By William Scheick

Book Reviewer

Ruth Kassinger. A Garden of Marvels. William Morrow, 2014. 395 pp. $25.99.

"This book was born of a murder," Ruth Kassinger confesses in A Garden of Marvels. "The deceased in this case was a twelve-year-old guest ... a lovely, graceful creature about five feet tall."

"We knew her as the kumquat tree," the author eventually reveals. Killing that tree set Kassinger on a journey of botanical enlightenment that would help her to become "a better, or at least a less lethal, gardener."

In retrospect, the author realizes that her progress as a gardener has been slow, even as the science of botany itself had also been slow in historical development. The opening portions of A Garden of Marvels review this long history of botanic misunderstandings and confusions.

In the second section of the book, a storm-felled, 60-foot sweetgum tree provides lessons on the surprising ways of roots. "Not only did most of the [fallen tree's] roots radiate outward from the base of the trunk like some Jurassic tarantula, they clearly had been no more than a foot or two beneath the earth," where they had grown no ticker than human forearms.

The author next diagnoses what root-killed her neighbor's massive hickory. She also explores the mysteries of phytoremediation, specifically how "brake fern roots snarf up arsenic" and how alyssum roots take up nickel.

The history of our slow insights into the wonder of leaves is considered in a hefty third section in the book. The hottest garden topic, though, is saved for last: sex, sex and even more sex - among consenting flowers, of course.

A Garden of Marvels will be most appreciated by readers new to botanic basics and history. Although the author possibly stumbles when celebrating her neighbor's six-foot hedgerow of nandinas - apparently actually a problem-plant in the author's home state of Maryland - her book is nonetheless a readable and reliable guide to understanding plants.

October gardening

Next to April, October is about the best time to garden around here. The weather cools down a little and there is a definite feel of "fall in the air."

Birds and Wildlife

Continue to provide sugar-water for hummingbirds: 4 parts water to 1 part sugar by volume.

You can plant roses this month through the winter. Use lots of compost and don't plant them any deeper than they were in the pot.

This is the ideal time to plant cool-weather-loving annual flowers, including petunias, dianthus, ornamental cabbage and kale, phlox, and Shasta daisies.

Put your spring-blooming bulbs in the ground in October and November if they received six weeks of chill in the fridge.

Divide iris, phlox, daylilies, Shasta daisies, and other perennials. Give half to the neighbors and replant the other half.

Plant perennials now through December. Move any misplaced perennials that have already bloomed.

Refrigerate tulip bulbs for 6-8 weeks in a paper bag prior to planting in December. Do not put them in the freezer.

This is a good time to plant container-grown roses. Add lots of compost to the soil for the best bloom next spring.

Continue watering pecan trees weekly. Harvest pecans as they fall to the ground.

Dig and store caladium bulbs for winter.

This is a great time to plant perennials - columbine, old-fashioned roses, perennial asters, blue plumbago, rock rose, Shasta daisies, daylilies and irises.

Reduce house plant fertilization by one-half during the late fall and winter.

Fall-blooming annuals and perennials can be kept in flower longer and will look better if their maturing flowers are removed.

This is a great time to plant some ornamental grasses that do so well here.

This is the absolute best time to plant trees.

Do not fertilize trees and shrubs now.

Consider planting some other types of trees this fall - Montezuma cypress, Arizona cypress, cedar elm, Chinese pistache, Lacey oak, Monterrey oak, Mexican sycamore, and bur oak.

Turf Grass

Apply "winterizer" fertilizer in a 3-1-2 or 8-1-2 (15-20 percent nitrogen) ratio this month.

If you like to mow grass all year long, now is the time to plant rye grass.

Vegetables

Plant cole crops such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and Brussels sprouts.

Time to plant cool-season vegetable crops: beets, Chinese cabbage, carrots, collards, lettuce, mustard, parsley, garden peas, spinach, radishes and turnips.

