The earth has received the embrace of the sun
and we shall see the results of that love.
- Hunkesni (Sitting Bull)

“I also purchased through Garden Gate magazine, two hand-blown crystal solar lights, one in the shape of a Calla lily and the other just a sphere, these do not provide a huge light source but cast a beautiful soft glow in the evening."

“We have 2 spotlights purchased from Harriet Carter for under $20.00 that we use to spot our trumpet tree at night and they are quite reflective. We have a
crystal solar powered gazing ball with fiber optic that changes colors constantly and is a beautiful garden addition."

“Our latest solar powered feature is a street light that we received as a gift, it is about 6 feet tall and has 3 hanging lights that have light bulbs, the
solar panel sits on top. One expects to see Humphrey Bogart standing under it with a cigarette in his mouth."

“All in all we are very pleased with the solar lighting we have in our gardens, we love the fact that there is no wiring to worry about and all have
rechargeable batteries.” -- Diane Dyer

And here’s another note from Pamela de la Fuente:

“I bought a cascading bowls solar fountain (the single, not the double) a fewyears ago from Plow & Hearth. Since my “garden” is a very small area behind our Galleria area townhouse, space was limited. I also did not have a nearby electrical source, and didn’t want to go to the bother and expense of running electricity out to where I wanted the water feature."

“I chose the terra cotta, as the copper did not fit with the look of my garden. The only problem was that it did not sit high enough off the ground, but I
solved that by buying a large pot & a saucer - inverted the pot, set the saucer on top, sprayed all with the “stone” spray paint, rubbed it with a bit of
antiquing - all so it would match the fountain pottery. Planted some fern in the saucer around the fountain feet - and voila, just the look I wanted."

“I mounted the solar panel on top of the wood fence, and it bubbles away as long as we have direct sunlight. I had a problem with the initial pump, which fell apart, and my husband wired it together; we limped along like that for  awhile. But, finally, I managed to find the information to order a replacement
pump; when I called to order it, the lady asked me how long I’d had the fountain. It caught me unawares, and I wasn’t exactly certain, but I told her I remembered I’d bought it the spring before, so about a year. She said, ‘Oh, well, it’s still under warranty. Give me your address, and we’ll send you a new pump.’ "

“They did, and it’s worked fine ever since. I’ve now had it about 3 years. The only problem has been with the terra cotta clay used in the small bowls (the top ‘jug’ and the large bottom bowl are fine) - which have tended to disintegrate/crumble. About once a year, I take it all apart for a thorough cleaning, and I build-up any weakened areas with wood filler/putty, and slap a coat of matte indoor/outdoor varnish over all."

“I figure it has a few more years in it, but when it does go, I will not hesitate to replace it with another solar-powered water feature."

“As far as the lights go, those aren’t as satisfying.  I have both the post/accent lights & some spotlights. I plan to add more of the spotlights, but the post/accent lights are hardly worth bothering with.”

I hope this inspires some of you to try solar. We need to start looking for alternative energy sources and this is a good way to change our mindsets.

DEAR BRENDA: I’ve got a strange daylily that bloomed beautifully. After it bloomed it started putting out another plant where the bloom was. I can’t find it in any books. Only thing I can figure is some sort of hybrid or genetic flaw? E.W.

DEAR E. W. I think I know what this is, but this is getting into very technical daylily stuff and I don’t know the right terms. So I forwarded your letter to
my daylily guru. Paula Payne (Payne’s in the Grass Daylily Farm in Pearland) was the first to respond.

Here’s what she had to say:

“Hi Brenda. This is called a proliferation. What she should do is try to leave it on the plant as long as possible. When the scape starts dying back and starts
getting close to the new prolif (that’s what we call them), cut the scape about 2” about and 2” below it and then you can either plant the plant at the base of the mother plant (this is the ONLY way to get another plant exactly like the mother plant other than through multiplication, i.e., a seed from the mother plant will not be genetically the same) or you can try to start it in water."

"If you take the water route, only let the very base of the plantlet touch the water. In about a week or less, roots will form and then you can try rooting it
in a little pot. These proliferations are little ‘bonuses’ and none of us are always successful in rooting them, but they are always worth a try.
Good luck!"

