the 57th annual Zilker Garden Festival

IN THIS ISSUE...
FEATURES
FEATURES
2014 ZILKER GARDEN FESTIVAL
 2014 Zilker Garden Festival
Saturday March 29 and Sunday March 30, 10:00 to 5:00
 A Guide to Flower Shows for
$7 Adults, $3 Children (age5-12)
Novices
 Growing Irises
 Caring for African Violets
 Plant Division
 A Brief History of The
Garden Club of Austin
CLUB NEWS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 President's Message
 Spring Plant Shows and
Sales
 Spring Workshops
 Austin Pond Society Goes
Ice Fishing for Dell
Childrens Medical Center
 Travis County Master
Gardeners - Inside Austin
Gardens Tour
 The First Austin African
Violets Society
 Austin Organic Gardeners -
The 57th Annual
Zilker Garden Festival
For over 50 years, the annual Zilker Garden Festival has been a one-stop, garden shopping
destination when spring arrives in Austin and Central Texas. A family-friendly event, the
garden festival offers something for everyone:
Garden Heroes
ZILKER BOTANICAL GARDEN
• Annual Flower Show in the Garden Center, featuring judged designs and an array of
horticultural specimens.
 Events at a Glance
 The Chrysalis Gift Shop at
• Gardening Talks where novice and seasoned gardeners will enjoy talks from local
gardening experts.
Zilker Botanical Garden
 The Walk of Friends
 City of Austin Newsletters
KLRU's "Central Texas
Gardener"
 Yelp Reviews
• Vendors selling a variety of plants and garden-themed arts and crafts, ceramic pottery,
custom jewelry, handmade artistic clothing, herbal products, garden hats.
• City of Austin Information tables where you can learn about growing healthy, earthfriendly, sustainable gardens, caring for trees, and using environmentally safe pest
management.
• Live music from the Soundstage in the Rose Garden – with a variety of musical offerings
both afternoons
• Enjoy tasty food offerings at the Food Court in the Oak Grove on the Escarpment Trail
• The always fun and interactive Kids' Corner in the Rose Garden – where kids can build a
birdhouse, or bird feeder, make butterfly wings and masks, have their faces painted,
and learn about plants from Master Gardeners.
There are many activities for the whole family to enjoy!
Go to the Zilker Garden Festival web site for all the information on
activities, schedules, list of vendors, parking information and more.
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A GUIDE TO FLOWER SHOWS FOR NOVICES
As Explained by Harriet Houston, Violet Crown Garden Club,
to Steve Blackson, Austin Pond Society
Editors Note: I have attended flower shows in the past,
but never really knew what I was looking at. The flowers
were all very pretty, and some of the exhibits were
interesting, but I didn't understand why or who got which
ribbon or what award.
At last year's Zilker Garden Festival, Harriet Houston was
gracious enought to take me on a guided tour of the
Flower Show and explain to me what the flower show was
about. I'm indebted to Harriet for all her help and
explanations, and her patience for putting up with my
questions. So here, I thought I might pass along to other
flower show novices what I learned.
ZGF Flower Show Awards
Divisions
The first thing to understand is that a flower show is divided into 2 Divisions: Design and
Horticulture.
Design Division
The Design division is what a novice might consider to be flower 'arrangements', but it is
much more involved than that. There are different sections and classes.
• Sections are related to the size of the design.
• Each section has classes for grouping similar
designs, like an arrangement for a small tea party, or
for a dinner table setting, or a floor design for a
large, stand-alone plant.
(Note: At the end of this article are links for more
information about the various sections and classes.)
Place Setting
From my novice viewpoint, I learned that dinner table settings compete against dinner table
settings, and tea party settings compete against tea party settings.
Horticulture Division
The Horticulture division is exactly what you would
expect it to be: the best plants grown by the entrant
in their respective section and class.
In the Horticulture division, sections are divided by
the plant variety or their uses.
Examples would be sections for Roses, for Cactus and
Succulents, Orchids, Annuals and Perennials, Hanging
Containers, or Potted Plants.
Horticulture
Classes in the Horticulture division are divided by groups specific to that cataegory. For
example, the Orchid section is classified by the different genus of orchids, like Cattleya,
Cymbidium, Vanda, etc. Roses are classified by Grandiflora, Miniature, Hybrids, etc.
Show Theme
The other important item to understand is that all flower shows have a theme that sets the
tone of the show. Past themes have included "Children's Nursery Rhymes", with classes like
"A Tisket, a Tasket, a Design in a Basket".
The theme for this year's Flower Show at the Zilker Garden Festival is "From
Grandma's Kitchen". Design classes will include "Vegetables from Grandma's
Garden", "Family Holiday Celebration", and "Oktoberfest".
