Texas Native Plants and Cacti
During these warm, dry summer months, planting Texas native plants and creating a cactus garden are wonderful ways to showcase hardy and beautiful Texas species.
With the benefits of low-water use and creating a low maintenance and attractive landscape, these garden varieties provide you with an interesting and rewarding outdoor hobby.
Once established, Texas native plants such as Texas Redbud trees, Blue Grama grass and Prickly pear cacti need little maintenance and little to no watering. Species survive on little rainfall, but supplemental watering will increase the growth rate, resulting in more attractive and healthier-looking plants. For more information about Texas native plants and cacti, visit Aggie Horticulture. Find a list of Texas native plant and cacti retail and wholesale nurseries, or click here to download our Root for Texas guide to native and southwest desert plants.
GO OUT. GO EAT. GO TEXAN
2011 GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up, presented by Farm Credit
Make a Date to Dine Out, July 25-31.
Dine out all week to support local restaurants, taste Texas food and wine, and help Texas food banks during this statewide event. Visit www.gotexan.org/restaurantroundup/index.html for more information, and sign up for Texas-sized giveaways.
Discover Rural Texas!
Agritourism combines elements of agriculture and rural settings to provide a unique and often educational experience. From shopping at farmers markets to discovering vintage treasures to enjoying hunting expeditions, rural Texas has plenty to offer. Visit one of our award-winning
GO TEXAN Hardworking Rural Communities.
City of Anna, GO TEXAN Tall Texan Award winning community
First settled in the mid-1800s, the small Texas town of Anna, located 40 miles north of Dallas with a population 8,249, is one of the fastest growing cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. City leaders are planning growth carefully with a parks master plan, which includes preservation of 27 acres of historically significant land near the town center, and
Natural Springs Park boasts tall trees, gently rolling topography, a quiet, natural pond and walking trails, making Anna a great place for nature enthusiasts.
City of Atlanta, GO TEXAN Tall Texan Award winning community
Hidden among the towering pines 20 miles south of Texarkana is a Texas treasure known as
Atlanta, population 5,745. Visitors are welcome to annual festivals including a BBQ cook-off and a Christmas parade. It also offers clean, fresh air, sparkling rivers and lakes, forest trails and birding and hunting excursions so enjoy the crowd or find a little peace in Atlanta.
Explore the cities, towns and counties that make rural Texas great. Visit the
GO TEXAN Rural Community Program
Recipe of the Month
Sizzling Sirloin Kabobs on a Bed of Orzo
Serves 4
Kabobs:
1 pound boneless Texas top sirloin steak, cut 1 inch thick
2 green, red or yellow bell peppers, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 T. fresh Texas basil, chopped (or 1 tsp. dried)
1 T. prepared Italian dressing
2 large cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper
Orzo:
1 cup orzo pasta, uncooked
2-3 T. fresh Texas basil or parsley, chopped
2 T. Parmesan cheese, shredded
2 tsp. Texas olive oil
Soak eight 8-inch bamboo skewers in water for 10 minutes. Cut steak into 1-1/4-inch pieces. Toss beef and bell peppers with basil, Italian dressing and garlic in large bowl. Alternately thread beef and peppers onto skewers.
Cook orzo pasta, according to package directions. Add orzo ingredients to pan; keep warm.
Place kabobs on grill over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, uncovered, about 8 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, covered, 9 to 10 minutes) for medium rare (145° F) to medium (160° F) doneness, turning occasionally. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Serve with orzo.
Special thanks to the
Texas Beef Council for sharing this delicious beef recipe.
Shop for Texas Superstars!
This spring, be sure to shop at your local retail nursery for Texas plants. And when choosing plants for your landscape, be sure to look for Texas Superstars, the toughest, most reliable and best-looking plants, proven to be super-performing under Texas growing conditions. Texas Superstars can be found at your local nursery or garden center.
Watch the Texas Superstar video here.
Go Local Wherever You Go
Find, map and share restaurants serving local food and wine with a simple touch.
Download the free GO TEXAN app for iPhone.
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Be Texan. Shop Texan. Look for the GO TEXAN logo. Click
here to watch the GO TEXAN video.
Want More? Sign up for GO TEXAN Wine & Dine
Each month, GO TEXAN Wine & Dine gives you the latest in Texas food, wine, restaurants and recipes. To sign up for complimentary issues of this e-zine, visit the Subscription Center, or view previous issues of GO TEXAN e-zines here. Go to www.gotexan.org for more information about the GO TEXAN program.