Tips for growing of azaleas and rhododendrons in our area will be discussed in the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society program at the Old School House History Center, 130 Center St., Douglas, 7 p.m. April 10.

Presenter John Migas, founder of Woodlands Nursery in Saugatuck Township and key figure in establishing the floral plantings along The Old School House Back-In-Time Pathway will show and discuss varieties that grow well here. He also will talk about propagation of these plants by taking cuttings and raising them in the home.  After the indoor presentation, Migas will guide a tour through the Back-In-Time garden and answer questions.  His SDHS program is sponsored by Michigan Azalea Society.

Migas, originally a carpenter by trade, bought a home here in 1985 and met neighbor Charlie Mann, a renowned landscape architect, prompting the start of Woodlands Nursery and a new career carrying on Mann’s work. His nursery primarily supplies professional landscapers and retail nurseries.

Admission is free, the public is invited and refreshments will be served.

For general information about the Historical Society and its activities, visit sdhistoricalsociety.org.

Easter gardening tips

– last updated Thu 28 Mar 2013

• UK
• Gardening
• Easter

Gardening experts are warning we need to brave the chilly weather over Easter if we don’t want to get caught out when spring finally arrives.

The Royal Horticultural Society says spring may be running at up to 20 days behind but gardeners who get disheartened by the cold weather and neglect their gardens now do so at their peril.

“There is no guarantee that spring, when it arrives, won’t be warm and sunny and gardeners who don’t get ahead on their plots now could find themselves struggling to catch up when spring finally arrives.”

– Guy Barter, RHS chief horticultural advisor

Click here for the latest Anglia Weather forecast.

Easter is traditionally a time when the nation heads out to garden centres on masse, shopping for plants and seeds and heading outside over the long weekend to start getting their garden into shape ready for a colourful and fruitful summer. Although Easter is early this year and spring late, the RHS has put together some advice on what you can do to get your garden ready, despite the weather, to ensure you have a summer of colour.

• Use windowsills as mini-greenhouses to sow seeds in pots in preparation for spring
• Be prepared for an onslaught of slugs
• The cold has held back budding roses so there is still time to finish your pruning
• Spike, feed and moss–kill ailing lawns, so that, if need arises, you can over-seed (sprinkle extra grass seed onto turf) to fill in thin spots once the warm weather comes
• Buy and plant hardy trees, shrubs, climbers and perennials – they will still be nicely dormant and as they are cold hardy
• Dead-head any spent bulbs so all their effort goes into producing bulbs for next year rather than seeds
• Mulch plants with bark chips or other well-rotted organic matter to feed them, suppress weeds and conserve moisture in summer
• Use very cold days to stay in and re-pot house plants now that light levels are creeping up
• Winkle out dandelions, docks and other deep-rooted weeds – their grip is less tenacious at this early season

The RHS added:

Remember, if it’s a very wet day you should avoid walking on your soil as you will compact it, reducing drainage and doing more harm than good. Instead lay a plank or, better, a sheet of exterior grade plywood on your soil and work from that to spread out your weight.

More on this story

Garden centres count the cost of the extended winter

KIDS’ EASTER FUN: Children ages 3-9 are invited to hear egg and chicken stories and make an egg craft. A live chicken will be present for photo opportunities. 7 p.m. Thursday, North Richland Hills Public Library, 9015 Grand Ave. 817-427-6818. Free.

HERBS: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club welcomes Homegrown magazine publisher Judy Barrett of Taylor, Texas, for a presentation on herbs and how they can be used in the garden, kitchen and around the home. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. REI, 4515 LBJ Freeway, west of the Dallas North Tollway. Free.

BUNCHGRASS PRAIRIE:The Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas’ monthly meeting will include a presentation on the largest bunchgrass prairie in North America. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Texas Woman’s University, Ann Stewart New Science Building, Denton. Free. npsot.org/trinityforks.

IKEBANA DEMONSTRATION: A presentation on creative ikebana will be presented by a visiting, high-ranking instructor in the Sogetsu school. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. Bent Tree Country Club, 520 Westgrove Drive, Dallas. Morning demonstration and lunch, $45; demo, lunch and afternoon workshop, $65. Advance registration requested. 214-750-7236 or email sallyshockey@sbcglobal.net.

CONTAINER GARDEN: Award-winning gardening and lifestyle expert P. Allen Smith will present a free container garden demonstration, using plants from his Proven Winners collection. Containers will be raffled after the session ends. 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Book signing 11:45 a.m. Calloway’s Nursery, 2460 Highway 121, Plano. Free.

