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Summer 2014 T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E

NAVASOTA ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM SUMMER CAMP FUN CONTAINER GARDENING FUN, EASY AND GOOD FOR MANY LOCATIONS A COLORFUL CRAFT FOR THOSE SUMMERTIME BLUES

‘Green’ oasis

energy-efficient college Station home provides tranquil retreat

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‘Green’ oasis

Energy-efficient College Station home provides tranquil retreat

Contents

4 Navasota Artist in Residence program

6 Summer camp fun in Bryan-College Station

18 Upcycling: Transforming the ‘old’ into a better ‘new’

20 container gardening fun, easy and good for many locations

22 A colorful craft for those summertime blues

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Home iN Style summer 2014

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Upper left: The Horlock House is home to three artists as part of the Navasota Artist in Residence program. Right: The artists, from top to bottom, are: Michael Villarreal, Gregory Darby and Owen Drysdale. Bottom (from left to right): Shown are paintings in Darby’s gallery at the Horlock House (first two paintings), as well as two pieces in Drysdale’s gallery.

In-house art

Navasota program gives budding artists space to live, work and display their creations

By Holli L. Koster Special to The Eagle

M

ichael Villarreal has been creating art since he was a child – when his parents kept him stocked with computer paper and pens.

Now, between finishing his degree in painting and enrolling in graduate school at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Villarreal said his rent-free artist residency in Navasota’s historic Horlock House – as part of the Navasota Artist in Residence program -- is giving him the time and breathing room he needs to focus on 4

Home iN Style summer 2014

art and his career.

“In terms of being a beginning artist, you really have to treat this as a job,” said Villarreal, whose recent work has focused on landscapes based on the human figure.

“You have to put your face out there, and you have to constantly be networking and getting your work into the public eye.”

Villarreal took up residency with fellow artists Owen Drysdale and Gregory Darby in February, moving into the newly renovated Horlock House, at

1205 E. Washington Avenue.

The home’s public gallery, featuring the artists’ work, is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

The artists also maintain a blog, writing about their work, exhibitions and other news at the Navasota Artist in Residence website, navasotaair.wordpress.com.

The artists will host an open studio event from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 17, featuring live music, refreshments and an opportunity to meet with the artists.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/BVArts

and view events.

Molly Wallace, program manager for the artist in residence program, said the program is bringing more art to Navasota.

“The city of Navasota has a strong artistic connection, and it seemed like the perfect location for artists to live and work,” Wallace said. “It is a place where anyone can go to see art and speak with the artists.”

Wallace said Drysdale, Villarreal and Darby also have been involved in the community, recently completing a mural at the Filling Station Café in Navasota, as well as participating in local art shows.

The Horlock House transformation To prepare the living space for the three artists, the city of Navasota completely renovated the house, updating fixtures, painting walls and recently repainting it in historically accurate colors.

The Grimes County Heritage Association in 1999 donated the Horlock House to the city of Navasota.

Once used as a history center, the structure cost the city almost $15,000 annually to maintain, and was in need of repairs.

The renovation included new electrical wiring, plumbing and replacement of rotted wood, as well as installation of a new parking lot and outdoor signs. The home now includes three studio spaces and a downstairs

area that includes three gallery spaces for the artists to showcase their work.

The second floor features three large bedrooms with picture windows and high ceilings, as well as a shared lounge area. The city also renovated the house’s exterior museum, which now houses historical artifacts that coincide with a quarterly theme.

The artists The city and arts council opened applications to the artist in residence program last year, inviting artists of all stripes – from 2D and 3D mixed media to fiber and printmaking artists – to apply.

In exchange for Internet, cable, electricity, retail space and live/work space provided by the program, artists live and work in the house and maintain public hours. The city of Navasota and The Arts Council may also offer the artists paid teaching opportunities, as well as exhibits in various gallery at large locations hosted by the Arts Council.

The opportunity to exhibit is one that attracted Darby, a recent graduate of Texas Woman’s University. A multidisciplinary painter who works with both traditional and unconventional materials, Darby said his primary exhibitions were in and around north Texas.

“I needed time really to figure out what my body of work is,” said Darby, who said his inspirations are the Austrian symbolists and Asian decorative landscape

paintings. He has produced, exhibited and sold works in watercolor, oil and acrylic media, as well as worked in digital media.

Villarreal was a monitor/teaching assistant in the painting studio at Texas State University, where he earned his bachelor’s of fine arts with a focus in painting.

