Shalene Jha is an assistant professor in UT Austin’s Section of Integrative Biology.

 Professor Jha, researchers and students will be monitoring the native bee population in our garden.  They will start in May by placing catch cups in selected areas of our garden.  They will be clearly marked and will be removed the next day.  They will visit our garden three different times during the year and again in 2014.  The data they collect in 2013 will be made available to us in 2014.  This data will help us to better understand what kind of bees visit our garden and what type of plant material they prefer for shelter and food.

 

 

 

Last years May cook out was a great success and we are doing another this May.

 

 

          Composting has good to it's highest level.  We are turning out some of the best!!

Our Texas Natives Have Come To Life

Award Winning Garden

Our first year as a Tarrant County Master Gardener Association Project, won us 2nd place in the Large Project catagory, at the Texas Master Gardeners Convention held in San Antonio this past month. We competed with larger cities, such as Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
All of our community support and membership made this happen. A bit Thank You goes out to everyone involved.

Look out next year!!!!!!

Build Your Own Rain Barrel, Garden Fund Raiser

Common Ground is having a "Make and Take Rain Barrel Class" on April 21, 2012 at the garden.  You will build and take home a ready to use rain barrel or receive instruction only on how to do it at home.
Go to www.nrhcommunitygarden.com , click on the "Build Your Own Rain Barrel" tab and follow the instructions on the form.

Hope to see you soon.
Dianne
Garden Coordinator

Community Gardens Building Communities

Starting up a community garden takes a leap of faith and a labor of love.  The outcome of our garden, Common Ground NRH Community Garden, is a perfect example of people coming together with a common interest and following through to create a thing of beauty.

You may live in the same geographical area, but the fast pace of today's life offers little chance you will ever meet.  Then it happens.  A community garden.  People from all over converge on a spot of land and begin planting the seeds to build new friendships.  The hectic pace slows down, you feel the earth in your hands and in time bring new things to life to nourish your body and replenish your spirit.

We are a fun loving group of folks who enjoy each day at the garden.  Please, come join us.
www.nrhcommunitygarden.com

Please share your gardening experiences with us.  This 2011 season has been a bugger so far.  But our gardeners have their feet firmly planted (forgive the pun) and are looking forward to a great fall growing season.  Any tips you can share with them would be greatly appreciated.  Some have never gardened before and Mother Nature has her ways of letting us know who's boss.

THE LOVE OF TEXAS NATIVES

There are several Texas native trees, but these are two of my favorites.  Not only do they provide dappled shade, are heat and drought tolerant, they have beautiful spring flowers that are show stoppers.

They should be more widely used especially in the environment we have been suffering through this summer.  Please ask for them at your local nurseries.

DESERT WILLOW

EVE'S NECKLACE

                                 Eve's Necklace after blooming.  Looks like a string of black pearls

I am building a file on Texas Native websites.  I hope you find them helpful