Stephen F. Austin State University SFA ScholarWorks

SFA Gardens Newsletters SFA Gardens

7-2006

SFA Gardens Newsletter, July 2006

SFA Gardens, Stephen F. Austin State University

Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/sfa_gardens_newsletters

Part of the Botany Commons, and the Horticulture Commons Tell us how this article helped you.

Repository Citation SFA Gardens, Stephen F. Austin State University, "SFA Gardens Newsletter, July 2006" (2006). SFA Gardens Newsletters. 14. https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/sfa_gardens_newsletters/14

This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the SFA Gardens at SFA ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in SFA Gardens Newsletters by an authorized administrator of SFA ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Volume 1, Issue 2 July 2006 A Mexico Adventure—Part 1 By Dr. David Creech I’ve got an Agave head- ache. No, it’s not from the Agave tequiliana Tequila world. It’s from seeing-too-darn-many Agaves in 13 days kind of headache. But what a joy! When I was invited to be a member of an eight-member June 11 – 26, 2006 expedition to Mexico I said “Let me think about it yes”! The chance to chase down Agaves, Heserpaloes, Yuccas, Nolinas, Sabals, Braheas, Dasylirions, Escheverias, and other wonders of the Mexico desert and mountain universe Phoenix, Arizona - http:// young Spanish-proficient with some of the best folks in www.mswn.com/index2.htm rebel with a cause, cheerfully the business, well, it just – the ultimate plantsman, struggling to find a career seemed too good to pass up. designer, teacher, -savvy juggling or doing hand stands As a merry band of men and fellow and the senior citizen in the middle of a lonely one woman (Janet!), we of our group. George is Mexico highway, blessed drove three vehicles a gruel- blessed with immense pa- with a billy goat plant hunting ing 2500 plus miles in Mex- tience and calm, and he strategy, and totally im- ico and hit known and not-so- thought up the idea of linking mersed in the culture of true known spots looking for spe- each vehicle with walkie talk- plant nuts – Sam was proba- cial in a special world. ies, which proved to be in- bly the most complete and Mexico enjoys amazing bot- valuable, 2) Brian Kemble, self-satisfied member of our any – and so much of it finds Horticulturist, Ruth Bancroft troop, 5) Sean Hogan, Owner Texas and southwestern gar- Gardens, Walnut Creek, Cali- of Cistus Nursery, Portland,

dens to their liking. We’re fornia - http:// Oregon, www.cistus.com, talking tough, durable, www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/ author, lecturer, and a walk- drought and heat tolerant - knows more about Agaves, ing encyclopedia on anything plant wonders just waiting for and Escheverias than should that has something to do with the opportunity to call our be allowed by law, 3) Rob an obscure plant – introducer gardens home. Nixon, environmental assess- of new plants and new ideas ment professional, a snake, in the Pacific Northwest – The team included the fol- spider and desert plant world brought a rare and needed lowing: 1) George Hull, guru, 4) Sam Schaefer-Joel, touch of sensitivity, culture Mountain States Nursery, biochemistry graduate, a and civility to our group, 6)

Upcoming Events Garden News is a newsletter about the horticultural gardens at Less Reeves Lecture Series: Stephen F. Austin State University: · July 20— Greg Grant SFA Mast Arboretum Pineywoods Native Plant Center · August 17—Aubrey King Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden · September 21—Neil Sperry Jim and Beth Kingham Children’s Garden

