When was the last time you bit into a warm, ripe peach?  I can’t imagine you’ve never done that, but imagine picking that fresh peach right from the tree and biting into it – the juice dripping  down your chin so you have to catch it with the other hand; the ripe flavor causing your mouth to water at the very thought. These aren’t the peaches you get at the grocery store; they can only be experienced in person at a local farm.

Here in North Texas we have not only our local grocer,  but farms and day trips within driving distance that can let us experience the farm first hand. This not only supports the grower with the maximum return on their product, it incorporates family time, educational opportunities and lets your kids experience just what it takes to bring that produce to their table.

Want a day trip?  The Texas Hill County peach growers are known for great produce! Peach farming isn’t as easy as it looks. Because the hill country peaches flower early to mid-March, a frost could occur that may negatively impact a significant percentage of the peaches. That Texas Hill Country farmer is out there going to great lengths to save their crop.  One farmer, who also employs a wind turbine to promote air movement during frost periods, engages a helicopter to fly over the fields in the early hours of the morning to prevent frost from settling on the peaches. Quite an expense, but needed technology at times to save a crop. These farmers may contract with private weather services as well as monitoring moment by moment temperatures through downloadable devices kept out near the trees.

If you’re interested in visiting a local peach orchard, we’re fortunate to have the Red River Peach Orchard just 30 minutes away in Gainesville (www.redriverpeachorchard.com). Not only do they have fabulous peaches June into August, the owner, Norman Miner is available to talk about his orchard with you at great lengths. And lastly, don’t forget about Weatherford, Texas – home of the Parker County Peach Festival scheduled for July 10th (http://www.peachfestivaltx.com/).

Thinking about growing your own? The best time to purchase and plant is during the winter months when the trees are dormant. Although stores don’t usually stock them at that time, you might consider Womack Nursery in De Leon, Texas. This is a local grower who has healthy bare root fruit trees and can provide them at the time they need to be planted. A benefit to buying them directly from the grower is they have the knowledge and are willing to take the time to share it with you.  You can get on their catalog list at www.womacknursery.com.

So think again about what that fresh, dripping warm peach will taste like and support the local growers.  It’s a summer treat your family will remember forever.

Let me ask you, what does spring in Texas mean to you? Is it just the end of winter or a time to put the cold clothing away?  To me, it’s slow, meandering drives down endless country roads, blooming dogwoods and open windows; the fragrances of everything blooming wafting through the air. However, when I talk to people outside the Texas borders what I mention first are wildflowers!  Those spectacular color-ramas that span a hillside and let us photograph our families amidst the bluebonnets.  Nothing says Texas quite like bluebonnets.

We first see the bluebonnets peeking out at us from along the roadsides down in the hill country in late March, early April. Denton, being a climate zone or two north of the Hill country sees bluebonnets from early April to early May depending of course on current climate conditions. A lingering, colder winter may mean a slight delay in the flowers; a warmer, drier winter may mean we see them slightly earlier.  Along with those brilliant blue spikes we see the beginnings of the summer wildflowers – Indian Paintbrush with its brilliant, almost iridescent red plumes and finally, the daisy-like flat red and yellow colors of Indian blanket.

The Bluebonnet was adopted as the state flower of Texas by the Texas Legislature in 1901. It was named the bluebonnet for both its spectacular blue color and the resemblance of the petal to a woman’s bonnet. “It’s not only the state flower but also a kind of floral trademark almost as well known to outsiders as cowboy boots and the Stetson hat.”, wrote historian Jack Maguire. Seeds were gathered by early-day Spanish priests and grown around the missions. As a result, a myth was generated that these flowers were brought by the settlers from Spain. In fact though, the two predominant species of bluebonnets are only found growing naturally in Texas – nowhere else in the world.

These and other wildflowers can be easily grown in your own yard. The key is fall planting and the removal of weeds and other perennials. Most of the flowers go to seed in late spring or summer and naturally the seeds would be spread by birds, insects, animals as they dried and fell to the ground.  Once you grow your first bluebonnets, watch for the seed pods to appear. The pods will twist as they dry and eventually split open, so make sure you pick the pods before they split, open the pods and save the seeds for fall planting again.

Before this wonderful spring wildflower season blends into summer, get in your car and take in those fabulous Texas wildflowers along our highways and back roads. You might even get that perfect Christmas card photo you can use for next year! To find out more about wildflowers go to www.wildflower.org or www.lone-star.net/wildflowers/.

Photograph courtesy of Dimples Photo Journeys  |  www.dimplesphotojourneys.com |  940.372.5002

Every year, after New Year’s creeps past, there’s one nice warm day that hints at the fact that spring is just around the corner. It’s the day I run to the nursery to see what’s available, knowing realistically I should wait until it’s at least close to April first before planting to avoid the last frost. However, even before I plant there are a few things that need to be done.

