Features

Q. I saw the meteorite (or meteor — I’m not sure what the difference is) that was seen in Texas skies recently. Why was it so bright? Also, the moon was very big and bright a few days before. Was this related?

It has been a tad warmish lately.

Supertunia Mini Vista Scarlet petunia will quickly become the one to which all other red petunias will be compared. Though it is making its debut in 2023, the tsunami created from the beauty shown in 2022 trials is already causing market jitters. Will there be enough next spring? We can only hope.

Lately it seems San Marcos is experiencing a comforting cultural resurgence. Some of our well-loved local treasures have made their return. Sundance Records, for example, recently made a comeback as Sundance Record Lagoon. Then on Wednesday, Valentino’s Pizza reopened.

San Marcos Premium Outlets is currently holding its back-to-school denim drive, “Do Good with Denim” in an effort to support sustainability and positively impact the community through Aug. 22. This promotion is in collaboration with the Austin Habitat for Humanity ReStore, a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center.

As you are reading this column, Meant to Bee Queen Nectarine and Meant to Bee Royal Raspberry, two new agastache varieties, are approaching their 100th day of bloom at The Garden Guy’s house. Both agastache or hummingbird mint varieties will be making their debut in 2023 and in a summer of miserable heat, my trials of these flower varieties has brought joy and excitement.

I recently visited the Patsy Glenn Refuge, a two-acre birding oasis in the middle of Wimberley, and walked the trail back to a large wooden bird blind. I had my binoculars and a field guide and was all set for a leisurely morning of watching birds.

SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY

Connie Bagley, of San Marcos, was featured in a recently-published book on teaching. “Great Teachers: Exploring Excellence in Education” profiles eight of the greatest teachers in the United States. According to author Dr. Kevin Bartram, “In ‘Great Teachers,’ we take you inside the classrooms — and the heads — of some of America’s greatest teachers, opening the door to those inspired teaching strategies that distinguish excellence in the field of education. While most of these strategies are generally known, the real secret is how they were applied by these teaching geniuses.”