PROVEN WINNERS: Learn about the brand’s spring collection and how to use them in the garden or in containers. 10:15 a.m. Saturday. All Calloway’s Nursery locations. Free.

CELEBRATING BIRDS: Meet owls, hawks and egrets up close, fly homing pigeons, take a guided hike and more at Trinity River Audubon Center’s annual bird celebration. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas. Free admission with $5 parking. 214-398-8722.trinityriveraudubon.org.

KIDS CAMP: Promise of Peace Community Garden will begin its kids’ spring camp, which teaches children about bee- keeping and backyard chickens. Noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays for five weeks. 7446 E. Grand Ave., Dallas. $75. promiseofpeace.us.

GARDEN EDUCATION:

North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas, offers these classes. 214-363-5316. nhg.com.

Landscape design consults, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. $60, reservations required

Mosquito control,10 a.m. Saturday. Free

Growing tomatoes,1 to 2 p.m. Saturday. Free

Butterfly gardening,1:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday. Free

SQUARE-FOOT GARDENING: Learn how to grow vegetables in a raised bed for maximum production. 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. 1106 Almond Drive, Mansfield. Advance registration required. 682-234-3873. essentialsforenduringhealth .com.

PICKING TOMATOES: The First Tuesday in the Garden lecture series by the Smith County Master Gardeners will help you select the best tomato plants for your garden. Planting, fertilizing and pest control also will be covered. noon Tuesday. Tyler Rose Garden, 420 Rose Park Drive, Tyler. Free. scmg.tamu.edu.

PLANT SALE: Brookhaven Country Club’s ClubCorp Charity Classic plant sale will have locally grown herbs, flowers, perennials, color containers and more. Bring your own containers to have them designed and planted, for a fee. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 4-6. 10 a.m. until close. April 7. Brookhaven Country Club, 3333 Golfing Green Drive, Farmers Branch.

TREE PLANTING: Volunteers are needed to help plant more than 100 trees in southern Dallas. 8 a.m. to noon April 6. Kiest Park, 3080 S. Hampton Road, Dallas. Free; breakfast will be served. Register at southerndallastreeeplanting .eventbrite.com.

BECOME A MASTER GARDENER: The Dallas County Master Gardeners Association is accepting applications through May 28 for the 2013 Master Gardener Training School. Classes will meet 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, July 29 through Oct. 28. In addition to the 78 hours of class time, participants must contribute a minimum of 72 hours of approved volunteer work through the DCMG over 12 months. Applications are available at dallascounty mastergardeners.org or by calling 214-904-3053.

WATER-WISE LANDSCAPE: Enter the 19th annual Water-Wise Landscape Tour. The event, sponsored by Dallas Water Utilities, is open to all landscapes within Dallas city limits and the city limits of Dallas’ wholesale customers or reciprocal cities. Judging criteria include design (aesthetic appeal; composition; use of color and plant variety); water conservation (water use; nonvegetative materials such as fences, walls, walks; use of native or adapted plants; reduced turf area; and use of mulches); and appropriate maintenance landscape (healthy, disease- and pest-free plants; no weeds; plants pruned as appropriate). Entry deadline is April 12. Visit savedallaswater.com to apply online. Entries will be judged in mid-April. The public tour of landscapes will be June 1.

AZALEA TRAIL: See 10 miles of azaleas, dogwoods and spring flowers in Tyler during its 54th annual event. Through April 7. 315 N. Broadway, Tyler. Complimentary visitor packets are available by calling 1-800-235-5712 or at visittyler.com.

ROAD TRIP: The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will host a public plant sale. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 13 and 14. 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin. For a list of plants that will be offered, visit wildflower.org.

Submit calendar information at least 14 days before the Thursday publication date to garden @dallasnews.com.

KIDS’ EASTER FUN: Children ages 3-9 are invited to hear egg and chicken stories and make an egg craft. A live chicken will be present for photo opportunities. 7 p.m. Thursday, North Richland Hills Public Library, 9015 Grand Ave. 817-427-6818. Free.

HERBS: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club welcomes Homegrown magazine publisher Judy Barrett of Taylor, Texas, for a presentation on herbs and how they can be used in the garden, kitchen and around the home. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. REI, 4515 LBJ Freeway, west of the Dallas North Tollway. Free.

