Quail Valley Garden Club

March 3, 2012 Micro Irrigation Workshop

Our March 3, 2012, Micro-Irrigation Workshop presented by Dean Robison (center) and chaired and organized by Sharon Wright (right) proved to be popular with men and women alike.

This free seminar presented by the Quail Valley Garden Club as a free community seminar provided not only a walk through of Dean and Linda's wonderful garden, but it also gave us the hands-on knowledge of the tools, parts and possibilities micro irrigation provides not just for the garden, but for pots and hanging baskets.

As one male attendee said, "I thought I could probably do this, but there were so many parts and pieces I didn't know where to start. Today, I have the confidence to try a project and many ideas how we might use this in our garden."

If you have ever felt a prisoner to taking care of hanging baskets or pots, this opened some possibilities for taking a vacation or just having time to enjoy the garden more.

Dean is one of the few gardeners I know who can keep a Fushia hanging basket alive and thriving through a Gulf Coast summer--even a dry sizzler like last year.

The ultimate tinkerer and doer, the Robison courtyard entry displays not only pots and hanging baskets, but the re-purposed glass that Dean is making into beautiful wind chimes. The light through the glass was stunningly beautiful as was the melodies of the chimes.

It's a beautiful transition into the home and expresses their interests and hospitality to visitors.

Dean is a natural born teacher. First he walked us through the garden pointing out the various parts and possibilities for choosing micro-irrigation solutions that might work in various instances. He answered numerous questions and just showed wonderful common sense to keeping things workable, but not too hard to do.

It was amazing to me that I had been through the garden many times when the Robison's were on the Backyard Tour a couple of years ago. Yet, I had never really noticed the "how" around the irrigation system. Because color and texture draw the eye and this is so small, you just don't notice it unless it's pointed out. At least, I don't.

After our walk through, we got to the workshop part where Dean had assembled a sample of the ways you could put together a system. He also provided us with a catalog of parts as well as a periodical on the method. But seeing how it had been used made it real.

We were also provided a publication by California Landscape Architect and irrigation consultant Jess Stryker, Drip Irrigation Design Guidelines, which gives a complete overview of valves, backflow preventers, pressure regulators filters, tubing adapters, drip tubing, the many types of emitters and end caps. One of my personal favorites items was the "Goof Plug" to correct mistakes or to change your system as your garden changes.

We also received a catalog from DripWorks.com, an online supplier. This colorful catalog also had some great use type photos and applications. Both Mr. Styker's and DripWork's websites have online tutorials.

The community owes Dean a debt of gratitude for so generously sharing his time, talent and tinkering with us.

Here are some of the parts and pieces we saw at Dean's, which are, of course, also available at neighborhood home improvement stores. He rigged together some examples that were very helpful to relate to the applications seen.

 

Tubing & emitters        Multiple-timers        Tools & fittings

 

Timer detail                    Applications to containers

Please click on images to enlarge.

And the audience participation was great!

 

 

 

Quail Valley Elementary School Community Garden

 

QVGC's Renee Brown and President Penny Johnson.

As part of our effort to be more active in the community and promote gardening skills, through Sharon Wright's Outreach initiative, we are partnering to help design and implement a Community Garden at Quail Valley Elementary School. Club champions for the garden are Janice Scanlan and Renee Brown. We are working with Judy Harper, a math and science specialist and 4th grade teacher at Quail Valley Elementary. However, the involvement by faculty, principal, PTO as well as parents has been inspiring.

 

On February 23, Penny Johnson, Sharon Wright, Judy Belt, Renee Brown and Janice Scanlan attended QVE Math and Science Night.It was actually almost too busy to get many photos, but here's two and a link to more and a story on QVE Math & Science Night.

 

You can see Sharon Wright standing along the wall in Judy Harper's 4th Grade School Room.

 

 

February 2012 Meeting

 Makers of a great meeting . . .

 

Our hostesses, programs and membership come early and get set up to make a pleasant meeting. They also clean up. Pictured is Social Chair Sharon Wright, Suzy Walters, Lynn Ellis and Virginia Moore. Jo Ann Mayhall was also a hostess, but is out front and center to meet and greet so Lynn Ellis,who was not an official hostess, pitched to help clean up.

 Program and running the meeting . . .

 

With a festive Valentine's meeting, President Penny Johnson, Program Chair Barbara Thompson and speaker Ginny Grant were all feathered up for the holiday! Ginny, a Master Gardener, was really a good sport to sub for Shari Grahmann, who has moved to San Antonio.

