Lucy Harrell's Newsletter 2012

[Brian Gallimore]

8/12/2012
"Man-it's hot out there--but Fall is on it's way- from Lucy Harrell"

Hello everyone-  -I have  just come back from working in  the DFW area and was sad to see it so  dry and hot again this summer--you have broken all records for the area once again. I wish that I had a way of sharing my Magnolia weather with you-although you would choose to do without the humidity. Take Heart--Fall will be here soon -and we and our gardens will welcome it.
I know that many of you are looking at  a damaged plant  and thinking that it's dead and you just need to pull it out and start over--don't do it!!   Unless you have drown it -it most likely isn't dead -just dormant- ( plants can go dormant in heat too) and will respond great and bushy with the right  trimming  and a few trouble shooting  techniques ( make sure that it can get water when you turn your system on- or that you don't have a  fire ant / mole problem). Different kinds of plants need  to be renewed  or  recovered differently--if you have a question or concern  just ask me.  One of the things that I taught in my classes in Arlington was-- how rewarding it is to learn to treasure the mature root systems of a damaged plant. On my property in Arlington. I had several 80 year old plants there from my grandmothers yard.  My plants were so bushy & full because I know when and how to trim them and what to do if there was a problem.
     I just wrote a 10 page  recovery document for those of you that subscribe to my Lucy's Lines Neswletter with pictures of plant material and how to renew them plant by plant-if they suffered damage this summer - If you don't subscribe--  but would like to subscribe-- please let me know and I will send you the information--it is just 25.00 a year for 25 issues--I will start your subscription as soon as I hear from you -- and send you my address  where you can mail a check.  Your first issue will be the one titled  Recovering from the  triple digit blues
 We will have first Wednesday September 5th at Stegalls at 7:PM-8:30 PM-As always the  gathering is open to all and free.   The topic from me will be  Fall Planting  and will include lots of  new handouts--I have added several new products to my planting guide based on  tests over the last 6-12 years.  Marilyn & Donelle "The Farm Girls" will be there with  fresh compost tea  and lots of garden tips for food crops- and info on their great fall classes. And I hear that Jim has some cool new plants that several of you have tried and loved--we will have show & tell-and door prizes.
I will send out the link to order tea the week before  Sept 5th--it is a great tonic for your  scorched gardens .
 
  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]

8/18/2012
A little extra tidbit from Lucy--I have a new garden helper that I want you to meet

Hello everyone--Here is just a little something extra to celebrate a new arrival in my garden on Nickaburr Creek Drive--I wanted to give you hope that even if your areas  are being  sprayed  for mosquitoes ( I have had lots of upset gardeners from your area contact me about it ) -----your organic gardens will survive it.   It is scary about the spraying I know--but  worry about the west nile virus is causing a lot of public outcry too-- I wish I knew a good solution.  Please know that the fact that your  organic methods-which provide  habitats for beneficials --will make  your property better able to get through the crisis and come out swinging.
           Here in Magnolia ( north of Houston) they have been regularly spraying  all summer- much to my dismay.  I noticed that I had not seen a beneficial of any kind since we moved here this year and figured that the constant spraying was the reason.  However I proceeded  with my garden planting  and slowly but surely  got a few companion plants planted about a month ago . My sunflowers, marigolds, milkweed and basil (which got planted late)  are suddenly flourishing and today I got my first beneficial siteing of  3 assassin bugs on my milkweeds.
 ( see attached document)
I have always preferred to be passive about insect control and  don't like using any kind of pesticide- even organic products ( because  most of those could kill beneficials too).  Today I was rewarded for my patience and given hope that it will all work out--even with outside interference     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]

8/25/2012
September Classes-with Karen & Julie--square foot gardening & more in Mansfield

Hi everyone--I was there  in DFW when you had that great rain lastTuesday--I was so happy for you.
Many of you have been to my classes when I lived in Arlington and visited Karen McFarland's  wonderful great square foot gardens in her  large back yard in Mansfield--and she has spoken at First Wednesday a time or two --about her cultured veggie classes and her gardening projects--you asked me to let you know about her classes--so here is the latest info--be sure to get on the mailing list so you won't miss anything--they have  some great info on how to stay healthy and grow  your own square foot gardens for the best yield possible. Karen and  Julie  are also offering  some classes on preparing healthy foods too-and more -check out the website and find  a class and get signed up .  Below is one of the classes -- there are more on the website
 Fall Grow Your Own II !!!

