May 6th, 2016

Dear Friends,

Here is the 156th issue of our weekly gardening newsletter for Houston, the Gulf Coast and beyond. We really appreciate all of our readers hanging in there with us, sharing stories and inspiring us in so many ways. 
 
Thanks so much!
 
This newsletter is a project of The Lazy Gardener, Brenda Beust Smith, John Ferguson and Mark Bowen (John and Mark are with Nature's Way Resources). We also have a great supporting cast of contributing writers and technical specialists who will chime in and tweak away regularly. We would love to keep receiving your input on this newsletter . . . . comments . . . . suggestions . . . . questions. . . .Email your thoughts to: [email protected]. Thanks so much for your interest.
 
Please  or sign yourself up to receive this newsletter by clicking the "Join Our Mailing List" link just below. We will never sell or share our mailing list to protect the privacy of our subscribers.

Enjoy!

 


AH, THOSE WERE THE DAYLILY DAYS . . .

CREATIVE PLANT LABELS . . . ALL HAIL TO THE MINIS!!


BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH 
    
Love it when daylily folks send in event announcements. Daylilies have to be one of my most favorite Lazy Gardener Plants.  I once was given some truly prize daylily plants by a  Beaumont area hybridizer.  I was young, dumb, careless and had no clue whatsoever about what a treasure I'd just tossed into my car trunk.  That was in late spring. 
 
Sometime that fall, I remembered once-freshly-dug daylilies.  They'd stayed-'n'-baked in that trunk all summer. Too naive to realize what that probably meant, I pulled them out, cut back the then-totally dead leaf stalks and planted the little root clumps.
 
Every one of those daylilies grew. And bloomed.  And some even maybe survive to this day. Hard for me to tell. Daylilies are scattered all over this yard.  
 
That was decades ago, during what I like to remember as "Daylily Heyday" around Houston. Growers with fields of fabulous flora ringed the city, folks like Anna Rose Glidden (Glidden Gardens in NE Houston), Hugh Russell's (Russell Gardens, Spring),  Inez Tarrant in Jones Creek and Eddie & Mary Gage (Spring Creek Daylily Farm).
 
We may not be ringed by daylily farms anymore, but today the choices are greater and better than ever before.  Although we no longer have as many growers here, we do still have:
 
1.Paynes in the Grass in Pearland, owned by Leon and Paula Payne 
2. Shimek's Garden in Alvin, Texas, owned by Nell and Harvey Shimek
3. Gulf Coast Daylilies in Brazoria, Texas, owned by Everett and Chris Crainer.

Nell and Harvey are cutting back, so if you want to take advantage of their expertise and fabulous inventories, better get to it. Email Nell at [email protected]. If you know of other local daylily growers open to the retail public, do share! 
 
Paula Payne is carrying on the long tradition she and Nell Shimek established of attracting daylily lovers to the Pearland/Alvin area with their annual free spring open gardens. This year only Paynes in the Grass will be open Sunday., May 22.  "Celebration of Daylilies Open Garden" runs 9-5 pm, 2130 O'Day Road, Pearland. Details: 281-485-3821; 713-419-6661; Paynesinthegrassdaylilyfarm.com 



Nell and Harvey Shimek, left, may not be hosting their annual Open Garden Day
in Alvin this year, but they're still open for business.  Paula and Leon Payne's
Paynes in the Grass Garden in Pearland, right, will welcome visitors Sunday, May 22.
 
 
MANY OF THE NEWEST, BEST AND ALWAYS SPECTACULAR DAYLILIES will also be in the spotlight during the big Sat., May 14, joint Houston Hemerocallis Society and Houston Area Daylily Society's free flower show, "Enjoying Life in Our Gardens," open to the public 1-3pm, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 4040 Watonga.  Same day, same place, the Houston Hemerocallis Society will hold its big daylily sale from 10am to 3pm.  Details: ofts.com/hhs 
 
Much as everyone loves the tall, graceful, large-flowered standard daylilies, they're often not practical in our steadily shrinking gardening spaces. Enter miniatures. These tiny beauties are every bit as striking and hardy as their stately cousins, but require far less growing space.  In our Spotlight below, Paula Payne gives some great tips on these.