First and foremost, feed your soil! If you do nothing else, do this. Some people use fertilizers, I prefer organic material. I start by adding 2-3” of composted manures blended into the existing soil.  This nutrient rich material improves the soil’s texture as well as retain moisture. It allows the roots to penetrate clay soils and allows plants to take up more air and water. The nutrients in the compost feed the plant and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and lastly, compost has been found to help suppress plant diseases. I can’t stress this enough – it all starts with the soil.  The North Central Texas College Gainesville Campus Equine Facility has composted horse manure they freely give to anyone who wants to pick it up. They’ll tractor load your truck or trailer, or you can shovel it yourself.  Contact Kelly Carr at kcarr@nctc.edu before you access the campus.

Next, get those roses and fruit trees pruned before first bud break. Since tree fruits are pruned differently than roses, you should locate specific information for each plant in question.  Texas A&M has an extensive online library of information at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu and look for pruning information.

Lastly, for this new 2010 year, do something different! Grow vegetables instead of flowers; plant a beautiful, edible vine; consider a new method of growing – square foot gardening perhaps (www.squarefootgardening.com).  How about companion planting? This gardening method places beneficial plants together, such as asparagus and tomatoes allowing the tomatoes to protect the asparagus from the asparagus beetle.  A companion planting chart can be found at  http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/complant.html#chart.  Learn something new by checking out www.FeedTexasFirst.org. This site connects you to local farmers who are having workshops specifically in the north Texas area. Suppose the small farmer needs help putting it in a drip irrigation system and you need to learn how to do this for your own garden. You provide the help the farmer needs and in exchange you gain the educational hands-on experience. Most of these sessions last only a few hours on a Saturday, so it’s minimal time investment on your part but a huge educational and networking opportunity for you.

Are you ready for spring? Gardening – whether it’s for food, aesthetics or just plain fun is guaranteed to encourage a lifetime of learning. Every year is a new opportunity to try new methods, varieties and styles of gardening. Happy planting!

Winter time, we button up the house by cleaning and checking, fixing and sealing… After the hustle and bustle season, it is still not too late.

Turns out that getting the house ready for winter isn’t just a cold-winter thing — it’s an eco-friendly thing, too. A tight house uses — and loses — less energy, requires fewer natural resources and produces less pollution. With just a bit of effort, you can make your winter house chores even greener. Here’s how:

• Seal: Gaps and spaces around windows and doors and in the attic can suck up to 30 percent of your home’s energy efficiency, according to the U. S. Department of Energy.

Fill them with caulk and you’re being green. Use the right caulk, and you can be even greener. Low-or no-VOC caulks have fewer noxious chemicals, but they may not be the best choice.

Look for a product with a long life expectancy, said Phil Smith with Minnesota’s Office of Energy Security. Using a caulk that has a 25-year life expectancy, such as siliconized acrylic, means you’ll use less material and discard fewer empty caulk containers over the years.

• Cover: Windows can be a source of heat loss and drafts. The standard fix – a window insulation kit.

• Filter: Before the furnace starts working hard again, treat it to a new filter. Not all filters are created equal, though.

The standard filter (think fiberglass mat in a metal holder) collects larger particles in household air that could interfere with furnace operation. But it’s designed to be replaced — and tossed in the garbage — every month.

A high-performance furnace filter (one with large paper pleats) does a better job of keeping indoor air clean and needs to be changed only once or twice a year. Plus, the paper part of many high-performance filters is recyclable.

• Insulate: Adding insulation keeps warm air in and cold air out, which saves money on heating bills and saves the planet’s resources.

If you need to add insulation, one environmental choice is cellulose, which is made from recycled materials.

“It’s taking yesterday’s newspaper and extending its life for a hundred years,” said Smith. To find out if your home needs insulation, go to www.energy.mn.gov and search for “Home Insulation.”

The magnificent display will include over 70,000 lights, 60 strobe lights, a several virtual snow machines, a virtual Santa Claus, red and green flood backdrops, a 20′ ‘mega tree’, video synchronization, and a couple of very cool LED scanners and other special effects. Oh yeah, and don’t forget that Santa will make live appearances as the big day draws close!

Come by and see the show, don’t forget to bring a donation for the Aubrey Food Bank; Providence Christmas is an official drop point for the Hilltop Church Hope Food Bank in Aubrey, Texas. The Hope Food Bank provides food and clothing for those in need during times of hardship or crisis. If you enjoy the display, please consider donating non-perishable food items that will help make some local family holidays a little brighter. Donations can be placed in the red drop box near the street in front of the display.

“There is nothing more precious that the smiles our work puts on the faces of the merry – both young and old – and the benefit that is received by the HOPE Food Bank of Aubrey” said Darren and Angela Vader, founders and head elves of this joyful treat.

1430-1451 Providence Blvd.
Providence Village, Texas 76227
info@vaderville.com

Show Starts Friday, November 27th, and ends at Midnight January 1, 2009
Sunday – Thursday  6pm-10pm
Friday – Saturday  6pm-11pm

Tune your car stereo to 107.3 FM for a synchronization of the lights and show.