His paintings have appeared in the Barbara Davis Gallery in Houston. His work was also accepted to be part of the Nebraska National Collegiate Juried Art Exhibition at Eisentrager – Howard Gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Parchman Stremmel Gallery in San Antonio is representing the artist.

His work involves landscapes based on the human figure, with the application of paint coming off the panel about an inch or more. For more information on his art or to view recent works, visit michaelvillarrealart.com.

Drysdale, a graduate of Texas State University, was a gallery monitor and a teaching assistant before coming to the artist in residence program.

Originally from the Tomball area, Drysdale plans to pursue his master’s in fine arts at Syracuse University. He has exhibited his work – usually oil-based atmospheric paintings of imagined landscapes – in Dallas, at Stephen F. Austin State University and in the Austin area.

For more information or to view Drysdale’s work, visit cargocollective.com/owenfaldodrysdale.

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Summer camp fun in Bryan-College Station

By Michelle Griffith Special to The Eagle

T

ake a little art, a dash of science, a pinch of history, a sprinkle of drama and a massive splash of enthusiasm, and what do you get? Exciting summer camps in the Brazos Valley! Whether your child likes to craft, sing or discover, the affiliates of The Arts Council will have the perfect summer camps for them to thrive.

The Arts Council would love to see you

this summer! In addition to the ever-popular Comic Book Camp and Fine Arts Camp, we are introducing a new camp: Art Lab. Your child will combine creativity, innovation and experimentation as he or she completes technology-driven art projects. Registration information for all camps is available by calling The Arts Council at (979) 696-2787 or visiting acbv.org.

The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History invites your child to examine the world around us during summer nature camps. Kids who have completed Pre-K through 12th grade can join in on exploring science, animal behavior, history and the environment. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday from June 10 through Aug. 19. Registration forms are available online at brazosvalleymuseum.org or at 3232

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Home iN Style summer 2014

Briarcrest Drive in Bryan. Please call the museum at (979) 776-2195 with any questions.

The Children’s Museum of Brazos Valley offers summer camps for children ages 4 to 6 and 7 and up. Each camp is one week long and will focus on a different theme, such as Wild West, Invention Convention and Space Invaders. Camps will take place from June 2 to June 27 and from July 7 to Aug. 8. Register by calling the Children’s Museum at (979) 779-5437. Registration ends the Wednesday before the first day of each camp.

For more information, please visit cmbv.org.

The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum will be hosting the Exploring History Summer Camp from July 7 through Aug. 8. Your child’s mind will be engaged with science experiments, field trips and art class!

Come fuel them for the future during these five camp sessions, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration forms are available online at bushlibrary.tamu.edu. For more info call (979) 691-4006 or contact bush.education@nara.gov.

Navasota Theater Alliance invites your child to explore their musical side at the

summer theater camps. NTA is offering two camps this summer: the Rising Star session, for children who have completed first through fourth grade, from June 16 – 20, and the Teen Camp, for students who have completed fifth through 12th grade, from July 21 through Aug. 1.

Each group will put on a performance at the end of their camp session. Registration is available online at navasotatheatre.com or by calling (936) 825-3195.

Unity Theatre in Brenham presents its summer drama camps for kids in grades 2 through 12 in July. Students learn and rehearse by age group, then join together to perform “The Emperor’s New Clothes” July 24 through July 27! Registration forms are available online at unitybrenham.org. For further details contact linda@unitybrenham.org or call (979) 830-1460 x 10.

The Theatre Company of Bryan/College Station will be hosting its children’s workshops June 23 through June 26 and June 30 through July 9. Children who have completed third through eighth grade can explore a whole new world

with this summer’s featured musical, “Disney’s Aladdin Jr.” Workshops are held each day from 9 a.m. to noon, and the final performance will take place on Wednesday, July 2 at 7 p.m. Registration forms are available online at theatrecompany. com/kids-workshop.

Be sure to check in with more of The Arts Council’s affiliates for more fun summer camp options in the Brazos Valley! And if you’re looking for additional fun summer activities, visit acbv.org/events – our online calendar is full of family fun!

Michelle Griffith is a marketing intern with The Arts Council. For questions regarding The Arts Council, please visit www.acbv.org, call (979) 696-2787, contact info@acbv.org, or see us at 2275 Dartmouth Street, College Station. The Arts Council is dedicated to making the arts accessible to all citizens and visitors of the Brazos Valley through funding, promotion, advocacy and partnership building.

