MAY 19TH, 2017

Dear Friends,

Here is the 206TH 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: lazygardenerandfriends@gmail.com. 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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DOUBLECHECK ALL INTERNET ADVICE! . . .
SEARCHING FOR SHIRLEY . . . HABITAT TIPS FROM PRO



There is no gardening without humility.
Nature is constantly sending even its oldest scholars
to the bottom of the class for some egregious blunder.
                                                          -- Alfred Austin (1835-1918, Poet Laureate, Great Britain) 
 
 
By BRENDA BEUST SMITH
 
I cannot say this strongly enough.   Please, please, PLEASE!!!! Before you order, or even believe, ANY plant recommended or planting advice seen on Facebook or anywhere on the internet.
 
Someone promoting a supposedly fantastic new plant? Before you buy, do this.
 
Google the BOTANICAL name of the plant (if given), or even the common name and the words "Texas" and "Invasive"
 
Even if it's not yet on the official list, the Google snapshots will tell you whether or not to be concerned about potential invasiveness.
 
This ad, pictured left below, was sent to me by a reader. Trumpetcreeper Campsis radicans, devil's shoestring, trumpet vine) is not yet on the Texas Invasives list. But as our summers grow warmer, it probably will be as it won't be dying back in winter anymore.  It's beautiful, yes.  And it does attract hummers.  It's pictured below center, the bottom flower picture.
 
And yes, it is one of our best hummingbird-attractors. It's also called "cow-itch) as it can cause mild dermatitis in some people.
 
In the right conditions, it grows very quickly.  Hence the problems. If it takes over a tree cutting off sunlight from the leaves, the tree can die.  That's not to say it will since it's our property and we've never lost a tree to it (that we know of).  But it appears in all our lawn & gardens, on all fences, etc. I pluck it out of gardens and Bill mows it down in the grass.
 
Definitely DON'T recommend it to anyone who lives along the Upper Texas Gulf Coast.  Not sure about the rest of the state.
 
Now, there ARE some very good Campsis vines with almost identical flowers.  The trick, buy a named variety. Campsis radicans 'Madame Galen' (center below, top picture) is one of our most highly recommended varieties. Even better, only buy one from an independent nursery you trust and ask your LOCAL nurseryman for his recommendations.
 
 
Left, internet ad for native trumpetcreeper (trumpetweed - center bottom).
Center top, Mme Galen trumpetcreeper, a good choice. Right, Shirley Temple hibiscus
 
 
 
SEARCHING FOR SHIRLEY: Speaking of searching for great plants. I did a bad last week - mentioned a flower without checking to see if it's readily available. What I learned was that Linda Gay's favorite hibiscus, a variety called "Shirley Temple" (right above) on as many nursery shelves as it used to be.  
 
A white version is more readily available at many nurseries (Enchanted Gardens & The Arbor Gate, for sure). The pink "Shirley Temple" is a little harder to find now. An email survey of area nurseries netted responses from these: (call first to make sure they still have some in stock):
Longtime Houston gardeners' friend Steve Moore (now with Calloways, which owns Cornelius Nursery) says he found some online at:  https://www.hiddenvalleynaturearts.com/acatalog/ancestors.htm 
 
 *  *  *

WANT TO REALLY PULL YOUR HAIR OUT? One reason you might not have been able to find a Shirley  Temple hibiscus? It is also sold under a different name in addition to its botanical name: Albo Lacinatus.  Try asking for Anderson's Crepe.  That's "Crepe" - not "crape" as in "crape myrtle" (which is often misspelled as "crepe.").   This Shirley Temple is not a crape myrtle. It's in the hibiscus family and, in fact, it's the root stock often used for those really exotic tropical hibiscus we buy.
 
One more "bad" I just saw on Facebook, it showed a two-layer circular bed around a existing tree.  The inner layer was twice as high as the outer layer.  Nothing wrong with this, except that the inner layer butted up against the tree trunk.
 