Garden News A Mexico Adventure—continued

(Continued from page 1) cliffs. Bald cypress are easier to get to and up a slope too steep for any normal human it’s cooler down along a river or stream. being, the group basked in the glory of this strange plant in flower. Smiles and hand- Our trip started at the border town of Doug- shakes were in order, about 100 digital and las, Arizona, and headed south along the film images were taken, and seed was found San Madre Oriental mountain range – from plants nearby. It was a good start to scooting between desert and mountain flora the trip. as we made our way south to just north of Mexico city. The return trip took us north Ferocactus pilosus, the Mexico fire barrel and west through some of the San Madre cactus, is another treasure that left a mark in Occidental mountain range before crossing my brain. Blessed with a red head and or- back into the USA at Nogales, Arizona. It’s ange-yellow flowers, these giant patriarchs truly remarkable how remote and beautiful call the desert slopes their home in many Rob Nixon stands next to an Agave potrerana so much of Mexico’s mountain land re- regions of Mexico. mains. There’s a genuine conservation ethic brewing. Yet, it remains sadly true I’m just now wrestling with my trip journal Greg Starr, www.Starr- - trying hard to get the right names, the Nursery.com, Tucson, Arizona - that livestock and humans right spellings, the right plants and the right botanist, teacher, and nursery- Agave potrerana... locations all down - and in the next issue, place amaz- man of immense reputation and we’ll take a harder looks at the desert lilies After a brief scamper up a slope too ing pressure insight – he wrote the descrip- and other strange plants of Northern Mex- on all but the tion of Agave ovatifolia, the steep for any normal human being, the ico. whale’s tongue Agave, a rare most remote group basked in the glory of this regions of form found in Nuevo Leon by Stay tuned for part 2! the country. Lynn Lowrey that went under strange plant in flower. the name ‘Sierra de Lampazos’ While for years before it was ever de- we scribed. Greg’s nursery is wonderful, a found, photographed and documented small but intense backyard mail order nurs- over 20 Agave species in Mexico, one ery. We’re talking dangerous work best stands out - an Agave potrerana in full attacked by using rolled up newspapers, bloom on the first day of our trip - 29o welder’s gloves, and a whole lot of love. 21.672N, 106o 28.825W, and 5218' Ouch. Rounding out this army of plant elevation. This special spot is to the enthusiasts was yours truly and Janet. As west of Hwy 45 via the rocky road to the only lady in an otherwise unkempt un- Las Varas with Agave parryi scattered tidy group and in spite of a busy, grueling here and there on the road into the pace, Janet took the whole thing in stride. mountains. About four miles into the As for me, well, I’m now convinced I’m not canyon, someone spotted a snake-like destined to be a billy goat hunting Sedums, red and yellow peeking Crassulas, and Escheverias on the edges of over a ledge. After a brief scamper Sean Hogan photographs a group of Ferocactus pilosus Azalea Garden Update By Barb Stump

First, let me thank those of you who sent in Azalea Society of America! Think “Azaleas so grateful to Ina Brundrett, Arboretum or brought me digital photographs of the in the Pines: A Texas Garden Party,” which board member and JoAnn Smith of the Ty- 2006 Azalea Trail time in the Ruby M. is our theme. We will have about 100 seri- ler Newcomers Garden Club who are mak- Mize Azalea Garden. They will really help ous azalea enthusiasts from the US coming ing arrangements for the first day’s tours of me with developing permanent colorful to enjoy the beauties of East Texas in the gardens in Tyler. We will have a special signage to explain what is in the various spring. They are home gardeners, breeders, plant sale of rare and hard-to-get azaleas, as beds. and nurserymen; many have helped us build well. We will be releasing registration and the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden. So now speaker information by mid-September, so Next, mark your calendars for March 29- they will have the chance to see it in its watch the next newsletter. We will also April1, 2007. Not only will we have our glory. Some have never been to Texas, so need help with the various events involved normal Nacogdoches Azalea Trail festivi- we plan to show them a really good time. in the convention, so there will be plenty of ties, but the SFA Mast Arboretum is also opportunities to volunteer and show our hosting the national convention of the Barbara Wagner is my co-chair, and we are Texas gardeners’ hospitality.

