It's so quiet now at the beach. I feel for the businesses here on Bolivar Peninsula.  School starts so early, their “money” period has dropped a whole month.

It's not really apposite for me to speak as a Bolivar gardener since down here I'm more of a flower-watcher than a flower-grower.  But the three Kewpie Gaido oleanders I planted (in honor of my cousin-by-marriage are doing great, almost double their size in just a few weeks.  And the pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia/poinciana) that was almost dead when we left two weeks ago is now a beautiful little mass of lacy green stalks.

We've had so much rain that for almost the first time this year, we've had to mow the whole lawn. Our property is high in the middle so that part dries out very quickly and is mostly sand, sandburs and very low weeds.

I love it when we don't mow it because the "weeds" are really wildflowers and they all bloom.  This time our yard was a mass of white lazy daisies, red and yellow Indian blankets, fuchsia native purslane, pink sensitive briar and I even saw some yellow coreopsis which I almost never see on our property.  Wish we had some of the beautiful black-eyed susans that are all over the dunes.

Of course Bill mowed everything down, but it's not the end of the world.  They will be blooming again by next week, all on 1 inch stems so it's like a carpet of color. Persistent little buggers!

I did lose two baskets of petunias.  Surprise, surprise, they couldn't take two weeks of beach sun.  I had hauled them down from Houston because I knew they wouldn't survive there without me to water them.  And then forgot to haul them back home again.  I shouldn't buy plants like that.  I usually don't.  I had bought them in Houston for a party we gave.  Trouble with writing a gardening column is that if you invite people over to your house, they expect, by golly, to see FLOWERS in your yard.

The yard at home's a real scene to watch.  If anything has died, I don't remember what it is, so it couldn't have been very important.  I can honestly say everything in it now truly qualifies as a lazy gardener plant.  I have done so little in the way of maintenance since the Allison flood (when the whole yard stood under four to six feet of water for a good 48 hours), they should even take away my lazy gardener certification.  Zero gardener is more like it.

Even so, the yard right now does look lush and full and very colorful.  Awesome plants. They all survived Allison and, for the most part, they have survived on only what moisture the heavens have given them in the intervening four years.  What are these outstanding plants?

Starting in a circle around the back yard at the backmost corner, there's a plumbago (which I won't keep repeating, since I have it all over and it's thriving), cassia, four o'clocks (smell SO good in the evening when we sit outside), pomegranate, cannas, Meyer lemon, Louisiana iris, those sunflowers that bloom in the ditches, Virginia sweetspire, Katy Rose pink rose, some other antique rose, variegated vitex, a HUGE fig tree that is smothering an althea (I have lots of althea's), butterflyweed, lantana, lanceleaf coneflowers, shrimps, passionvine, hostas, cestrum, salvias, gingers, crepe, closetplant, firespike Rangoon creeper, turk's cap, hummingbird bush, thryallis, gloxinia (I think that's what that is), swamp sunflower, russellia, esperanza, pentas, pride of Barbados, pink magnolia, regular vitex, winecups, nasty ruellias that won't die no matter how much Roundup I put on them, Red Rocket russellia, coral vine, bleeding heart vine, hibiscus, variegated hibiscus, indigofera, barlaria, a red ruellia I love, that's all I think in the backyard, altho I've probably forgotten a few.  Oh, yes, a cape jasmine, giant white spider lilies, pink cannas and oxalis.

Don't know what half these are? You should — especially if you garden in the Greater Houston area.  If you don't, you're reading the WRONG gardening books.  Get some LOCAL ones!  All these are great for Lazy Gardener gardens along the Texas Gulf Coast. Try this. Log onto www.google.com.  Type in the name of the flower. If you can't find a good picture, go back to www.google.com. Click on Images.  Then type in the name of the flower.

In the front yard are bush daisy, thunbergia vine, mock orange (philadelphus) two or three roses, pentas, weeping crepes (that are growing a LOT taller than the two foot they were supposed to max out at), more plumbago (I have it everywhere), bulbine, lots of those sunflowers, I think they're called tickseed, American beautyberry.  And I'm sure some other stuff.

