Next Event November 14th, 10am


Garden Tour 2410 Keene St.
2410 Keene St is a native plant and kitchen garden in Near Northside. Cory Saul, a horticulturist at Houston Botanic Garden, and his partner bought the house with a good-sized lot about 3 years ago and set about transforming the long-neglected space into a resilient and biodiverse garden by identifying and responding to microclimates, improving the soil, and of course, planting natives. Notable spaces include the street side drainage ditch, which has been re-wilded with Gulf Coast Prairie plants, the green screen thicket on the south side of the lot, the live oak canopy with epiphytes, and the cactus mounds. The gravel path borders are made of broken concrete and bricks sourced from the site itself.

This tour should prove educational as well as entertaining. For example, Cory planted daikon radishes early on as a method of improving the heavy clay soils. While the green tops were mulched in place, the radishes themselves burrowed deep into the soil to allow pathways for water to penetrate the hard packed soil also adding organic matter as they decomposed in place. This treatment ,as well as adding native plants later, have made the drainage ditch a water sink, drawing excess water into the ground. The cactus mounds were built starting with piles of concrete rubble supplying the necessary drainage the cactus require. There are many lessons to be learned from this challenging landscape.




November Yard of the Month

301 East 5th Street
Jim and Donna planted their garden in 2024 with clean lines and low maintenance in mind. Two older trees maintain the properties historic character: a leaning Live Oak and an aging Sycamore that they are doing their best to preserve and keep healthy. Around these established trees, they planted a significant number of young trees, including Bald Cypress, Bur Oak, Sycamore, Redbud, Vitex, and Chinese Fringe, adding layers of greenery that will continue to mature over time. They also planted straight rows of Silhouette Sweetgums and Eagleston Hollies that are gradually growing into natural privacy walls. The result is a garden that feels modern and thoughtfully designed, relaxed and welcoming.


The garden club would like to thank Joshua's Native Plants and Garden Antiques for the gift certificate presented to our Yard of the Month recipient. Buchanan's is located at 502 W. 18th St. here in the Heights.


Last Event 10/10

Historic 6th Ward Garden Tour 2215 Decatur

This month's tour takes us to the Historic Old Sixth Ward. Bob and Cynthia Card have lived here for 25 years, the garden evolving along with the house's interior. The cottage garden now envelopes both the 1893 bungalow and artist studio in the back. This mix of flowering plants and herbs attracts a steady stream of pollinators to the garden enhancing the historic feel of the neighborhood. Cynthia treats her plants with tough love and says that if a plant needs special attention, it is on its own. Notable 'tough' plants are Esperanza, Duranta (Sweet Memory), various mallows, Esperanza, Lantana, A Blue Butterfly Clerodendrum, a bay tree, Mexican Mint Marigold, Rosemary, and Vinca that have re-seeded themselves freely amongst the other plants. There is also a large Roselle Hibiscus, from which they make tea. A few years ago, the Cards bought the small bungalow next door offering it as a visiting artist residence and also for art exhibits. The fence between them was removed and the garden expanded. Old bricks, collected from the neighborhood, make vintage paths throughout the garden. The Cards have also installed several rain barrels that collect water for the garden.

As a bonus for attendees, we were invited to view the current exhibit by artist Silvia Felizia in the artist studio.


The garden club would like to thank Wabash Feed and Garden for the gift certificate presented to the Cards. Wabash is located at 4537 N. Shepherd Dr.


Our Local Business Supporters


Another Place in Time
Boulevard Realty
Buchanan's Native Plants
Heights Pages
Joshua's Native Plants
New Roots Landscaping
Ravenscourt
Wabash Feed and Garden
Zone 9 Tropicals
Houston Heights Association