With a long Thanksgiving weekend approaching I decided to pick up a short novel by Philip K. Dick (PKD). The Fort Worth Public Library has one of Dick's most well-regarded novels, 1969's Ubik. I took advantage of the library's curbside pickup, offered during the Coronavirus pandemic, which we are still in the midst of as I'm typing. I became aware of Dick while a teenager, … [Read more...] about Ubik by Philip K. Dick
Replacing a Turf Lawn, Part I: Why?
My house in Fort Worth came with what I call the Standard Fort Worth Yard. Total Bore A postage-stamp green lawn with some plants right in front of the house, and a couple of nice oak trees in the setback. It looked OK in summer, though pretty boring, with no sense of depth or space. I don't find turf grass very interesting. In winter it went dormant and looked brown and … [Read more...] about Replacing a Turf Lawn, Part I: Why?
Moisture Meters: Essential for Fort Worth Gardening!
Last Spring I removed nearly all the turf from my small property in Fairmount and am in the process of landscaping with plants that are either native to North Texas or suitable for our climate. It has been a wonderful experience and the perfect project to keep me occupied during a pandemic, but not without drama. First of all, anyone learning about plants native to North … [Read more...] about Moisture Meters: Essential for Fort Worth Gardening!
Zabriskie Point and the Fort Worth Central Library
Let me share something that says a lot about me. When I moved to Fort Worth one of the first places I visited downtown was the Central Library, at 500 W. Third St. Besides books on gardening, Quincy Jones, and Forth Worth history I like to browse the DVD and Blu Ray collection. Am I some Luddite, still hanging around the library with a bunch of hobos when the rest of the … [Read more...] about Zabriskie Point and the Fort Worth Central Library
The Best Fertilizer?
While gardening in drought-prone San Diego I was faced with a dilemma. I wanted to take care of my plants and give them good fertilizer (really good fertilizer for their long-term health - not something that was just going to give them a short-term perk-up but then ruin the soil) but I didn't want to do something that's bad for the environment and I was thinking about water … [Read more...] about The Best Fertilizer?