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Brenda's
Garden
by Brenda Beust Smith
(THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE’S LAZY GARDENER)
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January
1, 2005
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Based on
Brenda Beust Smith's “Lazy Gardener” column in the Houston
Chronicle — the newly revised and updated “LAZY GARDENER'S
GUIDE" (2nd edition/River
Bend Company) is hot off the presses and is available at area
nurseries. Month-by-month gardening tips for the Greater
Galveston/Houston area, plus 12
designs for different type gardens (sun, shade, hummingbird,
butterfly, etc.)
The great
challenge for the garden designer is not to make the garden
look natural, but to make the garden so that the people in it
will feel natural. - Lawrence Halprin
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Welcome to 2005! Doesn't
it seem like yesterday we were all wondering what the impact
of the New Millennium would be?
They're saying this may be one of our worst winters ever.
Certainly the sight of snowmen on the beach (who woulda
believed!!!) indicates something strange is in the works.
I've already framed pictures to hang at our beachhouse.
Come summer, nobody will believe me.
I guess if we do have a horrendous winter, there will be a lot
of very surprised gardeners around. And some very happy
nurserymen. That may sound a bit crass, but the truth
is, the recent string of very warm winters has been very hard
on our nurserymen, most of whom are already operating on a
shoestring.
Let's face it, if marginal, tropical plants don't die over
winter (as they should), we don't need to replace as many
plants come spring. Good for us, bad for nurserymen.
On top of that, the lack of winter dieback even on hardier
plants means said plants will grow much larger than usual in
the warmer months. This means we don't need as many
fill-in plants. Good for us, bad for nurserymen.
And on top of that, both hardy and tropical plants have had
repeated “cool” spells which have encouraged them to set
stronger, hardier root systems. So they have been able
to survive without problems our milder cold spells.
But the fact is, many of our now-common landscape plants are
tropicals, and if we have a prolonged cold spell (4-5 days of
below freezing temperatures), gardeners may be in for a shock.
Tropical (glossy green) hibiscus, plumerias, bougainvillea,
and other now thriving garden plants may bite the dust.
We used to say this is less likely to happen in Galveston than
in Houston. But no more!!!
What can you do?
First, remember to water every time a freeze is forecast.
Well hydrated roots are far, FAR less susceptible to freeze
damage than are dehydrated roots. The dryer the soil, the
more risk to roots.
Second, rake all those falling leaves into the garden.
They are the best possible mulch, not only are they free, they
contain nutrients that will help fertilize the trees from
which they have fallen. A plant's own falling leaves are
its best fertilizer.
You can pile them 6-10 inches high. They will pack down.
In the spring, they will help reduce weeds and replenish
microorganisms in the soil. It's an all around win-win
situation.
Putting them in plastic bags for the trashmen to haul off is
an all around lose-lose situation — and one that one day in
the future should become illegal. It already is in more
ecology-conscious states.
In addition to the fact that we don't have enough landfill
space as it is, leaves in plastic bags do not break down.
50-year-old bags have been opened with their leaves till
intact. Is this really the heritage you want to leave
for your children and grandchildren?
QUIT PUTTING THOSE LEAVES IN THE TRASH! If you don't
have leaves, just look up and down the street on trash day.
Use your neighbors. Maybe this will embarrass them into
caring about their environment.
If you have too many for the gardens (and that's hard to
imagine), create a compost pile in an out-of-the-way corner of
the yard. A pile 12 foot high will soon break down into
compost richer than any fertilizer you can possibly buy.
A compost pile can be as simple as a huge pile of leaves in a
corner of the yard or as complicated as you want to make it.
In the former case, nature does the work for you (once you've
raked them into the pile). If you want to get more
complicated, most nurseries and a billion websites carry
composting devices.
Log onto www.google.com.
Type in: making compost.
I just did and got 607,000 hits. Somewhere in there you
should be able to find the level of work you're willing to
invest.
On the upside of winter, here's a note from my “The
Lazy Gardener's Guide” (see below):
“Winter is also a time when we can plant cold weather
annuals in spots too shaded in summer. Under deciduous
trees (lose leaves in winter), plant delphiniums, English and
Shasta daisies, foxglove, hollyhocks, larkspur, pansies,
poppies, snapdragons, stocks and sweet peas.”