Leon and Paula Payne
www.paynesinthegrassdaylilyfarm.com

Thanks, E.W., we both learned something on this one.

DEAR BRENDA: We seem to be having trouble with snakes in the yard now. Do you have any suggestions on what to do, or who to contact about trying to discourage them from staying in the yard? T.A.

DEAR T. A.: I may not be a good one to ask. I like seeing snakes in my yard. It means I have fewer mice, rats and roaches around, which I consider far worse
than snakes. But then, I live surrounded by woods and very close to a bayou.

Usually, though, snakes don’t want to see you any more than you want to see them. If you see one and then just leave, chances are when you come back, it’ll be gone.

The best thing to have is a dog. Snakes don’t like dogs or cats.

If that’s not an option, be sure you don’t have any of the cool, dark places were they tend to rest. Try to make sure there’s lots of light around large rocks, and use very coarse sand (what they call builder’s sand) under the rocks.

They love ferns and other cool damp spots. So before you work in these areas just bat them a couple of times with a big stick or make a lot of noise. Noise
is the best way to chase them away. In fact if you want to beat a drum or something around your yard maybe you can shoo them into the neighbor’s yard.

Unfortunately, living as we do in a subtropical climate, snakes are everywhere. We have very few poisonous ones. You didn’t say anything about children, but I always try to warn folks not to kill a snake in the presence of a child.

That child might turn around and try to kill one himself and get seriously hurt in the process. Better to tell the child to leave immediately and go tell an
adult he saw a snake. Then try to identify it and find out if it’s poisonous or not. If not, leave it alone. It’s only doing good things in your yard.

When you’re going to work in a particularly thick, lush area of the garden, take a radio out with you. Turn it on some music very loud. Snakes don’t like
noise and this is one way to encourage them to go elsewhere so you can work in peace.

DEAR BRENDA: Recently, my wife and I purchased a home in the Katy area, where we inherited some beautiful plants all around our home’s landsacape...We came from the high plains desert of Colorado, and thusly we are not experienced with the care of some of the new plant types (palm trees, oleander, hibiscus, spider lilies, crape myrtles, and many others that I have no idea what they are...). I have questions...

First, many people have me skiddish about pruning because of all the various types of insects that proliferate here -so I am worried about even pruning
the hedges...

It seems that there are large amounts of overgrowth on the hibiscus, and I would like to know if it is too late/early to prune the hibiscus back?? When is the right time just shape this up?...can it be done throughout the summer?...I was thinking that it cannot be good for my house to have the limbs nestled right up against the walls...

The spider lillie stalks after a while just bend over and die once all the blooms come out...what should I do? just let them dry out on their own, or is there a
method that you might be able to suggest where I can cut them and it will be safe for them...?

Regarding the crape myrtles, I noticed that, generally, these plants are pruned so that the leaves/flowers bloom on the very top, but mine, all look like bushes instead of trees...How do you suggest I get my crape myrtles to look like the others around my neighborhood/Houston? When will be a good time to prune this overgrowth off the tree? Any other tips on this pruning process will also be helpful.. M.S.

DEAR M.S.: The Houston area is a GREAT place to garden! We have a 12 month growing season. Our yards can be much more carefree than yards in other areas.

Insects aren’t a problem if you plant the right plants. If they are a problem, you have the wrong plants. I can’t imagine what they told you to make
you not want to prune. I’ve never had any problem pruning plants. What did they say?

The worst problem we have is mosquitoes and they’re mainly just annoying, not deady or dangerous. Off, Avon-skin-so-soft or other natural insect repellent sprays will help with that. Don’t allow stagnant water anywhere. Ponds with recirculating pumps are really great because they attract dragonflies that eat mosquitoes. You can use organic mosquito controls
(mosquito dunks) if you don’t have a recirculating pond. (available at many nurseries and at Gardeners Supply: www.gardeners.com). 

Hibiscus are wonderful plants, usually evergreen shrubs here, altho they might die back in winter. They’ll come right back. We’re talking maybe a one
month down time. Never cut back more than 1/3 at a time. Cut off 1/3, wait a month, cut of another third, etc. until you get them where you want them.