BUNCHGRASS PRAIRIE:The Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas’ monthly meeting will include a presentation on the largest bunchgrass prairie in North America. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Texas Woman’s University, Ann Stewart New Science Building, Denton. Free. npsot.org/trinityforks.

IKEBANA DEMONSTRATION: A presentation on creative ikebana will be presented by a visiting, high-ranking instructor in the Sogetsu school. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. Bent Tree Country Club, 520 Westgrove Drive, Dallas. Morning demonstration and lunch, $45; demo, lunch and afternoon workshop, $65. Advance registration requested. 214-750-7236 or email sallyshockey@sbcglobal.net.

CONTAINER GARDEN: Award-winning gardening and lifestyle expert P. Allen Smith will present a free container garden demonstration, using plants from his Proven Winners collection. Containers will be raffled after the session ends. 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Book signing 11:45 a.m. Calloway’s Nursery, 2460 Highway 121, Plano. Free.

PROVEN WINNERS: Learn about the brand’s spring collection and how to use them in the garden or in containers. 10:15 a.m. Saturday. All Calloway’s Nursery locations. Free.

CELEBRATING BIRDS: Meet owls, hawks and egrets up close, fly homing pigeons, take a guided hike and more at Trinity River Audubon Center’s annual bird celebration. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas. Free admission with $5 parking. 214-398-8722.trinityriveraudubon.org.

KIDS CAMP: Promise of Peace Community Garden will begin its kids’ spring camp, which teaches children about bee- keeping and backyard chickens. Noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays for five weeks. 7446 E. Grand Ave., Dallas. $75. promiseofpeace.us.

GARDEN EDUCATION:

North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas, offers these classes. 214-363-5316. nhg.com.

Landscape design consults, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. $60, reservations required

Mosquito control,10 a.m. Saturday. Free

Growing tomatoes,1 to 2 p.m. Saturday. Free

Butterfly gardening,1:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday. Free

SQUARE-FOOT GARDENING: Learn how to grow vegetables in a raised bed for maximum production. 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. 1106 Almond Drive, Mansfield. Advance registration required. 682-234-3873. essentialsforenduringhealth .com.

PICKING TOMATOES: The First Tuesday in the Garden lecture series by the Smith County Master Gardeners will help you select the best tomato plants for your garden. Planting, fertilizing and pest control also will be covered. noon Tuesday. Tyler Rose Garden, 420 Rose Park Drive, Tyler. Free. scmg.tamu.edu.

PLANT SALE: Brookhaven Country Club’s ClubCorp Charity Classic plant sale will have locally grown herbs, flowers, perennials, color containers and more. Bring your own containers to have them designed and planted, for a fee. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 4-6. 10 a.m. until close. April 7. Brookhaven Country Club, 3333 Golfing Green Drive, Farmers Branch.

TREE PLANTING: Volunteers are needed to help plant more than 100 trees in southern Dallas. 8 a.m. to noon April 6. Kiest Park, 3080 S. Hampton Road, Dallas. Free; breakfast will be served. Register at southerndallastreeeplanting .eventbrite.com.

BECOME A MASTER GARDENER: The Dallas County Master Gardeners Association is accepting applications through May 28 for the 2013 Master Gardener Training School. Classes will meet 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, July 29 through Oct. 28. In addition to the 78 hours of class time, participants must contribute a minimum of 72 hours of approved volunteer work through the DCMG over 12 months. Applications are available at dallascounty mastergardeners.org or by calling 214-904-3053.

WATER-WISE LANDSCAPE: Enter the 19th annual Water-Wise Landscape Tour. The event, sponsored by Dallas Water Utilities, is open to all landscapes within Dallas city limits and the city limits of Dallas’ wholesale customers or reciprocal cities. Judging criteria include design (aesthetic appeal; composition; use of color and plant variety); water conservation (water use; nonvegetative materials such as fences, walls, walks; use of native or adapted plants; reduced turf area; and use of mulches); and appropriate maintenance landscape (healthy, disease- and pest-free plants; no weeds; plants pruned as appropriate). Entry deadline is April 12. Visit savedallaswater.com to apply online. Entries will be judged in mid-April. The public tour of landscapes will be June 1.

AZALEA TRAIL: See 10 miles of azaleas, dogwoods and spring flowers in Tyler during its 54th annual event. Through April 7. 315 N. Broadway, Tyler. Complimentary visitor packets are available by calling 1-800-235-5712 or at visittyler.com.

ROAD TRIP: The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will host a public plant sale. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 13 and 14. 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin. For a list of plants that will be offered, visit wildflower.org.