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Judging and Awards
Lastly is judging the entries. The entries will be judged by Nationally Accredited Flower Show
Judges using the National Garden Clubs Handbook for Flower Shows, 2007 edition, or the
National Plant Society Scale of Points in sections where they apply. I wasn't familiar with
either method, but when Harriet showed me the NGC Handbook for Flower Shows, I was
amazed! It's an inch-and-a-half thick... with tiny type! There are several prestigious awards
that can be bestowed by the judges:
Design divison awards include:
Horticulture division awards include:
• Petite Award
• The Award of Horticultural Excellence
• Tricolor Award
• The Award of Merit
• Designer's Choice Award
• The Arboreal Award
• Table Artistry Award
• The Award of Appreciation
Both divisions have a Sweepstakes Award that is presented to the winner with the most blue
ribbons in their division.
The most interesting thing I learned about judging is that Austin judges do NOT judge an
Austin flower show. All the judges will be from out of town - Houston, San Antonio, or Waco
for example. So there is no chance of hometown bias like the Dowager Countess of
Grantham (Maggie Smith) enjoyed in Downton Abbey's annual flower show!
In Conclusion
If you didn't know your way around a flower show before, I hope you can now appreciate all
the different floral designs and plants, as well as all the effort the entrants put into their
exhibits. The Flower Show at the Zilker Garden Festival will be a colorful burst of beautiful
flowers and designs for your enjoyment. Show this article to your significant other and
friends, then bring them with you to the Flower Show. We hope to see you there!
For More Information
If you would like to enter the Flower Show with an exhibit or plant, or just want all the details
about the show, you can download the "From Grandma's Kitchen" PDF.
You can also visit the Zilker Garden Festival web page for a summary of the Design sections.
Or you can ask Harriet like I did! Thank you for all your help and patience Harriet!
Harriet Houston, Violet Crown Garden Club
as explained to Steve Blackson, Austin Pond Society
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GROWING IRISES
by Nelda Moore, Iris Society of Austin
Planting and Growing Bearded Iris
Bearded irises — the beautiful flowers having three standards, three falls, and three beards
that are like fuzzy caterpillars — are very easy to grow with a minimum of care as long as
the rhizome or fleshy root has good drainage and the plant has plenty of sun.
Any soil should be built up with the addition of compost,
bone meal, and sand. If the soil is acidic, some
agricultural lime can be beneficial. If using fertilizer, the
mix should be higher in phosphorous for root growth,
solid rhizomes, and strong bloomstalks, and low in
nitrogen to prevent rot.
The best time to plant the rhizomes is during their semidormant period or during the fall, especially in
September and October.
Bearded Iris
They should set their roots before the first freeze in this area.
• Plant the rhizome in the raised bed with the thoroughly mixed amendments by creating
a mound of dirt in the planting hole and pressing the rhizome down and spreading the
roots over the mound.
• Then fill in and firm the soil around the rhizome, leaving the soil just slightly over the
rhizome with the foliage trimmed in an upside down "V". Usually the rhizome has
evidence of a new increase or two.
• Soak the ground after planting and allow the soil around the top of the rhizome to
become dry before watering again. Most often the rhizome will show itself after
watering. That is perfect because if the iris is planted too deep it will not bloom. Soon
after this, the roots should anchor the plant. The increases should produce bloomstalks
in the spring, but sometimes it takes a year before blooms appear.
• Use bone meal or super phosphate to feed the plant again in the spring before bloom
season. This feeding is usually on or about Valentines Day.
Patience and a clean garden area are attributes of an irisarian. Do not use companion plants
that will shade the rhizome, and try to divide a clump after a couple of years.
Louisiana Irises are Native Wildflowers
Louisiana irises have a long rhizome with thin
foliage that can be held up to the light so that
one can see the tiny black flecks scattered
throughout the sword-like leaf. The dots seem
like pepper, and after all, these plants are from
the swamps of Louisiana.
This iris ranges in color from blues and purples
to white and dark purple to yellow and red. The
flowers can be spider-like to doubles with no
beards, just signals or patches of yellow on the
blossom.
Louisiana Iris
Their rhizomes are planted about an inch or a little deeper in acidic soil that is kept moist.
Mulch, but not pine bark, can be used to keep the rhizomes from drying during the summer
or for protecting them from freezing.
These plants are heavy feeders; therefore, they need to be fertilized at least three times per
year — at planting time, after they bloom, and again in the fall. They like the azalea food or
miracid.
These irises can be grown in pots as long as there is no hole in the bottom of the container.
The soil should be near the top so that the plants are not submerged if it rains. To prevent
rainwater from standing in the pot, drill a few holes in the top of the container so that water
can escape.
Nelda Moore, Iris Society of Austin
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CARING FOR AFRICAN VIOLETS
by Glenda Williams, Vice-President, First Austin African Violets Society
Light
African violets require approximately 10-12 hours of
bright, indirect light per day - one of the most important
factors in bloom production.
Natural light from windows facing east is an option as the
morning light works well for your plants.
Windows facing the other 3 directions may work as well
but care should be taken to minimize direct sunlight as it
can burn plant foliage.
