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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Photo
by Brenda Beust
Smith
It’s hard to beat oleanders —
which now come in all sizes —
for a no-care, evergreen,
beautifully-flowering plant.
“Where nature
and humans interact, there is a garden.
Where there is a garden, there is an implied co-creative
partnership.” - Perelandra
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Oleanders are one of the easiest, most beautiful, hardiest
plants for our gardens — especially if you’re planting a
Biblical Garden (see below). And they’re in the spotlight
this weekend. The Oleander Festival offers a wealth of
activities for the whole family, including the gardeners.
But perhaps the most exciting news is the announcement of
the new official Oleander Garden. Here it is:
From Dream to Reality
An Oleander Garden under the direct supervision of the
International Oleander Society has been a long-held dream of
the group. Many times we have planted historical type
gardens in other areas not under our control only to find
that priorities change and our efforts have been lost.
Clarence Pleasants tried his best to create such a park at
SeaArama and Moody Gardens. The Sealy family too created an
oleander garden at Open Gates although this is not open to
the public. John Harris of the Galveston Foundation shared
this idea and dream with us also. Dr. Frederick G. Meyer who
was in charge of the Herbarium, United States Department of
Agriculture, Washington, D.C. visited Galveston in 1981 and
suggested to the Oleander Society that Galveston should
acquire an Oleander Garden, which would be a focal point for
visitors during the blooming season. Our plans now are being
formed to create a garden that will be historical and will
be an asset to the community and to the tourist business
since oleanders have long been a part of the history of our
city.
The opportunity to create this dream presented itself to us
during the 2005 Oleander Festival that we have sponsored
since 1989. For several years, we have discussed with John
Campbell, grandson of John Harris, of the Galveston
Foundation the possibility of having such a garden. He had
suggested that we look around for some lots that might be
available for such a project. In the meantime, we had
applied to the Mary Moody Northen Endowment for assistance
with the 2005 Oleander Festival and received back a note
saying that while they did not give grants to events they
had a project to discuss with us. It was with great delight
and amazement that we found that they would support us in
the development of an oleander garden on the land behind and
across the street from the Moody Mansion. We immediately had
a meeting with Betty Massey of the Northen Endowment and
John Campbell and began to make plans to bring this to
fruition. We had meetings with landscape architects and
landscape professionals, listened to their plans and the
funds needed to bring them to pass and decided upon our
course of action.
We have received drawings of the garden and a Phase Planning
with costs developed by Mitchell Loner of the Gulf Coast
Nursery and Landscaping. It is a plan that we believe is in
the scope of development for the Society and we are seeking
grants to help us with making this dream come true. For
historical purposes, we will include oleander varieties from
the early years of their arrival in Galveston and hope to
get a State Historical marker for the garden. We will have
areas for outdoor meetings, a small greenhouse and holding
area for the propagation of oleanders and instruction of the
public, a gazebo for special events and markers identifying
the varieties and giving historical information. We will
also be able to introduce new varieties.
In addition to grants, we will again have a benefit Silent
Auction at the opening dinner event of the 2006 Oleander and
Gardening Festival to be held on May 4th. We will accept
donations in honor or memory of individuals and we will be
asking for sponsorship of benches, bricks, and other
structures in the park. Our Festival this year will be held
in Expo Hall B of the Moody Gardens Convention Center and
will be an “all green event” for garden and gardening lovers
of all ages.
For more information on the Festival or the Garden, please
contact E.
Head at 409 762-9334 or D. Peak at 409 762 3605. Also, you
may visit our website at
oleander.org.
Now, here’s the info on the big OLEANDER FESTIVAL:
The International Oleander Society will host the Oleander
and Gardening Festival May 6-7, 2006 at Moody Gardens on
Galveston Island. The Oleander and Gardening Festival is an
annual event dating back to 1921 that honors the beautiful
flower and educates guests about the history of the oleander
on Galveston Island and throughout the world.
Area plant societies, clubs, and vendors are invited to set
up booth space to display and sell their plants. There will
be a floral design competition were participants can display
their work to be judged. A separate competition will be held
for amateurs and children to display their floral designs as
well.
