Quail Valley Garden Club

January 2012 Meeting

 

 

 We had a strong kick-off program for the new year and Penny and Barbara got the ball rolling.

We unanimously elected the new executive board for 2012-13 of

Barbara Thompson   President
Sharon Wright   Programs
Jo Ann Mayhall  Membership
Judy Belt   Treasurer
Bette Kraus   Recording Sec'y  
Karen Meier  Corresponding Sec'y
Penny Johnson   Parliamentarian

  

Community Service

Members approved a plan by Beautification / Arbor Chair Rose Ann Acosta to spend $1800 on 8 trees and a 6 foot steel park bench with our name for MacNaughton Park.

 

We voted for this year to add $1500 from our opportunities fund to the $3000 budgeted, and for this year to increase scholarship amounts as well as empower the committee to spend or not spend the funds based on criteria met by the candidates. Anne McBride chairs the scholarship committee, but in her absence Janice Scanlan, Parliamentarian and Ways and Means Chair, presented the motion.

 

We welcomed a guest Judy  Pasadyn and two new members: Regina Petrauskas and Mally Samee in the photo above from left to right. As always our hostesses, led by Sharon Wright, Marilyn Ellis, Bette Kraus and Nancy Lindsay supplied a great spread . . . and festive atmosphere that made everyone feel welcomed.

Program

And it was move-the-chairs-out for last minute arrivals and a packed house. Our speaker Gaye Hammond delivered a lively program. She is a down-to-earth, funny and knowledgeable speaker. Past President of the Houston Rose Society Gaye was a driving force behind instigating of an exciting Research program on roses that don't need so much pampering and preening--a plant it and forget it rose. Ultimately the goal is to determine if a rose can receive the Earth Kind designation that has stringent requirements such as hardiness, ability to grow in various soils and climates, being 98% free of the need to spray fungicides and chemincals and once established being drought resistant. 

Truthfully, I think roses are beautiful, but have never been much interested because of the care requirements and need for a lot of sun. I'm glad I attended this program . . . and it brings home to me the value of keeping an open mind . . .I'm also excited that this line of thinking is beginning to be more there norm than what new chemicals can we introduce.

Gaye presented not only the academic study led by Texas A&M and a number of other high reputation universities in 27 states, 4 foreign countries and 13 botantical gardens. A preliminary study of the rose cultivars is being conducted before they ever reach the expensive academic study, which because of its rigor and requirements is very expensive. To the Houston Rose Societies credit, it provides funding (if not all of it) for this study.

Let me say what sold me is the demonstration that has gone on in Farmer's Branch, Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth and where the Dallas Rose Society now meets. To say that the roses thriving without additional water through last year's drought in that area and the heartiness of the roses, easy care, not spray is very impressive. I'm including a link to this demonstration, but I wish they had the pictures Gaye used showing the tiny sticks of roses planted 8 feet apart in February that were touching by October of the same year and blooming like crazy. Planted in 2008, these roses survived, bloomed and thrived in last year's drought in North Texas. Gaye is having the same success in her own garden--with no spraying for funguses, no heavy watering, dead heading and using organic methods and mulching.

The Farmers Branch garden is the largest Earth-Kind trial in the nation, with 400 plants. That's 100 different cultivars, replicated four times, says Steve George, who heads up the project. He is a professor and horticulturist based in North Dallas with Texas AgriLife Extension Service, an agency of the Texas A&M System. "We're searching for roses that have the potential to be Earth-Kind nationwide," he says. "The beauty of this thing is that when we're done, anyone, anywhere, can have roses."

To learn lots more about Farmer's Branch and Earth-Kind roses, press here. Gaye provided some great handouts, so if you're interested, have the room and 6+ hours sun, ask a member who was there. Warning there are some copy-cats of "Earth-kind Roses" but your first clue, if the rose is grafted, move on to find the real deal. Press Houston Rose Society for where-to-get links and all kinds of good stuff.

Thanks Gaye, for an exciting program and thanks to Shirley Renfrow (center below) for inviting Gaye. Shirley is also a member of the Houston Rose Society as well as long-time member of QVGC. She's pictured with Rose Ann Acosta to the left and Barbara Thompson on the right.

