It happens every season. Our gardens give us a show-stopping presentation and then, poof, it’s over! So, what’s a good way to prepare for the transition? My advice, let the garden inspire you.
How about an artful arrangement of garden gifts for a dinner party buffet centerpiece?
A simple white ceramic pitcher was the perfect vessel for displaying the following “end of season” blossoms and greenery. Once completed, it had become a tapestry of seasonal beauty.
Cilantro in its “bolting” stage, curly and flat-leaf parsley, radish leaves, beet leaves, cornflower (bachelor’s buttons) and lots of blooming oregano stems for “filler”. A sprinkling of German Chamomile lightened the look. Guests were mesmerized by the natural beauty that a “fresh from the garden” look offered. Some couldn’t resist sampling a few sprigs!
A few days following our buffet dinner, the delightful arrangement was carried outside to be composted. As one master gardener remarked, “this is liquid gold for the compost bin!” I agree!
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
What a great plant larkspur is. Coming up from the seeds of last springs plants–living all winter as little fluffy greenery and suddenly growing tall and blooming before most other flowers.
Winter can be a challenge but finding the tiny larkspur seedlings and thinking of whats to come lifts the spirits. What a bonus that they honestly do not need a great deal of help from the gardener to grow and thrive.
As with most self seeding plants they come up where they wish to and may require some editing. If they are too crowded they won’t be their best so don’t hesitate to thin out the smaller ones. This will allow the remaining plants to grow tall. This adds structure to the spring garden. The color honestly goes with everything. Pink poppies–nigella–combined with the blues and purples of the larkspur–its a picture waiting to be painted–at least admired by you and anyone lucky enough to pass by.
Watch carefully larkspur is a magnet for native bumblebees. As we know bumblebees have been struggling. Seeing so many enjoying the larkspur makes growing them worthwhile in itself.
But wait–there is more!! When you grow larkspur you are growing a plant that has been grown by gardeners for hundreds of years. The Victorians were very fond of them–they were popular gift flowers.
In medieval times they were grown in monastery gardens. These gardens had to be useful not just beautiful.
Now–lets pause–important information will follow: all parts of larkspur are toxic. Do not consider internal use. But its great to know that people tried their best to help and use what they saw around them. Potions were made to treat a variety of problems including depression and anxiety. The seeds were used to make a solution to kill lice. That had to be a welcome relief as lice were a horribly common problem. In fact this use continued for a long time –soldiers used it during the revolutionary war..
The flowers can be used to make a dye and were used by the monks to make a blue ink.
So think of all those before you as you work in your garden–and remember you are a link in this long chain. Remember yes–but as always–there is more.You obviously must let the plants finish their blooming and go to seed–yes this can be a bit untidy but its essential. Lots of seeds will fall and they will lie in wait until next winter when the cycle starts again. But don’t let them all fall–gather some seeds.
Share some seeds with friends and neighbors–answer their questions about how to grow larkspur.
So the chain that links the plant and the gardener to the distant past will extend into the future–and you are and will be a link in that chain.
Larkspur and Poppies far better togetherLarkspur comes in white, this one has tinges of lavender look closelyThis one might be more lavender than whiteBe tolerant. A few larkspur in a vegetable bed is hardly a problem-in fact it is healthyNotice the variation in color, this one is very dark purple.This one is a bit lighter and blooms close to a tall verbena.Amazingly intricate flowersThe foliage is lovely itself- so delicate!A bumblebee, look close-they love larkspur.
Susan Thornbury, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
Starla and I decided to post a few of our favorite things from past plant sales. Save May 1, 2025 for an extradoinoary plant shopping experience at The Raincatcher’s annual plant sale.
Location: Midway Hills Christian Church ,11001 Midway Road,Dallas, Texas 75229
Thursday, May 1st, 2025
10 AM – 3 PM
Great selection of annuals, perennials, herbs and veggies, succulents and sedums, tropicals and house plants, shrubs and trees, groundcovers, bulbs and irises grown by the intrepid Raincatchers volunteers.
Bears Breeches-the green leafy plant by the japanese maple, a Starla purchase from The Raincatcher’s plant sale.Phlox, John Fanick purchased several years ago-now a hedge of beauty.Scented Rose Geranium-we will have these again this yearVariegated Artemesia, lovely fillerYucca in bloom, this has trippled in size since purchased.This palm and the pot cost $8. It has flourished.
All proceeds go to Dallas County Master Gardener projects.
Thank you for supporting Raincatchers’ Garden.
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Ann Lamb and Starla Willis, Dallas County Master Gardeners class of 2005 and 2008
Carrots are not the easiest thing to grow in our part of the world. Our past efforts resulted in lower yields than we had hoped.
