April 29nd, 2016

Dear Friends,

Here is the 155th 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!
 


WHEN HUMMERS GO TO WHAT FLOWERS . . . 
BANNER BLOOM YEAR . . .  PLANTS FOR A BIBLE GARDEN

BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH 
  
It is such fun to get notes and questions from readers. If I know the answer, it's easy. If not, it's even better, since  doing research is even more fun. I've always maintained that my real expertise lies in knowing where the REAL experts are.  And in having no qualms about asking them for help.
 
So this column is devoted to readers and the wonderful questions/comments sent in - especially those, like this first one, present great information in a new or different way.

Beverly Logan is a hummingbird enthusiast. Below are her conclusions based on 15 years of watching which hummers are feeding on which plants at which times of year.  Now that's getting specific! This is the first time in all these years I've gotten this kind of schedule.  
 
Beverly's list includes a lot of natives but is by no means limited to them. Also sometimes it's a special species within general plantings, for example, hers prefer the tubular type of red cannas.  
 
 
Beverly's hummers love, left to right, coral honeysuckle vine, hummingbird bush (Hamelia) --  (this one's pruned  
into a tree -- neat idea!!) and autumn sage (Salvia greggii, with hummer, photographed by Beverly).  
 
 
Beverly's observation calendar:
 
* FEBRUARY -  Western Rufous hummingbirds only go to coral honeysuckle, hamelia (hummingbird bush), Texas red salvia, sugar water feeders.

* SPRING - Migrating spring male ruby-throats only go to Honeysuckle for two days and leave.  Male western broadtails (that nest in Colorado) only go to hummingbird sugar water feeders and leave after sipping/resting on a feeder with a perch.
 
* FALL  -  Fall returning male ruby throats go to feeders until females and sub adults show up (about a week). Female ruby throats and sub adult young go to hamelia, hibiscus, salvias and honeysuckle, purple Porterweed and fight for feeders early in the morning. Then start up all over again around 3:30 p.m. to dusk.

* WINTER - Many hummers are passing through in fall.  But we do have those who stay all winter long, and with our increasingly warm winters, plants are holding their flowers all the way through to spring.

Beverly says in her yard overwintering Rufous like purple and red porterweed, salvias, coral honeysuckle, cape honeysuckle and hamelia . . .  until a freeze. Then they stick to sugar water feeders until they migrate out in April.
 
Also what works in one area, may not work in another. Often it's based on availability of wild natives in a given area and that can change from year to year, even season to season. 

Time of day also makes a difference. Beverly has a friend in Northwest Houston who complained she had no hummers in spring. She took Beverly's advice, got up earlier and discovered she actually had a full contingent. They were all apparently just early birds. 
 
Beverly also warns that different hummers like different feeders and different plants. Males in her yard prefer saucer types, and tend to sit and daydream while fueling up in spring. Some plants attract one minute, and not the next.    
 
In addition to the many flowers Beverly mentioned, in my yard, Mexican orchid trees and firespikes (pictured below) are my best hummer attractors, with firespike the clear winner. 

How about in your yard?  Do share!


Left to right, Mexican orchid tree, firespike and Melanie Wiggins' incredible bottletrees.

Although Beverly says her bottlebrush doesn't seem to attract her hummers, this beautiful large shrub/small tree considered a prime draw for these garden jewels.  And his past spring has, without a doubt, been an incredible year for bottlebrushes.  
 
The bottlebrush picture above right was sent in by Melanie Wiggins. Notice how these have been pruned into trees. You can do this with almost any large multi-trunked shrub. 

Allow it first to establish a strong root system. The second or third year, select three to five healthy vertical stalks. Strip away all side branches from the lower 2/3s, leavi* ng the top 1/3 leaves and stalks in tact. As it grows upward, gradually remove lower branches, until the canopy reaches the height you want.   

SPEAKING OF BANNER YEAR FOR PLANTS . . .  have you noticed the oleanders along I-610 (South Loop East) between I-45 S & I-10 E?  Wow!  

In fact, oleanders are eye-popping everywhere this year.  And no wonder.  They're paying homage to the Galveston-based International Oleander Society celebration of its 175th Anniversary.  
 
