 4802 FM 2218 Rd
Richmond, TX 77469
2 miles south of US59
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Greetings!
I hope you got a chance to try our hibiscus tea last weekend! We are having so much fun with that plant. I'm making grand plans for a big hedge of it on the south side of our veggie garden for next spring. Look for both seeds and plants to be available in the spring. Moving right along, I'm happy to say that this Saturday is (finally) Sangria Saturday! We'll be serving our regular red version, plus a pear-scented version made with white wine in honor of the harvest season. Stop by on Saturday for a glass - and remember, this version is for grown-ups only!
 | | Finally! |
We've got a new class planned for November 3. Do you have a stack of old greeting cards or postcards stashed away somewhere? Learn to bind them into a handmade keepsake book! There are so many neat things you could do with these techniques - baby books, graduation albums, travelogues, etc. The class is $30 and you'll need to provide your own cards or postcards. More information can be downloaded here.
 | | Neat books! |
Pansies and violas are here! Remember that these winter cuties love fertilizer, particularly blood meal. About the only pest that ever bothers them are slugs & snails. Keep a close eye on them and if slugs or snails appear, there are a number of products that will help, including Sluggo and Diatomaceous Earth.
 | | Sweet Pansies! |
Speaking of fertilizers, we are now refilling ColorStar fertilizer containers at a significant discount! Bring your plastic ColorStar container back in and refill so you can feed your winter bloomers.Please note - we can't put fertilizer in an unlabelled container - you must bring in a ColorStar jug.
Be sure to scroll all the way down for a special coupon only for our email friends. You've got advance notice of a very good sale on some very good plants! Take a wild guess what they might be...
Thanks for signing up for our email newsletter! Come see us soon! |
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Chickens!
You might remember our friend Mike Hensley, who taught a Backyard Poultry class for us this summer. Well, he's going to be joining us Saturday around 11:00am with baby chicks that are ready to go home! We're scheduling another pair of poultry-raising classes for February, but if you're already comfortable with chickens, Mike has some very nice ones to sell.
Before you take your little chickies home, though, there are a few things you need to have prepared. Mike helpfully sent us the list below. - Prepare a space that will comfortably contain the peeps for at least the first 10 days. The space needs to be large enough for the chicks to escape the heat of the lamp should temperatures rise to0 high. The space should have:
- Access to electrical outlet with two available sockets.
- Preferably a round fence perimeter / barriers to restrict movement.
- Ease of entry, or a lid that lifts easily for cleaning and maintenance.
- Coarse bedding material, or large enough chicks won't eat it.
- Feeders & waterers appropriate for the size and number of birds.
- Secure the perimeter to keep out predators.
- Pre-hang the heat lamp.
- Hang a thermometer at chick-level inside the pen.
- Buy feed - Mike suggests Chick Starter/Grower 20% protein for the first 3 months.
- Plug in an air purifier/filter that recirculates the air in the pen.
- Digestive enzymes or bio-cultures similar to those found in live-culture yogurt to add to the drinking water for the first 10 days.
- Plenty of absorbent rags and spare towels.
- A chair nearby so you can sit and enjoy watching your chicks!
Mike will be on hand Saturday to answer brief questions about the chicks and much more detailed info will be available in the February class - stay tuned!
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Fall is for Satsumas!
Are your satsumas producing green fruit now? Satsumas remain somewhat green, even when they are actually beginning to ripen. Beginning in October and continuing through January, satsumas ripen and "keep" on the tree. Start picking them now and see how they taste. Citrus fruits don't ripen or change in sweetness after they're picked, so your best bet is to pick a few, taste them and see how you like them. The color of the rind is not a good indicator of ripeness: sometimes the rind is colored long before the fruit is ripe, but more often in Texas the rind is still green while the fruit is ready to eat.
 | | Perfectly ripe, though green |
Start harvesting from the lower branches first, leaving the upper ones until later. Be careful not to bruise or damage the skin; use clippers to sever the fruit without pulling on the stems. Although the fruit keeps well on the tree, you can also store citrus fruits in the refrigerator for several weeks.
 | | Perfectly lovely, though perhaps overripe |
If you know what kind of satsuma you have, here is a list in the approximate order in which they ripen: Okitsu, Miho, Mr. Mac, Owari, Seto & Kimbrough.
 | | The Graft |
If you have young or tender trees, start thinking about frost & freeze protection. The most important thing is to cover the tree from the ground up as high as you can. "Sealing" the tree inside a little bubble of frost cloth or blankets traps the warm air radiating from the earth at night. Look for the graft, which is usually less than a foot above the ground. Make sure the graft is protected; even if you lose the top growth, you'll regrow your tree from above the graft. If your tree freezes to the ground (below the graft), what regrows will be your rootstock and usually will not produce fruit that's fit to eat.