This year we tried something different. We placed burlap over the area we had just planted and sprinkled it once a day to keep it moist until the seeds had germinated.
We usually water other seeds by hand once a day until they germinate but that didn’t satisfy the carrots. Soaking the burlap daily provides the continuous moisture they need for a good germination rate.
There was a hard freeze during the germination period. We left the burlap in place and covered the area with frost cloth.
We were concerned that the seedlings would stick to the burlap when we removed it but that was not a problem.
The germination rate was excellent and after a few weeks we had many delicious carrots to share with the NDSM food pantry and visiting preschoolers. Next year we will confidently devote more space to carrots using this technique.
Harvesting, photo by Ruth Klein
Prepping for NDSM food pantry, photo by Beverly
Beverly Allen, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2018
We are enjoying the mild weather and it appears the vegetables are too. Last year was productive both in vegetables donated and new lessons learned. We came pretty close to doubling our yield from the previous year (from 966 to 1833).
The tatume squash was the star producer with 727 pounds donated to North Dallas Shared Ministries. We would have had more but the stink bugs cut the harvest short by a few weeks.
We left a large volunteer hybrid squash in place as a trap crop for squash vine borers. An infestation of stink bugs quickly followed the borers on this weakened plant and spread to the tatume despite our best efforts to control them. This led to the early demise of our tatume plants and many long sessions of spraying soapy water to rid the garden of stink bugs. We are grateful to the Master Gardener interns and new volunteers who kept working with us despite this challenging (and frankly, gross, infestation).
The best advice for controlling stink bugs in small gardens is to remove the eggs and nymphs as soon as they can be found. They can be brushed off into soapy water or vacuumed. We missed some early opportunities but ultimately were able to get it under control in time for fall vegetables.
Image of brown marmorated stink bug eggs and nymphs from stopbmsb.org
Learning to identify stink bug eggs and nymphsTatume squash harvest in JuneCrop loss in July
Beverly Allen, Dallas County Master Gardener class of 2018
Location: The Raincatcher’s Garden at Midway Hills Christian Church,11001 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75229
Thursday, May 1st, 2025
10 AM – 3 PM
Great selection of annuals, perennials, herbs and veggies, succulents and sedums, tropicals and house plants, shrubs and trees, groundcovers, bulbs and irises grown by the intrepid Raincatchers volunteers.
All proceeds go to Dallas County Master Gardener projects.
Music in shops–usually just more noise to be ignored—but then, just every now and again a line from a song provides a useful and welcome bit of advice. A helpful insight for the volunteer gardener.
It can happen that for this volunteer a sneaking feeling that all is not well–a creeping feeling of discontent appears and can grow and affect every hour in the garden. A feeling that the task is too big just too much. And the reward–where is it??? Why aren’t there more volunteers? Does anyone see what I am doing–much less care or appreciate it??
Sadly once this happens –if nothing changes–the next step can be a vanished volunteer.
What needs to change?
The basic situation isn’t going to change. Garden work can be hard and it can be repetitive. Weeds come back without fail. Treasured flowers and veg can seemingly fail for no apparent reason. Add in garden tours to be led, fundraisers, plant sales,and extra work days- all need volunteers and they seem to come around way too often.
So what to do. Everyone has heard it but now its time to believe it. The situation is the same–the response to it that’s different-it can change–a lot–and for the better.
Take a step back and think clearly don’t just react. Remember respond don’t react.
Maybe part of it is listening to a lot of talk of self care. One thing often mentioned is just saying no to requests for help. And of course no one can say yes to everything.
We must take time for ourselves and our own homes and gardens.
But don’t lose sight of the personal benefits of helping either. There are friendships and connections–yes we may have to work on them but its valuable work.
We all want our communities to be better–greener–safer for plants wildlife –and ourselves.
Plant sales and garden tours–well those aren’t just things to get through–they can make a difference. If just a few people learn about plants that will grow and provide help for the bees and butterflies–isn’t that valuable.. If people learn that insects are the foundation of life on earth and they can help protect them, that is your time well spent. If you help a child develop a love for living things not a fear–well what could be better–that is the highest form of self care.
Starla’s niece with cicadaLinda teaching the butterfly life cycleIntroduction to an insectStarla’s son long ago with butterfly
Can you save the earth? No you cannot–but can you make your part of the world a little better? Yes, you can and you make yourself a little better with the time and effort.
We can’t wait for all the others who should be there helping.. Those others that should be appreciating us more. Give them time!! But for now–
We ARE THE PEOPLE WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR
Many hands make light workVolunteers planting a treeOn their knees, hard at workEnthusaiastic Raincatcher’s volunteers
Susan Thornbury, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
Join us at the garden, 11001 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75229 on the grounds of Midway Hills Christain Church. Our work days are Monday mornings and Tuesday mornings. This is a Dallas County Master Gardener approved project.
