Del Rio Grande 0118

JANUARY 2018

HISTORIC ACEQUIAS LANDSCAPE ARTIST

JANUARY 2018

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LANGTRY CACTUS GARDEN

Get Growing GRANDE / JANUARY 2018

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Here’s hoping the year ahead is filled with nothing but the best for you and yours!

Thanks & Happy New Year.

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GRANDE / JANUARY 2018

Find New

The New Standard Of The World

Seminole Canyon State Historical Park An archeological research & education center connecting people of all ages with the land & their cultural heritage.

Comstock, TX 432-292-4464

Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center “The Law West of the Pecos”.

Folklore legend Judge Roy Bean Langtry, TX 432-291-3340

Devils River State Natural Area Far from all cities, this area lies on one of the most pristine rivers in Texas. Experience the wilderness on the river and on land.

Del Rio, TX 512-395-2133

Kickapoo Cavern State Park Park offers picnic sites, hiking, camping, mountain biking, bird-watching, cave tours and evening bat flight viewing.

Brackettville, TX 512-389-8900

Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area Enjoy nature walks, bird-watching motorcycle tours. Devil’s Sinkhole houses the state’s largest colonies of Mexican free-tailed bats.

Rocksprings, TX 830-683-2287

Rock Art Foundation White Shaman Preserve of the Witte Museum Until recently, few people knew that Texas is the home to one of the largest and most diverse bodies of rock art in the New World. Reservations must be made 7 days in advance at the Witte Museum or by phone, 210-357-1913.

For more information call 830-775-3551.

GRANDE / JANUARY 2018

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FROM THE EDITOR

Happy New Year!

PUBLISHER Sandra Castillo EDITOR Karen Gleason CREATIVE DIRECTOR Megan Tackett WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Argabright Rubén Cantú Karen Gleason Adriana Ibarra Megan Tackett ADVERTISING Ashley Lopez Kim Dupill Albert Treviño PRODUCTION Roland Cardenas Jorge Alarcon Adriana Ibarra EDITORIAL karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 247 ADVERTISING ashley.lopez@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 250 STORY IDEAS karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com

2205 North Bedell Avenue • Del Rio, TX 78840 delrionewsherald.com Del Rio Grande is published by the Del Rio News-Herald.

No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine.

Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative.

Happy New Year, Del Rio, and welcome to another Grande year!

We chose gardening and growing things as the theme of the January issue because we liked the metaphor of a garden for the start of the new year, the careful planting and tending, weeding and harvesting we perform in our lives, whether or not we also have a literal garden.

I’m not much of a real-world gardener: The small backyard of my north Del Rio apartment has mostly aloes, which I rescued from the home of a friend who no longer wanted them, a mulberry tree and a handful of hackberry trees, randomly sown by birds.

But my mother is another type of gardener entirely. She grows an amazing number of crops for the table, from tomatoes to onions to beans to carrots and a variety of herbs, in her large backyard in Fargo, N.D. Her real pride and joy are the fruit trees and berry bushes she has planted and cared for over the years. At most recent count, she has a cherry tree and five apple trees, as well as gooseberry and black currant bushes.

It was in my mother’s garden where, as a child, I began to learn to look at beautiful things because Mama would point them out to me: a flower in full and glorious bloom, butterflies with wings like jewels, an unfamiliar bird. It was Mama who ignited the love of nature in my heart, a flame that has burned brightly ever since.

Our January issue is chock-full of Del Rio’s own gardeners and gardens.

Rubén Cantú checks in on the Del Rio Community Garden to see how it has grown.

Brian Argabright visited with Enrique Galvan, owner of the Little Acre Nursery, who with funding from H-E-B and the city, and help from the Del Rio Parks Foundation, created the Amistad Urban Oasis in front of the civic center for the entire community to enjoy.

I talked with Nataly Owens-Sanchez, who has created a garden just for butterflies and hummingbirds and to Judy Bishop, whose orchids are breathtaking.

