Cleveland Powell is a conservation planner for SAWS. He is enthusiastic about grass taxonomy and milkweed propagation. In his free time, Powell enjoys hiking around area parks in search of intriguing bugs, birds and plants.
Cleveland Powell is a conservation planner for SAWS. He is enthusiastic about grass taxonomy and milkweed propagation. In his free time, Powell enjoys hiking around area parks in search of intriguing bugs, birds and plants.
Cleveland Powell
These weeds aren’t likely to win any wildflower beauty pageants, but they do add whimsy to the natural world around San Antonio. Continuing with our tales of two plants, we […]
Cleveland Powell
A bluebonnet is a bluebonnet is a bluebonnet, right? Not exactly. Read on to learn more about Texas’ many blue blossoms. Most of us know the state flower of Texas […]
Cleveland Powell
These two cheery daisies share the same common name, but they grow and thrive in very different soil environments. San Antonio and Bexar County sit at a wonderful convergence of […]
Cleveland Powell
Adding this nutrient-rich mixture is the first step toward a healthier soil environment. While you might think adding compost to your garden or lawn is just a slow-release way of […]
Cleveland Powell
One of the easiest ways to get rid of grass for a new planting bed is to use the power of the sun. If you’re ready to leave the lawn […]
Cleveland Powell
This occasional series highlights ground covers and other xeric alternatives to traditional turfgrass lawns. These wild plants aren’t grass, but they can withstand mowing and thrive in place of traditional […]
Cleveland Powell
Allowing diversity within your landscape is one way to reduce dependence on summer watering. As summer heat sets in to stay awhile, many homeowners crank up the sprinklers to keep […]
Cleveland Powell
Aside from being naturally evergreen, disease resistant and shade-loving, sedge is deer resistant, and (most importantly) drought hardy. Are y’all tired of buying new sod to fill in a shady […]
Cleveland Powell
For 12 months of sunny color, you can’t beat the aster family. Take a look around and you’ll spot one blooming near you. One of the most wide-spread and successful […]
Cleveland Powell
The Scots recognize thistle as their national flower. Here in Texas, it’s high time to reconsider our tradition of painting all thistles as weeds. On rangelands and farms, thistles are […]
Cleveland Powell
Take a good gander. Chances are you’ll spot these prolific happy little flowers blooming somewhere near you. One of the most widespread and successful plant families is the aster family, […]
Cleveland Powell
Once established, white mistflower holds its own through the toughest weather. Mistflowers have a well-deserved reputation as important pollinator plants. When they bloom, they’re covered in tiny flower bouquets that […]
Cleveland Powell
Patience, trust and no fuss — these are just a few of our recommendations to help your milkweed flourish. Many of us have heard about the plight of the monarch […]
Cleveland Powell
A healthy landscape evolves over time and your watering habits should change with it. A Thomasson is a funny term in architecture that refers to any feature that once had […]
Cleveland Powell
Every fall they fly from as far north as Canada to the Oyamel fir forest in Mexico. Their path leads them directly over Texas. Monarch butterflies are the only species of […]
Cleveland Powell
Baffled by spots, stripes or other odd patterns in your lawn? Before you chalk it up to alien crop circles, you might want to inspect your irrigation system. Summer in […]
Cleveland Powell
Trimming is not required for plants to be healthy. But when done strategically it can enhance the look of your summer landscape. With recent rainfall, high humidity and mild temperatures […]
Cleveland Powell
Aside from beautifying your yard, many of the approved WaterSaver Landscape Coupon plants also double as hosts for butterfly and moth caterpillars. Many of us are familiar with the monarch […]
Cleveland Powell
With distinctive leaves and fruit, hop tree is an easy Texas native to identify — if you know what to look for. Hidden among the underbrush around Bexar County is […]
Cleveland Powell
Can’t wait to see your spring blooms? Many wildflowers can be identified just by their leaves. Here’s how. While winter often feels like a time when nature is sleeping, if […]
Cleveland Powell
A few easy changes to your landscape maintenance are all it takes to create little spaces for wildlife — and help protect other residents that call Texas home. As temperatures […]
Cleveland Powell
If trees could talk, these spine-chilling stories would startle saplings senseless. A mature shade tree is one of the most valuable additions you can make to your landscape. However, majestic […]
Cleveland Powell
Don’t let the goofy name or delicate blooms fool you. Woolly tubetongue is seriously hardy, even in our searing heat. By now most people are familiar with horseherb (Calyptopcarpus vialis), […]
Cleveland Powell
The summer heat is brutal to ordinary blooming plants. But there are ironclad options that’ll show the scorch who’s boss — and add the color your landscape craves. As the […]
Cleveland Powell
