Letter from the Executive Director |
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Greetings!
If you follow the Garden’s Instagram account (and if you don't please do - @thejfgarden) you might have seen a recent post that highlighted our gardeners. In hindsight I felt the post didn’t quite do them justice so today I’m writing more about the men who keep The John Fairey Garden in tip top shape, often under really challenging conditions.
Head Gardener, Adolfo Silva, and Assistant Gardeners Ricardo Bautista and Agustin Casas, (left to right, above) are an indispensable part of the staff at The John Fairey Garden. Adolfo holds a vast amount of institutional knowledge, information he acquired working side by side with John Fairey for nineteen years. During that time, John showed Adolfo his preferred planting methods and how he wanted the Garden maintained. Adolfo also got to intimately observe John’s considered process for determining where to place plants in the garden. This history has resulted in Adolfo having not only a great understanding of the garden, but also a deep sense of pride, and he is continually monitoring it to ensure it’s how John would want it to be.
Our society reveres athletes and the acts of physical prowess and skill they routinely perform. We marvel at their coordination, grace, speed, and strength. Fair enough. I’d like to make a case, though, that there are other acts of physical strength, stamina, and skill equally worthy of admiration.
On one of those maddeningly hot September days a couple weeks ago, I walked by the rain lily berm and saw Ricardo squatting in the top of one of our Sabal palms, trimming the dead fronds with a hand saw. This required him to squat on a healthy frond twelve feet or so in the air, hang on to the palm with one hand, and saw the dried frond with the other. Again, it was probably 95 degrees, it was the middle of the afternoon, dead palm fronds are not particularly soft, and Ricardo had already been working at equally difficult tasks that morning. Agustin is equally strong and resilient, and routinely performs equally demanding tasks with an endurance that would put me to shame should there ever be a contest. (There won’t be).
To top it off, in addition to their strength, skill, knowledge, stamina and care, all three are quick with a smile. I am so appreciative of their contribution to the Garden.
I hope you’ll come to the Garden soon to see for yourself the quality of care Adolfo, Ricardo, and Agustin provide. Our next Open Day is this Saturday, September 25th. Guided tours will be given at 10 and 11, and the nursery will be open for plant sales.
Warm regards,
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Taking Root Luncheon coming soon!
Our ninth annual Taking Root Luncheon will be held at the Junior League of Houston on Tuesday, October 19th, from 11:30 am - 1 pm. Professional arborist and award winning author of four widely acclaimed books, William Bryant Logan, will be our keynote speaker. He will share his extensive knowledge of oaks and we expect him to reference the Garden's oak collection in his talk. About Logan's book, Oak: The Frame of Civilization, Richard Powers has written, "Logan’s beautiful treatment opened my eyes to how much human experience on this planet has depended on the single (albeit wonderfully varied) genus Quercus." ― Richard Powers, PBS NewsHour.
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Even if you can't attend, we would appreciate any contribution you can make. Taking Root is a critical piece of our fundraising efforts, the success of which determines our programming and projects for the next year. Thank you. |
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Plant Collecting in the Trans Pecos
John Fairey collected extensively in the Chihuahuan desert in Mexico, bringing back a large number of seeds for propagation and introduction into the Garden. We are extending those Chihuahuan desert collection efforts into Texas by partnering with Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Dr. A. Michael Powell, Director of the A. Michael Powell Herbarium at Sul Ross University, and graduate research colleague, Kelsey Wogan. We were fortunate this year as the Big Bend area finally had its first monsoon season in years, causing the region to erupt in green and seeds to flourish. Kelsey sent us this photo of an earlier Chinati Mountains scouting trip she made with friends - human, equine, and canine. Kelsey has already completed one seed collection trip and has delivered an exciting list of seeds for us to propagate including:
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Diospyros texana (Texas persimmon)
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Juglans microcarpa (Texas walnut)
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Yucca rostrata (Beaked yucca)
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Yucca elata (Soaptree yucca)
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Parthenium argentatum (Guayule)
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Juniperus flaccida (Weeping Juniper)
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Ostrya chisosensis Chisos (Hop-hornbeam)
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Prosopis pubescens (Screwbean Mequite)
We are thrilled to have begun this partnership with Dr. Powell, Kelsey, and Sul Ross State University and look forward to the bounty of future trips.
