If you weren’t aware of the brutal heat and drought last summer, you must be new to town. It was a record-breaking year that was challenging for horticulture.
Many of us peered out from our air-conditioned sanctuary in dismay as our perennials, shrubs and even trees wilted, crisped and otherwise fried.
It’s the kind of summer that we now can refer to as a learning experience.
Denton County Master Gardeners surveyed local gardeners to find out what made it in their landscapes, and there were some surprises. You can find out all the winners and losers online at www.dcmga.com.
Some of the best performers were basil, sweet potato vine and zinnia for annuals.
Texas native perennials that showed their mettle were lantana, turk’s cap and many varieties of salvia.
It was a good year to be an oak, with red oak, bur oak and live oak topping the list of thriving trees.
If you are a more visual learner, come experience the 2012 Spring Garden Tour and see excellent examples of gardens that survived and thrived through 2011.
The Denton County Master Gardener Association’s fundraising tour will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Seven gardens, both public and private, are featured in Corinth, Highland Village, Lewisville and Flower Mound.
The gardens differ in personality and style — one is Asian-inspired, another features reseeding wildflowers while another is a perfect space for outdoor entertaining.
One of the private home gardens is dubbed the “Red Hot Survivors” garden because of how well the plants performed last summer.
The public gardens include the famous Flower Mound, the Israel Prayer Garden at Global Spheres and the Upper Trinity Regional Water District display and community gardens.
Come experience the garden tour, a great way to learn about plants that do well in our area while you are supporting a valuable local organization.
Advance tickets may be purchased for $8 on the Master Gardener website using PayPal until Thursday or in person at the Denton County Extension Office at the corner of Loop 288 and Market Street, Suite 222, in Denton, and Calloway’s Nurseries in Denton, Flower Mound, Lewisville and Southlake. They’re also available in Denton at Dennis’ Farm Store, Four Seasons Nursery and Meador’s Nursery; in Flower Mound at Schmidt’s Garden Center and Wild Birds Unlimited; and in Lewisville at Garden Ridge Farmers Market.
Tickets cost $10 on tour day.
Children younger than 14 will be admitted for free.
JANET LAMINACK is the horticulture county extension agent with Texas AgriLife Extension. She can be reached at 940-349-2883. Her e-mail address is jelaminack@ag.tamu.edu.
