Newsletter of the Sugar Land Garden Club (Established 1932 ...Newsletter of the Sugar Land Garden Club (Established 1932) Greenleaf Volume 16, Issue 3 September 2013 a smaller place.

Newsletter 1

Newsletter of the Sugar Land Garden Club (Established 1932)

Greenleaf Volume 16, Issue 3 September 2013

From the President…

Once in a while, I feel a breeze that

makes me think Fall is coming – or

maybe that is just happy wishing!!!

I have just returned from a trip to

Switzerland, Austria, and Bavaria.

Flowers were everywhere!

Amazingly, most of the flowers

there were the same that we have

here. Of course, they were more of

our cool weather flowers – Petunias,

Calendulas, Begonias and even

some that we think of as our Texas

natives. The world is just becoming

a smaller place.

Getting back to our part of the

world, September is gearing up to be

a busy month for our Garden Club.

The Garden Art and Plant Sale is

our premiere money making event

for our club. If you haven’t found a

way to help with this, I am sure the

committee can find something that

you are able to do!

Terri Hurley, Chairman of the

Garden Art and Plant Sale, and her

committee are spending much effort

to insure that this year will be a

tremendous success.

Our new directories will be

available at the next meeting.

Many thanks to Robin Rettew and

Deborah Birge for once again

compiling our books.

Special thanks also to Cheryl

Swanson for acquiring all of the

ads for the directory. Robin reports

that our directories were mostly

paid for with these ads. If possible,

give the companies in our

directories your business and let

them know where you found them!

Hope to see you at our coming

activities!

Blessings,

Carrie Sample,

Sugar Land Garden Club President

Replica of the castle in Liechtenstein. Do you see any

flowers that look familiar?

Newsletter 2

SEPTEMBER GENERAL MEETING “PLANTS-A-PALOOZA!”

Join us at our Tuesday, September 17 general meeting

where we will be dazzled by the beauty of “Plants-a-

Palooza! A Plethora of Perfect Convert your dull backyard

into your own residential retreat by adding Treesearch

Farms plants. Heidi Sheesley, owner of Treesearch Farms,

will delight us with her latest and greatest offerings. All of

these plants and more will be offered at our 15th Annual

Garden Art and Plant Sale. All of these plants and more will be offered at our 15th Annual Garden Art and Plant Sale. Social time is 9:30 a.m. and great plants we will offer at our sale. Social time is 9:30 a.m. and the meeting

starts at 10:00 a.m. The meeting location will be the

Knights of Columbus Hall on 702 Burney Road in Sugar

Land, next to St. Theresa’s Catholic Church.

Previews of the unique and original creations that will be

offered for sale by the vendors at our Garden Art and Plant

Sale will also be on display at the general meeting for your

window-shopping enjoyment. Tempting garden-themed

merchandise from locally famous artisans will include:

garden aprons and totes, jellies & jams, ceramics for both

inside & outside, colorful glass creatures, hats and baskets.

Check the side tables for displays from these vendors and

make a wish list!

Heidi Sheesley and nursery assistant Trooper, are busy

growing beautiful plants for our 15th

Annual Garden Art

and Plant Sale. Heidi returns to the Sugar Land

Garden Club on September 17.

GAPS Volunteers Can Pre-Order Plants

This year, our GAPS volunteers can pre-order

plants after the general meeting in September. In

addition to cash, purchases can also be made by

credit card. Pre-ordered plants can be picked up

Friday, September 20th, at the Sugar Lakes

Clubhouse from 11 a.m. to 1:00 pm. Any plants

that are not picked up by 1:00 p.m. will be

donated to the garden club and sold the following

day. If a tax receipt for your donation is

required, please contact Rose Ann Acosta by

phone or email.

LAST CALL FOR GAPS SEEDS

It’s time to turn in seeds that you have collected

from your garden for GAPS if you haven’t

already. It is an easy contribution that many of our

customers look forward to purchasing. Please

clean your seeds before giving them to Sylvia

Alewine. Cleaning means removing most of the

chaff and non-seed parts.

