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Greetings!
We are having so much fun with our August "contest." If you missed the last newsletter, here's a little recap. At the end of the month, our trusty accountant Art Beatty will select the day whose sales are closest to our average day's sale. Everyone who shopped with us on that day will get an instant refund! That's it -- no cards, no bucks, no forms, nothing to keep track of. Yes, tax is included. Yes, all purchases count. Yes, you'll have your money by the end of the first week of September. What could be easier? Stay tuned -- we'll announce the winning date right after Labor Day.
 | | Remember this? |
Speaking of holidays, don't forget that this weekend is Texas' annual Sales Tax Holiday. So I guess if you're not finished with back-to-school shopping, you've got to get out there with the crowds and shop til you drop. Or... you could drop by here for a nice, quiet peaceful glass of lemonade and sit a while under the trees. Your choice!
 | | Yum! |
We have two gardening classes coming up in August. This Sunday's class is Gardening With Native & Well-Adapted Plants. I'm teaching this one -- it's designed to help incorporate native plants into your landscape. On Sunday the 26th Diana Liga returns to teach our Fall Veggie Garden class. Don't miss this one! I think fall vegetable gardening is such a satisfying way to lead up to the Thanksgiving table.
Thanks for signing up for our email newsletter! Come see us soon! |
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Secrets of the Fall Tomato
Now's the time to plant those "fall" tomatoes! No, it's not fall yet, but tomato time means fall is right around the corner. Getting those plants in the ground early means by the time the temperatures moderate a bit, your tomatoes will be flowering and fruiting.
 | | I can't wait! |
For the fall crop, I like to focus on tomatoes that reach maturity early, usually 65-75 days. That means fewer heirlooms, which often take up to 90 days. Since we're headed into cooler weather, I like to make sure the tomatoes have a chance to produce before any unusually early frosts set in. You remember last year we had a frost in November.
 | | The Tomato Cabana! |
I suggest providing a bit of shade for your fall tomatoes. I pin a bandana or dish towel to the tomato cage right above the young plant, raising the cloth to the next rung as the tomato grows. By the time the tomato reaches the top rung on the cage, you can remove the shade entirely. Just that little bit of shade provides a bit of relief for a young plant trying to get established in our August heat.
Also be aware that tomato-eating bugs (like our good friend the leaf-footed bug) are out in force in summer. Be vigilant about scouting and removing garden pests. If you need help, ask us -- and don't delay! Insects can wreck your tomato plans in a big hurry.
 | | Use this! |
Fertilize your tomatoes when you plant them and again when they start to develop new fruits. We recommend Nature's Guide Tomato & Pepper Food, a safe, organic product that contains not only nutrients but beneficial mycorrhizal fungi.
Need more info? Make plans to attend our Fall Veggie Garden class on August 26 (Sunday) at 2:00pm. Horticulturist Diana Liga returns to teach this class, focused on growing fall vegetables organically. Call or email for more information.
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Get Your Roses Ready for Fall
It's normal for your roses to look a little "hunkered down" right now. During times of high heat, the flowers tend to get smaller, and some antique varieties may stop blooming altogether. But you can do a few simple things now to make sure your fall rose garden is spectacular.
 | | You can almost smell it! |
Prune gently first, to generate new growth and new flowers. Don't worry if you nip off some blooms -- for every 1 you cut off, you'll be rewarded with 2 more. Prune modern and antique roses by about one-quarter, taking care to remove all old, spent blossoms. If you have any diseased leaves, remove them too. This will help prevent a flare-up of fungal diseases when the cool nights (finally) arrive.
Fertilize now, and again in mid-September. Roses aren't picky about food, but we like the Nature's Guide rose food and the Authentic Haven Brand Alfalfa Tea. Both provide gentle, organic feeding.
 | | Rose Food |
After pruning and feeding, make sure you irrigate thoroughly. If it isn't raining, roses will need about 2" of water per week, enough to keep the soil moist but not dripping wet. If you can, keep water off the rose foliage and flowers. Mulch with about 2" of good quality pine or hard wood much to moderate soil temperature, reduce water loss and provide a fresh look to the rose bed.
Finally, send us a picture of your beautiful rose beds this fall! I can't wait to see the payoff for your hard work.
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Get Ready for Fritillaries!
Gulf Fritillaries are headed this way! Every year about this time, these small orange butterflies begin a southward migration. There are usually a few in any given month of the year, but August and September mark a peak in population.
 | | The Life Cycle |
Fritillaries are notable because their larvae feed exclusively on the foliage of passionflower vines. Although the hungry little caterpillars can rapidly defoliage the vine, they will not typically kill a well-established plant. Protect a young or small vine by removing caterpillars by hand or shaking them off -- they do not sting.
Several species of passionflowers are native to Texas: Passiflora incarnata, Passiflora affinis, Passiflora foetida & Passiflora lutea. Native passionflowers have leaves with three lobes while introduced and hybrid varieties often have leaves with five lobes.
We have the following passionflowers in stock now:
 | | Lady Margaret |
Lady Margaret is a cross between the native P. incarnata and P. coccinea. More tender than the Maypop, but still a host plant for fritillaries.
 | | Lavender Lady |
Lavender Lady is a cross between P. amethystina and P. caerula. It will tolerate temperatures down to about 25 degrees with no protection. It is also a host plant for the Gulf Fritillary.
 | Incense
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Qute hardy and wonderfully frilly. Incense is a hybrid of P. incarnata and P. cincinnata. Very aggressive and will cover a big fence in no time.
 | | Caerulea or just "Blue" |
Not native, but beautiful and hardy. This one will actually produce passionfruits.
 | | P. Sanguinolenta or just "Pink" |
Delicate flower but a vigorous growth habit! Hardy to the mid-20s. In the short time we've had these, several generations of fritillaries have been born!
Interested in native plants? Make plans to come to our workshop Sunday on Gardening with Native & Well-Adapted Plants. The class starts at 2:00pm and is $10 - call or email us for more information.
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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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Gardening with Native & Well-Adapted Plants August 19 2:00-3:30pm Native & well-adapted plants deserve starring role in your garden! Learn how to incorporate them into an existing garden design or to start fresh with an eye to sustainable, watersmart gardening. The class is $10 and includes a coupon for 15% off today's garden center purchases. Call (281) 232-4485 or email us to sign up.
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Fall Vegetable Garden August 26 2:00-3:30pm Replant your fall vegetable garden now! You still have time to get a crop of warm-season veggies going (like squash or cucs) before moving on to cool-season specialties like broccoli and cauliflower. Join horticulturist Diana Liga for this great seminar! The class is $10 and includes a coupon for 15% off today's garden center purchases. Call (281) 232-4485 or email us to sign up.
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Introduction to Watercolor Painting September 8 9:00-12:00am Artist Michael Vollmer leads this introduction to the techniques and tools of watercolor painting. If you have supplies already, please bring them. You will need to bring a 1-quart container for water and a pencil with an eraser. The class is $35 and space is limited. Please sign up early to reserve a spot. Call (281) 232-4485 or email us to sign up.
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Get Ready For Fall! August 26 2:00-3:30pm What are the best cool-season flowers to plant? How do you prepare a lawn for fall? What about fall herbs? How can we prepare for the cold weather. Learn the answers to these questions and more! Join Papershell owner Elizabeth Barrow for this great seminar! The class is $10 and includes a coupon for 15% off today's garden center purchases. Call (281) 232-4485 or email us to sign up.
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