I don't know about you, but I sure am grateful for the past few rain showers. Even though the soil is still very dry, and we could use the rain every single day, I'm grateful for any rain in August. Those mornings in the low 70s are pretty nice too -- a little taste of September in the air, if you ask me!
 | | Almost tea time! |
While it seems every bit as hot as July was, the fact of the matter is the earth is cooling as the days get shorter. Plants rely on the changes in day length and temperature to trigger changes in their physiology. The further from the equator, the more pronounced these changes are. Why? Because the more serious winter is! Here, the changes can be difficult to detect early in the season, but the plants know that we are heading into autumn, even if we can't tell by looking at the thermometers. Some plants, called long-day plants, slow their blooming as the days become shorter while others, the short-day plants, are about to bloom. I'm watching my Jamaica or roselle and waiting for it to bloom. Then I can set about harvesting hibiscus buds for tea!
 | | Pink Trumpet Vine should be blooming now! |
September and October also mark a period of rejuvenation in our subtropical gardens. The peak summer months of July and August are drawing to a close and plants, enjoying the lwer nighttime temperatures, are better able to repair cell damage and begin growing again. I always look forward to that first flush of growth in the fall.
If your plants (including the lawn) are looking a little ragged now, but are still alive and basically intact, don't panic. August is a hard time to be a garden plant in our area. Resist the temptation to overuse chemical fertilizers, make sure you're providing the right amount of water and hold on. Apply an organic fertilizer if you really feel you must and have faith that the fall will perk your garden right up. I promise!
Thanks again and garden on! |
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Back to School!
Finally. And I know there are quite a few of you with me on this one.
 | | I keep waiting for it... |
Really, though, doesn't it still seem to you like the year actually starts in September? As long as we've been out of school (and it's been a long time for me!) this time of the year finds me craving new office supplies, interested in learning new things and anxious to get back in the garden.
Are you feeling the urge to get back to school? There are lots of great garden education opportunities coming up, beginning with the Master Gardener programs.
The Fort Bend Master Gardener classes begin on October 2 and continue onTuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00am until 3:30pm. The application deadline is September 20, 2013 so contact them quickly if you have questions. Call (281) 342-3034 or email FortBendmg@ag.tamu.edu.
The Brazoria County Master Gardener classes are on Thursdays from 9:00am to 3:00pm, beginning September 12 and continuing through November 14. Their deadline is September 2, 2013 and you can call them at (979) 864-1558 x110 for more information.
The Harris County Master Gardener program is on Wednesdays, from September 4 through November 20, from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Five of these classes will be in the Third Ward and the other seven near Bear Creek park. Contact t hem at (281) 855-5600 for more information.
Both the Galveston County Master Gardener and the Montgomery County Master Gardener organizations have classes only in the spring, but there's a mandatory orientation meeting for Montgomery County on September 19 from 9:00am until 10:00am. Their classes will be in January and February, on Tuesdays and Thursdays but you must attend this September orientation meeting. Call (936) 539-7824 for information on Montgomery County and (281) 534-33413 for information on Galveston County.
 | | Time to get back in the garden! |
The Mercer Arboretum also offers a fall gardening series called the Texas Gulf Coast Gardener Series. These classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning September 17 and lasting for 12 weeks. Call (281) 443-8731 for more information.
If a multi-week program isn't right for you, many of our local garden centers are ramping up their education offerings for the fall. The Arbor Gate had two that looked interesting to me: Suburban Farmer and Follow the Smoke. That latter class is about the history of barbeque, so I'm pretty sure the Biermeister would like that one too! You can see their entire class schedule here.
Want to know more about composting with worms? Vermicomposting is one of the classes on tap at Buchanan's Native Plants. See their September offerings here.
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Pindemonium!
One of my very good friends got me signed up for Pinterest a while back and for a long time, I observed from way over there. Little by little, though, I've crept closer and gotten more involved. My cranky side has a board called " Seriously Skeptical" where I pin all the nonsensical gardening tips I come across. On a more positive note, there are lots of great gardening boards out there, and August is the perfect time to browse for ideas, while remaining completely air-conditioned. Here are some really neat boards and pinners to check out:  | Photo: TwoGreenThumbs.com
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My friend Janit Calvo is a miniature gardener extraordinaire! Not only is she celebrating the publication of her book Gardening in Miniature, she maintains the neatest online shop, website, Facebook page and Pinterest boards totally devoted to miniature gardening. It's WAY more than just fairy gardening, trust me!  | Photo: BonsaiEmpire.com and Crash Bonsai
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Crazy about bonsai? I could look at these lovely trees for hours. The Bonsai Empire website chock-full of information on the art of bonsai, complete with pictures. But if you're a visual person, the Pinterest boards are a rare treat.  | | Photo: GardensOfTheWildWildWest.com |
Mary Ann of WildWestGardens is not only the head honcho over at the Gardens of the Wild West West, a blog devoted to the glories of the American West, she is an inveterate pinner, with over 13,000 pins on her almost 200 boards. The neat thing about Mary Ann's pins, though, ,is that they are all very nicely arranged, in alphabetical order! I love her eye and her sophisticated Western style. The mountain magic is hypnotic to a flatlander like me!  | | Photo: Bruce Bailey |
Bruce Bailey is the owner of Heavy Petal Nursery in Washington State, and his Pinterest boards are an eclectic mix of gardening, cooking and design. You'll know when you see his board The Garden Gallery why I like him so much! Check out his Twist on Folkart board too, for some really cool, crafty stuff. Are you a pinner? What are some of your favorite pinners/boards/pins? Gardens or otherwise, I'd like to know! |
Need a Garden Speaker?
Not having to be at the nursery every day has freed me up to do a little more of something I truly love: speaking to groups about gardening. Although September and October are pretty full, I am still available in late fall, winter and spring to give presentations to your garden club, civic association or other group.
You can find out more about my presentations in this blog post, which also contains a downloadable, printable list and a slide show. Here's your sneak peek at what the garden clubs around you are learning about this fall!
 | | Click the pic! |
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Thanks for reading,
Elizabeth Barrow
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