Hello there! I'm finishing up this newsletter on what has got to be the most perfect spring day ever! It's a struggle to remain seated in here when I could be out there...
But it has really been an eventful month! Weather-wise, this has been the longest, coolest intro to spring that I can remember. I hate to admit it, but I still have pansies in my front yard. Time to get them outta here, though, and replace with warm-season color. I want to get my vinca established before the really hot weather sets in.
 | | Garden tour idea: tillandsia basket filled with corks! |
I've also been going on lots of garden tours lately! Last weekend, there were three, which for me is, I think, a record. I had to skip out of the Garden Oaks tour, but I was happy to attend the Wharton County Backyard Farm Tour, the Quail Valley Garden Club Tour and the Meadows Home and Garden Tour. I always get some great ideas from these clever and generous homeowners! See the article below for upcoming garden tours and events.
I have been making some (slow) progress in my own garden. I'm not too worried, because it's my project for the entire year. But it's certainly nicer to work outside now! I can envision my enthusiasm flagging by the time July rolls around.
I'm planning to roll out some changes to the newsletter in the coming months. The article below explains the changes in more detail, but the short and simple version is this: sign up to get notifications of new articles on the web via email. It's free, quick and easy.
Thanks and garden on!
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Newsletter Changes
Did you know that it actually costs money to send this email newsletter? Yes, businesses like Papershell pay emailers (I use Constant Contact) to send newsletters to customers like you. Using a third-party helps ensure that bulk emails aren't just automatically refused by the receiver's inbox or even worse, by the email service itself.
 | | It adds up! |
When Papershell was a going concern, the dollar amount per month to send the newsletter was trivial, but alas, those dollars add up now. It costs about four times as much per month to email newsletters as it does to maintain the Papershell website. The price for emailing newsletters increases as your subscribers increase, and I'm grateful to still have so many subscribers!
I have been moving more and more of the newsletter "content" to the website, where it remains accessible and searchable. I'm sure you've noticed those "read more" links in each newsletter! Over the next few months, though, I'm going to be encouraging you to sign up to receive these articles directly via the Papershell website. The newsletters will eventually cease altogether but the articles on the website will keep coming.
From our homepage, simply scroll all the way down to the box at the bottom-center of the page and enter your email address under "Subscribe To Everything."
You'll receive an email confirming that you want to "follow" Papershell. Simply click on the CONFIRM button in the email. From then on, you'll receive an email when each article is published.
 | | There's always paper... |
I appreciate your understanding! I know you know how much I want to keep in touch with you!
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Garden Tours and Events: Coming Up!
The spring season is in full swing! Don't miss the opportunity to check out these local garden tours and events. Saturday, May 3: Lake Olympia Garden Tour 9am-1pm, $10 email keeneellie@att.net for more information. Saturday, May 3: Houston Area Daylily Society Show and Sale 10am-3pm, Free St. Andrew Episcopal Church, 1819 Heights Saturday, May 3: Fort Bend County Master Gardeners Drip Irrigation Workshop 10:00 am More info here.  | | Haven't you always wanted a pond? |
Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4: Houston Water Garden and Pond Tour 10am-6pm, $10 More info here. Saturday, May 10: Sugar Land Garden Club Tour 9am-3pm, $15 More info here. Saturday, May 10: Fort Bend Master Gardeners Backyard Basics Class - Culinary Herbs 9am-11am, $15 per person or $25 per couple More info here. Sunday, May 11: Houston Arboretum "Plant a Butterfly Hanging Basket" 2pm-4pm $40 for members, $65 for nonmembers More info here. Sunday, May 18: Shimek Daylily Festival and Open Gardens 8am-6pm (This garden is in Alvin.) More info here. And don't forget: May is one of the more spectacular months to visit Bayou Bend! |
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Thanks for reading,
Elizabeth Barrow
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New Articles on the Website
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