Lucy Harrell's Newsletter 2012

[Brian Gallimore]

Below is the text from Lucy's newsletter.  She shares some good info about local gardening and gave me permission to publish her newsletters.  I'll try to post them up here as I get them.
Title:
"March is Looking Good- get a good start --be prepared for everything"

Hi Everyone---- it looks like you are having great  gardening weather up there---you deserve a break after last Summer and the two  winters before that. I'm sure that after the drought you are gearing up to plant more native drought tolerant plants-and that is a good thing.  I do want to remind you that often we will go from drought conditions to  very wet weather which is good for the lakes after last summer --but can really cause problems in our yards if the drainage isn't good--so along with choosing drought tolerant plants- be sure to fix any drainage problems in those beds first. ( Many drought tolerant plants are very intolerant of poor drainage.) The real  trick to long term successful gardening  in your area is to-- be prepared for everything.
Sometimes we  neglect fixing drainage issues because of the expense- but losing plants is expensive too and very frustrating. Gutters really help drainage issues and sometimes just adding gutters is  enough to fix any issues- so if you don't have gutters-- I always suggest  doing that first--they are a lot less expensive then the labor to put in  ground drains or regrading and sometimes that is all you need to do to fix your drainage problems.
 Important  Notice-- We will wait until April to start having First Wednesday at Stegall's- so the first First Wednesday will be  at Stegall's garden center  on April 4th at 7 Pm
 Until then--If you are looking for a Spring fix of beautiful  Perennials, Roses, Herbs, etc--I was just visiting Jim last week--Stegall's is loaded- and ready for you to visit and shop-  Jim also has all of the organic products  that I recommend--click on the link  below to get more info and a map
http://stegallsnursery.com/
 
Pine Straw Mulch Alert--both Stegall's and Marshall Grain have Pine Straw to mulch with now- get it while it's here
-There is a lot going on in March---- free workshops  at Marshall Grain
On Saturday,  March 17, Marshall Grain will host Connie Cates of Earthwise Inc., a local organic lawn care and landscape services company. “Easy, Greener Gardens” will offer time-saving tips and eco-friendly gardening ideas, from trimming and deadheading to weeding and mulching. She'll also discuss the importance of smart plant selection – what you need to consider before you choose your plant materials. Plus, how to get lots of blooms, proper plant grouping, and great color combinations.  She’ll begin in Fort Worth at 10:30 a.m., and conduct a second workshop in Grapevine at 1:30 p.m.
 
If you love backyard birdwatching, you’ll want to attend “Avian Attractions.”  Maureen Hall, our resident bird expert will speak on Saturday, March 24.  She’ll show you how to attract more birds to your yard and get more enjoyment from your efforts. She’ll give you the bird’s eye view of feeders – which types of feeders each bird species prefers, along with their food preferences. She’ll also chart their various migration patterns and seasonal visitations. There will be one session only at noon in Grapevine.
 
On Saturday, March 31, Connie Cates of Earthwise returns to entice you into “Living on the Wild Side.” Butterflies, geckos, hummingbirds and other creatures all love Texas native perennials. She’ll reveal the benefits of attracting wildlife to your garden, along with which plants you’ve just got to have to bring them in! Plus, she’ll explain basic garden science. You can hear her speak in Fort Worth at 10:30 a.m. and in Grapevine at 1:30 p.m.
 Have a great March--I'll see you in April--I really miss everyone
 
 Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
            T.C.N.P. A Specialist On Demanding Environments
            Visit my website for lots of organic information
            www.organicgardeningtx.com                
 

[Brian Gallimore]

Hi Everyone--
 I have attached 2  important messages to this e-mail--the first is about ordering  hard to find heirloom tomatoes  ASAP before they are all gone--to pick up at  April first Wednesday . The second  message is about a wonderful garden tour coming up on March 31 in Arlington and Grand Prairie.
Check them both out--  Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
 
  #1---Marilyn  and Donelle have some great  heirloom tomatoes--that you can order now and pick up at First Wednesday-which is not until April 4th at Stegall's garden center--but they are  already out of  one of the varieties-so I didn't want you to miss out by waiting to order--Do it now if you really want them-- these are great varieties and they are hard to find anywhere this size--she has many available still in one gallon containers which is a great size to start with-click on the link below to order--FYI-- you don't have to have a pay pal account to order--you can use any debit or credit card--if this is a problem for you call Marilyn and she will help you out with  getting your order- her  number is below the link
 
           From: Marilyn Simmons    ORDER tomatoes & peppers this is the link: you will get the available after you've signed in http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=4pwavbfab&oeidk=a07e5oqcdz68ea93e32 
 
Marilyn Simmons
www.gardeninspirations-tx.com
Learn how to Vegetable Garden!
Order Freshly Brewed Compost Tea!
214-497-3918
marilyn@gardeninspirations-tx.com


Message #2
           ----- Forwarded Message ----
Subject: Spring Garden Tour

The Woman's Club in Grand Prairie is sponsoring this spring tour.  I've attached
the poster we are using to publicize this event.  The proceeds go to support our
two charities which are scholarships for graduating senior girls in the GPISD
and Kids, I.N.C. which provides school clothes for sudents referred by the
GPISD.  In a normal school year we will cloth 250 to 300 students.  This year on
January 30 we had clothed 486.  The need is especially great right now.  We are
deeply appreciative for your help.  Janice Kelly--see the attached flier for  all the info

