Features

Sugar Shack answers your heart’s back-tonature call for bees, birds and butterflies

This American Lady butterfly looks so picturesque feeding on the exotic-looking buttonbush blooms. Photo by Norman Winter

Sugar Shack is a compact selection of buttonbush reaching 4-feet tall and wide. Photos by Norman Winter

The buttonbush bloom seen through a telphoto lens reveals a magical design.

Sugar Shack answers your heart’s back-to-nature call for bees, birds and butterflies

Sun, 12/06/2020 - 5:00am

This year with all of its challenges, many gardeners have experienced a ‘Call of the Wild’ type moment. It's not a call to plant a jungle or a xeriscape, but to plant with an eye toward the environment and nature. If you find yourself in this category then I would like to give a shout out to Sugar Shack. With the country under a big chill, now is a great time to plan.

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The front yard of Charlotte and Cecil Evans was designed to control water runoff and manage the ever-present neighborhood deer population.

A patch of pink Gregg’s mistflower adds soft color to the yard.

A side-yard flower bed features blooming sages. Photos by Sharon Lockett

Rosemary and natural grasses help maintain a natural-looking landscape. Photos by Sharon Lockett

Yard of the Month:

Sun, 12/06/2020 - 5:00am

“Between the deer and the environment” is Charlotte Evans’ description of challenges facing their front-yard landscape in Willow Creek. Designed and built by her husband Cecil, the landscape project was intended to control water runoff over an extensive lawn after heavy rains. Like any serious gardener in Central Texas, Cecil is still experimenting with plantings and their preferences, while managing browsing by the neighborhood deer. The Evans home, on Rolling Oaks near Stagecoach Trail, is Spring Lake Garden Club’s yard of the month for December 2020.

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Above, lights displayed at the 2019 Sights & Sounds of Christmas during a lighting ceremony. Daily Record photo by Lance Winter

Sights & Sounds to celebrate 34th year with light display

Thu, 12/03/2020 - 7:29pm

While Sights & Sounds of Christmas won't hold its annual two-weekend festival amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the show must go on.

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Above, Taqueria El Charro Tapatio's Texas plate, which comes with two cheese enchiladas, carne guisada, rice, beans and guacamole. Below, Taqueria El Charro Tapatio's enchilada plate, which came with three beef enchiladas, rice, refried beans and a salad. Daily Record photos by Nick Castillo & Lance Winter

Foodie Friday: Taqueria El Charro Tapatio

Thu, 12/03/2020 - 7:27pm

Nestled just east of the Square, Taqueria El Charro Tapatio provides delicious food at a great price.

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Photo courtesy of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce

Shop local this holiday season

Wed, 12/02/2020 - 6:45pm

We may not need a Miracle on 34th Street, but we do need a miracle on Main Street.

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The Economist: Shopping Shift

Wed, 12/02/2020 - 6:43pm

Like most industries, retailers are struggling to deal with the pandemic.

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The Journey Continues:

Sun, 11/29/2020 - 5:00am

My journey this week took me to Redwood Baptist Church; the Sunday message on Thanksgiving was preached by the Associate Pastor, Michael Johnson. Johnson is a graduate of Texas A&M Kingsville, and retired from The Community Action, Inc, of Hays, Caldwell and Blanco Counties. He has experience in benevolence with a diverse population through his volunteer work for Hays County Salvation Army. His intense study of the Scriptures has blessed his ministry.

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Ben Franklin wanted to name turkeys the United States national bird. Photo by Metro Graphics

Exploring Nature: Eating Birds

Sun, 11/29/2020 - 5:00am

Many people enjoy birds and admire their colorful feathers, soaring flight and lovely songs.

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The Extremely Flaky Sour Cream Crust is incredibly versatile and can be used in others homemade pies and cobblers. Photo from Metro Graphics

Everyone Loves Pie

Sun, 11/29/2020 - 5:00am

As warm weather slowly turns cold, certain dishes that don’t make much sense serving during the summer start to sound more appealing. Potpie is one such dish. Cooks who want to try something new with potpie can try the following recipe for “Tortellini & Pancetta Potpie” from Elinor Klivans’ “Potpies: Yumminess in a Dish” (Chronicle Books).

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Passages Moving Forward in 2021 focus of newest call for art at the Price Center

Sun, 11/29/2020 - 5:00am

A new call for art focusing on the theme of passages with a focus on moving forward in the new year is now underway for a new gallery show coming to the Price Center. The Center’s Arts Committee invites all area artists to consider submitting up two works on Mon., Nov. 30 or Tues., Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Works in this all ages, all media show must be family-friendly and ready to hang. (3-D works also encouraged.) A $10 application fee is due at time of submission and 20% of any artwork sales goes to assist with operating the non-profit community center.