Have you been getting emails about mulch from Louisiana?
I have — by the ton! Below are two responses, one from John
Ferguson of Nature's Way Resources in Conroe, my soil/mulch
guru, and from Texas A&M.
But first, mark your calendars!
The Angelina County Master Gardeners will again host their
annual Greater East Texas gardening Extravaganza on March
25, 2006. The event will be held at the Pitser Garrison
Civic Center, 606 North Second Street in Lufkin, TX.
Registration for the one day event is $20.00 prior to March,
and $25.00 at the door. Lunch is included in the
registration fee. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 3:30
p.m.
Speakers are: • William D. "Bill" Adams, author,
photographer and former Harris County Extension Agent for
Horticulture. Bill will be speaking on "Texas Kitchen
Gardens." • Gaye Hammond, president of the Houston Rose
Society. Gaye is a well known advocate for EarthKind roses.
Her topic is "EarthKind Roses." • William C. "Bill" Welch,
PhD., serves as Extension Landscape Specialist at Texas A&M
University. A well-known speaker throughout the South he has
authored several books and taught the nationally accredited
"Landscape Design Study Courses." His topic will be "Cottage
Gardens."
Local nurseries, landscaping services and related businesses
will have booths with products for sale. Contact Cary Sims,
County Extension Agent at 936-634-6414, ext. 102 or Bonnie
Hammett, Master Gardener, at 936-634-5641 or go-lufkin.com/mastergardeners.
Other sales you won't want to miss (great plants, many not
yet available in nurseries, and the profits benefit the
community):
• Saturday (Mar. 11): Montgomery County Master Gardener
Spring Plant Sale and Program, 8 a.m.-program, 9 a.m.-1
p.m.,-sale, Extension Office, 9020 FM 1484 in Conroe, 936
539 7824; free.
• Friday and Saturday, March 17 and 18: March Mart Plant
Sale, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine
Westfield, 281-443-8731, www.hcp4.net/mercer; free. Attend
this region's largest plant sale that offers old favorites
as well as new varieties. Arrive early for this plant sale
extravaganza!
• Saturday (Mar. 18): Fort Bend County Master Gardeners
Perennial Lecture & Sale, 9 a.m. “Perennials” by Heidi
Sheesley, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. sale, Fort Bend County
Fairgrounds,4310 Highway 36 South, Building D, in Rosenberg,
281-341-7068 or http://fbmg.com; free.
• Saturday (Mar. 18)-April 1: Nacogdoches Azalea Trail,
Plant Sale, Floral Show, Azalea Symposium. Start: Visitors
Center, 200 East Main in Nacogdoches, 1-888-OLDEST-TOWN or
www.visitnacogdoches.org, free and fee events.
• Saturday-Sunday (Mar. 25-26): Houston Amaryllis Society
Show and Sale, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Houston Garden Center, 1500
Hermann Drive; 713-433-4477; free.
-----
NOW, ABOUT THAT LOUISIANA MULCH
Now, about the mulch question. First, remember than anyone
can claim anything they want over the internet. Some of what
goes around with the speed of lightning may be true. I
suspect 90 percent of it is made up and credited to whomever
the creator chooses to target. If it's anti-Democratic, I
assume it's created by Republicans and visa versa. If it's
about Target or Pepsi, I wonder if Wal-mart or Coke created
the rumors?
I am constantly amazed at the stuff sent to my computer by I
know normally very intelligent, discerning adults. Yet they
have no hesitation whatsoever about forwarding
sometimes-truly questionable stuff to everyone on their
email lists. I always envision some nerdy little 10-year-old
locked in his room giggling as he makes up stuff and sends
it out on his computer.
This email is sort of true, but not the panic situation
these emails often reflect. The gist is that shredded
timbers from LA are infested with the dreaded Formosan
termites and being sold nationwide.
I figure it's sort of like oysters. There is a federal
quarantine on moving mulch or other wood products out of
Louisiana due to the termite issue unless it had been
fumigated. That means we are protected — to a degree. But,
like the oysters from contaminated bays, there will always
be a few unprincipled folks who will harvest illegal
oysters/mulch and sell it, usually very cheaply and to less
principled restaurants/garden outlets. The way to protect
yourself is to eat at restaurants/shop at nurseries you
trust.
----
Here is the response from my mulch/soil guru, John Ferguson:
The risk factor is probably low if a few simple items are
considered.
1) Formosan termites have already been found in at least 16
Texas counties including Brazoria, Harris, Galveston, and
Liberty so we are not introducing them as they are already
here.
2) The termites are attracted to fresh ground material that
is rich in cellulose, hence the mulch produced from the
storm clean-up is a good food source.
3) Beaumont/Port Arthur area into East Texas also had a lot
of storm damage also (over 1 million cubic yards of mulch).
Due to the cost of transportation we are more likely to get
mulch from that area where the risk is slightly lower. A
lot of this material from New Orleans will be used as boiler
fuel, shipped overseas as pulp and fiber for paper and
pressed wood products since New Orleans is a major port
city.