[Brian Gallimore]

varieties of plants for sale as mentioned in Lucy's newsletter:


Black Krim 1 Gallon Heirloom Tomato
69 Days – Fruits are a dark, deep red (almost black) with heavy green shoulders. Sweet and tasty. Matures early. Indeterminate
$6.00 each
 Sorry, sold out

Cherokee Purple 1 gallon Heirloom Tomato
80 - 90 Days – A reliable producer of unusual medium to pink to purple fruits that appear brown in color. Average size 8 to 12 ounces. Tolerant to mild drought as well as common disease. Indeterminate
$6.00 each
 Sorry, sold out

Juliet
60 Days – Clusters of long, grape shaped tomatoes, sweet flavor each weighing 1 ounce. High yielding. Allow plenty of room for this vine. Indeterminate
$6.00 each
 7 available

Super Sweet 100
VF 65 Days – Staked Plants produce long strands of 100 or more, super sweet flavored cherry tomatoes. 11/2” in diameter. Extra high in Vitamin C. Indeterminate
$6.00 each

BHN 444
Hybrid VFFTSWV 76 Days – Reliable, all around quality and steady yields resistant to Tomato spotted wilt the virus that plaques the South. Bright red, globe,-shaped fruits are firm. Good for canning. Determinate
$6.00 each

Celebrity
VFFNTAS 70 Days – Semi-spreading plants can be mulched, performs best when grown on stakes or cages. Bright red, 8 ounce globed-shaped fruits. Semi Determinate
$6.00 each

Brandy Wine
90 – 100 Days – Features one of the finest-flavored tomato. Plants look like potato vine. Good yields of large, firm, rose pink fruits weigh up to 1-11/2 pounds. Indeterminate
$6.00 each

Roma
VFA Roma is considered to be the most well-known paste-type tomatoes perfect for sauces. Determinate
$6.00 each

Red Pear
70 Days – One of the rarest of the heirloom varieties and still grown today! Hardy, med-sized plants yield plenty of small, red, pear shaped fruits. Indeterminate
$6.00 each
 Sorry, sold out

Yellow Pear
78 Days – Vigorous vines produce high yields of 2”, yellow skinned, pear-shaped fruits with few seeds. Slightly later than red pear. Prolific Yields. Indeterminate
$6.00 each

Big Boy
F1 78 Days – This tomato has been around for some time it is a red globe, 10 -12 ounces average.
$6.00 each

Better Boy
VFNAST 75 Days - Plump, deep red fruits weigh up to 1#. Extremely flavorful with juicy, firm flesh. Abundant producer. Excellent disease resistance. Determinate.
$6.00 each

Italian Triple Crop
85 Days – Enormous yields on vigorous vines which may grow to 10 or 15 feet. Each vine should be trellised and produces 2 – 3 bushels of fruit. Indeterminate
$6.00 each

Beefsteak
$6.00 each

Early Girl
VFFHybrid 52 Days – Early slicing tomato. Dependable large harvest of flavorful, solid 4 to 6 ounce fruit. Disease resistance is good.. Indeterminate
$6.00 each

Tomatillo
4
$2.00 each

Sweet Basil
4
$2.00 each
 Sorry, sold out

Red Cherry
Indeterminate 55 days
$6.00 each

Tam Jalapeno
4
$2.00 each

Mt Pride
The tomato is a warm season crop. With special production practices you can produce your first tomatoes in 60 days. This crop can be grown for production from June through November by choosing the right varieties and production practices.
$6.00 each

German Johnson
75 Days Excellent Flavor, deep pink tomatoes.
$6.00 each

California Bell Pepper
4
$2.00 each

Box Car Willie Tomato
Days: 80 Size: Indeterminate Color: Red Season: Mid-Season Type: Heirloom
$6.00 each

Bloomsdale Long Spinach
4
$2.00 each

Italian Macro Gold (Pepper)
4
$2.00 each

Abe Lincoln Heirloom Tomato
popular heirloom tomato introduced in Illinois in 1923 by the Buckbee Seed Co. These organic tomato seeds produce brilliant red, round, medium-sized, 12 oz. tomatoes in clusters up to 9. A good disease resistant tomato. Delicious, rich, slightly acidic tomato flavors.
$6.00 each

Mild Jalapeno
4
$2.00 each
 Sorry, sold out

Seranno Tampico Pepper
4
$2.00 each

Habanero
Habenero Pepper 4
$2.00 each
 Sorry, sold out

Jimmy Nardello
4
$2.00 each

Amazon Chocolate Heirloom Tomatoes 1 gallon
Heirloom, dark purple tomato, first time we've raised this so we don't know too much about it yet
$6.00 each

[Brian Gallimore]

from 3/15/2012:

