North Austin Civic Association

March, 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 Quail Creek Garden Club had its first meeting of 2009 on Saturday, January 31 at the Little Walnut Creek Library. The attendees discussed some projects we wish to take on for the beautification of our neighborhood.

One project discussed was filling the 7 barrels outside the library with native and xeric plants appropriate for the sunlight and water they will get. Evelyn Monnich volunteered to research what plants might be considered for these planters. Another project we discussed is the improvement of Ron Rigsby Park at Viking and Little Elm. Along the lines of the improvements at Quail Creek Park, some recreation equipment and landscaping are being considered. Chester and Ellen Martin volunteered to get more information to help us decide what we should apply for from the grant(s) available to NACA. Both of these projects are a good place to start with beautification efforts.

The next meeting of the Garden Club will be Saturday, March 28 at 10:00am at Little Walnut Creek Library. The speaker will be Denise Delaney speaking on Grow Green Austin and the Green City Challenge. Field trips are being planned to learn more about Going Green and investigating and working in our neighborhoods.

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  
Upcoming Events
From Zilker Gardens   http://www.zilkergarden.org/

Mar 14: Free Seminar - How to Grow a Great Lawn
Mar 18: Free Seminar - Growing a Spring Vegetable Garden
Mar 21-22: First Austin African Violet Show and Sale
Mar 28-29: 52nd annual Zilker Garden Festival
NACA Home  

Check out the February article!

Gardening Tips for March

hummingbird

March and early spring is a good time to cut back roses and prune for shape, although climbing roses should be left unpruned until after their last spring bloom. Fruit trees should be sprayed with dormant oil for wintering insects. It is a good time to plant roses and fruit trees. Although March is the last month to plant trees and large shrubs before the stress of summer sets in. Lawns should be fed with compost and manure fertilizer, and a pre-emergent weed killer of corn gluten applied. If the soil is poor, aeration and Dillo Dirt will work wonders. The average last killing frost for the Austin area is the third week of March. After that time, an organic lawn fertilizer with 3-1-2 ratio can be applied to the lawn - read the instructions on the bag. Be sure to water in thoroughly. Insect control becomes operative before new growth and buds are damaged. A safe, organic spray can treat the pests without harming your environment. Check with local stores for best products for your particular need.

Plant in March: (early) beets, broccoli, chard, collards, endive, leaf lettuces, mustard, parsley, peas, radishes; (late) beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, peas, peppers, pumpkin, spinach, squash, tomatoes, watermelon. Also all hot weather and perennial herbs: basil, chives, epasote, catmint/catnip, comfrey, lemon grass, mints, oregano, pennyroyal, rosemary, santolina, and thyme. Flowers and ornamentals: cleome, cypress vine, gomphrena, marigold, moonflower vine, morning glory, sunflower, nicotiana; (late) castor bean, gourds, luffa, cockscomb, coleus, lion's tail, cigar plant, plumbago, sedum, spiderwort. Bulbs: caladium, calla, canna, daylilly and elephant ear - all in the second half of the month.

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