The Lazy Gardener & Friends | 2016 Newsletters

2016 Lazy Gardener & Friends Newsletter Index

Archive Downloads:

Volume 140 | 1/8/2016

JOURNALING – YOU’LL BE SO GLAD YOU STARTED ONE Tiffany McElweenie, ONLY THING PREDICTABLE ABOUT OUR WEATHER IS ITS TOTAL LACK OF PREDICTABILITY

Volume 141 | 1/15/2016

JOHN’S CORNER: WEEDS and HERBICIDES  “Round-Up”, Update 3 John Ferguson, TOP 10 MISTAKES  GARDENERS MAKE WITH FRUIT TREES Bob Dailey, COLD WEATHER COLOR Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 142 | 1/23/2016

BOOK REVIEW: The DRUNKEN BOTANIST- The Plants That Create the World’s Great Drinks John Ferguson, HOUSTON BOTANIC GARDEN MEETING CHALLENGES &, 1/23/2016 HOUSTON’S HORTICULTURAL SCENE — MAJOR CHANGES COMING! Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 143 | 1/29/2016

JOHN’S CORNER,  Tip Of The Week: Plastic Bottles John Ferguson,  GUDRUN LOVES GARDENING IN SHADE! Gudrun Opperman,  THE HOLISTIC GARDEN Dr. Joe Novak, REAPING THE EVERCHANGING JOY (& BENEFITS) OF GARDENS . . . AND SHADE Brenda Beust Smith 

Volume 144 | 2/5/2016

TEN MISTAKES IN PRUNING ROSES Baxter Williams , GETTING IN THE MOOD FOR VALENTINE’S DAY  . . . FEBRUARY EDIBLE HARVESTS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 145 | 2/12/2016

JOHN’S CORNER: What Is A Healthy Soil! John Ferguson, NATURALIZING BULBS Linda Gay, FANTASTIC LILIES FOR HOUSTON . . .  MORE SURPRISE FEBRUARY Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 146 | 2/16/2016

JOHN’S CORNER: SOME OF MY FAVORITE MAIL ORDER NURSERIES John Ferguson, SELLING YOUR EXTRA HARVESTS Jacob Martin, SNAKE-Y SUGGESTIONS . . . TIME TO SMELL THE VIOLETS . . .TOP FLOWERS VOTE. Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 147 | 2/29/2016

JOHN’S CORNER: FOOD FOR THOUGHT John Ferguson , HIBISCUS — PRUNING & ROOTING CUTTINGS Marti Graves, LOVING NATIVES . . . LAWN FLOWERS  . . . BLOOMING TREES  Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 148 | 3/7/2026

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson,  VIBURNUMS  Dave Creech, SUPER BOWL & “TREE BALL 2017” TO HELP BEAUTIFY HOUSTON . . .  TWEF CHILDREN’S GARDEN Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 149 | 3/11/2016

JOHN’S CORNER: GARDENING NEWS John Ferguson, CUTTINGS FROM THE GARDEN FOR INDOOR ENJOYMENT Amy Neugebauer CFD, PLANT THOSE EASTER LILIES! . . . TOUGHIES FROM THE SEASIDE . . . STAGHORN DELIGHTS . . . TREASURES FROM MERCER Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 150 | 3/18/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS: Artificial Fertilizers John Ferguson, GROWING ROSES ON FORTUNIANA ROOTSTOCK “THE WAY TO Don Adlong, HOW ‘IN’ IS YOUR YARD?  . . . TRACKING MONARCHS . . .  WALL GARDENS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 151 | 3/29/2016

NOTED GMO RESEARCH SCIENTIST REVERSES ORIGINAL STANCE ON SAFETY John Ferguson,  Book Review: “The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health” John Ferguson, GREAT LANDSCAPE TREES . . . AND FLOWERS . . . Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 152 | 4/8/2016