Hi Everyone--I have just returned from a working visit in Arlington and it was great to see old friends--I can't wait to see everyone at First Wednesday at Stegall's Plant Farm on April 4th- (Jim's place  is absolutley loaded with everything )-
-FYI-- I will be in Arlington around the first Wednesday of every month for a few days--and I am taking appointments for both design and  2 hour consultations if you  need me for either of those.
I will also be available for lectures to garden clubs and businesses during these visits.
 If you want a design--there are several choices which  are different price ranges starting at 350.00
A  consultation  for anything or everything ( up to 2 hours of consultaion--organics, lawn diagnosis,recommendations for design etc) is  150.00
E-mail or phone me for available times- I still have  a few openings  during my April visits-and in April I will be back during the second week too .
Big Sale--Our son Charles is having a big sale today-from 1-8PM
Check out his website--it's a lot of unusual stuff left over from  auctions that he is trying to clear out at really low prices--check it out-- if you happen to need or want one of these pieces it's a steal today
If you own a bussiness that needs movable display-there are a lot of those kind of pieces
His shop is in Arlington on Division -east of Bowen on the North side of the street-check out his website and call him if you see something you want --it all goes really fast-and he has a lot of on line business
  Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
 Message from Charlie     
Hello all! I just bought a ton of stuff at auction and need to clear out a lot of the showroom, so I'm having a big sale on  Sunday 1p-8p! I marked most of the prices down on the website and I will be happy to discount even more for purchasing multiple items. All of the art and smalls will be sold off at cost, I have a ton of shop and garage furniture and rolling racks that are all priced way too low! : )  www.robinhoodoffice.com See you this w/e!
 
PS Check out the BEAUTIFUL wood booth benches on the "Coming Soon" page. Years of watching restuarant auctions finally paid off! Let me know if you want one.

Take care,
Charles Harrell
Owner- Robinhood Office
www.robinhoodoffice.com
817-487-6448

[Brian Gallimore]

3/29/2012:

Hi Everyone-- Next Wednesday ,April 4th will be First Wednesday at 7 PM at Stegall's Garden Center and Plant Farm  ( see address and  other info  below )
I can't wait to see everyone !!!!!!!  I really miss all of you
-If you are new to this newsletter -First Wednesday Is a free get together of  gardeners interested in  learning and sharing information on organic gardening and plants. Hosted by Jim Stegall, Marilyn Simmons and myself( Lucy).
This  First Wednesday you will be treated to a slide show on Heat Loving Perennials for Sun and Shade   
Marilyn will be there to give a report on what is growing in her food crop gardens and  let you know what classes are coming up and answer any questions  that you have about food crops.
Jim will be there to consult on  everything--and  as  always we will discuss anything anyone wants to talk about. And I just bet there will be some door prizes.
The Garden Center will  reopen at 6PM that day for early shoppers--and it is just beautiful and loaded with the best of everything--plants and products--including fresh Pine Straw mulch.       
 Location:                                                       Spring Hours:
5652 Wilson Road Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth, TX 76140                                      March 19, 2012 - May 31, 2012
 817.483.0682                                                    Monday - Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
 www.stegallsnursery.com                                                                           Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Order your compost tea below-your order must be picked up  on April 4th between 6PM and the end of the meeting ( usually around 8:30)
 
  Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
                   From: Marilyn Simmons marilyn@gardeninspirations-tx.com
Below is the link to order the tea for First Wednesday-(if you haven't already).
 
This is how to order:
1.       Click on the link

2.       Enter your email address

3.       Fill in the form

4.       Choose the quantity of fresh compost tea

5.       Pay online through your paypal account OR by credit/debit card even if you do not have a paypal account you can pay as a guest

6.       Submit your order

7.       If you have any problems email us Marilyn@gardeninspirations-tx.com

Thanks!
 
Link: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=4pwavbfab&oeidk=a07e5rhuohb0162bad6
 
We will be at Stegall’s at 6:00 PM with tea orders! for those customers not able to stay for the meeting
 
Marilyn Simmons
Garden Inspirations & DFW Truck Farm
www.gardeninspirations-tx.com
Marilyn@gardeninspirations-tx.com
214-497-3918
Facebook Pages:  Garden Inspirations
                               Northside Farmer’s Market
                               Marilyn Simmons

[Brian Gallimore]

4/15/2012:

Hi Everyone--Wednesday , April 4th was our first 1st Wednesday this year and it was just a super turn-out--I would guess  between 80-100 avid gardeners came out after the tornado to the meeting and  to collect  compost tea and heirloom tomatoes.  I was so happy to see everyone again--I really miss you all.  Jim was-- as ever --the best host with  gift certificates as door prizes and he and Tonya & Amy set us up in the big barn with chairs and skids of bagged goods to sit on.  Marilyn gave us a report on gardening Inspirations  truck farm and talked about growing food in your gardens and we had a slide show on perennials after it got dark.  We seemed to have a lot of people interested in Bees and we are looking for someone to come in and  give us some hands on  information--but for now--
 check out this great  website on Bees  sent to us from Jo An Hays-- one of the gardeners attending that night--Thanks so much Jo An
Click on the link below and look through the website --great close up pictures of bees and how they work & live
 http://nature.berkeley.edu/urbanbeegardens/general_solitarybees.html         
 
  Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
            T.C.N.P. A Specialist On Demanding Environments
            Visit my website for lots of organic information
            www.organicgardeningtx.com               
 
             832-5213020-home office           817-907-5481-cell

[Brian Gallimore]

4/29/2012 -- don't do it!!!!