4) If the mulch is composted first, then the risk factor is
very low. The heat of the composting (170 degrees F) will
kill any insect. As the lignin and cellulose is broken down
into humus there is far less food resources hence after
composting it is not very attractive to the termites. In
addition, the good microbes in the composted mulch will
attack and parasitize the termites killing them (several
species of fungus and bacteria have already been
identified).
5) If a person has used fungicides on their lawn for brown
patch, black spot on roses, etc. then they have killed off
the beneficial fungus in the soil that would have helped
protect them from problems. Hence they are at much higher
risk.
6) Some of this storm produced mulch will most likely end up
at the box stores at a very low price since they do not care
about quality or their customers. A good quality mulch
(safe to use) will typically retail for $4-6 for a 2 cubic
foot bag or the economics do not work Lower prices indicate
lower quality and higher risk not only from termites but
other problems as well. Opaque bags are another warning
sign (the seller does not want the customer to see what is
in the bag).
-----
Now, the release from Texas A&M:
Ag N More News Service/The Texas A&M University System
Contacts: Edith A. Chenault, (979) 945-2886,
e-chenault1@tamu.edu
— Dr. Roger
Gold, (979)
845-5855,r-gold@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION - If wood mulch is being shipped into Texas
from hurricane-ravaged areas of Louisiana - as a recent
flurry of e-mails alleges - it is being done so illegally,
said a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Department of
Agriculture and Forestry.
No wood debris has been approved to move outside the
quarantine area, said Ashley Rodrigue, press secretary for
the department.The
mulch is going to landfills, all but one of which is in
quarantined parishes in Louisiana. The other landfill is in
Mississippi but in an area quarantined for Formosan
termites, she said.
"The fact is, we do not
know whether these materials are infested with Formosan
termites," said Dr. Roger Gold, Texas Cooperative Extension
entomologist in College Station. "We are concerned, and
through education and alerts, we are trying to keep these
termites from going farther," he said.
Texas has quarantined the shipment of used railroad
crossties, or products, articles or conveyance that could
bring the termite - at any of its developmental stages -
into the state, according to the Texas Administrative Code.
This includes mulch.
"The Texas Department of Agriculture strongly supports the
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry's
quarantines to prevent the spread of the Formosan termite
and are encouraged by all the stringent steps they are
taking to enforce the quarantine measures," said Agriculture
Commissioner Susan Combs. "In addition, TDA also has a
quarantine in place to prevent the movement of Formosan
termites and any quarantined article, such as railroad ties
and mulch, from certain states and areas unless the items
have been fumigated in a TDA-approved method and a proof of
treatment accompanies the shipment.
"TDA inspectors in our road stations along the Texas border
are keeping their eyes out for any quarantined articles and
will turn back any shipments that do not meet our rigorous
entry requirements," Combs said.
Rodrigue said Louisiana has quarantined the movement of all
wood material from areas affected by hurricanes.
The quarantined parishes are Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson,
Jefferson Davis, Orleans, Palquenines, St. Bernard, St.
Charles, St. John, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington,
according to a news release issued Jan. 13 by that
department. These parishes are known to be infested with the
Formosan termite.
The release noted, "The quarantine specifies that wood
cannot be moved from any of these parishes into Formosan
termite-free parishes until a plan has been submitted to the
Department of Agriculture and Forestry."
According to the Center for Urban and Structural
Entomology's termite Web site at http://termite.tamu.edu ,
Formosan termites cause the same type of damage as other
subterranean termites, but they are voracious eaters,
attacking more than 47 plant species in addition to homes
and other wooden structures.
The site also noted Formosan termites do their damage more
rapidly than other species of termites due to large colony
sizes of more than a million individuals.
Gold recommended that consumers be wary of generic or
unlabeled wood products - including railroad crossties -
even though they appear to be a good deal. Care needs to be
taken through inspections or treatment of these materials
before they are placed around structures in Texas, he said.
"This may be a situation where it is better to look a gift
horse in the mouth because of the cost of a poor decision
for the average homeowner if these materials were infested
with these wood-destroying insects," he said.
Any purchased mulch that appears to have insects in it
should be returned to the retailer or distributor for a
refund, he advised. It would be ill advised for any
homeowner to attempt to treat mulches on their own for both
safety and economic reason, he said.
"The cost of treatment may exceed the value of the product
you are getting," he said.
Rodrigue said any material moving illegally out of Louisiana
needs to be reported to the pesticide division of that
state's department of agriculture at (225) 925-3763.
---
I think the same rule for mulch holds true that has always
held true: You get what you pay for.
The risk of termite infection may be slightly higher if you
buy El Cheapo mulch from a fly-by-night company, or from
stores that offer cheap mulch. The risks are probably no
greater than before if you buy from a reputable,
long-standing nursery or soil yard.
EMAIL GARDENING QUESTIONS TO BRENDA AT:
brenda@guidrynews.com.
(Be sure to
tell me where you live!)
***
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.)
Wednesday (Mar. 8): “Planning for Cottage Garden Sale” with
sale co-chairmen
Judy Huber and Mary Frederick. 10 a.m. Amegy Bank of Texas,
303 East Main St.
in League City. League City Garden Club event, 281-535-0999;
free.
