Mark Your Calendars: General Membership Meeting, May 18
AHNA’s monthly General Membership meeting is May 18 at 6:30pm at Arlington Heights United Methodist Church. Because Code Enforcement was identified as one of Arlington Heights top concerns, we will be joined by Gina Cubbage, our neighborhood code enforcement officer. She will provide our group with useful information, handouts and will have someone on hand to discuss illegal dumping.
Organic gardening calendar for May
Written by Gail I. Morris Special to the Star-Telegram, Published Online Thursday, April 30. Link: http://www.star-telegram.com/living/story/1351070.html
Week 1: May 3-9
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To rejuvenate forsythia, prune 1 of every 3 branches after it blooms. Plant begonias, lobelia, periwinkles and other warm-season annuals. Purchase plants that have buds that are not yet open. If you buy plants already in bloom, cut off spent blooms so new buds will form.
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Replant your stored lemongrass bulb if you dug it up last fall or purchase a new lemongrass bulb.
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Stake young plants that tend to flop over when mature.
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Prune climbing rose bushes after first flush if needed to contain size.
Week 2: May 10-16
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Fertilize container plants once a week up to 2 to 3 times per month, depending on the size of the container. Water the container’s soil before applying fertilizer. Allow the water to soak into the soil, then fertilize. Organic fertilizers, such as Rabbit Hill Farms Something Special, are produced specifically for container plants. If you choose to feed your container plants with a liquid, use 2 to 3 tablespoons of Bioform, Medina or Agrispon per gallon of water.
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Feed daffodils and irises using an organic fertilizer such as earthworm castings, Bioform Dry or other organic products supplied by your local organic nursery.
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Mix and spray 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a gallon of water for blackspot on roses. Deadhead spent blooms.
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Remove 2 to 3 peaches of every 4 to produce larger fruit and keep limbs from breaking from the weight. Thin fruit when it is about the size of marbles.
Week 3: May 17-23
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Peas are ready to harvest 3 weeks after the first blooms appear. Use little scissors or pinch off by hand. Harvest often, so they’ll produce more.
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Weeds or grass overtaking a flower bed? Solarize it. Place a sheet of black plastic over the area and weigh down the edges with rocks or bricks. Leave it for a few months in the hot sun, then remove the plastic to plant.
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Recycle tea grounds around roses, azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. Recycle coffee grounds around lilies. Unless you use unbleached filters, toss the filters into the trash. Otherwise, bury or compost the filter, too.
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Repot, if necessary, and take sun-loving houseplants outside. Gradually acclimate inside plants by placing them in the shade for a few weeks.
Week 4: May 24-30
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Plant a pot of nasturtiums and move around the garden where aphids have set up shop. Nasturtiums are a trap plant for aphids as well as other small pests. Once the aphids are on the nasturtiums, move it to a concrete area, hose off the aphids and reset the trap.
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To increase blooms on crape myrtles, sprinkle a light handful of Epsom salts around the roots.
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Put out molasses traps to kill grasshoppers. Mix and place in a flat lid or container, one part molasses to 8 to 10 parts water. Clean and replenish as necessary.
GAIL I. MORRIS IS A MEMBER OF THE ORGANIC GARDEN CLUB OF FORT WORTH AND CROSS TIMBERS MASTER NATURALISTS. SHE CAN BE CONTACTED THROUGH WWW.MAGGIESGARDEN.COM; CLICK ON “ORGANIC GUIDE.”
Thomas Place Community Center
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Camp Fort Worth: Summer Day Camp will kick off on June 15 through August 21, Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm. Registration is $150, and it’s $20/week/per child for extended care (7:30-6:00pm). Enrollment is open to children ages 5-13. Students are provided an optional lunch and afternoon snack each day. Field trips and pools are also optional. This program offers quality activities such as, sports, arts and crafts, recreational games, guest speakers, swimming, and field trips and are designed to provide activities that give youth the opportunity for overall growth and development, encourage friendship, build teamwork skills, independence and self confidence. Call Thomas Place Community Center at 817-735-1751 for more information.