Drought can stress many a plant. But these untamed Texas mavericks know just what to do and how to get through. After the hottest May on record and only scant […]
Cleveland Powell
Using the right plants in the right place of your landscape means less worrying about watering and yardwork during the hottest days of the year. by Cleveland Powell and Brad […]
Cleveland Powell
Take a spring stroll in a natural setting and you just may spy these rare native bulbed beauties. Flowering plants that produce bulbs are an intriguing group of plants, more […]
Cleveland Powell
Believe it or not, blooms do burst forth as early as February. Consider these small trees and shrubs in your landscape for both springtime beauty and nectar. When people think […]
Cleveland Powell
If you’ve seen a boastfully bright orange butterfly beating about your bushes, there may be a passionflower vine hiding in plain sight. Sometimes, uninvited guests can actually be helpful. That’s […]
Cleveland Powell
Several local plants are uncommonly adept at blocking sunlight and reducing water loss during summer months. Summer is a great time for outdoor activities. As humans we know we need […]
Cleveland Powell
Fertilizers and pesticides can be washed away by rainwater to nearby creeks and rivers. A few simple solutions can prevent this pollution — and save water! From heat to cold, […]
Cleveland Powell
Is it a pesky weed or an advantageous addition to your yard? Think twice before ridding your landscape of these broadleaf beauties. While many people dismiss the broadleaf plants that […]
Cleveland Powell
Monarchs have evolved to take advantage of a wide range of milkweed host plants. We can help them out by increasing the diversity of native plants in our landscapes. The […]
Cleveland Powell
If you are changing your landscape — or if your landscape has grown and changed over time — you should also update your irrigation system. The recent cold weather has […]
Cleveland Powell
There’s not much left of the original prairie lands of Texas, but every October phantoms of the “big four” are often seen haunting local parks and roadsides. Historically many Texas […]
Cleveland Powell
It may not look like much most of the year. But come winter, you’ll be amazed by this unpretentious perennial’s bone-chilling beauty. For most of the year, frostweed is rather […]
Cleveland Powell
If you spot patches of grass with intriguing orchid-like blooms or bold black butterflies hovering about, you’ve likely stumbled upon this native vine. While most butterfly gardens are works of […]
Cleveland Powell
If your lawn’s gone crispy and sparse, it’s a desperate cry for help. That sounds like a job for the WaterSaver Landscape Coupon! Turfgrass is the default filler in most […]
Cleveland Powell
When it comes to conserving water, the changes you make inside your home are just a drop in the bucket. To score some serious savings, you’ll need to walk out […]
Cleveland Powell
There are plenty of curious nooks in our own neighborhoods where wild plants find a place to call home. Take a brisk socially-distanced stroll and you may discover a few. […]
Cleveland Powell
If you’ve spotted a roadside field cloaked in what appears to be freshly fallen snow, it’s not a (complete) mirage. It’s actually a hardy summer annual wildflower that begins bursting […]
Cleveland Powell
In San Antonio, it’s the dry, hot summer months that present the biggest obstacles to your landscape. But choosing native plants with a diverse mix of adaptations for survival can […]
Cleveland Powell
We all know bluebonnets and firewheels, but there are rarer native gems that reside in several San Antonio parks — if you know where and what to look for. We […]
Cleveland Powell
Engelmann’s daisy may blend in with the other yellow wildflowers along the roadside. But get to know this cheerful native perennial and you’ll find it has many attributes that set […]
Cleveland Powell
Our climate supports a wide array of beautiful flowers and turf grass substitutes. Winter is the best time to rethink the traditional lawn-based landscape and create a plan that will […]
Cleveland Powell
Just like any other mechanical device, an irrigation system requires regular maintenance. There are a few minor issues an enterprising homeowner can repair on their own. This summer was brutally […]
Cleveland Powell
Contrary to popular belief some weeds are beneficial, particularly in areas where the landscape has been disturbed. Read on to find out how these plants act as a bandage for […]
Cleveland Powell
When installed properly, kept in good repair and scheduled correctly, drip irrigation can be a tool to reduce outdoor water use. Consider these potential problems before deciding on drip. Does […]
Cleveland Powell
Not all yellowing leaves can be attributed to a lack of or need for water. San Antonio might be hot and dry, but there are many plants that like it […]
Cleveland Powell
How many loads of laundry or dishes could you do with the water from a single cycle of your irrigation system? These shocking comparisons will have you saving water (and […]
Cleveland Powell
Bring the warm glow of fall into your garden with two marigold-like plants. Both boast bold yellow blooms and invite butterflies to linger in your landscape. In search of flowers […]