Wednesday, March 8: “March Mart Preview” by Suzzanne
Chapman, noon to 2
p.m., Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield, register at
281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer;
free.
Thursday, March 9, "Home Lawn Care," by Terry Douglass, 7-9
pm, U of H Cinco
Ranch, 4242 S. Mason Rd., Rm. 118, 281-341-7068 or
www.fbmg.com; free.
Thursday March 9: "Gardening Organically" with John
Dromgoole, 5-6 p.m.;
Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th; 713-861-5702; or
www.buchanansplants.com;
free.
Friday, March 10: Reservation Deadline for March
11"Gardening with Herbs
Funshop" by Susan Mack, 10 a.m., Spring Nursery & Landscape,
25252 FM 2978 in
Tomball, 281-357-1800; free.
Friday (Mar. 10): Registration deadline for the March 24-25
11th Annual
Herbal Forum “A Celebration of Scented Pelargoniums, Herb of
the Year, 2006,” 9
a.m.-6 p.m. Mar. 24, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mar. 25, Festival Hill
at Round Top,
979-249-3129, ext 11 or
www.henryf@festivalhill.org; call for fee.
Friday, March 10: "Xeriscaping for your own Backyard" by
Donna Fay Hillard,
10:30a.m., Houston Garden Center, 1500 Hermann Drive; free.
Houston Federation
of Garden Clubs event, 281-379-5142; free.
Friday-Sunday, March 10-12: Azalea Trail, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.,
starting point:
River Oaks Garden Club Forum of Civics, 2503 Westheimer,
713-523-2483 or
www.riveroaksgardenclub.org; seven admissions, $15
before March 9 and $20 during the
trail. Single admissions $5. (for online column: Azalea
Trail, 2006, will
feature four private homes and gardens, all belonging to
River Oaks Garden Club
members, as well as Bayou Bend, Rienzi, and the River Oaks
Garden Club Forum of
Civics Building and Gardens.
Saturday (Mar. 11): Montgomery County Master Gardener Spring
Plant Sale and
Program, 8 a.m.-program, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.,-sale, Extension
Office, 9020 FM 1484 in
Conroe, 936 539 7824; free.
Saturday, March 11: March Mart Preview” by Suzzanne Chapman,
10 a.m. to noon,
Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield, 281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer;
free.
Saturday, March 11: Rose Festival with Dr. Steven George,
Gaye Hammond and
Mary Herr, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920 in
Tomball,
281-351-8851 or
www.arborgate.com; free.
Sat., March 11: Fred Heck - of Green Light Products, 10 am
to 2 pm, Teas
Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 713-664-4400
www.teasnursery.com;
free
Monday March 13: “How to Start a Community or School Garden”
by Gary
Edmondson, 4:00-6:30 p.m., Urban Harvest, Heights area; call
to register at
713-880-5540; directions and details at www.urbanharvest.org;
free.
Monday, Mar. 13: “March Mart Presentation” by Suzanne
Chapman, 7 p.m., Good
Shepherd Episcopal Church, 2929 Woodland Hills in Kingwood.
Lake Houston
Gardeners event, 832-368-9870; free
Tuesday, March 14: “Mysterious Monarchs” by Karen Stockton,
9:30 a.m.,
Jersey Village Civic Center, 16327 Lakeview Drive; Jersey
Village Garden Club
event, 713-466-6885; $5.
Thursday, March 16, "Edible Wild Plants" by Ed Adams, 7
p.m., Houston
Arboretum and Nature Center, 4501 Woodway; Native Plant
Society event, 713-681-3665
or www.npsot.org;
free.
Friday and Saturday, March 17 and 18: March Mart Plant Sale,
8 a.m. to 4
p.m., Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield,
281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer;
free. Attend this region's largest plant sale that offers
old favorites as
well as new varieties. Arrive early for this plant sale
extravaganza!
Saturday (Mar. 18): Fort Bend County Master Gardeners
Perennial Lecture &
Sale, 9 a.m. “Perennials” by Heidi Sheesley, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
sale, Fort Bend
County Fairgrounds,4310 Highway 36 South, Building D, in
Rosenberg, 281-341-7068
or http://fbmg.com;
free.
Saturday (Mar. 18)-April 1: Nacogdoches Azalea Trail, Plant
Sale, Floral
Show, Azalea Symposium. Start: Visitors Center, 200 East
Main in Nacogdoches,
1-888-OLDEST-TOWN or
www.visitnacogdoches.org, free and fee events.
Sunday (Mar. 19): 11th Annual Lettuce Garden Party “Lettuce
Celebrate St.
Joseph in the Garden, 1-4 p.m., 813 Jackson Hill, Urban
Harvest event,
713-880-5540 or
www.urbanharvest.org; $30.
Monday March 20: “How to Start a Community or School Garden”
by Dr. Bob
Randall, 1:00-3:45 p.m., Urban Harvest, Heights area;
713-880-5540;
www.urbanharvest.org;
free class; registration required.
Tuesday (Mar 21): “What's New in Fertilizers” by Bob
Patterson and Brian
Boy, 7 p.m., Burgess Recreation Center, 4200 Kalwick in Deer
Park. Deer Park
Petal Pushers Garden Club meeting, 281-542-9731; free.
