Karen Beaty
Karen worked as forestry specialist for the city of Austin’s Wildland Conservation Division. She received an M.S. in Land Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. in Biology from Davidson College. As a 5th-generation Texan she was fascinated with the native flora of the Southern Plains region and enjoyed hiking and camping as a way to meet new plants. Her outside interests also included vegetable gardening, homesteading, and building things with scavenged materials.
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DesignBest Natives for Southern Plains
Top pick: Standing cypress is a reblooming hummingbird magnet Name: Ipomopsis rubra Zones: 6–9 Size: 3 to 6 feet tall and 12 to 18 inches wide Conditions: Full sun to…
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Southwest Regional ReportsSouthern Plains October Garden To-Do List
October is a great time to be gardening in our region. We are in the prime month of fall, with cooler temperatures (but likely no freezes yet) and increased rainfall.…
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Southwest Regional ReportsSix Tough Picks for the Southern Plains Hell Strip
If you’ve ever walked down a city sidewalk, then you are likely familiar with a hell strip—that narrow section of yard sandwiched between the sidewalk and the street. The hell…
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Southwest Regional ReportsThorny Favorites for the Southern Plains
Some of my very favorite plants for our region are also the gnarliest, thorniest ones. While it might take a little extra planning when deciding where to plant them, they…
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Southwest Regional ReportsNative Understory Trees and Shrubs for the Southern Plains
It can be challenging choosing plants for shady areas, but we have a number of beautiful, hardy choices available to us in the Southern Plains. The following are a few…
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Southwest Regional ReportsSouthern Plains August Garden To-Do List
August is the month when many gardeners in our region dream of moving to cooler climes. Northern gardeners lament the month of January, but we suffer through August’s doldrums instead.…
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Southwest Regional ReportsHarvesting Native Southern Plains Fruits
The Southern Plains is home to several plant species with edible and delicious fruits. Some, such as plums and grapes, receive a lot of attention for their long history of…
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Southwest Regional ReportsSouthern Plains July Garden To-Do List
Reduce the mosquito population in your yard and garden. While mosquitoes aren’t technically a garden pest, they are a serious gardener pest. This is a time of year when we…
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Southwest Regional ReportsRock Garden Rock Stars for the Southern Plains
Rock gardens are appealing for their natural, rugged beauty. For areas with steep slopes, a rock garden can be an excellent way to add interest to retaining walls or rocky…
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Southwest Regional ReportsSouthern Plains June Garden To-Do List
Collect seed from spring bloomers. In the rush to tear out spent annuals or cut back perennials that have finished flowering, don’t forget to collect seed for next year. After…
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