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The Garden Guy
By Norman Winter | Horticulturist, Author, Speaker
Though the first words have barely hit this column I am getting a sense of glee. Just think it took a garden writer, The Garden Guy, to beat the big boys to Valentine’s. When you see Valentine’s stuff the day after Christmas just remember where you saw it first.
In truth I’m not trying to sell you Valentine’s stuff now but to alert you to the most beautiful new hibiscus making its debut in the spring, Summerific Valentine’s Crush. The competition will be so great for this plant you need to bribe your garden center now to get in the game, so to speak, and order them.
You may have thought Summerific Holy Grail or Summerific Cranberry Crush was the ultimate achievement in red shade hibiscus but I predict Summerfic Valentine’s Crush will reign at the pinnacle for quite some period of time. The seven-inch flowers open to reveal a bright cherry red with a dark center. This is the red of your dreams, the red that makes you think so tropical you will be fooling not only your friends and neighbors but Mother Nature too.
To read more, pick up a copy of the January issue of NTFR Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
Farm & Ranch
Acorn Toxicity
By Barry Whitworth, DVM, MPH
With the prolonged drought, most pastures in Oklahoma end up in poor condition. With the lack of available forage, animals may go in search of alternative foods.
If oak trees are in the pastures, acorns may be a favorite meal for some livestock in the fall. This may result in oak poisoning.
Oak leaves, twigs, buds, and acorns may be toxic to some animals when consumed.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Farm & Ranch
Silver Bluestems
By: Tony Dean
There are a handful of grasses on North Texas grazing lands ranchers need to know, not because they are highly desirable, but rather because they are not of much value. I call them “decom” plants, which is am acronym for “Don’t Ever Count On Me.” Silver bluestem is a “decom” grass.
Silver bluestem is a perennial which grows in all areas of Texas. It can survive in almost all soil types, and in full sun conditions or in semi shade. It grows up to three feet tall and is easily recognized with the presence of the white fuzzy seed head. Also, one of the identifying characteristics of Silver bluestem is a bend in the stems at each node, causing the plants to take on a rounded shape as they mature.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Farm & Ranch
Meanwhile Back At The Ranch
By: Rayford Pullen
Fall is here which means winter is closing in on us and before we officially get into winter, we need to make sure our factories are either producing or will be producing in a few months.
We have been pregnancy testing our cows this fall and if they are not bred or nursing a calf, we are bidding them adios. With annual costs somewhere between $900.00 and $1,000.00 per cow, those cows not producing a live weaned calf are costing us quite a bit.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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