For the Freshest most Nourishing Food on this planet…

Instructors:
Julie Whitis & Karen McFarland
Certified Square Foot Gardening Instructors

September 15, 2012      9:30am – 12 noon

Time for continued planning and planting of your fall garden…

You will learn how to grow the most nutritious food possible using less water, effort, space, and time than traditional methods of growing. We’ll cover techniques that will enable you to prepare your growing area in the morning and plant your food crop transplants or seeds in the afternoon …. no kidding. No weeding. No digging. If this sounds like your kind of gardening, join us for tips on this very simple yet effective system… perfect for beginning and expert gardeners alike. You will learn location, 4 X 4 square foot garden box construction, ideal soil mixture preparation, planting techniques, space saving vertical gardening, what to plant now and out-of-season growing techniques. Growing your food on this smaller well prepared plot will save 80 percent of the space, water and work that is typically used in a conventional garden spot. You’ll also experience vegetable gardens and composting in various phases of production.

Click below for the whole scoop and to sign up
 
http://essentialsforenduringhealth.com/?page_id=82
 

Karen McFarland, NTP, CGP, CHFS
Essentials for Enduring Health, LLC
http://essentialsforenduringhealth.com/
 Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell

[Brian Gallimore]

Free Lecture - Saturday Sept 22-Marshall Grain both stores--
9/22/2012

Hello Everyone-- I have been watching your weather forecast and it seems that you are truly going into the long awaited season of Fall.  Fall is certainly  my favorite time of year--cooler weather-occasional rains--the gardens perking up and blooming  again. It's the best time of year to plant and it's time to throw out many cool season annual seeds  also wildflowers for a pretty spring show.
 
       I will be presenting a  lecture on Fall Gardening  next Saturday--Sept 22nd - titled-" Why You Should Love Fall Gardening" -I will have handouts-and we will discuss planning - planting ,Fall bloomers, the best cool season annuals and container gardens that will be pretty now and through the winter & spring.  I can't wait to see you all again
                                     
                               Why You Should Love Fall Gardening
               
                     This event will take palce at both Marshall Grain Stores-
                               10:30AM (Fort Worth), 1:30PM (Grapevine)
                                     Presented by Lucy Harrell
                         Also on Sept 22nd at the Fort Worth store -

                        Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats - 9 AM to 4 PM 

                   For  more information  and  directions to store -click on this link

                              http://www.marshallgrain.com/istar.asp?a=30

  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]

9/28/2012
message from Lucy Harrell looking for people that love to garden---- job openings----starting now

Hello everyone----I have been contacted by Texas Organic Lawn Care--they are in search of several new employees--starting now-
       I have worked with this company for about 2 years  and they  care for many of my customers yards. 
      They  know that many of you have had my classes , have a basic understanding of my organic program and love gardening --I know that many of you are great gardeners with lots of  experience in your own gardens -if you are interested -or know of anyone who is looking for a job with a really good company-the information is listed below my signature.
 (The last listed openings would be perfect for students or anyone  interested in  working and learning about the environment from a knowledgeable company)
  Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
   
All resumes can be sent to info@txlawn.com
    (817)504-3816
    Info@TxLawn.com
Texas Organic Lawn Care is hiring.  We have three areas that need filled as we go into leaf season and prepare for spring.

Receptionist/Customer Service:  Starting at $11/hour.  This is a part time position with flexible hours, a minimum of 20+ hours per week.  Schedule would be roughly 9-3 Monday through Friday but flexible in regards to holidays and personal days.  Applicant will need an ability to communicate and work with customers over the phone with a focus on implementing their desires and understanding their needs.  Must be polite and personable on the phone.  Has a working knowledge of organic principles and concepts.  Competent computer skills for scheduling, detailing scope of work for better office/field communication, and data entry from the crews route sheets.  Knowledge of Excel and Quick-books.  Bookkeeping skills a plus.

Personal Gardener:  Pay based on ability and experience but no less than $12/hour.  This a part time field position with the possibility of full time with flexible hours, a minimum of 15 hours per week.  You need to have a working knowledge of native and adapted trees, shrubs and perennials.  Understanding the proper pruning and maintenance practices in line with Lucy’s standards for shrubs and perennials.  An ability to communicate and work with customers to implement their desires.  Ability to recognize or notice problems and come up with solutions for water, disease, and insect issues.  Must enjoy working in the garden and working with people.  Some design knowledge and experience.  The most important requirement is an understanding and respect of organic principles and concepts.