  
Thank Texas Highway Department for all those gorgeous oleanders lining our interstates (right). 
Left, for the first time the Betty Head Oleander Park will be the site of the 2016 Oleander Festival. 

The first oleanders arrived in Galveston in 1841, aboard a ship from Jamaica. Their fascinating history is matched only by the Isle's own history. Click here for the rest of the story: oleander.org/oleander-history/

If you really want to see the wide range of oleander colors, shapes and growth patterns, drop by the 2016 Oleander Festival, Sat., May 14, held for the first time this year at the delightful Betty Head Oleander Garden, 2426 Sealy St., Galveston -- 10am-4pm, garden tours (noon & 2pm). The Great Galveston Oleander Sale and special exhibit of European Oleanders are highlights. Details: oleander.org

If Galveston crowned a Ms. Oleander, it would most certainly be Elizabeth (Betty) Head (insert above right), for whom the beautiful park is named. A great place to meet Betty -- who has been a major oleander promoter for the decades I've known her -- is at the big annual kickoff Oleander Festival Luncheon Friday, May 13 at Moody Gardens' Viewfinders Luncheon. $35. Reservations: oleander.org, 
   
* HOW DO YOU KEEP EXOTIC ANIMALS FEELING COMFORTABLY "AT HOME"?  Surround them with the exotic plants from their homelands. These are what one sees when one visits The Houston Zoo altho we probably don't appreciate them as such.

Horticulture Supervisor Anna Land will lead a tour of their many spectacular, imported specialty plants at 8 am Sat., Apr. 30. A continental breakfast and all day zoo pass is included in the $30 fee. Details: 713-533-6550. 

-----

SPEAKING OF EXOTIC PLANTS, they don't come any more eye-grabbing than cactus blooms.  
These will be among the plants to buy at the big  SAT.-SUN., May. 14-15: HOUSTON CACTUS & 
SUCCULENT SOCIETY SPRING SALE. 9am-5pm. Metropolitan Multi-Service Center, 1475 West Gray. 
Free. Left to right, Adenium o., Astrophytum m., Echinocactus and Epiphyllum. Details: www.hcsstex.org. 

 

PLANTS OF THE BIBLE.  Just the title of this free series of lectures being offered throughout town by Harris County Master Gardeners is enough to immediate grab attention. In our Spotlight article below, HCMG's Becky Lowicki gives an intriguing glimpse into the rich history and garden tips that will be given at these upcoming free PLANTS OF THE BIBLE lectures:
  • THURS, MAY 12: 6:30-8:30 pm. Barbara Bush Library, 6817 Cypresswood Dr., Spring. And same day . . . 6:30-8:30 pm. Barbara Bush Library, 6817 Cypresswood Dr., Spring. 
  • TUES., MAY 17; 6:30-8:30 pm, Spring Branch Memorial Library, 930 Corbindale. 
  • THURS., MAY 19; 6:30-8:30 pm. Freeman Branch Library, 16616 Diana Lan
  • SAT, MAY 21; 10am-Noon.  Maude Smith Marks Library, 1815 Westgreen Blvd., Katy. Free.
 Details on all: hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2016-green-thumb.pdf ;281-855-5600

Can't make any of those?  Or want more?  

TUES., MAY 24: The Harris County Master Gardeners will combine a free Plants of the Bible seminar with an Open Garden Day, 9-11:30 am, 3033 Bear Creek Drive. Free. Details: 281-855-5600 or 

As long as we're listing great free Harris County AgriLife Extension programs, HC agent Skip Richter's free "Organic Gardening 101" will be Friday, May 6, 9 am at the McGovern Centennial Gardens, 1500 Hermann Drive.  Details: 281-855-5600.  If you haven't been seen the view from the top of the Hermann Park "floral mountain," this is a great blooming' time to go.

Address questions to Brenda Beust Smith at lazygardener@sbcglobal.net. 
If you don't receive a reply, please resend!


 

 

 



A BIBLE GARDEN

By Becky Lowicki, Harris County Master Gardener  

 
"Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds; 
you can grow flowers or you can grow weeds..." 
2 Corinthians 10:5.

Rebirth, reflection and renewal. There's spirituality in the garden and with good reason. Not only a place for perseverance in the face of adversity, the roots of many of today's plants run deep into biblical history.