Plant garlic cloves and 1015 onion seeds (on 10-15).

Plant fall herbs.

Questions? Write [email protected]; to get a complete list, go to www.thehillcountrygardener.com  and click on "Publications."

Dole Garden Soup, a premium line of packaged, ready-to-serve soups launched in September. Inspired by garden-fresh flavors, the full line is made with pure and simple ingredients, is non-GMO and preservative-free.

To celebrate its commitment to garden-fresh flavor, Dole has launched the Dole Souper Gardener contest to search for America's best gardener. From now through October 17, consumers can visit DoleSouperGardener.com to nominate themselves, or someone else, to win $5,000 and a $5,000 matching donation to a local community garden. Contest entrants submit a picture of their 2014 garden, with a description of why they should be named the Dole Souper Gardener.

The grand prize winner and two finalists will be judged by "Legends" actress and professional cookbook author Ali Larter. In addition to the monetary prize, the grand prize winner will receive a gardening kit and a year supply of Dole Garden Soup. Two additional finalists will win a gardening kit and all five flavors of Dole Garden Soup.

Dole commissioned a national survey to understand more about America's home gardeners. Survey stats include:

• More than half of gardeners say that having healthy fruits and vegetables is the top reason they choose to garden.
• With the cold months around the corner, 43% of gardeners are concerned about what they can grow during the cold months, as well as the poor weather conditions (41%).

Houston: The Garden Club of Houston's 77nd-annual Bulb and Plant Mart takes place October 2-4 at St. John the Divine Church, 2450 River Oaks Road, Houston. In addition to being a shopping mecca for local gardeners, the Mart will feature exhibts such as a live butterfly tent and a "conservation" booth featuring native and drought-tolerant plants. For additional information, visit http://www.gchouston.org/BulbPlantMart.aspx.

New Braunfels: Comal Garden Club will have their 2nd annual creating seed balls to help with erosion control in beautiful, historical Landa Park on October 2 Members are to meetat Pavilion #16 in Landa Park, New Braunfels, at 9:30 a.m. and wear clothes or aprons to work with dirt and seeds. For more information, contact Cecelia Lussen at 830-837-5262.

Dallas: An Earth-Kind Landscape Design and Management School will be held Oct. 3-5 in Building E of the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center, 17360 Coit Road, Dallas. Extended, personalized design consultations will be given a few weeks after the program. Dr. Steve George, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service landscape specialist and creator of the Earth-Kind Environmental Landscape Management System, will serve as lead instructor in addition to conducting the personalized post-program design consultations. Class times for the program will be from 6-9:30 p.m. Oct. 3, from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 4 and from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 5. No prior plant, design or landscape management knowledge is needed, and those attending the school will learn how to:Design, plant, and manage a beautiful, low-maintenance, environmentally responsible landscape; Work with Mother Nature to protect homes and communities; and reduce irrigation use in landscape beds by 70 percent, and totally eliminate fertilizers and harsh pesticides on the plants, as well as reduce the amount of pruning needed. Topics covered during the program will include: basic landscape design principles; front yard versus backyard landscaping; creating "destination gardens" within a larger landscape; landscaping with low-maintenance Earth-Kind roses; selecting the right landscape plants and turf grass; choosing and working with a retail nursery; Earth-Kind environmental soil-management techniques; selecting high-quality compost; and Earth-Kind irrigation techniques and methods for coping with heat and drought. The school is $295 per household and includes all class materials, lecture programming, outdoor laboratory, field trip and extended design consultation. For more information and to get a participant contact information sheet for enrollment, please contact Kimberly Betancourt at 972-952-9211 or [email protected]. Enrollment will be closed when class size limit is reached or at 5 p.m. on Oct. 2, whichever comes first.

