School’s out and Summer is upon us, but the activities at Raincatcher’s Garden continues to Bee busy. Thanks to the recent June rains, the plants are still blooming, the vegetable garden continues to produce, and the workers remain diligent to come and maintain our space. We have also been able to welcome students both young and old to experience our garden. Even though the temperatures are heating up (after all, it is July in Dallas), there are still jobs to do and beauty to observe.
During the school field trip, each child chose one item to harvest and take home. They enjoyed the experience of finding and harvesting things like pepper and squash. The dense green arbor of loofa vines invites you inot the fenced garden with it’s yellow blooms and loofa gourds.We also showed them blossoms which were becoming fruit and we talked about how some of our food is harvested above the ground and some below ground. Searching for a very hungry caterpillar in the umbels of fennel and dill.
Early Summer garden maintenance includes deadheading the blooming plants, weeding unwanted plants and grasses and watering throughout the spaces of our garden.
The vegetable beds provide fresh produce for Now Forward formerly known as North Dallas Shared Ministries, as well as some fun and community among the workers. They meet on Monday mornings to work in the beds in the North Garden.
Master Gardener, Don, is holding an Armenian Cucumber saying ” So what you’re saying is we’ve harvested 996 pounds this year?”
We are always glad to welcome visitors to the garden and in mid June. A group of young friends came to see what’s going happening.
Volunteers took students on atour of the garden. The children were able to take notes on their findings on a notepad made especially for each student
We will continue to work in the garden, but will start earlier to beat the heat. Come and join us on Monday or Tuesday mornings.
Watermelon is the most popular holiday fruit with around 700 million pounds consumed during the week of July 4th. From “eating races” and seed-spitting” contests to “grower competitions”, prizes are awarded annually to participants across the United States.
Grammy and Sadie with our Watermelon and Blueberry Sparklers
If you are thinking about growing watermelon in your garden, here are some things to consider:
There are over 1,200 varieties of watermelon globally which are categorized into the following types:
Picnic: Large, oblong or round melons. Typically weigh 15 – 45 pounds. (Charleston Gray)
Icebox (Mini): Round or oval melons. They weigh 5-15 pounds. (Sugar Baby)
Personal: Ultra-compact, single-serving melons, weight 3-7 pounds. (Mini Love or Golden Midget)
Seedless: Most common commercial variety specially bred to contain no mature black seeds.
Yellow/Orange Fleshed: Colorful interiors instead of red. (Orangelo or Yellow Doll)
In our Zone 8 climate, these are a few the varieties you might want to try:
Crimson Sweet: This variety is recognized as the most popular and is prized by home gardeners and commercial growers alike. The average weight is around 25 pounds. It features a light green rind with dark green stripes. The bright red flesh is firm and fine-textured and exceptionally sweet.
This is the variety I chose to plant in my garden about a month ago. It receives about 6+ hours of full sun daily. Just a baby now but with 80 days to maturity, it should be ready to harvest sometime in mid-August.
Other top varieties for Zone 8 include: Sugar Baby, Charleston Gray and Jubilee.
And finally, if you are craving watermelon, here are several reasons why:
*Watermelon is composed of about 92% water, making it one of the most hydrating foods available.
*Watermelon is a natural sugar fix. It provides natural sugars in the form of fructose, offering a subtle yet effective energy surge without the pitfalls of processed sugars.
*Watermelon is a rich source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant known for its numerous health advantages.
*It is an electrolyte balance. Potassium, an essential electrolyte found in watermelon, helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions and nerve signals.
*Watermelon is a good source of Vitamin C, vital for skin health, immune function and the absorption of iron from plant-based foods.
*Dietary Fiber. Though it’s mostly water, watermelon also offers dietary fiber which aids digestion and promotes a feeling of fullness.
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
Read Jon Maxwell’s article on Black Diamond Watermelon here.
A few years ago, the Edible Landscape team at Raincatcher’s Garden made the decision to add a colorful new ornamental plant to the Sensory Garden. We were drawn to its woolly, lance-shaped leaves with a silvery-gray color and felt-like, fuzzy texture which would lend a unique tactile element to the “touch” component of our garden. But it was the whorls of buttery-yellow flower spikes that intrigued us most. Their “tiering” formation of spherical clusters promised to give us a dramatic floral display for the springtime garden. It fulfilled its promise!