Page 2 GARDEN NEWS Plant Profile: Henry Duelberg Lives! By Greg Grant

Each year, Texas A&M promotes their sage came from a rural Central Texas ceme- stories! Heck, I’ve barely got windows. Texas Superstar selections for the year. tery. Not just any cemetery mind you, but Texas Superstar plants are selected by CE- one with no irrigation. I first spotted it dur- Plants bred to look like blueberry muffins sitting in the landscape might work fine dur- MAP (the Coordinated Educational and ing a hot, dry, Texas summer on my way to ing a mild, moist Dijon summer but unfortu- Marketing Assistance Program) after several Dr. Welch’s annual Oktober Gartenfest in years of successful trialing throughout the Winedale. It didn’t look great, but it WAS nately often don’t cut the hot mustard here in Tejas. In order to survive hot Texas sum- state. CEMAP makes a concerted effort to alive, which was more than could be said for introduce new products to the Texas nursery most of the other “real” plants planted there. mers, which may be desert dry with periodic interruptions of flash flooding, plants BET- industry that make gardening easier and It had also been recently cut to the ground more environmentally sound for the garden- with a “weed whacker,” so there weren’t TER BE VIGOROUS. Toss in foot traffic, cars, armadillos, grandchildren, inebriated ing masses in the state. even any blooms on it when I was there. I relatives, etc., and being dwarf doesn’t look was on a quest at the time to find native One of this year’s promotions, the Duelberg like such a blessing. If our plants aren’t Sage ( farinacea ‘Henry Duelberg’) populations of Salvia farinacea. growing and constantly repairing damage, happens to be a plant that I found and intro- Salvia farinacea (mealy cup sage/blue sal- they are often doomed. I would much rather duced to the Texas nursery trade. I’m trim an overly vigorous plant back an average plant breeder, but my forte than to be forced to replace a dead seems to be stumbling across im- “Miss Manners.” proved plants in unlikely places. I ‘Henry Duelberg’ Salvia is about actually prefer to look for plants grow- three feet tall with fairly dark blue ing in less than average conditions as it flowers, darker than typical native helps insure that the general public can grow them without any special input. populations of Salvia farinacea. As a matter of fact, the are Although most gardeners (even the bad ones) generally provide at least the wider, more serrated, and not as gray as native Mealy Cup Sage bare minimum of needs for their plants, I would prefer to find them either. This has led to the specula- tion by some that it is of hybrid growing with NO horticultural help origin. I can’t imagine for the life whatsoever. I want to know if they can survive with no water, no fertil- of me what other species would be involved. Although the cemetery izer, no weeding, no grooming, and no pesticides. When I hear a plant touted where it was growing was a bit east for Saliva farinacea, there were no as needing dividing every three years, Salvia farinacea ‘Henry Duelberg’ or needing periodic fungicide treat- other in the cemetery, or were even native in the area. It ments to thrive, I immediately strike it from via) is popular throughout the world, primar- also has a light fruity scent to the foliage my list. Sure, we all have the option of in- ily as an annual bedding plant. Unfortu- stalling sprinkler systems, double digging nately, like most of our global bedding instead of that of a sage. I’m not sure now long they had been growing there, but it our beds, and spraying insecticides and fun- plants, European breeders have bred most of gicides every ten days, but I for one “ain’t the toughness and vigor out of them. In the seemed to be for some time. The plants had reseeded quite prolifically in the grass and gonna do it”. Mainly, it doesn’t make sense wild, the plants are about three feet tall with gray-green leaves and light to medium blue even in the cracks of the concrete curbing. from a health or labor stand point. . Henry Duelberg died in 1935 and his wife flowers. Typical nursery plants are about a The free ride is over! That’s why I prefer Augusta in 1903. I have this theory that Mr. foot tall with dark purple-blue flowers. Be- looking in poor neighborhoods, country Henry was a botanical sort and was dabbling ing dwarf isn’t always better though. In gardens, and along Texas highways. These in salvia breeding (you know “the father of most of the bedding plant trials I’ve planted folks aren’t known for spoiling and pamper- and evaluated, the dwarf forms of plants are Texas botany,” Ferdinand Lindheimer, was ing their plants. But it’s actually hard to tell. German too). When Mr. Duelberg died, I inferior in performance to their larger sized Some folks like to sneak around at night parents. It only makes sense. After all, the supposed they planted his handy-work on (especially during hot Texas summers), with his grave. Long live Henry! Just in case reason they are dwarf is that they don’t a horticultural IV, reviving all their margin- grow! If they actually GREW, they would- I’m wrong, I named a white flowered seed- ally adapted plants. THAT’S why my favor- ling ‘Augusta Duelberg’ from the same n’t be dwarf any more, right? Ever since the ite place of all to look for Texas tough plants grave for his wife. Who knows, SHE may Victorian “bedding out” period, breeders is in rural cemeteries. You KNOW these think all bedding plants have to be less than have been the horticultural wonder woman. Dr. Welch says she would have been called residents aren’t spoiling their plants. a foot tall. This desire actually sprang from the practice of planting floral carpets to be “Gustie.” Despite the origins of these salvias I’ve always said, “if the dead can grow it, I do know one thing. Unlike other European you can too.” And it’s true. In case you viewed from upper story castle windows. salvias on the market, Henry Duelberg lives! haven’t guessed it by now, the Duelberg Well guess what? My “castle” has no upper

