The Garden Lover’s Guide to Houston

Book excerpt: The Houston area offers an abundance of resources and activities for gardeners and garden lovers, if people only know where to look: Love roses? Go to the Garden Center in Hermann Park. Want fresh vegetables? Pay in advance for a weekly supply at Central City Co-op. Can’t live without daffodils? Find twenty varieties at the Bulb and Plants Mart. In this handy, versatile guide to all things related to gardens in Houston and its environs, Texas Master Gardener Eileen Houston presents the book she wished had been available when she first moved to the city. Writing about public gardens, garden events, farmers’ markets, garden clubs, retail nurseries, volunteer opportunities, and more, Houston shares her favorite finds in an opening section, called “Best of the Best,” listing places and events she believes garden enthusiasts will not want to miss. For each garden site, event, and outlet, readers learn what they need to know about times, fees, locations, and contact information. A map and key help identify which destinations will require some planning and which can be easily enjoyed, depending on where readers live or work. Helpful descriptions focus on the special features or distinctive ambience of each place or happening. A chapter on retail sources is packed with advice: where to buy native or organically raised plants; how to find specialty shops and nurseries devoted to specific kinds of plants, such as African violets, bonsai, tropicals, roses, orchids, and cacti;· which retailers offer fountains, benches, sculptures, and antique garden accessories. At the end of the book, Houston steers readers to her recommended garden books and websites. Anyone interested in exploring the gardening scene in Houston and surrounding areas—whether resident or visitor, participant or spectator—will discover in this book much to do and share with family, friends, and fellow gardeners.