Amethyst
The most practical lighting for growing violets is artificial or fluorescent lights. Inexpensive
fluorescent light fixtures are readily available at your local hardware or home improvement
stores. Violets require approximately 600 foot-candles of light for 12-14 hours per day.
For best results, use fluorescent tubes especially made for plants and aquariums.
• Place standard size plants 12 to 14 inches below the lights.
• Place mini and semi-miniature varieties 8 to 10 inches below the lights.
• Lighter or variegated leaf varieties require less light while darker leaf varieties will
require more light.
• Timers can be used to automatically turn your lighting on/off based on your prespecified lighting requirements or schedule.
• Keep lighting dusted, being careful not to get the dust on plants.
Temperature
African violets grow best in temperatures between 60 to 80°F and humidity between 40% and
60%. In essence, if you are comfortable in a room, your plants will be as well.
• Use a fan to provide gentle air circulation if needed.
Circulating air helps keep the temperature even in
the room as well as to help minimize powdery
mildew.
• Variegated varieties prefer the cooler temperature
range which supports their variegation and tend to
do better on the lower/bottom shelves of a plant
stand.
Celina Dark Velvet
Watering
African violets can easily maintain on a once a week watering schedule. Violets like to keep
their "feet" (roots) evenly moist — never soggy. The easiest and quickest way to kill a violet
is to over water and let it stand in a saucer of water — it will rot. Violets will tolerate drought
better than soggy roots.
Watering can be done from the top (under the plant-avoid the crown) or from the bottom, by
wicking, or by matting. Wick or capillary mat watering is a method which delivers water
continuously to the soil mix, minimizing soil dry out, as well as allows you extended periods
of time without the worry or work effort of watering.
• Water should be room temperature (tepid), preferably
left to stand 24 hours prior to use.
• Water only when the top of the soil feels dry to the
touch.
• Rainwater and reverse osmosis water can be used.
• Never use water from a water softening system, as
salts added to this water process system will harm
your plants.
Optimara Stephanie
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For More Information about African Violets
The First Austin African Violet Society has information on its website at
http://stonewall/aagc/www.avsa.org, along with links to websites of other organizations
that are interested in the growing, showing, and educating the public on African violets and
other gesneriads.
by Glenda Williams, Vice-President, First Austin African Violets Society
PLANT DIVISION
by Rachel Matthews, Heart of the Hills Garden Club
The Long and Short of It - Plant Division
Math teachers claim that 1=1 but gardeners know that 1 can
equal 2 or 3 or 4 or more through plant division.
Dividing plants is one way to propagate quickly and fairly easily,
and it is beneficial for the plants as well.
• Why divide plants?
• Which plants can be divided?
• When should I do it?
• How do I do it?
Here are a few tips to help keep your plants healthy, happy, and
prolific.
Plant Division
Why divide plants?
Plants can become crowded, and when they get too crowded they suffer. Dividing plants lets
us manage the size of the plants, helps keep them healthy, and gives us additional plant
material for our gardens or to share with friends.
Which plants can be divided?
Many perennials, excepting those with taproots, can and should be divided. Iris, daylilies,
hostas, ferns, herbs like mint and chives, almost any plant with a "clumping" or "running"
nature can benefit, and your garden will benefit from "new" plants as well! If you are not sure
about dividing a plant in your garden, call your local extension service or a local nursery.
When should I divide plants?
Early spring or late fall, depending. Simply, you want to divide your plants when they are not
blooming or are relatively dormant. Most well established plants can and should be divided
every few years. See the resources below or call your local extension services for specifics
about the plants in your garden.
Dividing is, as you can imagine, stressful even though it is necessary for the healthy growth
of a plant. Divide your plants when they are looking good as a healthy, strong plant will have
the best chance of a full recovery. Don't wait until they are looking overgrown or dead at the
center. And, even if you lose a few of your "new" starts, you will still have more than you
started with!
How do I do it?
Plants are tougher than you may think. The trick in dividing plants is to cause as little shock
to the plant as possible. If you are dividing in-ground plants, dig wide and deep around the
root ball. That way you can lift the entire plant out without too much trauma. Lift the plant
out using either a spading fork, a shovel, or by hand. Work on a tarp if you like, as it can get
a bit messy. Cut or gently pull apart the roots to make new plants, remembering that cleanly
cut roots are more likely to heal disease-free than torn or broken roots.
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Once divided, be sure to keep the roots covered and moist until
you can get the plants back into the ground.
Much the way I prepare my cookie sheets or bread pans before
starting a recipe, I try to figure out where I want the new plants
and prepare the new beds before digging out the original material.
That way the newly divided plants spend only a few minutes out of
their element.
Divided Plants
I have had good luck dividing Boston ferns with a bread knife. If you buy a hanging pot of
ferns from one of the box stores you can generally get at least four healthy plants from it.
