Brenda Beust Smith
HOUSTON CHRONICLE’S
LAZY GARDENER
Brenda's
Bio
Lazy Gardener's
Guide
by
Brenda Beust Smith
Gardening with Dogs
by
Brenda Beust Smith
A Gardener's Guide
to Growing Bulbs
on the Gulf Coast
by
Sally McQueen Squire
Habitat Gardening
for Houston & Southeast Texas
by
Mark Bowen
The Bayou Planting
Guide
by
Mark Bowen
Naturalistic
Landscaping
by
Mark Bowen
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Texas
has more wildflower species than any other state,
and they are most beautiful this time of year.
Look at all the variations in just these
gaillardia (Indian blankets) alone
Photo
by Brenda Beust Smith
“If gardeners
will forget a little the phrase, "watering the plants" and
think of watering as a matter of "watering the earth" under
the plants, keeping up its moisture content and gauging its
need, the garden will get on very well."
- Henry Beston, Herbs and the Earth, 193
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DEAR BRENDA: I heard you did a column some time ago in the
Chronicle on Rain Gardens. I have a TERRIBLE drainage
problem in my yard because my neighbors have built up their
yards on all three sides around me
I've spoken to them, but they seem to think this is my
problem, not theirs.
What can I do? The M.J.
DEAR M.J.: First of all, how close are these neighbors? You
may have legal recourse. In many areas, it is now illegal
now to raise your landscape if by doing so you impact
drainage on your neighbors' property. You can raise the
level under a building, in fact, you may be required to do
so. But not the entire lot.
I don't know where you live, but it might be worth finding
out. I'd start by calling Harris County Flood Control (Under
County pages in the phone book).
They should be able to tell you where to go from there.
If these restrictions don't apply to your area, or if you
don't want to take such a drastic route,a rain garden may be
your best bet. Put it in the lowest spot or make three of
them, one adjacent to each neighbor's fence.
Basically a rain, or bog, garden is nothing more than a low
spot in the ground into which you have planted varieties of
plants that like being alternately very wet and very dry.
You can make them any size you like, of course.
Let's say you dig a depression six foot long by four foot
wide and make it two feet deep in the back center with the
sides sloping upward.
Fill in the deepest part with gravel or gravel mixed with
mulch, soil or leaves. You want it to be very porous. Add
enough of this, sloping it up the sides until the base of
the sunken garden is then about a foot below ground level.
Now, if you can afford it, fill in that with a mixture of
leaves, pine needles, compost and/or bark mulch with a
little soil added. You should be able to get plenty of
leaves and pine needles now off your neighbors' curbs on
garbage day. (What a sinful waste of great mulch!)
Use the excess soil to raise the beds in other areas of your
yard.
Now into the deepest part in the back and the center, plant
Louisiana irises.
These are evergreen with tall spikey leaves and huge iris
flowers. If you can find them, swamp sunflowers will send up
6-foot stalks topped with bright yellow coneflowers. Other
tall choices: Cannas (especially variegated ones like
Tropicana— beautiful), ornamental bananas or butterfly
gingers. On either side of these plant crinums and/or
hymenocallis (giant white spider lilies) with their huge
strapping evergreen leaves.
In the front of the bed, try clumping ruellia, walking iris,
variegated water celery, dwarf acorus (sweet flag), Virginia
sweetspire -- to name just a few.
There's a great Bog/Rain Garden design for both sun and
shade in my “Lazy Gardener's Guide” (River Bend Company,
$21.95). It was designed in part by Anita Nelson of Nelson's
Water Garden in Katy. Anita was one of the very first to
urge Greater Houston area gardeners to collect rainwater and
store it in their own subsoils. Nelson's Water Garden sells
most of the plants listed above as well as many others great
for rain/bog gardens or simply for low spots in your yard.
I also strongly recommend that everyone who can attend this
program: The 2nd Annual “Community Flood Control Begins at
Home” Workshop, March 25, 2006, 9 am to 3 pm Bellaire Civic
Center, 7008 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire
Contact: Hana Ginzbarg, 713-664-4320; email:
ginzbarg@hal-pc.org
“There is no magic solution to solving Houston’s flooding
problems, but there is much that can be done to greatly
reduce the risk,” said last year’s keynote speaker, Kevin
Shanley, at the Flood Control Begins at Home workshop. He
will speak again at the second annual free workshop on
Saturday, March 25, from 9 am to 3 pm at the Bellaire Civic
Center, 7008 S. Rice Ave.
Shanley is President of the SWA Group and has been involved
in urban design projects in Houston and in many large-scale
overseas projects. As Chairman of the Bayou Preservation
Association, he advocates change in how we impact our
streams and bayous and change in public policies that shape
our urban environments. “Kevin will show participants how to
be part of the solutions with backyard and neighborhood
projects,” said Hana Ginzbarg, who is organizing the
workshop.
