greenleaf - wordpress.com · 2014. 3. 11. · greenleaf march 2014 volume 16 issue 8 page 3 sugar...
TRANSCRIPT
Greenleaf
Member Donetta Parrish’ yard.
Our 15th Annual Sugar
Land Garden Club Tour
will be on May 10.
Garden Tour Chair, Cheryl
Swanson, will be at our
next 2 meetings for you to
sign up for times that you
can help on the tour. This
is a fun event to work
because you get to talk to
other garden enthusiasts.
We are so proud to have
the yard of our member,
Donetta Parrish, included
on our tour!
Has Spring Fever attacked
your senses? At our meet-
ing, Randy Lemmon said he
thought we had seen the last
of the freezes, so I took him
for his word and starting
cutting all the dead wood
back. The winter dreaming
of another flower bed for
(Continued on page 2)
Newsletter of the Sugar Land Garden Club, Established 1932
www.SugarLandGardenClub.org
What should a cultural anthropology graduate from Brown University do with that interest? Move to Sugar Land and become a master naturalist and bee-keeper. Nancy Hentschel has a special interest in sustain-able living and she and her husband, a master gardener, share in gardening, bee-keeping and wine mak-
March 2014 Volume 16 Issue 8
2013-2014
Club Officers
President:
Carrie Sample
1st Vice President:
Jo Beth Moore
2nd Vice
Presidents:
Gay Chavez
Donna Romaine
Mary Ellen Twiss
Recording
Secretary:
Jeanmarie Short
Treasurer:
Leslie Niemand
Parliamentarian:
Marilynn
Zieg/Scanlin
President’s Message By Carrie Sample
ing. She claims that bee-keeping offers a Zen-like experience for anyone who enjoys gardening and the interconnectivity of nature. And…then…she says, there is the honey? Don’t miss this presentation about bee-keeping in Sugar Land. Some of her bees may be in your garden...
March 18 Guest Speaker, Nancy Hentschel “Honey Honey! Where’s the Bee”
By Jo Beth Moore
President’s Message
roses was accomplished a few weeks ago.
Thought I would plant a few drift roses
and some antique roses that I will buy
when we go to our April Field trip to the
Antique Rose Emporium. I have some
lilies (from
our plant
swap) that
need more
sun, so I will
move them
there also. I
have included a picture of the empty bed.
I will take another picture when it is all
planted.
My calendulas, pansies and snapdragons
have survived our cold winter this year.
(Continued from page 1) Dues for SLGC are
payable each spring,
$30 for the following
year. New members
joining June 1-
December 31 shall
pay $30 for the
current year. New
members joining
January 1-March 31
shall pay $20 for the
current year. For
new members
joining in April, dues
are $30 and apply to
the following garden
club year. Each
member receives a
monthly newsletter
and copy of the club
yearbook.
Page 2 Greenleaf March 2014 Volume 16 Issue 8
MEMBER YEAR
BOOKS
Member year books
are available for pick up at the monthly general meetings.
Be sure to pick up your copy if you
have not yet done so!
My Rufus
hummingbird
has also sur-
vived the
winter.
We have a great lineup of events for the
end of this Garden Club Year. Topics for
the last 2 general meetings are about bees
and then water conservation. We have 3
field trips left (since our Jan. was a rainout).
This month we are going to the Industrial
Market and then on to Janis Vasut’s farm.
(Janis is providing us lunch!) In April we
are going to the Antique Rose Emporium
and finally in May to the Painted Churches.
There will be one more workshop, Making
a Button Tree on Canvas. Our Spring
Luncheon will be at the newly renovated
Riverbend Country Club on May 20.
Finally, thanks for your confidence in me
by electing me to serve another term as
your President. It is a joy to work with all
of you and I am looking forward to another
great year!
Field Trip March 25, 2014 Industrial Country Market and Janis Vasut’s Farm, Cookie Peeler, Chair Our March Field Trip will be a special
treat. We have been invited to enjoy a
beautiful spring day in the country. One of
our new members, Janis Vasut with her
husband David, have a working farm just
north of Columbus. Since March is wild-
flower month we should see Bluebonnets,
Indian Paint Brush and Coreopsis bloom-
ing.
