Features

It’s noon on a Wednesday, and the parking lot for Shop 1893 is packed. Outside, an older gentleman is watering the plants, which are still in full bloom the second week of December. Various butterflies lilt among the flowers as a trill of holiday jazz pours from the front door of the Price Center, which houses Shop 1893, the Marie Jager Theater and the Art Gallery.

As I was watching a fresh newborn Gulf Fritillary swooping down to feed on Superbena Royale Plum Wine verbenas I started thinking I wish everyone knew about these flowers that our grandparents grew and certainly laced with native DNA.

As weather chills, that dip in temperat is often accompanied by cold and flu season. Many people are anxious to avoi feeling under the weather this time of ye and to help ward off many illnesses, one may only need to look to the kitchen stoVE.

San Marcos Public Library 625 E. Hopkins St. 512-393-8200 Q. How many species are there on planet earth?

In a celebration of movement and a variety of artists, Austin’s Tapestry Dance Company returns to the stage with the premiere of “The Precious Present – In Love & Light” on Dec. 9 - 12.

‘Orchid Flower’ is the Color of the Year for 2022 and The Garden Guy is beyond thrilled. I know the color of the year is mainly geared toward fashion and interior decoration but WGSN and their color systems company, Coloro, believe this will cross all segments of life. But did they think about gardening too?

Last week, the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter held two adoption events across town in its effort to get pets out of the shelter and into homes. The first was held at Ivar’s River Pub on Nov. 14, where two dogs, one from foster and another from the shelter, were adopted and the second, held at the assisted-living community. Brookdale North on Nov. 19, saw the adoption of six cats. From the 301 animals in their care, 166 of those are currently in foster homes.

A front yard filled with colorful Texas flowers and a backyard garden producing vegetables is still a San Marcos scenario as the year draws to a close and our northern neighbors deal with freezing weather. As December’s Yard of the Month, Spring Lake Garden Club features the home of Richard and Aleene Howser on Crystal Cove in the Hills of Hays neighborhood, east of Iinterstate 35 on Staples Road. A showy front garden is the result of hours of planning and tending, but also the advantage of location — an area of fertile farmland and grazing acres before new homes were built in the late 1980s.