Oh, yes, porterweed.  That blasted porterweek.  I thought it topped out about
4 feet.  Ha! It's hit at least 10 foot and is taking over the world.  Trouble is, the hummingbirds love it and it's right outside my kitchen window.  How can I get rid of a plant that hummingbirds love and feed on right outside my kitchen window?

It's smothering a beautiful white althea and my Philippine lily.  That's the funniest plant.  It comes with this beautiful Easter lily-like flower in a nice little pot.  But the next year, it sends up this five foot stalk and the flowers appear atop that.

Lest you think my yard looks like a botanical garden, cleanse your mind immediately.  When I say a plant is “blooming,” I mean, by golly, it's got a flower on it!  I am easy to please.

And when I mentioned so many different varieties in the backyard, I meant I have one or maybe two of each, not banks of the same plant providing blow-you-over displays.

On the other hand, I do want to pay tribute to these stalwarts.  They saw me through some really tough times.  Four feet of that water was in my house.  It was, as one woman said, a time when I needed my garden more than it needed me.

One thing that I did, looking back, was probably the best thing I could possibly have done for my garden at that time.  Well, two, really.  Bill did the second.

The first happened in August.  Allison, if you recall, hit in June.  Then we had a devastatingly hot dry couple of months.  Two things occurred that I had not expected.

I've always heard it said that lightning fixes (puts) nitrogen into the soil.  Boy, did I see proof after Allison.  I don't know if you experienced that caliginosus night, but we had lightning like I have never seen before.  It thundered nonstop.  In the subsequent months, the plants that survived grew like never before.  Nitrogen stimulates green growth in plants.  That's why we use high nitrogen fertilizers on our lawns.

The gardens looked like an absolute jungle.  You almost could NOT find the soil, so thick was the green growth.

The second surprise to me was how angry I got at Harris County Flood Control.  I won't go into details.  Suffice it to say ours was one of the neighborhoods bought out and literally wiped out.  I now live for the most part in the center of a lovely wooded park.

The point of this is that one day in August I was so chapfallen and so angry at HCFC, I took the hedge clippers and I cut everything in the entire yard, except the oaks and pines, down to about three feet from the ground.  It was damn hard hot work, but it was SO good for my soul.  Sort of a coda for the whole Allison disaster.  I felt absolutely refreshed afterwards.

Then I looked around, carking about what had I done?  No plant, I was sure, would survive such treatment in the middle of a drought, in the middle of August heat, especially after such a trauma as the Allison flood.

Well, probably some did die.  Who could tell in that mess and I was certainly not watching.  I was busy inside where they were gutting my entire first floor.

Looking back, however, I can see where that was probably the best thing I could have done.  The plants were traumatized.  They had grown all out of proportion because of the excess nitrogen.  The roots were probably struggling to keep up with that rapid growth. What I did was to lighten the load on the root systems.  All of a sudden, they didn't have to work so hard.

Nice when something good comes out of a period of craziness.

The thing Bill did was to decide that something had to be done about the gardens.  I'm sure he was thinking of my state of mind.  (Well, it's nice to think that MIGHT have been his motive.)  Truth be told, at that point, I could have cared less.

But, for Mother's Day the next year, when things really had hit critical mass, he brought in a landscaping crew.  They instructed me to tie a red ribbon around every plant I wanted to keep. They totally wiped out everything else.  They mulched the gardens well and for maybe six months, we looked like a typical suburban home.

I'm such a helter-skelter gardener, sticking new plants every which place with no plan, our landscape, like Topsy, just sorta “growed.”  For six months, at least, we looked so conventional, so typical, so like everyone else.  Fortunately (for my peace of mind) nature soon took control back, and now it's my lovely old mish-mash again.


EMAIL GARDENING QUESTIONS TO BRENDA AT: brenda@guidrynews.com.  (Be sure to tell me where you live!)