The home was built by David’s grandfa-
ther is the 1940’s. Even with some reno-
vating and additions they have preserved
the “feel” of the farmhouse intact. They
have also added a “Party Shack” on the
property for entertaining. Janis plans to
serve us lunch in there or on the wrap
around porch of the house. They also have a
35 acre lake stocked with bass and catfish. If
weather permits we will get a hayride tour of
their property that is steeped in Texas his-
tory. We might be able to get David to tell
about his encounter with a chupacabra on
the ranch a few years ago. He has appeared
on several TV broadcasts related to it.
On the way there is a scheduled stop at the
Industrial Country market. It’s an interesting
store that includes an art gallery, crafts,
snacks, survival gear, electronic parts, toys,
clocks, greeting cards, jewelry--all sorts of
“stuff” (including garden art) for sale - it’s a
wonder!
Page 3 Greenleaf March 2014 Volume 16 Issue 8
Sugar Land Garden Club Spring Tour is coming to East New Territory
Saturday, May 10, 2014 9 am to 3 pm
Please email CHERYL SWANSON tour chair
[email protected] or call
281.242.1773 if interested in volunteering
THE FEINSTEIN CHALLENGE RETURNS in MARCH and APRIL Helping End Hunger in America For the 17th straight year Alan Feinstein is donating $ 1 million dollars to selected hunger fighting agencies across the United States. The more checks, cash and food items that are donated during March and April, the more each agency will receive from the $1 million dollars. That is why it is called a challenge. East Fort Human Needs Ministry has been selected to participate again this year. East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry operates an Interfaith Food Pantry for families and individuals in times of financial crisis in Fort Bend county. SLGC helps EFBHNM each year by raising donations of money for the Feinstein Chalenge. You can donate at the Community Service table at the general meetings in March and April. Both cash and checks are ac-cepted. If writng a check, make it out to SLGC and write EFBHNM or Feinstein on the memo line. If you will not be at he meetings and want to donate, send a check to our treasurer, Leslie Niemand. Her address is in the SLGC yearbook. For more information about EFBHNM, check out their website at www.humanneeds.org. Debe Fannin
Sugar Land Garden Club Brookwood Community Where Adults with Special Needs Contribute
to the World
April 10, 2014
Volunteer Sign Up at the March General Meeting. Spend a few hours working alongside the residents. Visit their beautiful Gift Shop and Retail Garden Center. Lunch provided from the Café. Leave Sugar Land 9:30 am. Arrive Back 3:00 pm. Half shifts also available. Lim-ited to 4-6 Volunteers. Contact Diana Miller 713-724-3113 or [email protected]
Important Announcement to Our Gardening Friends
In 2014, the Fort Bend Master Gardeners will discontinue their regularly-scheduled monthly programs and instead offer and support a wide variety of educational programs in cooperation with Fort Bend County Texas AgriLife Extension. The programs will not be offered on the same day of the month, but they will be posted to this calendar, so please visit us often.
March 22, 2014 From Your Backyard to Your Table
Learn to grow, prepare and preserve nutritious food
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Fort Bend County, along with the Fort Bend County Master Gardeners, are offering opportunities to learn more about getting back to homegrown and homemade basics through various Backyard Basics programs and workshops throughout 2014. These programs support healthy living through home-based food production, preparation, and preservation.
Cost: $15 per class, $25 per couple (some classes may include a fee for optional materials)
Pre-registration required by contacting Brandy Rader at 281-342-3034 or [email protected] or downloading and completing the registration form BYB registration form 2014. Make checks payable to Fort Bend County Master Gardeners (FBMG). Location: Fort Bend County Extension Office at 1402 Band Road in Rosenberg Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Program from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
April Workshop
Button Tree on Canvas
by Lynette McQueen
“Buttons!” Who doesn’t
love doing crafts with
buttons? Paint a whimsical
tree on canvas with buttons
added to adorn the tree. .
Tuesday, April 1,
10:00 am—12:00pm
Imperial Park Rec Ctr
234 Matlage Way
Chair: Gail Clarke
Page 4 Greenleaf March 2014 Volume 16 Issue 8
Sugar Land
Heritage Hike
This historical hike is
held the 2nd Saturday
of each month at
10:00 am, leaving
from the Museum at
198 Kempner St. The
walk is about 1-1/2
miles and takes one
and one half hours.