Don't do it!!!    I have received about 30 e-mails  this weekend --from clients in the DFW area that are having caterpillar problems   --several of these e-mails have stated that   the release of trichogramma wasps are being recommended  as a control for this problem
 Warning---
If you choose to release beneficial wasps ( which do control caterpillars )

you will be releasing an uncontrollable control—they target all caterpillars-including butterfly caterpillars and you have no control over what kind of caterpillar the wasps attack –once released.
 
 If you are having problems with any kind of caterpillars eating foliage or hanging down out of trees you may either dust the plants with Dipel ( BTdust) or spray liquid BT into tall trees. ( Apply liquid BT in the late evening- the  Bt must be wet when ingested.)
       Only dust or spray the damaged plants—not everything—never treat butterfly larvae plants-because these products will kill all caterpillars which include butterfly babies.  Some popular examples of larvae plants  ( plants that a butterfly would lay it's eggs on) are-- milkweed( butterfly weed),fennel, parsley , dill, rue--and there are lots more--  to learn more about butterflies click on this link http://texasdiscoverygardens.org/garden_news.php
 
  Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
  From: Charles Harrell charles@robinhoodoffice.com
Hello all! My website will be changing providers in the next couple of days and will probably be down for a couple of days after that. I am still open and have about 150 items for sale, and the new site will be up shortly. You will know when it updates because it will look completely different. It will take me a little time to figure out the controls and get it fine tuned, so bear with me. Want to buy something now? Take a look at www.craigslist.com , click on dfw and type "charles 8174876448" into the search bar and you will see all of my listings. Thank you for your patience!
 
Take care,
Charles Harrell
Owner- Robinhood Office
www.robinhoodoffice.com
817-487-6448

[Brian Gallimore]

5/12/2012:

Hi Everyone--progress in Magnolia is good--remember that weedy lawn that I sent you pictures of in February?  (see attached picture-if you don't remember) Weeds!!!!-I'd have sworn that I didn't have a blade of turf grass then --and  there were the  boring bushes and the  way too narrow beds
     Now look at it  in May  ( see attached picture)-
The lawn has really shaped up--all I did was take a very passive approach --I dug  the dandelions--and let the heat take it's course on the other weeds--and applied corn gluten meal to keep any more from reseeding as soon as I could get back to Arlington to get some ( They never even heard of it here in the Houston area--can you believe it?) I now plan to start on the program - a little late-but I can't get  the products that I want here- so my first application will take place  next week.  I will work on getting my soil really healthy--all organic--and drought tolerant with a proper watering schedule.
     I have done a design and my beds are all prepped and ready to go-""-I just need to find the plant material-
     I have documented the entire process of  removing the sod- prepping the beds and adding the bender board and soaker hoses . I will do the same  picture documentation  of planting, mulching and feeding.  I have also done step by step pictures of  removing a mass of girdler roots  from a very girdled tree on the property for a future article on trees. Last year I started a How to Trim Series of pictures which I will continue to add to . All of these will be for future articles of  My Lucy's Lines Newsletter-which is a subscription newsletter that sends you 25 articles a year (  about every two weeks and  a special edition)- for a fee of 25.00 for the  year -many of you on this list  already receive it--I have attached a list of  the articles that I have sent out starting last June -until now- see the attached list for more info.
If you are interested in subscribing to Lucy's Lines Newsletter- let me know by e-mail  and I will send you out several articles to get you on the basic program including my  article on Weeds--How To Not Have Them- a 33 page newsletter   I will also put you on the list to start subscribing right away and send you my mailing address to send your check to .
This newsletter has been a great way for us to stay in touch and many of the articles  are written due to  requests from the gardeners that subscribe to it.
 See the attached list of  previous articles
 
  Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
            T.C.N.P. A Specialist On Demanding Environments
            Visit my website for lots of organic information
            www.organicgardeningtx.com               
 
             832-5213020-home office           817-907-5481-cell

To follow is a list of the Lucy’s Lines titles sent
out in 2011-( the newsletter started in June of 2011).
To start with-- everyone receives my complete
Organic Program and a 33 page on Organic Weed
Control and Prevention of All Weeds. Then every
two weeks several timely topics are delivered to your
e-mail mailbox full of pictures and easy to print or file

June 1-Warm Season Container Gardening, Compost 101,
Prescription Composting, Watering.
June 15-Butterfly Gardening, Attracting Humming birds,
Companion Planting.
July 1- Pretty Garden Combos, Shade Gardening, Planting
July 15- Drought Tolerant Gardens, Natives for all Seasons-
To Keep the Garden Blooming- all year long.
August 1-How to Do a Great Design-10 pages.
August 15- Lucy’s Square Foot Gardening, Fall Food
Crops,Preventing and Controlling Fire Ants
Sept 1-Growing Organic Roses, List of Roses-Best & Easy
Sept 15-How to Revive Your Gardens After the Summer of
2011, , Questions-Answers About Organics.
Oct 1- Cool Season Annuals, Evergreen Winter Wonders.
Oct 15-Bringing Your Plants Inside and Over Wintering
Them For The Best Results.
Nov 1- All About Bulbs for Your Area-When & How to Plant
Nov 15 Decorating and Gifting with Plants From the Garden
Dec 1- More Holiday Decorating Ideas, Wildlife Info
Dec 27- Keeping Birds Healthy and Ready to Nest in Spring.
Special Edition- Making the Most of Landscape Lighting