Cyclamens are expensive but they give more bang for your buck
than almost any other winter plant. These will continue
to send up flower stalks long into April and May. Just
be sure to keep them cool. Leave them outside
unless a freeze is forecast. Even then, if the area is
protected or you can cover them, they will easily survive
temperatures into the upper 20s.
The January calendar is already filling up. It's
absolutely amazing how many gardening events are now being
sponsored in the Greater Houston/Galveston/Beaumont area.
If you attend or inquire about any of these events, please let
them know you saw the information in this column.
Thanks!
GARDEN CALENDAR:
January 2: “Begonias for Houston — Indoors and Out,” 2
p.m., Houston Garden
Center, 1500 Hermann Drive; free. American Begonia
Society event, 713-686-8539
Wednesday Jan.5: "An Introduction to Permaculture"
by the Permaculture Guild
of Houston, 7:00-9:30 p.m., 2990 Richmond; free. Register at
713-880-5540.
Information at www.urbanharvest.org.
Learn about four courses over the next year
that will help you turn your yard or farm into a vibrant bird
and
butterfly-filled space with gourmet vegetables and fruits.
Wednesday (Jan. 5): “Composting” by Angela Chandler,
10 a.m., 1202 Genoa
Red Bluff; free. Harris County Master Gardener Precinct
2 event, 281-991-8437.
Wednesday January 5, 2005. Backyard workshop by Vince
Maruska at Bear Creek
Community Center, 3055 Bear Creek Drive, Room B. Free.
Houston Pond Society
event. 713-688-8875 or www.Houstonpondsociety.org.
Vince Maruska, owner of
Vincent Van Grow Landscaping on incorporating your pond into
the total
landscaping of your back yard. Vince will talk about the
placement of appropriate
bushes and flowers to best complement your pond.
He will also discuss which
fertilizers and additives will contribute to the beauty
and health of your
plants, without harming the fish in your pond.
Thursday Jan.6: "Backyard Orchard II: Care of Fruit
Trees" by Dr. Bob
Randall, 6:15-8:45 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; $20.
Register at 713-880-5540.
Information at www.urbanharvest.org.
This class dispels the myth that fruit
trees require too much work and are a waste of time.
Friday Jan.7: "Backyard Orchard III: Hands-On Fruit Tree
Pruning" by Dr. Bob
Randall and Diana Liga, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900
Kane; $20.
Register at 713-880-5540. Information at www.urbanharvest.org.
Winter is the season
for this garden maintenance activity so critical to
healthy trees and successful fruit production.
Friday, Jan. 7: Registration deadline for the Saturday
(Jan. 15): Herbal
Living Wreath Workshop, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., Vaughn’s Nursery,
15647 Ave. C in
Channelview; $55. Register at 281-991-8437. Harris
County Precinct 2 Master
Gardener event. $55 fee includes all herbs and materials to
make and take one
wreath, class instruction with hands-on assistance and
luncheon. Please mail
payment to HCMGA 3411 Garth Rd, PMB 202 Baytown, TX
77521.
Friday, Jan. 7: Registration deadline for the January 8
“Gardening by the
Square Foot” lecture by John Jons, 9 a.m.-noon, Extension
Office, 5115 Highway 3
in Dickinson; free but reservations required at 281-534-3413,
Ext. 6 or
email: GALV3@wt.net.
Galveston County Master Gardener event.
Saturday Jan.8: "Seed Starting for Tomatoes"
information table, 8 a.m-noon,
Bayou City Farmer's Market, 3000 Richmond; free.
Information at 713-880-5540
and www.urbanharvest.org.
Saturday Jan.8: "Backyard Orchard IV: Peaches, Plums,
Pomegranates & Other
Fruit" by Ethan Natelson, MD, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Urban
Harvest, 1900 Kane; $20.
Register at 713-880-5540. Information at
www.urbanharvest.org.
These are some of the best tasting fruits you can
grow, and many are beautiful ornamentals too.