Jerusalem Sage is a stunning evergreen shrub native to the rocky, Mediterranean region. Historically, it was known as the lamp wick plant. After harvesting, the soft, gray-green leaves were carefully rolled and placed directly into olive oil to act as a wick. The fine, tiny hairs on the leaves served to absorb the oil and maintain a continuous flame. Interestingly, the plant’s genus name, Phlomis, is derived from the Greek word for “flame”, giving it a direct reference to its historical use.
Were the leaves rolled “lengthwise” or “bottom-to-top? We may never know!
The Jerusalem Sage in my home garden was planted in May of 2024. Now, two years later, it has grown into a dense, mounding shrub with a unique architectural-type form. Current size is about 3 to 4 feet in height and width. Our plant is thriving in an area that receives around 6+ hours of morning to mid-day sun. The nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
A very busy bumblebee
If you are looking for a plant well-suited for a Mediterranean-style garden, consider the durability and structural integrity of Jerusalem Sage. Here are a few specifics to get you started:
Genus Name Phlomis fruticosa
Common Name Jerusalem Sage
Plant Type Perennial, Shrub
Height 2 to 4 feet
Width 3 to 5 feet
Flower Color Yellow
Foliage Color Gray/Silver
Zones 8, 9, 10
Propagation Division, Seed, Stem Cuttings
Jerusalem Sage is a member of the mint family that requires minimal care. Plant it in a location with similar conditions to the Mediterranean area, a sunny spot with well-draining soil. It is a tough, low-maintenance plant that, once established, is drought tolerant. It doesn’t require fertilizers and will do fine with a scattering of compost around the base of the plant in early spring.
Dazzle your guests with the simplicity of Jerusalem Sage blossoms in an artistic arrangement!
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
Location: Midway Hills Christian Church ,11001 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75229
Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
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.
Reading the title, you may be reminiscing about a recent wedding or one that is scheduled for this spring. Imagine a stunning display of cascading branches covered in double-white flowers welcoming you to the wedding venue in glorious style. Your senses delight in the romance of the moment.
While it may sound like a blissful and lovely setting for the bride and groom, this calls for a different type of celebration. It is mid-March in Dallas (Zone 8) and this beautiful bride is ready to make her appearance. Please meet…
Spirea ‘Bridal Wreath’
Spirarea x vanhouttei ‘Bridal Wreath’
This is our Spirea ‘Bridal Wreath’ bush gracing us with her beauty, and growing in our gravel driveway, for the 20th consecutive year. However, the abundance of white blooms is the most brilliant we’ve ever experienced. With a generous spread of 5’ tall x 10’ across, she certainly makes a spectacular presence.
A lovely China vase hand painted by my late grandmother was the perfect whisper of nostalgia for displaying the arching branches of ‘Bridal Wreath’ Spirea. It was a wedding gift from 1970.
This “melt-your-heart” moment for me was sharing the story of ‘Bridal Wreath’ with my 10-year old granddaughter, Sadie. Without hesitation she asked if we could please make a wreath for her to wear to the Daddy/Daughter Dinner and Dance that night. It felt as if this experience had magically happened “for such a time as this”. A treasured memory was created as together we imagined Sadie wearing a ‘Bridal Wreath’ to her own wedding someday!
Growing spirea is a somewhat effortless endeavor that you can read about here. FYI…Our spirea only receives mid-morning to late afternoon filtered sun and still gives us a show-stopping three week “sold out” performance!
One of our local garden centers is offering spirea, as of today, for a very reasonable price. Don’t miss the opportunity to let ‘Bridal Wreath’ fill your yard with an electrifying touch of spring color!
Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008
The Awards meeting for Dallas County Master Gardeners this year reminded me of how blessed I am to be a part of this organization and especially Raincatcher’s Garden of Midway Hills. The board in charge of this event, created an opportunity to celebrate the amazing things that Master Gardeners have done over many years. The variety of projects, the people served, and the information shared is truly something of which to be proud.
So many of our volunteers were honored for their service and commitment to Dallas County Master Gardeners. Thank you for your enduring hard work and consistency.
