January 15, 2016

Dear Friends,

Here is the 141st 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!
 







 
COLD WEATHER COLOR . . . FRUIT TREE TIPS 
    
BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH  

A wizard of the Merrimac, -
So old ancestral legends say, -
Could call green leaf and blossom back
To frosted stem and spray.
"Flowers in Winter" by John Greenleaf Whittier

I love plant recommendations from our local independent nurserymen. 

They want us to be happy. They need our repeat business. Ergo, they are going to be particular about the plants they suggest we purchase.

They aren't dependent on wholesale buyers who are making selections for a national chain of stores. They buy with their local customers in mind.

That's not to say they won't carry plants that might be iffy here.

The problem is a lot of us insist on consulting national magazines and online resources for plant advice. Or, if we're from points north of here, we insist on thinking that what we did "up nawth" is the best way to garden here.

When, in March, some national expert tells us pansies should be "planted now," we head for the nursery.  If there are no pansies available (March is too late to plant pansies here), some of us get irritated.

Some of us will complain and when the nursery staff try to explain, we don't want to hear that because we think we know better.

So, to keep all of us happy, they HAVE to carry plants that they'd rather not sell to us because one thing's for sure, an angry customer is certainly never going to return.

February is traditionally our coldest month and lord knows what March will be like. However, it's pretty safe to say that many of the fall flowers still now blooming - December and January have been so unusually warm and wet - will take that opportunity to get in at least a little dormancy.

Remember, dormancy is important to many plants if they're going to make it through our exceptionally hot summers. Now's a good time to put in some cold-tolerate/cold-requiring bloomers that do well here when temperatures drop.

Here are some more local independent nurserymen-recommended great "winter" performers to add to the ones mentioned in the January 8 LG&F Newsletter:


These can take our cold! Left to right, Dianthus 'Jolt Pink' (the 2015 AAS Bedding Plant Award Winner),
Potunia (a new rounded, bubble-like growth) and the fast-growing, mounding Lobularia 'Lavender Stream."

Both Beverly Welch of The Arbor Gate and Denise Henry of Enchanted Gardens/Enchanted Forest listed lobularia and dianthus.  Denise got specific with Lobularia 'Raspberry Stream' and Dianthus 'Jolt Pink.' Beverly likes Sweet William forms of dianthus.

Beverly also listed Arrow snapdragons and Gazania 'Big Kiss."  Denise added potunias, a new rounder form of petunias.


Left to right, Sweet William Dianthus.  Center: The Arrow series of snapdragons.  Right, Gazania 'Big Kiss.'

Nature's Way Resources' John Ferguson's traditional favorite winter/early spring bloomers include nasturtiums and fragrant stocks. He loves sweet peas but warns they can be a challenge here. Some years they're spectacular, sometimes not.  Anyone have any secrets to sweet pea success? Do share.


Left to right, fragrant stocks, nasturtiums, sweet peas

Have a friend or neighbor new to "winter" gardening in the Greater Houston area?  Forward this newsletter to them. Maybe it'll help. Be sure and warn them that when the soil starts heating up in March, many if not most traditional colder region spring bloomers will start to fade here.

We plant these in December and (barring a prolonged subfreezing spell) they'll bloom through March and maybe even April or later.  But don't take it personally if they don't! 

We have too many great almost-year-round bloomers that thrive here to fret over those few plants that demand more cold than our subtropical climate provides.

***

POTPOURRI:

*  TAXING OL' BRAINS . . .  Mercer Botanic Gardens has a new phone number: 713-274-4160. Sigh...

*  TIP O' THE TROWEL to Texas' "Dirt Doctor," Howard Garrett for his tips on how to become more environmentally-positive in your neighborhood and own yard: "Really Going Green." This free newsletter is so worth reading.  Do subscribe!

***

HOPE YOU'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE of all the fruit tree sales this month and next.  Many fruit trees are available in both edible and/or strictly ornamental varieties. Even if a variety is edible, it might not be very tasty. 