Denton: "Texas Gardening - You can do it!" is the theme of the Denton County Master Gardener Association's Fall Garden Festival from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, in the Family Life Center at Trietsch Memorial UMC, 6101 Morriss Road, Flower Mound. The annual even provides free entertainment and educational activities for the entire family. Master Gardener booths at the Festival cover topics such as propagation, lawn care, designing a water-wise landscape, herb growing, worm composting and a dozen other topics. Seminars on gardening will be offered in classroom areas, including "Perennial Gardening" by Marilyn Simmons and "Transitioning from Sprinkler to Drip" by Patrick Dickinson. Live entertainment will be provided by the Flower Mound Community Orchestra, Voices of Flower Mound, Studio B Performing Arts Center, Texas Harmony Chorus (Sweet Adelines) and Dallas Tap Dazzlers. Vendors will offer hand-crafted items and information about maintaining a sustainable environment. More information is available on the Master Gardener website: http://dcmga.com/events/.

Glen Rose: The Prairie Rose Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will host a presentation by the renown BatWorld Sanctuary in Mineral Wells in conjunction with the Fall Native Plant Sale at historic Barnard's Mill, 307 SW Barnanrd, Glen Rose. The Saturday, October 4, event begins at 10 a.m. and will end around 3 p.m. 

Humble: Autumn Plant Sale and Market will be held Saturday, October 4, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. Enjoy a day of plants, shopping, and food among the pine trees of Mercer's West Arboretum. Browse the selection of exciting plants offered by The Mercer Society and other vendors. This year Mercer is proud to feature the Houston Orchid Society, which will offer special growing workshops, orchid displays, and more! For more information, call 281-443-8731.  

Jasper: Master Gardener plant sale Oct. 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arboretum at 225 E. Water Street, Jasper. Sale is held in conjunction with the Butterfly Festival, and the plant sale will include plenty of milkweed as well as native plants and butterfly attractors. Free children's activities, butterfly migration talks and two butterfly releases. For a schedule of activities, visit http://jasper.agrilife.org/ or call 409-384-3721.

Lake Jackson: Sat., Oct 4: "Lake Jackson Gardening Seminar," Plant Propagation, Fall Vegetable Gardening, Rain Water Harvesting, Patio Gardening, 8 a.m.-noon, Lake Jackson Library, 250 Circle Way, Lake Jackson. Free. Brazoria County Master Gardeners. Details: John 713-818-8806.

La Marque: "Easy Butterfly Gardening" will be presented by GC Master Gardener Phyllis Koenig, 9-11:00 a.m. October 4 at Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque; 281-534-3413; email reservations to [email protected], further details www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. Free.

La Marque: "Herbs in the Garden" will be presented by GC Master Gardener Cindy Croft, 1-3:00 p.m. October 4 at Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque; 281-534-3413; email reservation to [email protected], further details www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. Free.

Nacogdoches: The Flora Garden Club of Nacogdoches will present a Fall Fair, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., October 4, at the historic Gruebel-Carlson home built in 1897, 310 N. Mound St. Tours of the home will be available and handmade items will be for sale on the huge porch. For additional information, contact Dorothy Morse at [email protected] of Sandy O'Brien at 936-559-2573.

Nacogdoches: SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host its annual Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in historic Nacogdoches. A wide variety of hard-to-find, "Texas tough" plants will be available, including Texas natives, heirlooms, tropicals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and exclusive Greg Grant and SFA introductions. Most of the plants are extensively trialed in the gardens before being offered to the public, and most are produced by the SFA Gardens staff and volunteers.This popular event benefits the SFA Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, Gayla Mize Garden and educational programs hosted at the gardens. The educational programs at SFA Gardens reach more than 15,000 students ages 1 to 100 on a yearly basis. The public is encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon. For more information, call 936-468-4404 or visit www.sfagardens.sfasu.edu two weeks before the sale for a list of available plants. 

Rosenberg: Visit with Fort Bend Master Gardeners at their vegetable and ornamental Demonstration Gardens for tips and advice on preparing your gardens and plants for the fall growing season. Free. 9 - 11 am, Saturday, October 4, at the Agriculture Center located at 1402 Band Road, Rosenberg. Call 281-341-7068 or visit http://www.fbmg.com/ for more information.