Mowing/field technician:  We are looking for field workers who have an interest in caring for and maintaining turf.  Beginning pay is $9/hour with the ability to begin earning raises quickly up to $11/hour after 30 day trial period.  Must have a valid driver’s license, an ability to get to and from work, a desire to care for lawns organically and respectfully.  A polite and pleasant attitude when interacting with customers and coworkers is a must.

[Brian Gallimore]

Message from Lucy Harrell- First Wednesday Oct 3rd at 7 Pm- Guest Speaker and more
10/1/2012

Hi Everyone -- Wow --It's going to be in the  high 70's  and  low 80's and it's also time for First Wednesday on October 3rd -- the meeting starts at 7 Pm  at Stegall's-  www.stegallsnursery.com
 Location:
5652 Wilson Road
Fort Worth, TX, 76140
817.483.0682
Stegall's will re-open that day at 6 PM--come early to do  some  pre lecture shopping-- the register will close  at 7
The greenhouses are loaded for your  Fall planting and  also the organic products that you need.
 
 It's time to order your compost tea-ASAP-see link below my signature
 
 --Guest speaker--
 
- We will have a special guest speaker this month-- as a result of  many  requests about  more information  on using Expanded Shale-- Eric Nelson ASLA --a  representative  specializing in it's use will be here to answer all of your questions about what it is -and talk about how we can use  expanded shale to it's best advantage to  conserve water in  our gardens and  containers--and even more .   One of the Door prizes will be  a free bag of Expanded Shale.
 
Marilyn & Donelle Simmons of Garden Inspirations  -
 AKA the Farm Girls  on 770 KAAM every Friday at 1 PM
 will have another Trivia Question from one of their last radio programs--the answer is worth a  free 265.00 Gardening Class with Garden Inspirations --"We hope you have been listening"
 
Marilyn will also have a new spin on Fairy Garden ideas--and  the  great garden tour  that  was canceled due to rain last Saturday has been rescheduled  for Oct 13th-- so if you couldn't attend  last time-- maybe  this date  will work  better with your schedule--they do have openings.
For more information on  all of the many classes that they offer - go to their website class page
http://www.gardeninspirations-tx.com/classes.html
 
I will be there  with  handouts about fall planting--especially about planting  cool season color and how to keep it pretty all through the winter and next spring--and I have some new information  to add to  my planting guide--I will answer any questions that you have for me-- so make a list-
One of the door prizes will be a free 150.00 consultation  to use for your garden or give as a gift
 
Compost tea is always a good thing--order some for your garden now-- to pick up  either before or during the meeting on Wednesday.
  Love & Luck, Lucy Harrell
To order  or ask questions about compost tea click on the link below
Compost Tea:
FarmGirls Tea Freshly Brewed Compost Tea
$7.50 per gallon , place orders today!  marilyn@gardeninspirations-tx.com
 
-          Donelle
www.gardeninspirations-tx.com
(214) 842-2100 Facebook: Garden Inspirations
DFW Truck Farm 5k Fun Run is approaching, ask for details!

[Brian Gallimore]

All about Falling leaves-gardening the way our grandmothers did -free classes--free food-Fall Festival- Garden Auction
10/11/2012

