Lantana

Texas Lantana (Lantana horrida also referred to as Lantana urticoides) – A native to Texas, this variety of Lantana has yellow to orange flowers that is attractive to butterflies. Very drought tolerant as well as salt tolerant. Deer resistant. Hardy in our zone 9 (may need some protection in severe winters) Prefers well draining soil. Full to part sun. Spreading shrub 3-6 ft. Blooms all summer long. NATIVE.

We have several other varieties in addition to the native “horrida”. Trailing, ground cover types, and many different solid colors and color combinations. All are attractive and attract butterflies, but some say the butterflies like the native best!

Hydrangeas

A classic beauty from Grandma’s garden.  Big, bold leaves and large clusters of long-lasting flowers in shades of white, pink and blue — blooming late spring into summer.  Plant hydrangeas as a single accent, massed in a group, or in large pots on the patio.  They do well in morning sun or dappled sun with afternoon shade.  Cut flowers can be brought indoors to enjoy!

Here are a few informational links:

Southern Living — Hydrangeas
HydrangeasHydrangeas.com
Hydrangeas FAQ

Fine Vines

Climbing plants are attractive additions to any garden — providing food for butterflies, adding fragrance and flowers.
Vines can cover an ugly fence, be trained on a pretty trellis or provide a backdrop around the pool. Choose from passion vine, jasmine, cross vine, mandevilla, coral vine, roses and many more, for shade or sun.

Check out Jackie’s blog on Vines.

Natural Pest Control

Feel good about your garden!

Serenade (pictured) is a natural control for powdery mildew.  We also recommend Actinovate for fungus problems like black spot on roses.

For insects, the most common right now are aphids, thrips and leaf miners. Captain Jack’s Dead Bug is not just a delightfully cute name, it’s effective organic control for soft-bodied insects.

Bring us a branch or leaf so we can help you identify the problem and help with the treatment.

Trellises & Obelisks

From Wikipedia:  An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk.  (Like the Washington Monument.)
Ours are not solid, but made of iron so vines can twine in and around them. 

Lots of trellises and obelisks in many different styles and sizes to provide support for roses, vines — even tomatoes!

Plant Trees

 – trees are good!

Choose a shade tree from the list of recommended trees.  Subject to availability — we can also order for you.

Maybe a smaller flowering tree would fit in better?  Choose crepe myrtles, retamas, Texas olives, chitalpa, desert willow and bottlebrush, just to name a few!

Lavender in the Bungalow

Sooth your senses with Lavender.
Did you know that lavender oil is an excellent treatment for dry, chapped skin, minor cuts, bites,burns and stings?
Lavender also encourages restful sleep and even eases mild depression by elevating your mood.
Explore the Bungalow and see what we mean — It’s all about Lavender!

You will find Blossoms by the scoop,  Sachets, Candles, Body Care, Essential Oils and Fragrance Diffusers.

You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a lavender field half way across the world!

Water Gardens

It’s prime time to revive your water garden or create a new one! Start with a pond or container in a sunny location. We can show you pots that work best. Choose a few water lilies – they’re in bloom! Mix in some marginal and floating-leaf plants to add interest and variety. Or keep it simple with a single plant or lily. Add a pump to keep water healthy and provide that gentle sound and … Voila! Large or small – we can help design your garden!

Lily of the Nile

Agapanthus, or Lily of the Nile comes in powder blue, dark blue and white.  There are standard and dwarf varieties.  Their striking bloom heads rise elegantly above the strappy foliage on long upright stems.  They look best when grown in groups — start with 3 to 5 in a bed to make a statement! They will bloom in spring/summer year after year.

Fountains & Ponds

Just about any pot can be turned into a fountain.  Let us show you how. See several already on display to give you inspiration.  Talk to Bonnie or Kody to explain the basics.  Ready-made table-top fountains are also on display — just set up, add water & plug in.

A large bowl can create a mini pond on deck with a water lily or other water plant.  Check out this week’s new arrivals.

Pumps, fountains, pottery, ponds, plants, water features & more!