It probably won’t hurt the house to have the hibiscus right up against them, but it’s not good for the plants. They need good air circulation. Cut them
away from the house.

I have spider lilies and love them. They have such pretty greenery when they’re not in bloom. Generally mine bloom after a rain. If you don’t like the
drooping stalks, cut them off.

Crape myrtles are another matter — not the plants, what people do to them. We call it “crape murder.” In the spring, landscapers tell homeowners and businesses they have to prune their crapes back into little fists at the top of the plant. This is the WORST possible thing to do. But it makes for a nice paying job for some people.

We think this started because of people moving down here from up north where, yes, they do a lot of severe pruning to get plants to bloom faster because they have such a short growing season. Not a problem here.

What they do is create artificial growth patterns that make the plant weaker and in the summer it gets covered with mildew and other problems because it’s
too weak to fight off infestations.

Crapes are fabulous shrubs/trees. They come in all different types, low growers that fan outward, dwarfs, shrubs, huge trees. if you must prune, because they are causing a problem, prune just from the outer edge of the branch in.

If you want them taller, prune off the lower branches. Shrub crapes can be pruned from the top, but not too severely. Just a minor pruning from the top will cause more growth internally so the plant becomes fuller and you get more side growth. Do this in winter.

Generally speaking, spring blooming shrubs/trees are pruned after they bloom. Summer blooming shrubs trees are pruned in winter. NEVER “TOP” (prune off the top) of a tree crape. You’re just creating more problems down the line and it’s cruel to the tree.

Crapes have gorgeous winter bark, looks like sculpture in the garden. I hate it that you’re frustrated with gardening here. I find it’s a lot easier than in most
other places. And more rewarding because we can grow almost all plants, except those that require lots of cold.

Most of our best plants come up from Mexico and points south, so don’t write them off just because you’ve never heard of them. You have to be careful
with weed barriers here. It gets so hot that the soil temperature beneath will get so high, roots may be damaged. But there are good weed barriers around.

Check at your neighborhood nursery. Not Lowes or Home Depot. Find a REAL nursery and get to know the owner.  That’s the best possible advice I can give you.  Generally it’s a better idea to lay newspaper down, then put on a good thick layer of mulch, such as leaves, pine needles or pine bark. This way, when the mulch disintegrates, it will replenish the organic matter in your soil.

I wish my book were still available. The Lazy Gardener’s Guide” is a month-by-month what to do in Houston area gardens. It might be at one of your area nurseries (real nurseries) but it sold out and my publisher elected not to reprint. (I am experimenting with a copy on CD and have sold a few, but it has
glitches in it so I’m not really promoting it yet. I am selling the CDs now though for $15.)

One very good book I mentioned in the column Saturday: Bob Randall’s “Year Round Guide to Growing Fruits Flowers and Vegetables in Houston” For information on buying that one, log onto www.urbanharvest.org.  In fact, I can’t make a better recommendation than that you join Urban Harvest, which is an umbrella group for our 100+ community gardens. The newsletter alone is
worth the $25 a year subscription. It tells you what to plant when, and has great gardening advice. I recommend it highly.

I also highly recommend that you visit the Master Gardeners’ demonstration gardens at Harris County Extension Center. From Katy you would come toward
Houston on I-10. Exit at Highway 6. Turn left (north) and about 2-3 miles down on the right you’ll see the sign for the Extension service in Bear Creek
Park. You’ll be able to see the gardens from there too. They’re open every day to the public and usually there are Master Gardeners out there working who can answer questions.

There are flower gardens, fruit orchards, tons of different areas, all with labeled plants. Inside you will find a wealth of free materials on gardening in
this area. You already pay for this with your taxes, so use it.

Two other great gardening resources near you:

• Nelson Water Gardens 1502 Katy Fort Bend County Road Katy, Texas 77493 Ph. 281-391-4769 Fax. 281-391-8626 info@nelsonwatergardens.com this is a full-service nursery, not just water gardens. Rolf and Anita Nelson are two of the neatest people you’ll ever meet.