It isn’t too often we are given the privilege of sharing someone’s story at the beginning, as it unfolds. Like a rock band that seems to become an overnight sensation when in reality they have been doing the work it takes to get there for years, this farm is in its infancy and I am inviting you to come along and share their journey as they grow.

This farm is so new it has no name. Leah and Michael Daily are the owners of this charming, nearly 15 acre farm just a hop from I-35 off Hwy 380. They live there with their 3 children – David, Samantha and Hannah. These kids play an important role in maintaining the property and helping with the chores around the house. Their oldest son Cody is stationed at the air base in Wichita Falls with his wife and 10 month old son.

The Dailys thought of calling this getaway Cottonwood Farms, because as Leah says, “only cottonwoods seem to grow here”, but these people are changing all that. In deciding what to plant, they performed a soil test that proved they were well-suited for berries, so that’s where they started.

This year they planted their first two hundred blackberries choosing two thorned varieties – Kiowa and Shawnee as well as two thornless – Apache and Ouachita. They also chose to start fifty of a drought tolerant raspberry that grows well in North Texas, Dorman Red. This farm irrigates from a well and being concerned about water conservation, they buried drip irrigation as they planted. In addition, they utilize tree mulch to cool the ground for the plant’s roots, preserve moisture to minimize watering and reduce weeds and grass invasion.

Leah and Michael are on schedule for additional plantings this winter and since these first plantings will have limited production in 2010, they are hoping to open to the public in 2011. The berries are only one aspect of this charming farm though.

The Dailys are hoping that this farm, complete with a stocked catfish pond, vegetable garden, fruit trees and ducks galore, will grow into a family destination for holiday and seasonal activities. Being social, they love to bring people together for Easter egg hunts (3000 eggs last year!) and Fourth of July celebrations. Several local churches participated this year in a “Celebrate Recovery “July 4th party complete with hamburgers, potato salad and fireworks!

As is true for many farmers these days, Michael and Leah both work “outside the farm”. This is their second job and there’s no question they love the farm and the potential they see. Leah is at the brink of establishing a web site to keep her followers connected, so to get on her mailing list contact her by email at mddaily21@msn.com.

For more local farm info try: www.SlowFoodUSA.org, www.LocalHarvest.org, www.NaturallyGrown.org or www.EatGreenDFW.com. Most importantly if you know of great farm in your community, email me at suenewhouse@yahoo.com

At FM Oriental Rugs, you can clearly see the intense detail of the fine workmanship put into each and every rug, which is truly a work of art. With over 24 years in business, FM Enterprises has brought their oriental rug business to the Denton community for immediate liquidation. As we all know, the economy has taken a dramatic downward turn, and certain types of business are being hit harder than others. FM Enterprises has opened a location in Denton for a gigantic sale in order to satisfy the debts owed to creditors. Customers will benefit from the savings, and never has there been a better time to purchase an original, hand-woven oriental rug that will last a lifetime.

Real oriental rugs may be knotted or woven and, depending on the style of its origin, may or may not have an actual pile. Some of the best-known oriental rugs are made in countries such as India, Iran, China or Pakistan, and they are the product of a wide variety of cultures, faiths and religious backgrounds. Of course, such a rich artistic heritage has given rise to a variety of modern patterns and styles that derive from ancient designs.

Whether its a hallway, foyer, living room or dining room floor that needs covering, FM Oriental Rugs has the option and choices you are looking for at unbeatable prices. Visit them today at 1800 Brinker Road, next door to Nasr Jewelers, or call 940-566-1904 for more information.

• American Beauty: this flattering true red is neither harsh nor over-the-top.
• Rapture Rose: this color plays upon the vibrancy of last season’s fuschia but is toned down a little with soft pink.
• Burnt Sienna: more a pinkish, earthy orange, reminiscent of Mediterranean terracotta roof tiles. Warm and comforting, probably the most-fall like of all the shades.
• Majolica Blue: adding an exotic feel to the color group this cross between teal blue and navy complements oranges and purple hues perfectly.
• Purple Heart: sitting somewhere between true purple and lilac, this refined tone is soft and sensual.
• Warm Olive: a rich yellowy green, reminiscent of an olive in a martini, which, according to Pantone’s Fall 2009 report “makes all other colors come alive.”
• Honey Yellow: a warm and welcoming yellow with a hint of honeyed beige. A perfect partner to Burnt Sienna for a wintry feel.
• Crème Brûlée: needs no explanation for those who love its namesake, the delicious French desert. Providing one of fall’s classic neutrals, this paired down mix of gray and ivory beige looks good enough to eat!
  Nomad: another timeless neutral which falls between light gray and beige serves as an anchor for more robust colors
• Iron: represents the “new black” of the season. Neither a true gray nor brown it falls more in the category of a cross between slate and gunmetal. This serves as a grounding color for all other tones.

So whether it is clothing and accessories or home décor and kitchen appliances keep watch for these hot new colors coming this fall.