage.

474
00:17:48,968 --> 00:17:49,869
>> Tom: Yeah, right.

475
00:17:49,869 --> 00:17:51,604
>> Max: It attracts a lot 
of smaller butterflies.

476
00:17:51,604 --> 00:17:52,838
>> Tom: Very dainty 
little flower.

477
00:17:52,838 --> 00:17:53,639
>> Max: Yes.

478
00:17:53,639 --> 00:17:56,142
>> Tom: You know, it's kind 
of a homely little plant,

479
00:17:56,142 --> 00:17:57,610
but it works.

480
00:17:57,610 --> 00:17:58,377
>> Max: It does.

481
00:17:58,377 --> 00:18:01,314
And it works really good to 
create a ground coverage where

482
00:18:01,314 --> 00:18:04,283
you can have a patio or you 
can actually mow over it.

483
00:18:04,283 --> 00:18:05,217
>> Tom: Right.

484
00:18:05,217 --> 00:18:07,019
>> Max: And it 
withstands the heat.

485
00:18:07,019 --> 00:18:07,687
>> Tom: Right.

486
00:18:07,687 --> 00:18:08,654
>> Max: It's a 
really good plant.

487
00:18:08,654 --> 00:18:10,690
>> Tom: Well, real briefly, I 
understand it's real important

488
00:18:10,690 --> 00:18:13,826
to have nectars sources as 
well as food sources for them.

489
00:18:13,826 --> 00:18:16,262
>> Max: You don't want to have 
just one because let's say you

490
00:18:16,262 --> 00:18:18,397
have a host plant.

491
00:18:18,397 --> 00:18:18,998
>> Tom: All right.

492
00:18:18,998 --> 00:18:20,499
>> Max: And so you 
have a milkweed.

493
00:18:20,499 --> 00:18:22,635
>> Tom: Okay.

494
00:18:22,635 --> 00:18:23,502
>> Max: And the 
butterfly comes over,

495
00:18:23,502 --> 00:18:24,937
lays the egg and starts 
eating the plant.

496
00:18:24,937 --> 00:18:27,373
Once that plant is gone, 
the butterfly's gone.

497
00:18:27,373 --> 00:18:32,278
So if you have both of them, 
your host plant and your nectar

498
00:18:32,278 --> 00:18:32,945
source --.

499
00:18:32,945 --> 00:18:34,013
>> Tom: You hold on 
to them year round.

500
00:18:34,013 --> 00:18:34,780
>> Max: You will.

501
00:18:34,780 --> 00:18:36,449
Create the life cycle.

502
00:18:36,449 --> 00:18:38,851
>> Tom: Speaking of this, 
we've got to wrap it up,

503
00:18:38,851 --> 00:18:41,754
but I really appreciate 
you coming back on.

504
00:18:41,754 --> 00:18:42,388
>> Max: My pleasure.

505
00:18:42,388 --> 00:18:43,923
>> Tom: Best wishes to you and 
the folks down at the National

506
00:18:43,923 --> 00:18:44,757
Butterfly Center.

507
00:18:44,757 --> 00:18:45,424
>> Max: Thank you.

508
00:18:45,424 --> 00:18:47,193
>> Tom: I hope a lot of our 
Central Texas viewers will pay

509
00:18:47,193 --> 00:18:48,127
you a visit.

510
00:18:48,127 --> 00:18:49,595
>> Max: Sounds very good.

511
00:18:49,595 --> 00:18:50,296
>> Tom: Okay.

512
00:18:50,296 --> 00:18:51,163
Thanks again.

513
00:18:51,163 --> 00:18:52,565
And coming up next is 
our friend, Daphne.

514
00:18:52,565 --> 00:18:57,269
[Music].

515
00:18:57,269 --> 00:18:58,604
>> Daphne: Hi, I'm 
Daphne Richards.

516
00:18:58,604 --> 00:19:00,806
Our question this week came 
along with some fabulous video

517
00:19:00,806 --> 00:19:03,509
from viewer Jennifer Edwards.

518
00:19:03,509 --> 00:19:06,512
What is this weird thing on 
my tree and will it hurt it?

519
00:19:06,512 --> 00:19:08,247
What should I do about it?

520
00:19:08,247 --> 00:19:11,350
Well, Jennifer, what you have 
here is a bagworm, and yes,

521
00:19:11,350 --> 00:19:13,786
it will most certainly 
harm your tree.

