There are a couple of myths about “mountain cedar” or Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei) that seem to be part of the conventional wisdom . One is that mountain cedar doesn’t really belong here because it only recently invaded the Hill Country. The other is that merely clearing away mountain cedar will bring spring flow. read more »
For many people, the thought of grass in the “flower bed” is anathema. For others, any mention of grass for landscaping brings to mind pampas grass, a commonly used exotic.
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Several years ago when Jan Wrede and I were crawling down a narrow little side canyon off Cibolo Creek, she exclaimed, “Oh, there’s a Boerne Bean!” She was referring to a bean-like vine that trailed across the limestone ledges and up into the trees. read more »
Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii) is a bushy member of the Malvaceae family, which includes all the various mallows, rose pavonia, winecup, hibiscus, okra, cotton, and hollyhock, among others. The bright-red flower of Turk’s cap, however, is not the regular “mallow-like” open five-petal bloom. read more »