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‘Green’ oasis energy-efficient college Station home provides tranquil retreat

N

estled amongst tall, majestic oak trees in a quiet neighborhood, the Schaefer family’s south College Station home is both a serene getaway and the perfect place to entertain family and friends.

The beautiful home, built by the homeowners’ company, Schaefer Custom Homes in Bryan, is comfortable because of its neutral colors, open layout and quiet location in the Indian Lakes subdivision. The

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Home iN Style summer 2014

sandstone exterior fits in with the home’s natural surroundings, and several windows let in lots of sunlight. Homeowners Michael and Sandra Schaefer had a room built for each of their two daughters, who are both attending college; one lives away from home and the other will soon move out, too. Besides having a guest room and rooms for their daughters when they’re visiting, the home’s other facilities for entertaining friends and family include a game room

with a bar and pool table and an outdoor living space that includes a kitchen, pool and hot tub. Despite its many amenities and the homeowners’ penchant for keeping the inside temperature cool during warmer weather, the energy costs are low because of several energy-efficient features. more aBout tHe Home

Construction of the 5,400-squarefoot, four-bedroom/ three-and-a half-

leFt: an outdoor patio, hot tub and pool make the schaeffer family’s home a perfect place for entertaining. aBoVe: a windmill pumping water into a metal basin is part of the home’s tranquil backyard. BeloW: Native landscaping that requires little water and a drip irrigation system make caring for plants easy, and also cuts down on water waste.

bathroom home on about a 2.5-acre lot took about five months.

Michael, president of his company, and his wife moved in a week before Thanksgiving, just in time to host a family Thanksgiving celebration.

Michael likes having different types of ceilings from room to room, something visitors will notice soon after entering. Only two rooms have the same type of ceiling. The entryway has an elegant arched ceiling made of brick, accented by a pretty hanging light fixture. To the right is a mirror above a metal table with a marble top. The table is decorated with a lamp on each side and red and cream white flowers that lend a touch of color. the eagle www.tHeeagle.com

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Home iN Style summer 2014

To the left of the entryway, a dining room’s most notable attribute is a two-level ceiling, with a metal chandelier hanging from the center. A brick wall also provides contrast with the rest of the beige-colored room. Natural colors are continued with a wooden table and hutch, along with the dark wooden floor, which is also throughout the main living areas.

Advancing into the home, a big room containing the living area (to the right when coming through the front entrance) and kitchen (to the left) is the most the striking part of the home. The room has a tall cathedral ceiling with wooden beams, something Sandra said she wanted when she and her husband were planning the home.

“I knew I wanted a cathedral ceiling,” she said. “It kind of reminds me of a church. I like that.”

A large sandstone column containing a fireplace, in the middle of a living area wall, provides a natural, but beautiful focal point. The mantle over the fireplace holds a large-screen television. On each side of the fireplace, a built-in wooden cabinet holds family photos, plants and other décor. A light brown leather sofa and two dark brown leather recliners, situated around a wooden coffee table on a rug, help create a comfortable area to relax and visit. The rug, containing red and tan, gives the room a pop of color.

The living area wall on the backside of the house is nearly taken up by windows, bringing in plenty of natural light and providing a feeling of continuity with the back patio that the room overlooks; beyond that is a view of the pool and backyard.

Entering the kitchen area, a gorgeous wooden island with a two-level marble top affords a place for people to eat and hang out on one side, as well as space to prepare food on the other. Cabinets built into the island provide storage room. The area is highlighted by three unique square light fixtures hanging over the island.

Matching the island, custom handmade wooden cabinets with granite countertops line two walls, along with an uneven travertine tile backsplash that adds texture. Besides providing lots of storage space, many of the cabinets are encased in glass, serving as a place to display pretty dishware and plants. A large, grand vent hood, with a decoratively carved scroll shape on the bottom of each side, serves as a central focal point that ties the kitchen area together. Features that make the modern kitchen efficient and clutter free include a faucet over the stove used for filling up pots on the stove; a slideout microwave drawer; slide-out spice racks; and a touchTop three photos: The Schaefer home’s kitchen shows off beautiful custom wooden cabinets and an island with a marble top (with built-in storage), as well as other spacesaving features, such as a slide-out microwave drawer and slide-out spice cabinets. Bottom photos: A game room with a bar area, television-watching nook and pool table make for a great place to relax.

The Eagle www.theeagle.com

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free water faucet over the sink.