La Marque: "Gardening for Jewels...Hummingbirds" will be presented by GC Master Gardener Deborah Repasz, 6:30-8:00 p.m. October 7 at Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque; 281-534-3413; email reservation to [email protected], further details www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. Free. 

Austin: "Austin Bonsai Society Annual Auction" will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 8, at Zilker Garden Center. An opportunity to purchase a diverse collection of seedlings, pre-bonsai, and mature bonsai along with bonsai pots, tools and other items. Guests are welcome. For further information, visit www.austinbonsaisociety.com.

Humble: Winter Vegetable Gardening will be presented Wednesday, October 8, noon-2 p.m. at the Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. Southeast Texas enjoys two full vegetable growing seasons every year! Learn how to ready winter vegetable gardens from Darnell Schreiber, who shares her tips for a great variety of delicious fruits and veggies that will grow unaffected in our area's winter weather. For additional information or to make reservations, call Mercer Botanic Gardens at 281-443-8731.

Pearland: Thurs., Oct. 9: "Fall Vegetable Gardening" by Herman Auer, 7 p.m., Busy Bee Caf�, 4009 W. Broadway, Pearland. Free. Brazoria County Master Gardeners. Details: John 713-818-8806.     

St. Francisville, Louisiana: With featured speakers like the LSU Ag Center's Dan Gill, award-winning New Orleans landscape architect Rene Fransen, and noted authors Bill Welch and Greg Grant, no other gardening program brings together top quality speakers and historic plantation settings as well as the Southern Garden Symposium in St. Francisville, Louisiana, October 10-11. Known as much for its engaging social events and historic venues as for its outstanding gardening lectures and workshops, the Southern Garden Symposium - now in its 26th year - has become an annual tradition for garden enthusiasts from across the south. While the symposium's workshops and lectures provide ideas and inspiration for the gardener, the social activities surrounding the event are classic southern elegance at its best. From the home-baked breakfast breads served in the morning, to the sumptuous fare of the evening gala and the delightfully relaxed Saturday afternoon tea, not a single detail of southern hospitality is overlooked. Symposium events are held at several historic and picturesque locations, both public and private, including Afton Villa Gardens, Rosedown Plantation, Grace Episcopal Church, Woodland, Beechwood Plantation, and more. For complete program information and registration forms, visit www.SouthernGardenSymposium.org; call 225-635-3738 or email [email protected] . For information regarding overnight accommodations in St. Francisville, visit www.stfrancisville.us  or call 225-635-4224, toll free at 800-789-4221. Seating is limited and hotel rooms can be scarce in St. Francisville in October, so register now!

Humble: "A Day of Bonsai" Fall Show will be held Saturday, October 11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. Experience the magnificent and ancient art form of bonsai during this presentation under the treehouse portico. For more information, call 281-443-8731.  

La Marque: "Galveston County Master Gardeners Annual Fall Sale" will be presented by GC Master Gardeners, 9:00a.m.- 1:00 p.m. October 11 at Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque; 281-534-3413; further details www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. Free.  

Marble Falls: Native Plant Society Garden Tour, hosted by Highland Lakes Chapter, NPSOT (Native Plant Society of Texas). 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11. Admission: $5 adults and children over 12, pay that morning at Tour Headquarters, Falls on the Colorado Museum, 2001 Broadway, Marble Falls. Showing five private and three public gardens in Marble Falls and Horseshoe Bay. Also: Native plant sale / tree give-away (limited number). For more information, contact: Fred Zagst, 512-755-2557, [email protected]  or visit www.yantislakesidegardens.com/npsot and www.npsot.org.