• Brookwood Community Greenhouses. www.brookwoodcommunity.org; 1752 FM 1489 in Brookshire (just west on I-10 from you); 281-375-2100. This is a residential/work community for functionally disabled adults and I don’t think any horticulture grower in the whole area produces more beautiful plants.

Hope this helps.

DEAR BRENDA: Our bald cypress is sending up these horrible knees. the tree is well drained. What can we do? R.D.

DEAR R.D. You say it’s well drained, but when a bald cypress’ roots are having trouble getting enough oxygen because the soil is too moist, it sends up these “knees.” So the subsoils must be holding too much water.

I assume moving the tree is not an option? Usually they don’t send up knees until they are well established.

One suggestion is that you put in a rain garden in another area of the landscape, then route rainwater drainage from the area of this tree into the rain garden.

Basically a rain garden is just a wide shallow hole in the ground in which are planted varieties that like being alternately wet and dry (cannas, giant spider
lilies, swamp sunflowers, crinums, Louisiana iris, bananas, etc.) It’s filled with mulch and then swales (shallow channels) are dug to direct runoff water into
this rain garden so it won’t stand around other gardens or drain in the sewers.

The idea is that in most areas (obviously not yours!) the water tables are dropping. This causes subsidence so house foundations crack and it often means trees suffer because they aren’t getting enough moisture during the summer. The goal is to store runoff rainwater in your own subsoils instead of sending most of it to the sewers and bayous (which are suffering from over-exposure to garden chemicals due to runoff).

If you could do this far from the cypress, maybe it would help stop the knees from coming up. Another would be to raise the soil around the tree. I would use very good, organic enriched soil. Remember, however, you cannot add more than two inches a year over tree roots. Any more and you will cut off vital oxygen. Tree roots are usually in the upper couple of feet of soil in order to get sufficient oxygen.

Hope this helps.

Brenda

GARDEN CALENDAR
FOR THE GREATER HOUSTON/GALVESTON/BEAUMONT AREA

These are all the events that have been submitted to me for my Houston Chronicle Garden Calendar. All are all in Houston unless otherwise specified. All are listed almost exactly as submitted. Call and confirm; dates, times, etc., may have changed!

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.

Thursday July 27: registration deadline for Saturday
July 29 class “Plant the Fall Vegetable Garden” by Dr.
Bob Randall and Diana Liga, 9:30a.m.-12:30p.m., Urban
Harvest, 1900 Kane; 713-880-5540 to register;
www.urbanharvest.org for details and directions; $30.
July 31: Registration deadline for the Sept. 7 Master
Naturalist class, eight Thursdays, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.,
various locations in Fort Bend and Waller Counties.
Fee and registration at 281-633-7042 or
www.coastalprairie.org. 

Tuesday (August 1): “Cactus & Succulents” by Phyllis
McEuen, noon, Harris County Extension office, 3033
Bear Creek Dr., sponsored by Master Gardeners,
281-855-5600 or harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort; free.

August 1: “Environmental Efficiency in the
Landscape,” 1-5 p.m., Coats Rose, 3 E. Greenway Plaza,
Suite 2000. American Institute of Architects event.
Contact 713-520-0155 or email ana@aiahouston.org for
fee and registration.

Wednesday (August 2) Begonia by Bill Claybaugh, 10 am
1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Houston, TX 77034, free.
Harris County Master Gardener Precinct 2 Event (281)
991-8437, Website: http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu

August 2: Registration deadline for the 15-week Master
Gardener course starting August 9, meeting on
Wednesdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 1402 Band Road, Suite 100.
Register at 281-633-7033 or fbmg.com; $160 ($255
couple).

August 3: “How to Create a Green Roof,” 1-5 p.m.,
Coats Rose, 3 E. Greenway Plaza, Suite 2000. American
Institute of Architects event. Contact 713-520-0155
or email ana@aiahouston.org for fee and registration.