Water it well, then remove it from the pot. You can pull the roots apart to a degree, but I
simply quarter the rootball then replant into four clean pots, using good well draining
potting soil. Wait a bit before fertilizing, but keep the new pots well watered.
If you follow these tips, use good common sense, and tend the newly planted material, you
should have fuller beds and happier, healthier plants. See? One can equal many!
Rachel Matthews, Heart of the Hills Garden Club
Helpful Resources:
Fine Gardening
http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/dividing-perennials.aspx
Better Homes and Gardens
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/dividing-perennials/
Clemson University
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/flowers/hgic1150.html
Burpee Seeds
http://www.burpee.com/perennials/dividing-your-perennials-article10375.html
Travis County Extension Service
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/agext/garden/veggies/planting/
Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of articles on the history of the Austin Area
Garden Center and the clubs that comprise the Austin Area Garden Council. The Men's
Garden Club of Austin was one of the original clubs who were instrumental in establishing
the Garden Center and creating what we now know as Zilker Botanical Garden.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GARDEN CLUB OF AUSTIN
From Wilburn and Annie Hackebeil, The Garden Club of Austin
Founding as The Men's Garden Club of Austin
The Garden Club of Austin was originally known as The Men’s Garden
Club of Austin, which was founded in 1953 by more than 90 men. The
first Club President was Dr. S. W. Bohls. In 2002 it changed its name to
The Garden Club of Austin, opening up membership to anyone
interested in gardening.
Membership Milestones
Some time following organization, the club membership dropped from 90 to 50 and had no
real growth until 1969. A gradual increase became evident during the next five years:
• Membership almost doubled in 1973 to nearly 200;
• from 1974 to 1979, it remained above 200;
• the eighties ushered in memberships of more than 300 from 1980 to 1984;
• however, membership during the past five years has been below 100.
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For several years the Austin Club had the largest membership of clubs in the country. It won
the Woodson K. Jones Memorial Plaque (for outstanding club) six times; the last three years
were 1983, 1984, and 1988. Thus it has been among the top clubs based on member
recruitment, garden projects, and other related activities.
National and Regional Affiliations
The Garden Club of Austin is affiliated with:
• The Gardener’s of America/The Men’s Garden Club of America, Inc.
(TGOA/MGCA),
• Southwest Region-MGCA, Inc.
• and Austin Area Garden Center, Inc. (AAGC)
Austin’s Leonard Guerrero served as the National President in 1980. Presidents of the
Southwest Region were H B Mendieta (1969), Jesse E Fox (1974), Leonard Guerrero (1984),
and Sol Steinberg (1992). Several other club members have served in regional and national
posts.
The Austin Club hosted the Southwest Region Conference in 1960, 1969, 1974, 1980,1984,
and 1990. It hosted the National Convention in 1981.
The Garden Club of Austin Today
The Garden Club meets monthly on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Zilker
Botanical Garden Center Auditorium, with the exception of March, November and December.
In March the meeting usually has to be rescheduled due to the Zilker Garden Festival. In
November the monthly meeting is held jointly with the Cactus and Succulent Society on the
Thursday before Thanksgiving. In December, no monthly meeting is held, only an awards
presentation and Christmas Party.
Programs for the regular club meetings have been centered on Horticulture, which has been
one of the main objectives and has aided in recruiting new members. The obtaining of
speakers and programs has been done with this objective in mind. There are programs and
demonstrations on gardening topics and “how to tips”, plant auction, silent auction, trips,
and an ice cream social, and door prizes.
During the last few years the Club has been very active in providing volunteer labor to help
enhance the beauty of Zilker Botanical Gardens and other areas of Austin. MGC-Austin’s
Summer and Fall Flower and Vegetable Shows, which are open to the public, have attracted
considerable attention and helped to publicize the Club. Also, the two plant sales each year
have provided significant funds for the Club. Spring and Fall bulb sales the past four years
have attracted many buyers.
The Garden Club of Austin uses the proceeds from their sales to fund scholarships to
Central Texas area students majoring in Horticulture, and other worthy activities.
You can get more information about the club and its current activities at their website:
http://www.thegardenclubofaustin.org/
from Wilburn and Annie Hackebeil, The Garden Club of Austin
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CLUB NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
from Marion Alsup, President, Austin Area Garden Center
The Austin Area Garden Center - a 50 Year Legacy
Let's remember 1964:
• Gasoline cost 30 cents a gallon.
• Bread cost 21 cents a loaf.
• Average annual income in the U.S. was $6,000.
• The average cost of a new home was $13,000.
• The Dow Jones Industrial average closed the year at 874.
Marion Alsup
• Funny Girl and Fiddler on the Roof premiered on Broadway.
• Mary Poppins, Dr. Strangelove and Goldfinger were among the top movies of the year.
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Newcomers on the scene were the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Supremes,
joined by the Ford Mustang, BASIC computer language, IBM's System 360 computer,
Pop Tarts, Lucky Charms cereal, Sharpie markers.
• and… the Austin Area Garden Center opened its doors on Oct. 25.