Submit calendar information at least 14 days before the Thursday publication date to garden @dallasnews.com.

KIDS’ EASTER FUN: Children ages 3-9 are invited to hear egg and chicken stories and make an egg craft. A live chicken will be present for photo opportunities. 7 p.m. Thursday, North Richland Hills Public Library, 9015 Grand Ave. 817-427-6818. Free.

HERBS: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club welcomes Homegrown magazine publisher Judy Barrett of Taylor, Texas, for a presentation on herbs and how they can be used in the garden, kitchen and around the home. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. REI, 4515 LBJ Freeway, west of the Dallas North Tollway. Free.

BUNCHGRASS PRAIRIE:The Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas’ monthly meeting will include a presentation on the largest bunchgrass prairie in North America. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Texas Woman’s University, Ann Stewart New Science Building, Denton. Free. npsot.org/trinityforks.

IKEBANA DEMONSTRATION: A presentation on creative ikebana will be presented by a visiting, high-ranking instructor in the Sogetsu school. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. Bent Tree Country Club, 520 Westgrove Drive, Dallas. Morning demonstration and lunch, $45; demo, lunch and afternoon workshop, $65. Advance registration requested. 214-750-7236 or email sallyshockey@sbcglobal.net.

CONTAINER GARDEN: Award-winning gardening and lifestyle expert P. Allen Smith will present a free container garden demonstration, using plants from his Proven Winners collection. Containers will be raffled after the session ends. 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Book signing 11:45 a.m. Calloway’s Nursery, 2460 Highway 121, Plano. Free.

PROVEN WINNERS: Learn about the brand’s spring collection and how to use them in the garden or in containers. 10:15 a.m. Saturday. All Calloway’s Nursery locations. Free.

CELEBRATING BIRDS: Meet owls, hawks and egrets up close, fly homing pigeons, take a guided hike and more at Trinity River Audubon Center’s annual bird celebration. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas. Free admission with $5 parking. 214-398-8722.trinityriveraudubon.org.

KIDS CAMP: Promise of Peace Community Garden will begin its kids’ spring camp, which teaches children about bee- keeping and backyard chickens. Noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays for five weeks. 7446 E. Grand Ave., Dallas. $75. promiseofpeace.us.

GARDEN EDUCATION:

North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas, offers these classes. 214-363-5316. nhg.com.

Landscape design consults, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. $60, reservations required

Mosquito control,10 a.m. Saturday. Free

Growing tomatoes,1 to 2 p.m. Saturday. Free

Butterfly gardening,1:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday. Free

SQUARE-FOOT GARDENING: Learn how to grow vegetables in a raised bed for maximum production. 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. 1106 Almond Drive, Mansfield. Advance registration required. 682-234-3873. essentialsforenduringhealth .com.

PICKING TOMATOES: The First Tuesday in the Garden lecture series by the Smith County Master Gardeners will help you select the best tomato plants for your garden. Planting, fertilizing and pest control also will be covered. noon Tuesday. Tyler Rose Garden, 420 Rose Park Drive, Tyler. Free. scmg.tamu.edu.

PLANT SALE: Brookhaven Country Club’s ClubCorp Charity Classic plant sale will have locally grown herbs, flowers, perennials, color containers and more. Bring your own containers to have them designed and planted, for a fee. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 4-6. 10 a.m. until close. April 7. Brookhaven Country Club, 3333 Golfing Green Drive, Farmers Branch.

TREE PLANTING: Volunteers are needed to help plant more than 100 trees in southern Dallas. 8 a.m. to noon April 6. Kiest Park, 3080 S. Hampton Road, Dallas. Free; breakfast will be served. Register at southerndallastreeeplanting .eventbrite.com.

BECOME A MASTER GARDENER: The Dallas County Master Gardeners Association is accepting applications through May 28 for the 2013 Master Gardener Training School. Classes will meet 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, July 29 through Oct. 28. In addition to the 78 hours of class time, participants must contribute a minimum of 72 hours of approved volunteer work through the DCMG over 12 months. Applications are available at dallascounty mastergardeners.org or by calling 214-904-3053.

