Hopefully some moisture and cooler temperatures may finally continue in the Wimberley area. Time to establish native plants and fall bulbs. You can even still spread wildflower seeds as most of the seeds you may have spread earlier in the fall have not germinated due to the lack of moisture. I have been asked which bulbs are good to establish in our area. I have had luck with Hyacinths and Narcissus bulbs emerging as early as January and blooming in winter or early spring in Wimberley. They often establish themselves and bloom repeatedly for a few years in a row. Narcissus, the group to which daffodils belong, tazette, are best for regular spring blooms. I like Grand Primo, Campernelle, Texas Star, Soleil’dOr, and Erlicheer. Other gardeners have reported success with Dutch Master, Unsurpassable and Ice Follies.
Last week I started the forcing process for some Paperwhite Narcissus bulbs. If you look online for how to force Paperwhite Narcissus you will find a variety of different methods. I put mine on pebbles in a tall glass container and water just below the bulbs. Then I put them in a dark closet (the shed or dark garage will do). I do not bring them out into the light until I can see the flower bud capsule. They have a strong scent which I adore, but others detest! Once you have forced the bulb to bloom indoors they will not bloom again outside. But if you don’t force them and put them directly in the ground outdoors they most likely will come back for a few years in a row and bloom.
The permanent big native grasses are blooming and this is a good time to plant new ones. My Big Muhlys, Muhlenbergia lindheimeri, are sending up tall fluffy spikes. They can get so large that they make a good hedge. Big Muhlys reseed themselves. The Gulf Muhly, Muhlenbergia capillaris, have lovely purplish fluffy seed heads now. Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, are the reddish grasses that turn colors from yellowish to reddish when the temperature drops down to the 30’s. My thermometer said 33 earlier this month so the color change has taken place this year.
