Ann

Buttonbush does best in wet areas - even growing right at a ponds edge. Bit it will grow elsewhere - just give it an extra shot of water occasionally.

Thanks David but any slightly moist areas are well away from any water hose. There would be no giving it any shots of water.

I found a new plant at the edge of the pond the other day. I was just looking to see if I could ID but not sure. When I took the pictures, the flowers weren't open all the way so I'll go back to the pond later (without the dogs!) to see if they've open more.

Considering White Pond Orchid, Platanthera dilatata. It's not shown as growing in Texas but stranger things have happened!

Any ideas?

I'm thinking Spiranthes genus, Ladies Tresses. Several species in Texas.
What county Christine?

Jay it's Hopkins County. Thanks.

It looks like Spiranthes is probably right. S. cernua and S. cernua var. odorata look possible.

Yes, Ladies Tresses for sure, don't know the particular one.

If I thought all the rain would continue, I'd try growing Buttonbush myself. But, of course, the rain is a temporary El Nino thing. Weeds are especially incorrigible this year and shrubby plants and trees growing so jungle-like that I'm way behind on pruning. Not to mention, it's so hard to plant anything when almost every time I try, it starts raining and mosquitos attack no matter what I spray on myself.
Lovely plants, Christine!

I have tried growing Buttonbush three times and it never thrived, so I gave up. I figured why beat myself up, when there are other plants that work well for me.

I was watching a garden program (a British one) on lawns last night. They showed a wildflower lawn that is becoming popular there. It only needs mowing once a year. I must follow the concept up.

By all means. I, for one, would be very interested in such a lawn.

I have done a new thread for this in Wildflowers forum. As normal I do not know how to give the shortcut to it. Can some kind person do one to it?

Wildflowers forum: Saving lawns. Wildflower lawns and low maintenance

Sure thing Gleni, here's the link The thread "Saving lawns. Wildflower lawns and low maintenance" in Wildflowers forum

Regarding Florida Betony - It is a mint relative, it does have pretty little flowers, the little white tubers are edible (the native Indians ate them and I used them on salads), it is hardy and invades everywhere. I brought some in my yard in Newberry, FL along with the border grass given to me by a friend and actually sieved my garden soils, trying to get them out of my flower beds with no luck. The plants that I brought from home there when we moved to the far north section of the Florida panhandle - Quincy, FL - were so carefully cleaned when I left there. I sure didn't want to bring it with me. I was afraid - very afraid.

If you are brave enough to try this plant, make sure that it is severely isolated. You might find a natural restaurant which could use those tubers. We just couldn't eat enough to keep them under control. By the way, it has a nickname and isn't called Rattlesnake weed for nothing, those tubers do look like rattles.