“We’ve been producing the Oleander Festival since 1989 and
this time we’re expanding to a larger facility. It will be
an all inclusive and spectacular gardening event for the
family,” said Betty Head of the International Oleander
Society.
Recognized throughout the world as a symbol of love and
remembrance, the oleander has since become one of
Galveston’s long-time symbols of the island. The flower is
native to Asia and the Mediterranean region. It comes
from the Apocynaceaes family and is also commonly called
Kaner. The oleander is in bloom from April to September and
can grow up to 20 feet tall. There is an estimated 100 known
varieties of the flower in the U.S.
The oleanders bloom in a variety of colors ranging from red
and white to pink and light yellow. The Oleander Society has
followed the migration path and origins of the flower to
modern times. The original oleanders were believed to have
been growing wild along the riverbanks in the Middle East
and Mediterranean regions.
The Old Testament references the oleander as the “Rose of
Jericho.” It was later suggested that the oleander species,
known as nerium oleander derived its name from either Nereus,
the Greek god of the Sea or from the word neros (meaning
moist). The oleander is found in the western Himalayas of
India. It is used in religious ceremonies and funerals to
symbolize love and remembrance.
The Oleander and Gardening Festival will take place at the
Moody Gardens Convention Center May 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. in Expo B.
Admission is free to the public. For more information,
please call
1-800-528-4673 or visit
www.oleander.org or
www.moodygardens.com.
GREATER HOUSTON/GALVESTON/BEAUMONT GARDENING CALENDAR These
events are all in Houston unless otherwise specified. All
are listed almost exactly as submitted.
Fri., Sat., May 5 & 6, Garden Festival Spring Extravaganza,
9 am - 5
pm, The Brookwood Community, 1752 FM 1489 Brookshire,
281-375-2149,
www.brookwoodcommunity.org, free event
Saturday-Sunday, May 6-7: Petal Pushers Garden Club Plant
Sale, 9
a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Theater Courts
Building, Center
at 13th Street in Deer Park, 281-542-9731; free.
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
Saturday (May 6): Lone Star Daylily Society Flower Show and
Plant
Sale, show 11 a.m.-4 p.m., sale 10 a.m.-sellout, Katy Mills
Mall, 5000
Katy Mills Circle, 281-485-4567; free.
Sat., May 6: “Butterfly Plants for the Garden” by Rich
Boettler, Teas
Horticulturist, 10:00 am, Teas Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd.,
713-664-4400
www.teasnursery.com; free; no reservation needed.
Saturday (May 6): “Your Garden Through a Butterfly’s Eyes”
by Nancy
Greig, 10 a.m., Buchanan’s Native Plants, 611 East 11th,
713-861-5702
or
www.buchanansplants.com; free.
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.
Sunday (May 7): Shimek’s Open Daylily Gardens, 8 a.m.-6
p.m., 3122
County Road 237 in Alvin, 281-331-4395 or
www.hal-pc.org/~neshimek;
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.
Wednesday, May 10: “Clear Creek Update” by Rex Ward, 10:30
a.m., Amegy
Bank, 303 East Main in League City, League City Garden Club
event.
Thursday, May 11, “Gardening to Attract Butterflies and
Birds,” by Pam
Tatge, 7-9 pm, U of H Cinco Ranch, 4242 S. Mason Rd., Rm.
118, Green
Thumb Seminar, 281.341.7068 or
www.fbmg.com; 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.
Saturday, May 13: Sugar Land Garden Club Spring Garden Tour,
10 a.m. -5
p.m. Start: 723 Borden Street, Sugar Land, 77478.
www.sugarlandgardenclub.org or 281-242-0566, $8.
Also on the agenda is a Galveston County Extension Office is
a May 13
Home Fruit Orchard and Garden Tour. For details on both
activities,
call 281-534-3413, ext. 6. Carbide Park is located 1.5 miles
west of
I-45 South (Exit 10) on FM 519.