Sandra said the kitchen is a favorite room of hers, as well as of guests. The family entertains guests often.

“I’m in the kitchen all the time. I cook a lot,” she said. “When you have parties a lot, everybody’s in the kitchen.”

She added that at night, her family often eats at the wooden table in a dining area adjoining the kitchen, which – with glass doors and large windows – overlooks the backyard. The ceiling of the dining room – with two sets of parallel wooden beams crossing each other – provides interest to the room, along with a metal chandelier hanging over the table.

Behind the kitchen, a huge pantry affords more space for storing items, including a freezer and second refrigerator. Around the corner from the kitchen is Sandra’s office and also a pretty half bathroom, containing a white cabinet with a black granite countertop and brown bowl sink. A brick shower with an arched top gives a distinctive, modern look. Close by is a daughter’s bedroom,

painted in gray, with a two-level ceiling.

Near the living area, a television/ sitting room – containing a brown couch, coffee table and entertainment center with a television -- provides a nook for the daughters to relax. The standout feature of the room is a charming brick, domeshaped ceiling. Past the television room is the other daughter’s room, featuring gray walls and a cathedral ceiling.

The large master bedroom features beige walls and a bi-level rectangular ceiling. A wooden bed frame, bedside tables and other wooden furniture, along with a tan bedspread with red and tan stripes and a tan rug give the room a neutral, relaxed feel. The attached master bathroom presents a spa-like escape. The huge bathroom features a white cabinet with a marble countertop and his-and-hers sinks, with a mirror over each sink. A large cream-colored tub deck, made of tile matching that of the floor and marble vanity tops, is built into one corner. Across from the tub is a large, open, matching shower area, with a partial wall around it.

A guest bathroom (top left) features a modern brick shower, as well as a cabinet with a black granite counter and brown bowl sink (also shown in center photo). Unique square light fixtures in the kitchen (top right) accentuate an island with a pretty, two-level marble top. The master bathroom (bottom two photos) provides a spa-like escape with a large cream tub and matching open shower.

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A big room containing the living area and kitchen has a striking cathedral ceiling (top left), while the entryway shows off an arched brick ceiling (top right). A dining area adjoining the kitchen (bottom left) features a ceiling with wooden beams, as well as a view of the backyard. Another dining area near the entryway features a two-level ceiling.

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Home iN Style summer 2014

electricity low,” Michael said.

That includes installing spray foam insulation in the ceiling rafters. Studies by the U.S. Department of Energy show that 40 percent of a house’s energy is lost because of air escaping through walls, windows and doorways. Buildings with spray foam insulation insulate as much as 50 percent better than traditional insulation products. The home also has a solar-powered attic fan for storage space above the garage.

Additionally, Michael installed all fluorescent and LED lights, which save energy, too. He said the LED lighting cost about $20,000. Outside, LED lights in trees are set on a timer to come on each night, making the family feel safer in the dark and also ensuring that lights are turned off during daylight hours.

The house also has several insulated lowemissivity (low-e) tinted windows, which reflect radiant infrared energy, thus tending to keep radiant heat on the same side of the glass from which it originated, while letting in natural light.

This means more efficient windows because radiant heat originating from indoors in winter is reflected back inside, and infrared heat radiation

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Although the Schaefer family keeps the interior of their large home at a comfortable temperature, keeps a pool and hot tub running and has exterior lighting, the utility bill is still considerably low. The utility bill for April was about $124.

“I did everything I could do to keep the

from the sun during warmer weather is reflected away, keeping it cooler inside. Plus, having many windows means less artificial light is needed during the daytime.

Even the pool is energy-efficient. A variable speed pool pump cost about $700 more than a regular pump, but it results in a cheaper cost to run the pool, Michael said. Likewise, an energyefficient pool vacuum that plugs into the wall costs about 12 cents a day to run, versus a regular vacuum that costs about $10 a day, he added.

Other features that save both energy and water are native landscaping that doesn’t require much water, as well as drip irrigation for plants, which cuts down on water waste.

Michael said energy-efficient features are just part of building a quality house.

“There is more to building a home than one can see with the naked eye,” he said. “Close attention to other details is important. Both the foundation and framing are integral parts of building a quality home. We believe that attention to these details spice of cho ho o fit and trying to use energy-efficient materials -pr will n no improve the life of the home and help r save utility and maintenance costs for years to come.”