August 5 & 6: Houston Cactus & Succulent Society’s
annual Show & sale, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center,
4501 Woodway. Show hours: Saturday 10A to 5P, Sunday
9A to 5P. Plant sales each day from 9A to 5P. For info
call 713-827-8545. Free.Houston Cactus & Succulent
Society’s annual Show & Sale, Saturday and Sunday,
August 5th and 6th, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center,
4501 Woodway, Houston, Texas. The show will be open
to the public from 10:00A to
5:00P on the 5th and from 9:00A to 5:00P on the 6th.
The sale is open to the public from 9:00A to 5:00P
both days. There will be several vendors with
unusual, rare and exotic cacti and succulents
available for your selection. Admission is free.

August 7: Registration deadline for the Galveston Bay
Area Master Naturalists Fall Training Class starting
Aug. 24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Armand Bayou Nature Center,
8500 Bay Area Boulevard. Register at 281-534-3413,
ext. 3 or email: jmassey@ag.tamu.edu; $140.

Wednesday, August 9: “Lunch Bunch: The ABC’s of
Bromeliads” by David Whipkey, noon to 1 p.m. Mercer
Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield, (281)-443-8731,
www.hcp4.net/mercer; free.

Thursday (Aug. 10): Registration deadline for the
August 24-November 9 Fall Master Gardener Class,
Thursdays 8 a.m.-noon., Harris County Extension
office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr., 281-855-5600 or
harris-tx.edu/hort; $150.

Thursday, August 10, “Yard Care Basics,” 7-9 p.m.,
Eldridge Park Conference Center, 2511 Eldridge Road in
Sugar Land. Green Thumb Seminar, 281-341-7068 or
www.fbmg.com; free.

Sunday, August 13: “Venomous Snakes of Texas” by Clint
Pustejovsky, East TX Herpetological Society, 2 p.m.,
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Dr.;
713-681-8433 or www.houstonarboretum.org; free

Monday August 14: “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, August 15: “Gardening With Nature” by Karen
Breneman, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Mercer Arboretum, 22306
Aldine Westfield, 281-443-8731, www.hcp4.net/mercer; free.

Tuesday, August 15: Reservation deadline for the
Thursday, August 17: “Special Workshop: Make a
Decorative Rain Gauge” by Cynthia Douglas, from 10
a.m. to noon., Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine
Westfield, (281)-443-8731, www.hcp4.net/mercer; $15.

Tuesday (August 15): “Snakes in Houston” by Mike
Howlett, 6:30 p.m., Harris County Extension office,
3033 Bear Creek Dr., 281-855-5600 or harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort.
Master Gardener event; free.

Tuesday, August 15: “Rain Barrels & Butterfly
Propagation” by Linda Rippert, 2 p.m., Sugar Land
Branch Library, 550 Eldridge Road; Sugar Land Garden
Club event; 281-242-0566 or sugarlandgardenclub.org; 
free.

Thursday, August 17: Reservation deadline for the
Saturday, August 19: “Tropical Workshop”, 9 a.m. to 4
p.m., Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield,
(281)-443-8731, www.hcp4.net/mercer; $50.

August 17, “Fall Wildflowers,” Ruth Milburn, 7PM,
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, 4501 Woodway,
free. Native Plant Society event, (713)681-3665 or
www.npsot.org.

August 19: “Ground Covers”, Suzzane Chapman, Mercer
Gardens at 6:30 pm. Harris County Extension office, 3033 Bear Crek
Park. Free Master Gardener event. 281-855-5600;access
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort 

Saturday (August 19) Registration deadline for the
Wednesday, August 30th Harris County Master Gardener
Precinct 2 Intermediate Level Horticultural Workshop:
The Key to Understanding Flowering Plants in your
Garden. 9 am – 1 pm Houston Garden Center, 1500
Hermann Dr, Houston, TX 77004. Fee $38. Register
at http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu or call (281) 991-8437

Monday August 21: “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.

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.

Tuesday, August 22: “Native Plant Garden”, 9
a.m.-noon, Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield,
281-443-8731, www.hcp4.net/mercer; free.

August 22: “Landscape Design” by Carol Brouwer, Green
Thumb series at the Tracy Gee Community, 3599 Westcenter Dr.
6:30-9 pm. Texas Cooperative/Master Gardener event. Free to
public. Call 281-855-5600; access
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort

Thursday, August 24, “Hibiscus”, 7:15 pm-8:15 pm., Bud
O’Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road in
Rosenberg from, 281.341.7068 or www.co.fort-bend.tx.us
or www.fbmg.com, free.