Please bring seeds to our September General

Meeting and give them to Sylvia Alewine.

If you have any questions, please contact your

GAPS Seed Coordinator Sylvia Alewine at

[email protected]

Many thanks to those who have already

contributed seeds!!

Newsletter 3

PLANT SWAPS TO RESUME at September Meeting!!! The Plant Swap Girls are so excited to get back to work on our first swap in September. Here is your perfect opportunity to clear out your flower beds and make room for new GAPS plants. There will be plenty of space for all the wonderful plants you bring to share. The swaps are fun and a great way to try interesting plants in your garden. Keep in mind our three basic rules:

1. Any plants that you bring should be labeled with the plant name

2. Take home any plants you bring that do not get adopted

3. Remove plants from the table only when the swap begins

Please be courteous to others as you select one or two plants then let others have a turn. You can go back again for more plants if they are still available. Get digging! Your Plant Swap Committee Donnetta Parrish, Charline Russell, and Shirley Reese

Diane Schomburg’s front gardens.

UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS

October 22, 2013 - Mercer Arboretum, Spring, TX November 26, 2013 - Brazos Bend State Park *January 28, 2014 - Painted Churches Tour – Schulenburg *This will be a bus trip. We will

begin registering for this trip at ou r

October Meetings

October Workshop: "Lighted

Glass Block" by Lynette McQueen

Create a fall leaf scape on a glass block that will be light-lending a sparkling touch

to a fall decoration. Cost: $15 Register: September general meeting Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 10:00 a.m. to 12:00p.m. Location: Imperial Park Recreational Center at 234 Matlage Way, Sugar Land, Texas 77478. Limit: 18 people

1

Newsletter 4

Master Gardener’s Report By Deborah Birge

Monthly Program: Fall/Winter Vegetable Gardening This event is on September 19 2013.

Take advantage of the usually mild Southeast Texas

winter climate to extend your vegetable growing season.

Our Master Gardener Vegetable Specialist will provide

helpful and timely information on growing methods and

proven crops for Fort Bend County.

Time: Social 6:30 p.m.; Presentation 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Location: Bud O’Shieles Community Center, 1330

Band Road, Rosenberg, TX 77471

Master Gardening Training Class Deadline This Friday This event is on September 15, 2013.

Do you enjoy gardening? Are you interested in learning

more about plants? Are you new to gardening or new to the

Texas Gulf Coast area? The Master Gardener training class

might be just what you are looking for. The fall 2013

training class will start in October. The deadline for applying is Sept. 20, 2013.

Saturday in the Gardens with the Master Gardeners This event is on October 5, 2013.

Garden Talk Topic “Butterfly Gardening in the

Butterfly Habitat at 10:00 a.m.″ Join the Fort Bend County Master Gardeners in their 4 acres

of demonstration gardens on Saturday, October 5th and talk

to the MG volunteers who design and maintain them. It is a

great way to learn about gardening and plants well suited for

Fort Bend County.

Park in front of the Agriculture Center located at 1402 Band

Road, Rosenberg, 77471. Take one of the sidewalks back to

the area behind the building where you’ll find the gardens

and Master Gardeners at work.

Gardens will be open from 9:00 am to 11:00 am on October

5. Attend an informal garden talk on Butterfly Gardening

which starts at 10:00 a.m. in the Butterfly Habitat.Monthly Program: ABC’s of Winter Season Tree & Shrub Care (continued next column)

Flowers at Farmer’s Market in Bern, Switzerland

Learn how to care for your valuable trees and shrubs during

the cool fall and winter months. Our guest speaker is Paul

Wierzbicki, Horticulturist, Missouri City Parks &

Recreation Department.

Time: Social 6:30 p.m.; Presentation 7:00 p.m. – 8:00

p.m.

Location: Bud O’Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg, TX 77471

Saturday in the Gardens with the Master Gardeners This event is on November 2, 2013.

