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Nature’s Way Resources owner John Ferguson, “The Lazy Gardener” Brenda Beust Smith and Pablo Hernandez welcome your feedback and are so grateful to the many horticulturists who contribute their expertise
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“I love stepping out into the night to be greeted by
dancing fireflies and swooping bats in the sky. So many
critters, especially pollinators, depend on these dark nights.
— Susan Serven, DarkSky International
FIREFLIES, ‘CERTIFYING’ GARDENS & SCULPTING
TREASURED TREES!
BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH
ONE NEAT THING to come out of our now long-lasting trend toward nature awareness is a new respect for the part one’s home landscape plays in protecting wildlife and recognitions by “certifications.” Most such designations depend on the innate honesty of gardeners — especially when folks ask, “What’s that?”
THAT” is a sign (left) showing the world you have completed a certification process. We used to have lots of different certifications. Now most have combined under the National Wildlife Federation. Best of Texas Backyard Habitats Program is a joint effort of the National Wildlife Federation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. And, yes, they DO respect gardeners — no inspection for approval. But one never knows when a visitor might report you if you violate the rules, including (excerpted partial list below):
- If garden includes more than two plants listed in “Invasive Exotic Species” section of above webpage, certification can be denied/removed
- Food (for wildlife) year round. Feeders alone not accepted (unless just occasional periods when plant food not available.Then they are required.)
- Fresh, useable, reliable water, available at all times.
- Active measures to control cats, House Sparrows and English Starlings on your property (includes, but not limited to, keeping cats indoors and encouraging neighbors to do same.)
- Using feeds that sparrows and starlings dislike, etc.
Click links above for full list. It’s a tough one, they’re very serious about this.
HOMEGROWN NATIONAL PARK now has a new mascot. Although not officially endangered, fireflies are steadily decreasing in numbers. Fitting symbol for HomeGrown National Park, a phenomena that strives to “regenerate biodiversity” by encouraging planting of appropriate natives. In just 3 years, HNP has united 38,000 biodiversity heroes (aka, home gardeners nationwide and others) who regenerated 100,000+ acres. Click on link above to read more.- Why not give your children/students one of the free HNP memberships so they’ll receive constant updates and be fully informed by the time they establish their own landscapes? No charge, no obligations!! Never heard of Homegrown National Park? Explanation in Doug Tallamy’s own words
- SPEAKING OF FIREFLIES, when was the last time you saw one? Texas’ own Lampyridae champion, BEN PFEIFFER, founder of Firefly Conservation & Research — who has spoken to many Houston area groups over the decades — is currently questioning effects of new purple LED streetlights on our already-disappearing populations of these delightful living treasures. Check links above for more info on Ben and fireflies!
- And, if you like the quote at the top of this column, know Texas has its own DarkSky International chapter, manned by strong advocates for conditions fireflies need! :darkskytexas.org/. Join!
DEAD / DYING TREES KEEP ON GIVING!!! Hope all your trees survived our recent Nature onslaughts. If not, or if trees are severely damaged, look at what some folks are doing! One of first such tree sculptures I ever saw was JAMES PHILLIPS‘ post-Hurricane Ike (2006) tree sculpture of an angel holding a rabbit. Even neater (for my Chronicle article), turned out it was commissioned post-Ike by MARCY HANSON, a (retired) Playboy Bunny (now head of Galveston Police’s Adopt a Cop program), for her damaged cypress tree. “Angel Cradling Bunny” is still on its original site but secure on the porch of now-owners: “The Mansion on 17th St. B&B.”
(Pictured above: Phillips’ angel tree with bunny on original site and at current site.)
How long do these artistic treasures last and what about invading insects? Almost impossible to predict with 100% accuracy. Too many factors, as anyone who has lived through our Gulf Coast weather can testify! Jim says with routine application of oil, decay can be slowed. Many of his remain after 10-15 years in the elements. “Angel Cradllng Bunny” certainly has!
Of course, you can always try repurpose a dying tree yourself: (Some ideas) But know that termites and other delights do like decaying wood. Take the free self-guided Galveston tree sculpture tour. (Angel with Bunny is your first stop!) Then get opinions on whether or not your damaged and/or dead tree is a candidate before making final decisions.
John’s Corner
NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD
OF SOIL AND PLANTS # 288
Subject: fluoride tires magnesium lithium glyphosate
Another reason to use modern biological methods (organic) in our gardening has been found. Many of the products sold to gardeners contain fluoride, from pesticides to some artificial fertilizers. For example, a commonly used very toxic post-harvest insecticide usedon our food, is sulfuryl fluoride. This then gets into our food supply, additionally toxic fluoride is added to many public water systems and gets into our bodies when we drink it.
