OCTOBER 22, 2015

Dear Friends,

Here is the 129th issue of our weekly gardening newsletter for Houston, the Gulf Coast and beyond. We really appreciate all of our readers hanging in there with us, sharing stories and inspiring us in so many ways. 
 
Thanks so much!
 
This newsletter is a project of The Lazy Gardener, Brenda Beust Smith, John Ferguson and Mark Bowen.(John and Mark are with Nature's Way Resources). We also have a great supporting cast of contributing writers and technical specialists who will chime in and tweak away regularly. We would love to keep receiving your input on this newsletter . . . . comments . . . . suggestions . . . . questions. . . .Email your thoughts to: [email protected]. Thanks so much for your interest.
 
Please  or sign yourself up to receive this newsletter by clicking the "Join Our Mailing List" link just below. We will never sell or share our mailing list to protect the privacy of our subscribers.

Enjoy!


 

 

  DRAW EYES AWAY FROM PLANTS TRYING TO GO TO SLEEP! . . .
4-FOOT HIGH IMPATIENS? . . . LET'S GROW "AMERICA'S NUT"

BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH
  
Now that cold weather - okay, cooler weather - is almost upon us, many plants are starting to go visibly dormant. They've actually been going dormant since, probably, mid-summer.   
 
This warrants notice. So many gardeners are new to this area or, at least, new to gardening in this area. Our increasingly warmer winters trick many into thinking we are more tropical than we actually are.

We're "subtropical," i.e., somewhere between north, south, east and west regions that are far more predictable than we are.  That means anyone who predicts what any given spring, summer, fall, winter will be like in our area is either really brave or really, well, ___ (you fill in the adjective).

Fall is when queries start coming in:  "My ______ is dying! Did I kill it?" 

Why do we always say, when a plant dies, "I" killed it?  It's 'cause we've been brainwashed into accepting the blame, and feeling guilty, for every plant that dies, whether it's our fault or not. 

But that's another column. 
 
Back to dormancy, true, some plants may be dying and it may be your fault for using the wrong plant for this area, or the wrong site, etc.

But most plants that are starting to look poopy now are doing what they should be doing. My fig tree is leafless. It's dormant, the vitex looks sickly, esperanza will soon follow. Learn to live with it. 
 
Dormancy is one reason fall color is such a great idea. It draws  our eye away from fading foliage. A look around town will show you choices made by professionals who landscape commercial properties (where pretty flowers will draw us in).  
 
For example, I spotted these recently and they're really beautiful in the garden:
 
 
Left to right, calendula, coleus and purple fountain plants create beautiful fall color that might even last through December if it stays warm enough or if the cold spells are short enough. Generally speaking, on an average, the first real freeze of each year occurs the first week of December.

Many grasses, such as purple fountain plant, have wonderfully colorful fall seed displays. And, speaking of calendulas, I just learned this:

Ancients used calendulas (also called pot marigolds) to speed healing of wounds, as a tranquilizer and to treat jaundice, liver diseases, gastric ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease and high blood pressure. Funny how little we know and/or appreciate about our common flowers. 
 
Now through winter is the best time to plant all trees and shrubs if you want them to last through our potential spring monsoons, usually followed by incredibly high summer temperatures and devastating droughts. Roots will benefit from having all "winter" to become established, strong and healthy before the true challenges set in.
 
Speaking of trees, did you know the pecan is the only major tree nut that grows naturally in North America? "Pecan" is Algonquin word for "all nuts requiring a stone to crack." It's the basis for intoxicating drink called "Powchoicora." Who else would tell you these things?

If you've bought any pecans lately, you've seen the price increase, mainly due to weather challenges. In today's Spotlight article below, Waller County Master Gardener's Nicky Maddams lists some of the best pecan tree choices for this area - "for this area" being the important wording. Pick the wrong variety and you're dooming any tree before it ever gets into the ground.  
 
January and February are our biggest months for tree sales. But Waller County Master Gardeners are offering you a chance to get a jump on finding just the right varieties (the main key to success here). They are now taking orders (January pickup) for not only the pecan trees Nicky lists below, but a wide variety of fruit, nut, ornamental and shade trees as well. Anyone can order.  Sale details are at the end of Nicky's article  and in the calendar below.  
 
