Garden Club Christmas Party

President Bev and Larry Allen hosted a fabulous evening Christmas Party in their beautifully holiday decorated home and yard.

Garden Club members and family enjoyed a wonderful potluck dinner with lively conversation and drinks.







The entertainment was wrapped Christmas ornaments "Santa steals allowed 2 times" exchange.

Garden club members gave Helen an embroidered pillow and 3D metal butterfly for her new home in LA.








Everyone agreed it was a great way to be filled with the holiday spirit!
 
 The evening concluded with Mike Owens reading several of his award winning poems.

Autumn- Trees and Vines

Newsletter

Vines on Trees - a No-No!

It’s time again to get the ivy and other vines off of and out of the trees. Vines should simply not be allowed to grow on trees. In the tops of trees, the vines reach out beyond the foliage and block the sunlight. With sunlight cut down, photosynthesis is reduced and tree health suffers. Plus it just looks messy.

English ivy and other clinging vines and groundcovers are also a problem on trunks of trees. First of all the foliage blocks light and air, limiting the breathing that bark is designed to do. The vines collect organic material in the form of loose bark, dead leaves, dust and other debris. This mixture creates soil that collects in crotches, but worse, it builds up on the root flares of trees. Long term this creates a condition similar to trees being planted too deep in the ground. Girdling, rot and even death can result. At the very least, tree health and growth are reduced. Some people say it’s okay to leave these plants on the trunks of trees. Their advice is very bad. I used to make the same mistake.

This is an important fall/winter maintenance procedure for everyone with trees. Remove all vines and ground covers from trees completely. Also remove the plants from at least 12" around the base to expose the trunk/ root flare. If soil and/or mulch are covering the flare, they should be removed as well.

You will be fascinated how much this procedure improves the health and growth of your volunteer trees. If you have any questions on this newsletter or any other topic, tune in Sunday 8 am -11 am (CST) to the Dirt Doctor Radio Show. Listen on the internet or find a station in your area. The phone number for the show is 1-866-444-3478. Please share this newsletter with everyone in your address book and all of your friends on Facebook and Twitter to help me spread the word on organics.

Naturally yours,

Howard Garrett

November Meeting

President, Beverly Allen, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. at the Cypress Creek Lakes Community Center.

Emil and Analiza Del Valle of Andrew Arbor Ct. were announced as November’s Yard of the Month winners.

Those in attendance included: Sandra Gilbert, Beverly Allen, Larry Allen, Marcia Mausolf, David Mausolf, Billie Fontana, Ann Wiseman, Jennifer Buchert, Ellen Jones, Helen Lombardo, Debbie Haluch.

A motion was made and seconded to dispense of the reading of the minutes.

Business: Bev discussed various garden club initiatives including additional signs for new sections of Cypress Creek Lakes. Four new signs were placed in the new section. Concerns were expressed from aging Yard of the Month sign. Bev also reminded members that she and Larry will host the annual Christmas party at their home on December 12 at 7 p.m. Assignments for food items will be arranged alphabetically by last name. A-M will bring appetizers/side dishes. N-Z will brings desserts.

The Federation Garden Club meeting will be November 14. The program includes a flower show. Ann and Bev will attend.

The butterfly garden has been planted. Helen announced that she will be moving back to Louisiana with her family and asked if anyone would be interested in taking over her duties as butterfly garden “manager” and Jr. Gardener event organizer.

Upcoming tours and demos were discussed.
Master Gardener, Margaret Lloyd Bingham gave a lovely and informative presentation on butterflies and butterfly gardens. A donation will be made to the Harris County Master Gardeners Association in the amount of $40.

Thank you to Billie for being hostess this month!


Gardening tip of the month: “Thanksgiving is considered the best time to start planting daffodils and narcissus. Consider dead-heading garden mums. They will push out new blooms if you eliminate the expired ones.” Randy Lemmon, 1001 Garden Line Questions with Randy Lemmon.

The next meeting will be in January at the Cypress Creek Lakes community center.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Energetic Butterfly Fall Planting

Garden club members met Saturday morning to replant neighborhood Butterfly Garden.





Plenty of work to be done so everyone started putting in plants according our garden designer Helen's instructions.

The sun got brighter, shadows got longer and the wind picked up a bit.  It was better to keep moving quickly.







In less than 2 hours, we planted 398 plants and mulched too.

The members who could stay rested on the rock and shared quick conversation with donuts.

Square Foot Gardening Demonstration

Garden Member Debbie Haluch hosted a square foot gardening demonstration at her home. 

Video of perlite versus vermiculite
demonstrating the advantages of raised garden water retention.