The right variety for your area is so key to success. If you missed our area Fruit Tree Sale List, it was in our Dec. 31 LG&F Newsletter. 

Purchasing the right variety is only the beginning, of course.  In our Spotlight below, Montgomery County Master Gardener Bob Dailey lists the Top 10 mistakes gardeners make growing fruit trees. If you have more questions, check out that link above to the Dec. 31 Fruit Tree Sale listings.  Or drop by one in your area or look for Bob at:

* SAT., JAN. 16: FRUIT TREES - SELECTION, PLANTING, PRUNING, SPRAYING & CARE, 9-11am, Extension Office, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. Montgomery County Master Gardener event. $5. 936-539-7824, mcmga.com.
* TUES., FEB. 16: PLANTING AND CARE OF FRUIT TREES BY BOB DAILEY, 5:30-7:30 pm, Montgomery South Library, 2101 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands. Free. gardeninginthewoodlands.com

   
*** 
PLEASE -- IF YOU EMAIL ME EITHER FOR THE NEWSLETTER AND/OR A GARDENING QUESTION AND YOU DON'T GET A RESPONSE FROM ME, ASSUME I DID NOT RECEIVE IT AND SEND IT AGAIN! 
lazygardener@sbcglobal.net



*  *  *


 



Planting, care & winter protection sketches from Texas A&M
aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/citrus/

  
TOP 10 MISTAKES  
GARDENERS MAKE WITH FRUIT TREES

By BOB DAILEY
MONTGOMERY COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS


 Gardeners love to be able to walk outside and pick ripe fruit from a tree they have planted themselves. But even we experienced gardeners can make mistakes when planting and caring for them. Here are a few things you shouldn't do when planting and caring for fruit trees.

1.    Plant at the wrong time of the year. Winter- when they are dormant - is the best time to put in fruit trees.
 
2.    Put a $50 plant into a $3 hole. Do have your soil tested. Most plants like a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Amend the soil.

3.    Underestimate the size of the adult tree. That plum sapling might look small now, but in five years, it will have a spread of 6- 8 feet, and be just as high.
 
4.    Improperly prune before planting. The internet has a large number of videos on pruning fruit trees.

5.    Forget soil amendments. Fruit trees need nutrients. Good compost and organic fertilizer work.
 
6.    Neglect to feed the soil. Maintaining a healthy microbial population in the soil is vitally important to the health of the tree.

7.    Plant the wrong variety. Check with experts about which varieties do best here. A great list of varieties that do well in our area can be found at: Aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu

8.    Water too much or too little. A fruit tree needs water, but doesn't need to be drowned. Most people water too much. Watering a plant every day will cause root rot and kill the plant. Water deeply twice a week. Water at the base of the tree, not up on its leaves, and water in the morning. If it rains during the week, forego or shorten watering times.

9.    Confuse mulch and compost. Compost is almost completely degraded (composted) organic material. Mulch is generally shredded and aged wood chips, leaves, straw and the like.
 
10.  Neglect berms and mulch. Build a little "wall" around the edge of the hole with the soil left over from the planting. This will help hold in water. Mulch inside the berm. Keep the mulch at least 6" from the tree trunk.


Contact Bob at bdailey@wjpa.org or look for him at . . .
* SAT., JAN. 16: FRUIT TREES - SELECTION, PLANTING, PRUNING, SPRAYING & CARE, 9-11am, Extension Office, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. Montgomery County Master Gardener event. $5. 936-539-7824, mcmga.com.
* TUES., FEB. 16: PLANTING AND CARE OF FRUIT TREES BY BOB DAILEY, 5:30-7:30 pm, Montgomery South Library, 2101 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands. Free. gardeninginthewoodlands.com
 

