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Dear Friends,
Here is the 131st 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: lazygardenerandfriends@gmail.com. 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!
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SOCIETY SALES SECRET TO SPECIALITY SELECTIONS . . .
ANTS IN PLANTS? . . . RAMP UP YOUR PLANT SALE!
BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH
I see you, rose, half-opened having so many pages of detailed happiness we will never read. -- "Roses" by Rainer Maria Rilke (translated by David Need)
The beauty of having so many specialty plant societies in our area is the access their sales give us to unique colors, shapes, sizes and other desirable traits even before many new hybrids are on the market. Almost all our societies include internationally-recognized collectors, hybridizers and/or experts. We're home base for local, state, national and/or international groups specializing in African violets, amaryllis, begonias, bromeliads, cactus & succulents, camellias, chrysanthemums, daylilies, ferns, herbs, hibiscus, native plants, oleanders, palms, orchids, plumerias, roses/antique roses and trees. In addition, the Houston Garden Club annually puts a spotlight on bulbs and the River Oaks Garden Club on azaleas. For email contacts on all these, send your request to lazygardener@sbcglobal.net. Two opportunities to benefit from these area-based societies are coming up if you're in the market for often-hard-to-find 1. daylilies and/or 2. antique roses - definitely two plants that belong in "lazy" gardens. * WHEN IT COMES TO ANTIQUE ROSES, a real bonus is learning the history of named varieties you plant. At the Sat., Nov. 7, Texas Rose Rustlers Fall Cutting Exchange, for example, among the many cuttings Rustlers will be sharing include (above) l to r: Elizabeth of Goshen, Griff's Red, Antoine Rivoire and Carefree Beauty. It's nice to have a name, but doesn't it make each of these a little more interesting when you get great growing advice and learn that: ELIZABETH OF GOSHEN, hybridized by Ray Ponton (Taylor, TX), was named after a little Amish girl he met while traveling. 4' shrub. GRIFF'S RED was named for the late Dr. Griffith Buck, one of the world's greatest rose hybridizer who started focusing on low-care roses long before anyone was thinking in those terms! Griff's Red, considered one of the very best for this area, is a small-medium sized bush. But, here, it does best if allowed to lean up against a fence to hold up its arching canes. ANTOINE RIVOIRE is named for a French nurseryman. It gets an A+ rating - great scent, beautiful bloom and healthy bush. It starts out looking like a classy modern tea and ends up looking like a blousy antique...gorgeous! CAREFREE BEAUTY. Rustlers call this KATY ROAD PINK, the name it was given when found on Katy Road. EarthKind, so very hardy. Versatile - can grow large or kept small for container, train as climber on fence or wall, prune as hedge (with hedge clippers). Large flat flowers visible from afar. The free Nov. 7 Fall Cutting Exchange starts a 12:30-ish pm at Independence General Store, 9400 Lueckemeyer Road in Independence (not far from Antique Rose Emporium). TheTexasRoseRustlers@texasroserustlers.com
Sure to sell out quickly are these treasures at the Nov. 7 Daylily Sale: Above, l t r, Black Velvet Elvis, Cherry Pie Delight and Golden Tear Drops. Below, l to r, Ida's Magic, Olympic Showcase and
Wisest of Wizards. Pictures courtesy of The Daylily Society Cultivar Database, www.daylilies.org
DAYLILIES - Talk about great stories behind plant names . . . Mary Gage of Spring Creek Daylily Farm in Spring reports Anna Rose Glidden, another area daylily pillar, hybridized Black Velvet Elvis. When Anna Rose's son Tommy saw this bloom, he immediately thought about all the Elvis-on-black-velvet paintings they saw at flea markets and convinced his mother how easily "Black Velvet Elvis" rolls off the tongue. A perfect name! Ida's Magic - World-famous hybridizer Bill Munson's mother was named Ida. Bill Munson was considered, to quote one website, "the ultimate master of the daylily world." And a nice son to boot! So, when you're pursuing the 165 fans of more than 40 different daylily varieties at this sale (which will include other plants as well), be sure to ask about name origins. Saturday, Nov. 7, Houston Area Daylily Society fall plant sale, 10am-2pm, during St. Andrew Episcopal Church's Fall Festival, 1819 Heights Blvd. Speaking of daylilies and Mary Gage, the sad news is that her Spring Creek Daylily Farm in Spring is up for sale. Changing times are hard on ol' gardeners. I bought many a Christmas present daylily there. Mary has been one of my top go-to daylily gurus for more decades than I can remember and has hybridized too many gorgeous bloomers to count. Spring Creek Daylily Farm won't be forgotten, Mary! Details: mary@springcreekdaylily.com * * *
"Fire ants are God's way of reminding us we're not in charge."