Other speakers include:
• Dr. Mindy Vanderford who will discuss green engineering
principles and address drought as well as flooding.
• Kevin Topek, a certified permaculture designer, will show
with examples how to handle water on the property, before it
ever reaches the storm water outlet, by building swales,
rain gardens, bogs, and ponds.
• Dr. John Jacob will discuss how compost helps water
infiltrate into the soil and greatly improves it.
• Chris LaChance will show pictures of WaterSmart
landscaping with native plants.
• Cath Conlon of the Blackwood Educational Land Institute
will talk about cisterns for storing rainwater for
irrigation.
• Glenn Laird, Manager of the Harris County Flood Control
District’s Environmental Services, will discuss new
approaches to flood control, used by the District in
addition to the traditional methods. The new ways include
re-establishing native vegetation, creating wildlife
habitats, preserving existing flood plain, and buying
properties destroyed by floods. He will encourage residents
and businesses to do what they can on their own sites to
slow down the rate of runoff, as every little bit helps.
• Carl Masterson of the Houston Galveston Area Council will
chair the workshop.
Last year 185 people attended. Their comments prompted the
encore. Architect Carl Brunsting wrote: “Alternative yard
treatments that reduce runoff, increase site health, and
look more natural and beautiful are very much needed.
Better late than never for Houston to see the light.” Shawn
McFarland of the Permaculture Guild of Houston wrote: “. . .
controlling the water on your own property will go a long
way to reducing our flooding risk.”
Organizations sponsoring the workshop include the Bayou
Preservation Association, Brays Bayou Association, Blackwood
Educational Land Institute, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, City
of Bellaire, Harris County Flood Control District, Houston
Galveston Area Council, Native Plant Society of Texas –
Houston Chapter, Hana and Arthur Ginzbarg Nature Discovery
Center, Urban Harvest, and WaterSmart Landscapes/Texas
Cooperative Extension/Texas SeaGrant.
For reservations please call: Hana Ginzbarg, 713-664-4320,
ginzbarg@hal-pc.org
or Mary Ellen Whitworth, Bayou Preservation Association,
713-529-6443, bpa@hic.net.
-----
Even if you haven't had flood problems in the past doesn't
mean you won't in the future. What we here on the Gulf Coast
need is a totally new mindset about our ecology and where
our landscapes fit in the big picture. This workshop will
help accomplish this.
-----
DEAR BRENDA: Is it time now to start using Miracle-Gro on
all my plants?
B.R.
DEAR B.R.: Yes, you can use this or any other fertilizer
now.
Slow release granules are the best bargain altho they're
more expensive in the beginning. They're the best for lazy
gardeners who tend to become very garden focused in March
and April then totally forget the plants the rest of the
year.
Be sure to keep both these and granular fertilizers away
from the plant stalks. Come out a bit while still staying
under the plant.
With foliar feed fertilizers like Miracle Grow, be sure to
keep as much liquid off the soil as possible. These are
designed to be sprayed on, and taken in by, leaves only.
What goes on the soil is not only wasted, it may actually
cause problems.
Often these are very high in phosphorus. You can tell by the
number ratio.
If the second number is very high, phosphorus, this is a
good plant for flowering and fruiting plants. However,
phosphorus does not disintegrate very quickly (or is
assimilated) very quickly in the soil. As a result, it tends
to build up. If a buildup occurs, it can negatively affect
the plant's ability to take in other nutrients.
So be careful. Always follow label directions. More is not
better on any fertilizer or other garden/lawn treatment.
More can kill.
Hope this helps.
-----
Dear Brenda: Do you know about the orange and black bugs
that also love the
butterflyweed - what are they? They don't seem to bother the
monarch caterpillars so should I leave them alone? Also
enjoying the butterflyweed are tiny yellow aphids (I think)
- is there anything I can do to get rid of them or are they
harmless? L.L.
DEAR L.L. Go to this website:
http://insected.arizona.edu/milkinfo.htm
And see if the milkweed bug is what you have.
If that's not it, I'm afraid I'm not much help. I totally
ignore bugs in my garden. If they devour something, I hope
they're just passing through and the plant will recover once
they leave. If they eat it down to the point where it
doesn't return, then that plant doesn't belong in my garden
anyway.
Hope this helps.
DEAR BRENDA: We'd like to see more of Texas' famous
wildflowers. Any suggestions on where to start? Amy.
DEAR AMY: This just came in from the Lady Bird Johnson
Wildflower Center and it would make an ideal place to start:
Austin, TX – On Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Gardens on Tour
2006 Presented by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
will offer participants an exclusive look at outstanding
local gardens that include native plants in their designs.