WATER-WISE LANDSCAPE: Enter the 19th annual Water-Wise Landscape Tour. The event, sponsored by Dallas Water Utilities, is open to all landscapes within Dallas city limits and the city limits of Dallas’ wholesale customers or reciprocal cities. Judging criteria include design (aesthetic appeal; composition; use of color and plant variety); water conservation (water use; nonvegetative materials such as fences, walls, walks; use of native or adapted plants; reduced turf area; and use of mulches); and appropriate maintenance landscape (healthy, disease- and pest-free plants; no weeds; plants pruned as appropriate). Entry deadline is April 12. Visit savedallaswater.com to apply online. Entries will be judged in mid-April. The public tour of landscapes will be June 1.

AZALEA TRAIL: See 10 miles of azaleas, dogwoods and spring flowers in Tyler during its 54th annual event. Through April 7. 315 N. Broadway, Tyler. Complimentary visitor packets are available by calling 1-800-235-5712 or at visittyler.com.

ROAD TRIP: The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will host a public plant sale. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 13 and 14. 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin. For a list of plants that will be offered, visit wildflower.org.

Submit calendar information at least 14 days before the Thursday publication date to garden @dallasnews.com.

Missouri City Branch Library will present a program on “Container Gardening,” on Saturday, April 6, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 1530 Texas Parkway.

James (Boone) Holladay, County Extension Agent with the Texas Agrilife Extension Office in Fort Bend County, will discuss container gardening for inside and outside the home. Whether the gardener has limited space, limited mobility, or simply wants to enhance the landscape with different types of plantings, container gardening offers a variety of alternatives.

Holladay will also demonstrate how to properly build and maintain the container structures. Gardeners of all experience levels who are interested in learning more about container gardening are welcome to attend.

Holladay received his undergraduate degree in Horticulture from Stephen F. Austin State University and his graduate degree in Agricultural Education from Texas AM University. He helped to develop an urban youth horticulture program in Houston, and has also worked at Moody Gardens in Galveston.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call the branch library at 281-238-2100 or the library’s Public Information Office at 281-341-2677.

Short URL: http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=29251

Posted by FortBendStar
on Mar 27 2013. Filed under Missouri City.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Missouri City Branch Library will present a program on “Container Gardening,” on Saturday, April 6, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 1530 Texas Parkway.

James (Boone) Holladay, County Extension Agent with the Texas Agrilife Extension Office in Fort Bend County, will discuss container gardening for inside and outside the home. Whether the gardener has limited space, limited mobility, or simply wants to enhance the landscape with different types of plantings, container gardening offers a variety of alternatives.

Holladay will also demonstrate how to properly build and maintain the container structures. Gardeners of all experience levels who are interested in learning more about container gardening are welcome to attend.

Holladay received his undergraduate degree in Horticulture from Stephen F. Austin State University and his graduate degree in Agricultural Education from Texas AM University. He helped to develop an urban youth horticulture program in Houston, and has also worked at Moody Gardens in Galveston.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call the branch library at 281-238-2100 or the library’s Public Information Office at 281-341-2677.

Short URL: http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=29251

Posted by FortBendStar
on Mar 27 2013. Filed under Missouri City.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Missouri City Branch Library will present a program on “Container Gardening,” on Saturday, April 6, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 1530 Texas Parkway.

James (Boone) Holladay, County Extension Agent with the Texas Agrilife Extension Office in Fort Bend County, will discuss container gardening for inside and outside the home. Whether the gardener has limited space, limited mobility, or simply wants to enhance the landscape with different types of plantings, container gardening offers a variety of alternatives.

Holladay will also demonstrate how to properly build and maintain the container structures. Gardeners of all experience levels who are interested in learning more about container gardening are welcome to attend.

Holladay received his undergraduate degree in Horticulture from Stephen F. Austin State University and his graduate degree in Agricultural Education from Texas AM University. He helped to develop an urban youth horticulture program in Houston, and has also worked at Moody Gardens in Galveston.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call the branch library at 281-238-2100 or the library’s Public Information Office at 281-341-2677.

Short URL: http://www.fortbendstar.com/?p=29251

Posted by FortBendStar
on Mar 27 2013. Filed under Missouri City.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

• For a jump on the new season, cut stems of early flowering trees for forcing indoors. Saucer magnolias, flowering cherries, apricots, quince and forsythia can be cut for the vase. Make fresh cuts whenever the water is changed — at the first sign of clouding. Wait until month’s end to force apple and dogwood blossoms.

• Check the condition of your shovels, forks, hoes and other garden tools and repair or replace them in advance of spring gardening. Take the opportunity to clean off mud and to sharpen blades with a steel file. Wiping with an oily rag will keep surface rust away.

• You have one last chance to destroy those winter weeds while they’re in flower — before they produce seeds for next year.

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