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Dear Friends,
Here is the 239th 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. . . .E
mail 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!
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HAPPY ROSE PRUNING, VALENTINE! . . .
FREEZE-STRESSED GRASS, WILL IT COME BACK?
by BRENDA BEUST SMITH
Bet you thought February 14, Valentine's Day, is most famous for hearts & flowers, right?
Wrong.
Among gardeners, Valentines Day has a much more important meaning. February 14 is traditionally the prime day for pruning your roses! In our Spotlight below,
Houston Rose Society's Baxter Williams (who's as cute as he is knowledgeable) gives some great rose pruning tips.
Remember, climbers and antique roses and other own root (not grafted) roses don't need pruning unless they're causing damage, like tearing down roof eaves or reaching out to grab you when you mow past. If you do need to prune climbers, do so after they bloom.
Generally speaking, own root roses are more shrub-like with multiple blooms per stalk. Grafted roses, such as hybrid teas, have more sparse foliage, stronger, longer stems and incredible flowers. These usually are pruned into a vase-like shape to promote optimum bloom potential, especially in our area. Baxter's a Rosarian with extensive experience teaching about and actually handling pruning at
The Gardens of the American Rose Center in Shreveport, LA. Heed what he says You'll be glad you did!
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GET READY FOR A NEW, IMPROVED
HOUSTON ARBORETUM & NATURE CENTER!
Extensive Houston Arboretum renovations underway include, left, a new Nature Center as well as,
l to r, an expanded multi-focus trail system and a return to the more historical natural
ecology of the current woodlands, ravine environments, prairie and savanna.
HOUSTON ARBORETUM & NATURE CENTER's current impressive changes include the closure of the traditional entrance on Woodway Dr. in Memorial Park. The temporary Arboretum entrance is on the I-610 West Loop's northbound access road (feeder) between Post Oak and Woodway Dr. north of Buffalo Bayou.
Tip o' the trowel to Russ Kane who pointed this out when sending in a calendar notice of the
Native Plant Society of Texas/Houston Chapter's Feb. 15 free presentation of Cullen & Kelli Ondracek's "Natural Resources Management: A Tale of Two Cities (Houston & Pearland)."
As HANC's Conservation Director Emily Manderson points out, the Houston Arboretum ". . . is located at a unique juncture of three ecological regions: Piney Woods, Post Oak Savanna & Gulf Coast Prairie. By restoring healthy habitat on site, it provides a refuge for wildlife, improves our ecological health by more efficiently cleaning our water and air, restores endangered native ecosystems, and provides an educational experience unmatched in the city of Houston."
HANC's 155-acre green space in the southwestern corner of Memorial Park is in the midst of a $40 million campaign that will include, among multiple other improvements, an expanded network of nature trails and restoration of the native forest that has in many ways felt the brunt of urbanization.
Left top, Houston Arboretum's decades old Woodway entrance is now closed. Left below, the Nature Center
will be totally renovated. The temporary entrance is now north of Post Oak Blvd. and south of Woodway. Center map, the horizontal grey line at right is 610 West Loop. On the map at right:
the horizontal gray line center is 610 West Loop.
Even through the renovations, the Arboretum continues to offer a wide variety of classes and events. "Getting the Most from Your Native Plant Garden" by Kelsey Low will be offered Sat., Mar. 3, 10am-noon ($35). Register:
Houston Arboretum
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TWO VIEWS OF FREEZE-DAMAGED LAWN RECOVERY
Reader Kerry Osterhom wrote asking for thoughts about how to deal with his (obviously sad-looking) St. Augustine lawn after our recent freezes. I was happy to give my thoughts. But, understanding how important pristine lawns are to some folks, I also asked John Ferguson to weigh in. His thoughts are in his column below.
