NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF TEXAS MEETING GET’S “BUCK” WILD - PET FRIENDLY PLANTS FOR THE HOME –BALCONY GARDENS – COMMUNITY GARDENS – CALENDAR OF EVENTS – FARMER’S MARKETS
Welcome to H2O To Grow, a newsletter from a San Antonio Native for local Rainwater Harvesting and Gardening Enthusiasts.
Hurray for the Rain. I put out my Rain Barrel and got about 20 gallons just on one side of the house, but I didn’t hook it up on time since the rain kind of snuck up on me. But Hurray for the Rain!
NPSOT MEETING GET’S “BUCK” WILD
The Native Plant Society Of Texas’ July meeting was a very passionate and informative one, regarding the white-tail deer and the effect climate change will have on its ecology. And although this was only my second meeting, I could see this was a packed house.
Being a city boy, it came as a shock to me that there is an explosion in the population of white tail deer in the hill country. And this voracious population of Bambi’s is eating up everything in sight.
Except for the Mountain Laurel, it is the one plant they seem to avoid.
A broad spectrum of the populace was represented and the discussions were animated and educational. This is good because the drought is an equal opportunist.
The guest speaker was Dr. Garri Dryden, Arid Lands Resource Scientist of Utopia, TX. The topic was “Texas Hill Country Plants: Climate Change and White-tailed Deer.” In summary, the deer are eating up all the vegetation which in turn causes desertification in the hill country which may be irreversible. While at the same time, the drought has essentially removed their abundant food supply, so they are eating everything they can find.
Eating up all the plants is bad during this drought; without the plants, we have the making of another Dust Bowl. And this one will happen on San Antonio’s front door.
But if having attack of the living deer weren’t bad enough, it turns out the Climate Change has altered the Hadley Cell of the Northern Hemisphere.
The Hadley cell is a belt of rotating air that that rises hot in the equator, travels north, then drops down with rain right around the 30° latitude. San Antonio is on the 29°25’26” latitude.
Coincidentally, The Great Pyramid in Egypt, Houston, TX, New Orleans, LA and Jacksonville, FL also fall on the 30° parallel.
The area in between is tropics then desert heading south, in predictable bands. Well, according to the studies on climate change, this area of rain we occupy is going to shift north to Canada. The deserts of Northern Mexico are going to shift north as well and become Texas deserts.
This is not the first time it has happened on Earth, but the last time it happened was 125,000 years ago and the water levels were 20 feet higher.
The meeting turned out very well, touching on the white-tailed deer and their overpopulation leading to famine and invasion of gardens.
We also spoke about re-planting more native trees, beginning a movement of urban assisted re-forestation. Imagine everyone taking a native tree or shrub home and caring for it for a season, then returning it to get planted in the environment where it’s needed most. It’s a program like the foster homes for seeing-eye dogs where they are raised as puppies.
Inexpensive. Effective. Ecological.
"God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand straining, leveling tempests and floods; but he cannot save them from fools."
-- John Muir (21 April 1838 – 24 December 1914) was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States
PET FRIENDLY PLANTS FOR THE HOME
Its summer and it’s raining. That means the mosquitoes and the fleas are going to be out of control.
However, it’s never too late to do something about them. You could go to the store and purchase an over the counter repellent, which work great by the way.
Or, you could start placing potted plants around your patio and outdoor areas to rid that section of fleas and mosquitoes. It is expensive to try and fill your ENTIRE yard with these plants, but they are known to repel fleas (F) and mosquitoes (M) indoors and in small spaces. Here are a few of my favorites.
Lavender: Repels (F) & (M). It has many medicinal and culinary uses and has been utilized by people for a very long time. And it looks good in a vase or potted plant.
Rosemary: Crushed leaf aroma repels (F) & (M). If you don’t know what this is; check out most commercial property landscapes. It is a hardy plant that likes it hot & dry. And it smells great when you crush it between your fingers or cook it with chicken.
Texas Hummingbird Mint: Crushed leaf aroma repels (M). These also add color to a garden and attract hummingbirds!
Catnip: Crushed leaf aroma repels (M) THE ONE THAT DRIVES CATS CRAZY. So aside from being a feline hallucinogenic it is apparently better than anything over the counter to repel mosquitoes. I recommend growing it in a pot.
Lemongrass: Repels (F) & (M). This one is a favorite in many Thai recipes and is native to the Philippines, so I recommend growing it in a pot to prevent invasive plants. Citronella is part of the same Genus and both are used as insect repellants.
I hope this bit of information helps, but until you have enough plants and they are mature enough to do some good, don’t stop using the mosquito repellant sprays.
Remember, Heartworm is passed on by mosquito bites to pets. So don’t forget to protect “Fido” from mosquito bites as well.
BALCONY GARDENS
For those of you who live in apartments or condos with only a balcony to grown on can take heart. Balcony Gardening, aka; Container Gardening may be even easier than you think.
The most important item is the soil, and container gardening is the easiest way to make sure your plants get exactly the type of soil they need. That’s because you supply the soil.
Weight is an issue, so make sure to purchase plastic containers or wire baskets to grow your plants in. Remember, the wet soil, plus the heavy pots may add up to more pounds than your balcony can handle. To be on the safe side, ask your leasing office for advice.
Watering is not a problem with container gardening since there are so many products on the market for that. You can get the glass globe; you can get self watering planters, or install your own drip irrigation to conserve water. And of course you could always use the Watering Can and do it by hand.