Rosenberg: "Backyard Basics: Canning" will be presented Saturday, October 11. Learn how to extend the enjoyment of your backyard food production through canning. The presentation by Anne Ondrusek, Owner of Honeys Homemade Jams & Jellies, is presented by Fort Bend Master Gardeners. Demonstrations included. 9 a.m. Fort Bend County Extension Office, 1402 Band Rd, Rosenberg. $15 ($25 couple). Details: Call 281-342-3034, email [email protected], or go to http://fortbendagrilife.org or www.fbmg.com.

Seabrook: "Trees, Choice & Maintenance" will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 14, at Clear Lake Park Meeting Room, 5001 Nasa Parkway, Seabrook. A Harris County Master Gardeners Precinct 2 event. Free. For more information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu.

Humble: The Mercer Society Annual Meeting will be held Wednesday, October 15, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. Attend this open meeting to learn more about The Mercer Society, the support they offer the botanic gardens, and the various memberships available. Contact Tami at [email protected] or 281-443-8731 for more information.  

Seabrook: "Fall Fertilization for the Landscape ,Ornamentals and Grasses" will be presented by Skip Richter, Texas AgriLife Agent and contributing editor of Texas Gardener magazine, at 10 a.m., Wednesday, October 15, at Clear Lake Park Meeting Room, 5001 Nasa Parkway, Seabrook. A Harris County Master Gardeners Precinct 2 event. Free. For more information, visit  https://hcmga.tamu.edu.

San Antonio: Mary Dunford, owner of Nature's Herb Farm and co-founder of the SA Herb Society, will speak about drying and arranging herbs for holiday use at the San Antonio Herb Society October meeting, Thursday, October 16, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels. Free and open to the public. For additional information, call 210-826-6860 or email [email protected].

Seguin: The Guadalupe Master Gardeners will meet on Thursday, October 16, at the Justice Center, 211 Court Street, Seguin. Kirby Fry will speak about "Food Forests: Perennial Forest Gardening Systems." Fry has been a permaculture teacher and design consultant for more than 15 years. He studied permaculture under Bill Mollison. He is also familiar with conventional agriculture and forestry, having studied these disciplines at Texas A&M. He offers permaculture design services via his firm, Southern Exposure Permaculture. In addition, he has extensive experience as a building contractor, including natural building. Mr. Kirby studied Natural Resource Conservation at Texas A & M University, and served in U.S. Peace Corps in Guatemala, working in the area of agro-forestry. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. after a social function starting at 6:30. For further information visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org or call 830-303-3889.  

Huntsville: Walker County Master Gardeners 5th Annual Butterfly Festival and Fall Plant Sale will be held from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., October 18, at 102 Tam Road, Huntsville (2 miles north of the Pilot Truck Stop on Hwy. 75N). Find out how butterflies are tagged and released at this annual event featuring a variety of activities for children and adults including: face painting, guest speakers, videos and displays on the migration of Monarchs, a treasure hunt, insect identification, learn about bees and how they make honey, etc. At the plant sale, find an extensive selection including natives, fruit and nut trees, roses, perennials, shade loving varieties, herbs, daylilies and a wide variety of seeds. For additional information, contact Brenda Lichtman at 936-435-2426 or [email protected], or Reggie Lepley at 936-435-2426 or [email protected].

La Marque: "The Fabulous Fragrant Frangipani" will be presented GC Master Gardener Loretta Osteen, 9:00-11:00 p.m. October 18 at Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque; 281-534-3413, email reservation to [email protected], further details www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. Free.