TWO P.S. NOTES ON MERCER BOTANIC GARDEN
1. I thought I knew a lot about Mercer Botanic Gardens, but seems there's always something new to discover. At the recent "Moonlight Over Mercer" gala, I learned that the ginger collection is one of the very largest in-ground ginger collections in the nation. Also saw the largest impatiens bushes I've ever seen.


These 4+/- foot high impatiens mounds are at Mercer's entrance. I had to ask to make sure they really were impatiens, the growth is so much higher than I've ever seen before. Turns out they're the Big Bounce series, a new cross between New Guineas and the old-style impatiens. Mercer's Suzzanne Chapman says this means they should be virus-free. What she can say for certain is that they've been this beautiful since this past spring. And I can testify they're still going strong. They come in cherry, lavender and white.

2. And Jere Noerager, a major fern enthusiast and 2015 March Mart Tropical Plant Committee Chair, sent in this followup, with the note, "When you grow plants purchased from March Mart, you never know 'who' else in your garden will enjoy them!"  Jere's made me smile, so I am sharing!
 
The Squirrel and the Staghorn
Once upon a time in a land far, far away (Ed. note: in my back yard) there lived a little female squirrel. Rumor has it she was quite promiscuous. She had a passel of kids and no husband in evidence. She had set up housekeeping -- claiming squatter's rights -- in the sphagnum moss upon which the owner of the property (Ed. note: me) was growing a large staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) with shield fronds 3+ foot in length.
 
The land owner inserted a watering wand between the shield fronds and the mounting board, blasting the plant with water. This little hussy squirrel comes EXPLODING out of the back of the fern, shaking water off her head and upper torso, and looking to tear into whoever had interrupted her cocktail hour! 
 
Up, and out, and around the tree trunk she flew in a mad frenzy [Ed. note: Have you ever noticed that the eyes on these little rodents are entirely black? There's no white visible surrounding the pupil and iris.] The innocent homeowner/part-time gardener was convinced the squirrel was about to launch herself onto his little pumpkin head, rending and clawing in retaliation for this unwelcome interruption. 
 
But then there came a "Peep, peep, peep" from behind the shield fronds. He had been saved by plaintive cries of the squirrel's little brood. Back behind the fronds bounced the squirrel, then out again, and then back, finally disappearing long enough that the homeowner felt safe in scrambling back out of range of any immediate attack. 
 
One could wish all parties to this little tale lived happily ever after in peace and harmony, as in the grand traditions of story-telling everywhere. But we'll have to wait till the next time the owner/gardener feels a need to water this particular plant to determine whether the itinerant squirrel has (1) moved her place of residence or (2) developed a more relaxed attitude towards such interruptions in her workaday world. 
 
THE END

***  
Brenda's column in the  "LAZY GARDENER GUIDE ON CD" is based on her 45+ years as the Houston Chronicle's Lazy Gardener. This PDF book-on-CD is a month-by-month guide on when to do what  (plant, fertilize, prune, etc.) in the Greater Houston Area,along with lazy gardener plant recommendations and sample garden designs for sun, shade, butterflies, hummers, herbs, etc.  For details, email Brenda at lazy [email protected]  
 
 ***  
 
 
 
Pecans are a favorite, easy to grow nut tree along the Texas Gulf Coast.  One real favorite, at right,
is Kiowa (Texas Pecan Nursery photo), easily recognized by its striking markings on the shell.
 
GROW THE RIGHT PECANS!  
Carya illinoensis 
 
BY NICKY MADDAMS 
Waller County Master Gardener  
Texas Master Gardener Association Communications Director

Pecan trees are ubiquitous in the South, just like sweet tea and biscuits! These beautiful, shapely trees provide a cool canopy in the heat of summer and deliver delicious nuts in the autumn.
 
The pecan was designated the official tree of Texas in 1919 although it is originally a native of the Mississippi Valley and its tributaries.
 
Pecans are budded onto rootstock to yield the best nuts and generally require two varieties for optimum pollination. Pecans can reach 25 feet within 5-7 years after planting and will begin to bear nuts after 10 years.
 
Trees should be planted during the dormant season (from late November to February) to allow root growth before spring.   They can be susceptible to leaf spot and scab.
 
Pecans thrive in southeast Texas, living to be very large trees towering 60-100 feet with a spread of 40-60 feet.  Plant in well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7.0, in full sun.
 