Either way it is a good starter garden for beginners and a great escape from stress. Imagine sitting on your patio surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers that you picked and placed there.
If you have children, getting them interested in container gardening is educational and entertaining.
Here is a cool project to save you time and money while recycling at the same time.
1. Parents - Take a 2 liter plastic soda bottle and cut the top off right above the label. (I used a box cutter to make a clean cut)
2. Parents - Remove the label and trim off any uneven or sharp points on the bottle with some scissors
3. Parents - Using a thumb tack or thin nail, poke 4 holes ¼ inch from the bottom of the bottle, this will be your drainage
4. Kids - Fill bottom 2 inches of the bottle with gravel or pebbles
5. Kids - Above the gravel add 2½ inches of potting soil, compost or yard dirt. (I used a large spoon)
6. Kids - Poke holes in the soil against the sides of the bottle with a pencil
7. Kids - Add your seeds right up against the side of the bottle (I recommend beans, since they grow so quickly) and water the soil
8. Kids – Squeeze the top back on the soda bottle and you have yourself a little greenhouse! Now watch them beans grow!
(Note: taping the cut edges of the bottle with electrical tape creates a better seal and prevents accidental cuts – Ask Dad to get his toolbox out.)
Every man has three characters: that which he shows, that which he has, and that which he thinks he has.
~Alphonse Karr
COMMUNITY GARDENS SPOTLIGHT
Visit one of these San Antonio Community Gardens to get inspiration and information on starting your home garden!
We will publicize 5 gardens per issue until we circle back to the beginning of all the community gardens in San Antonio.
Each Community Garden is unique and offers its own twist on the everyday vegetable gardening.
Whenever possible, we will include photos as well or more information.
Many of these community gardens are part of Green Spaces Alliance Network of Community Gardens so please support this non-profit even if it’s just with an “atta boy’ for doing such a great job.
1. Olmos Park Terrace – Triangle Park @ Howard and Mandalay
2. Roosevelt Justice Community Garden @ 235 E. Mitchell and Mission.
3. Lakeview Community Garden @ 1202 Plaza Lake Dr, 78245
4. AAMEN Community Garden @ 1122 S W.W. White Rd, 78220
5. High Country Community Garden @ 16418 Cypress Park, 78247
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.
~Carl Jung
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 5th, 2011 (Fri) – 10:00am: San Antonio Botanical Garden Watersaver Tour:Botanical Gardens, 555 Funston, 78209 – Cost: $8 Adult/$5 Kid
August 5th, 2011 (Fri) – 5:00pm: 18th Annual Balcones Heights Jazz Festival: Wonderland of the Americas, 4522 Fredericksburg Rd, 78201Funston, 78209 – Cost: FREE
August 6th, 2011 (Sat) – 8:00am: Dog Days of Summer: Botanical Gardens, 555 Funston, 78209 – Cost: $8 Adult/$5 Kid/$5 Dog
August 6th, 2011 (Sat) – 5pm – 9:30pm: Pelikoola en el Parque, Free Screening of Spy Kids: Hemisfair Park, 200 South Alamo, 78205 – Cost: FREE
August 9th, 2011 (Fri) – 6:30pm - 8:30pm: Seed Swap: Green Spaces Alliance:Jardin del Sol Palacio del Sol Apt, 400 N Frio, 78207, – Cost: FREE
August 11th, 2011 (Thur) – 6:00pm: Public Meeting on Potential Fee Rate Increase: Edwards Aquifer Authority:Edwards Aquifer Authority, 1615 N. St. Mary’s St, 78215, Cost: FREE
August 13th, 2011 (Sat) – 9am – 12pm: Soil and Bed Preparation Work(ing) Shop:Green Spaces Alliance, High Country Community Garden, 16418 Cypress Park, 78247 – Cost: FREE
FARMERS MARKETS
· Every Tuesday, 8am – 12pm - Main Plaza – 115
Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX.
· Every Tuesday, 7:30am – 1pm – Olmos Basin
100 Jackson Keller, 78216
· Every Wednesday, 7:30am – 1pm – Leon Valley
6427 Evers Rd, 78238
· Every Wednesday, 8am – 1pm – St. Jude Church
130 S. San Augustine St., 78209
· Every Wednesday, 4pm – Pearl Brewery
Pearl Park parking lot (say that 3 times real fast!)
· Every Thursday, 8 am – 1pm – SA BotanicalGardens
555 Funston Pl, 78209
· Every Friday, 8am – 1pm – St. Matthew’s Church
11121 Wurzbach Rd, 78230
· Every Saturday, 7am – 11am – Bracken Farmer’s and Artisans Market
7561 E Evans Rd, 78266
· Every Saturday, 7:30am – 1pm - Olmos Basin
100 Jackson Keller, 78216
· Every Saturday, 9am – 1pm - Pearl Farmer’s Market
At Pearl Brewery along the banks of the San Antonio River.
DO MORE
By William Arthur Ward
Do more than belong: participate.
Do more than care: help.
Do more than believe: practice.
Do more than be fair: be kind.
Do more than forgive: forget.
Do more than dream: work.
FOR A FREE RAIN WATER HARVESTING EVALUATION or BOX GARDEN QUOTES CONTACT Cesar@h2otogrow.co
Hope you like the newsletter.
Keep checking your e-mail or look us up at H2O To Grow on Facebook.
VOL. # 1 ISSUE #9
July 31st, 2011
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