List of 2012 Issues

Jan 8-Cool Weather Square foot gardens-Food Crops in the
Flowerbeds—Companion Planting Cool Season Crops
Jan 19- The Importance Of Why –Q&A about everything
Feb 6 Lighting the Garden- (best choices for the least money)
Feb 15- Favorite Roses for 2012-Growing –Companion
Planting Roses
March 4- How To Have The Best Tomatoes, Fairy
gardening, 28 Day Watering Schedule
March 16 Warm Season Annuals , Plant Combinations, Tips
on Insect Control
April 1 Complete Insect and Disease Control With
Companion Plants
April 21 Sun Tracking Your Garden- Plant the right palnt in
the right Spot-Painting The Garden With Color
May 12- Lawn Issues—everything that could happen—How
to Diagnose it-Fix it and Never Have It Again

[Brian Gallimore]

5/9/2012:

The  damage that looks like little black or dark brown spots on your plants--especially saliva's, basil's, sage's and almost anything else depending on what plants that you have in your gardens ---is from a 4 lined plant bug--it is a  good sized colorful beetle- slightly smaller then a ladybug and has 4 white lines on it's back     The damage looks like this

                           


 
                                                                                 Now--- it makes all of the above plants it leaves your leaves looking  really damaged--and because it is a beetle- and seems not to live in the plants that it likes to suck & rasp on-there is nothing you can do to control it that I would recommend -after the fact--except wait until it leaves  the area-( usually in the heat of late May or June)  You can snip the damaged plants a little--  if you do it soon to cover old damage with new growth but not much.
Read below to see how to prevent it from now on--
However If you have our CD-and you have included a good amount of mint in your  garden floor like it teaches --then you will only have damage on the mint-
-Mint is the number 1 trap plant for this insect and since I teach you to use mint in the floor of your gardens for this reason and also to make the soil good--the fact that your mint is damaged is a good thing--because it kept the insect off of everything else- and  after you have noticed that the damage has stopped on the mint ( no spots on new growth) then I teach you to go through the garden and rip the mint up  by just grabbing  it and pulling--you do this  for several reasons-and even if you have no damage on the mint.
1-To remove the damage that the  four lined plant bug caused-(if he visited us that year) all of the damage will be on the mint if you have it.
2- To control the spread of the mint -so that it won't hurt other plants by growing over them --it won't return until late Fall and then the freeze will knock it back  --it will reappear in Spring to guard your beds as before .
3- Ripping the mint  aerates the soil beautifully and leaves it richer then the year before--mint does not take anything from the soil but adds wonderful properties.
Unfortunately mint has the reputation of being aggressive (and it is if not managed) but it is so beneficial--and not hard to manage by doing what I just said
I know that this is a totally unused concept unless you hear it from me--but it works--I have contacted the clients that I know follow this regimen and they have no damage on anything else      ( I learned this and many other great practices from My grandmother)
Look in your CD if you have one for other companion plants  ( see lists) and how they work--If you don't have the CD( called Lucy's Picks)--most organic garden centers carry them-or you may order from me if you can't locate them
   Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
 How would you like delivery & application on Marilyn's compost tea?-read on
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Donelle Simmons duchess@gardeninspirations-tx.com
We distribute the FarmGirls Freshly Brewed Compost Tea monthly for clients in the Waxahachie and Dallas areas.  We would like to expand to Arlington for a monthly application.
This is a service we provide where we do all the work for the clients.  Maybe some of your clients aren’t able to purchase tea on Wednesdays because they can’t get it out until the weekend, so here is their chance!
Hire us to apply your FarmGirls Freshly Brewed Compost Tea once a month!  This is a great way to get the microbes to your soil.  We will bring it to your house and apply it on the areas you would like for us to work.  Here is how you can take advantage of this offer:  Email  - duchess@gardeninspirations-tx.com and let her know you are wanting to sign up for monthly distribution.  She will send you the word/pdf file to fill out with your information.  The minimum is 10 gallons and we distribute for $95.00 a month plus a travel charge.  You can order more than 10 gallons per distribution but it’s 10 gallons minimum.  We currently do 10 yards a month and are looking to add about 5-6 more in the Arlington area, will this be you?  Email Donelle today!
 
-          Donelle
www.gardeninspirations-tx.com
(214) 842-2100 Facebook: Garden Inspirations
DFW Truck Farm 5k Fun Run is approaching, ask for details

[Brian Gallimore]

5/26/2012:

Hi Everyone
As  Pluto (Mickey Mouse's Dog) would say --Hot Diggity Dawg  ----
I got my first application of  my program applied last week ( I have to start all over with my program in my Houston yard) and I have cat vomit growing all over my mulch-and lawn - Over the next 2-3 years it will morph into mycorrhiza and want to live in my soil and  then I will have a program built. Right now it is just starting and since conditions are not yet right for it to live in my soil--it will hang out on top for now.
     