This is really risky. Vital microbacterial activity takes place at the point where bark touches soil.  Oxygen is vital for this activity.  Never cover this area!  Always leave an open collar of at least a foot (a little more is better) around the base of the tree.  Usually heavy root spread keeps weed growth down in this area.  If it doesn't a loose shallow mulch level probably wouldn't hurt. 

But the general rule is never to put more than 2" of soil over tree roots in any one year. These trees at left and center may do fine.  Or, they may die, since professional advice is not to do this, right below. 
 
 
  
*  *  *
 
PHOTOGRAPHING HABITATS:  Today's Spotlight is a treat for both habitat gardeners and nature photographers, a rare chance for two different disciplines to learn from a single expert.
Don DuBois is a member of the Butterfly Enthusiasts of Southeast Texas (BEST), a chapter of the North American Butterfly Assn (NABA). A regular contributor to the North American Butterfly Association's magazine "American Butterflies," Don is perhaps best known to many of us as a familiar volunteer at Mercer Botanic Gardens and local club speaker on butterflies and nature photography.

On Tuesday, June 6, 7 pm, at the Cockrell Butterfly Center, Don will detail his work for the official NABA Documentation as he encourages local habitat gardeners to join him in submitting their photographs of butterflies on specific host and nectar plants. 
  • TUES., JUNE 6: NABA - PHOTO DOCUMENTATION OF BUTTERFLY HOST PLANTS - YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT by DON DUBOIS, 7pm, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Dr. Free. Butterfly Enthusiasts of Southeast Texas. naba.org/chapters/nababest
  • Download a free copy of Don's "Nectar Sources" at  natureswayresources.com/nl/110NectarSources.pdf 
 
*  *  *
Brenda's column in the LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER
Is based on her 40+ years as the Houston Chronicle's Lazy Gardener
Email questions, comments to her at lazygardener@sbcglobal.net 

-----------------------




Don DuBois' upcoming presentation will feature documentation of three Texas butterflies
with local host plants, monarch & Asclepias tuberosa, spicebush swallowtail
& Lindera benzoin, and goatweed leafwing & Croton capitatus.


 
"YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT"
By DON DUBOIS
Butterfly Enthusiasts of Southeast Texas (BEST)
Member, North American Butterfly Association (NABA)
 
In 2012, the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) initiated a nationwide effort to obtain a photographic documentation of caterpillar host plants for butterflies in all states and provinces.  The rules are fairly simple:
  • The immature butterfly (egg or caterpillar) must be the result of a free-flying butterfly's choice of a host plant.
  • The host plant must be photographed and identified (flowers and fruit helpful).
  • Photograph as many stages of development as possible.
  • Release butterflies back where they were originally found.
  • Locate eggs or young caterpillars as early as possible.  This reduces the chance of parasitism.
  • Net the small caterpillars to prevent predation. Alternatively, bring a few inside to rear.
  • If brought inside, maintain clean enclosures and provide fresh food daily.
Take photos regularly- there are many different photos you may want- egg, five caterpillar instars, chrysalis, and butterfly:  
  • Get as close as possible to the subject as your camera will allow for good focus,
  • Pay attention to background clutter, and good lighting on the subject. 
  • Bright light but not direct sunlight is usually best for good color accuracy. 
  • When taking photos of insects, if the whole body cannot be in focus, it is best to have the head (eyes) of the caterpillar or butterfly in focus.
  • Submitted photos should be full resolution and uncropped. 
  • Photos will be cropped as needed at NABA.
Entries are still being accepted. Send documentation to naba@naba.org . 
 