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GREATER HOUSTON/GALVESTON/BEAUMONT GARDENING CALENDAR (If your event that is not listed, it was not sent to me in time.  I update the calendar with every new column. Send gardening event notices to Brenda at brenda@guidrynews.com.  Events submitted to this column may also appear in the Houston Chronicle Garden Calendar if space permits. These are pretty much printed as submitted.)

August 22: “Selling at the Farmers Market” by Ray Sher, 4-6 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane, 713-880-5540 or www.urbanharvest.org; $30. Whether you own a backyard garden in the city or a farm in the countryside, selling at the farmers’ market is an easy way to get a big return for labor.  Find out how to set up shop at a market, including packaging, displays, pricing and market rules.  Ray Sher is a market gardener at the Westbury Seeds Market Garden.

August 23: Registration deadline for the Saturday, August 27th Tropical Gems Workshop: Make and Take a Mounted Staghorn Ferns/Learn to Plant Tropical Container Gardens by Angela Chandler, 9 am- 1 pm, Vaughn’s Nursery 15647 Ave. C, Channelview, TX 77530, fee $40.00. Register at (281) 991-8437, Website: hcmgap2.tamu.edu, Harris County Master Gardener Event Precinct 2.

August 24: Digital Photography is Here to Stay by Leroy Williamson, 7:30 PM, Houston Garden Center, 1500 Hermann Drive. Free. Houston Cactus & Succulent Society event, 713-827-8545

August 25: “Flower Arranging” by Marsha Gould, 7:15-8:15 p.m., Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg; free. Fort Bend Master Gardeners event, 281-341-7068 or http://fbmg.com

August 27: Plumeria Society’s Hawaiian Festival, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and “Plants of Hawaii” (for children) 11 a.m., Teas Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 713-664-4400, www.teasnursery.com; free.

August 27: Houston Plumeria Society 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Teas Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 13-664-4400, www.teasnursery.com, free; no reservation needed;

Sept. 2: Registration deadline for Harris County Master Gardener Precinct 2 Classes, Tuesdays, Sept. 6-Dec. 13, 9 a.m.-2 p.m, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff; $150.  Register at 281-991-8437 or hcmgap2.tamu.edu

Sept. 3: “Compost Your Vegetables” by Rich Boettler, 10 a.m., Teas Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 713-664-4400, www.teasnursery.com; free.

Sept. 6: "Earth Kind Roses" by Carol Brouwer, Harris County Agent at 12 noon. Harris County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr.; free. Master Gardener event, 281-855-5600 or http://hcmga.ramu.edu.

Sept. 7: “Herb Primer” by Lana Simms, 10 a.m., 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, free.
Harris County Master Gardener Precinct 2 event, 281-991-8437 or hcmgap2.tamu.edu

Sept. 8: "Gardening Basics I: Backyard Composting" by John Cleveland, 6:15
p.m.-8:15 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; 713-880-5540; www.urbanharvest.org; $20. Compost is one of the best things you can add to your garden's soil. Make it using garden refuse, yard waste and other free organic materials. John Cleveland is a past president of Urban Harvest Community Gardens and is a Certified Master Composter.

Sept. 8: “Plant Growth and Disease Control,” 7-9 p.m., U of H Cinco Ranch, 4242 S. Mason Road, Room 118; free. Fort Bend Master Gardeners event, 281-341-7068 or www.fbmg.com.

Sept. 8: Registration deadline for the Sept. 24 Wildscapes Workship, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering, 4500 University Drive; $30. Details at Texas Parks and Wildlife, 281-456-7029 (www.tpwd.state.tx.us) or Native Plant Society, 281-345-4151 (www.npsot.org/houston).  Speakers include Diana Foss on “Designing Backyard and School Habitats,” Thomas Adams on “Great Plants for a Wildscape Garden,” Dee Howell on “Park Habitats — Wildscapes in Action!” and Gloria and John Tveten on “Butterflies and Moths of Houston.”

Sept. 9: “The Waters of Texas: An Historical Perspective” by Dr. Jerry Bryan Lincecum, Holiday Inn at Reliant Park, 8111 Kirby Drive; free. Houston Area Flower Show Judges event, 713-723-4698.

