GARDENING WITH KIDS, ROSE RUSTLING, PRAIRIES, CYLINDER GARDENING AND MORE...

BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH

Can anyone look at the pictures above and not smile?  Before going further, however . . . 

*  *  *

 

THIS JUST IN:  If you will be attending the big free Sat., May 16 TEXAS ROSE RUSTLER SPRING SYMPOSIUM, starting at 9:30am at Nature's Way Resources  -  the antique rose-loving sponsors recommend wearing wellingtons (rubber boots, topboots, billy-boots, gumbies, gummies, rainboots, Alaskan sneakers, etc).  The recent rains have left a tad bit of mud about. (But, hey, if you can't take a tad of mud, what are you doing living in our subtropical paradise with our monsoon rains?) Come on out, it'll be fun! Map/details for the all-day event: www.texasroserustlers.com. Nature's Way Resources is located at 101 Sherbrook Circle, Conroe (Exit 81 - SE of I-45 & Hwy 1488 intersection). 

 

*  *  *

Now ... back to those great kids above ... There's no way to know - way in the future - what benefits will result from the fun learning these St. Thomas Episcopal School students are experiencing now.

One interesting thing they do that was new to me: under the direction of Master Gardener Nancy Grami, they used a small bead of water-soluble glue (like Elmer's) to attach seeds to a paper napkin. When planted, napkins and all, seeds don't migrate lower in the ground when watered. Among the kids' harvests have been kohlrabi, turnips, beets, lettuce, peas, green beans and squash.

As you can see above, the STE kids are using cylinder gardening. If ever there were a time when this technique pays off, it's now that weve had so much rain for such a prolonged period, a really threatening situation for so many plant roots. 

 

The beauty of cylinder plantings is the roots are above ground and the soil dries out more quickly than ground soil, giving plants a well-drained zone without denying them the nutrients in the natural soil below, which healthy roots will easily access. 

 

During drought, organic matter in the "better" soil in the cylinder will hold moisture in a form roots can access without denying them oxygen (the problem with soaked soil). And cylinders take up so little room, they can be positioned anywhere - against a wall as above on in regular gardens among regular plants.

The Cylinder Gardening concept was conceived several decades ago by Glenn Graves, a Harris County Master Gardener and Men's Garden Club of Houston member. He took a 5-gallon plastic can, the kind paint and many foodstuffs are sold in (and stores throw away), cut off the bottom and then cut the resulting "cylinder" in half. 

That gave him two cylinders roughly 9" deep. He set these right on the ground, filled them with good soil and planted his vegetables - right on top the existing grass, soil, etc. He grew almost everything but corn in these cylinder gardens. 

Glenn persuaded Houston elementary schools to start cylinder gardens. It wasn't long before every elementary school in Houston had at least some form of cylinder garden with Harris County Master Gardeners providing oversight. From these grew the truly elaborate, extensive, wonderful school gardens that are so popular today - thanks in large measure to Glenn and the support he received from his fellow Men's Garden Club members and Harris County Master Gardeners.

It wasn't long before Master Gardeners across the nation began using Glenn's concept.  Who else would tell you these things?

*  *  *  

THIS IS THE PERFECT SEASON, when plants are growing so quickly, to both introduce gardening to children -  in your family, in your neighborhood, at your church, at your community center, etc. Or, to plan ahead for school gardening/nature projects next school year. Below Ahlene Shong offers some great suggestions and will give even more during a presentation Thurs., May 21, 7pm, at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center.

If you don't want to do it yourself, become a tumbler, spread the word of the many children's programs now being offered at area parts and nature centers, including (to name just a few)

* ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER, Clear Lake area - Summer EcoCamp, June 8-Aug. 7, 4- to 13-year-olds. Details: www.abnc.org; 281-474-2551

* BRAZOS BEND STATE PARK, southwest of Houston - "Under the Summer Sun" programs, free, Tuesdays and Fridays in June. Nature viewing, programs, hikes. Details: http://www.brazosbend.org

 * HOUSTON ARBORETUM & NATURE CENTER, central Houston, Memorial Park - Summer camps June-August. Details: houstonarboretum.org

* MERCER BOTANIC GARDEN, North Harris County, Children's programs Tuesday through Thursday, July 14-July 30, 9am-noon. Details: www.hcp4.net/community/parks/mercer.

IF YOU HAVE A CHILD VISITING FOR JUST A SHORT PERIOD, a guaranteed fascinating outing would be to see the new carnivorous plant exhibit at the Houston Zoological Gardens. The grand opening is this weekend, Sat., May 16, 9am-1pm. The exhibit sponsor, PetFlyTrap.com will offer a special show-and-tell exhibit about plants that turn the tables on the animal kingdom.

Venus flytraps, left, are far from the only carnivorous plants to be found. Tiny sundews, center, use sticky tentacles. Right, giant pitcher plants.

