Today we’re off to Texas to visit with Debra Castle.

I am a Master Gardener in the South Plains of Lubbock, Texas, home of Buddy Holly and Mac Davis, which is halfway between Midland and Amarillo, kind of in the Texas Panhandle. I garden in a desert climate with temperature extremes from 115° to –7°F. We have also been in an extreme drought for several years, so water is expensive and needs to be conserved. I have gardened on some level at my home for 38 years. My garden has evolved depending on kid’s activities and work schedules, but I am retired now so I’m all in! I have cultivated Texas bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis, annual) for 30 years, which don’t grow here naturally.

Once established, Texas bluebonnets need very little attention or water. They remain pest free and withstand temperature extremes.

They can be hard to start from purchased seed, as the seed has a very hard shell. I have found success with buying plants and letting them go to seed, which then germinates in the fall. I now have them every year in random places all over my garden.

Last year this color popped up. I have no idea how this happened. I’m hoping some of them reseeded this year. We are recovering from the polar vortex assault, so plants are slow in coming out, but it didn’t faze the bluebonnets!

Close-up of a pink bluebonnet plant

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

If you want to send photos in separate emails to the GPOD email box that is just fine.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

You don’t have to be a professional garden photographer – check out our garden photography tips!

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.