South Texas Home and Garden Show

Texas prickly pear
Did you know that both the pads and fruit — called tuna — of the Texas prickly pear (Opuntia lindheimeri) are edible? Just be careful when harvesting them!
Also known as Nopal prickly pear and Lindheimer prickly pear, its melony-tasting fruit can be used in jams, jellies, and syrups; the tuna also are a good source of vitamin C. Parts of this plant are used medicinally, in commercial alcohol, and in candle-making, as well as cattle food, and more.

****************************

WILSON COUNTY NEWS | 2/12/20

Can you identify this plant?

Send your best guess to Plant ID, Wilson County News, 1012 C St., Floresville, TX 78114, or email it to nkilbey-smith@wcn-online.com, with “Plant ID” in the subject line. Please include your name, hometown, and a daytime phone number where you can be reached.

To be eligible for the $25 gift certificate, your correct entry must arrive by Monday at 9 a.m. following the photo’s issue date. In the case of more than one correct answer, a drawing will determine the prizewinner.

The winner of last week’s contest and a $25 gift certificate from Color Me Green Nursery in Floresville is Jacob Diaz, originally from Big Spring, but currently living in Seguin. His entry was drawn at random from among those correctly identifying red gaillardia — gaillardia amblyodon or blanket flower — from the photo in our Feb. 5 issue.

The Plant ID Contest will be published each week leading up to the South Texas Home and Garden Show on Saturday, March 7, in the Floresville Event Center. Watch for more on this event in coming issues of the Wilson County News.

Red Gaillardia
Sometimes called maroon blanketflower or red Indian blanket, Red Gaillardia (Gaillardia amblyodon) is an early-blooming species of Gaillardia. These colorful flowers often occur in large masses and may continue to bloom sporadically into fall. They are easily cultivated from seeds and do quite well in garden settings.

***************************

WILSON COUNTY NEWS | 2/5/20

Can you identify this plant?

Send your best guess to Plant ID, Wilson County News, 1012 C St., Floresville, TX 78114, or email it to nkilbey-smith@wcn-online.com, with “Plant ID” in the subject line. Please include your name, hometown, and a daytime phone number where you can be reached.

To be eligible for the $25 gift certificate, your correct entry must arrive by Monday at 9 a.m. following the photo’s issue date. In the case of more than one correct answer, a drawing will determine the prizewinner.

The winner of last week’s contest and a $25 gift certificate from Pfeil's Home & Garden in Floresville is Dorothy Kotara of Kosciusko. Her entry was drawn at random from among those correctly identifying scarlet guara — gaura coccinea, also called scarlet bee blossom and wild honeysuckle — from the photo in our Jan. 29 issue.

The Plant ID Contest will be published each week leading up to the South Texas Home & Garden Show on Saturday, March 7, in the Floresville Event Center. Watch for more on this event in coming issues of the Wilson County News.

Scarlet gaura
Scarlet Gaura (Oenothera suffrutescens; also gaura coccinea) is also known also as scarlet bee blossom or wild honeysuckle.
These intricate flowers open white in the evenings, then slowly turn pink, then reddish as they are about to close the following day. The bright white color and delicate fragrance of scarlet gaura attract moths in the evenings, and bees and other pollinators during the day.

*********************

WILSON COUNTY NEWS | 1/29/20

Can you identify this plant?

Send your best guess to Plant ID, Wilson County News, 1012 C St., Floresville, TX 78114, or email it to nkilbey-smith@wcn-online.com, with “Plant ID” in the subject line. Please include your name, hometown, and a daytime phone number where you can be reached.

To be eligible for the $25 gift certificate, your correct entry must arrive by Monday at 9 a.m. following the photo’s issue date. In the case of more than one correct answer, a drawing will determine the prizewinner.

The winner of last week’s contest and a $25 gift certificate from Fanick’s Garden Center in San Antonio is Victoria Risley of La Vernia. Her entry was drawn at random from among those correctly identifying rose vervain — glandularia canadensis, also called rose mock vervain, rose verbena, and Sweet William — from the photo in our Jan. 22 issue.

The Plant ID Contest will be published each week leading up to the South Texas Home and Garden Show on Saturday, March 7, in the Floresville Event Center. Watch for more on this event in coming issues of the Wilson County News.