Mary, Mary quite contrary how does your garden grow?

With silver bells, and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row
SPI GARDENS.com

South Padre Island, located on the southern tip of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico, is designated as Zone 9B. Its suptropic climate allows gardeners to grow exotic tropical plants, as well as plants of a more temperate nature. So what's growing out there? That's what this site hopes to find out!

Update 4/20/06: To celebrate Arbor Day (April 28) spigardens.com is holding a Native Plant Appreciation Day and Plant Swap on Saturday, April 29 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the Water Tower Park on South Padre Island (located on Huisache and Laguna Drive, with parking available on Huisache. The tower is plainly visible for miles and is accessible from Gulf Boulevard (Highway 100).

Everyone is invited to bring plants, seeds and cuttings from there yards to swap with other island gardeners. Local nurseries have been invited to bring plants to sell.

State Forester Paul Johnson from Weslaco and Brownsville Forester Eddy Kuprel have been invited to attend, as well.

It will be an informative event and a great way to meet other gardeners to share ideas with and to start planning "habitat landscaping" projects for the island.

More details should be available on Wednesday, April 26, as things are still coming together. For suggestions and more information, contact Sam Wells at (956) 772-1470

Update 4/6/06: Click here to access the SPIgardens Blog - an ongoing discussion (we hope!) of tips and tricks for creating a beautiful yard on South Padre Island.
 Banana Flower 5/11/05 SW's Backyard
Cascade of Bougainvilla "Most Fuschia Backyard of the Month" belonging to SF 5/11/05

LINKS

"The Pulse of South Padre Island"

Sand Castles Made Simple

Sea Turtles

Fins to Feathers

Coastal Baywatch

Seth's Photos