Letter from the Executive Director |
|
Greetings!
Have you ever witnessed something in the natural environment that stopped you in your tracks? I once looked out my screen door from my apartment in downtown Houston years ago and saw a scarlet tanager on my balcony railing. I swear it briefly took my breath away, partially, perhaps, because I couldn't quite process what I was seeing. Mainly, though, it was the color. And that the color was on a bird. And that the bird was perched on my balcony railing in the middle of a city... A full moon suddenly seen just clear of the horizon line causes me to gasp almost every time I witness it. Often, I'm in the car and if I'm not alone, my companion and I always marvel out loud at its beauty and quietly revel in our good fortune.
Lately at the garden, blossoming Magnolias have had their way with me. The blossom above, belonging to a Magnolia grandiflora, caught my eye largely because of the way the light hit it. You might notice the muddy, roiling creek in the background. We'd had lots of rain the previous few days and on this first sunny day for a while, this little gift was waiting for me as I walked down the Hallway part of the garden.
According to our database, we've got over 150 individual Magnolia trees in the garden, including Magnolia tamaulipana that John Fairey wild collected in Mexico and planted in the arboretum. Noted landscape designer, Deborah Nevins, briefly described John's Magnolia adventure in the March 10, 2020 issue of Departure Magazine –
John Fairey's quest for the 'bronze sentinel' magnolia began with an old map of Mexico. Commissioned by Harvard's Arnold Arboretum to search for a plant to use in an experimental cancer therapy, Fairey noticed a reference to a sought-after magnolia indigenous to northeastern Mexico. Slow drives on primitive dirt roads (he traveled only 21.45 miles in one day), climbing to 4,000 feet, led him to a forest of large oaks, through groves of sweetgum and pine, and at last to an area filled with what turned out to be the prized, and exceedingly rare, copper-leaved Magnolia tamaulipana.
I can only imagine what John felt when he walked into the stand of Magnolia tamaulipana he had been searching for. I have the impression that John was not a sentimental person but I think it possible he might have considered anything that beautiful a gift as well.
|
|
|
|
A Fond Farewell to Margaret |
It was a sad day at the garden when Margaret announced that she and her husband, Thomas, were moving to Alabama. Margaret was beloved by volunteers and guests alike, and made a huge contribution to the garden in the short six months she was here. Tom literally did a lot of heavy lifting as well. We’re going to miss her but know that she and Tom (and Dune, their trusty Lab,) will fit right in in their new community and that soon Margaret will know every little place within a 20 mile radius to get something to eat or drink. Best of luck, Margaret and Tom!
|
|
Meet Our Newest Members of the Team |
|
Our sadness at Margaret’s departure has been tempered by the addition of Kara Humphrey as our new Office Management. Kara jumped right in and immersed herself in garden operations and is doing a fantastic job. We feel very lucky to have someone so conscientious and dedicated. If you haven’t already met Kara, please introduce yourself the next time you’re out.
We’re also happy to announce our new Nursery Manager/Horticulturist, Peter Turrin. Peter’s begun learning the lay of the land and has lots of new plants to learn, which he is happily doing. For the past few years Peter has had his own landscape design business, and before that worked at the Mercer Botanic Gardens, so some of you probably have already met him. Those of you who haven’t, say hi next time you’re at the nursery.
|
|
 |
Kara Humphrey comes to the garden with years of experience in the airline industry as a customer service manager, office management and fundraising. Her studies include an AS in Business Administration from Sul Ross State University. In her spare time, she volunteers as an adoption coordinator for PugHearts of Houston Pug Rescue, is an advocate for the plight of homeless dogs in the greater Houston and surrounding areas and has also volunteered as a keepers aide at the Houston Zoo. She has a passion for nature and everything beautiful and is very excited to be our newest staff member and looking forward to bringing additional activities to the garden!
|
|
|
|
Peter Turrin was drawn "like a moth to a flame" to the garden and its concepts of conservation and unusual and native plant preservation. Eager to share his passion for trees, forbs, and grasses of the southwest and gulf coastal plains, he is looking forward to building on his past experiences as a horticulturist at Mercer Botanical Garden. He graduated from the University of St, Thomas with a BA in Liberal Arts and a minor in philosophy. He remains thrilled and undaunted by the variety of plants and the tasks that come with the position.
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Visit from Houston Botanic Garden
|
Houston Botanic Garden Horticulture Manager, Brent Moon, and HBG consultant Beth Clark, visited the nursery recently to pick out a selection of cedars, oaks, mahonias, and perennials for their garden. Former Garden Horticulture Director, Adam Black, assisted with the selections and Garden Nursery Manager, Peter Turrin also helped.
|
|
The Magnolias are starting to randomly bloom across the garden. The magnificent Magnolia grandiflora is already producing dinner plate sized flowers that are stunning in their size and scent. Another favorite is the Magnolia tamaulipana, which John collected in the wild in Mexico. The blossoms below come from a specimen collected in 1990 near El Cielo, in the state of Tamaulipis, straight north of Mexico City. The tamaulipanas in the garden struggle a bit in the summer but they still produce the most sublime blossoms. The tamaulipana is listed as "endangered" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
|
|
Remaining May Open Days
We will have two more Open Days in May, Saturday, May 15th, and Saturday, May 22nd. Tours will leave at 10 am and 11 am. The nursery will be open for plant sales from 9-3. We hope you'll join us on one or both days. In June, we'll be open on Saturday the 12th, 19th, and 26th.
|
|
|
|
We love hearing stories about how the garden has made a positive impression on its visitors and we wanted to share one with you. During our first visit to our neighbor Ryan Fontaine’s Rise and Shine food truck, we met Ryan’s neighbor, Mel Daigle, a teacher at Hempstead High School. Mel told us he had been to the garden many times and that he found it inspiring. We asked if we could pay him a visit and interview him, and he agreed and he and his wife, Andrea graciously welcomed us and gave us a tour of the grounds.
|
|
1. How and when did you first hear about and visit the garden? My grandmother was reared in Pine Island, and it seemed she talked about the garden my entire youth. I first visited the garden about ten years ago. I fell in love immediately.
2. What was your first impression? My first impression was that a pasture was transformed into a paradise.
3. Have you been inspired in your own garden by the JF Garden? For my own garden, I was planting trees and plants to obscure my home from the road. After visiting the garden several times, I began to "think" about creating something to enjoy. I began planting dozens of trees, and my wife began to add color. The combination began to create a sanctuary. Unexpectedly, the garden began to house more birds, butterflies, and bees; our own ecosystem was created with many new sights, sounds, and smells.
4. What's your favorite thing about the JF Garden? I admire how The John Fairey Garden spotlights the trees and plants. They are the "children" people come to see and watch grow. The guided tours tell the story of the living history of each tree, plant, and shrub. Moreover, the garden…changes with the season, so each visit ushers in new memories.
5. What would you say to someone who's never heard of the JF Garden but might be interested? As a school teacher, I try to cultivate a growth mindset. The garden is the perfect metaphor for teachers. From the road, the garden looks like most of East Texas; however, if the stars line up and you discover the garden, the stunning visuals of each tree and plant, get etched into your mind. Similarly, when we are able to get past the facade of a student and discover their character, brilliance is revealed. I would tell everybody who has put their hands in the dirt to visit the garden and become inspired.
|
|
Volunteers Needed
We're always looking for volunteers and have a variety of tasks suited for a range of volunteer interests and skills. If you're interested in finding out more or in signing up, email info@jfgarden.org or call the office at 979.826.3232
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