In the 50 years we lived in (& loved) the house at right below, I can't begin to count the number of times winter freezes and summer droughts resulted in a front yard that looked like the photo at left below. For that reason, I have my own views of recovery treatments needed:
This St. Augustine lawn is NOT dead. It is dormant. St. Augustine CHOOSES to go dormant when it is too cold, too hot, too dry, though usually not when it is too wet.
It is the toughest lawn grass we have, which is why most Houstonians plant it. If you never mowed it, it would one day take over everything in your yard and start climbing up the trees.
We homeowners too often weaken our St. Augustine lawns by overfertilizing and overtreating it until it becomes so weak, it's susceptible to invading insect and disease problems. We water so frequently we train it to expect regular watering and to pout when something happens to interrupt that schedule.
Invaders such as chinch bugs and brown spot are always present in our lawns. They're kept in control by the individual plantlets' natural resistance. Dormancy is one tool they use to survive.
Our lawn pictured above was never treated prior to taking that picture. We ignored it completely except to mow. It grew well in sun, but not so well in shade. St. A. doesn't like shade. Husband did one time cut off all the lower branches of our once multiple trees. Then he complained constantly because the lawn needed mowing more often.
Our lawn went dormant in winter and in summer droughts, which is what it is supposed to do. We sighed, but knew it would come back when rains and lower temperatures returned in fall.
It ALWAYS came back healthier and stronger than ever. We didn't fertilize, we almost never even watered. We had no sprinkler system. Most of the time we were gone most of the summer, so it wasn't even practical.
This house will be torn down now by Flood Control to create a flood mitigation area. But I bet if we go back in a year or two, the St. Augustine grass will still be growing strong.
I know lawn enthusiasts are tightening their jaws. My good friend Dan Snyder of Nitro-Phos fertilizers used to say pristine lawns are to today's suburban men what mammoths were to prehistoric man. A macho thing.
I say: don't sweat it. St. Augustine will return, will fill in those dead holes. Just keep it watered and start mowing now! St. Augustine will grow. If you mow, it will grow sideways, which is what you want.
If this has you gritting your teeth and thinking, "She's crazy! This lawn is DEAD!" . . . then don't miss John's column below on coping with freeze-damaged lawns. . If you MUST do something, please listen to John!
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READERS EXPAND OUR WORLDS
- Thanks to well known Harris County Master Gardener Clyde Cannon who wrote in he really thinks the public needs to be educated about these two misnomers. Clyde would like to see . . .
- The word "Palm" forever removed as a tag for SAGO. Sago cycads are not even related to Palms. Sagos appeared on this earth approximately 80 million years before Palms.
- Everyone stop calling Junipers "Cedars." According to the Department of Agriculture, there is no commercially grown Cedar In the United States. Cedar is native to the Middle East and Himalayan region. If someone were to use a slab of Juniper to grill their salmon, the results could wind them up in the Hospital or Morgue. They do use "Western Red- Cedar" to grill but this is "Thuja plicata" or Arborvitae.
L to r, sago (a cycad), a real palm, cedar and juniper. Okay, now you know.
Let's start calling these plants by their correct names (Are you listening, nurseries?)
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Now, Baxter's reminders on pruning your roses . . . hopefully on St. Valentine's Day. A couple of terms you do need to know if you don't already:
- The "eye" is the point where a leaf comes out of the cane (stalk)
- The "bud union" is the point from which new canes (basal breaks) emerge at, or below, soil level
- Anvil pruners (loppers) are a softer metal and a blade that closes against an anvil on the lower jaw
- Bypass pruners have a blade that sweeps past the lower jaw. Used for cuts that affect plant health
NOTE: In next week's Spotlight article, Houston Rose Society's James Laperouse will warn about some common rose growing mistakes event expert rose growers often make!
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Brenda's column in the LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER
Is based on her 40+ years as the Houston Chronicle's Lazy Gardener. To sign up for this free,
weekly Greater Houston area gardening report or read past issues, go to natureswayresources.com
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Baxter Williams is an American Rose Society Master Rosarian with over 50 years
experience growing roses in Houston. His own garden has 500 bushes of all types.
