Lisa Spears
SPECIALTY: Recycling
ABOUT:
Lisa Spears’ mantra is recycle, reuse… and thrift shop! While no longer with SAWS Conservation, Lisa has now taken her considerable horticulture, design, and reuse skills, along with her fuzzy feline accomplices, to the Hill County where she is sharing her great advice to friends and neighbors.
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Patioscape Pit Stop
A fire pit doesn’t have to cost a fortune. This one is functional and frugal — and it gives new life to an old charcoal grill. S’mores anyone? This fire pit was so easy to build and at only $40 total in materials cost, it was very economical to build. You’ll need: Lid or base […]
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Sustainability is the New Black
Living sustainably can be as simple as purchasing goods from local businesses or from companies that give back to the community. Think about what you can live without, or commit to using things up until you can’t use them anymore. Have you heard of the staple-free stapler that sews your papers together? Or pig urine […]
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Apple of My Eye Tote for Teachers
School teachers by and large are creative people who are constantly thinking of new projects and craft ideas to help children learn and grow. I don’t know many teachers (if any) who don’t have a lot of stuff to tote around. Between grading papers and making lesson plans for the year, teachers haul quite a […]
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Affordable Flea Market Gardening
If unique yard art appeals to you, then the flea market might be your shopping destination. Here are some tips to know before you go. For me, flea markets hold a certain attraction. I actually have no idea what I’ll discover until I get there. Today I’m shopping for a container to add a pop […]
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Viva le Jardin! Bastille Day in South Texas
Container gardening with French flair. Bonjour my fellow gardeners! The month of July holds two holidays similar in spirit — first is the American Independence Day on the Fourth of July and the other is Bastille Day, observed in France on the fourteenth of July. Once you’re done honoring the Fourth, keep the spirit of independence going by […]
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Bat House Project to Drive Dad Batty!
Building a bat house project with kids is a fun educational activity. Bonus: It’s also a natural way to keep your yard bug-free! Summer is finally here and the kids are out of school. There’s no better time for you and your kids to tackle a hands-on bat house project that’s educational and good for […]
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Bat Basics
Mexican free-tailed bats are here! If you are lucky enough to live in South Texas the Bracken Maternity Bat Colony, located in the vicinity of Garden Ridge, is home to 15-20 million female bats. This colony is the largest assemblage of non-human mammals on earth. This cave houses only female bats and their offspring, the males […]
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Weeds: Can You Hear Them Now?
Did you hear that? Shhh… listen carefully. Your weeds are trying to tell you something. The types of weeds popping up will tell you the overall condition of the soil in your garden. They can signal compacted soils, pH imbalance and, in some cases, balanced soil. The types of weeds popping up will tell you […]
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Don’t Set it and Forget it!
You’ve heard “set it and forget it” – well don’t let this become your mantra; it could end up costing you. Irrigation is often the last consideration when building a home. So if it was designed with no thought to the plant material being installed, then chances are you have a poorly designed system on […]
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A Gift for Mother from the Garden
Bet you’re trying to come up with something extra special for the mother in your life. Why not give her something unique and handmade from the garden? Perhaps it’s cliché, but moms appreciate unique gifts made just for them by their children. It means so much more than a gift card. Here’s a simple, but […]
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Watering Once-a-Week Rules Still in Place
Summer is just around the corner and that means gardening, lawn care and, of course, watering will top many to-do lists. But before you haul out the hose-end sprinklers and set ‘em and forget ‘em, remember that Stage 2 drought restrictions remain in place. Yes, the weather has been mild and rain has been more plentiful […]
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Landscape for Wildlife
For city dwellers and suburbanites, native vegetation and wildlife habitat are at a premium. But it’s simple to plan your own small-scale nature preserve. You could start by limiting your lawn. Lawns provide little food or coverage for animals. Consider removing small portions of turf and replacing it with wildflower seeds or groundcover. Offer vertical […]
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Get Your Garden On Safely
For most of us, gardening is a form of relaxation. While some people refer to it as puttering around, gardening can be an opportunity to just enjoy the quiet beauty or listen to the birds. Nonetheless, you may be surprised to hear that there are about 200,000 gardening accidents a year. People love to take […]
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Black-eyed Peasy
That’s right folks, a new year is upon us and that means it’s time to bust out the black-eyed peas. (And, I don’t mean Fergie and friends.) It’s also time for a teachable moment — either give a man his black-eyed peas or teach him how to make them himself so he never bothers you again! Being somewhat […]
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Brining Olives
For the first time in seven years, my olive tree is loaded with olives! My enthusiasm has turned into motivation, with full intent to process my crop. Every olive starts off green in color then graduates to purple before finally turning to black. So I waited until the harvest was half green and half black […]
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Winter Bird Feeder
Winter is the perfect opportunity for bird watching. During the cooler months, birds have to forage for food as the insects that were in abundance are now gone. And, native birds have to compete with visiting birds migrating south for the winter. Why not help them find food but making a bird feeder? Providing supplemental […]
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Toy Garden – Upcycled Creature Feature
Giving isn’t just for adults. Teaching children the joy and satisfaction of giving to others can start at almost any age. Being intentional about teaching children to give instills values that will touch their lives and the lives of everyone they come in contact with and leaves them rich and fulfilling memories. This holiday season, […]
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Gift of Nature for the Holiday
Night temperatures are dipping lower — a subtle reminder that winter will soon be upon us. It’s also a perfect reminder to start collecting for holiday gift giving. As gardens in and around San Antonio have leaves falling off the trees and grass turning brown, perhaps consider a gift of something green, either for yourself or […]
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Your Water Meter As Leak Detector
Unfortunately, most customers don’t realize they have a leak until they receive an outrageously high water bill. Let’s get up close and personal with your meter, so this doesn’t happen to you: it can be used as a simple leak detector. First, find the water meter. It’s usually located either in front of your home or […]
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My Date with the Grease Monster
While reading the classifieds in the newspaper, I came across a rather peculiar personal ad: “Monster who enjoys long walks through San Antonio sewer pipes, clogging them up and ruining people’s lives in general. Seeking same.” How despicable, I thought. I decided to confront this guy so I arranged a date. Of course, he wanted […]
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Show Your Garden’s True Colors
Adding color to our landscape is one of the main reasons we garden. Colors evoke emotion and symbolism. They can add drama, create impact, brighten up dark spots or create distance. It all depends how and where you use colorful plants. Choosing color for your garden can be dicey, especially if you’ve never done it […]
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Get to the Root of Plant Selection
The next time you’re browsing your favorite garden center looking for that perfect WaterSaver plant, take a moment to look beyond the colorful flowers. Take a good, long look at the roots. A healthy root system is a primary factor in the success of your plants — not the enticing flowers or foliage that attracted […]
