The famous words refer of course not to a person but to the V8 Ford. Just out for a bit of fast driving–those were different days–gas was so cheap and all and the roads less crowded. But now the lesson. The Ford going as fast as it can is passed by Madeline in a Coupe deVille!!
Let’s leave it there for a bit.We need to get back to gardening
In your work at the Master Gardener projects do you get the feeling you must work hard non stop. Do you feel like you couldn’t possibly enter hours for volunteering which weren’t totally filled with your hard best effort?
Lisa collecting seedsVolunteer hard at work in The Raincatcher’s Vegetable GardenJoe and Jon constructing the Raincatcher’s pergola
Do you ever feel that no matter how hard you are working its not quite good enough and maybe others are working harder–or better?
Do you ever feel that even though you do feel you are working hard that what still needs doing seems endless?
Master Gardeners hard at work, tending to the compost.Dedication, hard work and nurturing!Garden labor makes a difference.
Is there ever a feeling of discouragement that creeps in before you even start to work ?
Sometimes we need to take a step back and do a little thinking.
We all need to find fun and joy in your garden work or honestly what is the point?
We need to work hard–yes! But we also need to take little breaks. Sure we need to rest or backs–and knees –and hips–we could go on and on. But also to rest our minds and spirits. We need to take time to connect with our friends–and maybe make some new ones. We need to look around and forget about the weeds for a few minutes and see the beauty and the good things.
Alot needs doing–it does but chances are those things aren’t going anywhere–take time to think about what has been done. Realize and appreciate that our work makes a difference to the garden–to others–and to ourselves.
The physical breaks are essential. The mental ones are too.
Sharing the joy of new plants.Lunchtime at the garden!Master Gardeners taking a well deserved break!
Without breaks–without connection to others–without appreciate and joy the whole point of gardening is lost.
With these breaks we can keep going while avoiding unnecessary injury or worse yet–burnout.
We all know people that it has happened to. Let’s not let it happen to us
Naturally we must end by going back to the V8 Ford.
Remember what happened–a little break–a little water–and ” she caught Madeline at the top of the hill”
Now we cant go too far with this lesson.
Madeline sounds like a bad girl who isn’t going to change so the catching may be a waste–all the Ford’s hard work too.
But we can change we can take time to rest-recharge–rethink-and keep the joy in gardening and in our lives.
Susan Thornbury, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
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
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
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
Raincatchers’ Garden chose Obession Nandinas to co-exist with established Crepe Myrtles that have a darker leaf and white blooms. These two plants provide an attractive, easy to maintain small area within our garden, and provide a colorful treat for the eye throughout their growing season. Our plantings flank our shade pavilion located in the northwest corner of our north garden.
Glowing vibrant red in the spring and summer, Obsession™ Nandina is visually appealing, and it is also easy to grow, even for beginners. An upright, compact, dense grower, Obsession offers richer color than ordinary nandinas and is non-invasive.
With its vibrant foliage and compact form, Obsession Nandina adds texture and color to any landscape. It thrives in various growing conditions and adapts to full sun and partial shade. Whether you aim to create a colorful border, enhance a foundation planting, or beautify a patio or balcony, Obsession Nandina is up for the task. Best of all, Obsession Nandina is deer-resistant!
Ideal growing conditions for the Obsession Nandina shrub include well-drained soil and regular watering, especially during hot summer months, though you’ll find the water-wise Obsession to have low water needs once established.
This low-maintenance plant also doesn’t require frequent fertilizing, making it an excellent choice for those with busy schedules. If you wish, feed your Obsession Nandina once per year in early spring.
You can selectively prune to shape your nandina shrub prune in late winter or early spring according to your preference, but Obsession Nandina doesn’t require pruning to stay compact. When pruning, remove any dead or damaged branches, as well as any crossing or overcrowded stems.
Bloom/Feature Bright red new growth
Evergreen or Deciduous? Evergreen
Plant HardinessHardy to -10°F to 0°F
Key FeaturesDeer Resistant, Disease / Pest Resistance, Water-wise, Winter / Floweing Season
Fall Foliage Color None
UsesAccent, Container, Mass Planting, Slope
Water Needs Medium
FertilizeYearly in early spring
PruningNone Needed*
Planting Instructions
• Water before planting • Plant in location that receives partial sun to shade • Dig hole 2X the width of pot • Plant 1-2″ above ground soil level, backfill hole with soil • Water deeply to settle, then add more soil if needed • Mulch 1-2″ deep around plant, avoiding area closest to stem
*If pruning is desired for shape, remember to cut the offending branches at ground level, not from the crown of the plant.