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Page 3 Shining Bright in the Summer Sun: An Arboretum Update By Dawn Stover It takes some really brave plants to stand up Otatea acuminata, a hardiness trial come to the heat and humidity of our Texas sum- this winter, and we’ll also see just how mers. Many blooms fade or disappear alto- hardy the Abutilon really are. gether when the sun sits high in the sky. When I give talks to garden clubs, I inad- Summer annuals do the trick, but the same old Periwinkles and Petunias just don’t cut vertently note that every plant in my talk is my favorite. That’s the way I feel about the mustard in every situation. We’re ex- perimenting with some bold color combi- this garden, but if you gave me Chinese water torture and forced me to pick some nations and unusual plant choices in the newest garden renovation at the Arbore- winners they’d be: Rudbeckia hirta ‘Prairie Sun’ – a Black-eyed Susan with tum. huge butter yellow flowers with greenish within those color themed pockets. Dwarf Bananas, Yucca, Elephant Ears, variegated yellow centers, Capsicum annuum ‘Black Pearl’ – a gorgeous ornamental pepper with Tapioca, Castor Beans, and purple Sugar Cane all erupt from a turbulent sea of color. midnight purple foliage and glossy purple fruits, Stachytarpheta mutabilis – a coral A few flowers can be found, but most of the color is provided by foliage or fruit. Ornamental Peppers, burgundy Cotton, Joseph’s Coat, purple Fountain Grass, ma- ple-leaved Hibiscus, and some ‘Australia’ Cannas do the trick. Mexican and Profu- sion Zinnias, Black-eyed Susans, Pentas, and Porter Weed provide the flower power. And where else can you find Chinese Hats next to Chicken Gizzards and Hot Lips, all within reach of Shooting Stars? In the gaudy confines of this warm em- brace, I’ve been able to play with some really neat things. The Wercklia ferox is intriguing visitors with its massive, spiny leaves. The Cassia nemophila and Euphor-

