July Fry 2023 is over. Many experts say it was the hottest July on record. Now, it's time for the August Angst: Will we ever get rain again? Will it ever be in the low 90s? Is this the Apocalypse?
I love Houston's temperate climate most of the year, especially when much of the country is snowed-in with cabin fever, but July and August put me in a serious funk. I used to not be such a delicate flower when it came to the heat but I don't remember it being so relentless when I was younger. Maybe that's because it was my parents who had the job of keeping our yard in order, while I played street football and drank out of water hoses.
When a garden is wildlife-friendly, it provides nectar for bees and hummingbirds, seeds for songbirds and plants that provide food and shelter for caterpillars and butterflies. With the ever-increasing development of land, wildlife is dependent on us to remedy the havoc we wreak. And we can do that by growing plants that support habitats for beneficial insects and birds. Organic gardening and sustainability are key components of a wildlife-friendly space.
In addition to milkweed, Ali says it is important to"plant for 3 seasons" which means including native nectar plants such as Sweet Goldenrod, Calico Aster, Blazing Star, Narrow Leaved Sunflower, Spotted Beebalm, Frostweed and Blue Mistflower in the landscape.'s Garden for Wildlife keystone native plant collections which are based on zip codes.