Tuesday (Mar. 21): “Begonias 101 — Beyond the Wax Begonia”
by Tom Keepin,
10 a.m., Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way in
Sugar Land. Sugar
Land Garden Club event, 281-565-9813 or
www.sugarlandgardenclub.org; free.
March 21: "Garden Art" by Bill Adams, retired County Agent
at 6:30 pm. Harris
County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr.; Master
Gardener event,
281-855-5600 or
http://hcmga.tamu.edu; free.
Tuesday (Mar. 21): “Houston: Green City, Garden City” with
Jeffery Brown,
AIA, Kathy Huber and Kingsley Thomas, 7 p.m., Museum of Fine
Arts Brown
Auditorium, 1001 Bissonnet.
Thursday, March 23, "Bromeliads" by Gene Powers, 7:15-8:15
pm, Bud O'Shieles
Community Center, 1330 Band Road in Rosenberg, 281-341-7068
or www.fbmg.com;
free.
Wednesday, March 23: Registration deadline for March 25
Ecology Walk with Pat
Marks, 10 a.m.-noon, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501
Woodway,
713-681-8433,
www.houstonarboretum.org; $10.
Friday, March 24: Reservation Deadline for March 25 "Plant
Care 101 and
Beneficial Insects Funshop" by Carolyn Townley, 10 a.m.,
Spring Nursery &
Landscape, 25252 FM 2978 in Tomball, 281-357-1800; free.
Friday-Saturday, Mar. 24-25: Spring Branch Memorial Library
Plant and Book
Festival, Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.,
930 Corbindale;
713-468-8950; free.
Saturday, March 25, "Gardening for Hummingbirds &
Butterflies" by Donna Fay
Hilliard; 1:30 p.m., Wabash Antiques & Feed, 5701 Washington
Avenue,
713-863-8322; free.
Saturday (Mar. 25): “Community Flood Control Begins at
Home,” 9 a.m.-3
p.m., Bellaire Civic Center, 7008 S. Rice in Bellaire; Hana
Ginzbarg, Workshop
Coordinator, ginzbarg@hal-pc.org or 713-664-4320 or Mary
Ellen Whitworth,
bpa@hic.net or
713-529-6443;free.
Saturday, Mar. 25: “All About Fertilizers” by Dan Snyder, 10
a.m.-2p.m., RCW
Nurseries, 15809 Tomball Parkway, 281-440-5161,
www.rcwnurseries.com;
free.
Saturday March 25: Spring Greens Celebration at the Bayou
City Farmers'
Market, 8:00 a.m.-noon, 3000 Richmond (back parking lot),
713-880-5540 or
www.urbanharvest.org
for more information; free admission.
Saturday-Sunday (Mar. 25-26): Houston Amaryllis Society Show
and Sale, 10
a.m.-5 p.m., Houston Garden Center, 1500 Hermann Drive;
713-433-4477; free.
Sunday, March 26: "Butterflies" by Pat Marks, 2 pm, Houston
Arboretum &
Nature Center, 4501 Woodway, 713-681-8433,
www.houstonarboretum.org; free
Monday March 27: “Sell What You Grow at a Green Market” by
Ray Sher,
4:00-6:00 p.m., Urban Harvest, Heights area; call to
register at 713-880-5540;
directions and details at www.urbanharvest.org; $30.
Tuesday (Mar. 28): “Plant Propagation” by Dr. Jean Fefer,
6:30-9 p.m.,
Tracy Gee Community Center, 3599 Westcenter Dr. Harris
County Extension event,
281-855-5600,
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort; free.
March 28: "Plant Propagation" by Dr Carol Brouwer, Harris
County Extension
agent. 6:30-9 pm. Tracy Gee Community Center, 3599
Westcenter Dr.; Master
Gardener event, 281-855-5600,
http://hcmga.tamu.edu;
free.
Tuesday, March 28: “Tropicals,” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mercer
Arboretum, 22306
Aldine Westfield, register at 281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer;
free.
Tuesday, March 28: “Herbs 101” by Ann Wheeler of Log House
Herb Farm, 10:00
am, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball, 281 351 8851 or
www.arborgate.com;
free
Thursday, March 30: Registration deadline for Saturday,
April 1 workshop
Plant Propagation 101, by MG Propagation Team, 9-Noon,
Galveston County Extension
Office, 5115 Highway 3, Dickinson; register at 281-534-3413
Ext. 6,
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.htm;
free.
Sat., April 1: "Lawn Care Seminar" by Rich Boettler, 10
a.m., and “Bahama Bay
Hibiscus” by Neville Wright, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Teas Nursery,
4400 Bellaire
Blvd., 713-664-4400
www.teasnursery.com; free
Saturday, April 1; “Perennials and More” by Heidi Sheesley
of Treesearch
Farms, 10:00am, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball, 281
351 8851 or
www.arborgate.com; free
Saturday, April 1: Fort Bend County Plant Swap, 9 a.m.-1
p.m. Community
Park, 1700 Glenn Lakes Blvd. in Missouri City; free. Seeds,
plants, gardening
magazines and other gardening items are acceptable items for
trading. Details
at 713 398-7949 or
http://groups.msn.com/FortBendCountyPlantSwap/welcome1.msnw.