Garden Talk Topic “Fall Vegetable Gardening in the

Vegetable Garden at 10:00 Join the Fort Bend County Master Gardeners in their 4 acres

of demonstration gardens on Saturday, November 2nd and

talk to the MG volunteers who design and maintain them. It

is a great way to learn about gardening and plants well

suited for Fort Bend County.

Park in front of the Agriculture Center located at 1402 Band

Road, Rosenberg, 77471. Take one of the sidewalks back to

the area behind the building where you’ll find the gardens

and Master Gardeners at work.

Gardens will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on

November 2. . Attend an informal garden talk on Fall Vegetable Gardening which starts at 10:00 a.m. in the

Vegetable Garden

We are on the Web at

http://sugarlandgardenclub.

org

Also, join us on Facebook!

Newsletter 5

15TH

ANNUAL

GARDEN ART &

PLANT SALE!

PLANTS-A-

PALOOZA! A

Plethora of Perfect

Plants SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER

21, 2013

8:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Sugar Lakes Clubhouse

930 Sugar Lakes Dr.

“PLANTS-A-PALOOZA! A Plethora of Perfect Plants” is

the exciting theme of this year’s Garden Art and Plant Sale.

Once again, our annual plant sale will tempt you with

exquisite plants and a dizzying array of beautiful garden art.

Face it….your backyard retreat needs sprucing it up with

fresh plantings and accents and our sale is the answer to your prayers.

Our plants are from Treesearch Farms, a premier provider of

unique and well-adapted plants for the Gulf Coast area.

The plants available at our sale have been hand-selected by

the SLGC plant selection committee along with the

recommendations of Heidi Sheesley, owner of Treesearch

Farms. Only those perennials, flowering shrubs, annuals

and vines which have a proven history of doing well in our

area, based on the past experience of the SLGC members,

will be offered. As a special treat to customers, a few new

and exciting varieties will be mixed in. We also have seeds collected from member’s gardens.

The plant list for the upcoming sale totals over 160 varieties

including: melochia tea bush, Snow Storm beautyberry,

Grape Sensation gaillardia, Lufkin Red and Lufkin White

hibiscus, ‘Little Boy Blue’ salvia and lots and lots of

gingers! One, two and three gallon plants are offered at

very competitive prices. In a few days, you can check out

the complete plant list on our website at

www.sugarlandgardenclub.org.

CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED! As an added benefit to our

customers, the SLGC now accept credit cards. Now you

can charge your purchase to your VISA, Mastercard or

American Express credit card and buy twice the plants!

Sixteen vendors will offer their enticing art items at the sale

both inside and outside the clubhouse. See the vendor

article for more information on our talented artisans. This

year, each vendor graciously donated one of their items to

our raffle. Be sure to get your raffle tickets!

Children are welcome as we find that most children at our sales are ‘budding’ gardeners, and they really enjoy helping

to pick out plants and pulling

the plant wagon for their

shopping parents! Free

lemonade and cookies are

offered by garden club

members to customers as they browse among the plants and

garden art items.

This delightful combination of butterfly and hummingbird

attracting plants below is a colorful addition to one SLGC

member’s garden. Hamelia patens, Gold Star esperanza and

blue barleria will all be sold at our sale.

The variegated jatropha will pop in your garden. Get

it at our sale

(continued next column)

Newsletter 6

CHANGE OF TWO BY-LAWS

PROPOSED

At the June Board Meeting, two by-laws

pertaining to membership were proposed. They

will be read at the September General Meeting

and voted on at the October Meeting. Basically,

both of these changes are pushing the dates back

one month. They have been recommended by the

Vice-Presidents of Membership and Nominating

Committees.

ARTICLE III – Membership

…Membership dues for the following year shall

be $30 payable from March 1 through April 30.

(March instead of February)

ARTICLE V - Officers

Section 2 – Nominating Committee

b. The nominating Committee shall present the

names of the prospective officers for the ensuing

year at the February meeting. (Instead of the

Janary meeting.)

c. Elections

The officers shall be elected at the February

meeting and shall be installed in office in May.