Creating a Bible Garden with plants mentioned in the Bible or cultivated in Biblical times may not make you a saint but it will bring inspiration-the foundation of every garden endeavor.

What is a Biblical garden? "A display of God's creation that helps you appreciate the heritage and diversity of plants," according to Bernice Sanders, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Garden Assistant and Ft. Bend County Master Gardener. 

"We read about the miracles of the Bible, however, if we would observe plants, we can see miracles during each season of the year."

In the Houston area, the diversity of seasons from feast to famine, or most recently drought to flood, may seem daunting, but there are proven recommendations for creating your own Bible garden.

WHEELER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH BIBLE GARDEN: For example, these plants of the Bible have blessed the gardens at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, 3826 Wheeler Ave. 

In spring, it's mostly herbs, vegetables and lilies. Summertime brings figs, apples, passion flower, cotton, rue, palms and rose of Sharon. In the fall, look for mustards, pomegranate, cassia, leeks and onions. And in winter, cedar, pine fir and cypress grace the grounds.

FREDERICKSBURG BIBLE GARDEN: At the Bible Garden of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, springtime yields more bulbs than the eye can behold with more than 200 daffodils and tulips, plus paper whites, hyacinth, anemones and poppies. 

Other plantings during spring include aloe that blooms, iris, daylilies, almond tree, acacia tree, and flowering quince and olive tree, among others.

In summer, the garden includes mainly vegetables - fava beans, leeks, lettuce, barley, wheat, flax and mustard, along with grapevines, hollyhocks, parsley, fennel, lavender, wormwood, Artemisia mandrake, melons, myrtle and fig.

The fall plantings include pomegranate, oak, rosemary, terebinth, salvia, cedar of Lebanon and burning bush.
 
Click here for a listing of plants of the Bible compiled by Peggy Benson, Fredericksburg United Methodist Church.  Click here for a Plants of the Bible article by Jean Fefer, Harris County Master Gardener. 

Green gardening thanks to both Bernice Sanders and Peggy Benson, who provided good dirt for this article.

For a complete list of the upcoming free Harris County Master Gardener Houston-area "Plants of the Bible," see Brenda's column above and the events calendar below.
 
 
 
 
*** 3 FAVORS?  

1. DO NOT EMBED PICTURES ONLY IN PDF ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ATTACH SEPARATELY TO EMAIL.  

2. IF I DON'T RESPOND TO EMAIL, ASSUME NOT RECEIVED. RESEND.    

3. CHECK  NEWSLETTER CALENDAR TO MAKE SURE EVENTS PUBLISHED. IF NOT, LET ME KNOW! 
 
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 column in the LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER is based on her 45+ years as the Houston Chronicle's Lazy Gardener.
 
 
 
 
 
JOHN'S CORNER 
 
News from the wonderful world of soil and plants




This week I want to start with a Rubber Mulch update. A colleague of mine Randy Lemon of Gardenline and I have been trying to spread the word on the dangers of rubber mulch for years. This morning I was having my tires rotated, and noticed a flyer at the tire store advertizing rubber mulch made from old tires. It stated that it was only $ 6.49 per 0.8 cubic feet bag, which did not seem too bad until one does the math. A standard mulch bag (Soil and Mulch Producers Association standards) is two cubic feet. That means too get enough rubber mulch to equal a standard bag it would cost $25.96 per bag. If we compare this to bulk prices, to get enough bags of toxic rubber mulch to equal a cubic yard it would cost
$350.46 per cubic yard!

Another study in the journal Chemosphere in 2012 found that recycled rubber tires used on playgrounds and pavers contained a large number of hazardous substances. These include PAH's, phthalates, BHT, phenols, benzothiazole and its derivatives, among other chemicals.
 
On a positive note, I read about a new technique to control to protect apple orchards from fire blight.  A company (Bee Vector Technology) has developed a method of using honeybees to deliver a good fungus that protects the tree. They place a tray of a natural powdered fungus (BVT-CR7) at the entrance to the hives, which is harmless to the bees. The bees coat their legs with it as they leave the hive. As bees forage for pollen and nectar they carry this good fungus and deposit on the apple flowers, where the fungus grows and spreads harmlessly on the leaves and tree. This good fungus prevents pathogenic bacteria and parasites from colonizing the leaves. A small hive of only 300 bees can protect 10 million flowers. As a result, growers have to use less toxic chemicals, which in turn reduce the bee's exposure to these chemicals.
 