This self-guided, Mother’s Day weekend tour will introduce
gardening enthusiasts to five private gardens, plus the Lady
Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Rain or shine, visitors will enjoy a “behind the gate” look
at some of Austin’s most notable and inspired garden
designs. Docents, landscape
designers, and gardeners will be on site at each home to
answer questions and provide information about each garden.
Tour wristbands are available starting April 7 at the
Wildflower Center or call (512) 292-4200 or visit
www.wildflower.org.
Individual garden tickets may be purchased on-site at each
home the day of the event. The wristband that allows entry
into all gardens is $25, and a ticket for each individual
garden is $6. Children under 5 will be admitted
free of charge. The proceeds from this event will allow the
Wildflower Center to
offer a broader range of public programming for youth and
families.
Hope this helps.
Brenda
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.)
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.
Thursday March 30 "Organic Pest Control" with Dee
Howell;5:30-6:30 pm;
Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th, 713-861-5702,
www.buchanansplants.com, 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 a.m., 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.msn;
free.
Saturday, April 1: Cottage Garden Sale, 9 a.m.-2p.m., League
park on Main
Street in League City. League City Garden Club event,
281-332-9044; free.
Saturday, April 1: Gardeners By the Bay Plant Sale, 8 a.m.-4
p.m., Bay
Forest Pool, 15715 Lake Lodge Drive in Clear Lake,
281-488-5655; free.
Saturday (April 1): “Watersmart Gardening” by Dr. Carol
Brouwer, 9 a.m.,
“Miniature Roses” by Earl Krause, 10:15 a.m., and “Antique
and Old Roses” by
Deanna Krause, noon, The Vintage Rosery, 16630 Hwy. 36 in
Needville,
979-793-2888 or
www.vintagerosery.com; free.
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-4 pm, Houston Bromeliad Society
& Houston
Arboretum & Nature 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 p.m.,
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
Wednesday (Apr. 5): “Cats in the Garden” by Tricia Bradbury,
9:45 a.m.,
Amegy Bank, 303 East Main Street in League City. Kemah Bay
Area Garden Club,
281-339-2367; free.
Wednesday (Apr. 5): Nancy Stallworth Thomas Horticulture
Lecture and
Conservation Speaker with Dr. Fred R. Spicer, Jr., and
Melissa Keeley, 9:30 a.m.,
Museum of Fine Arts Brown Auditorium, 1001 Bissonnet,
www.gchouston.org;
free.
The speaker for the Thomas Horticulture Lecture is Dr. Fred
R. Spicer, Jr.,
Executive Director of The Birmingham Botanic Garden,
Alabama. The Conservation
speaker is Ms. Melissa Keeley, whose "work spans urban
ecology, environmental
technology, and public policy with a particular focus on
creating, valuing
and promoting green infrastructure in urban areas."
Wed. (April 5) Orchids for Everyone by Lee Rowell, 10 am at
1202 Genoa Red
Bluff, Houston, TX 77034, free. Harris County Master
Gardener Event. Call
(281) 991-8437. Website:
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu
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, PHONE?
(must) or website
(optional); free.
Thursday April 6 "Designing Water into a Garden" By Anita
Nelson of Nelson
Water Gardens;5:30-6:30 pm; Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E
11th;713-861-5702;
www.buchanansplants.com 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; free.
Saturday, April 8: Tomball Garden Club Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-2
p.m., 510 Pine
Street, 281-252-8378 or email:
ddarciejm@ev1.net;
free.
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: NASA Area African Violet Sale and
Demonstration, 11
a.m.-6:30 p.m., Town Square Mall, Pasadena Boulevard at
Southmore Avenue in
Pasadena; 281-762-3209; free.
Saturday (Apr. 8): Huntsville Garden Club Herb Festival, 9
a.m.-2 p.m., Town
Creek Park,123 Avenue M in Huntsville; 936-291-3772; free.
Saturday (April 8): “Herb Containers” by Marcia Roenigk, 10
a.m., “Fruit &
Citrus” by David Brumbelow, noon, The Vintage Rosery, 16630
Hwy. 36 in
Needville, 979-793-2888 or www.vintagerosery.com; 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, 713-426-2995www.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 HYPERLINK
http://www.fbmg.com; free.
Thursday April 13, "From Plot to Pot with Herbs" by Mary
Versfeldt;5:30-6:30
pm; Buchanan's Native Plants; 611 E 11th; 713-861-5702;
www.buchanansplants.com; FREE
Friday, April 14: "Attracting Birds to Your Own Backyard" by
Sue Durrett,
10:30a.m., Houston Garden Center, 1500 Hermann Drive; free.