She had containers with 5 different compost materials, building materials and a PowerPoint presentation.  10 members and friends attended.

October Monthly Meeting

President, Beverly Allen, called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. at the Cypress Creek Lakes Community Center.

Michael and Kristen Villareal of Millies Creek Lane were announced as October’s Yard of the Month winners.

Those in attendance included: Sandra Gilbert, Terry Miller, Beverly Allen, Larry Allen, Marcia Mausolf, David Mausolf, Billie Fontana, Ann Wiseman, Jennifer Buchert, Norma Chiaramonte, Ellen Jones, Helen Lombardo, Debbie Haluch, Patti Foucha, Mike Owens and Lauren Bergeron.

A motion was made and seconded to dispense of the reading of the minutes.

 

 

 

Cindy Wilson of the Houston Hibiscus Chapter was this month’s presenter. She shared a multitude of tips on hibiscus planting, care and maintenance.

 

Business: Bev discussed various garden club initiatives including additional signs for new sections of Cypress Creek Lakes. Four new signs have been ordered for placement in the new section. Bev also announced that she and Larry will host the annual Christmas party at their home on December 12 at 7 p.m.

 

The Federation Garden Club meeting will be November 14. The program includes a flower show.

Additionally, Debbie distributed new invitation cards with a variety of photographs from past club activities and projects. The cards will be a great way to spread the word about the CCLGC. Debbie will also host a square foot garden demonstration at her home on October 18^th.

 

Mike Owens announced that there will be a MUD meeting to discuss water conservation on Wednesday, October 22.

 

Upcoming tours and demos were discussed.

 

Thank you to Jennifer for being hostess this month!

 

Gardening tip of the month: “October is the perfect month redo or even start big landscape projects. October is historically the best month for establishing root systems of trees and shrubs before winter comes. By establishing them now, you will be rewarded with vibrant growth in spring.” Randy Lemmon, 1001 Garden Line Questions with Randy Lemmon.

 

The next meeting will be Monday, November 10, 2014 at the Cypress Creek Lakes community center.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Francisco and Jennifer Salazar of Carson Field Lane were announced as August’s Yard of the Month winners.

Those in attendance included: Bev and Larry Allen, Jennifer Buchert, Sandra Gilbert, Norma Chiaramonte, Bonnie Segura, Ann Wiseman, John Marenco and daughters, Debbie Haluch, Dale Smothers, Patti Foucha, Mike Owens, Lauren Bergeron, Kathie Corbett and Helen Lombardo.

A motion was made and seconded to dispense of the reading of the minutes.

Business: Bev discussed various garden club initiatives including additional signs for new sections of Cypress Creek Lakes. Larry shared a map of proposed sign postings and communicated the cost of having new signs made. The club was in agreement that new signs will help recruit new members and the cost was approved.

Additionally, Debbie shared a slide presentation and invitation cards used at her church as another means of sharing information and recruiting new members. Quantities and prices were communicated and the club agreed the cards will be a great way to spread the word about the CCLGC.

Thank you to Mike and Larry for installing eleven new bricks in the butterfly garden.

Upcoming tours and demos were discussed. Debbie has invited the group to her home for a square foot gardening presentation.

Carolyn Schultz, a Lowes garden specialist presented to the group. She discussed water harvesting, new plants and products.

Thank you to Helen for being hostess this month!

Gardening tip of the month: “September is a good month to plant Chrysanthemums (Garden Mums) from potted plants in the landscape. They will give you immediate color in the autumn months.” Randy Lemmon, 1001 Garden Line Questions with Randy Lemmon.

The next meeting will be Monday, October 13, 2014 at the Cypress Creek Lakes community center.

 

Now is the time to plant cilantro. Even though cilantro  is used in many hot and spicy dishes, it is grown in  the cooler months here in the Gulf Coast Area. It is a  very easy and rewarding addition to your herb garden.  It will continue to grow over the winter months  to harvest for your fall and holiday recipe.  Enjoy this delicious and easy recipe for  Cilantro Pesto from Real Simple: Ingredients: 3 garlic cloves, peeled and coarsely chopped ·        2 cups fresh cilantro, lightly packed 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Directions: Place the garlic and cilantro in a food processor  fitted with a metal blade. With the processor  running, slowly add the oils, lemon juice,  salt, and pepper. Process until smooth. Dig in!

Butterfly Garden continues growing

Wow... in just one month.

May 31st

June 30th

Butterfly Garden Spring Planting

Members gathered Saturday, May 31st to replant our community butterfly garden. 

                                       Here are pictures of the Spring event.