Information above is from Southern Living Plant Collection.
Just a little over 18 years ago, my husband and I moved into our home on Shadywood Lane. Charles Dilbeck built the Monterey Ranch style one story house for the Runyan family in 1948. The 77 year old property was, and still is, filled with a wonderful assortment of mature trees, shrubs, perennials and evergreens.
Fourteen large magnolias, seven majestic red oaks, four stately live oaks, two towering cedar elms, a half dozen American elms, pecans, yaupons, dogwoods, Texas mountain laurel, cherry laurels, hackberries and redbuds were planted long before we arrived. But one magnificent red oak tree in the backyard was our favorite. Standing at over 40 feet tall along with a canopy spreading out over 40 feet in diameter, it provided an abundant covering of shade for our backyard. Under its protective branches were lovely Japanese maples, three Chindo viburnums and a large bed of endless summer hydrangeas. And then, the story changed.
Rushing outside to try and understand what had just happened, I was stunned to see the damage. Over one third of the canopy was gone. We would need a professional tree company to remove the limb and evaluate the overall condition of the tree. The tree was treated for insect damage, and we moved forward.
And then another chapter with our majestic red oak unfolded just a few months ago. On September 2nd, labor day, very early in the morning, an even larger limb snapped and crashed to the ground. Thankfully, no one was outside when it fell across the driveway and onto the guest house. Our youngest son was kind enough to rush over and cut the limb into smaller pieces so that we could get our vehicles out of the garage. Completing the task of cutting the limb into more manageable pieces for bulky trash pickup took two guys almost three hours.
With only half of the original canopy remaining, we decided to bring in an arborist to assess the condition of the tree. At over 80 years old, a difficult decision was unanimously reached to have the beautiful old red oak taken down completely. Alex, the arborist, carefully explained that there were simply too many issues involving the overall health of the tree to treat it. The most important consideration was related to safety. The tree was leaning too far in one direction and would totally destroy our small guest house if it fell over or, even worse, hurt a family member or anyone else who happened to be in the backyard.
Our affection for the old tree had grown immensely over the years. We loved the amount of shade it provided when the grandkids came over to play games in the backyard. Summer picnics and dinner around the firepit wouldn’t have been possible without its lush canopy shielding us from the scorching sun as it moved across the sky. In a fleeting moment the microclimate transitioned from lush, dappled shade to full sun.
As the arborist recommended, we would need to select a different variety of tree and move the placement approximately 6-8 feet away from where the majestic, old, red oak stood. The next step was to visit to a local tree farm. Fortunately, our family had lived next to the Fannin’s of Fannin Tree Farm over 35 years ago so after a quick call, we scheduled an appointment to visit their retail facility on Highway 121. A decision had already been made to replace the oak with a cedar elm. Touring their inventory of wonderful trees gave us many options. Here is the cedar elm we selected. My husband is 6’ 4” which gives a better perspective on the size of the tree.
With some hesitancy, we scheduled the removal of our old red oak for Monday, September 21st. It was a two-day event which included several nail-biting moments of suspense. Starting with the remaining canopy, branches were very strategically roped and secured before any cutting began. Watching the four men maneuver their way around the tree was truly amazing. With each ‘tug’ of the rope, they carefully orchestrated the exact spot where the falling limb would land. Nothing on the ground was damaged due to the safety measures that were kept in place.
Once completed, stump grinding was next on the agenda. It took over four hours to slowly and carefully remove the remainder of the tree. And then, it was completely gone. I stood silent for a moment and tried to imagine it still standing there, beautiful and thriving for over 80+ years. Whispering a soft prayer of thankfulness for the joy we had received over the years, my eyes opened to an empty landscape filled with new possibilities. Now It was time to move forward with a renewed hope about our next adventure.
Installation of the 18’ tall cedar elm was an incredible experience. The challenge of bringing it down our rather tight and winding back driveway took a measured amount of skill. The crew sent to do our installation amazed me with their ability to lift and place the tree at just the right angle in the pre-dug hole. A few tweaks of the chain positioned it for maximum beauty.
We are adjusting to the new tree a little better than expected. But there are times when I find myself reminiscing about the beautiful canopy of the old red oak that we benefited from and enjoyed immensely for over 18 years. Treasured memories of that majestic tree are still in my heart and will remain there for a lifetime. But, thankfully now, Joyce Kilmer’s lovely tree poem has spoken to me once again!
DALLAS GARDEN BUZZ 