522
00:19:13,786 --> 00:19:17,456
Unlike many landscape pests, 
bagworms should not simply be

523
00:19:17,456 --> 00:19:20,259
ignored to let nature 
take its course.

524
00:19:20,259 --> 00:19:22,762
They can severely damage plants, 
to the point of which they may

525
00:19:22,762 --> 00:19:24,830
not be able to recover.

526
00:19:24,830 --> 00:19:27,033
And because the females 
don't develop wings,

527
00:19:27,033 --> 00:19:29,568
they never leave the plant 
on which they're born,

528
00:19:29,568 --> 00:19:32,638
which could lead to a population 
explosion very quickly.

529
00:19:32,638 --> 00:19:35,007
If you find bagworms in 
your trees or shrubs,

530
00:19:35,007 --> 00:19:39,111
look for others and remove and 
destroy all those that you find.

531
00:19:39,111 --> 00:19:41,681
At maturity, they turn a light 
brown color that should be

532
00:19:41,681 --> 00:19:45,918
easily distinguished against 
the background of green foliage.

533
00:19:45,918 --> 00:19:48,220
If you have an 
infestation this year,

534
00:19:48,220 --> 00:19:50,690
you should treat next 
year with an insecticide,

535
00:19:50,690 --> 00:19:54,427
but the good news is there are 
several least-toxic alternatives

536
00:19:54,427 --> 00:19:57,496
that are target-specific 
for larval caterpillars.

537
00:19:57,496 --> 00:19:59,632
And as long as you use 
those products properly and

538
00:19:59,632 --> 00:20:03,502
judiciously, you shouldn't harm 
any other beneficial insects or

539
00:20:03,502 --> 00:20:06,672
"good" caterpillars 
in your landscape.

540
00:20:06,672 --> 00:20:10,276
Choose products containing 
either Bacillus thuriengiensis,

541
00:20:10,276 --> 00:20:13,145
better known as 
B.t., azadiractin,

542
00:20:13,145 --> 00:20:15,448
derived from Neem 
oil, or spinosad.

543
00:20:15,448 --> 00:20:18,584
Apply specifically 
according to the label,

544
00:20:18,584 --> 00:20:20,786
and only to the 
plant in question.

545
00:20:20,786 --> 00:20:24,056
Again, because female bagworms 
don't leave the plant where they

546
00:20:24,056 --> 00:20:27,526
hatch, populations will 
be geographically limited,

547
00:20:27,526 --> 00:20:30,196
allowing you to do 
a targeted spray.

548
00:20:30,196 --> 00:20:33,432
If used properly, there will 
be no impact on populations of

549
00:20:33,432 --> 00:20:37,103
other caterpillar populations 
anywhere else in your landscape.

550
00:20:37,103 --> 00:20:40,005
Treat in late June, while 
the larvae are still small.

551
00:20:40,005 --> 00:20:42,975
You likely won't prevent a few 
larvae from slipping through

552
00:20:42,975 --> 00:20:45,678
your treatment plan, so watch 
your plants carefully in the

553
00:20:45,678 --> 00:20:49,482
fall, winter, and early spring 
so that you can remove any bags

554
00:20:49,482 --> 00:20:52,251
that you find and stop the 
cycle from beginning again.

555
00:20:52,251 --> 00:20:58,224
Our plant this week is Mexican 
mint marigold, Tagetes lucida,

556
00:20:58,224 --> 00:21:00,893
also commonly known 
as Mexican tarragon.

557
00:21:00,893 --> 00:21:03,529
Getting only about 18 
inches tall and wide,

558
00:21:03,529 --> 00:21:06,832
this compact perennial is 
perfect in small spaces where

559
00:21:06,832 --> 00:21:08,801
you need a splash of color.

560
00:21:08,801 --> 00:21:11,337
The bright yellow, marigold-like 
flowers are attractive to

561
00:21:11,337 --> 00:21:13,739
migrating butterflies 
in the fall,

562
00:21:13,739 --> 00:21:16,509
with a bloom season that starts 
after the intense summer heat

563
00:21:16,509 --> 00:21:19,645
has greatly subsided and ends 
with the first frost in early

564
00:21:19,645 --> 00:21:20,980
winter.

565
00:21:20,980 --> 00:21:23,516
In the kitchen, Mexican mint 
marigold may be used as a

566
00:21:23,516 --> 00:21:26,619
substitute for French tarragon, 
with a distinctive anise or

567
00:21:26,619 --> 00:21:28,954
licorice scent and flavor.