IT'S ALMOST VALENTINE'S DAY
-- TIME TO PRUNE MOST ROSES!
by BAXTER WILLIAMS
- Your roses are at their most dormant state, so they will not even notice what you are doing to them. Prune bushes to prevent disease, and to produce more flowers.
- Climbers should be cut AFTER THEY HAVE BLOOMED. Trim about 1/3 of their stem back, and train them horizontally to get many more blooms.
- For all large types --- Hybrid Teas, Grandifloras, Floribundas, Climbers --- prune to a pencil-sized or larger cane, an eighth of an inch above an "eye" --- new growth will always be at the same diameter as the cut. Note: It matters not if the cut is at 45 degrees.
- Don't worry about sealing the cut, unless the cut is at the Bud Union (that big knot from which all of the lower canes grow), in which case trim the cut cane off smooth with the bud union surface before sealing --- and then use Elmer's glue.
- Bushes should end up about knee-to-thigh height.
- In all cases, cut away dead stems and twiggy stems. Miniscule stems cannot adequately support big, beautiful blooms.
L to r, bypass shears top and anvil below, rose bush bud union, rose "bud eye"
with sprouting stem and and, at right, an outward-facing bud.
- Use sharp BYPASS SHEARS. Anvil-type shears crush the stems.
- Hold the shears such that the thicker blade is against the piece that goes away (the thicker blade will crush the stem, allowing bacteria to enter and compromise the cane, but the sharp blade will cut right through).
- Remove last year's leaves. They have done their job, and are weaker (and therefore more likely to become infected with diseases such as blackspot)
- Roses from nurseries also need to be pruned. All of their canes were cut to the same length, and none of the twiggy stems were removed as they were being potted at the nursery, so give them better cuts per above instructions.
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NOTES:
- You can meet Baxter in person and discuss roses in general Saturday, Feb. 24, at a special Houston Rose Society Meet with Rosarians event, 10am-noon, at Houston Plant & Garden World, 16726 North Fwy (I-45).
- Houston has the largest rose society in the nation, and meetings are always open to the public. They meet the first Thursday of the month at this site. Next up ...
- THURS., MAR. 8: ESSENTIALS OF GROWING ROSES by JAMES LAPEROUSE, 7pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavilon,1500 Hermann Dr. Houston Rose Society event. Free. houstonrose.org
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JOHN'S CORNER
TIP OF THE WEEK
A question came in asking, "How can I help my lawn recover from the damage due to the recent hard freeze?"
There are several things one can do to help the lawn recover quickly; however, what is required depends on what was done last fall before the freeze and how the lawn was cared for. I will use my own St. Augustine lawn for an example.
Ideal Case:
I have used organic methods to care for my lawn for almost 40 years now and my gumbo clay has turned into a rich loam full of earthworms, microbes and other life. My grass continued to grow (slowly) to almost Thanksgiving and then stayed green until the hard freeze. I quit mowing in October and when the hard freeze hit, the grass was about five inches tall. This thick layer protected the runners from damage so they are just waiting for spring weather to start growing again.
In a couple more weeks or less when the weather warms up a little more I will prepare to mow off the dead grass. First, I will sharpen my mulching mower blade and then mow the lawn to four inches tall. Only cutting a little bit of the dead at one time allows the mulching blade to chop up the dead grass into very little pieces that settle into the soil. I will lower my lawnmower blade another inch and repeat. If there is still a lot of dead grass visible, I might repeat a third time and inch lower. This provides a rich mulch to protect the runners and new grass blades will easily punch through the layer.
My soil is biologically alive hence the finely cut grass pieces will be quickly be biodegraded by the fungus and earthworms and all the nutrients contained in the dead grass will be returned to the soil. The dead grass clippings has the exact amount of major, minor and trace minerals in perfect proportions that the new grass will require. It becomes my spring fertilization saving the cost of buying fertilzers.