Social

The picture above is Inge-Lise Braswell and Jackie Walker.

Horticulture is a lively time to share in our program. Led by Mary Chan, these pictures speak volumes of how much fun and sharing goes on . . . even if we do get a little excited and talking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture left above clockwise from Nancy's finger: Jerre Ann Wagner, Sharon Wright, Lynn Ellis, Regina Petrauskas, Shirley Renfrow, Jackie Walker, Leader Mary Chan, and Penny Johnson.

Picture right above left to right Bette Kraus, Gretchen Cockerill, Mally Samme, Joan Fox, Nancy Lindsay, Jerre Ann Wagner. (Marilyn Ellis is behind Nancy in the leopard print.)

Picture left below (four central people) Penny Johnson, Judy Belt, Barbara Thompson and Bette Kraus.

 

 

Our next meeting is February 9, same time, same place with Ginny Grant on The Meaning of Flowers. After the meeting we will meet at the Halfway House at East Creek Club and Hampton and celebrate Arbor Day with our latest addition to MacNaughton Park--8 new trees!

 

 Jo Ann Mayhall pictured right will be smiling at the door to greet you.

 

 

 

And here's a picture of me, Janice Scanlan . . . wave if you have read this far or tell me if I've made a mistake, typo or misstatement! [email protected]

Click on images to enlarge them!

 

Attracting Birds to your backyard

We owe a real debt of gratitude to Margaret Sloan for her dedication to Quail Valley and for cataloging and photographing the many birds --give or take 120 -- that live year round or visit Quail Valley during the year.

She introduced us and provided forms for Project Feeder Watch, which is a way to keep up with birds visiting your garden as well as other resources about birds complete with some great hand outs. As Margaret told us, birds need food, water, and shelter that works with their habits and dietary needs. For example, hummingbirds come for red or orange flowers, but eventually they learn that the yellow, pink and other colored flowers work as well.

Food and shelter

A key factor is food and shelter variety. Margaret even plants Goldenrod because the birds like it so well. Remember, it's not a weed if you put it there. A variety of plants will also provide shelter and food as well as insects for birds that don't come to feeders.

Some birds come to feeders, others do not . . .besides insects they may like fruit such as the Loquat below or various berries like Mulberries. This Loquat tree was full of flowers that will make fruit winter to spring. The thick foliage is also good shelter. Many birds avoid bird houses, where Purple Martins "expect them."

A simple twig and brush pile is another good form of shelter. Margaret has one in the garden and another outside her garden on the creek.

Chile pequin peppers are another "fruit" that birds like. While some humans like it spiciness, Margaret leaves hers for the birds.

Water and a bird bath -- Margaret has a simple hose system hanging from a tree over the bird bath. She has a twig on the hose for those birds that prefer to hold onto a branch to drink rather than go to a bird bath. It makes the drip beautiful and natural-looking, while it keeps the bird bath water fresher. Can you guess where it is in the picture below? The bird bath is behind the ginger, which even the hummingbirds like now. The forked looking twig conceals the hose.

 Birds need a rock to stand on in the bird bath and like them with ponds or water falls as well. They will also stand in shallow bog plants in ponds. And butterflies and birds like many of the same plants. We had a butterfly "drying" who emerged and flew while we were visiting and enjoying the delicious muffins and goodies Margaret so graciously provided.

We all just relaxed, visited and sat and watched the birds and butterflies. It was such a nice meeting.

If you would like to know more about specific habits of birds that visit Quail Valley and more about how to bring each one to your garden, we post one species or types of species each month when they are prevalent in the area. We are celebrating our one year anniversary. For specifics, visit Birds of Fort Bend by pressing this link.

To enjoy just pictures of the wide variety of birds that live in Quail Valley, view Margaret's full photo album, Birds of Quail Valley by pressing this link.

To honor Margaret's work, the Quail Valley Garden Club intends that one of our Arbor Day trees this year is a Mulberry, which provides a wonderful source of food for migrating birds, in particular, the Baltimore Oriole.