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Look for new programs including karate, ballet, yoga, beginning belly dancing, and Spanish as a second language course which will be offered this summer.
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Start accumulating for the Center’s neighborhood garage sale this July.
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Thomas Place now offers a Learning Garden for kids where the kids from their afterschool program are now able to grow watermelon, squash, tomato, herbs, and pumpkin. They are in need of a sign for the Learning Garden and a small fence to keep small animals out.
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A day of beauty for Thomas Place. Gear up to help power wash, pull weeds, trim bushes, plant flowers, etc. Be thinking of something that you would like to see or donate. Call Ricky Cotto at 817-735-1751 with questions, comments, suggestions or to volunteer.
City Council Updates
April 14, 2009 City Council Meeting Approved the authorization of the Transfer of $73,386.00 from the Water and Sewer Operating Fund to the Water Capital Projects Fund in the Amount of $58,489.00 and the Sewer Capital Projects Fund in the Amount of $14,897.00; Adopt an Appropriation Ordinance Increasing Estimated Receipts and Appropriations in the Water Capital Projects Fund in the Amount of $58,489.00 and in the Sewer Capital Projects Fund in the Amount of $14,897.00, from Available Funds, for the Purpose of Authorizing an Engineering Agreement with Multatech Engineering, Inc., for Pavement Reconstruction and Water and Sanitary Sewer Main Replacements on Kenley Street from Pershing Avenue to Birchman Avenue, Neville Street from Pershing Avenue to Calmont Avenue and Wellesley Avenue from Hervie Street to Faron Street, Project Number 7B-01235; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Engineering Agreement in the Amount of $111,519.00.
Street Name Change for Portion of Arch Adams Street to Van Cliburn Way – Council Member Carter Burdette and Council Member Joel Burns
April 21 Pre-Council meeting: This was the first week that the council had this proposal on its agenda. It will require formal action on or about May 12. Councilman Burdette said that this was an important step as Van Cliburn is well known throughout the world, more so than any other citizen in the City of Fort Worth. He adopted Fort Worth as his home and this year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Van Cliburn Foundation. In honor of this anniversary, they will hold a piano competition in May and Councilman Burdette would like to hold a formal ceremony in May for the remarking of the street. Burdette wanted to make it clear that this name change will not impact the whole of Arch Adams Street, rather it will change approximately one-half of the street, the portion that travels through the museums/cultural district. The Arch Adams name will remain on the portion North of Camp Bowie. Staff researched Arch Adams and found that he was an officer in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and was originally from Marshall, Texas. Councilman Burdette is pleased to have the opportunity to recognize both individuals.
Update: Public Hearing for relocation of existing Oncor Utility Easement
The City of FW has been approached by the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) for the purpose of relocating an existing Oncor Utility Easement with support utilities on City of Fort Worth property. The Parks and Community Service Department has been asked to convert a portion of the Botanic Garden, for the purpose of relocating the existing electrical service with electrical systems panel. On January 28, 2009 the Parks and Community Services Advisory Board voted to recommend that the conversion be forwarded to the City Council for approval.
On April 28, the City Council conducted a public hearing at 10:30am in the City Council Chamber, second floor, City Hall, 1000 Throckmorton Street, 76102. David Creek acting assistant director of the Parks Department presented to Council – no comments were given – Council approved the relocation of the existing Oncor Utility Easement with support utilities on City of Fort Worth property. Councilman Burdette stated that this is the first of many steps in the soon to be constructed new Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) building which will occupy space on the corner where the former health department service building was located.
REPOST: Become a Master Composter
Learn how to compost in your own back yard from those who do it best - Master Composters, volunteers trained to educate others about composting.
The training takes place 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 2 and May 9 in the Orchid Room of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Center, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. The class costs $35 and is limited to the first 30 people registered.
To register, send a check (payable to Fort Worth Botanical Society) along with your name, address, phone number and e-mail to Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Education Office, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76107. Registration ends April 24.