Costs are $10 for
adults, $5 for ages 12
to 18, and free for
children under 12. For
information on group
tours, which may be
scheduled during the
week call
281-494-0261
Upcoming Events
Photos: February Field Trip. Martha’s Bloomers and Tea Room
Horticulture by Paula Goodwin
This is why gardeners have bad backs!
Page 5 Greenleaf March 2014 Volume 16 Issue 8
This is my skinny, young self (in the blue shirt) picking strawberries with my grandparents
and my sister in Oklahoma. I was 26 and my grandparents were 76. Actually this picture
shows only a quarter of their strawberry field. My grandparents loved strawberries and
filled most of a big chest deep freezer with them. I grew up helping in Grandpa’s huge
“Victory Garden” and he was the person who instilled the love of gardening in me.
Grandpa also kept bees. Grandma taught me frugality—especially with food you grow
yourself: “Oh, if a bird (or a bug) picked on this side of the strawberry (or anything else),
just cut that side off and use the rest.”
This is a picture of another strawberry patch taken about 30 years
later when I worked as the supervisor of the juvenile community gar-
den here in Sugar Land. Then I was teaching teenagers what I had learned from Grandpa. Notice the boys are feeding
the soil with homemade compost (made with composted horse manure, grass clippings, leaves, coffee grounds, news-
paper, and any un-diseased garden refuse) which was the only fertilizer and mulch we used on the berries. In the more
than three years I spent in this job, we never had to buy mulch. We made our own. And I must say it was excellent
stuff.
While I worked with these kids (who were doing community service to pay off fines), we were unabashed dumpster divers. At the time
there were two dumpsters next to the garden on Gillingham Lane for just paper and cardboard and there were signs over every opening
(DO NOT ENTER!!). Sometimes, I had to flaunt the rules. And since it was all paper and cardboard, I felt it was fairly safe to let them
jump inside and dig around. Actually, it was one of the highlights of the kids’ day. I was too old and unlimber to get inside myself—just
supervised from the outside. So the kids always knew the list of things we needed and what to look for:
Cardboard boxes to take the harvested food to the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry Food Bank; to cover the tomato plants if
there was a cold snap; and to use (flattened out) as weed block under compost/mulch. It would eventually turn into compost
itself, unlike ground cloth. They were a major resource for us. One year we took more than 2,000 pounds of fresh, organic
vegetables to the food bank (all produce had to be weighed before donating).
Newspapers for making seed cups, for the stuffing inside our scarecrow, and for always, always layering between planted seeds/
seedlings to conserve moisture, to block out weeds, and to add more compost. (On a not windy day, pile overlapping layers
over moist soil—no need to weed before you do this. Water down the newspapers and cover with mulch).
Envelopes to store seeds. We needed lots of these for harvested flower and vegetable seeds. This is a good idea for us all who col-
lect seeds. Enclosed envelopes you may receive in your mail can be used to store and identify seeds gathered out of your gar-
den.
Books—the kids took them to sell at used book stores—not especially for reading. They found a biology textbook for me that had a
lot of information about plants.
Magazines for reading material, especially at lunch time in the garden. The People magazine was highly prized. The kids picked out
stacks and stacks for me. I would read them and then back into the dumpster they would go.
One Saturday while I was working in the garden with the kids after a dumpster dive, I saw Yvonne Louviere our fellow garden club
member walking towards me with this stricken look on her face. I knew something was terribly wrong. She said, “There is a
girl’s body in the dumpster. At first I thought she was dead, but then I watched to make sure that she was breathing”. So I re-
assured her that I had permitted “Jane” to nap on top of those piles of cardboard. “Jane” was an exemplary garden worker, and
she was just finishing up her last hour to complete her community service. So I let her sleep. Early mornings on Saturdays were
hard for teenagers, but afterwards there was no more allowed sleeping in the dumpster.
Since we are having a speaker this month about beekeeping, I want to share with you my two much-loved books:
A Country Year: Living the Questions and A Book of Bees: And How to Keep Them by Sue Hubbell.