Keep soil moist while the tree is getting established and water once a week when rainfall is insufficient.  Fertilize after the establishment year with a fertilizer containing zinc.  Prune to remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Good varieties for this area:
 
* DESIRABLE - the benchmark for quality, consistently producing excellent quality, crunchy kernels. Produce a large, well-filled nut, with an easy-to-crack medium shell.  Good selection for humid areas.  Generally self-fertile but will produce more nuts if pollinated with another variety.
 
* KANZA - an early maturing native pecan producing compact, easily shelled nuts with outstanding flavor.  Prefers moist soils.  Cold hardy and disease resistant. Pollinate with 'Pawnee'.
 
* KIOWA - a slower-growing variety. A well-formed tree with heavy crops of thin-shelled, excellent quality nuts.  The shell markings make this a very attractive nut. 'Kiowa' cross- pollinates well with 'Desirable'.
 
* PAWNEE - a cultivar created in Brownwood, TX in 1963 and is the most commonly planted variety in North America.  Smaller growth habit (30 feet tall and wide) makes this an excellent option for those with limited space. The nuts are large with a sweet kernel.   A great pollinator for 'Kanza'.
 
*  *  * 
MON., OCT. 19 - FRI., DEC. 4: PRESALE (purchase now for delivery later) WCMG ANNUAL TREE SALE, M-F, 9am-12pm, Waller County Extension Office, 846 6th  St., Hempstead. Waller County Master Gardener event. Varieties, sizes, prices and order form on website, http://txmg.org/wallermg. Click on the Fruit Tree Sale tab. Details: 979-826-7651 or [email protected]. Pickup for the trees - 10am-2pm, Sat., Jan. 30 at Teagler Used Car location on Business 290 in Hempstead.  Trees will also be for sale at this time.

 




JOHN'S CORNER 


BOOK REVIEW


How Plants Work - The science behind the amazing things plants do ,  Linda Chalker-Scott, Timber Press, 2015, ISBN: 978-1-60469-338-6

Most serious gardeners will recognize this ladies name as she has authored several gardening books and many articles in Organic Gardening and American Nurseryman magazines. Linda Chalker-Scott is an associate professor and extension urban horticulturalist at Washington State University.

I love one of the captions on the books back cover, "The More You Know, The Better You Grow". This book is written for gardeners whom want to learn more about how to have a beautiful garden.

Linda explains many of the technical mysteries of plants in an easy to understand manner with lots of pictures and charts to help one understand how and why plants grow. From the books back cover:

How Plants Works brings the stranger-than-fiction science of the plant world to vivid life. It explains how plants tell time, how they move to follow the sun and capture food, and why they change color. By revealing the science behind what plants do every day, this book arms you with information that will change the way you garden. You'll learn how to fertilize and prune more effectively, how to weed less than you ever have, and how to determine which garden products are worth your time and money.

One of my favorite sections was on the relationship between insects and plants. One of the photographs shows a beautiful solid yellow flower as we see it. The next photo was taken using ultraviolet light and shows how a bee sees the same flower. The petals of the flower were like an airfield with all the lights directing a plane where to land safely. In this case the colors varied and clearly showed the bee where to land to arrive at the pollen.

Even though I am a soil scientist and a gardener for decades this book explained many of the mechanisms in regards to plant growth and health that I had not encountered before. This book is a good addition to any serious gardener's library.







   *   *   *
WEEKLY GARDENING EVENTS &
ANNOUNCEMENTS 
CALENDAR

TO SUBMIT EVENTS - PLEASE - USE OUR FORMAT! 
Find a similar event in our calendar below and copy the format EXACTLY. 
Then you can add additional information. Email to [email protected].
Not using our format will result in a delay in publication!
Events will not be picked up from other newsletters.

If we inspire you to attend any of these events, please let them know
you heard about it in 
 
THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS NEWSLETTER!
 