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The John Fairey Garden Highlighted in new Phaidon Book.
We are so pleased to announce that The John Fairey Garden is featured in the highly anticipated revised edition of The Garden Book, a Phaidon bestselling horticultural title which will publish this October in Europe and this November in North America [$59.95 USD, £39.95 GBP].
With over 150 updated entries, The Garden Book reflects today’s leading practitioners in garden design, showcasing a range of designers responsible for some of the most interesting and iconic gardens in the world – including John Fairey of Hempstead, Texas.
Phaidon is offering our members a 20% discount on the book if ordered through their website. To purchase the book, go to the Phaidon website and then enter the code PHAIDON20 at checkout.
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How to Care for
Woody Lillies
Woody lilies are are native mostly to the southwestern US and Mexico and include Agaves, Yuccas, Hesperaloes, Nolina, Dasylirions and Manfredas. Generally, these plants have a reputation as being "bullet proof," meaning they can handle extreme drought, heat and sun, providing the gardener with a relatively hands off summer. (Many of these also survived the brutal freeze we had in February).
In our region, the greatest danger to the woody lily is heavy wet soil which weakens the roots and provides an opportunity for pathogens. Once the roots are weakened, the plant is much more likely to become a target of insects such as the snout weevil or the rhinoceros beetle. Long wet wet winters are especially problematic because the soaked soil does not evaporate by the end of the day. Care should be taken to ensure the plant has sufficient time to dry out between rains.
Here are some tips if you're looking to care for or plant a woody lily:
- If it is a full sun plant (Dasylirion, Hesperaloe, Manfreda and Yucca), select a full sun location, especially a south-facing sunny spot.
- The soil used for all woody lilies should be extremely porous, so water runs quickly through it. We advise against bagged garden soil because it contains peat or heavily composted soil which takes a long time to dry out. Avoid heavy clay soil for the same reason. Sand should also be avoided because it tends to settle, remain wet, then compact around roots. The ideal woody lily soil is about half sandy loam and half expanded shale, the latter being very porous and quick to dry. We make our own succulent potting soil out of 60% expanded shale, 25% potting soil, and 15% perlite.
- Elevate the woody lily on a small mound to provide additional drainage. If the location is already raised, the small mound is not necessary. Add an additional inch of expanded shale as a mulch around the woody lily. This will prevent dirt from splashing onto the plant during heavy rains.
- It is advisable to trim the dead leaves from the base of certain woody lilies. This is a fine balancing act. On the one hand, the dead leaves provide protection from the sun in summer and cold in winter, and they can shunt water away from the plant keeping the soil dry. On the other hand, sometimes the rains are so heavy that dead leaves actually trap moisture under the plant keeping the roots wet for long periods of time. This is not good. In this situation, according to Wade Roitsch, former Manager of Yucca Do Nursery, the dead leaves should be trimmed, as in the case of woody lilies with very narrow leaves.
- Finally, never water your woody lilies from overhead. Water accumulated in the rosette can take a long time to dry and cause it to rot. Furthermore, water very sparingly. Your woody lily may respond positively to increased water, but in the case of agaves which die after flowering, this water will cause the agave to mature faster, flower sooner and die sooner. You probably don't want that.
If you already have woody lilies that have been sub-optimally planted, just remember that most can be easily transplanted. They are not delicate. We're heading into Autumn, the best time to plant but spring is fine as long as you give them extra irrigation when needed. Yucca may regenerate from the roots if the plant dies, so don't immediately get rid of a dead yucca. Following these guides and properly caring for your woody lily will help ensure you get to enjoy these lovely plants for a long time.
By the way, we sell our own hand packaged succulent mix at the nursery. Pick some up for your succulents the next time you're out. A 5 lb. bag is only $10.
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"Indefatigable" is one word that comes to mind when describing volunteer, Eloisa Whorton. "Versatile," is another. Eloisa always arrives ready to tackle any task that needs doing. And once she finishes that one, she's ready for the next. Eloisa has weeded, up-potted, painted numbers on the greenhouse bays, helped set up for Open Days, and performed any number of other chores around the office. Thank you for all you do, Eloisa! We're so fortunate to have you on the volunteer team.
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