That said, there are many things you can do to improve your chances of success:

*  *  *
Don can be emailed at: donandchrisdubois@att.net. You can speak personally with Don:
  • TUES., JUNE 6: NABA - PHOTO DOCUMENTATION OF BUTTERFLY HOST PLANTS - YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT by DON DUBOIS, 7pm, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Dr. Free. Butterfly Enthusiasts of Southeast Texas. naba.org/chapters/nababest/
Free pdf copy of Don's "Nectar Sources" list 
 
    



 
 

JOHN'S CORNER
                                                  


MINERALS - The Elements and What They Do
Part 24






32)  Germanium (Ge): Germanium is an element that is known as a metalloid as it has properties in between those of metals and nonmetals, or that it has a mixture of metal and nonmetal properties. Germanium is a silvery white and brittle metalloid that is stable in the air and water and it is almost totally unaffected by acids. Germanium is the 50th most abundant element on earth.

Germanium is found in igneous rocks at 5.4 ppm, shale's at 1.6 ppm, and very little in sandstones and limestone's. In soils, it is found mainly in the humus component at 1-2 ppm. There is extremely little germanium in fresh or seawater at 0.00007 ppm. In marine animals, it can reach 0.3 ppm. During weathering germanium is easily mobilized as germanous hydroxide Ge(OH)and is readily absorbed from aquatic systems by clay minerals, iron oxides and organic matter removing it from the water.

The most common (and stable) electrical or oxidation state is +4, although it can be found at the +2 electrical state in some compounds. Germanium is in the same column on the periodic table as silicon (Si) hence it easily substitutes for silicon (Si) in many minerals and will form complexes with oxygen (O). In nature, germanium is  found in association with sulfide ores of copper, lead, and zinc. Significant amounts of germanium are often found in ash and flue dust created from the burning of coal.

The first semi conductors were made with germanium and not silicon, as it did not require the high purity of silicon to work. Germanium was used as the critical element in early diodes and transistors. Additionally germanium oxide was used as a catalyst in the manufacture of polyester. 

Germanium has some interesting properties, unlike metals; germanium grows crystals as it cools from its liquid state. Germanium has the unique property that it is opaque in visible light but is transparent in infrared light. Germanium is required for televisions, computer screens, computer chips, optical fibers, solar cells, and infrared optical systems.

Germanium compounds (salts) generally have a low toxicity for mammals, but are toxic to some forms of bacteria but there is no practical application so far. It is considered a micronutrient, and some studies indicate that it will retard or prevent the growth of cancers in humans. Germanium is known to enhance the human immune system by stimulating production of several types of natural killer cells. Organic compounds of germanium are used in chemotherapy and as a strong pain reliever in Asian medicine.

A Japanese researcher has found that many herbs with healing properties are accumulators for the element germanium. Most of our food plants contain very little germanium (2-5 ppm), however healing herbs such as garlic, aloe, comfrey, chlorella, ginseng, watercress, Shitake mushroom, and others contain 100-2,000 ppm. The "Holy waters" at Lourdes, France is known worldwide for their healing properties, which contains large amounts of germanium.

Germanium being a semi-conductor (both accepts and gives off electrons), it is a highly efficient electrical impulse initiator intracellularly, and germanium acts as a metallic cofactor for oxygen utilization. This allows organs to attract and use oxygen more efficiently.

Deficiencies of germanium are reduced immune status, arthritis, osteoporosis, low energy, and cancer. A few others health issues that are being linked to germanium deficiency are cirrhosis, neuralgia, leukemia, hypertension, softening of brain tissue, and cardiac insufficiency.

The human body rapidly excretes germanium in our urine hence it needs to be replaced from our food supply daily.

Gardening and Landscaping Problems Associated with Germanium (Ge)

Blue-green algae and diatoms will accumulate germanium in their tissues, as will some of the herbs mentioned above. Germanium is not believed to be an essential element for plants; however, plants easily absorb it.

High levels of germanium have been found to be toxic to many plants as there is evidence that germanium can substitute for the silicon required by many of plant metabolic processes, which disrupts these processes. 