Volunteers Needed
for Sugar Land
Butterfly Garden
Workday
March 27
Thursday
Sugar Land Branch
Library, 550 Eldridge
8:00am—9:00am
Garden Club Personality Matt Hurley by Gretchen Cockerill
Page 6 Greenleaf March 2014 Volume 16 Issue 8
Contact
Joel Chavez
832-633-0400
Thursday March 20
the Native Plant Society of
Texas - Houston
Mickey Merritt:
Urban Trees
Time: 7:00 - 9:00p.m. Free
presentation at 7:30 pm.
Location: Houston Arboretum
& Nature Center, 4501
Woodway Drive
www.npsot.org/houston
I grew up in the inner-city of Washington, DC. Three things kept me away from the vices of the inner city were: Scouting, Sports, and Par-ents that weren’t afraid to use a belt for misbe-havior. I would visit my grandparent’s farm every sum-mer in South Carolina from age 5 where I learned how seeds are planted and then grow into things you can eat. I always had a garden for my kids to learn the same thing. I branched
out into shrubs and ornaments gardening with the purchase of our first home many years ago. I am now happily into 8 years of retirement from John Deere Corporation where I was the plant Human Resource and Safety Manager. My back patio area is my garden. I try to keep a colorful array of base plants for my wife’s enjoyment. I also have certain spots throughout the garden where I plant or pot specimen plants that I learn about in the meetings or read about. I have been really lucky in attract-ing birds. Unfortunately I fight “Nut Grass” all the time. I have been a member of the SLGC for 4 years now. I enjoy the plant education sessions and the great social interaction with the other members at every meeting. I get great pleas-ure out of having a hand in planting and seeing beautiful things grow. The garden club has helped me to better understand the importance of the balance in nature. I have met many very knowledgeable and friendly people through the garden club. It has made our reloca-tion from Georgia to Texas very pleasing. I have been married to my wife Ruth (the girl next door) for 41 years. We have three adult children - two sons and a daughter. We are new grandparents. My wife and I will do a travel trip to other parts of the world every other year. I have always tried to do what society says are the “Right Things” - stay out of trouble, get a good education and work hard. So far I’m happy with the way things have worked out for me. My wife and I have tried to instill these values in our children. Each of them is a professional engineer. Our oldest son is a Princeton graduate in Civil Engineering?Architect. Our daughter is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate in Mechanical/Nuclear Reactor Engineering. Our youngest son is a University of Virginia graduate in Bio-Medical Engi-neering. Each has a Masters degree, as do we, and each one has a very interesting story.
2014 GAPS is looking for New Ideas
Any member is welcome to attend our first
Fall Festival FUNdraising Idea Meeting Monday, March 31 10:00 am Diana Miller’s home
419 Brooks Street, Sugar land 713-724-3113
Topics: Getting Corporate Sponsors, Children’s Gardening
Activities, Increased Vendors, Bigger Raffle Prizes, Expanded Marketing,
Food Sales. Committee Chair Opportunities in these new areas available!
Don’s Nature Corner In the Garden, The Unexpected Happens
Years ago, while cutting back plants in our front yard, Penny heard a hissing sound coming
from under one of the bushes. Her shrieks of “Snake, Snake!” brought two yardmen racing
from next door wielding rakes. The damsel in distress was rescued from the upset female
mallard duck that was protecting her nest. The unexpected encounter left the duck fraz-
zled, but unscathed!
Last year we bought a six pack of collards and planted them in various places in the garden.
As the plants began to grow we enjoyed eating the leaves. After several weeks we noticed
that our collards were starting to make little white heads in the center. Cauliflower was not
what we expected. Apparently someone switched tags at the store. We found out that cau-
liflower leaves are edible and tasty, but we are now practicing plant identification skills.
We have a number of bird feeders in the yard because we enjoy watching the many color-
ful species that come. During the migrations we often see birds that may be here for
only a few days. Imagine our surprise upon returning home one day to find a Cooper’s
hawk in our yard eating one of the doves. It
looked like a pillow fight had taken place. The
hawk must know that when I put out bird seed
his dinner will congregate at the feeder.
