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A. Learn about native plants and gardening resources at the city of Austin's Web site: www.growgreen.org.

For details on composting, garden information, and Green building, visit cityofaustin.org/greengarden.

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Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua)
Possumhaw holly brings color to the late fall and winter landscape with yellow/orange to red berries adorning leafless stems after the foliage drops.

Berries persist through the winter or until discovered by one of the many species of birds that prize them. This Texas native makes a beautiful arching shrub.

It is not picky about soil type and after a little supplemental watering during the first season to help it get established will do remarkably well with little care. It does well in full sun to part shade. Like other hollies, possumhaw holly plants are either male or female, with only the female plants capable of producing berries.

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• If you have trees, roses, or shrubs to transplant, now is the time.
• Water the garden well before a deep freeze, and protect vegetables with row cover or a sheet. Rake leaves into the flowerbeds or compost pile; run the lawn mower over the rest to crunch them up into natural lawn fertilizer.
• Take some time between holiday chores to catch up on all that garden reading you’d planned to do. See the Central Texas Gardener's booklist for a few possibilities!
  

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