There was no way I could profile just one topic, one plant or one event in this week's email tip, especially since we are in the heart of the gardening season for Houston. So, read through the headlines and hyperlinks and link to which ever one you think you need more information about.

Vintage Rosery Final Sale Ever
We start with the final sale of roses ever from what used to be The Vintage Rosery in Needville. After Marcia Roenigk's untimely death, her husband Bob really didn't feel like continuing on with the dream. This will be the last chance to grab a piece of Marcia's dream. It's this Saturday only from 9 a.m. to Noon and if you would like to read more about it please click here.

Rains & Fertilizer Brings on Two Diseases
I had mentioned it this past weekend a couple of times, that I suspected that following all the rains that followed all the fertilizer applications that there might be a hint of what we affectionately refer to as Slime Mold and there might be a few cases of Gray Leaf Spot as well. Slime Mold is like someone splotched a spot in the yard with oil and then dusted salt and pepper equally on top of the oil. Gray Leaf Spot give the yard a yellow tinge, and if you look closely enough at the leaves they have a lesion on them.
Click here to read more on Slime Mold and how to control it.
Click here to read more on Gray Leaf Spot and how to control it.

Summer Annuals Might Need to be Replanted
So, many people that planted Vincas and Zinnias (as well as many other summer-loving annuals) probably suffered something akin to a "crop failure" after all the rains since April 17th. Interestingly enough, they probably shouldn't have planted then anyway because the temperatures weren't conducive to those annuals that tend to suffer from phytophthora fungal disease, when the soil temperature isn't quite right. But after relatively warm temperatures since April 30th (and since May 1st is the normal jumping-off time to get those summer loving annuals planted) you couldn't have picked a better time. Bottom Line for you vinca and zinnia lovers; you can truly get busy this weekend. No links to go to here, just the sound advice that it's time to replant or in fact get started.

Art in the Garden Party at the Arbor Gate This Saturday
Speaking of this weekend, we once again will be heading out to the annual Art in the Garden Party at The Arbor Gate. The party is an all-day affair, but we will be there with our incredible cache of prizes from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. We will also be having a drawing at the top of each hour that we are there for 1. A huge Sweet Almond Verbena in a ceramic pot with a retail value of over 125 bucks. 2. A gift basket of incredible proportions filled with goodies from inside the Arbor Gate. Again, you do not need to be present to win, but you do have to fill out the prize forms beginning at 11 a.m. once our promotions staff is set up. If you've never been to the Art in the Garden Party at the Arbor Gate, you really ought to check it out this year. And you can link to this old story I had written about the event in a few years ago, to help give you a glimpse of some of the cool things that might very well be there again this year. Just remember, what you read about from 4-5 years ago, may not necessarily be out there, and WE ARE NOT BROADCASTING live from this event in 2009. We are simply there for an appearance from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.