JOHN’S CORNER, Tip Of The Week: Mosquito Repellents John Ferguson, TIME TO PLANT PALMS!  O. J. Miller, HILL COUNTRY WILDFLOWERS – WOW!  . . .EARTH DAY DELIGHTS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 153 | 4/15/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, IT’S A BUG-EAT-BUG WORLD! Angela Chandler, LEARNING FROM THE ROSE PROS . . . LOVE HERBS? LOVE PETER!  . . . MEA CULPAS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 154 | 4/22/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, PONDS & TRANQUILITY . . . GARDENERS IN NEWS . . . SWAP THOSE PLANTS! Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 155 | 4/29/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, A BIBLE GARDEN Becky Lowicki , WHEN HUMMERS GO TO WHAT FLOWERS . . .BANNER BLOOM YEAR Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 156 | 5/6/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson,  WHY MINIS?  Paula Payne,  AH, THOSE WERE THE DAYLILY DAYS . . . CREATIVE PLANT LABELS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume  157 | 5/3/2016 

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, BAD LUCK PLANTS? . . . ‘GULF COAST WRANGLER’ . . . PLEASE SAVE MY SAD SAGO! Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 158 | 5/20/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, WORLD SPOTLIGHT ON BROMELIADS Rick and Carol Richtmyer , WORLD COMES TO SEE HOUSTON BROMELIADS & A TIP O’ THE TROWEL TO A NATIVES LOVER Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 159| 5/27/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, PLUMERIAS IN THE SPOTLIGHT! Paula Fur Twangler, FABULOUSLY FRAGRANT PLUMERIAS . . . FAVORITE TREES Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 160 | 6/3/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, CELEBRATE GARDENING EXERCISE DAY! . . . MY FLOWERS . . . A FUN “HISTORICAL” DISCOVERY . . . TREASURES FROM MERCER Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 161 | 6/10/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, POLLINATORS – WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT THEM Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 162 | 6/17/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, MORE POLLINATOR PLANTS! . . . UPCOMING DELIGHTS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 163 | 6/24/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, EDIBLE LANDSCAPING IN YOUR FRONT YARD Ron Richter, A TALE OF TWO CLEVER CURTILAGES Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 164 | 7/1/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, CELEBRATING TREASURED FLORA FRIENDS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 165 | 7/15/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, WINNING PLANTS – MAKE SURE THEY’RE GOOD FOR US!  . . . TEXAS BUTTERFLY EFFECT Brenda Beust Smith 

Volume 166 | 7/23/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, “It Is As Hot As H____” Baxter Williams, BE PATIENT . . . FALL IS PERHAPS OUR BEST BLOOMING SEASON Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 167 | 7/29/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, Top Ten Biggest Positive Changes — Horticulturally Speaking for Houston in the past 20 Years Randy Lemmon,  GREAT GARDENING HELP . . . PLUS A FEW YEHS & MOANS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 168 | 8/15/2016

JOHN’S CORNER: Nut sedge can drive gardeners nuts! John Ferguson,  IKE + NEIL + GRAPES + OAK ISLAND-TOUGH FOLKS = LUCY TIME! Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 169 | 8/19/2016

BOOK REVIEW: Agricultural & Environmental Applications of John Ferguson,  JOHN’S CORNER: Pothos Ivy – A Gardeners Tale John Ferguson, NATIVE PLANTS – SOLUTION FOR “GUMBO GARDENERS”! Margaret Gnewuch, A CORNUCOPIA OF PLACES TO LEARN & BUY, ESPECIALLY OUR Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 170 | 8/26/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, CREATING NEW FLOWER COLORS IN WINTER-HARDY HIBISCUS Dr. Dariusz, EXPANDING THE HORIZONS OF OUR NATIVE HIBISCUS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 171 | 9/2/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, KNOW YOUR SALVIAS! . . . WORTH READING . . . FAREWELL TO A Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 172 | 9/9/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson,  PRUNING PRETTY PLANTS FOR PERENNIAL PLEASURE Linda Gay,  Feng Shui Your Garden for a Happy Home Katherine Ashby, LISTENING TO THE PROS . . . FOR HAPPINESS & PRETTY PLANTS! Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 173 | 9/16/2016

