|
Greetings!
What's been on your To-Do list in the garden? Working on veggie beds? Cutting back freeze damaged perennials? Maybe fertilizing the lawn? The past two weeks have been wonderful for yard work. Enjoy it while you can -- we all know what the summer holds!
March in Houston could very well be the most beautiful season of all. Celebrate on the River Oaks Garden Club's Azalea Trail this weekend -- visit private homes or The Museum of Fine Art's Bayou Bend or Rienzi. The Trail offers the very best in traditional Houston landscaping -- and the azaleas are breathtaking!
Not sure how to set up your vegetable garden? Our Urban Harvest class this week is for you -- Constructing the Home Fruit and Vegetable Garden. Instructor Diana Liga explains the details, including planting mix, structure and irrigation. Here's the complete schedule -- register online at urbanharvest.org or just call us and we'll reserve a seat for you.
Thanks for signing up for our email newsletter! Come see us soon!
|
|
 |
|
|
Time To Fertilize The Lawn!
Two weeks of warm weather has made all the difference in the world for our lawns! Time to give them their first dose of annual fertilizer. We stock Nature's Guide Natural Turf Food, a 100% Organic combination of fast and slow-release nitrogen. Natural Turf Food will not burn your lawn and is a kid-friendly, pet-safe green way to feed your lawn.
 | | Dandelion. OK in salad, not in lawns. |
The best defense against weeds is a strong, healthy lawn, but sometimes even the best turf needs a little assistance. Now is about the very latest you can apply a pre-emergent herbicide. Very soon, spring weeds will emerge and you'll have to switch to a post-emergent product. We carry both -- and this week, there's a coupon for purchase of any lawn fertilizer/herbicide combo! |
|
Azaleas
Sure, you've seen the Encore azaleas and the traditional Southern Indicas like Formosa. But there's a whole world of azaleas out there. Here are two you might not see quite as often.  | | Hinode-giri or Mist of the Rising Sun |
Hinode-giri is a lovely smaller Kurume type azalea whose small leaves are dark green in the spring and summer, but turn maroon in the fall and winter. The 1.5" flowers are dark red, and very showy. Kurumes are usually dwarf or semi-dwarf and Hinode-giri will be about 4 feet tall at maturity.  | | Fashion, photo Dan Krabill |
Fashion azaleas seem to have fallen briefly out of favor, which is a shame. Once upon a time, these Glenn Dale hybrids were the most widely used azalea in Houston, blooming from December through March and sometimes again in early fall. Fashion is a medium-sized azalea with interesting wine-colored foliage and is worth getting to know again. |
|
Focus on Figs!
I think fig trees are, without question, the easiest fruit to grow in our area. Figs need no special pruning or fertilization. They are self-fertile and don't require cross-pollination. They are completely at home in both our summer heat and our winter cold. No wrapping or shading needed! And if you've seen the prices of fresh figs in the market, you know: growing your own figs is quite cost-effective!
 | | Lovely Figs |
The best thing about fig trees? Fig preserves! Here's my favorite recipe:
3 cups cut or mashed ripe figs
3 cups sugar
2 3-ounce packages berry-flavored Jell-o
Optional: broken sticks of cinnamon or a few whole cloves or a few slices of lemon.
Mix together in a large stockpot. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring almost constantly, for about half an hour. Seal in clean, sterilized jars. Makes about 3 half-pint jars.
The classic Jell-o flavor for this recipe is strawberry but black raspberry is pretty good too! We have Celeste, Alma and Texas Everbearing figs at Papershell now.
|
|
Texas Independence Day!
Today we mark the 175th anniversary of our declaration of independence from Mexico and the creation of the new Republic of Texas! The signing of the declaration, in the town of Washington (now Washington-on-the-Brazos) kicked off a short but fierce battle for independence that culminated on April 21, 1836 in the Battle of San Jacinto. In honor of this day, go out and celebrate all things Texas! Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!
 | | Indian Paintbrush |
|
|
Please stop by and visit! The coffee's on us -- we'd love to meet you!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Barrow
Papershell: A Garden Gallery
|
|
Urban Harvest Class: Constructing the Home Fruit & Vegetable Garden
Sunday, March 6
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Registration required
Click Here! | |
|
Beer Tasting!
Sunday, March 6
3:00 - 5:30 pm
Sample craft beers from around the great state of Texas, with our compliments! Happy Texas Independence Day!
| |
|
|