Saturday-Sunday (Apr. 1-2): Bellaire Home Tour, 1-5 p.m.,
start: Hana and
Arthur Ginzbarg Nature Discovery Center, 7112 Newcastle,
713-667-6550; $15; $3
per home, children under 12 free.
Saturday & Sunday, April 1 & 2: Houston Bromeliad Society
Plant Sale, Sat.: 9
am-5 pm, Sun.: 11 am-4pm, Houston Bromeliad Society &
Houston Arboretum & N
ature Center, 4501 Woodway; 713-858-3047 or
www.bromeliadsocietyhouston.org;
free.
Saturday-Sunday (April 1-2) Houston Heights Home and Garden
Tour, noon-6
p.m., starting point: Heights Fire Station, 107 West 12th
Street, Houston 77008,
713-861-4002 or
www.houstonheights.org; $15 for six homes.
Sunday, April 2: “Herbs 101” by Ann Wheeler of Log House
Herb Farm, 1:00pm,
The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM2920, Tomball, 281 351 8851 or
www.arborgate.com;
free.
Tuesday, April 4: Tropical Garden Planting Workday, 9 a.m.
to noon, Mercer
Arboretum, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, register at 281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer;
free.
Tuesday-Wednesday (April 4-5): “Paint the Town
Green...Greening the Urban
Landscape” Flower Show, noon-5 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-noon
Wednesday, Omni Houston
Hotel Grand Salon, 4 Riverway. Garden Club of Houston event;
www.gchouston.org;
free. A Garden Club of America Small Flower Show. Presented
by the 18
Clubs of The Garden Club of America Zone IX (Arkansas,
Louisiana, Mississippi,
Tennessee, & Texas), The Omni Hotel, Four Riverway in
Houston. 713-871-8181
Thursday, April 6: Registration deadline for Saturday, April
8 workshop
Grafting Fruit & Nut Trees, by MG Propagation Team, 9-Noon,
Galveston County
Extension Office, 5115 Highway 3, Dickinson, 281-534-3413
Ext. 6,
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.htm;
no fee but pre-registration is required.
Sponsored by Galveston County Master Gardener Association
Thurs., April 6: "Kathy Huber - Houston Chronicle Garden
Writer to autograph
copies of the latest edition of her gardening book", 10:
a.m.-1 p.m., Teas
Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 713-664-4400,
www.teasnursery.com;
free; no
reservation needed.
Thursday, April 6: Memorial Northwest Ladybug Garden Club
Plant and Garage
Sale, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., 17211 Abby Lane in Spring; free.
Friday-Saturday (April 7-8): Dig ‘n’ Design Garden Club
Plant Sale, 8
a.m.-noon, 206 Lakeshore Drive in El Lago, 281-326-4400;
free.
Friday and Saturday April 7&8, , Cockrell Butterfly Center
Spring Plant Sale
9:00 to 3:00, Houston Museum of Natural Science, 7th Floor
Parking Garage, One
Hermann Circle Dr. 713-639-4753, hmns.org,
Saturday, April 8: YardWise: Smart Yard Care Course, 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Mercer
Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield, register at 281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer;
free.
Saturday, April 8: Reservation Deadline March 31 "Texas
Native Plants" by
Lynn Cox, 10 a.m., and “Garden Q&A” by Randy Lemmon, 1 p.m.,
Spring Nursery &
Landscape, 25252 FM 2978, Tomball; 281-357-1800; free.
Saturday, April 8; “Designing Special Places III “by Mark
Bowen, 1:00pm, The
Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball, 281 351 8851 or
www.arborgate.com;
free.
Saturday, April 8: Plant Sale, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Church of The
Good Shepherd,
715 E. Carrell St. at FM 2029 in Tomball, 281-352-2829 or
281-787-6587.
Saturday, April 8: Rockport Herb & Rose Society Herb
Festival, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Rockport-Fulton High School Commons, 1801 Omohundro in
Rockport,
www.rockportherbs.com;
free.
Saturday, April 8: Tomball Garden Club Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-2
p.m., Museum, on
Pine Street; free.
April 8-9: NASA area African Violet Show/Sale, Saturday sale
9 a.m.-4 p.m.,
show 1-4 p.m., Sunday both 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Amegy Ban, 303 E.
Main in League
City; free. NASA Area African Violet Club event,
281-762-3209 or AVSA.org
Saturday-Sunday, April 8-9: Houston Bonsai Society and
Japan-American
Society of Houston Spring Bonsai Show, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Japanese Garden in Hermann
Park, www.houstonbonsai; free.
Monday, Apr 10th: “Carnivorous Plants” by Mike Howlett, 7
p.m., Good
Shepherd Episcopal Church, 2929 Woodland Hills in Kingwood;
free. Lake Houston
Gardeners event, 832 368-9870.
