Howdy Gardening Enthusiast:
You are receiving this email tip a day earlier than normal, because it highlights an Azalea Seminar this Saturday with a deadline registration of Thursday at 5 p.m.

Spring is here - the azaleas are confirming it as they open their blossoms to reveal colors of pink, purple, red and white.

The Azalea Trail is scheduled for March 10th through the 12th and provides wonderful opportunities to view some of the best private and public gardens in Houston. Proceeds from the ticket sales of this annual event help support many projects in the Houston community in the areas of conservation, horticulture and civic beautification. For more information on the Azalea Trail click here

After visiting the gardens on the Azalea Trail, many folks walk away inspired to get busy in their own yard and wondering how to transform their piece of paradise into something reminiscent of Bayou Bend.

For those who wonder what the secret is to making azaleas flourish in their landscape, this Sat., March 4 there's a seminar you don't want to miss.

The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center and Bayou Bend Gardens are co-hosting a day-long event: "Growing Native and Asian Azaleas in Houston."

Three well-known azalea experts will be providing information and answering questions on best practices for care and cultivation of Asian varieties as well as the often overlooked native azaleas.

Hank Bruno, Trails Manager at Callaway Gardens, Georgia, will speak on care and culture of native azaleas. Hank has worked at Callaway Gardens since 1991 and with his crew designs, installs and maintains landscapes that include significant collections of azaleas on over 150 acres.

Bart Brechter, native Houstonian and curator of Bayou Bend Gardens will share his expertise in a talk on "Growing Azaleas in Houston". Bart has been curator of Bayou Bend's 14-acre landscaped gardens and woodlands for five years.

Barbara Stump, curator of the Ruby Mize Azalea Garden at Stephen F. Austin Mast Arboretum will speak on "Asian Azalea Cultivars". Stump is also editor of The Azalean, the quarterly journal of the Azalea Society of America.

The event starts with coffee and check-in at 9:30 a.m. Registration is $125 per person and includes lectures, lunch, and a guided tour of Bayou Bend Gardens.

** Certified Texas Master Gardeners can attend this seminar for continuing education credits and at a discounted rate of $50. Members of the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center receive a 25% discount on registration. **

Registration closes at 5 p.m. Thurs., March 2, so don't waste any time! You can click here to register on-line or call Sarah Pesin at Bayou Bend at 713-639-7759 or the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center at 713-681-8433 for more information.

Proceeds from the event will help support the programs of both the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center and Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens.

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And you can still purchase a copy of my new book Gulf Coast Gardening with Randy Lemmon here...

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