Yo u

Michael’s favorite room is a game room or “man cave” that overlooks and opens up to the back patio. The room has a striking, triangularshaped ceiling that comes to a point at the top.

With a couch and recliner facing a television, a pool table and a bar area – the room is the perfect spot for watching sports and relaxing. The bar area has wooden cabinets containing glasses and liquor and an eating bar -- made of sandstone and topped with granite – with bar stools. The room also serves as an area to display Aggie and other sports memorabilia, such as glass-encased jerseys and a shelf of football helmets.

The game room opens up to a back patio area, made of sandstone and with a handsome pine ceiling. The area has a television in a corner, along with green patio couches and a set of tables and chairs. An outdoor kitchen is perfect for spending time outside, and Michael said when he cooks, it’s usually outside. He enjoys cooking on a gas grill and a Big Green Egg smoker.

A water feature in the outside patio area and an enticing pool and hot tub make the backyard the ideal spot for the family and guests to unwind.

From the pool area, a sidewalk, lined with native plants, leads to a shed for the lawn mower at the opposite end of the house. The shed attaches to the indoor/ outdoor garage that has plenty of room for Michael’s collection of vehicles. The garage also contains stairs that lead up to the attic; Sandra loves that she has easy access to the attic for storage.

Besides the outdoor living space and pool, the land that extends past that also provides a tranquil spread to spend time. A trail from the patio area leads to a spot with two raised beds for growing vegetables. Also behind the house, a wooden windmill painted like a Texas flag pumps water into a metal basin. Michael said there are also bike/hiking trails nearby, which along with a location close to south College Station businesses, is a reason why he chose the subdivision to build his home. The house is his third in the subdivision.

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Metro Creative Connection

Upcycling: Transforming the ‘old’ into a better ‘new’

Woodcraft graphic designer Tara Piggott applies a coat of General Finishes Java Gel Stain to a cabinet door.

T

urn old or discarded furniture, cabinets and doors into fresh new creations through “upcycling” -- highend “recycling” that reduces trash at landfills by refurbishing or repurposing existing pieces, often enhancing the value. Woodcraft offers the following ideas and products to get you started.

Upcycling Projects

Family furniture: Save chairs, tables, and other furniture passed down through the generations by doing repairs, if needed, and staining/painting to suit your current decor.

Other furniture or “yard sale finds”: These also can be stabilized and given a new look through stain/paint or distressing, but some 18

Home iN Style summer 2014

may also lend themselves to transformation for other uses, such as turning a chest of drawers into bookshelves, a chair into a swing, a dresser into a seat, and more.

Doors and more: Solid wood doors make great tops for tables and kitchen islands, oldfashioned screen doors hung from the ceiling can store pots and pans, and old windows make attractive wall hangings used “as is” or with additions, such as photos.

Cabinets: Change the look of your kitchen, bathroom or workshop with a new color for your cabinets and new handles and pulls.

Helpful Products

“Woodcraft offers many products -- including professional advice -- that can make upcycling

projects easy and successful,” product manager Kent Harpool said. “A few products are listed here, but our retail store owners and salespeople, customer service staff and tech experts are available to help you select from Woodcraft’s extensive line of tools and supplies, as well as understand how to use the products. We know wood and how to work with it, repair it and transform it. Visit a store near you, or give us a call -- let us help you.”

Repair: Furniture that has been around awhile may need repair. For weak chair joints, drill a hole, inject Briwax ChaiRx, and wait for it to swell the joints for a strong bond. For other repairs, Titebond I, II or III and other glues will work.

Transition: Changing the use and form of wood pieces will involve varied tasks.

For projects that involve disassembly of furniture or doors, followed by reassembly of some pieces into a new creation, the Kreg Jig(R) K4 Master System offers quick joinery -- strong pocket-hole joints.

Stanley Chair Braces are designed for corner reinforcement on chairs, tables, chests, and more for quick, easy construction and repairs.

Color: Once you have selected and/or repaired a piece of old furniture or created a new piece from an existing one, determine where your upcycled piece will “live,” which color or colors will look best there, and which type of paint or finish will achieve the desired effect.

Use Restor-A-Finish(R) to “uncover” the original finish on an heirloom or other old piece of furniture.

Available in six colors plus neutral, it revives the wood finish’s luster while blending out minor scratches and blemishes.

To change or refurbish the color, the three products listed below are easy to use. In addition, surface prep for furniture and cabinets requires only cleaning and light sanding.