Saturday, May 13: Houston Hemerocallis Society Daylily Sale
and
Exhibit, 1-4 p.m., Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 4040 Watonga
Boulevard;
713-681-2644 or
www.ofts.com/hhs; free.
May 13: Rain Garden Workshop and Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.,
16335 El
Dorado, Houston, TX 77062. Harris County Master Gardener
event; (281)
991-8437. Website: http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu; workshop $15,
plant sale
12:30-2 p.m. free.
Sunday, May 14: “Fireflies” by Linda Knowles, Native Plant
Society, 2
p.m., 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.
Thursday, May 18: “Effects of Chinese Tallow Mulch on Its
Own
Germination” by Candy Donahue, 7 p.m., Houston Arboretum,
4501 Woodway;
Native Plant Society event, 713-681-3665 or
www.npsot.org; 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
Sunday, May 21: Hibiscus Society Show and Plant Sale, 1 - 4
p.m., East
Harris County Activities Center, 7340 Spencer; 281-331-0120
or
www.spacecityahs.org;
free.
Sunday (May 21): Shimek’s Open Daylily Gardens, 8 a.m.-6
p.m., 3122
County Road 237 in Alvin, 281-331-4395 or
www.hal-pc.org/~neshimek;
free.
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.
Wednesday-Sunday, May 24-28: Cullowhee Native Plant
Conference, Stephen
F. Austin Pinewoods Native Plant Center in Nacogdoches,
registration
details at
http://pnpc.sfasu.edu; fees vary by programs. Join a
unique
blend of plant enthusiasts, nursery professionals,
landscapers,
botanists, and horticulturists to hear nationally known
speakers
address region-specific topics such as East Texas
ecosystems, landscape
use, invasive and exotic plants, and conservation efforts.
Enjoy the
local flora on fabulous field trips and learn from experts
during
hands-on workshops.
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.
Thursday (May 25): “Easy Snake Identification” by Mike
Howlett, 7:15
p.m., Bud O’Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road in
Rosenberg,
Master Gardener event, 281-341-7069 or www.fbmg.com; 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
Saturday-Sunday (June 3-4): Lone Star Koi Club Water Garden
and Pond
Tour, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., STARTING ADDRESS, 281-398-5999,
www.houstonpondsociety.org,
www.lonestarkoi.com;
$10 adults, children
under 12 free.
Tuesday, 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
Thursday, June 8, “Landscape Planning and Renovation,” by
Jodie
Douglass, 7-9 pm, U of H Cinco Ranch, 4242 S. Mason Rd., Rm.
118, Green
Thumb Seminar, 281.341.7068 or
www.fbmg.com; free.
Monday, June 12th: “Fence Board Planter Craft Project” by
Cynthia
Douglas, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 2929
Woodland Hills in
Kingwood; free, except for cost of materials ($3-$4). Lake
Houston
Gardeners event, 713 256-6314.
Thursday, June 15: “Ikebana with Native Plants” by Gloria
Dow, 7 p.m.,
Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway; Native Plant Society event,
713-681-3665 or www.npsot.org;
free.
Saturday (June 17): Plumeria Society of America sale, 9:30
a.m.-3
p.m., Fort Bend County Fairgrounds;
www.theplumeriasociety.org; 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 (June 30-July 1): Jerry’s Jungle Garden
Tropicals Open
House and Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-5 p.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.
Saturday (July 8): Plumeria Society of America sale, 9:30
a.m.-3 p.m.,
Bay Area Community Center, Clear Lake,
www.theplumeriasociety.org; free.
Saturday (July 8): International Plumeria Conference begins,
Moody
Gardens, One Hope Boulevard in Galveston.
www.theplumeriasociety.org.
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.
Sunday, July 23, 2006, Hibiscus Show and Plant Sale, 1 - 4
p.m., Fort
Bend County Community Center, 1330 Band Road @ Texas 36,
Lone Star
Chapter of the American Hibiscus Society, 713/723-5858,
www.lonestarahs.org
for a map, 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.
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- 1818 Church Suite 4, Galveston, Texas 77550
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