We’ve also got a great orange cake recipe, a cocktail and do-ityourself idea, as well as some picks to get you started on your own gardening adventure.

We hope you enjoy, and get growing in 2018!

Karen Gleason Grande Editor

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Wishing You a Healthy New Year!

Ensuring The Wellbeing of Your Health When You Need it.

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GRANDE / JANUARY 2018

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CONTENTS 8

CALENDAR Start the New Year off right at these historic, inspiring and social events.

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HISTORIC ACEQUIAS

JANUARY 2018 24

LAVENDER CHAMPAGNE TOAST A fragrant lavender-infused syrup amps up your New Year’s toasts.

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Irrigation canals watered the farms that founded Del Rio.

A GRANDE LIFE: VALORIE WILEY

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Hard times and hard work have helped this steel magnolia bloom.

COMMUNITY GARDEN Delicious, organic produce is only part of the mission of the Del Rio Community Garden.

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DIY: EGG CARTON GARDEN Start your very own herb, vegetable or flower garden with this easy do-it-yourself project.

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INVITING NATURE Hummingbirds and butterflies find a haven in Nataly Owens-Sanchez’s garden

On the cover:

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ORANGE CAKE A surprising hint of rosemary flavors this sweet and luscious orange creation.

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GARDEN FRESH PRINTS Fun florals for every occasion.

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GRACIE’S FINDS An antiquing couple brings uncommon finds to new downtown shop.

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OUT THERE Langtry Cactus Garden introduces visitors to prickly plants adapted for desert survival.

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GRANDE GARDEN PICKS Get your garden started with the help of these fresh finds from local stores.

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BISHOP’S BEAUTIES A former teacher and Air Force wife shows off a bevy of exotic orchids.

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LANDSCAPE ARTIST Little Acre Nursery owner Enrique Galvan shares his love of landscape.

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LAST LOOK Our creative director gift wraps this issue.

Clarissa Rosales is an 18-year-old senior at Del Rio High School. Rosales said she loves being with her friends, but also enjoys playing volleyball for the DRHS Queens. Rosales said she hopes to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio with an eye on teaching or coaching.

Here, she shows off some of vegetables that Rafael Flores grows in his Armpit of Texas garden in central Del Rio. Since the cover was shot in the middle of winter, we used H-E-B veggies to stand in for Flores’. Photo by Karen Gleason.

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Home Possible ® Program T H E PAT T O N G R O U P

JANUARY CALENDAR

Keep busy this month at these fun local events.

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FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Downtown, Brown Plaza Casa De La Cultura, the Firehouse Gallery and the Falcon Art Gallery participate in this monthly art appreciation event. Start at one and work your way through the heart of Del Rio, viewing local art along your journey.

Call To Learn More!

469.917.5315

11-13

VAL VERDE JUNIOR 4-H LIVESTOCK SHOW AND BBQ

Val Verde County Fairgrounds A community tradition since 1941, the livestock show and auction showcases local 4-H youth who raise animals, including rabbits, goats, lambs and swine.

Awards take place Saturday at 1:30 p.m. with the auction to follow.

13- Feb. 9 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS Movement exhibit during business hours at the Whitehead Memorial Museum.

Part of the Humanities Texas Exhibition Series, this exhibit showcases Martin Luther King Jr. and his fight for civil rights.

COFFEE MAKING

10 a.m. to Noon Del Rio Community Garden Part of the Del Rio Parks Foundation’s educational series, Branelli Coffee Company owner and roaster Natalie Granatelli teaches you the coffee roasting basics and how to brew the perfect cup of joe.

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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MIXER

5 p.m.

Ram Country Bump elbows with Del Rio’s business leaders and learn what’s new in the local commerce community.

Current and prospective members welcome.

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We’d love to see you in Grande!

DECEMBER 2017

NOVEMBER 2017

TROPHY TIME Taxidermist preserves memories of the hunt

POSADA Del Rioans reenact the story of Christmas

CHRISTMAS CASA A local homeowner decks her halls with seasonal spirit

DECEMBER 2017 $3.99

LOCAL GIFT GUIDE

OASIS FOR EXOTICS Rare species thrive on Indianhead Ranch

Happy Holidays!