Houston Federation of
Garden Clubs event, 281-379-5142.
Friday-Saturday, April14-15: Jerry’s Jungle Garden Tropicals
Open House and
Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-5p.m., 712 Hill Road, 281-272-8612 or
www.jerrysjungle.com;
free.
Saturday (April 15): Organic Landscaping by Michael Bettler,
10 a.m. and
“Making Potpourri” by Lucia Bettler, noon, The Vintage
Rosery, 16630 Hwy. 36 in
Needville, 979-793-2888 or
www.vintagerosery.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.
Wednesday-Thursday (Apr. 19-20): “A Quilt Garden” Flower
Show, 2-5 p.m.
Wednesday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, George & Cynthia Woods
Mitchell Library, 8125
Ashlane Way. The Woodlands Garden Club event, 936-271-9849;
free.
Thursday, April 20: "Tiny and Unusual Flowers of the Big
Thicket," by Paul
Roling. 7:30 PM, Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, 4501
Woodway, free. Native
Plant Society event, (713)681-3665 or
www.npsot.org
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, "Russion 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.
Saturday, April 22: Alvin Area Garden Tour and Plant Sale,
10 a.m.-4 p.m.,
start and plant sale: Marguerite Rogers House Museum, 113 E.
Dumble Street in
Alvin. Alvin Museum Society and Alvin Garden Club event,
28l-393-l538 or
www.alvinhistoricalmuseum.blogspot.com; $6 for four
garden stops.
Saturday (April 22): Soil: Building on a Great Foundation by
John
Ferguson, 10 a.m., and “Roses & Herbs” by Judy Barrett,
noon, The Vintage
Rosery, 16630 Hwy. 36 in Needville, 979-793-2888 or
www.vintagerosery.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 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.
Thursday April 27; "Create a Beautiful Garden" by Mary Herr;
5:30-6:30 pm;
Buchanan's Native Plants; 611 E 11th; 713-861-5702;
www.buchanansplants.com; 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
http://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.
Saturday (April 29): EarthKind Roses” by Dr. Steve George,
10 a.m., and
“Rose Planting” by Bob Roenigk, noon, The Vintage Rosery,
16630 Hwy. 36 in
Needville, 979-793-2888 or
www.vintagerosery.com;
free.
Sunday April 30: Lone Star Chapter, American Hibiscus
Society Show and Plant
Sale, 1-4 p.m., Bellaire Community Center, 7006 S. Rice
Ave., Bellaire, TX;
713-723-5858; 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
Wed. (May 3rd) Insects in the Garden by Patricia Stier, 10
am at 1202 Genoa
Red Bluff, Houston, TX 77034, free. Harris County Master
Gardener Event.
Call (281) 991-8437. Website:
http://hcmgap2.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.
Sat. (May 6th) Pre-Registration deadline for the Sat., May
13th Rain Garden
Workshop and Plant Sale. 9 am to 12:00 pm: Rain Garden
Workshop, 12:00-12:30
pm: Private Plant Sale for workshop attendees only, 12:30-
2:00 pm Public Plant
Sale, 16335 El Dorado, Houston, TX 77062. Harris County
Master Gardener
Event. Workshop pre-registration fee $10, $15 at the door,
Plant Sale is free and
open to the public from 12:30-2 pm. Harris County Master
Gardener Event.
Call (281) 991-8437. Website:
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu
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.
Mon. (May 29th) Registration deadline for the Master
Gardener Training
Program: June 8th through July 18th every Tuesday and
Thursday, except July 4th,
from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Houston, TX
77034, fee $150.
Applications are taken on a first come first serve basis,
deadline May 29th or
until class is full. . Harris County Master Gardener Event.
Call (281)
991-8437. Website:
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu
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.
Wed. (June 7th) African Violets and Their Gesnariad Kin by
Tom Solloman, 10
am at 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Houston, TX 77034, free. Harris
County Master
Gardener Event. Call (281) 991-8437. Website:
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu
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 (June 30-July1): Jerry’s Jungle Garden
Tropicals Open House
and Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-5p.m., 712 Hill Road, 281-272-8612 or
www.jerrysjungle.com;
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.
Friday-Saturday (Oct. 20-21): Jerry’s Jungle Garden
Tropicals Open House and
Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-5p.m., 712 Hill Road, 281-272-8612 or
www.jerrysjungle.com;
free.
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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Guidry News Service, P.O. Box 2130, Galveston, Texas 77553
- 1818 Church Suite 4, Galveston, Texas 77550
(409) 763 NEWS (763-6397)
© 1996, Guidry
News Service. Duplication of any part of this website in any manner is
prohibited.
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