SAT., JAN 8: Gardening by the Square Foot, 9:00 a.m.-12:00
noon at the
Galveston County Extension Office, 5115 Highway 3, Dickinson,
Texas 77539. Presented
by Master Gardener John Jons. Basic designs, soil preparation,
plant
selection and establishment, insect pest & disease
control, and general care. Class
size limited to 18 participants. No fee but reservation
required (281-534-3413,
Ext. 6 or GALV3@wt.net).
Website:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.htm
Saturday, Jan 8: Trees 101 (Planting and Care), by Rich
Boettler, 10 am, Teas
Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 713-664-4400; free; no
reservation needed;
Saturday, Jan. 8: “Birds at Your Feeder” by Buddy
Hollis, 10 a.m., First
Liberty National Bank, 1900 Sam Houston in Liberty; free.
Lower Trinity Valley
Bird Club event, 936-336-9786. Mr. Hollis is the Naturalist
for the Newton
County Chamber of Commerce. He does regular programs for Texas
Parks and
Wildlife, Texas Forest Service and for school children and
adults. He also gives talks
on ecotourism, birding and nature in general to various groups
including
Chambers of Commerce and Lions Clubs throughout east Texas and
western Louisiana.
Buddy has birded all over North America and is a life member
of Texas
Ornithological Society, life member and a director of the Big
Thicket Association, and
on the Advisory Committee for the Lamar University
Environmental Learning
Center.
Monday Jan.10: "How to Start a Community or School
Garden" by Gary Edmondson,
4-6:30 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; free. Register at
713-880-5540.
Information at www.urbanharvest.org.
Learn the basic ingredients for a successful
community garden, including planning, coordination, finances,
and garden
design. Gary Edmondson is the School & Youth Gardens
Coordinator for Urban Harvest.
Monday (Jan. 10): “Birds in Our Garden” by Marilyn Crane,
7-9 p.m., Good
Shepherd Episcopal Church, 2929 Woodville Hills Drive in
Kingwood; free. Lake
Houston Garden Club, 832-368-9870.
Tuesday, January 11: “Growing Camellias” by Hal
Vanis, 7:30 p.m., St.
Luke’s Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer; free.
Houston Camellia Society event,
713-781-1996. Mr. Hal Vanis, award winning Camellia Nurseryman
from Henderson,
Tx will be the speaker. Visitors welcome, free to public. Call
Greg Davis at
713-781-1996 if more information required.
Starting Wednesday Jan.12: "Permaculture-The Ecological
Foundations of
Design" by the Permaculture Guild of Houston, 7:00-9:30
p.m., 2990 Richmond; $135.
Register at 713-880-5540. Information at
www.urbanharvest.org.
Topics for this course include world ecosystems,
climate, water conservation, water supply and waste treatment,
soil, trees and
forests, pests, and Texas ecosystems.
Wednesday, January 12: "Yard Art" by Vickie Snyder,
noon to 1 p.m., Mercer
Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield,
281-443-8731,
www.cp4.hctx.net/mercer/index.htm.
Reservations requested. Join Mercer volunteer Vicki
Snyder for a fanciful journey through the world of garden art.
From outlandish to
sublime, from serious to whimsical, art plays a part in almost
every
landscape. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy during the program.
Please call ahead for
reservations.
January 13, 2005 - Green Thumb Seminars presents "Fruits
and Vegetables," by
Fort Bend Master Gardeners, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Bud O'Shieles
Community Center,
1330 Band Rd in Rosenberg; free. Green Thumb Seminar, (281)
342-3034;
http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us
OR www.fbmg.com.
January 13: "Antique/Old Roses for the Houston
Area," by Mike Shoup owner of
the Antique Rose Emporium, 10 a.m., Houston Garden Center,
1500 Hermann
Drive. Free. Houston Area Daylily Society,
281-304-0549.
Friday Jan.14: "Backyard Orchard III: Hands-On Fruit Tree
Pruning" by Dr. Bob
Randall and Diana Liga, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900
Kane; $20.
Register at 713-880-5540. Information at
www.urbanharvest.org.
Winter is the season for this garden maintenance
activity so critical to healthy trees and successful fruit
production.
Friday, January 14: Registration deadline for the
January 15 Spring
Vegetable Gardening Seminar, 9 a.m.-noon, Extension Office,
5115 Highway 3 in
Dickinson; free but reservations required at 281-534-3413,
Ext. 6 or email:
GALV3@wt.net.
