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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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SALUTING A GARDENER EXTRAORDINAIRE

BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH 

So begins (above) just one of many articles that have — across the globe — sung the praises of John G. Fairey (1930-2020) and his now-named “John Fairey Garden” — still fondly treasured by us old-timers as the originally-named “Peckerwood Gardens.”

In the ’70s, Texas A&M Professor John G. Fairey purchased an old Hempstead-area farm to nurture his treasure of gathered seeds, naming the now internationally-resourced horticultural site “Peckerwood,” after Beau’s Peckerwood Plantation in “Auntie Mame.”

Increasingly John’s collection began to include rare and seldom-used plants, — especially endangered ones among others that proved good for Texas gardens — many gathered in Mexico and, eventually, from other countries as well.

Through those early years, I was delighted to update report on the garden, expanding by Mexico plant-searching treks with Houston extraordinaire Lynn Lowery and others. And, in 1999, a collaboration with the Garden Conservancy which, among other delights, included Peckerwood as a regular stop on the Conservancy’s “Open Gardens” tours of the nation’s most significant private gardens.

John was incredibly quotable, such as his artistic way of incorporating “the visual” — so visitors “are forced … to touch and feel and smell, whether you want to or not.” He inspired thoughts about direct vs filtered light, horizontal vs vertical branching, swirling palm fronds and spherical spikes blending with vivid color into soothing vignettes. 

l to r: Paperwhite narcissus, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, amaryllis

TIME TO BE ‘FORCE-FUL’

WITH BULBS FOR HOLIDAYS!

They call it ‘FORCING’ bulbs to bloom early, even tho bulbs (that like us) are going to their own thing anyway if you treat them right. By forcing in water, you have nice about-to-bloom-ers that make great decorations, gifts for teachers, etc. And are especially nice for shut-ins, brightening a house, office or sick room on gloomy, nasty, cold winter days. 

Info on forcing bulbs, the best containers and directions can be found in most independent nurseries this time of year. You can also plant TULIPS 3-4″ deep in potting soil mixed with peat moss, sharp sand and 1 tbl. of bone meal, superphosphate or bulb food. For a specially beautiful outcome, plant in circles with bulb’s flat side to outside of planter so leaves circle on outside with tall flowers inside.

Store planter in a cool spot (dark garage corner). Protect from freezing. Place an upturned cardboard box over pot to block out light. Keep soil slightly moist. In a few weeks, when shoots emerge, gradually move container to a brighter location. Forced tulips will not bloom again.

DAFFODIL & TULIP bulbs can also be forced the same way but take longer and can be tricky. Tulip Forcing Tips. Or, some say this way is much easier . . .

Force HYACINTHS in water (faster). Use hyacinth vase (available at nurseries) or small rimmed jar. Remove bulb’s loose outer skin. Put piece of charcoal (not briquette!) in jar/vase bottom. Fill with water. Balance bulb on smaller rim top, with base barely touching water. Cover vase with paper sack; set in refrigerator (not touching wall). Keep water level just below base of bulb. When roots fill vase, and flower begins to show color, remove from refrigerator; gradually move into stronger light.

Force AMARYLLIS in water or soil. Soil: use a very small but heavy pot, just barely big enough* to hold bulb (needs to be slightly rootbound to bloom). *Pot must be sturdy enough to support a 1′-2′ high stalk with 4 large flowers Most nurseries carry amaryllis forcing vases. As with hyacinths, water should barely touch bulb base. Set in a dark cool spot until strong roots fill vase. If in refrigerator, make sure vase never touches walls. Then move into brighter light.

Start PAPERWHITES on pebbles in shallow bowl. Set bulbs on pebbles, fill with water up to, but not touching, bulb bottoms. Set in cool dark spot until bulb greenery sprout. Then move into light so flowers develop.

Nurseries carry kits bundled with bulbs, pot, etc. —great Christmas. gifts! (Excerpted from Lazy Gardeners Guide, pg. 56. Free LLG pdf available. Email request to lazygardenerbrenda@gmail.com.

• ASTER NOVAE-ANGLIAE ‘Crape Crush’, a New England aster, will be just one of many flowers and other plants Mercer Botanic Garden will have on sale – online only starting Sat., Nov. 9 at 8 a.m. You can preview plants, but not purchase, until sale) at friendsofmercer.com/POP-UP-Virtual-Plant-Sale–Friday-Saturday-November-8-9-2024_c_41.html. Pictured: New England Aster

• IT’S BLUEBONNET SEED PLANTING TIME FOR GREATER HOUSTON. Here cold helps germination. Tried & failed? Try these Greater Houston Area-specific: Lady Bird Johnson National Wildflower Center tips. Don’t mow down in Spring! Foliage looks like clover in a lawn.
  

