Are you a fan of the Old Farmer’s Almanac, that iconic paperback tome with the yellow cover and the hole in the corner? Are you a fan of my podcast, the Horticulturati, that not-yet iconic digital fount of Texas gardening info and feelings? Well, the two are colliding in this episode! I grew up reading the Old Farmer’s Almanac and in this episode I tell Leah, my co-host and landscape designer friend, all about it. I explore my feelings about the past and future of the almanac. Is the Old Farmer’s Almanac it out-of-date and defunct? Is it spreading harmful lies? Or is it what hurried and harrie ..read more

2024 Fruit Tree Calendar Has Arrived! I am excited to announce my new downloadable  2024 fruit tree calendar. Get automatic reminders for fruit tree care in your digital calendar. My universal .ics file is viewable on any device. It's like having me in your back pocket to remind you when to prune, feed and harvest! Get it before the end of 2023. It makes a great gift for the aspiring orchardist in your life! The file comes with both written and video instructions on how to download and install it on your device. Thanks, Colleen fruit tree calendar Example of Fruit Tree Care Calendar Item ..read more

October 28 2023 at the Austin Public Library Central Branch I had so much fun at the Central Texas Seed Savers seed swap last week. It was our annual swap at the Central Library. About 100 people attended and everyone was smiling and having fun. In addition to preventing extinction by sharing hard to find local plants and seeds, we exchanged how-to grow info and made new friends. We had a huge amount of seeds thanks to community donations, swap participants who brought seeds and a donation from David’s Garden Seeds. Sign up for the Central Texas Seed Savers newsletter here, and you can also su ..read more

At international Shores from 10 to noon. Register and get more info here: https://www.treefolks.org/events ..read more

Do you have big dreams for your home orchard? What if you could glance at your phone and read the fruit tree tasks for the day, would you check it out? If so, Colleen will help you maximize your harvest with her Texas Fruit Tree Care Digital Calendar. ATXGardens.com has you covered! The calendar includes timing for fruit tree pruning, feeding and other tasks that integrate directly into your calendar. With this superpower in your back pocket, you will be empowered to care for your fruit trees. You’ll receive the file, link and instructions in an email after you purchase. Here’s ..read more

Thanks to Williamson County chapter of the native plant society of Texas for hosting me week before last. I had a fun time meeting everyone. You can watch the whole presentation here: https://youtu.be/9oh3dP829A4?si=91R2q3MQLUfs-9ze ..read more

Samaras on the Bigtooth Maple at Pease Park In spring 2023 I led a Tree Identification walk at Pease Park, and I am delighted to repeat that activity coming up on September 9, 2023. As an ISA Certified Arborist at ATXgardens.com, I am a tree enthusiast, to say the least. When Luis from Pease Park Conservancy gave me a tour of the park I was surprised to find some rare tree specimens planted as part of the recent restoration. The area near the “TreeHouse” is home to a Bigtooth Maple, Acer grandidentatum, one of only two native maple species in Austin (the other is Box Elder, Acer negundo, a ..read more

Colleen Dieter (that’s me) will be leading a FREE Tree Identification walk at Pease Park in Austin on Sep 9 2023 from 10:30-12:30. You’ll learn how to identify trees and collect seeds from them to contribute to Central Texas Seed Savers’ Seed to Tree Pipeline Program. Register here. Flyer for Tree ID class ..read more

Hi Gardening Friends,  I was delighted and surprised when well-known author and garden blogger, Pam Penick, reviewed "Let's Care for Texas Plants"! Pam wrote "Colleen’s plant care 'zine is the how-to that every new gardener in Central Texas needs — or new homeowner, if you’ve inherited a bunch of plants you have no idea how to care for...It’s a must-have for any gardener in Central Texas, especially newbies. But even experienced gardeners will learn something new".  Read Full Review Here's a good deal! Now you can get a bundled version of both the digital version and the hard copy ve ..read more

Lately I, very happily, have been having the same conversation over and over again with lots of friends and Red Wheelbarrow customers. There’s a peculiar plant lurking in many yards that is being mistaken for a pest. I most recently saw it growing on a railing at the Becker Green Classroom where I did a consultation last week about tree planting. Even though we were talking about trees I took a minute to point out their big crop of Talayote. I still can’t pronounce “Talayote” but I will get there. Talayote, the common name for Cynanchum unifarium, is the most underrated plant found around Aust ..read more