Fragrance abounds!

Enjoy the many scents of Archipelago diffusers and candles.  Take home a sachet of Buchanan’s Spring Blend potpourri, or create your own with our essential oils.  There are also soaps, lotions, and lavender-by-the-scoop.

Create a Garden -
Enjoy the Experience

Immerse yourself in our peaceful paradise. Stroll among the best plants, flowers and trees the season has to offer.  Be inspired by colorful blooms and watch the butterflies frolic.  Find everything for your garden project with help from our friendly staff.  (Some folks say we should charge admission.)
We just say enjoy the experience!

You Don’t Have to Suffer

All the rain has spawned a hungry crop of mosquitoes! Our favorite products range from incense sticks and candles by Amazon Lights, reed diffusers and personal sprays by Skeeter Screen and Burt’s Bees.  Treat your yard and patio with easy-to-use, safe, organic repellants and bug killers: outdoor fogger and granules from EcoSmart, or Yard Safe granules.  Prevent mosquitoes in ponds, birdbaths and low-lying areas with natural Mosquito Dunks and Mosquito Bits.

We’ve got you covered!

Tomatoes – Recipe for Success

We have everything you need to get started — and be successful!
Plant in a sunny location – very important!  Add lots of organic compost to the soil.  If planting in containers, use Lady Bug Vortex Potting Soil.
Don’t forget the fertilizer — it’s easy with Hasta Gro liquid plant food.  Tomatoes grow fast and TALL — support them with our jumbo tomato cage (those little ones are too wimpy!).

Rain!

We asked and our wish was granted.  Rain and more rain!  And we have everything you need to celebrate it, measure it and use it.

Savor the rain with rain boots, umbrellas, rain chains, rain barrels (pictured), rain gauges.  We even have rain lilies!

Critters!

Turn your kitchen waste into rich compost with a worm composter (we’ll even give you a bunch of worms with purchase). It’s easy to get started — just ask our John Gardner or Sheryl McCall, they are avid worm composters and would love to tell you about it!  Interesting fact:  the worms you put into your worm composter are different from earthworms that live in your compost pile and flower beds.  These are “red wigglers” and “night crawlers” that live to eat your kitchen scraps, coffee grounds and shredded paper and turn it into (ahem) “castings” to enrich your potted plants and beds.

If you like your critters cuter, we have ladybugs to go after your aphids. A bag of 1500 live ladybugs is only $11.99.  Kids love them!

Take a look at the Bungalow!

The Bungalow Gift Shop has been refreshed and rearranged for spring. New colors, new books, new fashions and more spaciousness!

If you haven’t been in lately, you’ll be delightfully surprised.

Butterflies!

They’re here and they’re hungry.

Plant flowers that attract butterflies and provide nectar, and provide host plants where the adults can lay their eggs.

Watch them grow with a butterfly pavilion.

Invite them indoors with butterfly-themed décor and gift items.

Read our blog post about creating a butterfly habitat to attract them.

Bring in the birds!

Attract them to your garden with bird baths, feeders and food.

Many different styles of birdbaths and feeders are on the Bungalow porch.

Birdseed and birding books, too!  We have it all.

Read more about Gardening for wildlife

Daylilies

Daylilies come in many different colors, mostly in the yellow, pink and red ranges with some white and purple hues. They bloom heavily in spring, each flower lasting only a day.  They naturalize and multiply over the years so give them some room to get bigger and enjoy the display year after year.  Start a collection or add to one!

The Ground Up Soils

Quality organic soils, compost and mulch from Houston’s own The Ground Up.
New item: Rose & Azalea Mix

• rich compost mix with nutrients roses & azaleas crave
• composted pine bark & needles for acidity
• Texas greensand provides essential minerals

The Ground Up – Organic Goodness Inside!

See our other soils & mulches.

All The Right Tools

We have all the tools you need to prep, plant and prune.

Having the right tools makes gardening more enjoyable.

Check out our selection of hand tools, long handle tools and pruners.