Outdoor

Bald Cypress Reigns as King in the Swamp and Landscape

Published

5 years ago

November 19, 2019

NTFR

By Norman Winter, Horticulturist, Author, Speaker

A trip to Garner State Park in Texas gives the feeling of being in the rare presence of trees that surely have a story to tell. These are Bald Cypress, our Texas relatives to the Giant Sequoia. It’s really the same in San Antonio along River Walk.

The bald cypress is known botanically as Taxodium distichum, and is one of the most beautiful and yet unappreciated trees. Its native range extends much farther north than many realize. Unbelievably, the native habitat extends as for north as Delaware.

Considering the attributes, there is probably not a better all-purpose tree. The bald cypress thrives in soil that is known to be wet, which poses a hazard to almost every other quality tree. Yet on the other hand, it performs admirably on upland soils.

Many homeowners who lack patience are always in search of fast-growing trees. This is not one of the best criteria for selecting trees: longevity is. Many fast growing trees succumb to disease, insects or other environmental conditions in just a few short years.

The bald cypress, however, lives to be ancient and produces wood that is among the most durable on the planet. It is really a much faster grower than many realize. The trees normally will reach 50 to 70 feet in height and 20 to 45 feet in width. The buttressing of the trunk gives the tree a special appeal in the landscape.

To read more pick up a copy of the November 2019 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

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Parting Shot

Published

3 weeks ago

October 31, 2024

NTFR

By: Jelly Cocanougher

Delicate microbes buried just beneath the surface. We walk by them, unbeknownst to us. Spores, spawn, and sclerotia, each with distinct characteristics. It is said that these fungi are all connected, speaking to one another as they populate the earth. The interconnectedness of all living things and the decaying world, such beauty lies within these otherworldly alien organisms.

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Varietal Honey

Published

4 weeks ago

October 28, 2024

NTFR

By: Landon Moore

Landon Moore is the Wise County 4-H President and a member of the Wise County 4-H County Council. He is involved in beekeeping, as well as raising rabbits and poultry.

This essay was one that he wrote, and it was named the champion for both the Texas and National chapters of the Foundation For The Preservation of Honey Bees.

Varietal honey is honey that comes from a single source.

This honey has a flavor derived from the source flower and can even have a similar scent. In general, lighter colored honeys have a more subtle taste and dark honeys are more intense. Varietal honey has been compared to wine, in that honeys produced in different years can be distinguished, even if they come from the same flower and location.

This phenomenon is called terroir and is responsible for the individual taste of each honey harvest.

To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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The Garden Guy: America’s Sweetheart

Published

4 weeks ago

October 27, 2024

NTFR

By: Norman Winter | Horticulturist, Author, Speaker

Early in the summer, I was sent a press release that caused one of those holy wow moments. The headline said it all, “Proven Winners ColorChoice Expands Catalog with the Addition of Hollywood Hibiscus.”

I had already become familiar with the Hollywood Hibiscus series and was thrilled that the Proven Winners was adding this to their lineup.

This flower is nothing short of beautiful and exhibits prolific flower production. The flowers show three distinct colors, deep red in the very center, then the majority which is a rich rose pink with lighter pink to white along the margins.

To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.