(Instead of the January meeting)

Available at GAPS

Melochia tea bush makes an excellent border plant in areas

that do not receive very much water. It is a great choice for

rock gardens and wildscapes. With its lovely blooms that are ever present until the first frost, unusual and full foliage and

compact size, melochia is a great plant to use in the

landscape. Hard to find!

VENDORS AT GAPS

The picture below shows the item that each of our

vendors have donated for our GAPS Raffle. The

Raffle tickets are $1 for one or $5 for six

Back Row: Susie Curry, Lynette McQueen, Rose Allen,

Melissa Bailey, Mary Bullock, Elizabeth Barrow and her

daughter Abby. Front Row: Nancy Adams, Anne Ondrusek,

Diana Miller, Jaemie Herndon, Gretchen Cockerill Not

shown - Michelle Eigler

We are so excited about all the talented artisans that will be

selling their wares during the annual Garden Art and Plant

Sale on September 21.

10 new vendors will provide a variety of unusual and

different items just in time for your holiday shopping. These include:

Ecofab Arts – Beautiful glass flowers made from rescued,

repurposed & remarkable glass

The Tin Armadillo - Lanterns, planters, windchimes &

whimsical critters created from tin cans

Simply Charming – Wind Spinners

Possum Kingdom Candles – Hand poured soy candles,

soaps, etched glass and garden plaques

Susie Curry/Lisa Bonin – Mosaic Artists

Unique Items by Lynette – Garden totems and Bird Baths

Diana Miller – Hand made seasonal wreaths, decorated birdhouses

Papershell Gallery – Succulent based items

Barbara Willy – Outdoor wreaths and garden items

Mary Bullock – Hand painted china boxes

Returning favorites from last year:

Honey’s Homemade Jams & Jellies

Connie Williams – Sew Special Wearhouse – fabric totes,

hats, lunch bags etc.

Nature’s Nests – Cedar houses for birds, bats and butterflies

Janet Green – Wire wrapped garden art

Gretchen Cockerill – jewelry

Quotentials/Sheryl Lambert – beautiful fused glass items

Newsletter 7

Caterpillar or Caterpillar By Don Johnson For thirty-one years there was a large field behind the

houses across the street from our house. This summer a

developer’s Caterpillar bulldozer has changed that. There

will be forty-five patio homes constructed on the lot in the

coming months. There is nothing illegal about what is being

done or what the previous owner did in selling the property.

There will be people who want to buy the homes. But this is

another example of habitat loss. In his book, “Bringing Nature Home,” Doug Tallamy states, “The wild creatures

we enjoy and would like to have in our lives will not be here

in the future if we take away their food and the places they

live.” Dr. Karen Oberhauser, Director of Monarchs in the

Classroom and Associate Professor at the University of

Minnesota stated, “I am becoming more and more concerned

with the impacts that humans have on monarchs and other

organisms, and with the precarious balance between human

needs and the needs of the species with which we share the

planet.”

The giant swallowtail is feeding on the duranta.

As gardeners, we can all help replace lost habitat by creating

habitat for wildlife in our yards. When our neighbors are

hiring companies to spray their yard to kill insects, we can

put plants into our yard that will attract insects. That

becomes a good time to educate our neighbors. Attracting

insects attracts birds and other wildlife. Planting nectar and

host plants in our yards attracts butterflies. Including dill

and fennel brings in black swallowtails.

Gardeners plant milkweed to attract the beautiful monarchs. The milkweed also attracts aphids, which provide food for

lady beetles. We have added bird feeders and water for

drinking and bathing. This is the time of year when the

hummingbirds are migrating through and will come to our

yards if we have the right nectar plants. Many of the same

plants attract both hummingbirds and butterflies. As an

added benefit, the habitat also attracts children and

grandchildren. It’s great for language development and

encourages curiosity for children of all ages.