Galveston County Master Gardener event.
Saturday, January 15: "Arbor Day", 10 a.m. to noon.,
Mercer Arboretum &
Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, 281-443-8731,
www.cp4.hctx.net/mercer/index.htm.
Reservations requested. Visit Mercer and learn the best way to
plant a
tree, along with the best trees to plant in our area. Trees
will be given away
while supplies last. Help create a forest for the future, and
beauty and
shade to enjoy for a lifetime.
Saturday Jan.15: Fruit Tree Sale at Urban Harvest, 9 a.m.-2
p.m., 1900 Kane
St., free admission. Information at 713-880-5540 and www.urbanharvest.org.
Saturday Jan.15: "Fruit Trees for Metro Houston" by
Heidi Sheesley and Ray
Sher, 8:00-8:55 a.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; free.
Information at
713-880-5540 and www.urbanharvest.org.
This class will describe the fruit that will be for sale at
the Urban Harvest
fruit tree sale.
Saturday Jan.15: "Irrigation Basics" information
table, 8 a.m-noon, Bayou
City Farmer's Market, 3000 Richmond; free. Information
at 713-880-5540 and
www.urbanharvest.org.
Monday Jan.17: "How to Start a Community or School
Garden" by Dr. Bob
Randall, 1-3:45 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; free. Register
at 713-880-5540.
Information at www.urbanharvest.org.
Learn the basic ingredients for a successful
community garden, including planning, coordination, finances,
and garden
design. Dr. Bob Randall has advised over 150 community garden
projects since 1987.
Jan. 18, 2005: Pruning and Trimming Trees, Shrubs and
Natives – How and When
by Donna Fay Hillard, 7:00 p.m., Burgess Recreation Center,
4200 Kalwick in
Deer Park, Free. Deer Park Petal Pushers Garden Club
meeting, 281-542-9731.
Jan. 18: "Attracting and Identifying Frogs and
Toads" by Mike Howlett, 6:30
pm., Harris County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr; Free
Master Gardener
event. Call 281-855-5600; access http://hcmga.tamu.edu.
Jan. 21: reservation deadline Jan. 27: Harris County
Master Gardener Fall
Class, Thurs. for 12 weeks, 9 am-3 pm. Cost will
be $150, call 281-855-5600
for application. Harris County Extension office, 3033
Bear Creek Drive. Master
Gardener event. Access http://hcmga.tamu.edu
Reservation deadline is Jan.
21st.
Friday Jan.21: "Backyard Orchard III: Hands-On Fruit Tree
Pruning" by Dr. Bob
Randall and Diana Liga, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900
Kane; $20.
Register at 713-880-5540. Information at
www.urbanharvest.org.
Winter is the season for this garden maintenance
activity so critical to healthy trees and successful fruit
production.
Jan. 22: Harris County Master Gardener Fruit Tree Sale,
Seminar and
Demonstrations, “Fruit Trees” by Dr. Ethan Natalson 8-9
a.m., sale 9 a.m.-2 p.m.,
grafting and pruning demonstrations by Bill Adams, Dr.
Natelson and George
McAffee, 10 a.m.-noon, Harris County Extension offfice, 3033
Bear Creek Dr; Master
Gardener event. Call 281-855-5600 access http://hcmga.tamu.edu.
Saturday Jan.22: "Preparing Herbal Teas" information
table, 8 a.m-noon, Bayou
City Farmer's Market, 3000 Richmond; free. Information
at 713-880-5540 and
www.urbanharvest.org.
Tuesday Jan.25: "From Seed to Fruit.Tomatoes!" by
Mark Cotham, 6:15-8:15
p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; $20. Register at 713-880-5540.
Information at
www.urbanharvest.org.
Foolproof tips on dealing with pests, diseases, caging,
harvesting, and plant rotation will be shared.
Thursday, Jan. 27: “Rescuing Heirloom Plants” by
Kent Whealy, 9:30 a.m.,
IMAX Theter, Museum of Natural Science, One Hermann Place;
free. Sadie Gwin
Blackburn Environmental Seminar
January 27, 2005 - "Questions, Answers & Crazy
Results," presented by Vince
Mannino, County Extension Director - Fort Bend. Vince
will share humorous
garden tales based on years of diagnosing common and unusual
problems. Ft. Bend
County Master Gardener monthly programs are held at the Bud
O'Shieles Community
Center, 1330 Band Road, in Rosenberg from 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm.
