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Greetings!
We're very happy to say that we got more than 1.5" of rain last Sunday -- enough to encourage the grass and weeds to start growing again! Seriously, a long, slow rain like we had last weekend was the best thing possible for our trees and shrubs. I don't think we lost much at all to runoff or evaporation and that is, indeed, a blessing.
 | | Some of Lee's Journals |
We're having another Artist Chat this weekend, on Saturday from 4:00-5:30, to celebrate Lee Steiner and her work. Please do stop by and visit -- this event is free and open to the public.
 | | Love your azaleas! |
There's a lot going on this time of year. All along the Gulf Coast, we are just so happy to be back outside without the risk of heat exhaustion. Your garden missed you, I promise! Here's a short list of garden chores that should be done in October: check the pH levels of acid-loving shrubs like azaleas, hollies and hawthorns. All the extra irrigation over the summer may have caused an increase in alkalinity. Plant spring-flowering bulbs (see below), right along with your fall color. Bulbs can be the perfect perennial -- low care, long-lasting and seasonally beautiful. Clean up your flowerbeds and add compost to improve soil microbial activity. If you use fertilizer on your lawn, choose a low-nitrogen, organic product that will not burn. Divide any big clumps of perennials. Prune roses lightly and cut out dead wood. Whew! That's quite a list! Give us a call or email if you have questions or need advice -- we are here to help you.
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Spring Flowering Bulbs
I just LOVE spring-flowering bulbs. To me, bulbs are some of the easiest perennials you can plant, and because they can be so long-lived, they remind me of the gardens of the past. Everyone's grandmother had bulbs in her spring garden -- and I still have bulbs that were passed along to me from my great-grandmother's garden.
Bulbs store their own food in swollen tissues underground, and thus can be a little more resistant to weather extremes than other plants. There are many bulbs that will naturalize here, returning year after year for larger show. Some bulbs, like ranunculus, do not naturalize, but are so lovely they are worth the effort to plant every year.
As I write this, we have ranunculus, daffodils, spanish bluebells, freesia and sparaxis in stock and I'm expecting the rest (amaryllis, iris, leucojum) by Friday.
 | | Just of few of our beauties! |
These bulbs prefer a sunny or mostly sunny area in moist, well-drained soil. If you plant them now, while you're planting your violas and snapdragons, you'll be rewarded with a spring surprise! Which of these easy-care perennials have you tried?
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Frost vs. Freeze
I know it seems odd to talk about frost when it's almost 90 degrees outside, but we are getting into the fall season and better safe than sorry! You might not realize that frost can do just as much damage to a tender plant as a freeze -- and that we can experience a frosty night even when the air temperatures are above 32 degrees. What to watch out for? Clear, still, cold nights when temperature are approaching freezing. If the weather forecast calls for 34 degrees, for example, but a still, clear night, you may wake up to frost on rooftops and plants even though we technically did not freeze. You should cover tender plants with frost cloth or blankets to prevent damage. Later in the season, some plants may be "hardened off," and better able to tolerate sudden cold snaps but that first frost can catch you by surprise. On that same subject, frost cloth (and blankets, sheets, plastic, etc.) work by trapping the earth's heat as it's released at night. By day, the ground warms up, and at night, in the absence of the sun, this heat is released back into the atmosphere. Frost cloth helps keep this layer of heat close to the plant and can provide 4-8 degrees of protection. For that reason, the cloth needs to come all the way down to the ground. Don't just drape the cloth like a little veil on your plants -- make sure the ends are anchored to the ground so heat doesn't escape.  | | All the way to the ground! |
More in freeze protection in the weeks to come!