Monday April 10: "How to Start a Community or School Garden"
by Gary
Edmondson, 4:00-6:30 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane;
713-880-5540 to register;
www.urbanharvest.org
for details and directions; free class. Start a garden at a
school, place of worship, or vacant lot for education,
donation to the hungry, or
improving your community. Learn the basics of planning,
finances, and garden
design. Gary Edmondson is Director of Community and School
Gardens at Urban
Harvest.
Tuesday April 11: "An Introduction to Permaculture" by the
Permaculture Guild
Of Houston, 7:00-10:00 p.m., 2990 Richmond; 1900 Kane;
713-880-5540 to
register;
www.urbanharvest.org for details and directions; free.
Intro to four
courses over the next year that will help you turn your yard
or farm into a vibrant
bird and butterfly-filled space with vegetable and fruit
plants. Study
design concepts for gardens, landscapes, sustainable
buildings and societies.
Complete four courses to receive your permaculture
designer's certification.
Tuesday, April 11: Horticulture and Flower Design Show,
12:30-1:45 p.m.,
Jersey Village Civic Center, 16327 Lakeview Drive, Jersey
Village Garden Club
event, 713-466-6885; free.
Wednesday, April 12: “Fragrant Plants,” noon to 1 p.m.,
Mercer Arboretum,
22306 Aldine Westfield, register at 281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer; free.
Thursday, April 13, "Plants that Thrive in Fort Bend" by Pam
Tatge, 7-9 pm, U
of H Cinco Ranch, 4242 S. Mason Rd., Rm. 118, Green Thumb
Seminar,
281.341.7068 or "http://www.fbmg.com"www.fbmg.com;
free.
Monday April 17: "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 to register;
www.urbanharvest.org
for details and directions; free class. Start a garden at a
school, place of worship, or vacant lot for education,
donation to the hungry, or improving your community. Learn
the basics of planning, finances, and garden design. Dr. Bob
Randall has advised over 150 community garden projects since
1987.
Tuesday (Apr 18): “A Showing of Many New and Heirloom
Plants” by Scott
Reeves with Treesearch Farms, 7:00 p.m., Burgess Recreation
Center, 4200 Kalwick
in Deer Park. Deer Park Petal Pushers Garden Club meeting,
281-542-9731; free.
Tuesday (Apr. 18): “The Entryway to Nature” by Darrell
Gorski, 10 a.m.,
Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way in Sugar Land.
Sugar Land Garden
Club event, 281-565-9813 or
www.sugarlandgardenclub.org; free.
April 18: "Horticultural Therapy" by Kay Lockard, 6:30 pm.
Harris County
Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Master Garden event.
281-855-5600 or
http://hcmga.tamu.edu; free.
Tuesday April 18: "Permaculture & The Sustainable Society"
by the
Permaculture Guild Of Houston, 7:00-9:30 p.m., 2990
Richmond; 1900 Kane; 713-880-5540 to register;
www.urbanharvest.org
for details and directions; $70 + $25 materials & food.
Review the global ecological situation and methods for
sustainable housing, energy and transportation. One of the
four series of classes leading to a permaculture designer's
certificate.
Friday, April 21: Registration deadline for the 24th Annual
Herb Day
Symposium, "Herbal Teas Around the World" , Houston Garden
Center, 1500 Hermann Drive;
$45. The Herb Society of America, South Texas Unit, event,
Registration
form:
www.herbsociety-stu.org or phone 713-513-7808
(voice mail). Registration
includes herbal lunch and refreshments, program booklet and
gift plant, door
prizes, lectures, and a craft to blend your own herbal tea.
Speakers include Mary
Nell Jacksen, "The History of Herbal Teas"; Lucia Bettler,
"The Medicinal
Teapot", and "The Japanese Teapot" featuring Showing
Japan, a non-profit group showing the art and culture of
Japan. Other tea
traditions will be presented by Herb Society members Mary
Versfelt, "Russian Tea
Around the Samovar"; Jacqui Highton "English High Tea"' Beth
Murphy,
"Mexico's Herbal Teas"; and Susan Wood, "Growing Herbs for
Tea". A garden gift area
will have plenty of herb plants for sale, as well as tea
cozies, tea blends,
tea towels, and other herbal crafts. It will be a lovely day
spent being
pampered by entertained by this wonderful group of herb
enthusiasts and educators.
Proceeds help benefit the unit's scholarship program for
botany or
horticulturally related studies.
Saturday (Apr. 22): Garden Gala Day, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m., Mast
Arboretum, Stephen
F. Austin State University, Intramural Fields on Wilson Road
in Nacogdoches,
936-468-1832; free. Unusual, Texas-tough plants at great
prices.
April 22: Harris County Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale
and Symposium.
Harris County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Preview
at 8 am, Sale 9 am-2
pm, Symposium 10 am-3 pm. Fee for Symposium $15 includes
lunch. Registration
deadline April 14. Call 281-855-5600 to register..
http://hcmga.tamu.edu
Saturday, April 22: Bellaire Earth Day Spring Fling and
Plant Sale, 10
a.m.-4 p.m., Nature Discovery Center, 7112 Newcastle,
713-667-6550; free.