Her program was on the meaning of flowers, typical flowers blooming during the year, the history of how they are attached to the seasons, some religions influence on holidays and flowers that are associated with a certain month. Ginny showed us pictures . . . and then had Q&A, which turned to many questions about Citrus Trees since the Master Gardeners were about to have their February fruit tree sale. Thanks Ginny, for taking someone else's topic and developing a program around it.

Horticulture

 

Mary Chan pictured in Black & White far right always does a great job of leading horticulture and including our members and guests. From left to right is Malee Samee, Jerre Anne Wagner, Arvada Simpcoe, Patty McKeever, and Marsha Strain with Mary.

Joan Fox (in profile), Sandy's blouse, Sylvia Shultz, Jackie Walker, Barbara Thompson, Nancy Lindsay, Bette Kraus

Sandy Smith brought a Camelia she had "waxed" because it included its stamens (uncommon to this variety), which had never happened before. She is flanked by Gretchen Cockerill on the left and Karen Meier on the right.

   More Arbor Day Celebration Pictures.

On right Paul Weirzbicki and Rose Ann Acosta are flanked by members admiring the new bench in MacNaughton Park.

To read more about this story and see a park map, press here.

 

 

 

Free Workshop on Micro-Irrigation

Mark your calendar!

 

Saturday, March 3, 10:00 AM, 3306 Hampton Road

Home of Dean and Linda Robison

• Did you have trouble keeping pots or hanging baskets watered last summer?
• Do you sometimes feel you are wasting water with your watering methods?
• Have you had trouble going on vacation when it’s hot?
• Have you hesitated to plant vegetables or acid loving plants that yellow from calcium buildup on the leaves from conventional irrigation or watering techniques?
• Do you want to reduce your watering bill?

One of our past Quail Valley Backyard Garden Tour gardeners, Dean Robison, will share his experience with micro-irrigation (drip irrigation) and show us hands on techniques and tips to make this information work in your garden. Sponsored by the Quail Valley Garden Club, this free workshop to the public is part of Quail Valley Garden Club’s efforts to make our community more beautiful by encouraging gardening. It’s also just a pleasure to visit this garden.

Join us free of change Saturday, March 3 at 10 am at 3306 Hampton Road (in Quail Valley. Hampton is off Murphy Road next to Lowe's). No Reservations required. 

Press this link to see what we mean about Dean and Linda's garden from our 2010 Garden Tour!

Speaking of QV Backyard Garden Tour, this years is April 21, from 10 to 3!

For more information contact Sharon Wright at 281 438-3653.

 

Arbor Day

 

 We only expected our trees at our Arbor Day Celebration in MacNaughton Park. . .we were pleasantly surprised to see our bench. In part due to QVGC efforts starting with meeting with the Parks Department last summer, we arrived not only to see our total gift of ten trees tied with red ribbons; but also our park bench, which is handsome, sturdy and the new standard for Memorial Benches in Missouri City. With other residents giving Memorial trees and benches, where the park is completed being grated there are now 43 trees and two park benches--it's all treed up and benched to "Grow Better Community." With others, we can make a big difference in our community.

QVGC Arbor Day and Beautification Chair Rose Ann Acosta and City Forester Paul Wierzbicki did a super job on Arbor Day.

Stop at the Half-way house parking lot at Hampton and West Creek Club, and walk onto the trail. Our bench is the first one! Our trees are fittingly scattered throughout the grove of 43 trees.

This was just a great Valentines surprise we couldn't wait to share!

To learn how to give to the Memorial Tree and Bench program for any park or trail in Missouri City, contact City Forester Paul Wierzbicki at 281 403-8645.

Here's a current drawing of how the MacNaughton Park will look when completed.

 

Press any photo to enlarge it. To see more about Quail Valley Garden Club's February Program, of which Arbor Day was a part, press here.

Arbor Day Proclamation, February 9, 2012 by Rose Ann Acosta

WHEREAS,    In 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees, and

WHEREAS,    this holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska, and

WHEREAS,    Arbor day is now observed throughtout the nation and the world, and

WHEREAS,     trees can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife, and

WHEREAS,    trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify the landscape

WHEREAS,    trees where they are planted, are a source of joy and spirutual renewal,

WE, the Quail Valley Garden Club, in celebration of Arbor Day 2012, plant these eight trees in MacNaughton Park to enhance and beautify our community that these trees may gladden the hearts of all park visitors and promote the well being of this and future generations.