Mary Kay Estep was a delightful MC, Cynthia presented a lifetime achievement award, and then a roll call of familiar names filled the screens, many who have graced Raincatcher’s since 2014, and even some before that at Joe Field Road. Many master gardeners have spent time helping at Raincatcher’s during Special Events, meetings, and supporting the fundraising efforts. Thank you for your support and volunteering efforts. It has been a group effort that has allowed us to obtain goals that were beyond our expectations.
We have Class Captains, those who have stayed strong for over 25 years, several who consistently have over 100 hours every year, and those who have amassed an incredible number of hours during their time as Master Gardeners. We have past presidents, board members, project leaders, and those who show up week after week to garden at our project. The vegetable group meets Monday mornings others meet on Tuesday morning to work in a variety of areas – rain garden, pollinator garden, compost area, edible landscape, color wheel, and the courtyard. There are many choices depending on your interests and abilities.
This meeting, unlike the educational content that we are grateful to hear monthly, was filled with reflection, pride, and a sense of family of Master gardeners. Raincatcher’s has a very special place in the heart of many, and I am honored to be a part of this family.
Here are some pictures from the Ceremony – not a complete list, but a representation of the family that Raincatcher’s has become. And for new master gardeners, or those that haven’t found a place to belong, we would love for you to be a part of this community.
Are you experiencing a touch of March Madness around your house? Having played basketball in high school and college, my husband follows it with such a high level of intensity that I sometimes have to “leave the room”. Considering the frustration from a gardening perspective, I’m beginning to see some similarities.
Let’s review the facts:
*The tournament features 68 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball teams in an intense, single-elimination format culminating in a championship game that determines the national champion.
*It is a cultural phenomenon known for unpredictable upsets.
*It is one of the most anticipated events on the sports calendar, showcasing the amazing talents of collegiate athletes.
If you are wondering how that relates to gardening, smile first, then consider a gardener’s approach to spring planting:
*Beginning in early March, garden centers tempt us with an ocean of plants in every color, size, shape and texture imaginable. I’m sure the number far exceeds 68 participants.
*As seasoned gardeners, we understand the criteria for planting in Zone 8, and yet, we sometimes select material that either outperforms or overwhelming disappoints based on our very emotional decisions.
*Springtime for gardeners is our moment of anticipation. We’ve spent the cold, winter months studying seed packets, diligently reading instructions and carefully evaluating the possibilities. Why, because we hope to select the best performers in each “bracket”!
And so now, we have finally arrived at the most anticipated event on a gardener’s calendar; spring planting! Yes, some of our selections will have to be eliminated but, ultimately, the champions will reward us with their impressive performance. Wanna make a bet on that?
As we leave winter behind and begin the transition into spring, here are two red, white and blue flowerpot creations to welcome in some “March Gladness”!
Red: Ranunculus, Salvia ‘Radio Red’ White: Candytuft Blue: Mystic Blue Salvia and a salute to our state flower, Texas bluebonnets!
Throughout the next five months, look for fun ideas using some of the flowers listed below to create your own version of a patriotic garden display. (We would also like to include some of your own red, white and blue flower displays. Please send pictures no later than June 15th for the July 4th Grand Finale!)
Our recipe for the month is a garden-inspired celebration of late winter to early spring selections. It’s easy to assemble and can be personalized according to your preferences. Substitutes might include grapefruit, navel oranges or mango as a fruit option. Walnuts, pecans or pumpkin seeds instead of pistachios. Goat cheese crumbles could replace the feta and, maybe, why not toss in some blueberries for a touch of blue!
Recently, our local temperatures dropped into the mid-twenties overnight but a few of my herbs didn’t seem to notice. (FYI…This article was originally written on January 18th. As of Sunday, January 25th, our temperatures dropped down into the teens. It was a good time to make both recipes again). With a desire for something fresh from the winter garden, our evening meal would soon include a generous amount of chopped thyme and oregano to satisfy the craving. It was the perfect time to cozy up by the fireplace and indulge!
