September / October 2005

Fire Ant Control Compost Tea Mint Marigold Fall is for Gardening Pumpkins Mountain Laurel Local Garden Clubs Opportunities Books Herbs Gardeners on the Go Dining Out Dining In Resources Bits & Pieces   Gleanings from the Editor Beck on Nature Notes from the Brazos (greyed articles available in printed version - subscribe now!)

Gleanings from the Editor Well, this is the best August I can remember. Lots of rain and cool weather. After the spring we had and early summer, we deserve a break. (You should have seen my July electric bill!) I replaced my worn-out tomato plants with new ones for the fall and planted white pumpkins. I’ve had good luck with the Lumina variety in the past and with the great start they’ve had, I have high hopes for this year. I also planted a new crop of trompeta squash. I’ve never planted them in the fall before, so it’s an experiment. I love garden experiments — especially when they turn out right. So I’m looking forward to fall — always my favorite season in the garden. Lots of herb and garden shows — in Fredericksburg, Lampasas, Nacogdoches, and San Antonio. And cooling weather is always a bonus. I enjoy being outdoors again after a summer of being either soaked in sweat or chained to the AC. I have plans to add some new plants to my relatively new garden, and I know that fall is the time to do it. I can’t wait! The problem is always making a choice. I want everything, and I have a pretty small yard. But it is a good one. My one-year-old peach tree actually had peaches on it this year. Not many, and the birds got half of them, but it was such a thrill. I figured that having new fruit trees meant no fruit for years. So maybe I’ll one or two more since they seem happy here. Remember, fall is for gardening in Texas. It is the reward we get for putting up for summer in Texas!