Cheri Jantzen wrote in asking for help with a garden club program on coping with fire ants in container plants. Ironically, about the same time, in comes a notice from Crystal Simmons about a free program on . . . Ta! Da! . . . ants! WED., NOV. 11: FIRE ANTS & CRAZY ANTS BY DR. PAUL NESTER, noon-2pm, Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160. As longtime readers know, I don't like to discuss treatments. My approach is that if you have plants that are unacceptably damaged by insects and disease, don't treat. Get rid of those plants and replace them with plants that are not unacceptably damaged by insects or disease in your area. Although it may surprise you to hear it, ants are considered beneficials in the garden, even fire ants. They are among our most efficient soil aerators and eat fleas, ticks roaches, chinch bugs, mosquito eggs/larva and many insects that devour our plants. Humans are a food of last choice. The first step is to identify which ants you have - natives, fire ants or crazy plants. Attend Dr. Nester's talk with samples of your ants. Or google "Texas A&M ants." You'll find pictures and info on each online. One website: http://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/household/ants-house/ent-2013/Ants usually aren't initially after plants. But once established, they may attack roots. Provide water and shelter and chances are they'll stick around. Make life uncomfortable and hopefully they'll move on. If you have a bad invasion, lift plants out, wash soil off roots (carefully!) and replant with new soil. Since this site has probably been identified now as a good one for ant habitat, try these "cultural" relocation tricks: 1. Check plant leaves. Ants love "honeydew," the droppings of aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies and other leaf-attacking insects. Eliminate with a hard water spray every morning on undersides of leaves. Ants might leave too. 2. Submerge smaller pots in larger tubs filled with water up to, but not over, the plant rim. Leave for an hour or so, then set the pot up on a rack so the drain hole is free and all excess water can drain out. 3. About the only thing you can do with larger containers is to tilt them sideways, dump the whole plant out and (from a safe distance), wash all the soil off with a strong water spray. Clean the pot with a strong spray. Replant with new soil, perhaps trying some of these remedies: a. Worth a try: mix into new soil cayenne pepper, cinnamon oil, peppermint oil, lemon oil and/or cedar mulch. These won't hurt your plants. One drop of the oils when you water should work too. b. Place tight-gauge mesh fabric on the inside bottom of the pot, over the drainage hole to let water drain out but stop ants from entering. Nothing will keep out ants determined to get in, but they're not going where the going is too difficult. c. Double-backed tapes or sticky strips around the base of the pot will keep them from going up the sides. d. Ants don't enjoy swimming. Create a "moat" around the bottom of the pot by setting it on a raised platform inside a larger pot saucer kept full of water. Don't let the pot touch water. P.S. Don't pour boiling water, vinegar or alcohol on live plants unless you're trying to kill the plants too.
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MEMO FROM BRENDA: We truly do want everyone's horticulture event notices in our calendar. But do know that we do NOT pick up event notices from other newsletters. They must be submitted specifically for publication in the Lazy Gardener & Friends Newsletter. If event notices are submitted in our EXACT calendar style ( Day, date, title, presenter, time, site, fee/free, sponsor, contact for details), they will be copied and pasted into the next upcoming calendar. See calendar below for events similar to yours. Copy formatting EXACTLY. If information has to be rewritten/reformatted into our style, the notice will be filed until someone has time to do it. This will usually mean a delay in publication. Submit to: lazygardener@sbcglobal.net. * * *IN OUR SPOTLIGHT ARTICLE BELOW, The Great Grow Program Director Diana Miller shares her expertise on how to take your organization's plant sale to the next level. The Great Grow is a nonprofit group in the Fort Bend area that encourages gardening by supporting local school gardens and other activities with the assistance of fundraising and corporate grants.