1964 was quite a year!
Fifty years went flying by, and the Austin Area Garden Center is still going strong, with 30
affiliated garden clubs. Our clubs and their members are still sharing the joys of gardening
after all these years! Our neighbors can learn about gardening and the environment through
meetings, workshops, flower shows and the 57th annual Zilker Garden Festival, which will be
held this year on March 29-30.
Support the Austin Area Garden Center
I'd like to ask for your support in the year ahead.
We need about 300 volunteers for Zilker Garden Festival. There are so many jobs to do and
so many wonderful folks working hard and having a great time. Many have signed up
already, but there are still a lot of jobs waiting, especially taking tickets at the front gate and
helping with crafts and activities in Kids' Corner.
AAGC Underwriting KLRU's "Central Texas Gardener"
We have a new opportunity to reach the viewers of Central Texas Gardener on KLRU through
a mutual sponsorship, which covers 10 and 15 second spots on CTG programs during the
coming year.
How are we going to fund the $10,000 cost of this worthwhile project? We have a matching
challenge grant of $5,000 and are asking for donations from clubs and members to fund the
rest. For example, your $50 contribution will be matched with an additional $50 for a total
of $100. And you get to promote the Garden Center and donate to KLRU at the same time!
You'll be glad to know that we're already well on our way to reaching our goal. Help us
continue our legacy and extend our outreach to a new audience.
Austin Garden Center 50th Anniversary
Soon we will start planning a fall celebration/open house/plant sale to celebrate the 50th
birthday of the Austin Area Garden Center building! I'm not sure yet what this celebration
will involve, but I am sure that it will be a fun and rewarding event that everyone will want to
participate in. We'll need a lot of help with planning and managing this event!
Let's all pitch in to support the Austin Area Garden Center so we can continue the legacy and
share the joy of gardening for another 50 years!
Marion Alsup, President, Austin Area Garden Center
9
SPRING PLANT SHOWS AND SALES
Many of our clubs hold plant shows and sales as fund raising projects in the spring. There
will be a wide variety of different types of plants available, from cactus and succulents to
orchids! Visit the club's web site for more information.
March
Austin Organic Gardeners Plant Sale
Saturday March 1, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
http://www.austinorganicgardeners.org/
First Austin African Violet Society Show and Sale
Saturday, March 15, 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
Sunday, March 16, 11:00 am to 3:30 pm
http://www.faavs.org/
Heart of Texas Orchid Society Show and Sale
Saturday, March 22, and Sunday, March 23
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
http://www.hotos.org/
April
Austin Cactus & Succulent Society Show and Sale
Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
http://austincss.com/
Iris Society of Austin Show
Saturday, April 12, 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
http://www.kenfuchs42.net/isa_index.html
May
Austin Bonsai Society Show and Sale
Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
http://www.austinbonsaisociety.com/
Austin Daylily Society Show
Saturday, May 24, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
http://www.austindaylily.org/
SPRING WORKSHOPS
In Addition to flower shows and sales, there are interesting gardening workshops scheduled.
Visit the club's web site for more information.
March
Travis County Master Gardeners (TCMG) Educational Workshop
Heirloom Plants in the Spring Garden
Saturday, March 8, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
http:/www.tcmastergardeners.org
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AUSTIN POND SOCIETY GOES ICE FISHING FOR DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
by Linda Tinsley, 2013 President, Austin Pond Society
Recently, one of my co-worker's 11-year old daughter, Makayla, was undergoing tests and
treatment at Dell Children's Medical Center (DCMC) for some serious medical issues. During
a visit to her and her mother while she was in the Medical Center, we stopped to admire the
pond that is located in the courtyard of the main building.
Dell Children's Medical Center and Pond
It was a beautiful water feature with large rocks and water falling around the boulders. But it
was a pond with no fish! Makayla told her mother "This pond needs some fish!." Makayla's
mother responded "I'm sure Ms Linda can get that done!"
As President of the Austin Pond Society, I often receive calls from people with pond
problems or fish issues. One Saturday morning, not long after my visit with Makayla and her
mother at the medical center, I received a phone call that brought the Austin Pond Society's
community involvement to a whole new level.
A Pond with a Problem
The caller described a problem with their pond; there was a leak, they couldn’t locate it and
they had about 50 or so goldfish in the pond that had to be moved. Their plan was to move
the fish to a local pond retailer and the call was to ask advice.
As I was talking to the pond owner I remembered
Makayla's lament at the medical center, "This pond
needs some fish!"
I asked if the fish could be relocated to a different
pond and if I could make some phone calls and
get back to her on Monday. The pond owner
agreed and I knew that I had the solution to
something that I had been trying to do for a long
time. Here was the opportunity to bring the joys of
the DCMC pond to children and their families.