This bit of wisdom came by way of what seems an unexpected source. It was a great many years ago now–in a cartoon a FELIX THE CAT cartoon that was most likely old even then. Thinking back it was a strange cartoon not really designed for children at all. But that hardly matters at all.
Wisdom comes in many ways and forms and can make a lasting impression–so maybe it was a good thing for children–after all wisdom is useful to everyone. Once its firmly in one’s mind it can be called upon when most needed.
It turns out it’s needed now–by gardeners at least. This can be a discouraging time in the garden. Sure its great to have lots of perennials and if you try to remember–they were lovely pretty and then there were bees and butterflies. And the summer and fall were sure improved by the blooming annuals. Oh but now –just how many dead stalks did all that beauty leave behind–sadly alot!! And no way are they lovely now in fact they are awful.
It’s time for the big cutback!!! This just isn’t a happy thought. Let’s face it –its a very unhappy thought. It can seem overwhelming when you look at the whole thing–just too much hard to face.
All gardeners know it has to be done. The health and beauty of the plants require it and there is an absolute need to tidy things up. All the hoped for winter beauty of seed heads and such–its done stalks are falling over and there just isn’t anything pretty about it.
Don’t despair–this is where the wisdom of FELIX THE CAT comes in.
Take a step back from the whole situation. It all doesn’t have to be done at once–more than likely it just can’t be. Just get started–get out the clippers and loppers and sturdy gloves–make it as pleasant for yourself as possible.
Then remember INCH BT INCH. It will get done. You will be happy and justifiably proud of your accomplishment.
Cutting back lots and lots of dead stems just isn’t fun.. That doesn’t mean you can’t get some pleasure from the process.
Take breaks look at what you have done congratulate yourself!!
Look for signs of life among the dead stalks. Remember how valuable your work is. The Spring annuals and the bulbs can’t possibly look good if the garden isn’t ready for them.
Keep saying to yourself inch by inch–and yard by yard–will happen!!
So many dead stems that have to go-It’s a bit discouraging, no way around it.And still more to go!This grass is showing signs of lifeYes, there are weeds but then a baby poppy.Look the Narcissus arae returning.A stem can look very dead but a little plant can be growing from the roots, remember our plant sale is coming.This didn’t look promising but now there are tiny plants. Let’s see what happens.Wonderful baby Larkspur!
Susan Thornbury, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
Raincatcher’s Garden of Midway Hills 11001 Midway Rd, Dallas, TX 75229 Classroom 1, North Church Building 10-11 AM, Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Join us for a practical and informative class on maintaining your investment in your garden tools taught by Tim Allsup, an experienced and knowledgeable garden volunteer.
Rusted clippers? Dull loppers? Broken shovel handle? Tim can help you learn how to repair, restore and protect your tools in anticipation of spring garden tasks ahead.
To find the class, please enter the Midway Hills Christian Church campus from the south drive, follow the signs and park in the west parking lot. Enter the south building through the courtyard. The Community Hall is on your right.
Lisa Centala, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2010
The first week of January was warm—high temperature in the 60’s, maybe even higher. But, this is Texas. Give it a little time and the weather will change.
Weather reports started warning of incoming weather –COLD TO VERY COLD.
And, our tomatoes are still blooming and setting fruit, but not ripening. What should we do? In the past, we’ve harvested the green tomatoes and put them in a cool dark place (under the bed was one suggestion) or we could just let them freeze and use them in the compost bin.
We had five plants. I remembered one year Dorothy Shockley, a fellow Master Gardener at Raincatcher’s RED Garden had inviterd us to her home to take care of that year’s abundant crop of green tomatoes. She had a recipe for B&B CHOW CHOW (also know n as Cool Point Relish in Louisiana). It was the same pickled green tomatoes I had eaten with my fried catfish years ago, but never knew how to make it. Dorothy shared her recipe and I dug it out of my files.
When Roger & I started picking, we didn’t know if we would have enough green tomatoes to make a batch. Not to worry—we had 10 pounds of varying sizes, some beginning to blush, but most were green rocks.
Cindy and green tomatoes!
We went to the store to purchase the rest of the ingredients: onions, jalapenos, white vinegar, more sugar, canning lids. I already had jars and rings in the pantry.
After a couple of false starts at preparation (I’m not as young as I used to be) we got our batch of chow-chow jarred and ready to refrigerate .We even saved the excess picking solution per Dorothy’s recommendation to use with cucumbers and other salad ingredients.
Personally I like this solution better than lemonade.
Bon Appetite!
Cindy Bicking, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2006
DALLAS GARDEN BUZZ 