Brenda's column in the LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER is based on her
45+ years as the Houston Chronicle's Lazy Gardener. Brenda's gardening "book" - the Lazy Gardener's Guide on CD (a pdf publication) - is available wholesale to clubs as a fundraising item. Details: lazygardener@sbcglobal.net
A sample of components of The Great Grow's successful plant sales, l to r, Beekeeper Nancy Hentschel offers neat instructions, St. Theresa's School Garden won a The Great Grow's awards, lots of great plants for sale in attractive settings and help from local plant suppliers, such as these from Treesearch Farms.
IS YOUR CLUB PLANT SALE WILTING FASTER
THAN PLANTS IN AN AUGUST GARDEN? By DIANA MILLER
Now that many Fall Garden Club Plant Sales are wrapping up, some with disappointing results, the rash decision may be to give it all up. Time, physical labor and falling revenue can make the toughest gardeners decide to throw in the towel. But giving up may not be your best option. Renew and revive! Why do some club plant sales fail when Farmer's Markets and quaint festivals are thriving? Now is the time to start "out of the box" thinking and planning. * Change of Venue: Repeat locations year after year may tap out neighborhood buyers. Where is the buying public going for local events? One idea: be a vendor in a larger event if volunteers are limited. * Marketing: Get training. Establish contacts with local media; negotiate advertising discounts. * Keep advertising fresh. Most clubs rely on the same small advertisers providing a small business card advertisement. * Consider corporate sponsorships (often more available than you realize) even with low/no fees the first year. These can substantial revenue and are often required by national headquarters. Sponsorships can bring in $1,000 or more depending upon event size. In the case of a rain cancellation, this is not money lost. * Building the Right Team: Allow newcomers to assume challenging roles. Members in same position too long bring complacency. Try two-year limits and switching roles. Query new members for specific business skills to help a sale. Make use of them. * Don't challenge every new idea or allow Debbie Downers to criticize every action but offer little support. Encourage. Experiment. If a new idea fails, move on and learn from it. * Visit successful events and retail nurseries, not just plant sales. What are people buying? Offer unique and special plants, but also impulse purchase, high profit plants * Sell for the Public: Don't get caught in the trap of selling only plants your plant committee values most. My personal favorite/ top seller: Brookwood Community's color pot in matching sets for instant front porch décor. * Technology: Simple inventory control and sales processing is available for even the smallest sales. Manual systems limit sales potential, confusing both buyer and volunteer. Sales processing programs provide wealth of information that cannot be duplicated in any manual system. * Most importantly, have fun. It will never be perfect and mistakes will be made along the way. But plant sales should bring the club together to work on a worthy project.
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JOHN'S CORNER
"What Is A Healthy Soil"
(Part 2)
Last week we found that healthy soil is a combination of the components below:
1) Organic matter from almost fresh to totally decomposed in the form of humus (humins, humic and fulmic acids)
2) Minerals (nutrients, sand, silt and clay)
3) Soil life (microbes and macrobes)
4) Air & water
5) Plant choices
6) Care for and do not destroy the health of the soil one has
This week we are going to look at the first two components organic matter and minerals and the role they play in a healthy soil.
1) Organic matter - What do you think of when you hear the term organic matter?
Humus, plant waste like leaves and twigs, animal waste like manures, dead bodies of animal's or insects and microorganisms?
Sometimes, people use the terms organic matter and humus interchangeably, however, all organic matter is not humus but all humus is organic matter. In general humus is the mythical and elusive dark brown to almost black substance that doesn't dissolve in water easily but can hold over 15 times its weight in water. It will often be 30% each lignin, protein, and complex sugars. It will contain 3-5% nitrogen (N), 55-60% carbon (C), and has a C:N ratio of 10:1. It is a major component of good quality compost and helps give compost the dark chocolate brown to almost black color.
What are some of the major functions of humus in the soil?