The Pond with a Leak
Meeting with Dell Children's Medical Center
Monday I went to DCMC to search out the appropriate person to talk to. Luckily, standing at
the information desk was one of the members of the Dell Children's Medical Center
Foundation Board. I explained the purpose of my visit and she was excited at the prospect of
adding fish to one of the ponds on the medical center campus. I left my contact information
with her and my only thoughts were "Is this going to happen? Is this going to work?"
Much to my surprise and delight I received a call that afternoon from the Facilities Manager
at DCMC. I explained to him the situation with the fish and that we would like to relocate
them to their BIG pond that was just completed this summer. He thought it was a great idea
and that he would be happy to work with me to coordinate the move.
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Anybody Want to Volunteer?
That very night was the General Membership meeting of the Austin Pond Society (APS). It was
the annual end of the year celebration and everyone was there. I explained the situation to
everyone and asked for volunteers.
APS members are famous for volunteering for pond related projects, so I was not surprised
when the usual volunteers stepped up to help with the fish move. But then brand new
members, and members who have volunteered for other types of projects, also raised their
hands. I couldn’t write down names fast enough. I was thrilled!
After speaking with the pond owner and with the people at DCMC, the big move was set for
the following Saturday morning.
Anybody Check the Weather Forecast??
Friday night the temperature dropped, the winds came up. By Saturday morning it was very
cold, windy and a bit of drizzle was in the air. Not exactly the kind of weather for playing in
the water. But, did that deter these valued volunteers? NO WAY! Everyone showed up and
were ready to get the job done.
People brought nets, buckets, waders for catching
the fish, large coolers for transporting the fish,
and a great willingness to get the job done.
Have you ever watched "Yard Crashers" on cable?
That’s what we looked like when 10 people, 5
vehicles and loads of equipment showed up at the
pond owners' home.
The Ice Fishing Brigade
Transferring Water
Catch...
...and Release
The work went quickly. Water from the pond was transferred to the various coolers so that
the fish would be in the same water that they had been living in. The guys went to work with
nets and caught all of the fish in the pond and got them moved into the coolers in about a
half-hour.
Once all of the fish had been moved to coolers, and the coolers loaded into the trucks, the
trek to DCMC started. Even the pond owners and their daughter joined us on the relocation
trip.
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The Fish Meet Their New Home
Arriving at DCMC
Adding "new" Water
Releasing the fish
When we arrived at DCMC, the gate was open and the facilities staff were waiting for us. The
coolers were then moved to the edge of the pond, and water from the big pond was added
to the coolers. This was done to help the fish acclimate to their new habitat.
After waiting for a while and exploring this huge
pond and surrounding area, it was time.
Carefully, 69 fish were gently moved from the
coolers to the pond, and they were on their way.
All of the fish took off in different directions,
exploring their new home, but eventually they
gathered in schools and swam up and down the
pond.
This was a good move!
Fish now in new home at DCMC
A pond that needed fish now has some!
I am so excited and happy that there are fish in the big DCMC pond. This is a great place for
families to relax and enjoy the water, the plants and, finally, that pond that needed some
fish has some!
My thanks to all of the volunteers that showed up that
miserable Saturday morning and to the pond owners who
were so excited that their fish were going to a place where
they would definitely be enjoyed by many.
For more information about the Austin Pond Society, visit
their web site at: http://www.austinpondsociety.org/
Linda Tinsley, Austin Pond Society
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TRAVIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS - INSIDE AUSTIN GARDENS TOUR
Saturday, May 3, 2014 from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm.
You are invited to the Inside Austin Gardens Tour featuring six gardens
of exemplary quality and design. The tour is presented by Travis County
Master Gardeners Association in cooperation with the Travis County
AgriLife Extension Service on Saturday, May 3, 2014 from 9:00 am until
4:00 pm.
The Inside Austin Gardens Tour includes gardens to explore, continuous one-on-one
educational offerings, kids' activities, and book sales. The gardens are a unique expression
of the gardener’s personality and interests. Here is a glimpse of what to expect at these
gardens.
Imagine a free-spirited modern artist had a fling
with an introverted cottage gardener.
The resulting love child garden excels in using
tough, easy-care plants to achieve a lush and
exuberant mix of textures and colors, tamed by
the sculptural solidity of cactus, agave, and yucca.
Grasp what can happen when
gardeners take on a neglected yard.
dedicated
Share the thrilling pleasure of fresh vegetables,
luscious fruit blended into a vibrant landscape
anchored by a pond filled with serenading frogs.
See what results when high tech and water
conservation cross breeds.
The garden has tropical looking vegetation,
vegetables, herbs, roses, hanging baskets, and
lush green lawn. But the star is the watering
system!
Creativity!... It oozes from the pores of this
garden which highlights three water features.
LOL when you see how new life has been
breathed into rejected items.
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Discover a Texas style perennial border garden punctuated
with whimsical garden art, family garden treasures, plants
from educators and friends.
Examine the actual plants which are featured in Grow Green
Native and Adapted Landscape Plants booklet.
Trial beds compare tomato varieties and effects of different
watering frequency.