Sept. 9: "Creative Designs in your own Backyard" By Peggy Nuse, 10:30 a.m., Houston Garden Center, 1500 Hermann Drive: free.  Houston Federation of Garden Clubs event, 713-284-1989.

Sept. 10-11: The Houston Cactus & Succulent Society's annual Show & Sale at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501Woodway Drive.  The sale is from 9:00 AM to 5 PM both days.  The show portion is open to the public from 10:00 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and from 9:00 AM to 5 PM on Sunday.  Free event.  Houston Cactus & Succulent Society event, 713-827-8545

Sept. 10-11: Cat Spring 20th Annual Antiques & Garden Show, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.  Sept. 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 11, Historic Cat Spring Agricultural Hall, 13035 FM 1094 in Cat Spring; (5.00 Kids Free), (979-865-5618)>>

Sept. 10-11: Fall Bromeliad Sale, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. September 10; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4500 Woodway (IS THAT RIGHT?); free. Bromelaid Society/Houston event, 713-858-3047; bromeliadsocietyhouston.org

Sept. 12: “Ferns” by Walt Hesson, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Episcopal Church,
2929 Woodland HIlls in Kingwood; free. Lake Houston Gardeners event, 832 968-9870.

Sept. 12: "How to Start a Community or School Garden" by Gary Edmondson, 4:00-6:30 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane, 713-880-5540; www.urbanharvest.org; free class; registration required. Have you been thinking about starting a community or school garden? Learn the basic ingredients for a successful community garden, including planning, coordination, finances, and garden design. Gary Edmondson has helped to build community and school gardens in his work at Urban Harvest.

Sept. 13: “Old Fashioned Plants for the Garden” by Suzzanne Chapman, 9:30 a.m., Jersey Village Civic Center, 16327 Lakeview Drive; $5. Jersey Village Garden Club event, 713-466-6885.

Sept. 13: "Using Land Effectively By Sustainable Design" by the Permaculture Guild of Houston, 7:00-9:30 p.m., 2990 Richmond, 713-880-5540; www.urbanharvest.org; $160. This class includes using natural patterns in garden design, assessing land's potential to meet social needs, and studying how plants relate to, support, and benefit each other. Complete four courses to receive your permaculture designer's certification.

Sept. 14: “Growing a Winery in Galveston” by Raymond Haak, noon, Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer; free but reservations required at 281-443-8731.

Sept.15, "Beware but Be Informed: Poison Oak and Poison Ivy," by Glenn Olsen. 7PM. Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway, free. Native Plant Society event.  (713)681-3665 or www.npsot.org.

Sept. 17: "Fabulous Fall Florals", by Tricia Barksdale, 11 am, Martha's Bloomers, 8101 Hwy. 6 Bypass, Navasota, 936-870-4111, www.marthasbloomers.com; free

Sept. 17: Daylily and Plant Sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., West Oaks Mall, Highway 6 at Westheimer; free. Houston Area Daylily Sale, 281-448-4153.

Sept. 19: Registration deadline for the September 24 WinterGreen Fall Plant Symposium, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Harris County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Drive; $15. Register at 281-855-5600. Harris County Master Gardener event.

Sept. 19: "How to Start a Community or School Garden" by Dr. Bob Randall,
1:00-3:45 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; 713-880-5540; www.urbanharvest.org; free class; registration required. Have you been thinking about starting a community or school garden? 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.

Sept. 20: “Dazzling Discoveries and Timeless Treasures for Your Garden” by Heidi Sheesley, 10 a.m., Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way in Sugar Land; free. Sugar Land Garden Club event, 281-565-9813 or www.sugarlandgardenclub.org

Sept. 20: "Cool Season Color" by Gary Outenreath, horticulturist at 6:30 pm, Harris County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr.; free. Master Gardener event, 281-855-5600 or http://hcmga.ramu.edu.

Sept, 20: “What, When, Why to Prune,” 11:30 a.m., Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer; free but reservations required at 281-443-8731.