Saturday, August 26: “Planting for Butterflies
Seminar” by Karen Breneman, 11 am, Martha’s Bloomers,
8101 Hwy. 6 Bypass, Navasota, 936-870-4044 or email:
registration@marthasbloomers.com, Free!

Sat., August 26: Houston Plumeria Society at Teas
Nursery Hawaiian Festival, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Teas
Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 713-664-4400
www.teasnursery.com; free; no reservation needed.


Sat., August 26: Kids Gardening Club Goes Hawaiian at
Teas Nursery Hawaiian Festival, 11:00 am, Teas
Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 713-664-4400
www.teasnursery.com; free; no reservation needed.

Sunday, August 27: “Leaping Lizards - Lizards as Pets”
Gina Disteldorf, East TX Herpetological Society, 2
p.m., Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway
Dr.; 713-681-8433 or www.houstonarboretum.org; free.


Monday August 28: “Sell What You Grow at a Green
Market” by Jim Bundscho, 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. Jim Bundscho is a
market gardener and managed the Bayou City Farmers’
Market.

Aug. 30: Registration Deadline for Saturday,
September 9: Fall Volunteer Orientation, Houston
Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Drive;
713-681-8433 or www.houstonarboretum.org; free
**Register by Wednesday, August 30 **

Sept. 1: Registration deadline for the Saturday,
Sept. 9 Wildscapes Workshop with Dee Howell, Chris
LaChance, Diane Cabiness, Gloria and John Tveten and
Lisa Gonzales, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., University of Houston
Central Campus, Register at 281-558-3710 or email:
sarahbethsmith1@aol.com; $30.

Sept. 5: “Gardening Fun by the Sq. Foot”, John Jons at
12 noon. Harris County Extension office, 3033 Bear Creek Dr.
Free Master Gardener meeting. 281-855-5600, access
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort

Wednesday (Sept 6) Perennials for the Gulf Coast by
Angela Chandler, 10 am 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Houston,
TX 77034, free. Harris County Master Gardener
Precinct 2 Event (281) 991-8437, Website:
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu

Saturday, September 9-10: Cat Spring 12th Annual
Antiques & Garden Show,9 a.m.-5 p.m.
September 9, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. September 10, Historic
Cat Spring Agricultural Hall, 13035 FM 1094 in Cat Spring: (5.00. Kids Free),
(979-865-5618)

Sept. 11: “Garden Tool Maintenance” by Greg Harmison,
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 7 p.m., 2929 Woodland
Hills in Kingwood. Lake Houston Gardeners event, 713
256-6314; free.

Houston Arboretum

Saturday, September 9: Fall Volunteer Orientation,
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Drive;
713-681-8433 or www.houstonarboretum.org;  free
**Register by Wednesday, August 30 **

Sunday, September 10:”Nature Photography” by Therese
Tusa, 2 p.m., Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501
Woodway Drive; 713-681-8433 or
www.houstonarboretum.org;  free

Saturday & Sunday, September 16 & 17: “Bromeliad
Society Plant Sale” , Sat: 9 am-5 pm, Sun: 11 am-4pm,
Houston Bromeliad Society/Houston Arboretum & Nature
Center, 4501 Woodway; For info. HBS: 713-858-3047,
www.bromeliadsocietyhouston.org,  free

Sunday: September 24: “Biodiversity” by Dr. Barry
Sullender, Rice University, 2 p.m., Houston Arboretum
& Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Dr.; 713-681-8433 or
www.houstonarboretum.org; 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.

Sept. 26: “Landscape Maintenance”, Carol Brouwer,
Harris County Agent. Green Thumb series; 6:30-9 pm. Tracy Gee
Community, 3599 Westcenter Dr. Texas Cooperative/Master Gardener
event. Free to public. 281-855-5600; access http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort. 