For
more information call 281.341.7068 or visit www.co.fort-bend.tx.us
or
www.fbmg.com.
Friday Jan.28: "Backyard Orchard III: Hands-On Fruit Tree
Pruning" by Dr. Bob
Randall and Diana Liga, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900
Kane; $20.
Register at 713-880-5540. Information at
www.urbanharvest.org.
Winter is the season for this garden maintenance
activity so critical to healthy trees and successful fruit
production.
Friday Jan. 28: Registration deadline for the January 29 Peach
& Plum
Workshop, 9 a.m.-noon, Extension Office, 5115 Highway 3 in
Dickinson; free but
reservations required at 281-534-3413, Ext. 6 or email: GALV3@wt.net.
Galveston
County Master Gardener event.
Saturday, January 29 "Volunteer Orientation and
Training" 9 a.m. to 12:30
p.m., Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306
Aldine-Westfield, 281-443-8731,
www.cp4.hctx.net/mercer/index.htm.
Reservations requested. Mercer offers
information on learning what it takes to be a volunteer.
Orientation is from 9 a.m.
to 10:30 a.m. and provides information about Mercer and what
volunteering is
all about. Garden and greenhouse training is from 10:45 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. and
shows volunteers what they can expect to do at Mercer as they
join the ranks
of others that give their time.
Saturday Jan.29: "Solar Power Basics" information
table, 8 a.m-noon, Bayou
City Farmer's Market, 3000 Richmond; free. Information
at 713-880-5540 and
www.urbanharvest.org.
January 29: "EarthKind Roses" Seminar,
presented by Rose Specialist, Gay
Hammond, 11:00 am at Martha's Bloomers, 8101 Hwy. 6 Bypass,
Navasota, Free.
Reservation deadline Friday, January 28 by calling 936
870-4044 or email:
registration@marthasbloomers.com
Saturday Jan.30: "Backyard Orchard V: Apples, Pears &
Persimmons" by Ethan
Natelson, MD, 9:30 a.m.-noon, Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; $20.
Register at
713-880-5540. Information at www.urbanharvest.org.
This class will focus on the best
varieties both for flavor and adaptation to
our climate.
January 31: Registration deadline for the February
21-April 5 Master
Gardener Training Course, 1-5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursdays,
Extension Office, 5115
Highway 3 in Dickinson. Galveston County Master Gardener
event, 281-534-3413, ext.
6 or http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston.
Address questions to brenda@guidrynews.com.
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IF YOU ENJOY BRENDA'S COLUMNS, YOU'LL LOVE HER GARDENING BOOKS
— available
online at www.urbanharvest.com.
FROM THE LAZY GARDENER •
• “The Lazy Gardener's Guide” — revised and updated!
First published 10
years ago, The Guide is described by Brenda as “a gardening
book in calendar
format … so you don't have to think!” Based on her
humorous-yet-informative
Houston Chronicle calendar, The Guide details what gardeners
should be doing in
the garden each month, provides garden designs (using the
hardiest plants for
our climate) for butterflies, hummingbirds, sun, shade and a
variety of other
typical suburban situations. Filled with funny and
touching anecdotes from
decades of covering gardening in the Greater Houston/Galveston
area. As the
daughter of a BOI, many of these involve Galveston sites and
people!
• GARDENING WITH DOGS. Co-authored with Frances Burke
Goodman, this little
booklet offers tips, landscape plans, good plants for
dog-challenged areas and
lots of fun insights into why dogs do what they do (and how
you might just
unknowingly be encouraging “bad” behaviors!)
Look for all these River Bend Company books at your
neighborhood nursery this
fall or online at www.urbanharvest.com.
For a list of potential retail
sources, to order by email or to receive an order form,
contact River Bend Company
at 713-621-3468 or email: RiverBendBook@aol.com.
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Guidry News Service, 926 Broadway, Galveston,
Texas 77550, (409) 763 NEWS (763-6397)
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