Creepy Crawlers - Blow Fly
All new world screwworm flies are blow flies, but not all blow flies are new world screwworm flies. New world screwworm is a particular species of blow fly. With new world screwworm being the hot topic of the day- month? year?- I thought I would expand out to the larger grouping of blow flies. I’m not delving into the topic of new world screwworm in this article. If you want more information on that species, then click the link here.
Blow flies are in the Family Calliphoridae, and looking on iNaturalist, there are over 20 species found in Texas. They have a complete life cycle with four life stages- egg, larva (maggot), pupa, and adult. Eggs are laid in moist organic material where the larvae (maggots) emerge, live and feed.
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Focus on a Native - Purple Horsemint
Purple Horsemint, Monarda citriodora, is a common Hill Country annual to biennial wildflower that often forms large colonies in loams, sandy loams and rocky soil of open meadows. Click HERE to read more.
Civic Beautification Award Presented to Comal Master Gardeners
The New Braunfels Garden Club Council presented a Civic Beautification Award on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Click HERE to read more.
Herb of the Month - Lemn Balm
Lemon Balm the Calming Herb
Lemon balm is a perennial herb with medicinal, culinary, and aromatic uses. Often called the "calming herb," it belongs to the mint (Lamiaceae) family. Originally native to the Mediterranean region and south-central Europe, it has become naturalized in parts of North America. With its bright citrus scent and flavor, lemon balm is valued both as a healing herb and as a flavorful culinary ingredient.
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Tips from the Garden
Weather means more when you have a garden. There's nothing like listening to a shower and thinking how it is soaking in around your green beans. ~Marcelene Cox~
In July, when showers don’t come, it’s up to us gardeners to intervene with plant saving measures, primarily deep watering and at least 3” of mulch for insulation and weed control. Lawns and trees will also benefit from deep watering, as will the shade plants coleus and caladiums.
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Veggies, Q&As, and Native Plants
Happenings and Harvests in the Veggie Garden
A weekly log of veggie garden activities
Native Plant Gallery
Visit our gallery of native plants--and Go Native!