  I started calling the formation (that looks white and foamy at first and then turns  darker and drys up in the end to become a dusty cloud of  reddish brown dust)  cat vomit-- because  that is what  a lot of  clients think it is.    I will get an e-mail or a call stating that a cat is coming into the yard and throwing up---(I guess since  dogs don't usually run loose any more people  think it must be cats-)--Anyway--what it really is --is like a good fungal--and we want a balanced program of good fungal and good bacteria-and the like .  These will be in place to destroy the bad bits that blow or wash in to our organic properties.  If you want to be really technical it is actually called
Dictyostelium discoideum and is a species of soil-living amoeba belonging to the phylum Mycetozoa. D. discoideum,  is a eukaryote that transitions from a collection of unicellular amoebae into a multicellular slug and then into a fruiting body within its lifetime. D. discoideum has a unique asexual lifecycle that consists of four stages: vegetative, aggregation, migration, and culmination.

In the wild, D. discoideum can be found in soil and moist leaf litter. The primary diet of D. discoideum consists of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, that are found in the soil and decaying organic matter. Uninucleate amoebae of D. discoideum consumes bacteria and  helps plants with sugar/ water /mineral exchanges. So it's a good thing!!!

Unfortunatley- the form that we see it in above the soil  is often  lumped in with  slim molds-so no one is talking about it's good  properties  - research was going on to study it more-- but got dropped--(no money in something that occurs naturally and won't live in a bag I guess.)    The closest thing to it is a product called Actinovate-but it is very expensive 107-120.00 a pound and the program that I teach you grows it in your soil and reproduces it for as long as you don't kill it by using chemicals or overwatering.

(  If you see this appear and it is grossing you out--just cover it with  more mulch or take a shovel and work it into the soil or spread it around with your foot (don't get it- or  anything else into your eyes) it will disappear on it's own and be worked into the soil by rain or watering in a few days- and after a while as your soil gets better it will grow and live  in the soil.

FYI--Rodale is often called the Father of Organics- but his mentor  was Dr. William A. Albrecht- a man that really got it right in my opinion-and was often misinterpreted--It is from reading and interpreting Albrecht that has  made me understand and appreciate symbiotic relationships in nature. I have attached a copy of my simple program to this e-mail- --get on it and you will be amazed. I am making a picture by picture transformation for my Lucy's Lines Newsletter that will start with the June issue.  Many of you are already subscribed to that newsletter .  if you aren't on it and want to join--it is 25.00 a year for 25 issues--just e-mail me and I will tell you how to get started receiving  it.

 
   
 
 
 
 Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
            T.C.N.P. A Specialist On Demanding Environments
            Visit my website for lots of organic information
            www.organicgardeningtx.com               
 
             832-5213020-home office           817-907-5481-cell

[Brian Gallimore]

attachment from 5/26/2012 newsletter:

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1VwpZbWGbma0uq-0Q8VP3g-fpqSiwpeVX1Z8Vh_c3mz0

[Brian Gallimore]

5/30/2012

Hi Everyone--It's time to start making plans to attend first Wednesday--and time to order Compost Tea --click on the link under my signature to place your order and pick it up  either before or during  the meeting--The meeting  ( June 6th) starts at 7 Pm at Stegall's Nursery-  http://www.stegallsnursery.com/
    FYI-you can take the Bowman Springs Road ( new exit if you come  from I-20 headed west) and turn left ( south) and it becomes Dick Price Road after it  intersects  Kennedale Parkway --or come one of the old ways--Anglin exit or Old Mansfield exit -off of I-20
  You will want to be sure and attend this  time--
We will have a  guest speaker-- Joni LaRoux-and she has  kept Bees for 12 years and has offered to share her knowledge about bee keeping with us.  During the April meeting  the topic of  learning about how to keep bees came up as a topic of interest--and I am so pleased to be able to have  Joni  come share with us--she will bring  bee keeping supply catalogs and also a handout and lots of great advice for everyone that attends.
Even if you've never thought about  keeping bees -but would like to know about it-and how important bees are to our lives you will want to hear Joni talk.  Not since Odena Brannam have I heard such a knowledgeable speaker--I am very impressed with Joni's understanding of  the natural world and how she expresses it.
 
FYI-- July 4th is  first Wednesday in July--we will not hold a meeting that month-
order tea below
  Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
 
Hi - from The Farm Gilrs
Here is the information for First Wednesday Compost Tea Orders!
 
Order your FRESH COMPOST TEA for First Wednesday, the FarmGIrls will be there at 6:00 with freshly brewed tea!
Please email:
marilyn@gardeninspirations-tx.com
# of gallons you would like to order
Name, CELL Phone
 
Pay by Check, Cash, or Credit Card
 
Fresh Compost Tea will bring life to your soil!  Must use within 24 hours.
 
