North Austin Civic Association

September, 2009

February 28 field trip to Ron Rigsby Park

Ye Olde Quail Creek Garden Club

by Caro Dubois
On Saturday, March 14, the QCGC planted native and adapted plants in the planters at the Library. We did our homework to see what would grow best in a location that only gets the hot afternoon sun. Our choices included lantana, rosemary, cedar sage, blackfoot daisy, damianita, bulbines, nicotiana, columbine, African iris, Mexican feather grass, lavender, escheverria, sedum, and speedwell. Please stop by and see the new plantings, in the niches on the west side of the Library.


The next meeting of the Garden Club will be Saturday, September 24 at 10:00am at Little Walnut Creek Library.

If you have suggestions for projects, speakers, or topics please come to our meetings and/or call/e-mail me.

Caro Dubois
835-0943
cdubois1@austin.rr.com  
NACA Home  

Check out the February article!

Fall Gardening

hummingbird

Fall is a wonderful time in Central Texas. The heat wave has broken, we have started to get some rain, plants and the soil are alive again. Thank you, God. I don't know about you, but my weeds are doing the best. However, good things that I have tended for years are blooming again, and things I thought were dead have shown signs of life. I took out more of my yard grass, because it died in the heat this summer (and I didn't want to water and mow it anymore). The xeric garden I am replacing it with is slowly taking shape, and I look forward to less water use and a different look.

The grant proposal for the improvements at Ron Rigsby Park will be turned in next week. Ellen Martin was especially responsible for getting the proposal together - and I thank her, it could not have happened without her. We hope the Austin Parks Foundation reviews the application and responds this fall so that we can arrange to plant trees and shrubs this fall-winter-spring. We hope to get some of the planting done on "It's My Park Day." Stay tuned for work parties and picnics at the park to get the installations done.

Fall and Winter are the best times to take care of and plant new trees and shrubs. October 24th is Austin's Arbor Day - see the website for TreeFolks for more information: http://www.treefolks.org/. It is the best time of the year to fertilize, trim and plant trees and shrubs. It is also a good time for vegetable gardening. October: beets, carrots, chinese cabbage, collards, garlic, lettuces, mustard, bermuda onion seeds, parsley, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips; November: mustard, radishes, spinach; December: asparagus. Some people can even get in another season of tomatoes if the plants are protected from the cold (small frame with removable clear plastic sides). Of course it depends on how cold our winter is - sometimes it doesn't freeze at all.

If you don't plant anything this fall, be sure to start improving your soil with compost and mulch for a glorious spring season. The next meeting of the QCGC was originally set for Nov 28, however that is Thanksgiving weekend. So we will have our meeting on Saturday, November 21 at 10am at the Library. See you then - and Happy Gardening.

Remember, gardening is good for you - good for your physical health, good for your mental health, and good for your soul. Happy Gardening!
~Caro Dubois