Everything’s bigger in Texas, including its bat populations. The Lone Star State has more bat species than any other state and is home to the largest bat colony in the world! The Mexican free-tailed bat, our state’s official flying mammal, is the most common bat found throughout Texas. These creatures play an important role in the Texas ecosystem, from insect control to pollination. Keep reading to learn more about bats and ways you can help them thrive.

Making a New Year’s resolution for your garden is a great way to start the year with purpose and creativity. Whether you’re growing vegetables, creating a pollinator-friendly space, or reducing water usage, these resolutions will help you stay motivated and enjoy a beautiful garden throughout the year!

The cold weather has finally arrived which means our gardens are entering their dormant season. But what happens to all the bees, butterflies, and other beneficial bugs that visit our yards during the warm, sunny months?

During the chilly winter season, lots of beneficial insects will make your yard their home. Many bees and wasps establish nests in hollow stems and decaying logs or seek shelter beneath the soil, building nests in bare patches of lawn, while beetles, spiders, and moths favor insulating themselves underneath leaf litter, rock piles, or brush. 

The holiday season is here, and finding the perfect gift can be challenging. Sometimes it’s not easy to find something valuable that the recipient will appreciate and doesn't already have. But if you struggle to choose a holiday gift, consider giving a plant!

Houseplants make the perfect gift. Plants are beautiful and vibrant, have staying power, and last much longer than a bouquet of roses or a bottle of wine. Plus, it’s not just another unwanted item that’ll end up shoved in the back of the closet or donated.

If you’re wondering how to make the most of the rain Texas gets, try building a rain garden! Rain gardens are comprised of native perennials, shrubs, and flowers planted in a shallow depression designed to hold and soak rainwater into the soil. Rain gardens can provide so many benefits, including reducing flooding, improving water quality, and replenishing groundwater.

We'll review the benefits of school gardening along with some resources.

Thinking of planting trees in Texas? Let’s find ones that can handle the heat without demanding a drink every day. Your water bill will thank you!

Many gardeners and everyday people appreciate the multiple benefits of composting. Composting, the process of recycling organic waste into nutrient-rich soil, is crucial in reducing waste and keeping your soil healthy. Did you know that adding worms to your compost can significantly improve the quality of your soil?

If you’ve tried growing an edible garden but couldn’t make it thrive through the Texas heat, consider growing it indoors! Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. Hydroponics can be as simple as regrowing lettuce in a cup of water or as complex as large commercial farming. Almost any plant can be grown hydroponically, however, this method is most often used for growing herbs, vegetables, and microgreens. Growing your food hydroponically saves water, uses fewer chemicals, and protects the earth’s soil.

Composting is a fantastic way to reduce waste and give back to the environment. While most people are aware of composting food scraps and yard waste (and if you’re not, read the Basics of Composting blog to get started), there are several unusual items that can also find a new life in your compost pile. We will explore some often-overlooked items that can be composted, highlighting how they help create nutrient-rich soil and promote sustainability.