Next, I will apply about 1/4 inch layer of leaf mold compost to the lawn. The very dark almost black color of the compost absorbs sunlight converting the light energy of the sun into heat energy or warmth. Think about placing your hand on a dark car that has been sitting in the sun. This process warms the soil, which stimulates the grass to grow and the microbes to breakdown the dead grass and turn it into humus. The humus produced along with the compost will help your soil store water and protect the grass in our hot summers. Note: I have not had to water my lawn or landscape for over three years. This also saves a lot of money on the water bills.
Every other year
I will apply one bag of Microlife 6-2-4 organic fertilizer (my favorite) and every 4-5 years I will apply 40 pounds of greensand per 1,000 square feet. I do not need any additional fertilization to have a beautiful lawn and landscape.
The turf is so thick and strong it chokes out all weeds so I never need herbicides, weed and feeds, etc. I do not get turf diseases or insect pests hence I save time, labor and money there also.
Case 2: New organic lawn
Mow as described above; apply the Microlife 6-2-4 organic fertilizer and the greensand (40 pounds/1,000 square feet) if one has never done it. Greensand is full of minor and trace elements. These are to plants sort of like vitamins are to humans, if we are missing even a little then we are not as healthy. In grass and plants, this shows up as insect and disease issues. Follow with an application of fine screened leaf mold compost at least 1/4 inch but not more than 1/2 inch at one time. Nature will take over from here and the grass should quickly start growing and green up.
Note: This only applies if one did not cut their grass close (less than 3 inches) before the hard freeze. IF it had been mowed short, then there is a possibility that the runners (stolons) were killed and one will need to re-sod.
Case 3: Toxic chemical lawn
The salts from the artificial fertilizers, pesticides for cinch bugs or webworms, and fungicides for brown patch or other diseases have killed off most of the life in your soil. In this case, the grass cuttings will not quickly break down and should be removed from the lawn. This means bagging the clippings and removing them.
The soil is most likely compacted from the chemical abuse and will need a core aeration to help open it up. Depending on how short the grass was cut, the stolons may be dead (no green visible) and one may need to re-sod.
Now one can follow the guidelines in case 2 above for fertilizer, greensand, and compost.
Note: When plants and turf grass are grown organically, they are healthier; hence, they tend to have 4-5 degrees better cold tolerance and 4-5 degrees better heat tolerance.
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LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER
CALENDAR EVENTS &
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PLEASE READ
BEFORE
SUBMITTING AN EVENT TO THIS CALENDAR.
NO EVENTS ARE PICKED UP FROM NEWSLETTERS! SUBMIT WITH REQUEST FOR CALENDAR PUBLICATION
Events
NOT submitted in
EXACT written calendar format below may take 2+ weeks to be posted.
After that point, if your event does not appear, please email us. Adult gardening/plants events only
Submit to: [email protected]
DO NOT CREATE LINKS IN YOUR SUBMISSION!!! WE WILL DO THAT.
IF WE INSPIRE YOU TO ATTEND ANY OF THESE EVENTS,
PLEASE TELL SPONSORS YOU HEARD ABOUT IT IN
THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER!
THURS., FEB. 15: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: A TALE OF TWO CITIES (HOUSTON & PEARLAND) by CULLEN & KELLI ONDRACEK, 6:45-8:30pm, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, (temporary entrance) West Loop 610 northbound feeder before Woodway. Native Plant Society of Texas event. Free. npsot.org/houston/
SAT., FEB. 17: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER TOMATO, PEPPER & HERB SALE, location TBA. hcmga.tamu.edu/public/pubSales.aspx
SAT., FEB. 17: GALVESTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS PLANT SALE, 9am-1pm; Educational Seminar, 8am, County Fairgrounds, Hwy. 6, Hitchcock. Free. 281-309-5065. Flyer.