The area formerly known as the Daylily Garden has become a trial garden for new and unusual annuals and tropicals, as well as serving as a repository for my ever growing Coleus habit. (I just found a nurs- Porter Weed with blossoms irresistible to ery with over two hundred varieties avail- butterflies and , Jatropha able – uh oh!) We’re still at odds over a integerrima - this shrub known as Pere- name. The “Rest and Relaxation Garden” grina is stunning with vividly, indescrib- is what we thought about originally, but able pink/red flowers, and Zinnia x with the cacophony of color present it’s ‘Profusion Apricot’ – yes, I know this one more rowdy than relaxing. isn’t exactly exotic, but it is absolutely the most fun flower to find complementary This new garden is sizzling with the warm, bia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’ both look like colors for. Included in my list of favorites tropical colors of summer. There are little a feathery mass of snaky sticks. Euphorbia are every other plant mentioned in this nooks of complementary plant pairings, cotinifolia and Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ article, as well as all of the coleus and a each with the unifying theme of those are total opposites with the bold burgundy few other things I may have forgotten. Ok, tempting Coleus. It’s all woven together foliage of the former, and delicate foliage so I like plants. Good thing it’s my job! with plenty of other heat loving plants. and airy white bracts of the latter. We’ll Stop by the new garden on your next visit, Unique specimens create focal points give the Mexican Weeping Bamboo, and don’t forget to bring your shades!

Saturday Seminars September 16: Landscaping is for the Birds with Greg Grant December 2: Deck the Halls: Decorating for the Holidays with Dawn Stover call 936-468-1832 for details!

Page 4 GARDEN NEWS PNPC Update By Greg Grant

We’re slowly but surely recovering from landscape for the back yard, complete tunities it presents. Curators are needed Hurricane Rita. Thanks to the SFA with signage. It will provide examples of for the different ecosystems and display Grounds Dept. we have gotten the large how to save your home and possessions, beds. I also need an invasive species stumps of the fallen trees removed from through proper landscape design, in the brigade to tackle Chinese Privet and as- the yard. As our budget permits, we’ll event of unfortunate wildfires. sorted other rampant exotics. The PNPC order in soil to fill in those holes and to is a large property and we’re doing what Mimi’s Garden is finally being repaired correct erosion problems in front of the we can, but a few more hands would be with installation scheduled for the fall house, near the sidewalk at Raguet Street. most welcome. when we get much needed rain. We successfully hosted another Lone Star Many thanks to Betty Manning (weekend Regional Native Plant Conference this I’ve put up five handmade cedar bluebird watering), Sara Bowie (weeding), Don houses here at the PNPC (with more year and everyone in attendance received Parsons (assorted), and any others that I scheduled), and we raised four families of one of my new Pam Puryear pink Turk’s may have missed. Also thanks to Diana caps. bluebirds here this spring and will hope Walker and the Four Seasons Garden for even more next year. Of course Elyce has worked her usual Club for a donation that went towards wonders training hoards of school chil- Plans are in order to renovate the beds in native wildflower and grass seed for our dren and volunteers here. (See the educa- front of the Tucker House complete with Marsh-Meadow and driveway repair. tion update for details!) educational signage. We will have xeric, We also recently received a nice grant mesic, and riparian areas represented. Work on our two miles of trails is pro- from the George and Fay Young Founda- There will be huge changes in the design tion for greenhouse/growing supplies. gressing with completion scheduled for and plant material here along with new Thank you Barbara Stump and Sue Rip- September. trails. We’re looking forward to this ley for securing this for us. We’ve also begun work on a Firewise challenge as well as the volunteer oppor-

Volunteer Opportunities Abound! Call 936-468-1832 for details.