568
00:21:28,954 --> 00:21:31,290
A native of the 
southwestern US and Mexico,

569
00:21:31,290 --> 00:21:33,392
this plant is heat 
and drought tolerant,

570
00:21:33,392 --> 00:21:36,228
requiring minimal 
supplemental irrigation.

571
00:21:36,228 --> 00:21:38,764
Mexican mint marigold also 
tolerates many different soil

572
00:21:38,764 --> 00:21:41,500
types, but good 
drainage is a must.

573
00:21:41,500 --> 00:21:44,236
Plant in full sun and water 
regularly until established,

574
00:21:44,236 --> 00:21:47,473
after which, weekly 
irrigation will be sufficient.

575
00:21:47,473 --> 00:21:50,309
As with other perennials, shear 
it back to the ground in late

576
00:21:50,309 --> 00:21:53,045
winter or early 
spring each year.

577
00:21:53,045 --> 00:21:55,915
Mexican mint marigold returns 
easily each year and is only

578
00:21:55,915 --> 00:21:58,517
completely killed in 
the harshest of winters,

579
00:21:58,517 --> 00:22:01,387
but it reseeds and spreads 
easily but doesn't go too far

580
00:22:01,387 --> 00:22:05,090
afield, making this repopulating 
characteristic a positive

581
00:22:05,090 --> 00:22:07,193
quality for most gardeners.

582
00:22:07,193 --> 00:22:09,895
Our viewer picture this week 
is thanks to Scott Stoker,

583
00:22:09,895 --> 00:22:12,498
of a clearwing moth 
visiting his lantana.

584
00:22:12,498 --> 00:22:14,033
We'd love to hear from you.

585
00:22:14,033 --> 00:22:17,870
Visit us at klru.org/ctg to send 
us your questions and pictures

586
00:22:17,870 --> 00:22:19,638
from your garden.

587
00:22:19,638 --> 00:22:20,439
>> Tom: Thanks, Daphne.

588
00:22:20,439 --> 00:22:27,613
Now let's check in with Jeff 
Ferris for Backyard Basics.

589
00:22:27,613 --> 00:22:29,114
>> Jeff: Hi, I'm Jeff Ferris.

590
00:22:29,114 --> 00:22:31,584
This spring was spectacular 
for our wildflowers.

591
00:22:31,584 --> 00:22:34,887
Bluebonnets, paint brush, 
a whole host of others.

592
00:22:34,887 --> 00:22:36,722
If you like to create 
your own meadow,

593
00:22:36,722 --> 00:22:38,857
now is the time to start 
preparing for spring.

594
00:22:38,857 --> 00:22:40,993
It only takes a 
few simple steps.

595
00:22:40,993 --> 00:22:43,162
First, we need to 
bare the ground.

596
00:22:43,162 --> 00:22:45,931
Either mow very low 
or till very shallow,

597
00:22:45,931 --> 00:22:47,499
only a couple of inches deep.

598
00:22:47,499 --> 00:22:49,535
We don't want to 
stir up the weeds.

599
00:22:49,535 --> 00:22:53,339
Next, break away the grass 
and smooth out the soil.

600
00:22:53,339 --> 00:22:56,775
Seed needs contact with 
bare ground to germinate.

601
00:22:56,775 --> 00:23:00,779
Split your wildflower seed into 
two parts and set one aside,

602
00:23:00,779 --> 00:23:02,114
a very small pinch.

603
00:23:02,114 --> 00:23:03,549
We're going to use that later.

604
00:23:03,549 --> 00:23:06,552
Working in one direction, spread 
the seed like you're feeding

605
00:23:06,552 --> 00:23:07,620
chickens.

606
00:23:07,620 --> 00:23:10,189
You can mix some vermiculite in 
with the seed to help distribute

607
00:23:10,189 --> 00:23:12,091
it evenly.

608
00:23:12,091 --> 00:23:14,827
When you've used all 
of the first half,

609
00:23:14,827 --> 00:23:17,930
take the other half and 
spread it perpendicular.

610
00:23:17,930 --> 00:23:19,932
If you went north/south 
on the first half,

611
00:23:19,932 --> 00:23:23,068
walk east to west 
for the second half.

612
00:23:23,068 --> 00:23:26,038
Now for the easy part, 
walk on the seeds.