Saturday, April 22: Reservation Deadline April 14 "Butterfly
101" by Eddie
Holik, 10 a.m., Spring Nursery & Landscape, 25252 FM 2978,
Tomball,
281-357-1800; free
Saturday, April 22, “Southern Heirlooms” by Dr. Bill Welch,
10:00am,The
Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball, 281 351 8851 or
www.arborgate.com;
free.
Sunday, April 23: "Wildflower Walk" by Ruth Milburn, Native
Plant Society, 2
pm, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway,
713-681-8433,
www.houstonarboretum.org; Free
Sunday, April 23: Champion Forest Garden Club Backyard
Garden Tour, 1-5
p.m., Start: 16104 Stewart's Grove, 281-320-1862; four homes
for $7. The Champion
Forest Garden Club is sponsoring their Backyard Garden Tour
on Sunday, April
23 from 1:00 - 5:00 rain or shine. Backyard enthusiasts are
invited to spend
the afternoon touring four of the neighborhoods most
inviting backyards.
Tickets can be purchased from any Garden Club member or at
each of the four homes
on the day of the tour for $7.00. You may also call Wendy
Fryfogle at
281-320-1862 for tickets or any other information about the
tour. There will be signs
directing you to the tour on Cypresswood as you enter
Champion Forest.
Monday April 24: "Sell What You Grow at a Green Market" by
Gita VanWoerden,
4:00-6:00 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; 713-880-5540 to
register;
www.urbanharvest.org for details and directions; $30.
Backyard gardeners in the city as
well as farmers in the countryside can sell at a local
farmers' market. Find
out how to set up shop, including packaging, displays,
pricing and market
rules. Gita VanWoerden is the the owner of Animal Farm
Permaculture Center.
April 25: “Good Plants for Houston,” 6:30-9 p.m., Tracy Gee
Community
Center, 3599 Westcenter Dr. Harris County Extension event,
281-855-5600,
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort; free.
Saturday, April 29, "Citrus Tree Care for Patios" by Dianne
Norman, 1:30
p.m., Wabash Antiques & Feed, 5701 Washington Avenue,
713-863-8322; Free. Dianne,
one of our Master Gardeners will speak on the care of
containerized citrus
and varieties for our area.
Saturday, April 29: Galveston County Plant Swap, 10 a.m.-1
p.m., Walter Hall
Park, 807 Highway 3 North in League City, 713-724-7213,
http://home.houston.rr.com/galveston05swap; free.
Saturday, April 29: Upper Texas Coast Grasses” by Flo
Hannah, 10 a.m. to 2
p.m., Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield, register at
281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer;
free.
Saturday, April 29: Texas Rose Rustlers Spring Symposium, 10
a.m.-2
p.m., Matagorda County Birding Nature Center, Hwy 35W, Bay
City, free. More
information, call 281-468-3677 or
www.texasroserustlers.org.
Saturday, April 29; “Basilmania II” Everything you wanted to
know about
Basil, but were afraid to ask! Ann Wheeler, Log House Herb
Farm and Chef Chris
Crowder, 10:00am, The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, 281 351
8851 or
www.arborgate.com;
free.
May 2: "Herbs" by Ann Wheeler, Logan House Herb Farm at 12
noon. Harris
County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Free Master
Gardener event.
281-855-5600, access
http://hcmga.tamu.edu
Friday-Sunday (May 5-7): Orchid Flower & Plant Extravaganza,
10 a.m.-7 p.m.
May 5-6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 7, George R. Brown Convention
Center, 1001 Avenida
De Las Americas, Houston Orchid Society event, 281-286-1471;
$7.50.
Friday-Sunday (May 5-7): Oleander & Gardening Festival,
Moody Gardens
Convention Center, Galveston. For schedule, fees, available
at 800-582-4268,
409-762-9334 or
www.oleander.org.
May 6-7 Yard and Garden Tour, Saturday 10 am - 4 pm and
Sunday 1-4 pm.,
public and private gardens; $10,
www.salado.com.
Salado is located about 3 hours
from Houston and is only 40 minutes north of Austin on I35.
Salado is a treat;
a quiet village with rolling hills and a spring fed creek.
Saturday & Sunday, May 6 & 7: Cactus and Succulent Plant
Sale, Sat: 9 am-5
pm, Sun.:11 am-4 pm, Houston Cactus & Succulent Society &
Houston Arboretum &
Nature Center, 4501 Woodway, 713-681-8433 or
www.hcsstex.org;
Free
Sunday (May 7): Daylily Festival, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Payne's
in the Grass
Daylily Farm, 2137 Melanie Lane, Pearland, 281-485-3821,
www.paynesinthegrassdaylilyfarm.com; free
Wednesday, May 10: “Daylilies, noon to 1 p.m., Mercer
Arboretum, 22306 Aldine
Westfield, register at 281-443-8731, www.hcp4.net/mercer
free.
Saturday, May 13: Reservation Deadline May 5 "Deer Resistant
Plants" speaker
Tarroll Roberts, Master Gardener, 10 a.m., Spring Nursery &
Landscape, 25252
FM 2978, Tomball; Free. Register at 281-357-1800.
Saturday, May 13; “Art in the Garden,” 10:00am-3:00pm.