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Angels & Devils
Our beautiful Angel's Trumpets and Devil's Trumpets are really blooming like crazy now that we've gotten some friendlier temperatures. I thought you might like to know a bit more about these exotic flowers.
 | | Angels Point Down |
Brugmansias ("Angels") are all native to South America and typically have flowers pointing downward (as if from heaven). Here in Zone 9A they will grow into woody trees and shrubs, often persisting for years without any difficulty in the winter. In frost-free areas, they can reach up to 35 feet tall, but 10-15 feet is more common. Afternoon shade is best during summer, but they can tolerate full sun in winter. The ideal spot may be morning sun under the sheltering branches of an evergreen tree. Fertilize regularly during the growing and blooming season, spring through late fall. Protect from frost or freeze, especially young specimens.
 | | Devils Point Up |
Daturas ("Devils") have upward-pointing flowers (as if from somewhere else entirely!) and spiny fruit. They're also a little shorter, reaching only about 6 feet tall, and native to North America. Good drainage and warm sun are ideal for this beauty, which will often reseed if it's in a good spot. We have the double purple Datura metel for sale, but I've also noticed one of our neighbors has the white variety commonly called Jimsonweed.
 | | They're all beautiful |
Does that ring a bell? It should - all parts of both Brugmansia and Datura are toxic. However, the entire plant has an unpleasant taste, so accidental poisonings are rare. If you have a pet or a child who habitually grazes in the garden, you might want to steer clear. Otherwise, enjoy this tropical beauty as a focal point in your garden!
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Herb Spotlight
Mexican Mint Marigold
This lovely fall-bloomer is our answer to French Tarragon, which does not thrive in our hot, humid climate. But the Mexican Mint Marigold, or Texas Tarragon (Tagetes lucida) grows like a weed all summer only to reward you with a cloud of brilliant yellow flowers in autumn. Use their leaves fresh to season salads, chicken, or mixed vegetable dishes or make your own anise-scented teas. You can dry the leaves and keep in a tightly sealed glass jar to use in place of tarragon in any standard recipe. I like it best in salad dressings and when I use it in cooked dishes, I add it at the very last minute, because it tends to break down rapidly. Mexican Mint Marigold thrives in a sunny, well-drained location and will really appreciate some boundaries! We're about to pull ours out of the herb bed at Papershell and confine it to a pot so it won't outrun its more sedate neighbors. Easy to grow, easy to use - what's not to love?
 | | Out of control! |
True Myrtle
True Myrtle (Myrtus communis) is an time-honored herb mentioned in the bible and the ancient histories of Greece and Rome. This hardy, fragrant shrub has been used for centuries in medicinal and culinary preparations, but I like it in the garden for its lush evergreen beauty.
Myrtle leaves can be dried and used like bay leaf, with a flavor similar to allspice (with just a touch of menthol!) The flowers are used as a garnish and the berries are dried and ground to use as a spice in the manner of juniper berries.
 | | Neat & Tidy |
Myrtle is closely associated with the goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love and fertility. Because of this, many European brides include a sprig of myrtle in the wedding bouquet.
Plant myrtle in a sunny, well-drained location and be patient: it's rather slow-growing. It is, however, very drought-tolerant and easy to care for. A low hedge of myrtle can be pruned as a border like boxwood or even clipped into a topiary shape as the centerpiece of the herb garden.
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Please stop by and visit! Have a glass of world-famous lemonade (or a beer!) -- we'd love to meet you!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Barrow
Papershell: A Garden Gallery
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Sangria Saturday!
Saturday, October 27
12:00-5:30pm
Red & white sangria available for consenting adults! Regular Papershell lemonade for everyone else...
Join us - it's your little treat before Halloween.
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Chickens for Sale!
Saturday, October 27
11:00am - ???
Our friend Mike Hensley will be at Papershell today with a variety of baby chicks for sale. If you've been studying up on raising chickens at home, maybe now is the time to take the plunge. Stop by for a visit! Who knows? Maybe you'll leave with a few girls of your own?
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Halloween Wednesday, October 31 All day Boo!
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Greeting Card Keepsake Book
Saturday, November 3
1:00-3:00pm
Turn those stacks of past greetings into a fun, easy way to view good times gone bye-bye. We'll bind the 'keepers' into a simply-stitched book format that leaves room for future additions. With a slotted spine, each card is attached separately, so you can add new cards anywhere in the book and even remove one without unraveling the rest!
This class is $30 and reservations are required. For more information, see this document, call (281) 232-4485 or email us.
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Zentangle Workshop
Sunday, November 4
2:00-4:00pm
Certified Zentangle instructor Dawn Meisch leads this class. Zentangle is an easy, fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. It increases focus and creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well being. The Zentangle method is enjoyed all over this world across a wide range of skills, interests and ages. The $35 fee includes everything you need, and extra materials will be available for sale. Email us or call (281) 232-4485 for more info.
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Hours Monday: Closed Tuesday through Saturday: 9:00am-5:30pm Sunday: Noon-5:30pm Email us at elizabeth@thepapershell.com. Visit our website, thepapershell.com. Call us at (281) 232-4485. |
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Roses for $8!
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Take advantage of this special rose closeout and get a blooming beauty for only $8! These roses are regularly $16.99 - $24.99 and include prize winners like Dick Clark, antiques like Republic of Texas, EarthKind roses like Belinda's Dream and more. This sale will not be advertised to the general public until Saturday, October 27 so come early for best selection. S orry, we cannot hold roses for you unless they're purchased.
Got a friend who needs a coupon? Feel free to share the newsletter with her - we'd love to meet her too. Click the link at the bottom to Forward Email.
| While supplies last - bring coupon in or merely mention it at the register to get your special price!
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