SAT., FEB. 17: ORGANICS IN SOIL FOR TURF BUILDING by GREG COOPER, 11am-noon, , Wabash Feed and Garden, 4537 N. Shepherd. Free. Register: wabashfeed.com/calendar/, 713-863-8322
SUN., FEB 18: BIRD'S NEST FERNSby DARLA HARRIS AND LARRY RUCKER, 2pm, Judson Robinson Jr. Community Center, 2020 Hermann Dr. Free.. $15. Texas Gulf Coast Fern Societyevent. tgcfernsoc.org.
TUE., FEB. 20: THE EXTRAORDINARY PLANT COLLECTIONS AT PECKERWOOD GARDEN by ADAM BLACK, 7:30pm, West Gray Multi-Service Center, 1475 W Gray. Free. Bromeliad Society / Houston event. bromeliadsocietyhouston.org
SAT., FEB 24: MAKE A HYPERTUFA PLANTER by NATURE WAY RESOURCES, 10am-noon, 101 Sherbrook Circle, Conroe. Free. RSVP: 936-321-6990; [email protected]. Walk-In's welcome.
SAT., FEB. 24: NATURE EXPLORER EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS (2), 9am-noon and 1-4pm; Mercer Botanic Garden event at Big Stone Lodge 709 Riley Fuzzel Rd, Spring. $40 each. Register: natureexplore.org/workshops/educator-workshops
SAT., FEB. 24: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER PRECINCT 2 FRUIT TREE & TOMATO SALE, Pasadena Fairgrounds.
hcmga.tamu.edu/public/pubSales.aspx
SAT. FEB 24: HOW TO GROW NATIVE MILKWEED, by BARBARA KELLER-WILLY, 1-3 pm; Galveston County AgriLife Extension Bldg, Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Master Gardener event. Free. Register: [email protected]. 281-309-5065, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html
SAT., FEB 24: PECKERWOOD GARDEN OPEN DAY, 10am-2pm tours, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232; [email protected]
SAT.-SUN., FEB. 24-25: COUSHATTA CAMELLIA SOCIETY ANNUAL SHOW & PLANT SALE, 1-4pm, First Christian Church, 3500 W. Loop 336N, Conroe. coushattacamelliassociety.com; 713-865-6482.
SUN., FEB. 25: DAYLILY BLOOM DESCRIPTION by JEANNIE MALLICK, 2pm-3pm. Klein United Methodist Church, Christian Life Center, Room #C112, 5920 FM 2920, Spring, TX 77388. Free. Cypress Creek Daylily Club event.
www.cypresscreekdaylilyclub.simplesite.com
MON. FEB. 26: SOIL FOOD WEB, COMPOST AND MULCHES by JOHN FERGUSON, 9am-noon, John Ferguson, 9 a.m. to noon, Mercer Botanic Gardens,
22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble.
Texas Gulf Coast Gardener program
Contact Jennifer L. Garrison, Ph: 713-274-4160
WED., FEB. 28: SOIL, YOUR ULT
IMATE WATER RESERVOIR-TAPPING THE POTENTIAL by JOHN FERGUSON, 7pm, HARC offices, 8801 Gosling Rd. Woodlands Green, A Walk In The Woods Lecture Series. Paul Nelson
WED., FEBRUARY 28: "PREPARATION OF A WELL-DRAINED CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOIL" by CRAIG HAMILTON and WALLACE WARD, 7:30pm, Metropolitan Multi-Services Center, 1475 West Gray. Houston Cactus & Succulent Society event, Free. hcsstx.org.