Sept. 22: “The Ecological City: Just How Green Is It?” by Dr. John Jacobs,
7:15-8:15 p.m., Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg; free. Fort Bend Master Gardeners event, 281-341-7068 or http://fbmg.com

Sept. 22: "Gardening Basics II: Working with Soils & Mulches" by John Ferguson, 6:15 p.m.-8:15 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; 713-880-5540; www.urbanharvest.org; $20. Learn the basics of soil preparation, bed building, and a primer on soil structure and the soil food web. John Ferguson owns Nature's Way Resources and is considered one of the leading experts on soil science in Texas.

Sept. 24: Fall Plant Sale, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., at Clear Lake United Methodist Church 16335 El Camino Real in Clear Lake City. Harris County Master Gardeners Precinct 2 event, 281-991-8437 or hcmgap2.tamu.edu

Sept. 24: “Garden Art and Plant Sale,” 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 930 Sugar Lakes Drive in Sugar Land; free.  Sugar Land Garden Club event, 281-565-9813 or www.sugarlandgardenclub.org.  Sale will feature plants best suited to our area - including unusual and hard to find selections, metal trellises (large and small) and garden-themed art including mosaics, watercolors and jewelry, handmade jellies and soaps.

Sept. 24: “Plant a Bulb” by Rich Boettler, for children, 10 a.m., Teas Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 713-664-4400, www.teasnursery.com; free.

Sept. 24: WinterGreen Fall Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Harris County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Drive, 281-855-5600; free. Harris County Master Gardener event. Plant Sale: 9 am - 2 pm. We will have bulbs as well as perennials, vines, herbs, roses, and vegetables. "WinterGreen Symposium" Fall is the best time to plant many landscaping plants and vegetables. Come let the experts show you how to have Green in the garden all Winter. The Symposium is 10 am - 3 pm and there is a $15 fee which includes lunch. Registration is required and the deadline is September 19th. Call 281-855-5600 to register. Symposium
Schedule: 10:00 - Building Healthy Soils for Houston. John Jacob, PhD., Associate Professor and Environmental Quality Specialist Texas Cooperative Extension. 11:00 - Earthkind Products and Techniques by Skip Richter, County Extension Agent Horticulture, Travis County.12:00 - Lunch or Shop. Pick up your box lunch and enjoy or save if for later and go shop for your favorite plant.1:00 - Fall Vegetable Gardening by Bill Adams, County Extension Agent, Horticulture, Emeritus. 2:00 - Fall Herb Gardening by Michael Bettler, Co-Owner of Lucia's Garden .

Sept. 24: Fall Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Clear Lake United Methodist Church, 16335 El Camino Real; free. Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners event,

Sept. 24: Plant Sale, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., CR 171 at Hospital Road in Angleton; free. Brazoria County Master Gardeners event, 281-756-1558, ext. 112. For special, hard to find great plants, come to the Brazoria County Master Gardeners Fall Plant Sale. There will be a wide variety of top quality plants available at the best prices around. Come early for the best selection!

Sept. 24: Butterfly Center Butterfly Gardening Workshop, 9-11 a.m. Cockrell Butterfly Center, One Hermann Circle, 713-639-4753 or www.hmns.org; 30.00 Repeated Oct. 1.

Sept. 26: "Selling at the Farmers Market" by Gita Van Woerden, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane, 713-880-5540; www.urbanharvest.org; $30. Whether you own a backyard garden in the city or a farm in the countryside, selling at the farmers' market is an easy way to get a big return for labor. Find out how to set up shop at a market, including packaging, displays, pricing and market rules. Gita Van Woerden is Owner of Animal Farm Permaculture Center & Market Farm.

Sept. 27: Hands-On Pruning Class, 9:30 a.m., Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer; free but reservations required at 281-443-8731.

Sept. 28: Soils for Cactus & Succulents by Richard Stamper, 7:30 PM, Houston Garden Center, 1500 Hermann Drive. Free.Houston Cactus & Succulent Society event, 713-827-8545

Oct. 1: Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Cockrell Butterfly Center, One Hermann Circle, 713-639-4753 or www.hmns.org.  Fall's cooling temperatures make for ideal gardening conditions for both gardeners and plants! And by planting in the fall, you'll have a head start on providing for butterflies and their caterpillars in the spring. Come stock up on a selection of nectar and hostplants from the Butterfly Center's greenhouses - always pesticide free! Parking is free if you spend $20.00 or more.