Hi Everyone-- ---  Every time  I hear anything about leaves falling--I think of a couple of  conversations that I had with one of my favorite  clients  ( hi Mary) --She called me up one Fall  to end a debate  that she and her husband were having about leaves in the flower beds--She was wanting to rake them out and he wanted to leave them in over the winter.
My answer was --that  often people raked them up and  put them in the compost pile to tidy up -but I thought that it was a good thing to leave them in the beds over the winter as extra protection. So that "sort of " settled that!
In  late February -that next year-  I sent out an e-mail telling  everyone to get leaves that had fallen into the flowerbeds and were stuffed all up in the shrubs or covering smaller plants and ground covers- raked out-or- it could adversely affect the new spring growth or cause rot with a wet spring.
I got a question from Mary (reminding me that I had said that leaves left in the flowerbeds was a good thing just a few months before)--and now I was saying that they weren't--and very kindly which was it please?
My answer  ( with a smile on my face--it was a good question ) was-
-Leaves left on the floor of a  flowerbed as mulch is a fine idea---even left on a lawn during the months of  late Nov- Jan-is good.  But leaves should not be left to completely cover plants or be left  heavily congested down  inside  shrubs to stay wet all spring.
So to sum it up--leaves are good in the flower beds - but not on the plants
Good reasons to leave leaves in the beds-and even on your lawn
( usually they blow off into the neighbors lawn-which he or she may not appreciate)-but leaves are good.
1.The fallen leaves left or raked onto the floor of our beds -or even left on top of the lawn  through out the winter add protection to the plants & less hardy lawns  in case we get a particularly but unusually  cold winter. On an organic project we do not worry about fungal or insect problems overwintering on the leaves--(this is only a concern in a garden where chemical gardening is  practiced)) The only exception is a plant that actually had "Rust" on it the previous season--this -if it happens-usually- but not only- can occur on Hydrangeas in our area-If you had rust-(a red looking powdery look on anything)- contact me and I will help you  not have it next year.
2. Fallen leaves contain a lot of nutrients that the trees absorbed from the soil over the last growing season--so when nature tries to return those nutrients back to the soil by dropping the leaves down--we kind of mess it all up by removing them. Of course  raking them and  using them to make compost -as most of us do-sort of makes up for that.
So-- fallen leaves are a great free mulch and  fertilizer.
 I do rake them into my beds over the winter for these reasons-- because I do not use much actual product. I prefer to garden the way my grandmother did- which was was listening to nature and accepting it's gifts with appreciation.
  My October Lucy's Lines Newsletters will reflect this approach.  If you subscribe -your first Oct newsletter will arrive this weekend-and it will include
Prescription Composting-using the old ways- free & easy
Gardening like Grandma--Sage Wisdom from Mommy-cille ( my grandma)
Food crop info-companion planting the  cool season food crops
To subscribe-just email me and say you want to subscribe to Lucy's Lines and I will send you a newsletter and a new subscriber kit which contains a 33 page  document on how not to have weeds-right away -and my address to mail a check to--(the cost is 25.00 for 25 articles  over a years time.)
 
There are lots of events, classes & free stuff  to smile about this weekend and through out the Fall months-in the DFW area
 read all about everything that's going on - below
 
-if you haven't heard about Garden Inspirations classes that teach growing,harvesting, and preserving food crops--go to their website and check it all out
http://www.gardeninspirations-tx.com/classes.html
Don't forget to tune into their  Farm Girls radio show- every Friday at 1 Pm on Legends 770 KAAM--you will be hooked after hearing it once--If you are a First Wednesday Attendee--and you can answer the triva question ( picked from  one of the next radio shows)-- you can win a free 6 week garden class with garden Inspirations on Nov 7th at the First Wednesday meeting at Stegalls Garden Center.
 
Natives Rule!!!!!!

Fall Native Plant Sale

Saturday, October 13, 2012
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Fort Worth Botanic Gardens
3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth, TX
(part of the FW Botanic Gardens annual plant sale)


  Fall Festival-- Free Food--Live Music- Raffles-and a great sale  --Saturday Oct 13th
 DESIGNS IN NATURE
THE TREE PLACE
5501 E. I-20    FORT WORTH, TX     817-561-9248
 
As the trees burst into color and the Autumn Season arrives… Leaf your worries behind and join us for our 
FALL FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 13, 2012    9-5
Live music:
 Sweet T
& The Back Porch Pickers
Raffle, Free Hot Dogs & Drinks
 
SALE
 Starting October 7- October 14
1-2 PLANTED TREES 10% OFF
3-4 PLANTED TREES 15% OFF
5 + TREES PLANTED 20% OFF
TAKE WITH TREES 40% OFF
METAL ART 15% OFF
ORGANICS 10% OFF
POTTERY 50% OFF
ROSES, PERENNIALS, & SHRUBS
50% OFF
 
NO OTHER DISCOUNTS APPLY
 
 
Marshall Grain- both stores- for more info go to http://www.marshallgrain.com/istar.asp?a=30
Oct 20th - Seminar: African Violets - 10:30AM (Fort Worth), 1:30PM (Grapevine)
                       Presented by Jan Bird, Moonlight African Violet Society
Oct 20th - Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats - 9 AM to 4 PM (Grapevine)
Oct 24nd - Fish Day - 7 AM to 8 AM (Fort Worth)
Oct 27nd - Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats - 9 AM to 4 PM (Fort Worth)

 
 
 
October 26-27--The Greenery is having it's first Auction at it's new location --right across the street from the old location- to see a list of all items being auctioned- and learn more about all the fun- go to
http://www.thegreenerytx.com/auction.html
 
 
Love & Luck Lucy Harrell