A study by Oxford University found that organic farms support 50% more pollinator species than conventional toxic chemical intensive agriculture. The way we grow food is harming butterflies, along with a host of other species - from birds and ladybugs to earthworms. Meanwhile these pesticides are contaminating our soil and water, which cause numerous human health problems.
 
 


                                                                    *   *   *
 
WEEKLY GARDENING EVENTS &
ANNOUNCEMENTS 
CALENDAR

TO SUBMIT AN EVENT FOR THIS CALENDAR, PLEASE NOTE.
Events NOT submitted in the EXACT written format below may take two weeks or longer
to be reformatted/retyped. After that point, if your event does not appear, please email us.
Submit to: lazygardener@sbcglobal.net 
 
If we inspire you to attend any of these events, please let them know you heard about it in
THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER 
 
SAT., APR. 30: FAIRY GARDEN SEMINARS, 10am, Enchanted Forest, 10611 FM 2759, Richmond; 2pm Enchanted Gardens, 6420 FM 359, Richmond. $10/reservations: myenchanted.com 
 
SAT., APR. 30: GARDEN CONSERVANCY HOUSTON OPEN DAY & PECKERWOOD GARDEN PLANT SALE, Houston. Garden Conservancy event. 10am-4pm. $7/garden; $40/All Day pass. peckerwoodgarden.org/garden-conservancy-houston-tx-open-day-2/, 979-826-3232; info@peckerwoodgarden.org or frankbrowniii@hotmail.com

SAT., APR. 30: GUIDED TOUR WITH HOUSTON ZOO HORTICULTURE SUPERVISOR by ANNA LAND, 7:30am, Houston Zoo, Hermann Park. Reservations ($30) only: houstonzoo.org/horticulturetour
 
SAT., APRIL 30: BASIL, BIRDS, BEES, AND BIODIVERSITY by ANN WHEELER, 10AM-12PM, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball, Free. 281-351-8851, arborgate.com

SAT., APR. 30: GALVESTON COUNTY PLANT SWAP, 8am set-up, Johnson Space Center Gilruth Center Pavilion, 2101 NASA Parkway. Free, but before attending: check: freewebs.com/gcplantswap/index.htm
 
TUE., MAY 3:  REVIEW OF CHEMICALS FOR HOME & GARDEN by RON MIZE, 6:30-7:30 pm.  AgriLife Extension, Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St. (Hwy 519), La Marque.  Galveston County Master Gardener event. Free, but must preregister: galv3@wt.net; http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston

SAT., MAY 7: 2016 HIBISCUS SHOW & PLANT SALE, 1-4pm, Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Rd., Sugar Land. Free. Lone Star chapter/American Hibiscus Society event. Free. lonestarahs.org

SAT., MAY 7: MINIATURE CONTAINER GARDEN WORKSHOP, 10-11am, Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th. Pay for supplies use. 713-861-5702; buchanansplants.com/events 

SAT., MAY 7: CHAPPELL HILL GARDEN TOUR & PLANT SALE, 10am-4pm, 9060 Poplar St., Chappell Hill. Chappell Hill Garden Club event. 979-836-2554; 713-562-6191.   
 
SAT., MAY 7: PLAN BEFORE YOU PLANT by KAREN LEHR, 9-11am; AgriLife Extension, Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St. (Hwy 519), La Marque.  Galveston County Master Gardener event. Free, but must preregister: galv3@wt.net; http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston
 
SAT., MAY 7: ART IN THE GARDEN CELEBRATION with FELDER RUSHING, RANDY LEMMON, and HOUSTON LLEW with his SPIRITILES, 10AM-3PM, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball, 281-351-8851, arborgate.com

SUN., MAY 8: PECKERWOOD GARDENS MOTHER'S DAY OPEN DAY, 10am-3pm tours, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. Garden Conservancy event. peckerwoodgarden.org,  979-826-3232; info@peckerwoodgarden.org 

TUES., MAY 10: GROWING PLUMERIAS, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavillion, Hermann Park Conservancy, 1500 Hermann Dr. Free. Plumeria Society of America event. theplumeriasociety.org 