We've all heard of Venus flytraps. But over 750 species worldwide have the same plant-trapping capability from huge Tropical Pitcher Plants (much bigger than the delights we grow) to others that actually trap and digest snails, frogs, lizards and the occasional mammal. 

Lots of these will be on special display Saturday only. Details: www.petflytrap.com, a project of Mike Howlett, whom many of us know from his work (especially with snakes!) at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center. (He was the first one I called when Husband trapped a coral snake in our backyard. We donated it to JPNC's display.)

*  *  * 

BUT DON'T LET KIDS HAVE ALL THE FUN...

If your tomatoes are the envy of neighbors, check out the calendar below for our annual Tomato Contests, including:

* SAT., MAY 30: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS FIRST ANNUAL TOMATO CONTEST, 9 am-Noon, 3033 Bear Creek Drive. Free. Details: http://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/pubSpecialEvents.aspx 281-855-5600

* SAT., JUN 6: TOMATO CONTEST, 10am, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball. Free. Details: www.arborgate.com or 281-351-8851

Rather compete on a less formal basis? Tim Fleck and Dick Murray are looking for "more serious" backyard tomato growers to enter their own informal Tomato Contest that culminates with an early June neighborhood-type gathering in the Holcombe area. Guests are the judges. Interested parties should email him at timwfleck@yahoo.com. (Yes, this is the Tim Fleck of Houston Press/Houston Chronicle fame.)

*  *  *

WILDFLOWER WATCH - LOOK UPWARD!

Most gardening and flower-watching tends to take place on a level, or downward-focus, plane. That means we often miss some of our most beautiful overhead seasonal beauty and color. 

Have you noticed how beautiful our native Southern magnolias, left above, are this spring? Or how about the gorgeous mimosa trees, center? Unfortunately these are too happy, they've become invasive, crowding out native species that wildlife needs to survive. It's too late now to ogle our native catalpas' beautiful white blooms, but at right above is what you missed!

* * *

* TIP  O' THE TROWEL TO URBAN HARVEST EASTSIDE FARMERS MARKET, recently honored as one of the 50 Best Farmers Markets in the nation by Cooking Light, a national health-conscious cooking magazine.  The only farmer's market from Texas on the list, this weekly gathering brings together more than 50 farmers and vendors 8am-noon each Saturday in the 3000 Richmond parking lot. 

 

* NOTE: RECENT RAINS AND OTHER UNEXPECTED KINKS HAVE TRIGGERED A NUMBER OF DATE CHANGES ON EVENTS. BE SURE TO CHECK THE CALENDAR BELOW TO MAKE SURE EVENTS YOU PLAN TO ATTEND HAVEN'T CHANGED.

 

  

* Brenda's "LAZY GARDENER'S GUIDE" book - a when-to-do-what in Greater Houston area gardens - is now available only on CD (pdf file). $20. Checks payable to Brenda B. Smith and mailed to: Lazy Gardener's Guide on CD, 14011 Greenranch Dr., Houston, TX 77039-2103. For a free page of this month's TO-DO list, email Brenda at lazy gardener@sbcglobal.net

Some Call It a Garden, But We Call It a Prairie

By Ahlene Shong

Native Plant Society of Texas/Houston Chapter

(http://npsot.org)

So you think you want to put a pocket prairie on your school campus? So romantic, vast stretches of wildflowers nodding gently in the breeze, evoking idyllic scenes of Little House on the Prairie. Laura bursts into the log cabin with an armful of fresh picked wildflowers, "Ma, look what I brought home for you!" OK, you've got the dream, now to get to work.

Teacher "Buy-In" and PTO volunteers

Do the teachers on your campus really want to take the kids outside and use the garden?

Do you have enough adult volunteers to maintain your prairie garden?

Find out, before you make a move.

Water, water, water

You must have a water source at your site; if not an irrigation system, at least a hose and sprinkler with a timer. Hand-carried water went out with the pioneers.

Prepare your ground

No matter what advice people give you, only listen to it if they say: herbicide, wait, till/plow, wait, then herbicide some more. If you don't eradicate the Bermuda and carpet grasses from your seed bed before you plant, you will be fighting them forever! October/November is a good target time to be seeding your prairie garden.

Native plants and seeds

Use only native local seeds and plants for your pocket prairie. A good rule of thumb is to acquire plants and seeds from within a 50 mile radius of your site to maintain the genetic integrity/authenticity of your native grass and flowers. Good sources for plants and seeds local to the Houston area are: Houston Native Plant Society, Katy Prairie Conservancy, Audubon Native Nursery, Hannah Native Grasses, Inc. Many local garden clubs, such as Westbury's Bouquettes, often share plants and seeds. Also, Kolter Elementary School has been very successful and generous with sharing seeds and plants with other schools.

Happy gardening!!

* Thurs., May 21: "The Creation of a School Garden" by Ahlene Shong and Jamie Scott, 7pm, at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4505 Woodway in Memorial Park. Free. Native Plant Society of Texas Houston Chapter event. Details: http://npsot.org/wp/houston/activities/monthly-meeting