Join us on the tour!
Complete tour information including addresses, educational topics, maps, kid's activities
and ticket prices can be found at http://www.insideaustingardens.org/Purchase tickets
online or at each garden on tour day. Cash or credit cards are accepted at gardens.
Rosalie Russell, Travis County Master Gardeners
THE FIRST AUSTIN AFRICAN VIOLETS SOCIETY
by Glenda Williams, Vice-President, First African Violets Society
In 2014 the First Austin African Violets Society
will celebrate 50 years of violet history!
The First Austin African Violet Society (FAAVS) was established in
1964 in Austin, Texas. The FAAVS is a member of the African
Violet Society of America (AVSA), Lone Star African Violets Council
(LSAVC), and the Austin Area Garden Council (AAGC).
FAAVS goals are to:
• Stimulate public interest in growing and showing African violets and other gesneriads;
• Provide a convenient association for people interested in African violets;
• Provide education about propagation, culture, and showing African violets and other
gesneriads;
• Promote distribution of all varieties and species among members and others interested
in growing them; and
• Publish reliable, practical information about the organization and African violets and
other gesneriads.
FAAVS Membership
FAAVS members work to stimulate interest in African violets by providing educational
activities and judged African violet shows in the Central Texas area. Membership is open to
all interested individuals,in particular, the Central Texas (Austin) areas. As a member you will
receive this yearbook and all opportunities offered to FAAVS members so join today!
Joining FAAVS is easy! Individual annual memberships are currently $30.00. This fee includes
annual memberships to LSAVC and the Austin Area Garden Council (AAGC). Simply forward
your name, address, phone number, and email address either by mail or email to the FAAVS
treasurer who will contact you with information on mailing payment.
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What do FAAVS members do?
African violet enthusiasts not only participate in
FAAVS, AVSA, LSAVC, and other African Violet
Affiliate activities but also get together with growers
in their local and statewide communities.
FAAVS members participate in determining the 25
Best African violet varieties. FAAVS offers the public
a chance to win African violet promotional items
through a raffle at both the fall and spring shows.
FAAVS has an AVSA promotional display at our fall
and spring show each year along with an educational
display.
Sport of Caribbean Sunset
The FAAVS provides a financial gift to the Austin Area Garden Center. FAAVS members vote
annually to support an Annual Holiday Charity. The FAAVS and members make donations to
the Boyce Edens Research Fund, the Building Fund, Conventions, or other special memorials.
The FAAVS offers numerous seminars to educate the
public on propagation and culture of African violets
and other gesneriads. Club project plants can be
grown by members and brought to meetings to help
educate on the different growing methods and
environments. A revised edition of the culture
handbook written by FAAVS members is available at
shows, displays, and through mail order.
Sinningia Bright Eyes xconcinna
Members are available to give presentations to
outside groups on various aspects of African violet
culture.
FAAVS members can participate as officers and committee chairpersons with the Austin Area
Garden Council (AAGC), Central Texas Judges Council (CTJC), Lone Star African Violet Council
(ISAVC), and the African Violet Society of America (AVSA). Members assist in State and
National conventions when asked. Members are available as Judges and Clerks for AVSA
affiliate shows.
To find out more about FAAVS activities, visit the
FAAVS website at http://www.orgsites.com/tx/faavs.
FAAVS Information is also posted on the Internet at
http://stonewall/aagc/www.avsa.org with links to
other websites of organizations that are interested in
the growing, showing, and educating the public on
African violets and other gesneriads.
Streptocarpus Heartlands Baby Egrets
by Glenda Williams, Vice-President, First African Violets Society
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AUSTIN ORGANIC GARDENERS - GARDEN HEROES
by Catherine Robertson, Austin Organic Gardeners
JIMI CHOW
I got to visit with Jimi Chow at the seed exchange at
Milberg Farms. Jimi had brought Cherokee Tomato
seeds she had grown and collected to bring to the
exchange.
Her enthusiasm was contagious as she instructed the
group in various methods of growing the plants and
she put everyone at ease.
Jimi has been in the Austin Organic Garden Club for
twenty years and professes to be self-taught in
gardening.
Jimi Chow
She is looking forward to volunteering at the plant sale and finds it fun meeting new people
and helping others. We spent time discussing some new ideas she has for the club that left
me inspired as well!
RUSSELL KOHLERT
Garden Hero... or should I say the man about Zilker Gardens.
Russell belongs to eight clubs:
• Austin Butterfly Forum
• Austin Bonsai Society
• Austin Cactus and Succulent Society
• Austin Daylily Society
• Austin Organic Gardeners
• Austin Rose Society
• Iris Society of Austin
• and The Garden Club of Austin.
Russell Kohlert
Oh, did I mention that he also used to be the night attendant for the Austin Area Garden
Council for thirteen years. That is where most people got to know Russell as he walked they
safely to their cars.