JOHN'S CORNER 


WEEDS and HERBICIDES: ROUND-UP - UPDATE 3




A lot has happened over the last few months since my last update. Several more countries have banned GMO crops. The list now includes Venezula, Italy, Austria, Poland Wales, Germany, Slovenia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Latavia, France, Cyprus, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Poland, Germany, Greece, Croatia, Hungry, Slovenia,Tiawan and Italy. While at home the USDA, EPA and the President Obama admisistration continue to try and ram GMO's down the throats of the American people, even appointing former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack (pro BioTech Governor of the Year) as USDA secretary. In spite of this marketing and manipulation effort, several states and a few counties in other states have banned the planting of GMO crops and are requiring labeling.  

Note: The DARK (Deny Americans the Right To Know) act was temporarily defeated in congress. Monsanto and its congressioal pawns are now trying to attach it to a financial spending act as a rider.

Round-Up ready crops have been a dismal failure as they were designed to reduce herbicide usage. A 2009 study showed over the previous 13 years that Round-Up usage increased by 383 million pounds just the opposite of what was promised. The federal courts ruled that approval of GMO alafalfa violated as it failed to analyze the risks properly. Consumers whom ingest GM alfalfa (or eat the meat from animals fed GM alafalfa) are likely risking their health. Even the USDA amits that "acute toxicity in mice were observed".


From the Paper: "Monsanto Hid Evidence of Roundup As A Human Carcinogen"

A new paper by Anthony Samsel and Stephanie Seneff shows that Monsanto's own studies demonstrated unqualified links to cancer for over 30 years. Entitled "Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases IV: cancer and related pathologies," the authors use Monsanto's own studies that had been sealed by the EPA. Samsels "freedom of information requests pried out of the EPA's files, and demonstrates that glyphosate fed to rats produced tumors and cancers throughout the organs and glands of the animals. Similarly, many types of cancers, including thyroid, liver, bladder, pancreatic, kidney and myeloid leukemia have risen in the US population in parallel with their increased exposure to glyphosate in the food supply. The authors cite over 250 studies, that Glyphosate ties up key nutrition elements which shut down metabolic pathways, and that it is also an antibiotic that kills off beneficial gut bacteria (explains why we have to take probiotics now to stay healthy). It also damages the mitochondria and throws off the delicate balance of the hormonal system. They also demonstrate how the same disruptions are likely contributing to a whole host of other diseases, including autism, diabetes, kidney disease, and fatty liver disease. They also found that very low dose exposure did the greatest damage. Note: As a result Monsanto quit testing for low dose exposure. In addition they found that ghlyphosate also causes DNA damage. Other findings were glyphosate was associated with an 80% increase in melanoma and that it stimulated the growth of human breast cancer cells.

Since most corn is now GMO we need to quit eating corn chips and salsa unless they are made from GMO free corn. Ask your Mexican resturant if they serve corn chips from GMO corn and if they do, find aother restaurant. I suspect other corn chip products like Frito's and Doritos would also be dangerous to our health if they are made with GMO corn (only a label would let us know).
 
On the positive side Cambell's soups have annouced they will label products that contain GMO's and will try to remove them from their products.  Chipotle's Resturants have already stated they will not serve any food made with GMO's.
 






   *   *   *
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 
 

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 
 
SAT., JAN. 16: COUSHATTA CAMELLIA SOCIETY SHOW, 1-4pm, First Christian Church Fellowship Building, 3500 N. Loop 336 W, Conroe. Don Marcotte, 936-661-1101. funny-farm2@sbcglobal.net

SAT., JAN. 16: FRUIT TREES - SELECTION, PLANTING, PRUNING, SPRAYING & CARE, 9-11am, Montgomery County Extension Office, Tom LeRoy Education Center, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. Master Gardener event. $5. 936-539-7824, mcmga.com

