About Us Instead of "You can't have your cake and eat it, too", think "You can have your gardens and wildlife, too!" We're surrounded by nature, so we may as well learn to work together and have some fun. I'm usually mildly amused when someone tries to "outsmart" nature; they always fail. When we start "doing what comes naturally", we have fun and help the environment: we all win! With a little care and planning, you can actually have flower and vegetable gardens that are easy to mow around. And if you select the right plants, you not only beautify your landscape, but you may also attract a female Tiger Swallowtail butterfly like the one pictured here. As your plants multiply you'll get This site has links to other sites that give more detailed information than we have here on particular subjects. There are also links to experts on raising chickens, attracting wildlife, and even becoming "certified" as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat. We hope you enjoy your visit to the farm, and come back often. If you have comments, suggestions, or questions, the "Contact Us" page gives you information on how to get in touch. Y'all come back and visit again, ya hear?
Welcome to Red Gate Farm in sunny Texas. If you're interested 
in nature, you're in the right place! There's information on Vegetable and Flower Gardening, Growing and Using Herbs, Attracting Birds and Butterflies, Beekeeping, Raising Chickens, Tips, Recipes, and a whole lot more.
more butterflies and all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.
Also, if you'd like to receive our free monthly newsletter with "Herb of the Month", recipes, nature activities and more, just click here. You will receive our next email newsletter. We, of course, do not share your email address with anyone.
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Texas
As the ads say, "Texas is like a whole 'nother country." It's the truth. There is a huge variety in scenery, climate, and attractions: everything from mountains to pl
ains and seashore to desert. You can visit an Impressionist art display in the afternoon and go to a championship rodeo in the evening. Or you can just relax and do a little night stargazing... we've got a bunch of stars and clear skies.
If you've never walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, you can do that in Waco. The prototype crosses the Bazos River and is open to foot traffic.
And, there are more missions in San Antonio than the Alamo. While the Alamo is the birthplace of Texas independence, there are several other missions you can visit on the mission trail such as the one shown here, Mission Concepcion.
The Texas Travel web site has a list of just about anything you'd hope to find out about a vacation in Texas, and they'll send you a map and guide book if you ask.
Texas has a great diversity of climates. Where Red Gate Farm is located, in USDA hardiness zone 8b, in Febr
uary we may be planting vegetables and pruning roses while you're shoveling snow. And when your roses might be in full bloom in the summer, ours have shut down and are waiting for fall.
To view the hardiness zone map, please 
click here. You may not be able to grow some of the flowers you see on this site, but we can't grow many of the flowers from the northern states, or even from other areas of Texas. It's OK. Everything growing is beautiful, and the animals seem to think so also, The sphinx moth in the photo is having a good breakfast.
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