Hi Gae. Houston has started to kick in public education regarding
"bioretention" via "rain gardens". There are conferences, seminars and
workshops. I got my city, Bellaire, to adopt the concept of "rain
gardens" into its FEMA flood quideline proposal. (they're after the
points that the CRS gives cities to lower the flood insurance rates to
homeowners) I am out there campaigning right and left with this. What is
interesting is that the prairie before it was bulldozed had "mimas",
pimple mounds and "prairie potholes", prairie retention basins on it.
Thats why when you saw Connestoga's rolling through the tall grass
prairie, they were bumping all around from the uneven ground (buffalo
hooves contributed, too). Anyway, just a heads up on this. If bog plants
become hard to find, this could be a reason why. I have some great
links,
http://www.celestialhabitats.com, about cities built around this concept
that have high sales prices and property values (Somerset for one,
Prince George for two) on homes.
J
Gay Xavier wrote:
Wow!! We could have used those at the "plant swap" at the Austin Pond
Society meeting on Monday. Lots of pond plants were there for people to=
trade or take for free.
=
Why not come to a meeting if you have not? We are a fun bunch and have
good lectures on pond construction and pond issues as well as social ev=
ents.
=
The swap was held in the LCRA parking lot at the building across from
Mozarts on the lake. We meet every 3rd Monday at the LCRA building
meeting room off Lake Austin Blvd.
=
http://www.austinpondsociety.org/aps.htm
=
There will be our awesome annual pond tour on July 17-18th. ~40 ponds t=
o
visit in 2 days time for $10. (ticket is for both days) Maps will be
provided for a North tour on one day and South tour on the next day.
=
This event is not to be believed! I went for the first time last year
and I was blown away by the incredible, sometimes huge ponds, with Koi
fish and water lilies as well as the landscaping around the ponds.
=
This is one of those Austin events that make this an amazing city of
diversity and enjoyment. Don't miss it! I'll post a reminder later on
nearer the date.
=
I'll try to get back to this group again and post events beforehand so
you can take advantage of one of Austin's best and biggest gardening
clubs -- water gardening. Sorry I have been away so long.
=
Gay Xavier aka as Gae
Treasurer, Austin Pond Society
-- =
Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 -
http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business. Quoted by the Ho=
uston
Chronicle Lazy Gardener as 1 of 7 best gardening websites in Houston.
=F4=BF=F4 -
http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal