A Star in their Crown

Yes, there will be another star in their crown for each of the enthusiastic garden helpers this morning for our monthly work party.  It was a hazy cool morning and turned into a beautiful day as we trimmed, raked, and dug.  The garden is ready "for bed" as soon as we can get some mulch. 

Many thanks to our volunteers:
The Walker Family Four, and  Georgine, Joan, Cathy, and Janet.

Come and Help - Dec 30., 9:00am

Another good day for the scheduled garden work day today. ( Dec 9th).   As always, thanks to Joan and Kathy for showing up with us.  We fixed two sections of broken fence and did a good deal of pruning and trimming... And... as can be seen from these Before and After pictures


Most of the garden looked like the first two pictures here.  (Actually, these are two of the areas that STILL need to be done).

The garden is holding well and still looks very nice when maintained.  More "maintainers" taking an initiative more frequently would be a big help.
Come give us a hand on Friday, Dec. 30 at 9:00

Dec 9 Workday and See the Newsletter

Our next Matzke Butterfly Garden Work Day will be Friday, December 9^th, at 8:30 a.m.  This glorious weather allows the monarchs to continue their life cycle. Drop by the garden and have a look.

Looks like we will have cool weather on the 9th.   The Monarchs are out and about when the day warms up, but not nearly the usual number.The garden is looking pretty good and will need only minor trimming and pruning.  Chuck will be doing fence repairs as we have two panels broken where they attach, and one that was on the ground yesterday when he checked. 

We will need clippers, gloves, trowels,  knee pads, or garden stool.  

The Houston Federation of Garden Clubs has a wonderful newsletter with good information and great pictures.  They featured our Children's Program Butterfly Program in their 16 page December issue, beginning on page 6 or 7.  It includes nice pictures of our garden and several of the children’s programs.  The link to it may be found by clicking HERE 

We are thankful for your support and help this past year and look forward to 2012

November Work Day is the 10th at 8:30 a.m.

We have four flats of Pansies to plant which won't that long.  Always some dead heading to do.  I hope you can join us.

"Planning the Stone"

This afternoon, Carol Bennett, ABCS Board President,  the stone mason, and Martin Heemer, ABCS Board Member, met to plan the location and setting of the stone monument Martin is donating to Matzke Park.  It will commerate the work of the original Association for Better Community Schools (ABCS) group that 17 years ago began work to save what is now Matzke Park from being a strip mall when the school district put the 20 acres up for sale.  ABCS has since been a major supporter of the building of the Butterfly Garden as well as the playground for special needs children.  The monument will be erected in the next month and located in the grassy area just north of the park office.

Oct 28th Work Day

Welcome Fall! Cool weather at last.  Here are 2 Monarchs sleeping through our scheduled Work Session at the garden this morning at 8:30 AM.  Of course the 55 degree temperature may have had something to do with their torpor.  We got roses trimmed and a lot of weeds pulled.  Thank you Joan, Janet, Cathy C and Chuck for all your hard work as usual.   We enjoyed some hot plum tea and cookies in addition to our exercise.  How about others of you ?    Come join us Nov 10th at 8:30 AM for our next work day and the planting of 4 flats of fall flowers.  You can do no wrong and need no special gardening skills.  Yes we have stand up work that does not require you to be bending or on your knees.  

Sylvia McMillan has completed painting our Children's Program Monarch Photo Cut Out Board.  It is beautiful. Thank you Sylvia, a wonderful and creative job.

Work Day Friday October 27 at 8:30 a.m.

The Garden has lots of butterflies!  Georgeine says the garden is looking very good but does need weeding and pruning.    You will need clippers, hedge clippers, the roses will need some trimming.  We will cut out the dead rose bushes.  Hopefully we can complete our trimming until the December Work Day.

 

There is a 30% of rain in the forecast for tomorrow morning, if it is pouring rain,  then we should move the work day to Monday, October, 31 8:30 a.m.

 

The old glorious knobby oak tree has died and has been cut down.