Donelle Simmons
Marketing & Education Coordinator
www.gardeninspirations-tx.com
Cell: 214-842-2100 Text is best!
duchess@gardeninspirations-tx.com
DFW TRUCK FARM – Project Manager
Facebook: Garden Inspirations
KAAM 770 www.kaamradio.com Fridays at 1:00 PM

[Brian Gallimore]

6/28/2012

SALE at Stegall's--Planting in the heat--watering schedule for new plants- Design CD

Hello everyone- -Stegalls is having a  sale and asked me to tell you about it- see the list of sale items below my signature-
These are bargains and while it is really hot you can still plant as long as you follow the planting guide and watering schedule --in other words- plant  well watered plants in moist soil using  worm castings and rock phosphate-water in with seaweed- add 3" of mulch and water in well-- then get on the 28 day schedule to establish them in the ground-
-every other day the first week --then water every 3 days for a while and then work it down to every 4 days--keep it on every 4 days in this heat until fall brings cooler weather--if you feel confident that every 5 days will do then move it on  out to that schedule- but monitor your plants.
If planting containers--you will need to water as often as needed to keep your potting soil from drying out--mixing  expanded shale into potting soil will help- use a cup per every gallon of pot size mix it into the  potting soil--(Lady Bug Vortex has it in there already)
FYI- be sure that you put plants in the right amount of sun or shade--do not depend on the tag to tell you that--it is not  printed for  our arid summer heat--ask  Jim , Tonya or Amy--- or  buy my CD while you are there--it tells you exactly how to plant - where to plant and how to maintain 326 plants that do in  our area-with over 700 pictures of the plants growing in my designs--and you can interact with it by  any plant that you can imagine- including a choice of 3 watering schedules- plants that thrive on once  every 5 -7days  -- once every 10-14days  and  once a month
  Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: tonya stegall
Subject: SALE
Good morning Lucy. I wanted to let you know that we are having a sale on many things in order to get organized.
****Dad has decided to put the falling apart bags of purple Humore (re-bagged) regularly $7.50 now- $3.50.  ( note from Lucy-- really makes plants bloom well)
***We are selling Single knockouts,Home Run, Caldwell Pink, & Blushing roses regularly $22.50 now-$8.00.
***All baskets except bognavillas are $9.00,
*** Sun Impatiens regularly $3.00 now$1.50,
***all other 5" (pentas,caladiums,sun coleus,etc.) are $1.00,
***4" are $.50,
Maverick geraniums regularly $5.00 now  $2.00,
***and all 5" peppers $1.00.
Please spread the word !!!
Thanks,
Tonya

[Brian Gallimore]

7/1/2012

Hello- everyone--I am trying something new-I get many emails every day--(I love it) and it occurs to me that if I collect the questions that are asked most each week -I can share them with everyone- and help others that are experiencing the same problems or have the same questions-- tell me what you think!!!!
By far this week it has been about  mixing the foliar  spary and  when  is the best time to spray it-(it should be on your fertilization schedule  for around the  2nd week of July.) I have attached my  pick your program schedule if you are new to this free newsletter and don't have it yet--it has not changed.

-If you are on my  paid newsletter Lucy's Lines you will receive a 10 page newsletter with step  by step pictures of me mixing it and applying it later tonight - if you haven't subscribed yet and want to -let me know by email and I will send you your start up kit and your first newsletter  right awayand bill you 25.00 for 25 issues ( one every two weeks and a special for the next 12 months)

Here are the most asked questions this week and my answers--maybe you have these questions too

 Questions Of the week July1,2012

 Question--Is there a certain time of day that is best to apply the foliar feeding?  Morning?  Late afternoon?

 Answer It depends on your site and the time of year--if you are talking about  right now in the heat of summer--you can choose either  early morning  at least 2 hours before the hot sun hits directly on the garden or late evening after the sun has left the garden--however in Spring & Fall   when the day &  especially the night temperatures are cooler-- early morning is best--and the 2 hour wait before the sun hits the garden is not so critical.  Basically you don't want hot sun hitting plants with a  wet fertilizer product on them in the heat of summer and when it is cooler in spring & fall you don’t want drops of anything wet sitting on them over night-it can cause powdery mildew and other diseases.

 Question I have attached a photo of our poor crape myrtle which has been attacked by scale. That is the worse one out of six but unfortunately the scale is present on all of them. They are very large trees on either side of my house and I am very worried.
 
Answer You will need  Light Horticultural oil- for the scale on the crapes--this one is the best in my opinion--spray in the early morning or  late evening in this heat-follow directions on the label for repeat spray--and no doubt you'll need to follow up with an early spring spray too- see the info below
All Seasons Horticultural & Dormant Spray Oil
Insecticide - Liquid Concentrate
A superior type petroleum oil base product that may be used as a growing season spray, dormant spray (no leaves) or delayed dormant (green tip) spray to control overwintering eggs of red spiders, scale insects, aphids, bud moths, leaf roller, red bug, codling moth, blister mites, galls, whitefly, mealy bugs and other insects.
Highly recommended for use on fruit trees, shade trees, shrubs, ornamentals, roses and vegetables. Safe and pleasant to use. Readily mixes with water for spraying. Dilute up to 97% in water. Will not stain.
 
 Question -How do you get rid of hornets that have built a nest in the wall of my garage apartment ?