BOOK REVIEW: Science For Sale John Ferguson, THE INS AND OUTS OF PUTTING TOGETHER A GARDEN TOUR Linda Garren-McKillip,  FALL GARDEN TOURS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 174 | 9/23/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, BULBMANIA! Dodie Jackson , “I vant to be alone . . . I just vant to be alone!” Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 175 | 9/30/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson, BALCONY GARDEN SUCCESS  &  FALL IS FOR  CELEBRATING . . . MONARCHS, JANE LONG & WILDFLOWERS! Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 176 | 10/7/2016

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS John Ferguson , SO, ARE YOU A “SOPHISTICATED ROSE GROWER”? Baxter Williams, INDOOR COMPOSTING FOR OUTDOOR SUCCESS Angela Chandler, The Garden Academy, AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY’S CONVENTION . . .  MAKE ROOM ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER! Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 177 | 10/14/2016

MINERALS – The Elements and What They Do John Ferguson,  SECRETS OF A ‘LAZY’ NATIVE PLANT GARDENER Russ Kane and Margaret Gnewuch, COMMUNITY GARDENS FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Bob Randall, Ph.D., POCKET GARDENS . . . PLANT SALES . . . EARTH-KIND ®. . . START A GARDEN . . . ‘LAZY’ NATIVE GARDNER! Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 178 | 10/21/2016

MINERALS – The Elements and What They Do (Part 1) John Ferguson, TOP 10 MISTAKES GARDENERS MAKE WHEN PLANTING NATIVE Greg Grant,  INCORPORATING NATIVES . . . DEAD LAWN AREAS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 179 | 10/28/2016

BOOK REVIEW: The DIRT CURE-Growing Healthy Kids with Food Straight from the Soil John Ferguson,  FALL FLORAL SUPPRISE . . . MUMS WILL RETURN . . . RAGWEED CURSE  . . . PAMPAS WARNING Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 180 | 11/4/2016

MINERALS – The Elements and What They Do (Part 2) John Ferguson, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT: PLANTS CLEAN INDOOR AIR WE BREATHE — IF WE COULD JUST KEEP THEM ALIVE! Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 181 | 11/11/2016

MINERALS – The Elements and What They Do (Part 3) John Ferguson, MINERALS – The Elements and What They Do (Part 2, In its entirety this time) John Ferguson, THE MAGIC OF BONSAI . . . AND MORE  OF THIS FALL’S NON-STOP BLOOMERS! Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 182 | 11/18/2016

MINERALS – The Elements and What They Do (Part 4) John Ferguson, CELEBRATE WITH “TURKEY” FLOWERS . . . STILL A’BLOOMIN’ FALL FLOWERS . . . SHOULD-TRY FRUIT TREES  Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 183 | 12/2/2016

MINERALS – The Elements and What They Do (Part 5) John Ferguson, PLANTS CAN BE ANTIQUES TOO! Judy Barrett, SHARED GARDENING CHALLENGES . . . GREAT TIME TO ROOT . . . HORTICULTURE HEIRLOOMS Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 184 | 12/9/2016

MINERALS – The Elements and What They Do (Part 6) John Ferguson, SAVE THE GNOMES! … MULCH EVERYTHING  …   BROMELIADS IN WINTER . . . START TOMATOES! Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 185 | 12/17/2016

MINERALS – The Elements and What They Do (Part 7) John Ferguson, A TALE OF TWO YULE TREATS . . . SAVING TEXAS’ ECOLOGICAL Brenda Beust Smith

Volume 186 | 12/31/2016

RECEIVE A HOLIDAY GIFT PLANT? Brenda Beust Smith 

Newsletter Archive