McKinney: Join the Collin County Master Gardeners Association on October 18 in the Stall Barn at beautiful Myers Park and Event Center in McKinney from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to learn more about, and purchase, the best selections of bulbs and perennials for North Texas at the 2014 Bulb and Perennial Mart. The 2014 Annual Bulb and Perennial Mart is a one-day, one-stop shopping opportunity and an introduction to some of the best, hard-to-find heritage bulbs and drought-tolerant perennials for North Texas. CCMGA will be selling some of the beautiful, yet hardy perennials that are doing so well in the nationally award winning trial gardens at Myers Park; as well spring, summer, and fall blooming bulbs that are researched and proven to be suitable for our climate and soil extremes. This year they will also have a wonderful assortment of crinums. The Texas tough plants being offered at The Mart will add a splash of color to the garden throughout the year. Purchase these proven winners by cash, check, or credit card (Visa or Mastercard only). The Bulb and Perennial Mart is an indoor event, so come rain or shine! Master Gardeners will be on hand to conduct tours of the trial gardens and answer questions.The event is free and no sales tax. Schedule of Events: 8:30 a.m., Early Bird Seminar; 9 a.m., Pick up August Pre-Sale Bulb Orders; 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Bulb and Perennial Sale; 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Tours of Myers Park Research & Demonstration Gardens; 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Information Booth. Myers Park is located at 7117 County Road 166, McKinney. To learn more about the 2013 Bulb and Perennial Mart, visit www.ccmgatx.org, or call 972-548-4219 or 972-548-4232.

Seabrook: Open Garden Day, with Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2 will be held 8:30-11 a.m., Monday, October 20, at Genoa Friendship Garden,1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd. 9:30 a.m.: Educational Programs and Master Gardeners Q&A. Note: Gardens open and plants available for purchase every Monday, May-October. Free, children welcome. For more information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu.

La Marque: "Wellness Gardening" will be presentedby GC Master Gardener Tim Jahnke, 6:30-8:00 p.m. October 21 at Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque; 281-534-3413, email reservation to [email protected], further details  www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. Free.  

San Antonio: October 21 is the evening to learn all about Home Aquaponics. Join David Rodriguez at 6:30 p.m. when he introduces Steven Sumrow from Aquaponic Systems USA at Texas A&M AgriLife Ext Svc, 3355 Cherry Ridge, San Antonio. During this two-hour presentation, learn how to create your own Home Aquaponics to grow plants and vegetables in a water environment along with aquatic fish. Aquaponics is a system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water. No chemicals or soil needed, thanks to its automatic recirculating system, Aquaponics does not require much monitoring or measuring. 2 CEUs for Master Gardeners and Interns. Fee: $10. RSVP to Angel Torres at 210 467-6575 or [email protected].

Creedmoor: The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Travis Co. will hold an Irrigation/Turf Maintenance Workshop on October 22 at Creedmoor Community Center, 12511 FM 1625, Creedmoor. This conference is in response to ongoing critical water issues. The general public can attend but the materials presented will be for turf and irrigation professionals such as those working with municipalities, including parks departments; golf courses; and large and commercial landscape maintenance firms as well as contractors; retail nurseries and other users of urban water resources. The goal of the workshop is to share new technologies and best practices for water conservation and drought survival. Four Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) licensed irrigator credits are available to attendees. Presentations and speakers will be: 9 a.m., Irrigation Scheduling, Brad Smith, Instructor, Irrigator Training, LLC; 10 a.m., Efficient Irrigation Practices, Brett Briant, Water Conservation Coordinator, LCRA; 11:15 a.m., Turfgrass Selection and Cultural Practices for Water Conservation; 1 p.m., Water Management for Sports Field Turf, Dr. Casey Reynolds, Assistant Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist; 2 p.m., Evaluation, Wrap-up and CEU certificates. Cost: $50 (through 10/17), $60 (10/18 and on-site). CEUs: 4 Irrigation. Register: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty or by phone: 979-845-2604. For more information, contact: Daphne Richards, CEA-Horticulture, [email protected], 512-854-9615.

Bryan: Brazos County Master Gardeners 2014 Town and Country Garden Tour, Saturday, October 25, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person and allow visitors into all six garden gardens. Tickets go on sale September 25 at the Brazos County Extension Office, 2619 Highway 21 West, Bryan. Checks only will be accepted at this location. 979/823-0129. Tickets On Site: On the day of the tour at any of the garden sites and checks or cash only are accepted. For more information, visit www.brazosmg.com or email [email protected].