This class is made possible by the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Fort Worth Environmental Management Department.
To learn more, call 817-871-7966 or visit www.fwbg.org.
Events Canceled or Postponed to Reduce Flu Risk
In response to the recommendation by the Tarrant County Public Health Department, the City of Fort Worth has canceled or postponed city programs and some large public outdoor events to reduce the opportunities for spread of North American (Swine) flu.
All City of Fort Worth public facilities remain open at this time; however, all scheduled programming at Fort Worth community centers will be canceled until further notice. Voting locations also remain open.
Canceled
- Mayfest
- City’s Low-Cost Vaccination Clinic at Trail Drivers Park
- City of Fort Worth ASA 16 and under softball tournament, Gateway Park
- City of Fort Worth Youth soccer league games
- City of Fort Worth adult flag football league games at Gateway Park
- City of Fort Worth adult soccer league games at Gateway Park
- City of Fort Worth adult soccer league games at FWISD fields
- City of Fort Worth adult softball at Gateway Park
- City of Fort Worth youth baseball/softball league games
- City of Fort Worth youth volleyball league games at Fire Station Community Center
- All scheduled programming at Fort Worth community centers canceled until further notice
- Student Attendance Court dockets canceled through May 11. All canceled cases will be rescheduled for future dates.
Closure
- Sycamore Spray Park through May 10
Postponed
- Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Visit CowtownCincodeMayo.com for updates
- Avenue of Light Party: Visit www.FWPublicArt.org for updates
Finish line rerouted
- 2009 Bike MS: Sam’s Club Frisco to Fort Worth Ride: Visit BikeMSTexas.org for the new finish line
REPOST: Clean Air Writing Contest
Discuss in 500 words or fewer what you or your family do to help keep Fort Worth air cleaner. The best entry received by May 15, 2009, will win $500. Visit the contest page for rules and information about submitting an entry.
Margo Dean School of Ballet Celebrates 60 Years
Margo Dean School of Ballet
Celebrating 60 years
May 10, 2009
2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Presents students in
Jazz
and
Alice in Wonderland
Intermission
Dale and some of his past partners
Let’s Waltz
Current Adult Students and Soloists
Ballet Americana
Presentation of Returning students
A Touch of Flamenco
with guest performers Ruben Gerding, Gracey Tune, Miss Tara, and
Liuba Paterson
Will Rogers Auditorium
Tickets $5.00 in advance and $10.00 at performance
Bike Fort Worth Update
Fort Worthology’s report on “Bike Fort Worth” is online:
Summer Fun for the Kids at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Green Thumb Club provides children the opportunity to learn more about the natural world around them. We use the Fort Worth Botanic Garden as a living laboratory for students to explore topics such as native plant studies, pollination, tree structure, climate change, and more.
Classes are $25.00 each
Class size is limited, so register early!
Summer in the Garden with Green Thumb Club
Summer 2009 Green Thumb Club is for children entering K – 3rd grade and will include a snack along with a craft project to take home. This year we study insects, weather, meet a real beekeeper, and learn about tracking animals! These classes are from 9:00 a.m. until noon on select Wednesdays.
Download the Green Thumb Club Form: http://www.fwbg.org/content/Summer_09_Website.pdf
Contact Judy Bauereisen at 817-871-7682 or judy.bauereisen@fortworthgov.org.
Eco Camp
For the older students entering 4th and 5th grade we have partnered with The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Museum School ® to offer a new summer ecology camp called Eco-Camp. These students stay a little longer and explore more in depth. There are two different sessions offered.
Learn more about Green Thumb Club by downloading the brochure and for more information about Eco-Camp, contact The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Museum School ® at 817-255-9333 or visit www.fortworthmuseum.org.
Download the Eco Camp registration brochure: http://www.fwbg.org/content/ECO-CAMP_Reg_Form.pdf
Green Thumb Club and Eco Camp sponsored in part by the Fort Worth Botanical Society
