Stacey Phillips and Paul Drott enjoy spending time in their Friendswood garden. Photo by Kelsey Walling
A perennial paradise
‘An accidental garden’
The trail winding through the backyard allows guests to take a walk through all the plants. Photo by Kelsey Walling
Friendswood couple finds common ground redesigning property
In 2013, David Stein and Tina Mortellaro decided to completely redesign both front, back and side yards of their Friendswood property. And they haven’t stopped. [Read more…]
‘She brought beauty’
Mitzy Mills-Barringer and her dog, Tezy, are fixtures on the grounds of The Bryan Museum in Galveston where Mills-Barringer is the resident horticulturist. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds
A horticulturist transforms the long-neglected grounds of a former Galveston orphanage
It’s great if you love your job. And it’s even better if you love where you live. Consider Mitzy Mills-Barringer incredibly lucky — she has both. [Read more…]
Pyramid dream
Island horticulturist blooms in job tending to a rainforest
Managing 2,000 different species of plants in a 40,000-square-foot garden sounds like a full-time job — because it is. Just ask Donita Brannon, horticultural exhibits manager at the Rainforest Pyramid at Moody Gardens. [Read more…]
Living off the land
Joe Winter grows hundreds of vegetables, fruits and herbs on 20 acres of land in Santa Fe. Photo by Stuart Villanueva
Santa Fe gardener feeds family and others from his farm’s bounty
Joe Winter points to an area in his Santa Fe garden where sulcata tortoises like to roam.
“You can see their trails,” he said.
As he walks a fast pace through row after row of fruit trees, produce, herbs and mounds of dirt on 20 acres, Winter is in his element. [Read more…]
Fishing for knowledge
Master Gardener Robin Collins shows off lettuce grown in the raft beds of the aquaponics garden at Carbide Park in La Marque. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds
Gardeners experiment with aquaponics in hopes of sharing what they learn
Not long ago, a small group of Galveston County Master Gardeners began an intriguing experiment in Carbide Park in La Marque. The gardeners took a 300-gallon tank and filled it with about 75 blue gill perch, some koi and goldfish to cultivate what so far has been a successful aquaponic garden. [Read more…]
Go fig
The mild climate on the Gulf Coast makes it a perfect place to grow fig trees, which can grow to heights of 15 feet. Photo courtesy of Herman Auer
The tree that’s easy to grow and fruits fast
Perhaps one of the easiest plants to grow on the Gulf Coast is the fig tree. Merely stick a cutting in the ground or a pot, give it sunshine and some water, and it will usually take off. [Read more…]
A rare species
Master Rosarian John Jons looks at a rose he grew in his backyard in the Clear Lake area. Jons conducts scientific research to make roses lovelier and more fragrant. He hopes to make the flowers he creates more disease-resistant and able to tolerate the coastal climate. Photo by Kelsey Walling
Gardener’s research earns him the title of Master Rosarian
A rose is more than a lovely flower to John Jons. [Read more…]
Always in bloom
La Marque gardener mixes artificial and live flowers with colorful results
Exploring the grounds of Edith Roberts’ quarter acre in La Marque is an exceptional adventure. [Read more…]
‘It’s for the birds’
Jim and Charli Rohack’s Galveston backyard features a pool, a palapa that covers a tiki bar, multiple plants and queen palms. Photo by Kelsey Walling
Island yard offers respite for creatures great and small
Moving from 23 acres in Bryan, Texas, to three lots in Galveston meant a lot of scaling down for Charli and Jim Rohack. [Read more…]