613
00:23:26,038 --> 00:23:29,208
We need to get the seed pressed 
into the soil to ensure good

614
00:23:29,208 --> 00:23:30,743
germination.

615
00:23:30,743 --> 00:23:33,913
We have to have very solid 
seed-to-soil contact.

616
00:23:33,913 --> 00:23:38,217
Of course the final question 
is, do I need to water it in?

617
00:23:38,217 --> 00:23:40,352
Believe it or not, no you don't.

618
00:23:40,352 --> 00:23:44,023
When wildflowers spread their 
seeds they do so rain or shine.

619
00:23:44,023 --> 00:23:46,992
The seed will set in soil 
waiting for the right conditions

620
00:23:46,992 --> 00:23:50,162
of temperature and water 
to start the process.

621
00:23:50,162 --> 00:23:53,465
Fall generally provides enough 
water to get the process started

622
00:23:53,465 --> 00:23:55,367
for us.

623
00:23:55,367 --> 00:23:58,370
So all we need to do now is to 
keep an eye out for the weeds

624
00:23:58,370 --> 00:24:00,506
that might come up 
and shade our seeds,

625
00:24:00,506 --> 00:24:02,174
preventing them from growing.

626
00:24:02,174 --> 00:24:04,510
And remember, if you 
do water them in,

627
00:24:04,510 --> 00:24:07,146
you're starting the 
germination process.

628
00:24:07,146 --> 00:24:11,016
You'll have to keep up the water 
until the seeds show a few true

629
00:24:11,016 --> 00:24:12,251
leaves.

630
00:24:12,251 --> 00:24:15,854
If you don't keep it wet, the 
seeds may dry out and die.

631
00:24:15,854 --> 00:24:17,289
What about that little pinch?

632
00:24:17,289 --> 00:24:20,926
Well, fill a small pot with some 
of the same soil as the area you

633
00:24:20,926 --> 00:24:23,495
are planting your meadow in.

634
00:24:23,495 --> 00:24:25,664
Sprinkle the pinch on 
top, press it down,

635
00:24:25,664 --> 00:24:30,002
and get it outside where it 
gets the same rain and sun.

636
00:24:30,002 --> 00:24:32,905
As the seeds come up, you can 
see what each flower looks like

637
00:24:32,905 --> 00:24:34,406
as a seedling.

638
00:24:34,406 --> 00:24:37,042
It will help you identify what 
is starting in your meadow and

639
00:24:37,042 --> 00:24:40,145
will let you stay ahead of any 
of the weed that tries to take

640
00:24:40,145 --> 00:24:41,580
over.

641
00:24:41,580 --> 00:24:46,318
One common question, can I plant 
a meadow over my septic field?

642
00:24:46,318 --> 00:24:48,821
The answer, sort of.

643
00:24:48,821 --> 00:24:51,590
You have to remember our native 
wild flowers grow in poor,

644
00:24:51,590 --> 00:24:54,593
low-nutrient soil and 
low-water conditions,

645
00:24:54,593 --> 00:24:57,363
neither of which occur 
in the septic field.

646
00:24:57,363 --> 00:25:00,966
Some of the flowers may thrive, 
some may never germinate.

647
00:25:00,966 --> 00:25:03,736
You might spread a mix of ten 
different types of flowers and

648
00:25:03,736 --> 00:25:06,305
only three or four grow.

649
00:25:06,305 --> 00:25:09,575
You need to experiment 
to see what works best.

650
00:25:09,575 --> 00:25:13,345
But of course when working with 
nature, that's the fun part.

651
00:25:13,345 --> 00:25:15,681
From Backyard Basics, 
I'm Jeff Ferris.

652
00:25:15,681 --> 00:25:20,019
>> Tom: Find out more at 
klru.org/ctg and follow us on

653
00:25:20,019 --> 00:25:22,654
Facebook, Twitter, 
and Instagram.

654
00:25:22,654 --> 00:25:25,591
Until next time, I'll 
see you in the garden.

655
00:25:25,591 --> 00:26:00,859
[Music].

656
00:26:00,859 --> 00:26:02,828
>> "Central Texas Gardener" is 
sponsored by the Austin Area

657
00:26:02,828 --> 00:26:05,030
Garden Center in Zilker 
Botanical Garden,

658
00:26:05,030 --> 00:26:08,734
home of 31 local garden clubs 
and the Zilker garden festival.

659
00:26:08,734 --> 00:26:12,734
Zilkergarden.org.