Just a few weeks before Christmas I stumbled across two vintage recipes from our very early years of marriage. In 1970, for a very practical wedding gift, my best friends mother had personalized a small, wooden box that would eventually contain treasured recipes from family and friends. Decoupaged with old magazine cut-outs and hand-painted “notations”, I experienced a heart-warming moment of pure bliss flipping through the tattered and worn recipe cards used throughout our 55+ years of marriage.
The original recipes didn’t call for freshly snipped herbs from the garden but that was going to change. After years of traveling down a long culinary path of failures and successes, I felt confident about adding a complimentary herbal component to each one. In her 2009 book “What Can I Do with My Herbs?”, author Judy Barrett offers the following:
“Because of the diversity and mysterious nature of herbs, many people are a little bit afraid of them. And, for some bizarre reason, we are more afraid of fresh herbs than we are of those little jars of dried stuff at the grocery store. But we need not be afraid. Herbs are our friends!”
Her book has helped me considerably over the years to power through my fears and be more intentional about growing herbs that can be used throughout the seasons. And so, here are two of those timeless, old recipes updated and transformed by the simple addition of freshly gathered herbs from my winter garden. ENJOY!
FYI…the standard recommended ratio for substituting fresh herbs for dried is:
Standard Herbs (Basil, Marjoram, Oregano and Thyme)
Here’s something that we hope will make you smile-a yellow cauliflower, named for its resemblance to the yellow-orange color of cheddar cheese. Developed for its appealing color, this cauliflower contains high levels of beta-carotene and is richer in Vitamin A than white varieties. From a flavor perspective, it offers a slightly sweeter, nuttier taste and retains its vibrant color even after cooking.
If you’re ready to elevate the taste of cauliflower and enjoy it as simple side or an elegant main dish, here’s a recipe that will deliver a palate pleasing experience.
Winter is officially here! The winter solstice has come, leaves have finally turned and fallen, and the Frost Weed has frosted. Never mind that we are alternating between sweaters and shorts. It is winter in the garden. Many older gardening books speak of closing down or putting a garden to bed for this season, but like children waiting to see the New Year arrive at midnight, our landscapes are not truly snoozing.
Our deciduous trees stopped producing chlorophyll. This let us see and enjoy their yellow carotene colors that were previously hidden, instead of just greens. The gorgeous reds and pinks seen across Dallas this year remind us that our autumn was dry, sunny, and certainly stayed above freezing, the conditions needed for the productions of anthocyanins. The mix of colors this year was constantly changing and quite stunning.
But now these trees are bare (my sister refers to them as stick trees) and this slimmed down profile helps to protect them and their branches from wind, snow, and ice. But those lovely leaves still have so much to offer, in one form or another across just about every landscape.
One use involves shredding leaves. This allows us to add that temperature modulating 3–6-inch layer of mulch around our trees and shrubs, or 2-3 for our flowers. That blanket is really appreciated by any newly planted perennials as they settle into their new homes. Extra shreds are perfect for composting. Whole leaves between rows in the vegetable garden keep our feet dry and relatively mud free, while they discourage pesky weeds.
But consider the advantages of doing nothing at all in much of your flower beds and lawns, leaving even a small section of your landscape undisturbed, with plant stems untrimmed and fallen leaves where they fall this winter. Those stems and leaf litter house the insects that will populate, pollinate, and protect our plants next spring. Leaf blowers, rakes, snippers, shredders, and compost heat destroy the habitat our beneficials need this season.
Not all our garden friends headed further south with the monarchs and hummingbirds. They have deployed many clever techniques to survive until spring and summer. Some insects are sheltering in stems, others have headed underground, and some have taken the ‘get small’ approach by wintering as eggs. Cleaver swallowtail butterflies produced their own antifreeze, turning sugars to glycol as an added layer of protection for chrysalis wintering in their cocoons. Despite appearances, life has not deserted our landscapes.
And in our pollinator gardens most especially, we want those insects to survive, to continue to play their garden roles. A fascinating study of the effects of removing autumn leaves can be found here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725004565. To support our diminishing populations of butterflies, bees, beneficial of all kinds, please consider how you can support them as they winter in our yards and gardens. While I don’t want to offer my house as a winter vacation getaway for arthropods and arachnids, I do want them year-round in my landscape outside.
Mary Freede, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2005
DALLAS GARDEN BUZZ 