Display gardens are
in full bloom-their colors accented by Garden art on display
just for the
occasion. The Arbor Gate , 15635 FM 2920, 281 351 8851 or
www.arborgate.com;
free.
Sunday, May 14: "Fireflies" by Linda Knowles, Native Plant
Society, 2 pm,
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway,
713-681-8433,www.houstonarboretum.org; Free
May 16: "Water Smart" Chris LaChance, Water Smart Co-ordinator
at 6:30 pm.
Harris County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Free
Master Gardener event.
281-855-5600, access
http://hcmga.tamu.edu
Tuesday, May 16: “Summer Annuals,” 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Mercer
Arboretum, 22306
Aldine Westfield, register at 281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer;
free.
Friday, May 19: Botanical Drawing for the Complete Beginner,
10 a.m. to 3
p.m., Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield, register at
281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer; $65.
Saturday, May 20 (separate course): Botanical Drawing for
the Complete
Beginner, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine
Westfield, register at
281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer; $75.
Sunday, May 21: Botanical Miniatures, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
Mercer Arboretum,
22306 Aldine Westfield, register at 281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer;
$75
May 23: “Lawn Care,” 6:30-9 p.m., Tracy Gee Community
Center, 3599
Westcenter Dr. Harris County Extension event, 281-855-5600,
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort; free.
May 23: "Lawn Care", Green Thumb series by Tom “Buddy”
Lundsford, Harris
County Extension agent at 6:30-9 pm. Tracy Gee Community
Center, 3599 Westcenter
Drive; 291-855-5600,
http://hcmga.tamu.edu; free.
Tuesday, May 23: “ Planting Summer Annuals, 9 a.m. to noon,
Mercer
Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield, register at 281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer;
free.
Thursday, May 25: This Garden is for the Birds,” noon- 3
p.m., from noon to
3 p.m., Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield, register
at 281-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer;
free.
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, May 26, 27, & 28: "Bromeliad
Society Show & Sale"
, Fri. - Sale only:12-5 pm, Sat: Sale 9 am-5 pm, Show 2-5
pm, Sun: Show &
Sale 11 am-4pm, Houston Bromeliad Society/Houston Arboretum
& Nature Center, 4501
Woodway; 713-858-3047 or
www.bromeliadsocietyhouston.org; free.
June 6: "Insects in the Garden" Marvin Keenan, noon. Harris
County Extension
office, 3033 Bear Creek Park; Master Gardener event,
281-55-5600, access
http://hcmga.tamu.edu;
free.
June 27: “Butterfly Gardening,” 6:30-9 p.m., Tracy Gee
Community Center,
3599 Westcenter Dr. Harris County Extension event,
281-855-5600,
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort; free.
June 27: "Butterfly Gardening", Green Thumb series by Karen
Breneman, Harris
County Extension agent. 6:30-9 pm. Tracy Gee Community
Center, 3599
Westcenter Drive. Texas Cooperative/Master Gardener event,
281-855-5600, access
http://hcmga.tamu;
free.
Friday-Saturday (July 1-2): “Celebrate the Jungle,” 9 a.m.-9
p.m., Jerry’s
Jungle Tropical Gardens, 712 Hill Road, 281-272-8612 or
www.jerrysjungle.com;
free.
July 18: "Landscape Construction" by Dr. Mike Arnold, 6:30
p.m., Harris
County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Park; Master
Gardener event,
281-855-5600, access
http://hcmga.tamu.edu; free.
July 25: “Pests and Diseases,” 6:30-9 p.m., Tracy Gee
Community Center, 3599
Westcenter Dr. Harris County Extension event, 281-855-5600,
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort; free.
July 25: "Pests and Diseases", Green Thumb series by Dr.
Carol Brouwer,
Harris County Extension agent. 6:30-9 pm, Tracy Gee
Community, 3599 Westcenter
Dr.; Texas Cooperative/Master Gardener event, 281-855-5600,
access
http://hcmga.tamu.edu;
free.
August 22: "Landscape Design,” 6:30-9 p.m., Tracy Gee
Community Center, 3599
Westcenter Dr. Harris County Extension event, 281-855-5600,
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort; free.
Sept. 26: "Landscape Maintenance,” 6:30-9 p.m., Tracy Gee
Community Center,
3599 Westcenter Dr. Harris County Extension event,
281-855-5600,
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort; free.
Thursday-Saturday (Oct. 12-13-14): 2006 Bulb and Plant Mart.
Garden Club of
Houston, gchouston.org.
Oct. 24: "Soils and Composting,” 6:30-9 p.m., Tracy Gee
Community Center,
3599 Westcenter Dr. Harris County Extension event,
281-855-5600,
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort; free.
Nov 28: "Trees,” 6:30-9 p.m., Tracy Gee Community Center,
3599 Westcenter Dr.
Harris County Extension event, 281-855-5600,
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort;
free.
Jan. 23, 2007:"Fruits and Nuts,” 6:30-9 p.m., Tracy Gee
Community Center,
3599 Westcenter Dr. Harris County Extension event,
281-855-5600,
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort; free.
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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