THUR. OCT. 22: SOIL FOOD WEB BY JOHN FERGUSON, Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway. Native Plant Society of Texas/Houston Chapter event. npsot.org/wp/houston/; 713-254-4778
  
 SAT., OCT. 24: HOUSTON ROSE SOCIETY'S ROSE-A-PALOOZA, Harris County AgriLife Extension Center, 3033 Bear Creek Drive. 10am educational programs; noon - Rose Show. $30. houstonrose.org; [email protected]  
 
SAT., OCT. 24: PECKERWOOD GARDEN OPEN DAY. 10am-3pm. Peckerwood Garden, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. Garden Conservancy event. Details: www.peckerwoodgarden.org, [email protected]

SAT., OCT. 24: BACKYARD COMPOSTING AND VERMICULTURE. 10am-noon. Houston Museum of Natural Science, Moran Hall, 5555 Hermann Park Dr. $45. Urban Harvest event. 713-880-5540 or urbanharvest.org 
 
SAT., OCT. 24: MIX-UP A PARTY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. 10am. Enchanted Forest, 10611 FM 2759, Richmond, 281-937-9449, and at 2pm, Enchanted Gardens, 6420 FM 359, Richmond. Free. 281-341-1206; myenchanted.com
 
SAT., OCT. 24: GUNTER'S HEIRLOOM VEGETABLES BY PAM & LEAH GUNTER, 9am-1pm, & HERBS & WINES BY ANN WHEELER & CHRIS CROWDER, 10am, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball.  Free. arborgate.com; 281-351-8851 
 
SAT., OCT. 24: GARDEN TOOL CARE PRESENTATION & WORKSHOP BY TIM JAHNKE & HENRY HARRISON, III. 9am-noon, Galveston County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Free. 281-534-3413; [email protected], aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston 
 
SAT., OCT. 24: RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE WATER CONSERVATION WORKSHOP, 8:30am-noon, Recreation & Tennis Center, 2701 Cypress Point Dr.  Missouri City. $25. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Missouri City Green, City of Missouri City/Fort Bend County Master Gardener event.  fortbend.agrilife.org/water conservation/missouricitygreen.org281-633-7029 
 
SAT., OCT. 24: MONTGOMERY COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS FALL OPEN GARDEN DAY/VEGETABLE & HERB SALE, 9am-noon, Extension Office, 9020 Airport Rd. Free. 936-539-7824; .mcmga.com

SUN., OCT. 25: MAGNOLIA BUTTERFLY COUNTY & MONARCH TAGGING EVENT. $3. Don DuBois, 836-524-8169; 281-259-9106
 
SUN., OCT. 25: HOW TO ROOT A ROSE BY GAYE HAMMOND
, 11am, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball.  Free. arborgate.com; 281-351-8851 
 
MON., OCT. 26: FEED THEM AND THEY WILL COME BY DON JOHNSON, 6:45-8pm, Brightwater Clubhouse, 2410 Brightwater Dr., Missouri City. Free. Brightwater Garden Club event.    brightwatergardenclub.com; 281-403-9269

TU
ES., OCT 27: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS OPEN GARDEN DAY & SEMINAR: PROPAGATION & SEED SAVING, 9-11:30am, 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2015-open-garden-days.pdf; 281-855-5600 
 
WED., OCT. 28: INTERNATIONAL OLEANDER SOCIETY KEWPIE GAIDO LUNCHEON AND ANNUAL MEETING. Lydia Miller, 409-770-4312: www.oleander.org 
 
SAT., OCT. 31: HIGH DENSITY ORCHARD. 9-11am. University of St. Thomas, Malloy Hall, Room 14, 3918 Yoakum Blvd. $45. Urban Harvest event. 713-880-5540 or urbanharvest.org

SAT., OCT. 31: FRIGHTFUL FUN IN THE GARDEN WITH CLINT THE SNAKE MAN. 10am-noon. Enchanted Forest, 10611 FM 2759, Richmond, 281-937-9449  and at 2-4pm, Enchanted Gardens, 6420 FM 359, Richmond, 281-341-1206. Free. myenchanted.com
 
SAT., OCT. 31: HOUSTON BONSAI SOCIETY ANNUAL FALL SHOW, 9am-5pm, Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160.
 
MON., NOV. 2: NATIVE PLANTS BY LINDA KNOWLES, 10-11:30am, Amegy Bank Community Room, Tomball. Free. Tomball Garden Club event.  [email protected]
 
MON., NOV. 2 & 9: GARDEN DOCENT TRAINING BY JENNIFER GARRISON, 9am, Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160.
 