SAT., MAR 3: OAKS OF PECKERWOOD GARDEN, 10am, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $15. Register: [email protected]; peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232
SAT.-SUN., MAR. 3-4: SPRING BRANCH AFRICAN VIOLET CLUB 39th ANNUAL SHOW & SPRING SALE, Sat.:1-5pm show, 9am-5pm sale; Sun. show & sale 10am-3pm., Judson Robinson Jr. Community Center, 2020 Hermann Dr. Free. 281-748-8417, [email protected]
WED., MAR. 7: 6th ANNUAL GULF COAST HERB FAIR, 9am-2pm, Moody Gardens, Galveston. Herb Fair free. Luncheon $35 / Register: [email protected]; facebook.com/TheFriendsofMoodyGardens
THURS., MAR. 8:
HOW TO GROW (OR KILL) ORCHIDS IN THREE EASY STEPS by ELIZABETH FISHER,
10 am
, MUD Building, 805 Hidden Canyon Dr, Katy. Free, Nottingham Country Garden Club event. ncgctx.org
THURS., MAR..8: ESSENTIALS OF GROWING ROSES by JAMES LAPEROUSE 7pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavillon,1500 Hermann Dr. Houston Rose Society event. Free. houstonrose.org
FRI., MAR.9: THOSE ADDORABLE HUMMERS by SUE HEATH. 10 am. White Oak Convention Center., 7603 Antoine. Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs event. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org
SAT., MAR. 10: VEGETABLE & HERB PLANT SALE, 9am-noon, Fort Bend County AgriLife Extension Office, 1402 Band Rd, Rosenberg. Fort Bend Master Gardener event. fbmg.org; 281-341-7068; [email protected]
SAT., MAR 10: PECKERWOOD GARDEN OPEN DAY, 10am-2pm tours, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232; [email protected]
SAT., MAR. 10: FLORALS, 8-10am, & VEGETABLES, 10:30-12:30pm, AgriLife Extension Office, 9020 Airport Rd, Conroe. Montgomery County Master Gardener event. $5/one session; $8/both. 936-539-7824, www.mcmga.com
TUES. MAR. 13: INTRODUCTION TO THE SOIL FOOD WEB, by JOHN FERGUSON, 10:30 am, Meadowbrook Garden Club, Bonnie Calkins, 281-650-0726
TUES., MAR. 13: PLUMERIAS!, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavillion, Hermann Park Conservancy, 1500 Hermann Dr. Plumeria Society of America event. Free.
SAT., MAR. 17: MARCH MART, 10am-4pm, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. 713-274-4160. facebook.com/events/437776423232152
SAT. MAR 17: TOMATO STRESS MANAGEMENT by IRA GERVAIS, 9-11am; COMPOSTING with JIM GILLIAM, 1-3pm, AgriLife Extension Bldg, Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Free. Register
:
[email protected]
, 281-309-5065, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html
SAT., MAR. 17: ORGANIC WAY TO IMPROVE SOIL & MINIMIZE PESTS by BOB RANDALL, 11am-noon, Wabash Feed & Garden, 4537 N. Shepherd. $10, Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
WED., MAR. 21: SNAKE IDENTIFICATION, noon-2pm, Mercer Botanic Gardens West Side Arboretum Pavilion, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. Register: 713-274-4160
THU. MAR 22: FIG TREE PRUNING & PROPAGATION, by TERRY CUCLIS, 9-10am; Galveston County Master Gardener Discovery Garden, Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Master Gardener event. , Free. Register:
[email protected], 281-309-5065, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html
SAT., MAR. 24: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER PEPPER, PERENNIAL & VEGETABLE SALE. Pasadena Fairgrounds.