Oct. 1-2: Peckerwood Garden Open Days, 1-5 p.m., 20571 FM 359 in Hempstead, 979-826-3232, www.peckerwoodgarden.com; $5. Open Days are an opportunity for the public to visit Peckerwood Garden for self-guided tours between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Parking is at Yucca Do Nursery. Please contact us or visit our web site for further information.

Oct 4: "Bromeliads" by Odean Head, Bromeliad Society at 12 noon, HC Extension office at 3033 Bear Creeks Dr. Master Gardener event Free.  Call 281-855-5600 access http://hcmga.tamu.edu

Oct. 5: “Cactus and Succulents” by Phyllis McEuen, 10 a.m., 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, free. Harris County Master Gardener Precinct 2 event (281) 991-8437 or hcmgap2.tamu.edu

OCT. 6-7-8, 2005 63rd Bulb and Plant Mart will be October 6, 7, and 8, 2005 at Westminster United Methodist Church 5801 Bering at San Felipe. Authors booth/rare plants? Saturday only. Sponsored by The Garden Club of Houston. One of the largest horticultural events in Texas, the Annual Bulb and Plant Mart sponsored by The Garden Club of Houston, will be held Thursday, October 6, Friday, October 7, and Saturday, October 8, 2005 at Westminster United Methodist Church, 5801 San Felipe at Bering, just west of the Galleria area.  On Thursday and Friday, the Mart will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
and on Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. As experienced and beginning gardeners alike have come to expect, the Bulb and Plant Mart will again feature the widest selection of top-quality bulbs from domestic and international s uppliers and an expanded collection of hard-to-find and unusual plants, perennials, trees, shrubs and vines. Many of the plants and bulbs will be unique offerings from the gardens of Club members, grown specifically for the Mart. 

From amaryllis to zephyranthes, more than 500,000 bulbs will be available at the Bulb and Plant Mart, including large bulbs such as daffodils (Narcissi), hyacinths, and more than 55 varieties of tulips, iris, amaryllis and crinum lilies; and among small bulbs, the most popular anemones, ranunculus, crocus, freesia, ixia, watsonia and zephyranthes (rain lilies).  In outdoor areas, shoppers will find a wide selection of plant materials, including herbs, citrus, and unusual varieties difficult to find in most retail outlets. Also featured will be favorite plants of Garden Club members, such as gingers, Louisiana irises, gloriosa lilies, and many interesting vines and ornamental trees. Visitors to the Mart will receive at no charge an 80 page horticultural guide for Houston, prepared by the Club.  The newly revised booklet includes descriptions of the items for sale, along with proper planting and horticulture information.   And, as is always a feature of this Mart, experts will be available to answer specific questions or generally educate the customers on local gardening. The Bulb and Plant Mart offers free admission and convenient parking. While a limited number of wagons are available, shoppers are encouraged to bring their own carts or wagons for ease in transporting purchases around the Mart. All proceeds from the Bulb and Plant Mart benefit civic beautification and environmental projects of The Garden Club of Houston which include landscaping of grounds and gardens of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Rienzi, the gardens of The Hospice at the Texas Medical Center and The Medical Center Park.. In addition, the Club funds an annual internship in horticulture at The Museum of Natural Science and assists in improvements to the Cockrell Butterfly Center. The Garden Club of Houston also donates thousands of bulbs annually to Houston parks, churches, schools, and public spaces. For pre-order forms and additional information regarding the 63rdAnnual Bulb and Plant Mart sponsored by The Garden Club of Houston, please check our website: gchouston.org or e-mail jledbetter1@houston.rr.com.

Oct. 8: "Fall Into Spring" by Dee Howell, Horticulturalist, City of Houston Parks and Recreation. 10am, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, 281-351-8851 or www.arborgate.com; free.