THURS., NOV. 5: SHADE GARDENING WITH ELIZABETH BARROW. 9:30am, Municipal Utility Building #81, 805 Hidden Canyon Drive, Katy.  Free.  Nottingham Country Garden Club event. nottinghamgardenclub.org

FRI.-SUN., NOV. 6-8: FALL FESTIVAL OF ROSES, 10am Fri.; 9:30am Sat; 11am Sun. Antique Rose Emporium,10000 FM 50, Brenham. antiqueroseemporium.com (979) 836-5548

SAT., NOV
. 7: PECKERWOOD GARDEN OPEN DAY. 10am-3pm. Peckerwood Garden, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. Garden Conservancy event.
peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232; [email protected]
 
SAT., NOV. 7: STARTING A COMMUNITY OR SCHOOL GARDEN WORKSHOP, 8:30am-2:30pm.  University of St. Thomas, Malloy Hall, Room 14, 3918 Yoakum Blvd. $20. Urban Harvest event. 713-880-5540; urbanharvest.org.
 
SAT., NOV. 7:  FALL PLANT SALE:  DAYLILIES AND OTHER PLANTS, 10am-2 pm., St Andrews Episcopal Church's Fall Festival, 1819 Heights Blvd. Free. Houston Area Daylily Society Event. 281-332-2965 or [email protected]
 
SAT., NOV. 7:  TEXAS ROSE RUSTLERS' FALL CUTTING EXCHANGE, 12:30(ish), Independence General Store, 9400 Lueckemeyer Rd, Independence.  Free.  [email protected] 
 
TUE., NOV. 10: LAKE CREEK CONSERVATION BY GLEN BUCKLEY. 9 am. South County Community Center, 2235 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands. Free. Woodlands Garden Club event. thewoodlandsgardenclub.org

WED., NOV. 11: FIRE ANTS & CRAZY ANTS BY DR. PAUL NESTER, noon-2pm, Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160.
 
WED., NOV 11: EDIBLE LANDSCAPES. 10am-2pm. Houston Museum of Natural Science, Moran Hall, 5555 Hermann Park Dr. $45. Urban Harvest' event. 713-880-5540; urbanharvest.org

THURS., NOV. 12: NEXT YEAR'S WEEKS ROSES, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, 1500 Hermann Dr. Free. Houston Rose Society event. www.houstonrose.org  

THURS., NOV. 12: PLANTING A WINTER GARDEN & CONTAINER GARDENING FOR THE HOLIDAYS BY DIANE NORMAN, 9:30-11am, Quail Valley Rec and Tennis Center, 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City, TX 77459. Free. www.QuailValleyGardenClub.org

FRI.
, NOV. 13: MOTHS OF TRINITY RIVER REFUGE - GOOD, BAD AND UGLY 
BY  STUART MARCUS, 10:15 am, White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Dr. Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org

SAT., NOV. 14: PRUNING/PREPARING FRUITING TREES & VINES FOR WINTER BY BILL ADAMS, 10am, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball.  Free. arborgate.com; 281-351-8851 
 
SAT., NOV. 14: EDIBLE LANDSCAPES. 9-11am, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Moran Hall, 5555 Hermann Park Dr. $45. Urban Harvest' event. 713-880-5540; urbanharvest.org
 
SAT., NOV. 14: 43rd ANNUAL HERB FAIR, 9am-2pm, West Gray Multi-Service Center, 1475 West Gray., Free. Herb Society of America/South Texas Unit event. www.herbsociety-stu.org 
 
THURS., NOV. 14: HERBS IN THE GARDEB BY CINDY CROFT, 1-3pm, AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Free. Galveston County Master Gardener event. 281-534-3413; [email protected], www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston

MON., NOV. 16:
 THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE RIGHT JOB WITH TRICIA BRADBURY, 6:45-8pm, Brightwater Clubhouse, 2410 Brightwater Dr., Missouri City. Free. Brightwater Garden Club event.    brightwatergardenclub.com281-403-9269 

MON., NOV. 16: OPEN GARDEN DAY & PLANT SALE, 8:30-11am, Genoa Friendship Garden,1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd. Free. Harris County Master Gardeners Precinct 2 event. hcmga.tamu.edu
 
TUES., NOV. 17: THE RIGHT TREE IN THE RIGHT PLACE BY WILLIAM HALDIK,10am, St. Basil Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land; 10 am; free; Sugar Land Garden Club event.  Sugarlandgardenclub.org 

THURS., NOV. 19: CITRUS & HOMEOWNERS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY MONTE NESBITT, 6:30-8:30pm, AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Free. Galveston County Master Gardener event. 281-534-3413; [email protected], www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston.