SAT., JAN. 16: WEDGE GRAFTING by SUE JEFFCO, 9-11am; KITCHEN GARDENING by MARY DEMENY, 1-3pm, AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Free. 281-534-3413. Reservations. 
SAT., JAN. 16 - URBAN HARVEST 2016 FRUIT TREE SALE -- 9am-1pm (or sell-out), Rice University Stadium; 5600 Greenbriar Dr.  713-880-5540, urbanharvest.org/fruit-tree-sale
 
SAT, JAN 16; SOILS & COMPOST BY HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 10 am-Noon. Maude Smith Marks Library, 1815 Westgreen Blvd., Katy. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu;  281-855-5600
 
MON., JAN. 18: OPEN GARDEN DAY/PLANT SALE by HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS AT PRECINCT 2, 8:30-11am, Genoa Friendship Garden,1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd. Free.  hcmga.tamu.edu
 
TUES., JAN. 19: GARDENING BY THE SQUARE FOOT by JOHN JONS,6:30-8 p.m., at Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Free. 281-534-3413. Reservations.  aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston
 
TUES., JAN 19; SOILS & COMPOST by HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 6:30-8:30 pm, Spring Branch Memorial Library, 930 Corbindale. Free. 281-855-5600

THURS., JAN. 21: WALLER COUNTY MASTER GARDENER 2016 INTERN TRAINING PROGRAM BEGINS. Registration ($160; Jan. 11 deadline).  www.txmg.org/wallermg.

THURS., JAN. 21: PLANTING AND PRUNING: FRUIT TREES by ROBERT "SKIP" RICHTER, 6:30pm, Harris County AgriLife Extension auditorium, 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Free. Gulf Coast Fruit Study Group event. Diana Groce, 281-855-5600

SAT., JAN. 23: MONTGOMERY COUNTY MASTER GARDENER FRUIT AND NUT TREE SALE, 8am program, 9am-noon sale, Montgomery Co. Extension Office, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. 936-539-7824. mcmga.com
 
SAT., JAN 23: SPRING VEGGIES 101 WITH URBAN HARVEST, 10-11am, Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th. Free. 713-861-5702; buchanansplants.com

SUN., JAN 24: SPRING VEGGIES 201 by LARRY WASHCO, 2-3pm, Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th. Free. 713-861-5702. buchanansplants.com
 
MON., JAN. 25: GARDEN MAKEOVER by PAULA GOODWIN, 6:45-8pm, Brightwater Clubhouse, 2410 Brightwater Dr., Missouri City. Free. Brightwater Garden Club event. brightwatergardenclub.com; 281-403-9269

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 
 
TUES., JAN 26: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS OPEN GARDEN DAY AND SEMINAR: SOILS & COMPOST, 9-11:30 am, 3033 Bear Creek Drive. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu; 281-855-5600
 
TUES. JAN, 26: JUNIOR MASTER GARDNER LEARN, GROW, EAT, GO TEACHER/LEADER COMMUNITY PATNER TRAINING, AgriLife Extension Service, 3033  Bear Creek Dr., $30. Reservations; 713-274-0978

SAT., JAN. 30: WALLER COUNTY MASTER GARDENER ANNUAL FRUIT & NUTTREE SALE (and presale pickup), 10am-2pm, 850 Bus 290 N. Hempstead. txmg.org/wallermg
SAT,  JAN.  30 HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER ANNUAL FRUIT & NUT TREE SALE & LECTURES, 9am-1pm (or sell-out), Bear Creek Park; 3033 Bear Creek Dr. 281-855-5600; hcmga.tamu.edu 
 
SAT., JAN 30: GROWING BERRIES WITH URBAN HARVEST, 10-11am, Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th. Free. 713-861-5702; buchanansplants.com 

TUES., FEB. 2: KEYHOLE & PALLET GARDENING, 11am-noon, Thomas A. Glazier Senior Education Center, 16600 Pine Forest Lane. Free. pct3.com/senior-centers

SAT., FEB. 6: COUSHATTA CAMELLIA SOCIETY SHOW, 1-4pm, Katy and E. Don Walker, Sr. Education Center, 1400 19th St., Huntsville. Don Marcotte, 936-661-1101. funny-farm2@sbcglobal.net

SAT., FEB 6: TOMATO TIME by THE GUNTHERS, 9-10am, Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th. Free. 713-861-5702; buchanansplants.com 

TUES., FEB 9: SHADE GARDENING by GUDRUM OPPERMAN. 9 am. South County Community Center, 2235 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands. Free. Woodlands Garden Club event. 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.