WED., MAY 11: GOING VERTICAL - TWINERS, TENDRILS, AND CLINGERS by LINDA B. GAY, 12PM-1PM, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball, Free. 281-351-8851, arborgate.com

THURS, MAY 12: PLANTS OF THE BIBLE BY HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 6:30-8:30 pm. Barbara Bush Library, 6817 Cypresswood Dr., Spring. Free. Details: http://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2016-green-thumb.pdf  281-855-5600

THURS, MAY 12: PLANTS OF THE BIBLE BY HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 6:30-8:30 pm. Barbara Bush Library, 6817 Cypresswood Dr., Spring. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2016-green-thumb.pdf 281-855-5600
 
THURS., MAY 12: WHAT'S BUGGING YOU, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, 1500 Hermann Dr. Free. Houston Rose Society event. houstonrose.org

THURS., MAY 12: NEW PLANTS FROM PROVEN WINNERS & EUROAMERICAN by Nelson Darden, 10am, Clear Lake Meeting Room, 5001 NASA Parkway. Free. Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2 event. hcmga.tamu.edu

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 
FRI., MAY 13: OLEANDER FESTIVAL KICKOFF LUNCHEON, Viewfinders Terrace, Moody Gardens, Galveston. oleander.org

SAT., MAY 14: SUCCULENT MAKE AND TAKE, 10am, Enchanted Forest, 10611 FM 2759, Richmond; 2pm Enchanted Gardens, 6420 FM 359, Richmond. Reservations: myenchanted.com 

SAT., MAY 14: ANNUAL OLEANDER FESTIVAL & GRAND OLEANDER SALE, 10am-4pm, Betty Head Oleander Garden Park, Free. International Oleander Society event. oleander.org
 
SAT., MAY 14: MONTGOMERY COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS OPEN GARDEN DAY, 9-11am, AgriLife Extension, 9020 Airport Rd., Conroe. Free. 936-539-7824; mcmga.com
 
SAT., MAY 14: HOUSTON HEMEROCALLIS SOCIETY AND HOUSTON AREA DAYLILY SOCIETY FLOWER SHOW: Enjoying Life in Our Gardens, 1-3pm; and HOUSTON HEMEROCALLIS SOCIETY DAYLILY SALE, 10am-3pm; Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 4040 Watonga. Free. Houston Hemerocallis Society and Houston Area Daylily Society event. www.ofts.com/hhs/

SAT., MAY 14:  GALVESTON COUNTY HOME FRUIT GROWERS' TOUR. 9am-Noon.  Free.  Galveston County  Master Gardeners event. Map: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/; 281-534-3413  

SUN., MAY 15: TROPICAL FRUIT TREES WITH DANY MILIKIN OF EDIBLE EARTH RESOURCES, 2-3pm, Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th. Free. 713-861-5702; buchanansplants.com/events 

MON., MAY 16: OPEN GARDEN DAY & PLANT SALE, 8:30-11am, Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd. Free. Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2. hcmga.tamu.edu 

TUES., MAY 17; PLANTS OF THE BIBLE BY HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 6:30-8:30 pm, Spring Branch Memorial Library, 930 Corbindale. Free. Details: http://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2016-green-thumb.pdf  281-855-5600

THURS., MAY 17: AN EVENING WITH RICK DARKE, 6:30-8:30pm, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway. Organic Horticulture Benefits Alliance (OHBA) event. $30. Register: OHBAONLINE.org 

THURS., MAY 19; PLANTS OF THE BIBLE BY HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS. 6:30-8:30 pm. Freeman Branch Library, 16616 Diana Lane.Free. http://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2016-green-thumb.pdf  281-855-5600 

SAT., MAY 21: FRIENDS OF PECKERWOOD GARDEN dAY, 10am-3pm tours, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. Garden Conservancy event. peckerwoodgarden.org,  979-826-3232; info@peckerwoodgarden.org 

SAT., MAY 21: HERB LORE WITH DANY MILIKIN OF EDIBLE EARTH RESOURCES, 10-11am, Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th. Free. 713-861-5702; buchanansplants.com/events 

SAT., MAY 21: TOMATO & SALSA CONTEST judged by BILL ADAMS , 10am, Enchanted Forest, 10611 FM 2759, Richmond; 2pm Enchanted Gardens, 6420 FM 359, Richmond. www.myenchanted.com

SAT., MAY 21: SPACE CITY HIBISCUS CHAPTER SHOW & SALE, 1-4pm, Nessler Center, Wings of Heritage Room, 2010 5th Avenue, Texas City. 281-844-4296; spacecityahs.org.