Sources: compost, basalt sand, some humates, some coal ash
 
 


 









 

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LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER
CALENDAR EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING AN EVENT TO THIS CALENDAR.   
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. 
Sorry, no children's programs.
Submit to: lazygardener@sbcglobal.net 
 
IF WE INSPIRE YOU TO ATTEND ANY OF THESE EVENTS, PLEASE TELL SPONSORS YOU HEARD ABOUT IT IN  
T HE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER 
 





FRI.-SUN., MAY 19-21: BROMELIAD SOCIETY / HOUSTON SHOW & SALE, Show 2-5pm Sat.;11am-4pm Sun., Sale noon-4pm Fri., 9am-4pm Sat. & 11am-3pm Sun., Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. Free. bromeliadsocietyhouston.org
 
SAT., MAY 20: MINI SUCCULENT OR HERB GARDEN, 10am, Enchanted Forest, 10611 FM 2759, 281-937-9449; 2pm, Enchanted Gardens, 6420 FM 359, 281-341-1206, both Richmond. myenchanted.com

SAT., MAY 20: SPACE CITY HIBISCUS CHAPTER SHOW & SALE, 1-4pm, East Harris County Activity Center, 340 Spencer Hwy. Pasadena.

SAT., MAY 20: LONE STAR DAYLILY SOCIETY 23rd ANNUAL FLOWER SHOW & SALE. 10am-4pm Sale; 1-4pm Show. Epiphany Lutheran Church, 5515 W. Broadway, Pearland.  Free. lonestardaylilysociety.org; peskine@comcast.net;  713-882-9958.

SAT.,, MAY 20: INSECTS IN THE GARDEN, 10am, Maud Smith Marks Library, 1815 Westgreen Blvd. Katy. Free Harris County Master Gardener eve nt. hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2017-green-thumb.pdf ; 281-855-5600
 
SAT, MAY 20:  HOME FRUIT GROWERS TOUR, 9am-noon. Start: Galveston County Master Gardener Demonstration Orchard & Garden, 4102 Main St. (Hwy 517), La Marque. Free.  galvcountymgs@gmail.com, 281-534-3413, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston

SAT., MAY 20: MONTGOMERY COUNTY MASTER GARDENER OPEN GARDENS DAY. AgriLife Extension Office, 9020 Airport Rd, Conroe. 9am-noon. Free. 936-539-7824; mcmga.com
 
SAT., MAY 20: BUTTERFLY GARDENING MADE EASY, 9-11am, AgriLife Extension Office, 1402 Band Rd, Rosenberg. Free. Fort Bend County Master Gardeners event. fortbend.agrilife.org/gwc/; 281-342-3034; brandy.rader@ag.tamu.edu.

SUN., MAY 21:  PAYNE'S IN THE GRASS DAYLILY FARM ANNUAL OPEN GARDEN & SALE.  9-5, 2130 O'Day Road, Pearland, Tx. 77581.  Free.  paynesinthegrassdaylilyfarm. com; 281-485-3821 or 713-419-6661

SUN., MAY 21: PSILOTUM NUDUM: MORPHOLOGYy & REPRODUCTION by JOAN HUDSON, 2pm, Judson Robinson Jr. Community Center, 2020 Hermann Dr.  Free. Texas Gulf Coast Fern Society event.  tgcfernsoc.org

SUN., MAY 21: DAYLILY OPEN GARDEN DAY, 8:30am-4pm, Crainers Daylily Farm, 5748 FM 2611, Brazoria. Free. emcrainer@aol.com; 979-239-7026; 979-239-8390

TUES.,, MAY 23, HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS OPEN GARDEN DAY & INSECTS SEMINAR, 9-11:30am, 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Free. Harris County Master Gardener event. Register: ogd.harrishort@gmail.com

TUES., MAY 23: QUEST FOR BETTER FOOD by RONNIE CUMMINS, 5-8pm, United Way Building, 50 Waugh Dr. $20. Register: OHBAONLINE.ORG

WED., MAY 24:  "JARDIN DE EXOTIQUE" by JOSIE WATTS and BRUCE MOFFET, 7:30pm., Metropolitan Multi-Services Center, 1475 West Gray, Free. hcsstx.org.

