Gardening

Keep Flower Mound Beautiful is offering a 50-gallon rain barrel made from 100-percent recycled materials at a discounted price. The rain barrel, which typically retails at $129, will be offered for just $69.95 each. Also offered will be a 65 gallon compost bin for just $69.95.

To obtain this special pricing, rain barrels as well as compost bins must be pre-ordered online prior to the order deadline: Nov. 9 at 11 p.m.

Rain barrels and compost bins must be picked up on Nov. 15. 

Info: Tom Kirwan, takirwan@aol.com

Count down to the end of our fund raiser - Save the Date! Details coming....

In conjunction with our Count down watch party, Eden's is hosting a mini film festival in honor of Veteran's Day. 

Films will begin upon darkness - around 6:30. (bring a lawnchair or blanket - it's outside on the farm.) 

We'll be showing the film Terra Firma (http://terrafirmafilm.com/) a film about "3 women vets returning home who found ways to heal the hidden wounds of war through farming."  

Time & weather permitting, we'll also show Ground Operations, (http://www.groundoperations.net/) a film that "champions the growing network of combat veterans who are transitioning into careers as sustainable farmers, ranchers and artisan food producers."

Vets get in no charge. Door fee to help cover screening - $2 contribution to the Feed the Soil - Feed the Community campaign. Payable either in advance at tickets link or at the door. 

Concessions proceeds to benefit local grass rots veterans group - TBA.

This class will cover the benefits of using rain water to irrigate your landscape, garden and even your house plants. Suggestions will be provided on how to utilize the rain barrel in conjunction with your existing gutter system at home. Participants will learn how to collect and utilize rainwater at home and have the opportunity to construct their very own 55-gallon rain barrel. 

$50.  Registration and pre-payment is required. Space is limited. Info: JFerguson@Coppelltx.gov. 

Find native and adapted plants that are rare to find in local nurseries.

Scatter the seed balls that were made at the Lake Worth Monster Bash. Learn why this method is used, and how fun and easy it can be to distribute seeds on the prairie. Free (with paid admission $2-$5).

Please bring your favorite work gloves, privet removal tools, shovel, litter picker upper, or gardening tools. 

Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and for working in a natural area (long pants, long sleeves, sturdy shoes, hat). 

Water and snacks will be available.

O.S. Gray Natural Area has no restroom facilities, but Kroger is nearby.

The annual “Master Gardener Roundup” allows potential applicants to learn more about the organization, meet current Master Gardeners and ask questions about activities the organization supports. Those wishing to apply for the 2015 Master Gardener training program must do so by Oct. 17. Attending the Roundup is not required for new class members, but everyone must complete an application form, which is available online at www.dcmga.com.

To become a Master Gardener, you must attend 70 hours of classroom instruction taught by leading educators. Classes are held all day each Tuesday from February through May. The 2015 class schedule has not been announced, but topics will include botany/plant physiology, soils, lawn care, vegetable and herb gardening, insects and landscape horticulture. All classes are held at the Global Spheres Center, 7801 S. Stemmons Freeway (IH35E) in Corinth. A one-time fee of $225 for training, which covers the official Master Gardener manual, is payable on the first class day. 

Hosted in partnership with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. 

Standing water or erosion a problem in your landscape? A rain garden may be your answer! Rain gardens are shallow depressions in the landscape that collect rainwater. With the broad array of appealing grasses, flowering plants and natural stone you can incorporate a rain garden into your landscape with ease. Homeowners and businesses will learn how to design, construct and maintain a rain garden. With proper plant selection and design a rain garden will retain and treat rain water. Plant list provided. All participants must have an official identification card to enter facility. 

Register on website. Free.

Hosted in partnership with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

Why water and mow what you can’t eat? Utilizing areas in your landscape to grow edibles is a way to add food on your table and reduce your grocery bill. This program teaches you how to incorporate edible plants into your home garden and landscape. You will learn how herbs, fruits and vegetables can add to the colors and textures of your permanent landscape combining both aesthetics’ and functionality. All participants must have an official identification card to enter facility.

Register on website. Free.

Pat Merkord, executive director of Native Prairies Association of Texas, will teach participants to recognize a remnant prairie in both urban and rural setting. This hands-on workshop will cover recognition of indicator species, how to use the internet to locate potential prairie sites, how to record what you see and report it. Identification of the major indicator grasses and forbs will be hands-on, with BRIT's live demo prairie examples and herbarium specimen pieces for study of detail.

Bring a sack lunch and walking shoes. $25/NPAT members; $35/non-members.  

Register: http://texasprairie.org/index.php/news_and_events/