SAT, MAY 21; PLANTS OF THE BIBLE BY HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS.  10am-Noon.  Maude Smith Marks Library, 1815 Westgreen Blvd., Katy. Free. Details: hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2016-green-thumb.pdf ;281-855-5600

SUN., MAY 22:  CELEBRATION OF DAYLILIES OPEN HOUSE, 9am-5 pm, Payne's in the Grass Daylily Farm, 2130 O'Day Road, Pearland, Free, 281-485-3821, cell 713-419-6661.  Paynesinthegrassdaylilyfarm.com

TUES., MAY 24: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS OPEN GARDEN DAY AND SEMINAR: PLANTS OF THE BIBLE, 9-11:30 am, 3033 Bear Creek Drive. Free. Details: http://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2016-hcmga-open-garden-days.pdf 281-855-5600

TUES., MAY 31: BAMBOO USES IN THE LANDSCAPE, by TISH REUSTLE, 6:30pm. AgriLife Extension, Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St. (Hwy 519), La Marque.  Galveston County Master Gardener event. Free, but must preregister: galv3@wt.net; http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston

SAT., JUNE 4: BUTTERFLY GARDEN WORKSHOP FOR KIDS, 10-11am, Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th. Free. 713-861-5702; buchanansplants.com/events 

SAT., JUNE 11: PLUMERIA SOCIETY OF AMERICA SHOW & SALE, 9:30am-3pm, Bay Area Community Center 5002 Nasa Road One Seabrook. Free. theplumeriasociety.org 

SAT., JUNE 11: EDIBLE LANDSCAPING WITH DANY MILIKIN OF EDIBLE EARTH RESOURCES, 10-11am, Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th. Free. 713-861-5702; buchanansplants.com/events 

TUES., JULY 12: GROWING PLUMERIAS, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavillion, Hermann Park Conservancy, 1500 Hermann Dr. Free. Plumeria Society of America event. theplumeriasociety.org    
TUES.-SUN., JUNE 14-19: WORLD BROMELIAD CONFERENCE XXII, Show and Plant Sale 9am-5pm Fri. & 9am-4pm Sat., 4th Floor, Westin Galleria Hotel, 5060 West Alabama St.  Bromeliad Society/Houston, Inc./Bromeliad Society International event. www.bsi.org      

SAT., JULY 23: PLUMERIA SOCIETY OF AMERICA SHOW & SALE, 9:30am-3pm, Fort Bend Country Fairgrounds 4310 Texas Highway 36, Rosenberg. theplumeriasociety.org 

SAT, SEPT 24: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS FALL LANDSCAPE PLANTS, PERENNIALS & VEGETABLES SALE. Overview 8am; sale: 9am-1pm. 3033 Bear Creek Drive. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/pubSales.aspx; 281-855-5600     
 
TUES., OCT. 11: GROWING PLUMERIAS, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavillion, Hermann Park Conservancy, 1500 Hermann Dr. Free. Plumeria Society of America event. theplumeriasociety.org 

OCT. 21-23: AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT CONVENTION. houstonrose.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 AN EVENT FOR THIS CALENDAR, PLEASE NOTE.
Events NOT submitted in the EXACT written format below may take two weeks or longer
to be reformatted/retyped. After that point, if your event does not appear, please email us.
Submit to: lazygardener@sbcglobal.net  
 
 
 

Green Job Opportunities at Nature's Way Resources

Inside Sales: duties include providing customer service, gardening advice and sales assistance. This is a part time position.

Horticulturist: duties include customer service, providing planting recommendations and helping to maintain our plant nursery.

For more information please email jobs@natureswayresources.com.


THIS NEWSLETTER IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS






                                             


                                                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. 50% off pomegranates, pears and selected antique roses. 
 (Offer good for retail purchases of this product (101 Sherbrook Circle, Conroe TX). Expires 05/31/16.
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