Oct. 8-9: Fall Plant Sale and Gardening Festival, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, 512-292-4200 or www.wildflower.org.

Oct. 9: Birding Walk, 10 a.m., Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, 281-443-8731 or www.hcp4.net/mercer; free.

Oct. 12: “Herbs for Fall” by Marilyn O’Connor, noon, Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer; free but reservations required at 281-443-8731.

Oct 14: “Great Plants” by Heidi Sheesley, 11:30 a.m., Alvin Community College-Pearland Center cafeteria, Park street in Pearland. Keep Pearland Beautiful, 281-652-1779.

Oct. 14-15: Pink Elephant Sale, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 15), The ornberger Conference Center, 2151 w. Holcombe Boulevard; free. River Oaks Garden Club event, 713-523-2483 or visit www.riveroaksgardenclub.  Clothing, Bric-a-Brac, Accessories, Shoes, Antiques & Collectibles, Priceless Treasures and Our Famous Plant Booth. Proceeds from the Pink Elephant Sale benefit the Houston Community through education, conservation, environmental programs, beautification projects and scholarships.

Oct. 14-18: “The Craft and Art of Bamboo” by Carol Stangler, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
, Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer; call 281-443-8731 for fee, reservation.

Oct. 15: Herb-a-Palooza: Herb Sale, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., Clear Lake United Methodist Church 16335 El Camino Real in Clear Lake City; free. Precinct 2 Harris County Master Gardeners event, 281-991-8437 or hcmgap2.tamu.edu.

Oct. 15: “Native Wood Jewelry” by Charles Cole, 9 a.m. , Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer; $5. Register 281-443-8731.

Oct. 15-16: Peckerwood Garden Open Days, 1-5 p.m., 20571 FM 359 in Hempstead, 979-826-3232, www.peckerwoodgarden.com; $5. Open Days are an opportunity for the public to visit Peckerwood Garden for self-guided tours between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Parking is at Yucca Do Nursery.

Oct. 15-16: Gourd Show, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 16, Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road in Austin; $3. Texas Gourd Society event, 866-801-2429 or www.texasgourdsociety.org.

Oct. 18: "Gardens of London and East Anglia" by Bill Adams, retired Harris County Agent, at 6:30 pm, Harris County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr; Harris County Master Gardener event. Free to the public. Call 281-855-5600.Access http://hcmga.tamu.edu

Oct. 18: “Chyrsanthemum Growing” by Jackie Yarotsky, 11 a.m., Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer; free but reservations required at 281-443-8731.

Oct. 21-22: American Bamboo Society Conference, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer.  Details at 281-443-8731. American Bamboo Society Conference Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The American Bamboo Society is holding it’s national conference at Mercer Arboretum. The Thursday pre-conference tour, and Friday and Saturday seminars require registration, but the plant auction and vendor booths will be open to the public. If you are interested in registering for the seminars please come by the Mercer main office or get a form online at http://www.hcp4.net/mercer.

Oct. 29: Bazaar for All Seasons, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg; free. Fort Bend Master Gardeners event, 281-341-7068 or http://fbmg.com

Oct. 29: “Studying Mushrooms in the Wild” by Teri McArthur, 9:30 a.m., Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer; free but reservations required at 281-443-8731.

Nov. 2: “Preparing Your Beds for Spring” by Suzanne Chapman, 10 a.m., 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, free. Harris County Master Gardener Precinct 2 event, 281-991-8437 or hcmgap2.tamu.edu.

Nov. 6: “Holiday Decorations for Mantel and Wreaths” by Hollie Fairchild, 9 a.m.-noon, Burgess Recreation Center, 4200 Kalwick in Deer Park; $25. Deer Park Petal Pushers Garden Club event, 281-542-9731.

Nov. 9: “Courageous Containers” by Dawn Stover, 9 a.m.-noon., Mercer Arb oretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer; free but reservations required at 281-443-8731.

