Laura Neff

If you live in Houston, you already know our climate doesn’t play around. Intense heat, sudden downpours, clay soils, humidity, droughts, floods, sometimes all in the same month. That’s exactly why native plants are one of the smartest (and most beautiful) landscaping choices you can make. At The Rice Organization, Inc., we specialize in sustainable, organic landscapes that work with  nature, not against it. Native plants are a cornerstone of that philosophy. What Are Native Plants? Native...

Start 2026 Green: 5 Organic Gardening Practices for a Healthier Landscape A new year brings fresh opportunities to grow more intentionally, and 2026 is the perfect time to embrace organic gardening practices. By working with nature instead of against it, you can create landscapes that are healthier, more resilient, and better for the environment. Organic gardens support soil life, conserve resources, and encourage biodiversity, benefits that last well beyond a single season. Here are five...

When Houston gardeners think about bugs, they often picture fire ants, mosquitoes, or leaf-chewing pests that thrive in our warm, humid Gulf Coast climate. But not all insects are trouble. In fact, many of your yard’s most powerful protectors are beneficial insects, tiny allies that keep pest populations in check, support pollination, and help maintain healthy soil. In an organic Houston landscape, these insects play an essential role, and encouraging them is easier than you might think....