For a beautiful hand rubbed wood finish look, choose General Finishes Gel Stain and Topcoats.

Available in 12 shades, including the popular Java, these urethane stains and topcoats are easy to use: simply wipe on with a rag and wipe off the excess. To protect the gel stain, especially for heavy-use surfaces such as tabletops, General Finishes offers three options: Gel Satin Top Coat, PolyAcrylic Top Coat or High Performance Top Coat.

General Finishes Water Based Milk Paints and Glaze Effects offer a wide range of color possibilities.

Use one of the 20 premixed acrylic Milk Paint colors, such as Tuscan red, or combine two colors (using a topcoat between applications). To create eye-catching decorative finishes such as distressing, antiquing, marble effects, shabby chic, and more, choose one of the six translucent glaze effects to go with any waterbased stain or paint.

Old-Fashioned Milk Paint is a powder made from earth pigments, which is mixed with water to make 20 rich colors that authentically reflect colors found on existing antique furniture and buildings.

To uncover the original wood surface on furniture, SOY-GelTM Professional Paint Stripper is easy to use, virtually odorless and has no known health hazards.

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container gardening

fun, easy and good

for many locations

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Home iN Style summer 2014

By Charla Anthony Special to The Eagle

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ontainer gardening is easy, fun and makes plant growing possible for almost anyone in any location.

If you don’t have space for a vegetable garden or if your outdoor space doesn’t produce the flower garden you’ve always wanted, container gardening may be the solution for you. Also, it requires less time and is practical for town home and apartment dwellers, busy professionals and senior citizens.

Another benefit of planting a container garden is mobility. If your plants are getting too little sun or too much, move the container to a better location. Taking a vacation, no problem – there are even self-watering pots for plants. Have instant color when and where you want it with a container garden.

First select a site, perhaps visible from inside your home and near outdoor activity areas. A patio, deck, balcony or doorstep is enough space for an attractive display.

Containers Next, choose a container that fits your space. They come in all sizes, shapes and materials ranging from ceramic pots to baskets, to marble or faux stone urns and concrete cylinders. Specialized containers are available for mounting on fences, straddling porch rails or attaching to windowsills.

Wine barrels, buckets, sinks and watering troughs are often re-purposed as plant containers. Gardening in containers is limited only by your imagination. I’ve seen purses, shoes and blue jeans used as plant containers.

No matter what vessel you choose, it should have holes for drainage so that plant roots do not sit in water.

Keep in mind that traditional clay pots are porous and dry out quickly, as do small containers. For low maintenance, the capacity should be between 2 and 30 gallons.

What to grow?

The location and size of a container dictates plant selection, whether it is a sunny site, shady or a combination. Vegetables, like tomatoes, as well as many flowering plants grow best in 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily.

The best advice is to grow what you like and read the labels when making plant selections. If you want to combine different plants in the same container, select ones with similar light and water requirements.

For single specimen containers, miniature roses, ornamental grasses, dwarf citrus, succulents and some herbs are good choices. Ferns, philodendron and ivy are classic container grown plants. Container growing is even recommended for some plants like lavender and camellias that typically do not grow well in Brazos Valley native soils. For summertime, enjoy containers planted with coleus, caladiums, vinca, angelonia, verbena, zinnias or tropical hibiscus.

In combination plantings, put tall plants with medium size plants and include a cascading or trailing

plant. Container gardening pros refer to this as “the spiller, filler, thriller combination.”

Exceptional container gardens have contrasting textures, colors and leaf shapes. For the best results, use plants that are suited to our growing conditions.

Media A “soilless” potting mix is recommended for container gardening. In addition to draining readily, these products are lightweight and are disease and weed free. However, these products can dry out quickly.

Adding some fully finished compost – it should have the appearance of coffee grounds - to the mix helps with water retention and provides some plant nutrients.

Soil taken from your yard does not produce the best results in a container. It typically does not drain well enough, and plants get waterlogged.

If you use a mix with fertilizer included, your plants will have enough nutrients for 90 to 120 days. After that, use a slow release fertilizer applied according to label directions or plant requirements.

Planting While there are a variety of planting methods, keep it simple. Line the interior base of a container with a coffee filter or a used fabric softener sheet to keep the potting mix from washing out. To improve drainage in large containers, add a thin layer of coarse gravel or broken pottery shards before filling it up.