Many gardeners enjoy watching butterflies in
their yards, so they plant milkweed to attract
the monarch. Geckos and wasps patrol the
garden looking for meals. Wasps take the cat-
erpillars back to the nest for their young. Geckos stalk the butterflies. When we
planted the milkweed we didn’t expect to help wasps and geckos. The unexpected
happens.
In mid-November I captured an attractive green cat-
erpillar crawling across our patio and put it into a
large view jar. I knew that it was a moth larva, but
did not know what kind. While I was researching the
species, the caterpillar made a cocoon. “I will get a
beautiful polyphemus moth,” I thought, “but it might
be too big for the container.” In early February I
noticed bean sized black objects in the bottom of the
jar. I knew then that I was not going to get a moth,
but a number of tachinid flies. A fly had parasitized
the caterpillar by laying her eggs inside it where they hatched. The larvae of the fly began
to eat the inside of the caterpillar and what I was seeing were the pupae of the fly.
(Continued on page 8)
Page 7 Greenleaf March 2014 Volume 16 Issue 8
Sugar Land Garden Club member Don Johnson , is a member of the
Fort Bend Master Gardeners’ Entomology Group and of the Texas
Master Naturalists, Coastal Prairie Chapter.
The Cooper’s Hawk had just killed a dove in our backyard.
A wasp catches a butterfly.
The mother Muscovy duck watches over her newly hatched babies in our
birdbath.
The caterpillar in the cocoon was parasi-tized by a tachinid fly. The pupae of the
fly look like black beans.
This caterpillar was crossing our patio.
Don’s Nature Corner
In addition to the seeds we put out, we also provide several water features for the
birds. What we intend is not always what wildlife understand. Our ground- level wa-
ter bowl served as the swimming pool for baby ducks, carefully monitored by the life-
guard. We have attracted other wildlife to the bowl, but never thought that we would
attract a vulture. How do you stop a thirsty bird? Being vulture-friendly is not good
for our reputation.
Last November we noticed fungi
growing in an almost perfect ring
measuring about 12 feet in diame-
ter in the field behind our house.
Upon doing research we found
that it is called a “fairy ring.”
Three months later we noticed a
healthy looking green grass ring
growing there. Nature is not al-
ways predictable, the unexpected
happens.
Almost every morning I begin the day by going out onto the patio. One morning, before I opened the door, I noticed a
squirrel in an empty flower pot outside. I wasn’t sure if he was sleeping or had found his final resting place. Carefully reach-
ing out the door with a yard stick, I tapped the pot several times.
Nothing happened. I tapped harder. Nothing! I decided to poke him
with the yardstick. Both the squirrel and I jumped, he much higher
than I.
He apparently didn’t like the wakeup call.
The unexpected happens.
(Continued from page 7)
Page 8 Greenleaf March 2014 Volume 16 Issue 8
Sugar Land Garden Club member Don Johnson , is a member of the
Fort Bend Master Gardeners’ Entomology Group and of the Texas
Master Naturalists, Coastal Prairie Chapter.
The circle of mushrooms, called a fairy ring, grew in the field behind our house.
This squirrel spent the night curled up in a flower pot at our door
Three months later the ring is only a healthy looking green grass.
The vulture takes a drink at our birdbath.
Page 9 Greenleaf March 2014 Volume 16 Issue 8
Save the Date...Spring Installation of Officers Lunch By Patty Ranson
MAY 20, 2014 RIVERBEND COUNTRY CLUB
11:00a.m. -- 1:00p.m.
SIGN UP SHEETS AT MARCH GENERAL MEETING
ALONG WITH MENU $22 INCLUSIVE [email protected] or 281-494-6405
Hospitality by Suzanne Hanks and Jean Waleke
All members are required to help with hospitality, which includes supplying refreshments for the meeting, helping with set-
up before the meeting and helping with clean up after the meeting. If you realize several weeks in advance that you are unable
to help during your month please contact us so we can try to move you to another month. Of course, we also know that
sometimes things arise at the last minute. If that occurs, and you are unable to meet your obligation please note that our by-
laws require you to find a replacement or pay $15 to the club (check should be make out to Sugar Land Garden Club). The
money will be used to purchase paper products or other refreshments. Thanks to all the wonderful members who have
volunteered to be monthly host chairs.