But first . . .  
-----

    
1. A mushroom amid ths oxalis identifies the Elisabeth of Goshen antique rose. 2. Ceramic mushroom
perfect label for Lover's Delite rose. 3. A solar light makes a fun label but needs a coat of protector.
A different style ceramic mushroom has a rim perfect for names of Borders (4) and Ray's Purple (5) roses


LOOKING FOR CREATIVE, LONG-LASTING, EASY-TO-READ PLANT LABELS? 
 
Montgomery County Master Gardener Carolyn Kosclskey was not only preparing for the MCMG's big May 14 Open Garden Day,** she also was searching for useful, workable labels for the MCMG's herb plantings . . . super-hardy ones that would permit large font sizes for easier viewing. A clever gardener I know took a creative interesting approach to labels, so I knew just where to send Carolyn for advice.    
 
Clever Gardener buys inexpensive, fun ceramics, such as mushrooms and little critters with enough blank surface space to write on plant names, using a special paint pen (eg. DecoArt Glass Paint Marker). Following the pen's label instructions, she then bakes them (in her regular kitchen oven) to make the writing permanent.

"I've tried magic markers and waxy china markers but everything fades in our rain and sun over time," explains Clever Gardener.  "Only paint pens, and especially these bake-able ones, have lasted." 

One warning: have a magnifying glass handy. Print on these pens is really tiny! Directions say to paint the names on, then let it dry for at least 8 hours. The ceramic is then put in a cold oven.  The oven is turned on, and temperature set to 375 degrees F.  Once the oven temperature reaches 375 degrees F, the ceramic is baked for 45 minutes.  Then it is allowed to cool in the oven.
 
** SAT., MAY 14: MONTGOMERY COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS OPEN GARDEN DAY,  
9-11am, AgriLife Extension, 9020 Airport Rd., Conroe. Free. 936-539-7824; mcmga.com 


*  *  * 
 
NOT EVERYONE'S CONCRETING EVERY SQUARE INCH OF OUR NATURAL SOIL . . . Thank goodness . . .

Two of our many groups committed to preserving our natural habitat are in the news these days:

    * The Bayou Preservation Association celebrates its 50th anniversary with a landmark luncheon May 9 at the Junior League:  bayoupreservation.givezooks.com/events/50th-anniversary-luncheon

     * The Bayou Land Conservancy is bidding farewell to its longtime Executive Director Jennifer Lorenz. www.bayoulandconservancy.org. Thanks for all you've done for Houston, Jennifer. 
  
Click on these links, check out the good these groups do for all of us, think about all the flooding we've endured lately, and DONATE!

* * *

Now, for those delightful diminutive daylilies!


*  *  *   
 
Brenda's column in the LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER is based on her 45+ years as the Houston Chronicle's Lazy Gardener.
 


 
     
Above, l to r, American Freedom, Belightful, Dutch Yellow Truffle, Mary Alice and Broadway
Broadway Player seedlings. Below, l to r, Mayor of Munchkinland, Broadway Valentine,
Valentine seedlings, Rolling Raven, Santa's Little Helper and Wonder Of It All
 
 
 
WHY MINIS?  
"To me they seem to produce so many more
blooms than the larger flowered daylilies"

 
It's hard to convince folks not to overlook miniature daylilies when the bigger ones can offer so many different options.  But minis are a group unto themselves.  A flower is not considered a mini unless the diameter of the flower measures less than three inches. 

The height of the scape isn't considered when deciding if a daylily is a mini or not.  The scape could be tall, medium, or short.  It's only the size of the flower that counts.  In the first registrations minis were considerably taller than they are now so the appearance was not always complimentary.  But hybridizers have really worked on that in recent years to create and produce a more pleasing appearance.
   