The picture at the top of the next column shows the passion vine that is the host plant for the gulf fritillary. She is

about to lay an egg on the plant.

. This article includes photos of some of the plants available

at this year’s sale which we have enjoyed in our garden.

Some are nectar plants that attract butterflies and

hummingbirds; some are host plants for the butterflies. It is

important to have nectar plants that bloom at different times

of the year.

In the past, gardeners wishing to create habitat have become

frustrated by HOA regulations. The most recent Texas

legislative session saw the governor sign a bill (Senate Bill 198) that restricts HOA’s from preventing land owners from

installing native and other water conserving landscapes in

their yards. By creating a habitat garden in our yards we

help do our part to ensure that the next generation will also

enjoy the same wildlife that we have enjoyed.

The hummingbird loves the salvia greggii and the hamelia.

The cassia is a host plant for the sulphur butterfly. The caterpillar is eating the plant.

Newsletter 8

The white mist flower is popular with butterflies as a nectar plant.

Some plants attract both the hummingbird and butterflies. The pentas, Mexican flame vine and the orange flame justicia are plants that are in our yard that butterflies and hummers go to.

GARDEN CLUB MOMENTS By Margaret Penrod

Margaret in her grandparent's home, the G. W. and Nettie Canter Pounds House near Daisetta, Texas. The house is currently owned by the Historical Society of East Liberty County.

I joined the Sugar Land Garden Club

around 1988. I came to hear the program

presented by Bill Adams and found a

group of lovely, genteel ladies who were

friendly and welcoming. They quickly

asked me to be a member of the Telephone

Committee. My job was to call the

members who were listed on one page of

our yearbook. Usually they would politely

answer their phone, chat a while if they

chose, and let me know if they would be

attending the meeting. I listened when

they told me what they liked and disliked

about the club, opening communications

between me and the established members.

This was one cushy job. My garden club

nirvana was short lived when I was pressed

into service as Treasurer. You learn a lot

about the inner workings of the club as

Treasurer. I continued on the Board of

Directors while serving as Corresponding (continued next page)

Newsletter 9

Secretary, Photographer, and Horticulture

Chair. Our club sponsored me to

complete the Garden Study and Landscape

Design Courses. A faithful few enjoyed

the programs at Houston Council. A small

group of our members attended birding and

nature oriented meetings. Later, many of

us became Master Gardeners. I paid

careful attention to the qualities, which, in

my opinion, made a good speaker.

I was asked to be First Vice President for

the 1993-1994 garden club year. This was

a difficult position to fill. The bylaws were

not crystal clear, but the First V. P. was

expected to provide all the programs at the

meetings, arrange the Christmas and May

parties, and organize the pilgrimages and

possibly workshops, and to assume the

duties of the President in her absence. We

had previously two people share this

position, but had not made one person

responsible for each duty. I thought this

had to change. I said I would be delighted

to provide the programs for the meetings,

but I was sure we could find members

much more suitable for the parties and

pilgrimages, which is what we did.

Club Historian, Virginia White, wrote

“Margaret has been totally responsible for

up-grading our speakers”. This would not

have been possible without the backing of

our Board of Directors. Our club was in

the habit of paying our monthly speakers

as little as possible. While many very

knowledgeable experts speak for the joy of

increasing gardening expertise, many

expected compensation. I presented the

idea of increasing our speaker

compensation to the board. In a totally (continued next page)

unprecedented move, the board allowed

me to schedule each month’s program,

total the cost, come back to them and plug

that amount into the budget. This was

trust. They trusted me to use my good

judgment and speedily report to them. I

trusted them to back my decisions. It

worked and we were able to plan budgets

for the future. In March 1995, Heidi

Sheesley’s program was a plant-lover’s

delight. Heidi became and remains a

beloved friend of our club. I held the

position of Program Chair for three years.

