Horticulture Show East Tx State Fair

     If you love gardening in unusual containers, this show is for you.   There are still a few days for you to register.  The deadline is Sept. 26, 11am - 1:45pm.  This is such a fun show, for the inventive and creative.  There is a list of general rules on the website.  You have to be able to scientifically name your plants.  Must be in fresh dirt and container.  The items will be divided up into classes.  This would be a great idea to spend time with your children introducing them to gardening.  Show them how to think outside the box of what you can grow plants in.

http://www.etstatefair.com/events/2014/horticulture-show   Here is a link to the page so you can see the pdf download of the rules and the registration form.

This picture is an example of a winning applicant from last year. It is in the category "Re-purposed Planters" If you place or win, you are awarded a ribbon accordingly. Also, your name will be in the paper and on the website I think.  There are three categories to enter.  "Backyard Botanical's", "Tom Thumbs Garden", and "Fancy Plants".  All the categories have different sections you can enter.  

This is a picture of an entry in the category "Fancy Plants".  It is titled "Fair Memories".  There are a lot of different things you can enter in the fair.  I think I am going to try this next year.  I would most likely do re-purposed containers.  Maybe if I give myself a year, I can fit it into my schedule.  Something to think about :)

Successful Fall Planting

     With cooler weather just around the corner it's time to start thinking about what we're going to do in our flower beds for fall.  There are some fun decorating holidays through the fall.  In East Texas as soon as the weather is below 90 we start with our decor.  It seems we all want to stretch this part of the year and enjoy the full length of every day.  Football season is in full swing and we can't wait to wear our first sweaters.  We all know it will be after Thanksgiving before that happens, but we can dream. Haha

     The first thing we notice driving around Tyler, are the pumpkins and the fall mums next to them.  Mums can be planted in the ground or in pots.  They are a little bit high maintenance as the limbs will continue to grow long if you do not keep them pruned.  They will come back yearly, but they require lots of pruning from spring until fall to create the most blooms.  Usually mums are cheap enough to just buy for the season splash, and then plant them in a corner or your yard and let them go.

     One of my favorite plants for fall foliage is the Croton.  It has beautiful wide leaves full of fall colors.  It is a little bit touchy to take care of.  It requires sun/ filtered sun and moderate water.  Not too much water, but not too little.  The more sun it gets, the more colorful the leaves are.  This is a plant that cannot be planted outdoors as the freeze will kill it.  It instantly adds a breath of fall to the patio or dark area of your yard.  This picture below shows 4 pots of Croton along with some stems of dried wheat and dried Indian corn.  I also like to use these same items for centerpieces in my home.  The leaves of the croton stay beautiful for quite a while and even dried they are pretty.

     The Japanese Red Maple is a wonderful outdoor ornamental tree.  By ornamental I mean it will always be small.  These only grow 10 feet tall or so.  Their profuse foliage literally can look like fire in the sunlight.  They are very beautiful and add a gorgeous touch to any outdoor garden.

     There are so many beautiful plants that bloom in the fall or have leaves that look as if they are blooming.  Now is the time to transplant them into your flower bed.  After the harsh sun and drought of summer, you can bring your yard alive with bright beautiful bedding plants, annuals or perennials.  With the season of fall we have here they will last for weeks, usually through Thanksgiving.  As you get these plants going in your flower bed, you can take sprigs and bring them inside to decorate with.  As long as you keep the flowers in water they will do great.  That is one of my favorite things about having beautiful flower beds, the fact that I can bring the flowers inside a little at a time.

     I'm ready for fall.  I love summer, but am so thankful for a change in the seasons.  So, let's all get our fall on ya'll.  Take a quick trip out to Harris Nursery on hwy 69 N in Tyler and they will help you with your selection.  http://harrisnursery.com/  Or Blue Moon Gardens in Chandler, they are both wonderful, quaint plant shops that are locally owned and would be glad to help you. http://www.bluemoongardens.com/   Have fun on your adventure.