Answer--there are several critter getters in your area
 here is a link for   removal of the  hornets
 http://fortworth.crittercontrol.com/aboutus/

 

Question Any recommendations on getting rid of moles???

 
Answer Unfortunately none of the  common methods that people talk about working such as vibrating mechanisms, chewing gum etc work long term --you can trap them easily enough but the fact is --if you have one -and kill or trap it--another one will take it's place--they are very territorial-you only have 1--but it makes a new tunnel through your  yard every day  from it's den looking for food ( grubs ,worms).  It has no reason to  reuse the old tunnel the next day because it is already cleaned out--it does use that tunnel to return to it's den that afternoon and then the next day it tunnels out  looking for fresh food  in another direction. So capturing or killing one does no good -however--you can make your area  very unattractive to them if you spray a product called  Dr.TWhole Control every 3 weeks--it would take you an hour to do it--it is easy to spray--you just hook up the  bottle that comes with a hose end top on it--to your hose and  the top has  a flip switch on it-- from water -to spray product -to off.
  You  spray the area that you can reach from where you are with water
-then flip it to product and spray over that same area-
-then flip it back to water again and water it in --( if you spent 30 seconds  applying product in that area--spend 2.5 minutes watering it in very well and this also washes it off the plants--then move on and repeat until you've covered all of your areas.  This  brand really is easy to use and it is for the right moles that we have in your area--so get the Dr. T Whole Control brand--it has good directions too--it  will last 3 weeks--the bottle says longer but I have used it for decades and it only lasts 3 weeks-

Marshall Grain always carries it--maybe Jim  Stegall too but call first--I notice last time I was in a couple of other  garden centers that they sold one for the wrong kind of moles--so stick to the Whole Control brand--
Dr T Whole Control

 Question Any tricks to keeping grasshoppers  at bay ?

 
 Answer-Nothing instant--however if Nolo bait is applied  and it is in good condition ( meaning alive ) at the time the  offenders are  about a 1/2 inch long-they will catch the virus and it will live forever in the area--a pretty long chance--but it happened at my house in Arlington  and is still in place--the virus should be ordered from Arbico an organic online insectory --around March and stored properly-follow their directions and ready to apply at the time you notice the young emerging--of course this does not effect the ones that are traveling through- but it can  stop infestations  -effects crickets even better-but I like crickets my self
http://www.arbico-organics.com/product/nolo-bait/pest-solver-guide-grasshoppers-crickets
Easier to do -but it takes several years to build up in the already established plants-- is use horticultural DE in the soil every time you work  the soil or plant a plant--since  I have noticed that it helps annual food crops too--- it helps new plants  faster--this is based on a 12 year study that I was part of --I dismissed it at first but  realized about 5 years ago that it was valid and showed real results in my yard in Arlington  and the yards of customers that participated as well.

  Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
            T.C.N.P. A Specialist On Demanding Environments
            Visit my website for lots of organic information
            www.organicgardeningtx.com               
 
             832-5213020-home office           817-907-5481-cell

attachment:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1AzgjmEFxEkUVZQUkh5NGlkR1U

[Brian Gallimore]

Marshall Grain Seminar Teaches free Composting classes- Sat July 28
7/27/2012

Hi everyone-- we will not have first Wednesday in August--but  save the date for Sept- Nov-In the meantime-- catch one of these  free lectures on  composting Saturday July 28--
   Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
       
Marshall Grain Dishes Up the Dirt on Composting
With Two Sessions in July
 
FORT WORTH, TX – JULY 11, 2012 –  Composting is nature’s way of renewing and replenishing the earth by recycling leaves, grass clippings, vegetable and fruit scraps, newspaper, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, and all sorts of other organic materials. Brewing it efficiently, however, is as much an art as it is a science.
 
On Saturday, July 28, Marshall Grain will present “Making Your Own Compost,” a free seminar designed to teach you the secrets behind building better compost piles. Charlie Shiner, one of the area’s most knowledgeable experts on the subject of compost, will lead two sessions: at 10:30 a.m. at Marshall Grain’s Fort Worth location, and at 1:30 p.m. at the Grapevine store. Shiner – a Tarrant-County-certified Master Composter and Master Gardener – has been teaching composting workshops around the Metroplex for over seven years.  He also heads up the Compost Demonstration Area at the Bob Jones Nature Center in Southlake. His tips and techniques are guaranteed to help you get the most out of your own composting efforts.
 
“Making Your Own Compost” is free and open to the public. Dogs on a leash are always welcome inside Marshall Grain stores.  For more details, contact the Fort Worth store at 817-536-5636 or the Grapevine store at 817-416-6600. Or visit the company’s website at www.marshallgrain.com. You can also find Marshall Grain on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MarshallGrain.
 
About Marshall Grain Co.
Marshall Grain Co. was an early entrant in the 80’s in organic gardening supplies, quickly becoming recognized as a primary source for the Fort Worth area. With the increasing urbanization of the local area, the store’s business has evolved to offer a greater variety of food and supplies for companion animals such as dogs, cats and birds, and organic gardening supplies, while continuing to serve the needs of customers for ranch products. For more information, contact Marshall Grain, 2224 East Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, TX, 76103; 817-536-5636. Or visit the company website at: www.marshallgrain.com.