January plants

Our cold weather is keeping most plants in the dormant mode, but there are a few that thrive as annuals in our winters. Pansies and violas have withstood our temperature dips into the 20s. I planted one viola near the entrance to our garage which gives me pleasure every time I open the garage door. As long as you keep the wilting blossoms picked off (dead heading) it will keep blooming. Our rainfall has been below normal, so you will also need to keep these annuals watered.

Pansies are eaten by deer, so keep them in a protected area. The more hours of sunshine they receive the more blooms you will have. Mine do well in the ground as well as in a container.

Cedar Fever season is here. The plant responsible for “cedar” pollen is Juniperus ashei.

Juniperus ashei is dioecious: the male and female reproductive organs appear on separate plants. Thus it is only the male cedar that produces pollen. At this time of year the male cedars are a brown-gold greenish color as they are releasing the pollen. Some female plants still have the dark blue berries. Juniperus ashei is a native plant. Before the Europeans came to settle central Texas the regular natural fires kept the cedar population located primarily in the protected canyons and arroyos. Without the fires, the cedars can dominate the landscape. The best time to control cedar growth is when they first germinate as they are easy to pull up. If a mature cedar is cut it will not spring up from the roots as many hardwood trees do.

Each season has its troubles and blessings. While Juniperus pollen spreads, there are few insects to bother us as we work in the yard and the berries of hollies (Ilex) such as our local native Yaupon and Possumhaw are feeding the birds. Happy New Year.

Written by Jackie Mattice, Hays County Master Naturalist