I was elected to serve as our President for

the 1996-97 year, which was the first of

five years I took the cover photograph for

our yearbook. That year my First V. P.’s

refused to serve unless I gave them a list of

each month’s speakers. I did. For this,

and my following year of 1997-98, I had a

wonderful Board of Directors. I carefully

listened to their likes and dislikes and past

experiences so they would have a

volunteer opportunity they truly enjoyed. I

paired members who I thought would

enjoy working together. Many times they

chose to carry their duties much farther

than I expected.

It has been a long time since my

Presidency ended in 1998. Not one year

has passed that someone has told me how

much they appreciated the time and effort I

have put into our club. I think that’s what I

like most about the Sugar Land Garden

Club, we appreciate each other.

Newsletter 10

HORTICULTURAL COLUMN Paula Goodwin

Hurrah for September! We begin our

new garden year with our new

president, and look forward to cooler

weather without too many

mosquitoes to get back outside to

garden. We wonder what perennial

treasures will be offered up to us at

our Garden Art and Plant sale. And

what plant will be on the cover of our

yearbook? There is much to look

forward to. Heidi Sheesley will be the

fabulous speaker and she makes

every plant in our garden sale seem

like it is a plant you cannot live

without. There is always something

new and different that catches my

eye. Then the wow “gotta have it”

side of my brain takes over the

practical “don’t have room in my

yard” brain.

I am not sure that all these beauties

will be offered at the sale, but they

have been previously. Here are a few

of my favorites:

Mexican flame vine: This not a

runaway-type vine that you mutter

expletive words over. It does send out

runners along the ground, so train

them up onto a trellis or put a barrier

around the base to keep it in its

place. Its orangey flowers must be

delicious, because it is a magnate for

all kinds of butterflies in the fall.

Trim off all the foliage almost to the

ground in early spring.

Salvia miniata: Re-landscaping and

irrigation work took all of mine out.

But I want their glossy leaves and

red blooms back in my

butterfly/hummingbird bed. This

salvia politely spreads and will fill

out into a nice clump. Actually any

kind of salvia (the varieties are

endless) will be on my to-buy list.

Well, there was one salvia that must

have had “gigantica” in its name and

had to be wrestled out of its bed.

Newsletter 11

Almond verbena: This is a tree with

highly fragrant white blooms-- like

you can smell- it-a-block-away

fragrant. It grew too tall for its space

up against a garage wall and I

cringed when my husband had to

whack it down. I now know how

much room it needs and have a space

in full sun for a replacement. Just

love this.

Cuphea, Bat-Face: My son calls this

the vampire plant. It makes me

smile every time I walk by it.

Hamelia: This is on my list just in

case anyone out there does not know

about this shrub. You need at least

one. Don and Penny Johnson’s

garden has several planted together

in one large grouping. Wow. I am

sure hundreds of hummingbirds have

this yard mapped out in their little

GPS’s. Our hamelia is planted just

outside our kitchen window and it is

cheap entertainment for us at this

time of year when the hummingbirds

migrate through. I think the bigger

the shrub, the better. I feel good

about providing food for these little

birds that still have a long journey

ahead of them.

Cuban Gold Duranta: A group of

these small shrubs will give a pop of

Newsletter 12

color in your garden especially in the

dusk of the evening. Their neon

foliage will draw your eye at all

hours of the day.

One gardener tip I must try to follow:

Always put your new plants in the

ground the same day you buy them—

it will make you think twice about

bringing more home.

The plants that will be for sale at our

Garden Art and Plant Sale are

diverse and healthy perennials you

will find in one convenient spot. And

fall is the time to plant. I’ll be there

helping people to make choices for

their own gardens along with all of

our other knowledgeable volunteers.

Some people have even been

persuaded to join our club while

standing in the check-out line. So be

forewarned.

Also available at GAPS

Flapjacks kalanchoe is a conversation piece. Appropriately

named because of its paddle shaped leaves, it becomes a

showstopper in a container.

Photo by Joan Pritchard.

Available at GAPS

The variegated jatropha will pop in your garden. Get it at

our sale.

Thanks to each of

you who help

make our

garden

club so

special.

Green Leaf 13