September Jonita Ramirez
October Sharon Pence and Carolyn Salmans
November Elizabeth Jones and Jeanmarie Short
December Patty Ranson and Social Activities
January Gay Chavez
February Debe Fannin
March Marian Kozlovsky
Membership Request from the Feb Luncheon: Charleston Cheese Dip From: Sue Jordan
1/2 c. mayonnaise 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 c. grated sharp Cheddar cheese 1/2 c. grated Monterey Jack cheese
2 green onions, finely chopped dash of cayenne pepper
8 crackers, crushed, such as Ritz (I used vegetable Ritz but will try it with Panko the next time)
8 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled Fritos, crackers or bagel chips for serving
Preheat the oven to 350°. In a medium bowl, mix the mayo, cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, green on-
ions & cayenne pepper. Transfer to a lightly buttered 9” pie plate. Top with cracker crumbs & bake until heated through,
approximately 15 minutes. Remove from oven, top with bacon & serve immediately. Tip: I made one half more of this recipe
because I thought it looked skimpy in the pie plate after making it as it is written above. I also used 6 slices of bacon instead
of 8.
SLGC General Meeting
Tuesday, April 15, 2014 Social 9:30 am, program 10:00 am
“Rainwater Collection and Water Management Tech-
niques” Speaker-Boone Holladay, Fort Bend County Horticul-
ture Agent
Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Rd 77498
Native Plant Society of Texas—Houston
April 17, 2014 Meet at 7:00 pm. Program at 7:30 pm
Earth Day Celebration. To be announced
Happy Easter April 20th
SLGC Field Trip
April 22, 2014 Antique Rose Emporium and Blue Bell Cream-
ery-Brenham
SLGC Butterfly Garden Workday
Thursday, Ap[ril 24, 2014 8:00 am
Sugar Land Branch Library, 550 Eldridge 77478
For more information contact Joel Chavez at
[email protected] or 832-633-0400
Oops, sorry we missed the recognition of
Leslie Niemand as 2014
GAPS Finance Chair. We are so
pleased to have her on board for
this important task!
Houston Federation of Garden Clubs
March 14, 2014 10:00 am
“Oranges, Apples and Pears, Oh My!”,
Angela Chandler, Master Gardener and Master Naturalist
West Gray Multi Service Center, 1475 W. Gray, Houston
SLGC General Meeting Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Social 9:30 am, program 10:00 am “Honey Honey! - Where’s the Bee?” Speaker - Nancy Hentschel Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Rd 77498
Native Plant Society of Texas—Houston
March 20, 2014
Meet at 7:00 pm. Program at 7:30 pm
Mickey Merritt, Urban Trees
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
in Memorial Park. 4501 Woodway 77024
SLGC Field Trip
March 25, 2014 Industrial Country Narket and Janis Vasut’s
Farm. Columbus and Highway 71, Industrial Country Market
SLGC Butterfly Garden Workday
Thursday, March 27, 2014 8:00 am
Sugar Land Branch Library, 550 Eldridge 77478
For more information contact Joel Chavez at
[email protected] or 832-633-0400
SLGC Workshop
Tuesday, April 1, 2014 10:00am—12:00 noon
“Button Tree on Canvass” By Lynette McQueen
Imperial Park Recreation Center
234 Matlage Way, Sugar Land, Texas 77478
SLGC Brookwood Community Garden Therapy
Workday
Thursday, April 10. Leave Sugar Land 9:30am. Arrive back 3:00
pm. Limited to 6 volunteers. Garden alongside Special Needs
Residents.
Houston Federation of Garden Clubs
April 11, 2014 10:00 am
“Orchids in the Air”, Vern Wiersema, Past HOS President
West Gray Multi Service Center, 1475 W. Gray, Houston
March Calendar of Events April Greenleaf March 2014 Volume 16 Issue 8 Page 10
NEW GREENLEAF ARTICLE
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
So we may issue the Greenleaf the week prior to the
General Meeting, it is now requested that you submit
your articles no later than the 1st day of the month. Send
your article and any photos by email to
both Diana Miller, [email protected] and
Gay Chavez, [email protected]
Photo Submitted by Mary Ann
Kovack: This little guy has
found a spot to wait out the
rain in the camellia bush. Isn’t
he just the cutest??