Fort Worth: Hortipalooza, a festival of fun, friends and horticultural enlightenment, and family day devoted to all things gardening, will be held Saturday, October 25, at the Resource Connection, Building 2300, 2300 Circle Drive, Fort Worth. The Resource Connection is located off Campus Drive, across from the Tarrant County College - South Campus. Sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, doors open at 8:30 a.m. and feature storytellers, vendors and talks on 20 Must Have Plants, Gardens in a Drought, Creating Herbal Combo Containers, Propagation Magic, Maple Madness and Success with Seeds, as well as hands-on classes on Papercrete Pots (beginner and advanced), Copper Rain Chains and Concrete Leaves. The event will end around 4:30 p.m. Speakers include area Master Gardeners, the Herb 'n' Cowgirl Ann McCormick, Steve Rosenbaum of Steve's Leaves, Tucker Reed, horticulture manager at Dallas Arboretum and Botanic Garden and Steve Chamblee, chief horticulturalist at Chandor Gardens in Weatherford. Lee Coats, the Papercrete Potter from Missouri, will be teaching the papercrete container classes. Papercrete is made with portland cement, perlite and paper. Registration fee if purchased before the event is adults, $25; couples, $45; and children under 16, $15 which includes lunch, snacks and the talks. Fee the day of the event is adults, $35 and kids under 16, $15. There is an extra fee for the hands-on classes. Complete information on the schedule and registration is at www.tarrantmg.org.

Humble: The 3rd Annual Sustainable Landscape Conference will be held Friday, October 31, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. Learn from industry leaders about sustainable parking design and development during this year's conference at Big Stone Lodge at Dennis Johnston Park. For additional information or to make reservations, call Mercer Botanic Gardens at 281-443-8731.

Humble: Herb Gardening for Home Use will be presented Wednesday, November 12, noon-2 p.m. at the Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. Join Marilyn O'Conner, "The Herb Lady," to learn about the wide variety of herbs and their uses in homes and gardens. For additional information or to make reservations, call Mercer Botanic Gardens at 281-443-8731.

Humble: Succulentarriums will be presented Wednesday, December 10, noon-2 p.m.

at the Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble.

Learn how to combine remarkable succulents, moss, and cacti with recycled glassware to create fun and fanciful display items for your home or office. These unique items also make great holiday gifts! For additional information or to make reservations, call Mercer Botanic Gardens at 281-443-8731.

• Many, many practical and timely garden tips that are for Texas - not Maine or California!
• Organic, earth friendly tips to make your garden grow and prosper
• Lots of space to record your own activities for future reference
• Planting dates and tips for vegetables, flowers, herbs, fruit and lawns

The Vegetable Book

By Dr. Sam Cotner

Finally, back by popular demand and in its fourth printing, the most informative and comprehensive "how-to" book on vegetable gardening in Texas (also, suitable for most other areas of the South) written by the late, great Dr. Sam Cotner, former head of horticulture at Texas A&M University and lifelong gardener. This interesting read has over 370 pages of detailed information on every crop, from Asparagus to Watermelon including problem/solving sections for each vegetable. If you want to maximize your enjoyment and success growing vegetables in Texas, this book is a "must have," whether you are a beginner or a seasoned gardener. Price $34.02

By William D. Adams

The best thing for tomato enthusiasts since the tomato itself! Adams draws on more than thirty years of experience to provide a complete, step-by-step guide to success in the tomato patch. Learn everything from soil preparation, planting, feeding, caging and watering. Liberally sprinkled with the author's easy humor and illustrated with his own excellent photographs, this must-have book has everything you'll need to assure a bumper crop! 189 pages. Lots of color photographs! Price: $31.94

($15.82 if ordered separately)

Remit payment to:

TG Books * PO Box 9005 * Waco, TX 76714

or call Toll-Free 1-800-727-9020

American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Discover Accepted