It is the source of food and energy supporting most soil dwelling life forms. Humus is continuously broken down into humic acid, fulmic acid and humins, vitamins, enzymes, and minerals. Two of the major functions performed by humus is holding nutrients till needed (prevents leaching) and holding water till needed. It also buffers pH and adds tilth to soils. However, the most important function may be regulating the availability of minerals in the correct proportions to each other and providing food for the beneficial microbes.
The amount of humus required for a healthy soil is determined by our plant choices. Many plants like azaleas, ferns, ivies, blueberries, will grow in pure organic matter with extremely high levels of humus. However, if we grow cactus, the soil should have very low levels of organic matter especially humus. In this case the high water holding capacity and nutrient levels in humus will lead to root rot and plant death.
As a general rule, plants that grow in shady moist conditions require lots of organic matter and humus (up to 100%); plants that grow in the sun prefer about 25% organic matter by volume, and the desert plants and many succulents only 1-2% humus.
Price point at your local nursery will tell you what you are buying, if you are paying $6 or less per bag it is probably fresh organic matter like sawdust and contains zero humus. This low quality organic matter causes gardening problems from insects and disease, to nutrient tie-up and poor plant growth. This is the reason so many people say they have a "brown thumb", they use low quality materials. To use the computer analogy, "garbage in = garbage out". Translated to gardening, "cheap low quality soils = lots of problems and eventual death of plants".
2) Minerals- the mineral requirement in a soil for healthy plant growth is a subject that is constantly being changed and expanded every year. First it was assumed that plants only needed NPK (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) the macro-nutrients. Later in was discovered that calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and sulphur (S) were required. Over the last 25 years research has shown that zinc (Zn) and a little sodium (Na) were essential. Research over the last 10 years has shown that boron (B) is essential.
There are about 90 elements found in the earth's crust and seawater hence we still have dozens of elements to go.
What about aluminum (Al)? The synthetic fertilizer industry says it is not required by plants. However when plant tissue is chemically analyzed it is present in small amounts. Other tests have shown that some plants grown in soils without aluminum will die, while others tests have shown plants without aluminum are disease prone and are subject to higher rates of insect damage.
What about cobalt (Co)? Most agricultural scientists say it is not required by plants. The vitamin B-12 regulates the immune system of mammals (including humans) and it is essential for hemoglobin formation and for prevention of nerve degeneration. For us as people whom consume food to obtain minerals, the mineral must be in the food we eat. This means it has to be in the plants, which means it has to be present and available in the soil for microbes to build the B-12 molecule. No cobalt in the soil means, no vitamin B-12 in our food.
Recently it has been discovered that Cobalt is needed in legumes for nodule formation and nitrogen conversion, seeds started without cobalt will not grow into a viable plants. It has also been found in the bodies of microorganisms that live in the soil.
How about Selenium (Se)? This element is not generally thought of as a plant nutrient. However it is important in protecting humans against chronic degenerative diseases, as it is required in the production of powerful antioxidants such as vitamin E and glutathione peroxidase. Medical studies have found that America's "Stroke Belt" runs right across America where selenium content in soils is low. Is selenium important? - You bet it is.
How important are these other minerals? Studies have shown that people who live in igneous areas with highly mineralized soil and water, the Huntas, the Vilcabambas, etc. have life spans averaging 127 years old, without the aid of medical technology. Current theory, confirmed by animal tests, indicates the presence of these minerals in the water and soil absorbed into their food, allows the human body to work more efficiently to repair itself, prevent disease and slow down the aging process.
The message I want to leave with you is that, "We as scientists do not really know for sure what is important and what's not". As a result, soil scientists researching organic methods, take the position of having all minerals be present in the soil and then let the plants and microbes take what they want and need. Sort of like when we go to the cafeteria to eat, dozens of items to choose from but we only take a few, and different people take different things.
If you want to learn more about trace elements and health there is an excellent lecture recorded about 15 years ago. Ninety percent of what Dr. Wallach presents has been confirmed by other researchers. The lecture is very entertaining as Dr. Wallach presents the information in a humorous fashion. A CD of this lecture can be found at many health food stores or online for only $3-4.