Keep in mind that after plants are added, the media level should be 2 to 3 inches below the top of the pot, depending on size, to allow for watering and avoid spillage. Remove plants from nursery pots and gently place in your container. Step away and see if you are pleased with the arrangement. Then, carefully fill in the spaces between plants with soil.

Set containers on blocks so that water drains freely.

For ease of movement, place large pots on a plant dolly.

Watering Frequency of watering varies depending on the plant and container size. Soil should feel damp to the touch, but never soggy. To help retain moisture, the soil surface may be covered with a fine mulch or damp sheet moss.

Generally, apply water until it runs out the drainage holes. On an upstairs balcony this can create problems for downstairs neighbors. Be thoughtful and place pots on gravel lined trays to catch overflow water.

Instant garden In a hurry or you don’t have time to plant your own, most garden centers now offer pre-planted containers – simply purchase and place – for instant beauty.

Charla Anthony is the horticulture program assistant at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Brazos County, (2619 Texas 21 W., Bryan, Texas, 77803). Her e-mail address is cmanthony@ ag.tamu.edu.

The Eagle www.theeagle.com

21

1729 Briarcrest Bryan, Texas 77802

a colorful craft

Publisher Crystal Dupré Director of Sales and Marketing Ron Prince

for those summertime blues

Advertising Manager Linda Brinkman 979.731.4719 linda.brinkman@theeagle.com Creative Services Manager Jim Bob McKown 979.731.4706 jimbob@theeagle.com Special Projects Erika Liesman Special Projects Editor Shauna Lewis 979.731.4704 shauna.lewis@theeagle.com Section Designer Courtney Lewellen For questions or comments, please call: 979.731.4738 or email: homeinstyle@theeagle.com www.theeagle.com

Advertise your company in the premier home magazine in the Brazos valley.

Publication Date: Thursday, August 28, 2014 Space Reservation Deadline: Friday, August 1, 2014

By KriStiN HilSaBecK speCial to the eagle

S

photos BY DANIELA WEAVER PHOTOGRAPHY

chool is almost out for summer, and it’s only a matter of time before you hear those two dreaded words – “I’m bored!” You have prepared for this moment all year long as evidenced by your multiple Pinterest boards, but where to start and will those DIY rubber bouncy balls really bounce or even glow? (No, they just kind of make a thud and there is a faint glow at best).

These colorful windsocks made of flagging tape were a big hit last summer with our craft camp kids.

They are a great way to fill that empty afternoon while adding a splash of color to your porch or yard.

Flagging tape is available at home improvement stores in a variety of colors that vary from store to store. Neon colors are fun for summer, while red, white and blue give this project a patriotic twist.

The metal rings, pictured, come in various sizes and can be found in the leather working section of most craft stores. All together, these supplies should run you around $10 with flagging tape leftover for future craftivites.

This project will not only keep your little crafters busy, but is also a fun way to introduce and reinforce different types of patterns while using fine motor skills. Not to mention the meteorology lesson about wind that can follow -- or it can just be a colorful windsock. But why stop with just one afternoon of fun? Colorful windsocks make great presents for friends, family and neighbors, and with step-by-step instructions to follow, these won’t end up on your Pinterest Fails board!

COLORFUL WINDSOCKS materialS: Flagging tape (available at home improvement stores)

Metal ring

( from the leather working section at craft stores) 22

Home iN Style summer 2014

Floral wire Safety pin Scissors Yard stick directioNS: Using a yardstick, measure and cut 4-foot pieces of the flagging tape.

Fold a piece of the flagging tape in half and place the looped part under the metal ring.

Place your “pincher” fingers (thumb and index finger) through the loop and over the ring.

Pull the tails through the loop until the knot is secure. Do not pull too tightly as the flagging tape will stretch.

Repeat with different colors to create a fun pattern until your ring is full.

Measure two pieces of floral wire double the diameter of your metal ring.

Thread both wires through the end of safety pin.

Fold the wires in half to find the center. Twist the wires to secure the safety pin in the center.

Split the wires so they are at 90 degree angles.

Secure each wire around the metal ring and twist.

Hang your colorful windsock from a tree or on your front porch for a fun and festive summer decoration!

Kristin Hilsabeck is the owner of Artastic Craft Studio, in College Station. After teaching elementary art for five years, she left teaching to open an art studio that is centered around crafting and all things Pinterest. She currently teaches kindergarten, in addition to a variety of classes at the studio. For information on Artastic Craft Studio, including a class schedule, visit www.artasticcraftstudio.com.

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