‘Twinkle Pink’ cuphea
October’s cooler, less-humid weather signals the beginning of the second big gardening season in central Texas. At independent nurseries and plant sales, the aisles are packed with tempting new arrivals. And even though it can be hard to tear oneself away from one’s own garden, it’s also prime touring season, as plants enjoy a second bloom period, thanks to cooler weather and fall rains, and then go to seed with a flourish. With so much going on, hard choices must be made. Here are my picks for upcoming garden-related events.
October 9 and 10: Native plant sale, Wildflower Center, Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday 11 am to 5 pm
The Wildflower Center plant sale seems to get bigger every year. Go early, and be sure to bring a wagon for toting your plants; it’s a long slog to the parking lot with arms full of heavy pots. Admission is $8 adults, $7 seniors and students, $4 UT faculty, staff or students with identification, $3 children 5-12. Members and children under 5 are free.
October 8: Members Only Preview Sale, 1 to 7 pm. If you’re a member of the Wildflower Center, you can get early dibs on the plants on Friday after lunch. I highly recommend taking advantage of the early sale if you’re a card-carrying member. Don’t fool yourself though; it’ll be crowded on this day too.
October 9: Susan Tomlinson, my Lubbock blogging buddy at The Bike Garden and author of The Naturalist’s Notebook, will be speaking at 11 am and hosting a book signing until 2 pm. Susan is a thoughtful, witty, beautiful writer. Don’t miss it.
October 10: Jill Nokes, Austin designer and author of the classic reference How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest, signs her latest book, Yard Art and Handmade Places, from 1 to 3 pm during the Wildflower Center plant sale. Jill is generous with her extensive knowledge of native plants and ecosystems and with her personal garden as well; click for a visit to Jill’s garden a few years ago.
October 16: The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Tour in Austin, 9 am to 5 pm
You’ll see some old favorites on this private-garden tour — James David and Gary Peese’s opus of a garden and Deborah Hornickel’s classical jewel box — plus 4 new gardens including East Side Patch, the eclectic, wonderfully plant-centered creation of designer Philip Leveridge. Check out Philip’s hilarious and fascinating blog of the same name.
October 23: The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Tour in San Antonio, 9 am to 5 pm
San Antonio is only an hour and a half from Austin, making this an easy day trip. I’ve never made it to their Open Days tour, however; it’s just too hard to get free of family duties for two weekends in a row. How I wish they’d move one of these tours to the spring! But maybe you can do it, and I bet it’ll be great.
October 24: Goblins in the Garden at the Wildflower Center, 4 to 7 pm
For five years the Wildflower Center has hosted a tyke-friendly Halloween event in its gardens. We’ve attended Goblins in the Garden two or three times; the first year, when our children were younger, was the most memorable for me. Children are encouraged to wear costumes and collect treats and make crafts along the way. Older kids will be bored; kids 8 and under will love it.
November 5-7: Fall Festival of Roses at the Antique Rose Emporium, Independence, TX
A three-day event in ARE’s gorgeous display gardens outside Brenham, Texas, with popular speakers like author and radio personality Felder Rushing and rose rustler/ARE owner Mike Shoup. Tours of the growing fields and classes on garden design and companion plantings for roses are offered.
Have fun out there, folks! It’s going to be a great month to be outside.

Autumn sage (Salvia greggii)
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