WED., FEB. 10: GROWING TOMATOES by JEAN FEFER, 1-2pm, 16600 Pine Forest Lane. Free. pct3.com/senior-centers 
 
THURS., FEB. 11: ROSE PRUNING DONE RIGHT, 7:30pm, Cheri Flores Garden Pavillion,  1500 Hermann Dr.. Free. Houston Rose Society event. houstonrose.org 

THURS., FEB. 11: SHELDON PARK WETLAND RESTORATION by ANDREW SIPOCZ, 10-11:30am, Clear Lake Meeting Room, 5001 Nasa Parkway.  Free. Harris County Master Gardener event. hcmga.tamu.edu

THURS, FEB 11: SPRING VEGETABLE GARDENING by HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 6:30-8:30 pm. Barbara Bush Library, 6817 Cypresswood Dr., Spring. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu
  
FRI., FEB. 12: THE HOLISTIC GARDEN by DR. JOE NOVAK, 10:15am, White Oak Conference Center, 7603 AntoineDrive. Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org
 
SAT,  FEB. 13: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER, PRECINCT 2, ANNUAL FRUIT TREE & TOMATO SALE, Pre-Sale Talk: 8am; Sale: 9am-1pm (or sell-out).  Pasadena Convention Center; 7902 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX 77507 281-855-5600; hcmga.tamu.edu

SAT,  FEB. 13: BRAZORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER ANNUAL FRUIT TREE SALE, 8 AM - 12 PM, Brazoria County Fairgrounds, 901 South Downing Road, Angleton. txmg.org/brazoria/
MON., FEB. 15: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS AT PRECINCT 2 OPEN GARDEN DAY & PLANT SALE WITH, 8:30-11am, Genoa Friendship Garden,1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu   

TUES., FEB. 16: NEWEST RESEARCH ON BUTTERFLY GARDENING by NANCY GREIG, 10am, St. Basil Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land. Free; Sugar Land Garden Club event.  Sugarlandgardenclub.org
TueS., Feb. 16, Rose Gardening & pruning demo by BAXTER WILLIAMS, 11am-Noon, Thomas A. Glazier Senior Education Center, 16600 Pine Forest Lane. Free. pct3.com/senior-centers

TUES., FEB 16; SPRING VEGETABLE GARDENING by HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 6:30-8:30 pm, Spring Branch Memorial Library, 930 Corbindale. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu; 281-855-5600

WED., FEB. 17: MASTER PLAN FOR THE HOUSTON BOTANIC GARDEN by ADRIAAN GUEZE / 2016 NANCY STALLWORTH THOMAS HORTICULTURE LECTURE, 10am, Bagby Hall, St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Rd. at Woodway. Free. Garden Club of Houston event. gchouston.org
 
THURS., FEB 18; SPRING VEGETABLE GARDENING by HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 6:30-8:30 pm. Freeman Branch Library, 16616 Diana Lane.Free. hcmga.tamu.edu; 281-855-5600

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 20; SPRING VEGETABLE GARDENING by HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 10 am-Noon. Maude Smith Marks Library, 1815 Westgreen Blvd., Katy. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu; 281-855-5600
 
TUES., FEB 23: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS OPEN GARDEN DAY AND SEMINAR: SPRING VEGETABLE GARDENING, 9-11:30 am, 3033 Bear Creek Drive. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu; 281-855-5600