SAT., MAY 27: PECKERWOOD GARDEN FRIE
NDS OF PECKERWOOD DAY, 10am-2pm tours, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. Garden Conservancy event. peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232; eventregistration@peckerwoodgarden.org

THU., JUN 1: PEACH TREE PRUNING FOR HOME ORCHARD by GALVESTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS, 9-10 am. Demonstration Garden Orchard, Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. GCMG event. Free. Pre-register: galvcountymgs@gmail.com, 281-534-3413, aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html

THURS., JUNE 1: STROLLER GARDEN ST ROLLS, 9-10am, Mercer Botanic Garden, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. R egister: 713-274-4160.

SAT., JUN 3: PLUMERIA (FABULOUS FRAGRANT FANGIPANI) by GALVESTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENER, 1-3 pm, AgriLife Extension Bldg., Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. GCMG event. Free. Pre-register: galvcountymgs@gmail.com, 281-534-3413, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html

SAT. JUNE 3: TOMATO CONTEST, 10am, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball. Free. Entries: arborgate.com
 
MON., JUNE 5: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER PRECINCT 2 OPEN GARDEN DAY  8:30 - 11am, Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu

TUES., JUNE 6: NABA - PHOTO DOCUMENTATION OF BUTTERFLY HOST PLANTS - YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT by DON DUBOIS, 7pm, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Dr. Free. Butterfly Enthusiasts of Southeast Texas. naba.org/chapters/nababest/

THURS., JUNE 8: PROPOGATION & SEED SAVING, 6:30pm, Barbara Bush Memorial Library, 6817 Cypresswood Dr., Spring.
Free. Harris County Master Gardener event. hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2017-green-thumb.pdf ; 281-855-5600­­

T HURS., JUNE 8: IS REDBUD THE NEXT CRAPE MYRTLE by DENNIS WERNER, 7pm, Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St, Nacogdoches.  936-468-4404 or sullivanfa@sfasu.edu

THURS., JUNE 8: SOIL COMPOSITION + FERTILIZER + WATER = BEAUTIFUL ROSES by DR. DAVID REED, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavillon, 1500 Hermann Dr. Houston Rose Society event. Free. houstonrose.org

THURS., JUNE 8: BENEFICIAL INSECTS by DR. WILLIAM JOHNSON, 10am, Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Red Bluff Road. Free. Harris County Master Gardener Precinct 2 event. hcmga.tamu.edu.
 
SAT., JUNE 1 0: PLUMERIA SOCIETY OF AMERICA SHOW & SALE, 9:30am-3pm,  Bay Area Community Center 5002 E Nasa Pkwy, Seabrook. Free. theplumeriasociety.org;  281-438-3653
 
WED., JUNE 14: CARNIVOROUS PLANTS, noon-2pm, Mercer Botanic Garden, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. Register: 713-274-4160.

THURS., JUNE 15: PROPOGATION & SEED SAVING, 6:30pm, Freeman Branch Library, 16616 Diana Lane. Free. Harris County Master Gardener event. hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2017-green-thumb.pdf; 281-855-5600

SAT., JUNE 17: PROPOGATION & SEED SAVING, 10am, Maud Smith Marks Library, 1815 Westgreen Blvd. Katy. Free. Free. Harris County Master Gardener event. hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2017-green-thumb.pdf; 281-855-5600
 
 
MON., JUNE 19: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER PRECINCT 2 OPEN GARDEN DAY  8:30 - 11am, Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd. Free. hcmga.tamu.edu 

 TUES., JUNE 20: PROPOGATION & SEED SAVING, 6:30pm, Spring Branch Memorial Library, 930 Corbindale. Free Free. Harris County Master Gardener event. hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/docs/2017-green-thumb.pdf; 281-855-5600
 
