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Greetings!
August! The beginning of the end of summer and I can tell: people are getting excited about fall.
It's time to plant fall tomatoes -- are you ready? If not, make plans to attend our Fall Tomato Orientation this Sunday. Diana Liga, who taught our spring Urban Harvest series, returns to Papershell to teach several new fall gardening classes. Each class is $10, and participants receive a coupon good for purchases made that day.
It's time to think about the fall harvest too! We're excited to be a part of the community-sponsored agriculture movement -- starting this fall, we are a pick-up location for All We Need Farm. Learn more about CSAs and All We Need Farm when farmer Stacey Roussel speaks at the Fort Bend County Master Gardeners monthly meeting on August 18.
And it's time to replenish your soils too. Due to the prolonged drought, we're all watering more than usual, and valuable nutrients are being leached out of the soil. Add some back with compost or fertilizers: your plants will thank you. Did you know that we fertilize the 4" flowers every week with a water-soluble food, and the larger plants every month with an organic, granular product?
Claudia Piedra's work is currently hanging in the gallery, do please do stop by and take a peek. I think you'll like it!
Stop by for a visit, and remember that our Facebook page is frequently updated with plants, events and miscellaneous goings-on.
Thanks for signing up for our email newsletter! Come see us soon! |
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Why Plants Wilt
 To understand why plants wilt, it helps to understand why, without a skeleton, they stand up straight in the first place. Plants rely on water pressure to keep their leaves and green stems upright. Water is pulled up from the roots through the plant's vascular system and is either consumed in the creation of energy or evaporates through tiny openings in the leaves. When there isn't enough water available in the root zone, and water continues to be consumed or evaporated, plants wilt -- just what would happen i
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f you turned the fan off in those inflatable advertising balloon-men. Once water is available again, plants can recover if there hasn't been too much tissue damage. Plants can sometimes wilt even if the ground is moist. This happens most frequently in windy conditions. Moisture is literally sucked out of the leaves faster than the plant can bring it up from the roots. In these situations, plants usually recover once the wind dies down. So why do plants also wilt if they are overwatered? Plants that are chronically overwatered can develop root rot, resulting in root death. This isn't a sudden phenomenon, but it can seem like that. The plant seems healthy and vigorous, even putting out new grow
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th. Then one day it wilts, and the next day it's dead. The plant's water requirements were greater than the weakened and limited roots could provide. Seeing the wilting conditions, many of us respond by adding more water, which just makes the problem worse. It's harder to save plants when they get to this point. Correct the overwatering problem, perhaps remove some of the top growth on the plant, and wait until it regenerates new roots.
It's always a good idea to check the soil with either your hand or a moisture meter to make sure you're not overwatering or underwatering. An incorrect guess can be the kiss of death!
Certain viral, bacterial and fungal diseases can also cause wilt, but watering problems are far more common!
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Fall Tomatoes
On your mark, get set, go! The race is on to get those fall tomatoes established and producing well before the (inevitable) cooler weather arrives. It's hard to believe, but yes, it really will be cooler and not too far in the distant future. Tomatoes can be a tad finicky: they produce best when temperatures are mild. If it's not too hot or too cold for you outside, tomatoes are happy. Plant them now and shelter them a bit from the hot overhead summer sun, and you'll be rewarded with tomatoes all fall. This season, you may want to try a new sort of tomato. Consider Kewalo, a tomato developed at the University of Hawaii for hot, humid environments. We ought to be a proving ground for those -- hot and humid we are, indeed!  | | Kewalo Tomato, photo University of Hawaii at Manoa |
Or perhaps you'd like to stick to a tried-and-true variety. We love the taste of Juliet, a small, elongated cherry tomato with the perfect blend of acidity and sweetness. Need more information? Our Fall Tomato Orientation is this Sunday, at 2:00pm. Diana Liga, the horticulturist who taught our Urban Harvest classes, will be back to lead this popular seminar. Call (281) 232-4485 or email Elizabeth for more information.
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Flowering Vines
Vines add drama and structure to the garden, and for every spot, there's a vine that will grow there. Of course, it's easier to have flowers in areas that get sun, but some, like Blue Skyflower, will do well in shade and part shade.  | | Pink Trumpet Vine |
Evergreen vines like Carolina Jessamine and Star Jasmine provide continuity and structure to the landscape, while deciduous vines, like Coral Vine or Pink Trumpet Vine, provide a sense of seasonality and color. Vines are loosely defined as plants that cannot hold themselves upright without some sort of assistance. Some, like Passionflower, will twine around whatever sup
 | | Tangerine Beauty Crossvine |
port you provide, while others, like Rangoon Creeper, will need to be fixed to a lattice or fence. Sometimes, a vine like Black-Eyed Susan can be adapted as a cheerful flowering groundcover. Vines currently in stock include passionflowers (three kinds!); coral vine, skyflower, clockvine, coral honeysuckle, star jasmine, carolina jessamine, yellow butterfly vine and more! Got a spot for a vine? Come see us for the perfect one! |
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Please stop by and visit! Have a glass of world-famous lemonade (or a beer!) -- we'd love to meet you!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Barrow
Papershell: A Garden Gallery
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Acrylic Painting Class For Kids Thursday, August 4 & 11 1:00-2:00pm Our popular series of Thursday art classes for children ages 4-10 years has been extended for 2 more weeks, before moving to the last Saturday of the month once school starts. Each week, participants will complete an original painting. Classes are $35 each and include all tools, supplies, materials & refreshments. Class size limited to 8. More information here.
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Fall Tomato OrientationSunday, August 7 2:0-3:00pm Horticulturist Diana Liga returns to teach this one-hour class on growing tomatoes in the fall! Be the envy of your family when you serve garden-fresh tomatoes at your Thanksgiving table. Seating is limited, so please preregister to guarantee a spot. This class is $10 and participants receive a discount on class-day purchases. Most of the Fall 2011 Tomato varieties are listed here .
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Build Your Own Rainbarrel!Sunday, August 14 2:0-3:00pm Be prepared for the fall rainy season with your very own DIY rainbarrel. You'll learn how to adapt an inexpensive barrel or plastic garbage can in this hands-on session. We'll also have hardware kits available for purchase, so you can make your own at home! Seating is limited, so please preregister to guarantee a spot. This class is $5 and the hardware kit is $10. More information is here .
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Watercolor Classes Are Back!Back by popular demand! Michael Vollmer will teach a series of four watercolor classes beginning August 27, and continuing on September 10, 17 and 24. All classes are on Saturday afternoons from 1:00-4:00 and space is limited, so preregistration is recommended. Each class is $35 or register for all for at a discounted rate of $120.
More information is here .
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DIY Style: Primp Your T-ShirtFriday, August 26 6:30-8:30pm Make your own embellished or ruffled T with Stevie Ballow! Use basic hand sewing techniques to send a plain or oversized T to the chop shop and return with a chic, stylish and totally unique DIY couture creation. Class fee is $45 and includes materials and tools, wine and snacks. Make it a Girls' Night Out at Papershell!
You'll need to bring a well-fitting base T and 1-2 extra Ts in the same or coordinating colors for chopping.
More information is here .
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