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October Lawn Care
Unlikely as it may seem, we've had a few clients call with fungal problems in the lawn. This time of year, it's most likely Brown Patch, a fungal disease that is likely when lawns are overwatered or overfertilized. It's caused by a pathogen, rhizoctonia, that is always present in our lawns, so the best defense is a good offense. Try to correct the environmental conditions that favor brown patch development by reducing irrigation, correcting low spots or feeding the soil to reduce the fungal bloom. Apply a fungicide if desired to slow the progress of the disease and treat with a thin layer of compost. Don't fertilize this area, either!
 | | This is what Brown Patch looks like. |
The summer's hot, dry weather were heavenly to chinch bugs! They are fond of stressed grass and often munch on grass near areas of concrete. If you have chinch bugs, you'll be able to see them: they are about 1/8" long and will come to the surface if you pour a dilute solution of soapy water on an area of green/brown grass. To prevent chinch bug damage, try to make sure the lawn is evenly irrigated (not too easy this summer, I know!) To get rid of chinch bugs after they are established, apply an insecticide to the affected areas and about 5' beyond.
 | | This is what Chinch Bug damage looks like. |
Don't have fungal or insect problems? Lucky you -- you are almost ready for the dormant season. If you like to apply a winterizer, do so now, but take care to use an organic, low-nitrogen product. You don't want to encourage a flush of late-season growth that is susceptible to disease and needs extra water and mowing. If you're still mowing, leave the clippings on the lawn to provide organic matter as it decomposes. If you have been fertilizing properly, you DO NOT have to worry about thatch buildup.
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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
PS: The September Shrub sale is over, but gloves are 50% off, for a limited time only!
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Artist Chat: Lee Steiner Saturday, October 15 4:00-5:30pm Meet bookbinder and paper artist Lee Steiner, whose works are currently featured in the gallery. Lee creates one-of-a-kind handmade books and is a frequent instructor around town. Click here for a sneak peek and make plants to meet Lee in person. Great snacks, cash bar. This event is free and open to the public.
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Herbal Salves 101 Sunday, October 16 2:00-3:00pm Make an infusion using herbs and vegetable oil, then use the oil to make a salve for insect bites, minor cuts, chapped skin and lips, etc. Each student will receive a container of herbal salve and instructions on how to make herbal infusions & salves at home. This class is taught by aromatherapist Vanesa Clark and the $10 fee covers all supplies and materials. Space is limited - call (281) 232-4485 or email Elizabeth to register.
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Fused Glass Jewelry Saturday, October 22 1:00-4:00pm Artist Lisa Bonin returns to teach her popular class on fusing glass! Each participant will create 3 small pieces of glass jewelry or 1 large piece (about 3 square inches of finished glass total). Designing fused-glass pieces is fun and easy to learn! Your $60 class fee includes all supplies, materials, & refreshments. Note: pieces must be fused and cool overnight, so you'll be able to pick up your finished jewelry at a later time. Space is limited - call (281) 232-4485 or email Elizabeth to register.
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Home Canning Techniques Sunday, October 23 2:00-4:00pm Master Gardener and Cook Extraordinaire Anne Ondrusek leads this class in safe and easy home canning techniques! Learn her secrets and preserve the bounty of the season. This class is $10. Space is limited - call (281) 232-4485 or email Elizabeth to register. FBMG: Get advanced training credit for this one!
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Acrylic Painting for Kids: Pumpkin Saturday, October 28 9:00-10:00am Cecilia Campos Merino leads this 1 hour workshop for kids ages 4-10 years. All supplies, materials & refreshments are included in the $35 class fee. Space is limited - call (281) 232-4485 or email Elizabeth to register.
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Halloween Checkers Tournament! Saturday, October 28 10:00am-3:00pm $1 is your entry fee to this single-elimination checkers tournament! Not an officially sanctioned event, but we'll post the rules in the next newsletter. The Biermeister rules this event: King Me! Email Elizabeth for more information!
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Calavera Masks!Sunday, October 29 1:00-3:00pm In honor of the upcoming Day of the Dead Holiday, we're providing cardboard masks of traditional Mexican skulls (or calaveras) for kids to decorate. Plenty of Halloween candy and St. Arnold's Oktoberfest beer, too! Free for kids of all ages. Email Elizabeth for more information!
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Tree Trinkets (Mosaics) I and II Saturday, November 5 & Saturday, November 13 1:00-5:00pm Lovely jewelry for your trees -- completely weatherproof and customizable with jinglebells, doodads, beads and more! $80 fee includes all supplies, materials, tools & refreshments. Part I - design and gluing. Part II - grouting and embellishment. Finished size: 4x4". Ready-made dangles available for purchase. Space is limited - call (281) 232-4485 or email Elizabeth to register.
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