I always hate to see people ignore the minis.  To me they seem to produce so many more blooms than the larger flowered daylilies so that when they bloom, they produce their own bouquets.  And with the scape heights more in association with the size of the flowers, they are so much more useful because they can be used in so many ways. 

They can be used as a bedding plants that will provide greenery all year long or they can offer variety to any perennial bed.  They also come in all different colors as well as double varieties. 

Some people call the double minis a 'popcorn' daylily since the size of the double blooms resemble popcorn kernels.  But no matter what size daylily one chooses to plant, one can never go wrong.  The garden will always be welcoming with something new every day.

*  *  *
Paynes in the Grass will be open Sunday., May 22 for its annual Celebration of Daylilies Open Garden, 9-5 pm, 2130 O'Day Road, Pearland,  Free, 281-485-3821, cell 713-419-6661.  Paynesinthegrassdaylilyfarm.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
JOHN'S CORNER 
 
News from the wonderful world of soil and plants



Researchers at the University of Indiana have released a new study on microbes. They compiled 20,376 surveys from 35,000 locations around the world including 14,862 sampling efforts on trees, birds, and mammals. Using sampling and statistical methods, they found that the earth is home to
one trillion microbial species of which only 0.001 percent have been discovered.
 
Another study from the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham Women's Hospital published in the Journal Environmental Health Perspectives has found that women in the USA whom live in homes surrounded by vegetation have significantly lower mortality rates than those that do not. Another benefit was an improved mental health and lower rates of depression.
 
Another study from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has found that higher "greenness" in the environment was linked to significantly lower rates of diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol, as well as fewer chronic health conditions.
 
A study from Washington State University has found that organic farming can feed the world. In addition, organic farming provides more benefits from environmental impact, economic viability, and social well-being. Other studies have shown that organically grown foods have higher nutrient density, more enzymes, vitamins, and other compounds required for good health.
 
Lots of good reasons to be an organic gardener!

 
 



                                                                    *   *   *
 
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: [email protected] 
 
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., 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/event

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: [email protected]; 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; [email protected] 

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; [email protected] 

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: [email protected]; 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.-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      

THUR. JUNE 16: TOXIC HORTICULTURE CHEMICALS AND YOUR HEALTH by John Ferguson, 10am, Bay Area Welcome Neighbors Club, Bay Oaks Country Club, Clear Lake, Bay Oaks Dr.  713-823-6980

SAT., JUNE 18:  DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR LANDSCAPES, by Galveston County Master Gardener KAREN LEHR, 9:00-11:00 am, Galveston County AgriLife Extension, Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St. (Hwy 519), La Marque.  Free, but registration required: [email protected]; http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/
 
 
TUE., JUNE 21: GROWING CUCURBITS (summer and winter squash, cucumbers and cantaloupes), by Galveston County Master Gardener HERMANN AUER, 6:30 pm, repeated  8:30 pm, Galveston County AgriLife Extension, Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St. (Hwy 519), La Marque.  Free, but registration required: [email protected]; http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/

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

MON. AUGUST 22, ORGANIC METHODS IN GARDENING- THE SOIL FOOD WEB, by John Ferguson, South Montgomery County Friends of The Library (SMCFOL), 2 PM, Mitchell Library, 8125 Ashland Way, The Woodlands, Sari Harris, 281-681-0470
 
 
SAT, SEPT 24: FALL SALE (LANDSCAPE PLANTS, PERENNIALS & FALL VEGETABLES). OVERVIEW AT 8 am; SALE FROM 9 am- 1 pm. BRING YOUR WAGON AND COME EARLY FOR THE BEST SELECTION. 3033 Bear Creek Drive. Free. Details: http://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/pubSales.aspx 281-855-5600    
  

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: [email protected]  
 
 
 

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.

For more information please email [email protected].


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, apples, asian 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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