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  
 
THURS., MAR. 3: BULBS FOR NATURALIZING ON THE GULF COAST by LINDA GAY, 9:30am,  Municipal Utility Building #81, 805 Hidden Canyon Drive, Katy.  Free.  Nottingham Country Garden Club event.  SAT., MAR. 5:  SPRING GARDENING SEMINAR by PAUL EYRE, HERMAN AUER, TREY BETHKE, PAM ROMIG, 10am-4pm, Waller County Road & Bridge Bldg., 775 Business 290 East, Hempstead. $25 pre-register by Mar. 3. Waller County Master Gardener event. txmg.org/wallermg; 979-826-7651; wallermgardener2013@gmail.com

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. 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.

THURS, MAR. 10: RAISED BEDS & LOW VOLUME IRRIGATION by HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS, 6:30-8:30 pm. Barbara Bush Library, 6817 Cypresswood Dr., Spring. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu; 281-855-5600
 
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.-SUN., MAR. 11-13: LEADING WITH LANDSCAPE II: HOUSTON TRANSFORMATION CONFERENCE. Cultural Landscape Foundation event. Mar. 11 - Conference (Early registration rates). Mar. 12-13 - free, expert-led tours of historic parks & projects. tclf.org

TUES., MAR. 15: CREATING FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS FROM YOUR GARDEN by AMY NEUGEBAUER, 10am, St. Basil Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land. Free; Sugar Land Garden Club event.  Sugarlandgardenclub.org

TUES., MAR. 15; RAISED BEDS & LOW VOLUME IRRIGATION by HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 6:30-8:30 pm, Spring Branch Memorial Library, 930 Corbindale. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu; 281-855-5600
 
THURS., MAR. 17; RAISED BEDS & LOW VOLUME IRRIGATION by HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 6:30-8:30 pm. Freeman Branch Library, 16616 Diana Lane.Free. hcmga.tamu.edu; 281-855-5600

FRI.-SAT., MAR. 18-19: MARCH MART, 8am-4pm, Mercer Botanic Garden, 2206 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160

SAT., MAR. 19: RAISED BEDS & LOW VOLUME IRRIGATION by HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS, 10am-noon, Maude Smith Marks Library, 1815 Westgreen Blvd., Katy. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu; 281-855-5600 
 
TUES., MAR. 22: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS OPEN GARDEN DAY & RAISED BEDS & LOW VOLUME IRRIGATION SEMINAR, 9-11:30 am, 3033 Bear Creek Drive. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu;
281-855-5600 
 
 
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 

TUE., APR. 12: PLANT PROPAGATION TECHNIQUES (WORKSHOP by MONTGOMERY COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS, 9am. Extension Office, 9020 FM 1484 Rd. (Airport Rd.), Conroe. Free. Woodlands Garden Club event.  www.thewoodlandsgardenclub.org 

FRI.- SUN., APRIL 15, 16, 17: KINGWOOD GARDEN CLUB HOME & GARDEN TOUR 10am-4pm Fri. & Sat.; noon-4pm Sun. kingwoodgardenclub.org 

TUES., APR. 19: MILLENNIAL GARDENING by DEE NASH, 10am, St. Basil Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land. Free; Sugar Land Garden Club event. Sugarlandgardenclub.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 event. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org
 
  
If we inspire you to attend any of these events, please let them knowyou 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 lazygardener@sbcglobal.net
Not using our format will result in a delay in publication.   
Events will not be picked up from newsletters.
 
 
 
 
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BRENDA BEUST SMITH
 
WE KNOW HER BEST AS THE LAZY GARDENER . . . 

. . . but Brenda Beust Smith is also:

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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.


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 01/30/16.
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COUPON: Nature's Way Resources. 50% off Pears & Pomegranates. 
 (Offer good for retail purchases of this product (101 Sherbrook Circle, Conroe TX). Expires 01/30/16.
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