Ode to old-fashioned

Well, I remember visiting my grandmothers house in San Angelo in the summer when the four o'clocks were blooming in the shade of her overhang off of the side porch. They did get some early morning sun, but they bloomed in the late afternoon in the shade. The colors she had were a medium pink and a soft yellow. I used to make colored tea and mud pies for afternoon snacks. Grandma always said she had just eaten, but she played along nonetheless.

My Grandmother had these planted all around her back porch. I saw them at a Calloway's recently, and it made me think of her.

Never used Marigolds in my North Texas garden in the summer. Too many spider mites. But last fall, when the weather turned just a little, I planted orange variegated large marigolds and they did wonderfully. My research shows they do better in North Texas in the fall. They don't succumb to pests that time of year, have a lovely fragrance reminiscent of childhood, and look great with pumpkins and mums.

I love the idea you will be carrying more "old fashioned" flowers. I have a home built in 1920 and want to add to my cottage garden look by adding more flowers suited to that era. I currently have roses, daylilies, iris, obedient plant, f leome, salvia, and have spider lilies planted but they haven't bloomed yet. Would love ideas on which would be good for a southern and western exposure in north Texas - area 7b. Thanks!

When I was little (1950's) my Mom had a night-blooming jasmine that was a small bush with great smelling flowers at night outside our window. I haven't been able to find one...anyone know where I might get one?

Thanks!

I have been fond of Spiderwort since it grew by my grandmother's back steps when I was a child. I have always had some in my garden. But since moving to North Texas 4 years ago, I have not been successful at growing it. Perhaps we just have too much sun at our new home. I have only been able to find it at pass-along plant sales.

I have a huge bed of four-o'clocks from my grandmother's garden.
Now I find them all around my house. They are spreading like crazy.

I have a beautiful peony in my backyard that I dug up from my late aunt's yard, which she had brought from her previous homes and from her mother's garden prior to that. My grandmother had brought the plant to her garden from her grandmother's garden who had brought it with her when she and my great-great grandfather moved to Texas from Georgia in a covered wagon during the Civil War. No kidding.

I have a crinum lily in my back yard, but it hasn't done real well. When Calloways has them in stock, I'd need advice on how and where to plant them. - Joyce

When I was a young child our neighbor had "Touch-Me-Nots". I remember the flowers being pink with little seed pods on the stem. When you touched the pods they would pop open and drop the seeds, which you were not supposed to do. For best new flower growth, they must pop open when ready, thus the name "Touch-Me-Nots".

I've seen them once since I grew up. When visiting President Andrew's home in Tennessee, my sister and I saw them in the beds around the Visitor's Center.

I would love to have them in my garden if anyone knows where I can get seeds.
Judy Baker