WED-THURS., JUNE 21-22: CULTIVATING THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM WORKSHOP, 8am-3pm, Gregory Lincoln Education Center, 1101 Taft St. $50. Urban Harvest event. 713-880-5540; urbanharvest.org

TUES., JUNE 27, HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS OPEN GARDEN DAY & PROPOGATION & SEED SAVING SEMINAR, 9-11:30 am, 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Free. Harris County Master Gardener event. Register: ogd.harrishort@gmail.com

SAT., JULY 8: ALL ABOUT GINGERS, 10-11am, Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th. Free. 713-861-5702; buchanansp lants.com/events

TUES., JULY 11: GROWING PLUMERIAS, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden P avillion, 1500 Hermann Dr. Free. Plumeria Society of America event. theplumeriasociety.org; 281-438-3653

THURS., JULY 13: A BR IGHT SPOT IN THE HEART OF TYLER by GREG GRANT, 7pm, Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St, Nacogdoches.  936-468-4404 or sullivanfa@sfasu.edu
 
SAT., JULY 22: PLUMERIA SOCIETY OF AMERICA SHOW & SALE, 9:30am-3pm, Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, 4310 TX-36, Rosenberg. Free. theplumeriasociety.org;  281-438-3653

THURS., AUG. 10: THE GREATER ATLANTA POLLINATOR PARTNERSHIP: A MODEL OF URBAN POLLINATOR CONSERVATION by JENNY CRUSE SANDERS, 7pm, Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St, Nacogdoches.  936-468-4404 or sullivanfa@sfasu.edu
 
THURS., SEPT. 14: FROM OVER THE TOP TO DOWN UNDER, ADVENTURES IN HORTICULTURE by GEORGE HULL, 7pm, Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St, Nacogdoches.  936-468-4404 or sullivanfa@sfasu.edu

SAT., OCT. 7: HARRIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENER FALL PLANT SALE, Bear Creek Garden, 3033 Bear Creek Dr. 281-855-5600

TUES., OCT. 10: GROWING PLUMERIAS, 7:30pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavillion, 1500 Hermann Dr. Free. Plumeria Society of America event. theplumeriasociety.org; 281-438-3653

THURS., OCT. 12: MOORE FARMS BOTANICAL GARDEN: A GERMINATING SUCCESS by REBECCA TURK, 7pm, Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St, Nacogdoches.  936-468-4404 or sullivanfa@sfasu.edu

THURS.-SAT., OCT. 12-14: 2017 BULB & PLANT MART. Garden Club of Houston event.

THURS., NOV. 9: MAGNOLIAS: QUEEN OF THE GARDEN by ANDREW BUNTING, 7pm, Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St, Nacogdoches.  936-468-4404 or sullivanfa@sfasu.edu
 
THURS., DEC. 14: THE YEAR IN REVIEW by DAVID CREECH, 7pm, Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St, Nacogdoches.  936-468-4404 or sullivanfa@sfasu.edu

If we inspire you to attend any of these, please let them know you heard about it in . . .  
THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS NEWSLETTER! 
& please patronize our Newsletter & Calendar sponsors below! 
 
PLEASE READ BEFORE
SUBMITTING AN EVENT FOR THIS CALENDAR. 
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.
Sorry, no children's programs. - Submit to: lazygardener@sbcglobal.net 
 
IF WE INSPIRE YOU TO ATTEND ANY OF THESE EVENTS, PLEASE TELL SPONSORS YOU HEARD ABOUT IT IN 
T HE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER 
  
 
 
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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
 
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. 
 

 

 
Travel Tip
Give your readers some helpful weather tips for their upcoming vacation. Make sure to explain the tips, give your best advice and tell them how they will benefit from it. Don't forget to include a fun image to make your newsletter more appealing.
 
 
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