Saturday, (Sept 30) Fall Garden Treasures Plant Sale,
9:15 am- 1:00 pm. Clear Lake Park, 5001 Nasa Parkway,
Sea-brook, TX 77586-5305. Free seminars starting at
8 am. Harris County Master Gardener Precinct 2 Event.
(281) 991-8437, website: http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu

September 30 - October 1: Spring Branch African
Violet Club Annual Sale, 9a-5p Sept. 30; 12 noon-4p
Oct 1, Hermann Park Garden Center, 1500 Hermann Dr.,
713-462-4257 or www.orgsites.com/tx/sbavc,  free.

Wednesday (October 4) Herbal Delights by Ginia Keen,
10 am 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Houston, TX 77034, free.
Harris County Master Gardener Precinct 2 Event (281)
991-8437, Website: http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu

Thursday-Saturday (Oct. 12-13-14): 2006 Bulb and Plant
Mart. Garden Club of Houston, gchouston.org. The
Garden Club of Houston’s 2006 Bulb and Plant Mart
(64th year) will be held again this year October 12,
13, 14 at the same place, Westminster United Methodist
Church, at San Felipe and Bering.

Saturday, (Oct 14) Herb-a-Paloooza, Herb Sale and
Celebration, 9 am- 1 pm. Clear Lake United Methodist
Church, 16335 El Camino Real, Houston, TX 77062.
Free seminars and demonstrations starting at 8 am.
Harris County Master Gardener Precinct 2 Event. (281)
991-8437, website: http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu

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.

Saturday, October 21 – “Planting Bulbs for Spring”
Seminar by Margaret Cherry, TMCNP#496, 11 am at
Martha’s Bloomers, Navasota; (936) 870-4044, free.

Oct. 21-22 Fall Gardening Symposium and Garden Tour,
(times?), The University of Texas Center for American
History and its Winedale Division in Round Top.

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 FOUND BRENDA'S COLUMN HELPFUL, YOU MIGHT LIKE
SOME OF THE FLYERS FROM HER GARDENING TALKS:

($1 each plus a self addressed, stamped envelope; 3
flyers will fit in one envelope. Make checks payable
to Brenda Beust Smith and mail to: Flyers, 14011
Greenranch, Houston, TX 77039)

• RAIN/BOG GARDEN DESIGN. Turn that low spot into an
asset to help store water for drought periods.

• ECOLAWNS. How to have a healthier, more
environment-friendly lawn from a lazy gardener’s
perspective.

• 10 COMMANDMENTS OF LAZY GARDENING. It’s a mindset
with very practical steps.

• DEER NO! PLANTS. Tips and planting suggestions.

And, from Brenda’s now out-of-print “Lazy Gardener’s
Guide” ($1 each) — designs for:
A BUTTERFLY GARDEN
AN HUMMINGBIRD GARDEN
AN ANTIQUE ROSE GARDEN
A WILDFLOWER GARDEN
A GARDEN IN SHADE ALL DAY (NO DIRECT RAYS)
A GARDEN IN FILTERED OR PARTIAL SUN
A GARDEN IN ALL DAY SUN OR AFTERNOON SUN
A TROPICAL GARDEN FOR WINTER BEAUTY

($1 each plus a SASE; 3 flyers will fit in one
envelope. Make checks payable to Brenda Beust Smith
and mail to: Flyers, 14011 Greenranch, Houston, TX
77039)


Brenda Beust Smith
Brenda@guidrynews.com

Have you visited Brenda's Garden lately? Her online column (with its year-long Garden Calendar of Area Events) can be read at Brenda@guidrynews.com. 

Brenda's informational flyers: "No Deer Plants” • "Eco-Lawns” • "10 Commandments of Lazy Gardening” • “A Butterfly Garden" • "A Hummingbird Garden" • "An Antique Rose Garden" • "A Wildflower Garden" • "A Garden in Shade All day (no direct sun rays)" • "A Garden in Filtered, Partial or Dappled Sun All Day" • "A Bog (Rain) Garden" • "A Garden in All Day Sun or Strong Afternoon Sun" • "A Tropical Garden for Winter Beauty" • "A Winter Color Garden" • Each flyer is $1. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (3 flyers per envelope) with check payable to Brenda B. Smith) to: Lazy Gardener Flyers, 14011 Greenranch, Houston, TX 77039.
Be sure to list flyers ordered.