P.S. On a decades-ago bus trip to Denali (Alaska), I asked our driver about 4-5′ tall, multi-colored flowers on roadside. Grabbing his mike he announced: “This little lady from Texas wants to know what these flowers are! I’m so surprised, since they’re lupines, her state flower!” When everyone stopped laughing, he added: “but then, of course, ours are MUCH larger!”)

• LINDA TALIAFERRO & I are in total agreement about the Texas Spider Lilies (pictured) in spectacular bloom along Hwy 124 near Intracoastal Bridge, north of High Island. Our very fragrant native Texas Spider lilies (Hymenocallis liriosme) They do great in our gardens as well, especially in low, standing water sites. National sources say these wildflowers bloom in Spring. Here we also get a fabulous fall bloom. Ironically, they’re in the amaryllis (not lily) family and bloom Feb.to Fall. Our wild Texas spider lilies have yellow centers deep in the bloom and a light sweet fragrance. Linda Taliaferro photo (w/Brenda insert)

• ATTN. GARDEN/PLANT GROUPS — In wake of Hurricane Beryl, Nature’s Way Resources offers free guided tours of NWR’s extensive nursery/soil/mulch facilities for garden clubs, plant societies and other plant-oriented, organized groups. As usual, NWR’s now-expanded meeting site is free to above groups. Reservations a must for both.

“LAZY GARDENER’S GUIDE” (PDF format) is emaild free.  Request: lazygardenbrenda@gmail.com

Brenda Beust Smith’s column is based on her 40+ years as the Houston Chronicle’s “Lazy Gardener” column — lazygardenerbrenda@gmail.com Brenda’s column focuses ONLY on the Greater Houston Area

John’s Corner

NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD

OF SOIL AND PLANTS # 307

Subject: manure-based fertilizers

We often talk about the poor quality of the food available today in this newsletter, from the GMO’s to lack of minerals and anticancer compounds to fruits and vegetables that have no flavor.

 The hybridization and genetic engineering of vegetables for longer shelf life, resistance to damage in shipping, higher yields, etc. are one of the reasons. Lack of soil care from loss of elements to microbes and organic matter is the other. Even if these plants are grown in mineral rich soil healthy soil, the plants no longer have the ability to absorb nutrients that make us healthy.

 Most of these patented seeds are controlled by just a few companies who use child labor in other countries to produce the seeds. There is a new documentary that discusses some of these issues titled: 

Industry Scandal: The Loss Of Nutrients that can be viewed at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax0SIbxgqDw

The industrial toxic chemical methods of rescue farming practices are behind many of the problems in the world today from all our health problems to climate change.

Twice in my life when conventional medical doctors wanted me to have very expensive surgery, the health issues were resolved by nutrition (trace mineral supplements). A good introductory lecture on the benefits of trace minerals and micronutrients to our health is:

Dead Doctor’s Don’t Lie by Doctor Joel Wallach which can be found at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL4yOE033mU

Joel D. Wallach, D.V.M., N.D., is an American veterinarian and naturopath known for promoting colloidal minerals as a treatment for many conditions. Wallach obtained a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Missouri in 1962, with a major in Animal Husbandry (Nutrition) and a minor in Field Crops and Soils. In 1964 he was awarded a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), also from the University of Missouri. Thereafter, Wallach completed a three year (1965-68) post-doctoral fellowship at The Center for the Biology of Natural Systems at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1982 he obtained a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine (N.D.) from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon.

In nature plants produce fruits that are nutrient dense and flavorful, so animals will eat them and spread their seeds so the plant species will succeed and procreate. This also holds true for our pollinator plants as many of the hybrids have very poor quality pollen and nectar.

For good health we should look for organically grown heirloom seeds for our vegetable or pollinator gardens.

If we want to be healthy, we need to grow as much of our own food as possible using modern organic methods. When we cannot grow our own, buy organic food preferably from local farmers markets.

Healthy soil = healthy plants = healthy people

 Last week we were talking about the poor quality of our meat and the cruel treatment of the animals. One of our readers (Peter Schaar, PhD) sent in this link with additional information.  https://www.eatwild.com/

From their website: Eatwild.com was founded by Jo Robinson in 2001 to promote the many advantages of raising livestock on pasture on small family farms. When nature’s model is followed, consumers, animals, and the planet reap the benefits. Consumers have access to more healthful eggs, meat, and dairy products; the animals live relatively stress-free lives; and well-managed grazing improves the fertility of the soil, absorbs more greenhouse gasses, and helps retain more water and topsoil.

Eatwild is now the #1 clearinghouse in the United States for science-based information about pasture-based farming. The site features a state-by-state (plus Canada) directory of local farmers who meet Eatwild’s criteria. You will find farmers close to you who respect the land and their animals, and produce delicious, quality food. The farm descriptions in the directory point you to information on how and where to pick up food. Some farmers will deliver or ship their products directly to you.

More than 9 million people have visited Eatwild.com to find wholesome alternatives to products from animals raised on unnatural diets and kept in confinement in abusive conditions.

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