Russell joined the Austin Organic Gardeners first in 1980 when John Dromgoole was speaker
for the Ted Fisher summer school. We always see Russell cleaning up after meetings, selling
soil amendments, and volunteering for any other duties clubs may need help with. His
favorite volunteer job is with the Butterfly forum where kids play with caterpillars at the Lady
Bird Wildflower Center.
Russell also raises plants for our March First Organic Plant Sale at Zilker and claims to do so
just for the fun of it. I for one don't know where we would be without Russell at Zilker.
The Austin Organic Garden Club has shown their appreciation by awarding him a lifetime
membership.
by Catherine Robertson, Austin Organic Gardeners
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ZILKER BOTANICAL GARDEN
EVENTS AT A GLANCE
March 2014
Saturday, March 1, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Austin Organic Gardeners' Plant Sale
Sunday, March 2
Kite Festival
ZBG Open but No Parking
Sunday, March 2, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm
Afternoon in the Garden
Saturday, March 8, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Travis County Master Gardeners (TCMG) Educational Workshop
Sunday, March 9
Daylight Savings Times Begins
ZBG hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 15, 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
Sunday, March 16, 11:00 am to 3:30 pm
First Austin African Violet Society Show & Sale
Sunday, March 16, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm
Afternoon in the Garden
Saturday, March 22, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, March 23, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Heart of Texas Orchid Society Show & Sale
Thursday, March 27, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
ZBG Closes at 5:00 pm
Zilker Garden Festival Setup
Friday, March 28, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
ZBG Closed to Public
Zilker Garden Festival Setup
Saturday, March 29, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Zilker Garden Festival
Sunday, March 30, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Zilker Garden Festival
April 2014
Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Austin Cactus & Succulent Society Show and Sale
Sunday, April 6, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm
Afternoon in the Garden
Saturday, April 12, 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Iris Society of Austin Show (No Sale)
Sunday, April 20, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm
Afternoon in the Garden
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May 2014
Sunday, May 4, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm
Afternoon in the Garden
Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Austin Bonsai Society Show and Sale
Sunday, May 18, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm
Afternoon in the Garden
Saturday, May 24, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Austin Daylily Society Show
June 2014
Sunday, June 1, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm
Afternoon in the Garden
Saturday, June 7, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, June 8, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
The Garden Club of Austin Show and Sale
Sunday, June 15, 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm
Afternoon in the Garden
Saturday, June 21, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Travis County Master Gardeners Educational Workshop
Events scheduled at the Zilker Botanical Garden-Austin Area Garden Center are always
posted, and kept updated, on the Calendar of Events page on the web site.
THE CHRYSALIS GIFT SHOP AT ZILKER BOTANICAL GARDEN
Where can a visitor purchase post cards, cookbooks, jewelry,
puzzles, Gatorade, framed prints, and unique gifts?
Drive to Zilker Botanical Garden and shop at The Chrysalis Gift Shop, where your shopping
experience will be satisfied with such great gifts as Remarkable Plants of Texas, The Garden
Guide, Food by Design from the Violet Crown Garden Club, New Braunfels Garden Club
Cookbook, books about trees, butterflies, snakes, or dragonflies.
Then there are cool towels, shopping bags that can be stuffed
inside themselves to form a ball that can be attached to a purse,
tee shirts, very special Austin gifts for the person who has
everything, beautiful jewelry, night lights of nature, boxes that
look like flowers.
Bring your birthday child along and let him shop for himself in the
children's section for wooden snakes, dinosaurs, puzzles, books,
cardinals that sing their song, or perhaps he will purchase a
framed nature print for his room. It is all there and some of the
items are fashioned here in Austin by Austin artists
The Chrysalis Gift Shop
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THE WALK OF FRIENDS
DONATE A BRICK TODAY!
Order forms are available at the Garden Center or
downloaded from http://www.zilkergarden.org/.
Click on Support and then Walk of Friends.
It's easy! Select the size of brick you would like, choose
your message and return the form with your payment.
Contact Sandra Holt at 512-345-3164 for more
information, or visit:
http://www.zilkergarden.org/support/friends.html.
AUSTIN NOTES
The Walk of Friends
KLRU'S "CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER"
KLRU's "Central Texas Gardener"
Sign up for Austin Notes, the
City's dynamic e-mail update
system and get news about
Austin neighborhoods, parks,
road closures, and more.
Read More...
This weekly gardening show is a
rich source of information for all
Austin
and
Central
Texas
gardeners.
Check out their weekly show
schedule for topics and air times,
the "To Do List" for monthly
gardening
tasks,
and
much
more...
Read reviews from visitors to Zilker Botanical Garden on Yelp.com.
4½ stars out of 5 makes our garden sing!
"Down the Garden Path" is a publication of the Austin Area Garden Council, Zilker Botanical Garden.
Contact us at Down the Garden Path with comments or suggestions.
©2014 Austin Area Garden Council, Zilker Botanical Garden
http://www.zilkergarden.org/
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