TUES., NOV 24: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS OPEN GARDEN DAY & SEMINAR: HOLIDAY PLANT CARE,  9-11:30am, 3033 Bear Creek Dr.. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2015-open-garden-days.pdf; 281-855-5600

SAT., DEC. 5: CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE, 3-7pm, The Arbor Gate,15635 FM 2920, Tomball.  Free. arborgate.com; 281-351-8851 
           
SAT., DEC. 5: GROWING CITRUS IN HOUSTON, 9-11am. University of St. Thomas, 3918 Yoakum Blvd. $45. Urban Harvest event. 713-880-5540; urbanharvest.org

SAT., DEC. 5: HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE, 10am-4pm, Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 East 11th Street, free,
buchanansplants.com/calendar/events  
 
WED., DEC. 9: CHRISTMAS CRAFTS USING NATURAL PLANT MATERIALS, noon-2pm, Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160.
 
FRI., DEC. 11: A WARM GARDENING WELCOME BY BARBARA BAKER, 10:15 am, White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Drive. Tickets required. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org
 
SAT., DEC. 19: CHRISTMAS GARDENS BIRD COUNT, 8am, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. Register at 713-274-4160.

MON., DEC. 21: OPEN GARDEN DAY & PLANT SALE, 8:30-11am, Genoa Friendship Garden,1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd. Free. Harris County Master Gardeners Precinct 2 event. hcmga.tamu.edu
 
FRI., JAN. 8: PERSONALIZING YOUR GARDEN FOCAL POINTS BY DARNELL SCHREIBER, 10:15am, White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Drive. Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org
 
TUE., JAN. 12: FOREST ECOLOGY / TREE CARE BY JOHN ROSS. 9 am. South County Community Center, 2235 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands. Free. Woodlands Garden Club event. www.thewoodlandsgardenclub.org

WED., JAN. 13: TOP BAR BEEHIVES BY DEAN COOK. Noon-2pm,
Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160.
 
MONDAYS., JAN. 25-FEB. 29: TEXAS GULF COAST GARDENER, TIER III: THE ART OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN. 9am-3pm. Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. 713-274-4160 
 
SAT., JAN. 30: WALLER COUNTY MASTER GARDENER ANNUAL FRUIT & NUTTREE SALE (and presale pickup), 10am-2pm, 850 Bus 290 N. Hempstead. txmg.org/wallermg
TUE., FEB 9: SHADE BARDENING BY GUDRUM OPPERMAN. 9 am. South County Community Center, 2235 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands. Free. Woodlands Garden Club event. www.thewoodlandsgardenclub.org


WED., FEB. 10: SPRING INTO YOUR LAWN - ORGANIC LAWN CARE & SPRINGTIME PREP BY BOB DAILEY. noon-2pm, Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160.

FRI., F
EB. 12: THE HOLISTIC GARDEN, BY DR. JOE NOVAK, 10:15am, White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Drive. Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org
 
TUE., MAR. 8: EASTER FLORAL DESIGN CONCEPTS BY TONY HUFFMAN. 9 am. South County Community Center, 2235 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands. Free. Woodlands Garden Club event. www.thewoodlandsgardenclub.org
 
WED. MAR. 9: MARCH MART VOLUNTEER TRAINING, 10:30-11:30am, MARCH MART PREVIEW OF SALE PLANTS, noon-2pm,
Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160.

FRI., MAR. 11: BULLET PROOF VIBURNUMS FOR THE GULF SOUTH BY DR. DAVID CREECH, 10:15am, White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Dr. Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org
 
WED. MAR. 12: MARCH MART VOLUNTEER TRAINING, 9:30-10:30am, and MARCH MART PREVIEW OF SALE PLANTS, noon-2pm, Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160.
 
FRI.-SAT., MAR. 18-19: MARCH MART, 8am-4pm, Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160.

TUE., APR. 12: PLANT PROPAGATION TECHNIQUES. 9 am. South County Community Center, 2235 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands. Free. Woodlands Garden Club event. www.thewoodlandsgardenclub.org 

FRI., APR. 9: XPLORING CREATIVITY BY LILLIAN RICO, 10:15am,  White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Drive. Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs event. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org
 
FRI., MAY 13: NIGHT SOUNDS - TWILIGHT WALK THROUGH THE GARDEN BY DEBBIE BANFIELD, 10:15am, White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Dr. Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs; houstonfederationgardenclubs.org
 
  
If we inspire you to attend any of these events,
please let them know
you heard about it in

THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS NEWSLETTER!
 
