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Waterwise Gardening - a book review

Waterwise Gardening: Everything You Need To Know About Efficient Watering to Grow a Healthy Yard by Richard Restuccia Published by Rizzoli, 2025 I would guess that watering is the major issue that most gardeners grapple with, especially novice gardeners. I know from working at the nursery that the majority of questions and issues we get stem from either watering too much or not watering enough.  Many people in our area have sprinkler systems and I'm sure that can be a good thing if used properly but I feel that they primarily keep the lawns green but fall short for landscape plants. Especially when it comes to trees and larger plants, the timing and amounts are not satisfactory for many plants. I often hear people say that their sprinklers are set to come on every day - yikes! And there are those who did not water because it "rained" when it actually drizzled.  The best thing to do in this situation is to have a xeric garden but that would mean sacrificing favorite plant...

Star Magnolia



It is a sunny but cold and windy day. I just stepped outside to take a photo of the Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata), one of my favorite ornamental trees. It is in full bloom right now but that probably will not be the case after this weekend when temperatures are predicted to plunge into the low 20s. The tree will then look like it is covered with wet tissue paper.

It is difficult to get a full shot of this tree. There are power lines and neighbor's houses in the background and the absence of leaves make photography difficult. It is beautiful to look at in person but photos usually disappoint. 

I would like to grow this tree in a sheltered location, such as a courtyard or next to a south-facing wall or patio. Keep location in mind if you plan to plant a Star Magnolia.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Wow Philip... I wasn't prepared to think magnolias would be in bloom already... even in the south! i've been poring over a list of magnolias for the past couple days... I've got it pared down to thirteen would you believe?! This is tough... wishing I had more space. Maybe it's time to remove more trees to make space for improved varieties... a hard decision. Larry

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  2. Star Magnolias are gorgeous in bud and stunning in flower. The rest of the year... Beautiful picture Phillip!

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  3. Phillip, I love this shot, you've captured the beauty of Star Magnolia!
    Mine will like wise be wiped out, too. Such is the fate of this too early bloomer! gail

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  4. This is a great shot. You are lucky to have any blooms at this time. You can savor them. I noticed that your garden got a nod in Pam's book. Great!

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  5. Pretty! And I bet it smells wonderful, too! I don't usually see this type of magnolia here - its petals look quite delicate.

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  6. Gorgeous bloom and photo! Jeannine

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