Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Janet (Norchester's Garden Club Matzke Butterfly Garden Director) Reports
that is it's HOT --if you can spare a bit of time, stop by the garden and pull a few weeds. It will only get worse as the summer and fall wear on.
The good news is that we have hired a young college student who is going to
help us this summer.  His name is Jaylynn.

The Parsley Hawthorn tree is planted.

The water is turned off as we have another broken sprinkler head in the button bush bed. We have a plan to fix this and future breakage of the water system.
Thank goodness we have had rain this week.
ABCS reports that the Kroger monies for last quarter are $78.04.  This money is specifically directed to maintenance of Matzke Park Butterfly Garden.  Thanks are due to those who have directed their Kroger reward card monies to ABCS. Don't forget to "re-enroll" your card beginning Aug 1.  This needs to be done each year by logging on to your Kroger on-line account.  The Park Garden's charity ID number for Kroger remains 82607. You can re-enroll at https://www.kroger.com/account/enrollCommunityRewardsNow  If you haven't linked you card to the garden's account you can also sign up at the above link. 

Keep an eye out at Norchester's 4th of July parade for the second year in a row the lovely ladies of Norchester's Garden Club will be in the parade.

Don't forget to check our blog for information regarding the Norchester Garden Club's Photo contest for pre-school and school children.  Guidelines are listed in our last post.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Matzke Park Fun - Another Look

Some of the following was posted in mid April, but is worth another look and options for pre-schoolers have been added:

School is out. The kids are bored.
Bring them to Precinct 4’s Matzke Park Butterfly Garden at the corner of Jones Rd and Grant Rd in Northwest Houston and bring a picnic lunch!  
The park boasts rest rooms, benches, 1 ½ mile walking trail, barrier free playground structures, picnic tables and 20 acres of open grassy space.
Bring a digital camera or a smart phone on a bright sunny day and challenge your and the kids photography skills.  
Look for caterpillars, butterflies, bees, bugs and birds among the butterfly weed, passion flower, butterfly bush, and other flowers both ornamental and native. 
The plants have been selected for food for caterpillars, butterflies and other pollinators.
Start a collection of what and when you have seen them this summer.  It becomes a great reference for later study.
You can also check the message board for what is happening in the park. Matzke Park is open every day of the week. The gardens are behind the Jones Rd parking lot.
Preschool Picture Contest - OFFICIAL RULES

All children in Harris County Texas between the ages of 3 to 5 are eligible to enter the Preschool Picture Contest this summer, with the permission of their parent or guardian.  Rules for the contest are as follows:

1. Entrance in the contest implies that you agree to the rules of the contest and have parental consent to enter the contest.  

2. The age of the contestant is to be based on his or her age as of June 1.

3.  A single picture (drawing, painting, etc.) of any one "Thing that Flies" in the garden (i.e. butterflies, bees, birds, ladybugs, dragonflies, etc.) may be submitted by a contestant.

4.  Submit picture along with your name, age, and contact information to 
Preschool Picture Contest
10502 Brentway
Houston, TX  77070-4004

5.  The deadline for submitting entries is midnight on August 31, 2016.

6.  Scoring:  Judges will award one point per picture and one additional point for the correct identification of the species submitted

The decisions of judges will be final.  Prizes will be awarded in September



Children’s Photo Contest - OFFICIAL RULES 

All children in Harris County Texas between the ages of 6 to 14 are eligible to enter the Children’s Photo Contest this summer, with the permission of their parent or guardian.  Rules for the contest are as follows:

1.  Entrance in the contest implies that you agree to the rules of the contest and have parental consent to enter the contest.  

2. The age of the contestant is to be based on his or her age as of June 1.

3.  Photos are to be taken only by the contestant, must only be taken in the Matzke Park Butterfly Garden and are to only be taken between the dates of June 1 and August 31 of the current year.  Please follow posted rules of observing without disturbing nature.

4.  One photo of each species of "Things that Fly" in the garden (butterflies, bees, birds, ladybugs, dragonflies, etc.) may be submitted by a contestant. There can be several entries of butterflies, for example, so long as each is a different kind.

5.  Email your photos as a jpg attachment, along with your name, age and contact information to ABCS.Park@att.net

6.  The deadline for submitting entries is midnight on August 31, 2016.

Scoring:  Judges will award one point per photo of each different species submitted, one additional point will be awarded for the correct identification of the species submitted, and one point may be deducted for duplicates of the same species submitted by one individual.

The decision of judges will be final.  Prizes will be awarded in September to contestants by age groups:
6 to 8,
9 to 11,

12 to 14.

Businesses and individuals wishing to support these contests may send a donation  before August 15th to:
    Norchester Garden Club Treasurer
    14606 Quail Creek Court   
    Houston, TX 77070      


Please make checks payable to Norchester Garden Club with "Children’s Picture Contest" in the memo.