"Dead Doctors Don't Lie", By Joel Wallach, DVM, N.D, - Excellent lecture on nutrition, trace minerals and health
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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 lazygardener@sbcglobal.net.
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!
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; info@peckerwoodgarden.org
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 leslie.j.wong@gmail.com
SAT., NOV. 7: TEXAS ROSE RUSTLERS' FALL CUTTING EXCHANGE, 12:30(ish), Independence General Store, 9400 Lueckemeyer Rd, Independence. Free. TheTexasRoseRustlers@texasroserustlers.com
MON., NOV. 9: SELECTING FRUIT TREES FOR YOUR YARD BY RAY SHER, 6:30pm, Moody Park Community Center, 3725 Fulton. Free. Houston Urban Gardeners (HUG) event. www.houstonurbangardeners.org
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
WED., NOV 11: SUCCULENTS & LICHENS OF KATY PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY LANDS BY WALLACE WARD, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, 1500 Hermann Dr. Free. Houston Cactus & Succulent Society event. hcsstx.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. Free.
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: 43 rd 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
SAT., NOV 14; TREE SALE, 8 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. Kingwood Garden Club, Kingwood Library, 4400 Bens Branch Rd, Kingwood. Free. 281-414-7134. kingwoodgardenclub.org
SAT., NOV. 14: HERBS IN THE GARDEN BY CINDY CROFT, 1-3pm, AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Free. Galveston County Master Gardener event. 281-534-3413; galv@wt.net,
SAT., NOV. 14: PRUNING & PREPARING FRUITING TREES & VINES FOR WINTER BY BILL ADAMS, 10am, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball. Reservations: arborgate.com; 281-351-8851
SAT., NOV. 14: AWAKING THE DREAMER, CHANGING THE DREAM, 9am-3pm, Houston Green Building Resource Center, 1002 Washington Avenue. RSVP required: 832-394-9050; steve.stelzer@houstontx.gov; greenhoustontx.gov/gbrceducation.pdf
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.com ; 281-403-9269
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; galv@wt.net, www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galvestonTHURS., NOV. 19: NATIVE PLANT & SEED SWAP AND POTLUCK DINNER, 6:30-9:00pm, Houston Arboretum in Memorial Park, 4501 Woodway Dr, Houston. Free. Native Plant Society of Texas-Houston Chapter event. nphouston1@gmail.com, http://npsot.org/wp/houston/.
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; 281-855-5600SAT., 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 SAT., DEC. 5: BACKYARD BASICS: FRUIT AND NUTS, 9-11am, Extension Office, 1402 Band Rd., Rosenberg. $15. Fort Bend AgriLife Extension Service/Fort Bend Master Gardener event. Registration: 281-342-3034, fortbend.agrilife.org/backyard-basics
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.
THUR., JAN. 14: FORT BEND COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS PREVIEW OF THE FRUIT & CITRUS TREE SALE, 6:30-8:30pm, Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Rd., Rosenberg. Free. 281-341-7068; www.fbmg.org .
SAT., JAN. 16: FORT BEND COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ANNUAL FRUIT & CITRUS TREE SALE, 9am-1pm or sold out, Fort Bend County Fairground Barn-H, 4310 Highway 36S, Rosenberg. 281-341-7068; www.fbmg.org
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/wallermgWED., 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., FEB. 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
SAT., FEB. 20: FORT BEND COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS PREVIEW FOR THE VEGETABLE- HERB PLANT SALE, 9-11am, Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Rd., Rosenberg. Free. 281 341-7068, www.fbmg.org
SAT. FEB. 27: FORT BEND COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ANNUAL VEGETABLE-HERB PLANT SALE, 9am-noon, Fort Bend County Extension Office, 1402 Band Rd., Rosenberg. 281 341-7068, www.fbmg.org
TUES., 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
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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.
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. (Offer good for retail purchases of this product by the cubic yard at Nature's Way Resources (101 Sherbrook Circle, Conroe TX). Expires 11/14/15.
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| COUPON: Nature's Way Resources. 30% off all trees & shrubs including fruit trees, shade trees, antique roses and much more.
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