Arboretum Staff Help With Durst-Taylor Gardens By Barb Stump

Greg Grant, Research Associate at the ings for the home, which is on the Fed- of significant archeological artifacts. PNPC, and Barb Stump, Research Asso- eral and State Historic Sites Registers. Meanwhile, the Kitchen Garden and a ciate for Development of all of the SFA The period of 1840-1860 was chosen as raised Flower Garden are in the works as Mast Arboretum gardens, have looked the period for which there was the most well. Crinums from the early 1800s will backward to the 1840s-1860s to help with documentary evidence. help in several of the wetter spots on the a new garden that is about to become a site: the species Crinum bulbispermum Period-looking fencing around the gar- reality in 2006. They have teamed with (before 1800), and hybrids C. x herbertii Jeff Abt, noted Daily Sentinel garden dens is just about completed and now the (1819), C. x digweedii (1820), C. x. planting can begin. Over a year ago Flora columnist and garden photographer, and gowenii (1820). The hunt is on for roses Nanny Smith, member of the City of Garden Club and Four Seasons Garden and vines that the Blackburn Family Club gave donations dedicated to the Nacogdoches Historic Sites Board, to might have put in their garden during the gardens at the Durst-Taylor project. bring to life the plan that was developed 1840s-1860s. If you have suggestions for by Houston landscape architect Janet These donations allowed us to order heritage, Nacogdoches -adapted plants ‘Indian Cling’ peaches and ‘Brown Tur- Wagner in 2002. Since that time the from this period, or have very old pear City’s Historic Sites Manager Brian Bray key’ and ‘Celeste’ figs for the Durst- trees, please contact either Greg Grant or Taylor orchard. The trees have been has been overseeing the restoration of the Barb Stump. You are all invited to the Durst-Taylor House and the construction growing to a good size for planting under official opening of the historic site in the Greg Grant’s care at the PNPC. They will of a visitor’s center. SFA Mast Arbore- next few months, depending on the be planted—hopefully this summer—in tum board member Diana Walker has led schedule of the featured speaker, Senator the effort to obtain appropriate furnish- the Durst-Taylor orchard once the plant- ing holes have been dug and judged free Kay Bailey Hutchison.

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Page 5 Education Update By Dawn Stover

Elyce Rodewald is a busy lady. As our Educa- Lone Star Regional Cullowhee Plant tion Coordinator she is responsible for over Conference 8,800 children participating in programs Over 150 adults participated in the third through the arboretum from last September native plant conference held at Stephen until now. Elyce is on a well deserved vaca- F. Austin State University. Registrants came from as far away as Arizona, Ten- tion, but we thought we’d like to share a little nessee, and even New York! Twenty of what she’s been up to. four experts gave programs, tours, and workshops. This is the first year the workshops were offered and they were a huge success! A plant sale and book Bugs, Bees, Butterflies and signing were held at the Native Plant Go Native Field Day Blossoms Center, and a bar-b-q dinner wrapped up Over 2,300 kindergarten through the event. The Native Plant Center saw 600 4th 3rd graders descended upon the through 8th graders over a whirlwind arboretum over a 5 day period. The 3-day period. Individuals from Forest Texas Forest Service manned tree Resources Institute, Texas Forest stations were the kids were taught Service, Arboretum and Native Plant about trees inside an out. Members Center volunteers, and special primi- of the Pineywoods Bee Keepers tive fire expert Neil Stilley assisted Association were on hand to provide with educational activities including: live demonstrations with observa- technology, determining water qual- tional beehives. SFASU Dept. of ity through macroinvertabrate bioas- Education interns presented puppet says, edible and medicinal plants, and shows about forest ecosystems and friction fire. decomposition and had special viewings of live butterflies in all stages of their life cycle. SFA Mast Thank you to our wonderful summer Arboretum and Keep Nacogdoches camp scholarship donors! Beautiful volunteers as well as the Bluebonnet Garden Club made eve- John Anderson Bonnie Hammett rything run smoothly. Elyce as well Cheryl Boyette Leah Kahn as Dr. Cheryl Boyette and Dr. Alan Ina Brundrett Peter Loos Sowards are the brilliant master- David Creech Darrel McDonald minds behind this wonderful pro- Heinz Gaylord Sue Ripley gram! Greg Grant Diana Walker

