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Let’s Grow: Brassica Vegetables
What Are Brassica Vegetables? Brassicas may be associated with cool weather and root cellars, but this massive family of flavorful, easy-to-prepare cold crops has something to offer year-round. Brassica vegetables are part of the genus Brassicaceae, or mustard family. Brassicas are also categorized as cruciferous vegetables (Cruciferae), or members of the cabbage family. Brassicas are among the most commonly cultivated vegetables in the world, and some of the most nutritious vegetables you can eat. The Brassica oleracea family of vegetables contains hundreds of subspecies with a range of health benefits, like vitamin C, vitamin K, beta-carotene, and glucosinolates. Brassica vegetables are also a great source of soluble fiber. 15 Favorite Brassica Vegetables…
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Autumn in the Garden – 2024 Edition
Greetings, Lakeway gardeners! As the summer heat wanes and the days grow shorter, autumn arrives in Lakeway, bringing with it a unique opportunity for gardeners to rejuvenate their landscapes. Local gardeners know this favorite fall season offers a perfect time to plant fall vegetables, divide bulbs, plant trees, harvest late-season produce, and prepare your garden for the upcoming winter months. With its milder temperatures and abundant rainfall, autumn in Lakeway has an ideal climate for gardeners to actually enjoy the outdoors once again during this season of renewal. . This newsletter is your guide to keep your garden healthy and thriving throughout the fall months. We’ll cover fall planting and…
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Grow Green with Free Garden Educational Resources
Looking to create a beautiful yard that’s easy on your wallet and kind to the environment? Look no further than the Grow Green program in Travis County! This fantastic initiative by the Austin Watershed Protection Department and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offers a wealth of resources to help you achieve a sustainable landscape. What is Grow Green? Grow Green is your one-stop shop for transforming your yard into a central Texas oasis. They promote practices that benefit both your garden and the environment, including: Water Conservation: Learn how to use water wisely with rainwater harvesting techniques and efficient irrigation methods. Smart Plant Choices: Discover the “right plant, right place” philosophy…
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Celebrate Summer’s Bounty with a Classic Provençal Ratatouille
The sun is shining, the days are long, and gardens are overflowing with the vibrant flavors of summer. What better way to celebrate the season than with a classic French dish that showcases these fresh ingredients? Today, we’re diving into ratatouille, a Provençal vegetable stew bursting with color and taste. The cute Pixar movie Ratatouille is also worth a look if you haven’t seen it yet too! This French vegetable stew is a symphony of textures and tastes. Tender eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and onion mingle with juicy tomatoes, all bathed in a fragrant herb sauce. It’s a vegetarian masterpiece that’s perfect as a main course, a delightful side dish, or…
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Summer in the Garden – 2024 Edition
Howdy, Lakeway gardeners! Buckle up for another sizzling Texas summer! June, July, and August bring scorching temperatures and relentless sunshine, but that doesn’t mean your plants have to wilt. This post is your guide to keeping your green garden thriving through the hottest months. We’ll cover harvesting tips for your summer bounty, strategies for outsmarting the heat, and even how to get a jumpstart on your fall plantings. So, grab your hat, sunscreen, and watering can – it’s time to conquer summer gardening in Lakeway! LGC Member News Our next Lakeway Garden Club (LGC) Member Mixer is only a few days away! So mark your calendars for next Thursday, June 6th! We…
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The Inside Austin Gardens Tour is Back!
Get ready to immerse yourself in a wonderland of flourishing flora! The Inside Austin Gardens Tour, designed “For Gardeners, By Gardeners,” returns on Saturday, May 11th, from 9 am to 3 pm. This self-guided tour offers a rare glimpse into four exceptional private gardens, each meticulously crafted by a Travis County Master Gardener. This year’s theme celebrates the diversity and beauty of Central Texas gardening. Whether your backyard boasts sprawling acres or a cozy urban nook, the featured gardens promise inspiration for all. A Journey Through Four Unique Paradises The Suburban Farm: Prepare to be enchanted by Katie Bird Farm, a sprawling three-acre haven bursting with life. Encounter 35 distinct…
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Earth Day 2024: Our Earth, Our Future
Celebrate Earth Day by beautifying our Lakeway community together! The City of Lakeway is hosting a volunteer event on Monday, April 22nd, at 11:00 am, where we’ll be planting flowers at the Lakeway Swim Center (3103 Lakeway Blvd.). If you’re passionate about keeping Lakeway vibrant and want to meet some friendly neighbors, this is the perfect opportunity! The City will provide all the necessary equipment for the planting, and afterwards, volunteers can enjoy some delicious snacks and pick up Earth Day goodies with helpful information. What to bring: Reliable transportation (your car) Comfortable clothing (dress for the weather) Comfortable shoes Gardening tools (optional, but feel free to bring your own!)…
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Understanding Climate Zones
The climate is the reoccurring average weather found in any particular place, measured over 30 year intervals. The Earth’s tilt, rotation and land/sea distribution affect these global weather patterns, resulting in variations between different locations. Travis County Climate Zone is Cfa C – Moist Subtropical Mid-Latitude Climate f – Wet year-round a – Hot Summer German climatologist and amateur botanist Wladimir Köppen (1846-1940) divided the world’s climates into categories based upon general temperature profile related to latitude. He worked with Rudolf Geiger to modify these categories into what is known today as the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system The major categories are as follows: A – Tropical Climates Moist tropical climates…
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Grow Big in a Small Space: The Magic of Square Foot Gardening
Dreaming of a bountiful harvest but limited on space? Look no further than square foot gardening (SFG)! This revolutionary method, developed by Mel Bartholomew, allows you to maximize your yield in even the tiniest of balconies or patios. What is Square Foot Gardening? Imagine your garden bed divided into a grid of 1-foot by 1-foot squares. Each square becomes its own mini-ecosystem, planted with specific vegetables, herbs, or flowers according to their spacing needs. This eliminates wasted space and allows for intensive planting. Benefits of Square Foot Gardening: High Yields: SFG utilizes a special, lightweight soil mix that promotes healthy growth, leading to impressive harvests from a compact area. Low…
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Best Wildflower Trail of Texas Bluebonnets
Willow City Loop is an awe-inspiring, historic 13-mile scenic drive (map) through the picturesque rugged Texas Hill Country landscape. The iconic loop located north of Fredericksburg, TX is the quintessential display for Texas wildflower exhibition, especially known for the blankets of beloved Texas bluebonnet and ever popular Indian paintbrush. Keep in mind, the stunning Willow City Loop wildflower showcase usually peaks in spring at the end of March, first of April. The fields are colorfully painted with wildflowers combined with rolling hills, craggy escarpments, and a beautiful canyon carved by Coal Creek. The landscape is colorfully highlighted with an assortment of distinctive native live oak, pecan, and mesquite trees. Other…