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open has found that mothers who consume fluoride during pregnancy, their children have more emotional problems and aggressive behavior. The likely hood of developing anxiety problems,attention deficient/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were increased.
Another study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found a correlation between fluoride exposure in utero and reductions in cognitive function in children.
The Fluoride Action Network (FAN) has prepared a large summary of 78 studies documenting the negative effect of fluoride on children’s IQ. https://fluoridealert.org
We have mentioned the dangers of using mulch made from rubber tires many times. Many of the dangerous chemicals found in tires have now been found in crops grown for human consumption. Journal Frontiers in Environmental Science.
Another study (2022) found that tires can generate 2,000 times more pollution than a vehicles tailpipe. Tires also produce microplastics. Driving an electric vehicle does not solve this issue.
We talked about avoiding things that harm the soil the last couple weeks. We do not need these rubber tire products like mulches, weed blocks, etc. in our gardens.
During our study of the elements in the human body last year, magnesium (Mg) that is found in green plants, was a super star for good health, and 80% of Americans are deficient.
Another benefit of consuming green plants (or taking supplements) was published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2021). They found increased intake of magnesium reduces the risk of liver cancer.
Low magnesium levels make one more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes.Magnesium is also used in over 300 enzymes in the human body.
Another benefit of using trace mineral amendments in our vegetable gardens and orchards has been found. The element lithium (Li) in low doses helps prevent mental cognitive decline as we age and promotes general better health. Products from the ocean (seaweed, fish emulsion, greensand, etc.) contain this element.
According to the Journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 99% of the world’s population are now contaminated with the herbicide glyphosate (think Round Up). This herbicide has been linked to many health problems from cancer to hormone disruption.
Medical researchers have found that taking glycine supplements helps our bodies removeglyphosate as the “gly” in the molecule stands for glycine.
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ABOUT US
BRENDA BEUST SMITH WE KNOW HER BEST AS THE LAZY GARDENER . . . but Brenda Beust Smith is also:
- a national award-winning writer & editor
- a nationally-published writer & photographer
- a national horticultural speaker
- a former Houston Chronicle reporter
When the Chronicle discontinued Brenda’s 45-year-old Lazy Gardener” print column — started in the early ’70s as a fun side-project to reporting, it then ranked as the longestrunning, continuously-published local newspaper column in the Greater Houston area. The name, she says, is not just fun, it’s true. Brenda’s gradual sideways step from reporter into gardening writing led first to an 18-year series of when-to-do-what Lazy Gardener Calendars, then to her Lazy Gardener’s Guide book which morphed into her Lazy Gardener’s Guide on CD, which she now emails free upon request. Brenda became a Harris County Master Gardener and, over the years, served on theboards of many Greater Houston area horticulture organizations. She hosted local radio and TV shows, most notably a 10+-year Lazy Gardener specialty shows on HoustonPBS (Ch. 8) and her call-in “EcoGardening” show on KPFT-FM. For over three decades, Brenda served as Assistant Production Manager of the GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA’S “BULLETIN” magazine. Although still an active broad-based freelance writer, Brenda’s main focus now is THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER with John Ferguson and Pablo Hernandez of Nature’s Way Resources. A native of New Orleans and graduate of St. Agnes Academy and the University of Houston, Brenda lives in Humble, TX, and is married to the retired Aldine High School Coach Bill Smith. They have one son, Blake. Regarding this newsletter, Brenda is the lead writer, originator of it and the daily inspiration for it. We so appreciate the way she has made gardening such a fun way to celebrate life together for such a long time.
JOHN FERGUSON John is a native Houstonian and has over 27 years of business experience. He owns Nature’s Way Resources, a composting company that specializes in high quality compost, mulch, and soil mixes. He holds a MS degree in Physics and Geology and is a licensed Soil Scientist in Texas. John has won many awards in horticulture and environmental issues. He represents the composting industry on the Houston-Galveston Area Council for solid waste. His personal garden has been featured in several horticultural books and “Better Homes and Gardens” magazine. His business has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for the quality and value of their products. He is a member of the Physics Honor Society and many other professional societies. John is is the co-author of the book Organic Management for the Professional. For this newsletter, John contributes articles regularly and is responsible for publishing it.
PABLO HERNANDEZ Pablo Hernandez is the special projects coordinator for Nature’s Way Resources. His realm of responsibilities include: serving as a webmaster, IT support, technical problem solving/troubleshooting, metrics management and quality control. Pablo helps this newsletter happen from a technical support standpoint.
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