Nov. 11-13: Naturalist Illustration/Silk Painting classes for adults and children, Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer.  Details at 281-443-8731. Naturalist Illustration. Friday, November 11, 9am-3pm. In this intensive drawing workshop participants draw from an exciting collection of small natural science subjects. Students should bring a selection of feathers, shells, seeds, birds’ nests, mushrooms, fruit, fossils, etc. Instruction in pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, and water-soluble pencil. Work exclusively in any, dabble in all, or bring in the medium of your proficiency. Instructor invites all to include their work in her non-juried exhibition of sketchbooks! $65 members, $75 non members (includes lunch and art supplies). Bring 8 1/2 x 11 (approx) spiral bound sketchpad, a small and medium watercolor brush. Optional: Magnifying glass/hand lens. Young Naturalists (Youth). Saturday, November 12, 9am- noon. Learn how to draw through direct observation from an exciting collection of small natural science subjects brought in to class by the instructor. Students are encouraged to bring in additional ...birds nests and butterflies, minerals, fossils, vegetables, fruit, feathers, shells, etc. Explore graphite pencil, color pencil, and water soluble pencil. Weather permitting, we head out like the early explorers of the countryside, sketching outdoors. This special offering, by a top naturalist illustrator, was conceived to encourage youth to cultivate a sense of personal kinship with nature, and to begin a life-time visual journaling habit. $45 members, $55 non members. Bring 8 1/2 x 11 (approx) spiral bound sketchpad.  Optional: magnifying glass/hand lens. Dress for limited outdoor weather.  Silk Painting/Pouring (Intergenerational) Saturday, November 12, 1pm-5pm. Spend a relaxing afternoon engaged in a breathtakingly beautiful painting process that anyone, of any skill level, can do. Pouring paint! We manipulate sheer glazes of color onto soft floaty fabric, add more levels of color, and take home a huge hand-signed scarf/wrap. Perfect for gifting! Our inspiration…the palettes of the fall skies, the vistas of the gardens. $60 members, $70 non members (includes fabric and textile paints). Dress in clothing that can get ruined by paint. Botanical Art and Illustration: Painting. Sunday, November 13, 10am-3 pm. Acrylic paints are an ideal medium for portraying botanical subjects.  The slow controlled method of layering color produces intricate detail, and luminous beauty.  Work from mounted live plant specimens in a relaxed classroom setting. The instructor’s step-by- step approach to an exacting course of study welcomes all levels. Complete a frameable botanical painting! $75 members, $85 non members (includes lunch, art supplies plus a live-plant specimen).  Bring a small and medium watercolor brush.Registration: Because this is a Visiting Artist Workshop, payment MUST accompany registration. There are a limited number of spaces and they will be reserved on a first-come first served basis based on receipt of your registration form and payment at Mercer.

Cancellations must be made 7 days in advance for a refund. Phone: 281-443-8731.
Fax: 281-209-9767. Email: mercerarboretum@hcp4.net Address: Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield. Humble, Texas 77338-1071 Web Page
URL: http://www.hcp4.net/mercer.  Meet the Instructor. Cynthia Padilla is sought out for research projects, book reviews, lectures, commissioned plant portraits, and as a travel leader on sketching tours. Interest in the documentation of natural science subjects has taken her to abandoned courtyards in India, rare orchids in Thailand, fascinating flora and fauna of the Central American Rainforests.

Nov. 15: “Planting Winter Annuals” hands-on session, 9:30 a.m.-noon., Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield, www.hcp4.net/mercer; free but reservations required at 281-443-8731.

Nov. 17: “Plants Growing in the Lazy Gardener’s Garden” by Brenda Beust Smith, 7:15-8:15 p.m., Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg; free. Fort Bend Master Gardeners event, 281-341-7068 or http://fbmg.com

Feb. 11, 2006: Fort Bend County Fruit Tree Sale, time to be determined, Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg; free. Fort Bend Master Gardeners event, 281-341-7068 or http://fbmg.com

March 18, 2006: Fort Bend County Perennial Sale, time to be determined, Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg; free. Fort Bend Master Gardeners event, 281-341-7068 or http://fbmg.com


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.