KTRH GardenLine Newsletter

Apr. 17, 2008 - Issue #62

Here's Randy's Weekly KTRH GardenLine Tip:


Nelson Water Gardens Annual Garden Party is This Saturday
GardenLine Profile: Nelson Water Gardens


Each year in April, Nelson Water Gardens celebrates spring with a Garden Party. It's a chance to get out and see new plants and gardening products and to meet all sorts of folks, who are passionate about gardening, especially water gardening. Plus, many of these passionate folks will be sharing their expertise with booths while others will be giving presentations in what is always a full day of workshops and fun.

I'll get to that schedule of workshops in just a moment, but like the good Aggie that I am, when I do something more than once it becomes a solid tradition. And broadcasting GardenLine live from this annual Garden Party has become a super tradition. We have done it, I think, 8 years in a row. While I do go on the air at 6 a.m., they won't actually be opening their doors for business and the party until 8 a.m.

And if you've been subscribed to these email tips for longer than a year, you know very well what's coming next – print out this email tip and bring it to me starting at 8 a.m. and pick yourself up a free supply of Nelson Plant Food (I remind you that there is NO RELATION – just two great GardenLine partners with the name of Nelson). Sure, we will have lots more than Nelson Plant Food to give away this weekend, if you so choose. In fact, we've been promised a supply of those new Tomato Sentry protectors as well. But like the plant food, you have to print out this email tip to have a shot at them.

While the annual garden party at Nelson's has always had great classes and speakers, this year they are thrilled to present Tim Jennings curator of the world renowned Water Lily Collection at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square Pennsylvania. Even though Tim's expertise is in aquatic plants he is a plant man through and through. Therefore his topic is "Plants Plants Plants" and he will be sharing his passion for all plants with you at the class that begins at 12 Noon.

In addition, Chris Davidson of TetraPond will be speaking on How to get Clear Water in your pond at 10:00am. (This is probably the most heavily attended seminar each year at this annual event, so get there early for a seat) Mark Seaver of Seaver's Landscape will be speaking at 11:00 am on Creating a Container Garden (His presentation was so popular last year they had to bring it back!). At 1:00 p.m. Anita Nelson will be speaking on sustainable filtration in bog gravel filters. And they wrap up the day with the ever-popular and vastly amusing Brett Rowley. Brett is a master at making a lecture informative and fun, and he'll be speaking on the Care and Culture of Koi!

Now while those are the scheduled classes, don't forget that they always have numerous experts on hand as well. Nelson's invites a number of their pump, chemical, filtration, statuary and plant providers to host booths all day long. This always gives you a chance at one-on-one expertise from such professionals.

So, I guess I'll see you out at Nelson Water Gardens Annual Garden Party this Saturday. Again, I'll be broadcasting the entire show from there, but the doors don't open until 8 a.m. Plus, I'll be hanging around after my broadcast to also give you folks some one-on-one time. So, bring those questions, but if you bring a plant sample to look at, (disease or insect infested) please bring them in zip lock bags/or brown paper bags because this is a working nursery with a great deal of plants. By the way, I'll be hanging around until Noon.

Nelson's is located at 1502 Katy-Ft. Bend County Rd., 1 mile North of I-10 (Katy Fwy) Exit 742. In fact, it's sort of right across the street from Rhodes Stadium for all you State Football Champion Katy folk. If you need more information on how to get there, or just great information on water gardening in general, please link to their website. www.nelsonwatergardens.com Or call 281-391-GROW.

GardenLine Profile: Nelson Water Gardens & Nursery
1502 Katy Fort Bend County Rd.


This week's GardenLine Email Tip is also this week's GardenLine Profile. But, if you're new to Houston, new to GardenLine or just new to these email tips, you really need to hear about the history of Nelson Water Gardens & Nursery. If you've heard me brag about Nelson's during the radio show, which I have done for nearly 11 years, I bet you've figured out that what I say comes from the heart. I'm so proud at what the Nelson's have created and sustained out in Katy. So much so, that I would love to share with you a quick snapshot of the successful story they have become.

Rolf and Anita Nelson created Nelson Water Gardens because of their passion for this specific trade. They had worked previously at the once-famous Lilypons Water Gardens out past Brookshire. But they wanted to do things their own way, and as fate would have it, once they created their own water garden paradise Lilypons subsequently shut down locally.

Many water garden retail outlets have attempted to duplicate Nelson's success, but not one has even come close. In fact, most that have tried have thrown up their hands either in frustration or surrender. To me, that's sort of sad, because while Nelson's is great at what they do, there's still a need for a few more good water garden nurseries. Sadly, no one seems to compete or compare.

One of the things that I've said for years, (and I've even taken it a step further than their own ad agency) is that Nelson's is way more than the local authority on water gardening. Not only are they the local experts and the state's authority, but they are even bigger than nationally recognized experts. They are "internationally respected water gardening authorities". And they are in our own backyard. Cool, eh!?!?

While the family and the staff at Nelson's have a passion for all types of plants, there is no doubt that their main focus is water gardening. In addition to the plants and koi and goldfish that are synonymous with water gardening, Nelson's also has the most amazing selection of disappearing fountains. A signature water feature they have more than perfected. When you go to Nelson's you will find these fountains scattered throughout the entire facility where water flows through and over the pot or statuary and then disappears into the ground. I think I've said in the past that there are always a ton of oohs and aahs bandied about when one visits Nelson's

Consider this GardenLine Profile your personal invitation to visit Nelson Water Gardens where their friendly and helpful staff will welcome you not only with open arms but with a mind-boggling array of ideas to get you started in water gardening. The atmosphere is always creative and the prices are always reasonable, even for the typical nursery plants.

Like many of the nurseries or garden centers that I take the time to profile, it is worth the trip no matter where you live or where you're coming from. To prove that point, I'll tell you that my college roommate, Mark French, who is a very successful architect locally and who lives all the way out in League City and is also very passionate about water gardening, still makes the trek to Nelson's each year. And I know he loves to do all that work himself, but if he's not at least slave-laboring his teenage son Logan a bit, I will be sorely disappointed.

Go visit Nelson's! You won't be disappointed!!!

Nelson Water Gardens & Nursery
1502 Katy Ft. Bend Co. Rd.
Katy, TX 77493
281-391-GROW (4769)
www.nelsonwatergardens.com
Hours:
Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sundays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Until next issue, here's to Great Gardening from the GardenLine, heard exclusively, 6-10 a.m. Saturdays and 7-10 a.m. Sundays, only on NewsRadio 740 KTRH.


Be sure to check out Randy's Event Page to see where else Randy will be for the next few weekends. Bring your plants, bugs, and diseases for identification purpose.

GardenLine Listeners and E-mail Tip Subscribers can purchase a copy of my new book at discounted price! Check it out! "Gulf Coast Gardening with Randy Lemmon"
Garden retailers interested in stocking the book, should call the Nitro Phos Warehouse at 713-228-1868 for wholesale ordering information.

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