hcmga.tamu.edu/public/pubSales.aspx
SAT. MAR 24: BENEFICIALS IN THE GARDEN by DR. WILLIAM M. JOHNSON, 1-3pm, AgriLife Extension Bldg, Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Free. Register:
[email protected], 281-309-5065, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html
SAT., MAR 24: PECKERWOOD GARDEN OPEN DAY, 10am-2pm tours, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232; [email protected]
SUN., MAR. 25: STEWARDSHIP OF THE SOIL by JOHN FERGUSON, 6pm, Sunday Evening Conversations on Creation Webinar, Lisa Brenskelle, [email protected]
SUN., MAR. 25: HIBISCUS CARE by MARTI GRAVES, 2pm-3pm. Klein United Methodist Church, Christian Life Center, Room #C112, 5920 FM 2920, Spring, TX 77388. Free. Cypress Creek Daylily Club event. www.cypresscreekdaylilyclub.simplesite.com
WED., MAR. 28: NATURE'S WAY RESOURCES HORTICULTURAL TOUR, 10:15am-4:30pm, Senior Adult Botanic Bus Trip, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield. $1. Register: 713-274-4160
FRI., APR. 6: SOILS by JOHN FERGUSON, Liberty Garden Club, Ellen Gossett, (409) 350-1109
SAT., APRIL 7.: WHITE OAK GARDEN SPRING PLANT SALE, 10am-2pm (or sell-out); SALE PREVIEW by HEIDI SHEESLEY, 9am, White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Dr. Free.
nnmd.org
SAT., APR 7: SPRINGTIME ACROSS THE CREEK AT PECKERWOOD GARDEN, 10am, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $15. Register: [email protected]; peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232
FRI., APRIL 13: THE WORLD OF SEED by ANGELA CHANDLER. 10am., White Oak Convention Center, 7603 Antoine, Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs event. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org
SAT., APR 14: PECKERWOOD GARDEN OPEN DAY, 10am-2pm tours, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232; [email protected]
SAT,. APR. 21: HOUSTON ROSE SOCIETY ANNUAL SPRING SHOW, Noon-4pm, Memorial City Mall, 303 Memorial City Way. Houston Rose Society event.
Free.
houstonrose.org
SAT., APR 21: PECKERWOOD GARDEN EVENING AT PECKERWOOD LECTURE TOPIC TBA, 7pm, Peckerwood Garden, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. Register: [email protected]. peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232
SAT., APR. 21:ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER PARTY FOR THE PLANET, 8500 Bay Area Blvd. , Pasadena. Register: [email protected]; 281-474-2551
WED., APR. 25: PECKERWOOD GARDENS TOUR, 8:15am - 4:30pm, Senior Adult Botanic Bus Trip, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield. $1. Register: 713-274-4160
SAT., APR 28: PECKERWOOD GARDEN OPEN DAY, 10am-2pm tours, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232; [email protected]
TUES., MAY 8: PLUMERIAS!, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavillion, Hermann Park Conservancy, 1500 Hermann Dr. Plumeria Society of America event. Free.
MON., MAY 14: INTRODUCTION TO THE SOIL FOOD WEB by JOHN FERGUSON, 6:30pm, University of Houston at Clear Lake, Forest Room on East of Bayou Building. Native Plant Society of Texas at Clear Lake Martha Richeson, 713-962-7747
FRI. MAY 11: HONEY BEES - JAMES AND CHARI OF BLUEBONNET BEEKEEPERS. 10am. White Oak Convention Center, 7603 Antoine. Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs event. houstonfederationgardencllubs.org
SAT., JUNE 9: PLUMERIA SOCIETY OF AMERICA SHOW & SALE, 9:30am-3pm, Bay Area Community Center, 5002 Nasa Road One, Seabrook. Free. theplumeriasociety.org
TUES., JULY 10: PLUMERIAS!, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavillion, Hermann Park Conservancy, 1500 Hermann Dr. Plumeria Society of America event. Free.
If we inspire you to attend any of these, please let them know you heard about it in . . .
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HE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER
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THIS NEWSLETTER IS MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS
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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 the Bayou 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 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.
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| Save 50% |
END OF SEASON CLEARANCE SALE AT NATURE'S WAY RESOURCES
MOST PLANTS 50% OFF (WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS)
101 SHERBROOK CIRCLE, CONROE TX
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| Offer Expires: WHILE SUPPLIES LAST |
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