 
TO SUBMIT EVENTS:   
Find a similar event in our calendar below and copy the format EXACTLY. 
Then you can add additional information. Email to [email protected]
Not using our format will result in a delay in publication.   
Events will not be picked up from newsletters.
 
 
 
 
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                                                ABOUT US



 
BRENDA BEUST SMITH
 
WE KNOW HER BEST AS THE LAZY GARDENER . . . 

. . . but Brenda Beust Smith is also:

   * a national award-winning writer & editor
   * a nationally-published writer & photographer 
   * a national horticultural speaker
   * a former Houston Chronicle reporter
   
When the Chronicle discontinued Brenda's 45-year-old Lazy Gardener" print column a couple of years ago, it ranked as the longest-running, continuously-published local newspaper column in the Greater Houston area.

Brenda's gradual sideways step from Chronicle reporter into gardening writing led first to an 18-year series of when-to-do-what Lazy Gardener Calendars, then to her Lazy Gardener's Guide book and now to her Lazy Gardener's Guide on CD (which retails for $20. However, $5 of every sale is returned to the sponsoring group at her speaking engagements).

A Harris County Master Gardener, Brenda has served on the boards of many Greater Houston area horticulture organizations and has hosted local radio and TV shows, most notably a 10+-year Lazy Gardener run on HoustonPBS (Ch. 8) and her call-in "EcoGardening" show on KPFT-FM. 

Brenda recently ended her decades-long stint as Production Manager of the Garden Club of America's BULLETIN magazine. Although still an active horticulture lecturer and broad-based freelance writer,  Brenda's main focus now is  THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER with John Ferguson and Mark Bowen of Nature's Way Resources.

A native of New Orleans and graduate of St. Agnes Academy and the University of Houston, Brenda lives in Aldine and is married to the now retired Aldine High School Coach Bill Smith. They have one son, Blake.

Regarding this newsletter, Brenda is the lead writer, originator of it and the daily inspiration for it. We so appreciate the way she has made gardening such a fun way to celebrate life together for such a long time.
 
 
JOHN FERGUSON
 
John is a native Houstonian and has over 27 years of business experience. He owns Nature's Way Resources, a composting company that specializes in high quality compost, mulch, and soil mixes. He holds a MS degree in Physics and Geology and is a licensed Soil Scientist in Texas. 
 
John has won many awards in horticulture and environmental issues. He represents the composting industry on the Houston-Galveston Area Council for solid waste. His personal garden has been featured in several horticultural books and "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine. His business has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for the quality and value of their products. He is a member of the Physics Honor Society and many other professional societies.  John is is the co-author of the book Organic Management for the Professional. 
 
For this newsletter, John contributes articles regularly and is responsible for publishing it.


MARK BOWEN
 
Mark is a native Houstonian, a horticulturist, certified permaculturist and organic specialist with a background in garden design, land restoration and organic project management. He is currently the general manager of Nature's Way Resources. Mark is also the co-author of the book Habitat Gardening for Houston and Southeast Texas, the author of the book Naturalistic Landscaping for the Gulf Coast, co-author of theBayou Planting Guide and contributing landscape designer for the book Landscaping Homes: Texas. 
 
With respect to this newsletter, Mark serves as a co-editor and periodic article contributor.


PABLO HERNANDEZ
 
Pablo Hernandez is the special projects coordinator for Nature's Way Resources. His realm of responsibilities include: serving as a webmaster, IT support, technical problem solving/troubleshooting, metrics management, quality control, and he is a certified compost facility operator.
 
Pablo helps this newsletter happen from a technical support standpoint. 


 
 
COUPON: Nature's Way Resources. 20% off our: Garden Mix Light Plus. http://natureswayresources.com/products.html 
. (Offer good for retail purchases of this product by the cubic yard at Nature's Way Resources (101 Sherbrook Circle, Conroe TX). Expires 10/31/15.
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COUPON: Nature's Way Resources. 25% off our: PEAR TREES. 
 (Offer good for retail purchases of this product by the cubic yard at Nature's Way Resources (101 Sherbrook Circle, Conroe TX). Expires 10/31/15.
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