Graduate Student Corner—Lacey Stokes

For two weeks, I shared a class- with the comment, “I won’t let a plant go other lessons. We even had a class on room with fellow “chlorophyll addicts” extinct on my watch..” grant writ- from all over the Northern Hemisphere. The two weeks consisted of many presen- ing and Well intended plant folk gathered in Den- tations from professors, botanic garden volunteer ver last month for the second annual Ap- directors and botanists sharing their programs. plied Plant Conservation training pro- knowledge of the best ways to preserve The gram. If the name sounds serious, that’s rare and endangered plant populations. classes because these people take plant preserva- We learned the best ways to monitor prepared tion seriously! Johnny Randall of the plants in the wild, how to weave the mes- us with North Carolina Botanic Garden summed sage of conservation into programs at tools to up the attitude of most of the participants arboreta or botanic gardens, and many apply a plant conservation program at our

Page 6 GARDEN NEWS Education Update: Summer Camps

Wonder Woods Wilderness Adventures This camp for 4-6 year olds was held at Seventeen 12-16 year olds participated the Piney Woods Native Plant Center. in this camp at Mill Creek Gardens; 5 There were 20 kids in attendance, 5 of students attended on scholarship. The which were on scholarship. Arboretum ultimate goal of this camp was the “Big volunteer Kay Jeffrey was instrumental Paddle.” In preparation, the kids went in developing the curriculum for the through a ropes course at the Piney- theme of “Who Lives in This Tree?” woods Conservation Center. Chris Traveling Pierre, a capricious squirrel, Sawyer taught first aid and led a appeared in new places each day lead- “situational” first aid hike, and Dawn Vollmer taught orienteering. Dr. ing to the lesson for the day. Charles Allen led an edible plant hike. Wonder Woods Canoe skills were practiced every day. Two teams competed in a camping Mill Creek Camp triathlon complete with a canoe race, 7-11 year olds traveled to Mill Creek tent set-up, and compass race. The Gardens to learn about “Connections in teams were expected to complete the Nature”, a lesson on food webs. 26 course in about 15 minutes. The win- Children attended, 9 of those on schol- ning team came in at 3 minutes and 49 arship. Dr. Kroll taught about deer, seconds, and the runners up in 4 min- and Neil Stilley showed how to use an utes and 7 seconds. Hooray! The week atl atl. (Yeah, that’s what I said too.) ended with the “Big Paddle,” a canoe An atl atl helps throw a spear farther trip down the Neches River, and an and harder. The kids also learned about overnight camp out at Earthsprings snakes and first aid and spent a day Retreat Center in Grapeland. Each canoeing on Mill Pond. There was a Mill Creek Camp camper helped with set up, cooking and search for debris huts made at last clean up, and they went on a night hike. year’s camp. These are shelters built Makes you want to be a kid again, huh? from sticks, litter, and pine straw. Even with a hurricane, most were still intact. The Comanches, a team of campers, gave their debris hut a re- model complete with curtains! And if you wondered where all the soda bot- tles Elyce asked for went, these camp- ers turned them into aquariums to study aquatic ecosystems.

Wilderness Adventures

Lacey Stokes—continued own arboreta and botanic gardens. duction at a site in Mill Creek Gardens There are many gems in the East Texas and for the Forest Service to plant in the forest worthy of our attention. Organiza- From the SFA Mast Arboretum in the tions such as the Arboretum and PNPC Pineywoods, we’ve been working with a Big Thicket. play a key role in studying those plants, few rare species of East Texas plants. We’ve also had success reintroducing the teaching the public about them, and re- The lovely scented and brightly colored Neches River Rose Mallow at a site in Texas Trailing Phlox is one of my favor- Mill Creek Gardens. This is a beautiful viving the wild populations. ite plants in peril. Habitat loss and fewer hibiscus in danger of being lost in the To find out more about plant conserva- fires in the forest threaten the phlox wild due to its home along marshy river tion in East Texas visit http:// populations. Folks at the PNPC have sides being dried up by man and Mother pnpc.sfasu.edu/rare/index.htm. been growing lots of phlox for reintro- Nature.

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 Page 7 Stephen F. Austin State University Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture PO Box 13000-SFA Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3000

http://arboretum.sfasu.edu