TEXAS

Long Season of Color
Hydrangeas grow best when protected from the hot sun and work best when planted on north or east exposures. They thrive in moist soil that is enriched with organic material such as peat or composted pine bark. Showy blooms in blue, pink, white, and even green are one of the main reasons they are so beloved throughout the South. The most popular are French hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla). ‘Endless Summer’ is a selection that blooms from spring through fall. Southeastern native oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia), with white flowers, are also popular. They are available in single- and double-flowering types. ‘Snowflake’ and ‘Snow Queen’ are great selections. Try ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas (H. paniculata ‘Limelight’) for a late show of color. All are stunning in the garden and dry beautifully for arrangements. Simply cut the stems, and hang them upside down in a dry, well-ventilated place for a couple of weeks before using.

Entire State
Ornamental grasses--Native grasses offer exciting color, texture, and movement in the garden. Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris), shown at left, is spectacular with its plumes of pinkish flowers in the fall. Little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius) has steely-blue foliage and stems in late summer and early fall. Lindheimer’s muhly (M. lindheimeri) is another good choice with bluish-green foliage that forms 2- to 3-foot tall clumps and thrives under a wide variety of garden conditions.

Panhandle
Pruning--Trim everblooming shrub roses, such as ‘Knock Out,’ to stimulate more blooms. Start by removing dead or weak canes, and then cut back the healthy ones to 12 to 18 inches. Arrange shrub roses en masse or in groups of at least three to five plants for a big impact of color till frost.

Central, East, And South
Vegetables--Set out transplants of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants for summer harvest. Select a sunny location, and prepare the soil by working in several inches of organic material such as peat or composted pine bark.

South
Small Trees--Texas olive develops a beautiful trunk as it matures and has continuing crops of white, petunia-like flowers throughout the growing season. Texas mountain laurel is a pretty, shiny-leafed evergreen that has fragrant purple flowers in early spring. A third choice is Texas ebony, which is an evergreen with white flowers in summer. All three of these trees thrive with little or no supplemental irrigation once established.

Central, West, and South
Color--Warm-weather annuals can add masses of color to the garden while providing a source for cut flowers inside the home. Zinnias are a traditional favorite with giant, intermediate, and dwarf forms available in a wide variety of colors. Marigolds, cosmos, celosias, and Mexican sunflowers are also great choices that produce during our long warm season.

"Around Your Garden" is from the April 2008 issue of Southern Living.