GRANDE / DECEMBER 2017

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Former Del Rioan designs posh poolside fashion

BEHIND THE WHEEL COSPLAY CRAZE

‘63 Chevy Impala is a summer spectacle

Del Rioans channel their inner superheroes

LEARN ABOUT LUPITA

ARTFUL LIFE

Meet the Casa’s charismatic director

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON Four Del Rio sons follow in their fathers’ footsteps

PICTURE PERFECT

Visit the studios of the area’s top artists

Unique holiday gifts made here in Del Rio

NOVEMBER 2017 $3.99

MONARCH MADNESS

The Hunting Issue GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

Magical migration passes through the Queen City

OCTOBER 2017

1

JUNE 2017

STUNNING SWIMWEAR

GLOBETROTTING GUIDE Del Rio’s Tino Pruneda hunts around the world

AUGUST 2017

OCTOBER 2017

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4-H photogs give us their best shots

Autumn’s Arts GRANDE / OCTOBER 2017

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HEIRLOOM HOME Stidham house revamp honors family legacy

AUGUST 2017

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JUNE 2017

Summer on the San Felipe GRANDE / AUGUST 2017

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Hooray For Dads!

GRANDE / JUNE 2017

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We are looking for men and women to model in future issues of the magazine.

If you are interested, send photos and contact information to Megan Tackett at the following email: megan.tackett@delrionewsherald.com or call 830-775-1551.

For story and photo ideas, email Karen Gleason at the following: karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com

GRANDE / JANUARY 2018

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History

Historic Acequias Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

A portion of the Madre Ditch carries water from the San Felipe Springs south through Moore Park just downstream of the Blue Hole Dam.

N

o one is really sure what the area around Del Rio looked like when the first humans walked across the landscape we now call home, and few accounts remain of how the area looked when the first Europeans – Spanish explorers – visited.

Similarly, there are not many written records describing the area as it appeared when the first Mexicans and Anglos settled here.

What is certain is that the clear, cool, waters of the San Felipe Springs and the corresponding San Felipe Creek were irresistible enticements in an otherwise parched and arid landscape.

It wasn’t until the recent past, the mid- to late 1800s, that settlers began to engineer manmade rivers, irrigation canals, which here on the border are called “acequias,” to use the water of

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the springs and creek to irrigate tracts of agricultural land.

The canal system that arose became the foundation and lifeblood for the farms and gardens just north of the Rio Grande in the area now considered far south Del Rio, and so it is no stretch to say that the acequias watered the foundation of what was to become Del Rio. Darrell Davis has been the superintendent of the San Felipe Agricultural, Manufacturing & Irrigation Co., which operates and maintains the canal system of south Del Rio, since 2003.

“I interact with the customers and run the business. We have two full-time employees that are devoted mostly to cleaning the canals and setting the gates to regulate the flow of water. When we cut the system off, usually before Christmas,

we don’t start up again until the middle of March, and during that time, we do repairs and maintenance,” Davis said.

Irrigation is provided from the middle of March until just past the middle of December.

Davis recently took some time to talk with Grande about the city’s canals and their history.

“There were very few people living here in the mid- to late-1800s, at least very few Anglos, and I wish we had a better history of who was here, and then these folks came in that were farmers, real estate developers, land speculators, and they purchased some property here and built the two dams across the San Felipe Creek – the Blue Hole Dam, which is in Moore Park, and the Tardy Dam. “They built the two dams, and they built the canal system and started irrigating

An irrigation canal just downstream of the Tardy Dam off Johnson Street.

The gates on the canal, seen at the bottom of the photo, are used to control the flow of water.

A Texas Historical Commission marker, located at the corner of Griner and Losoya streets, informs visitors about the history of the city’s extensive irrigation canal system, created in the mid- to late 1800s.

property. At that point in time, there was very little development in this part of the state, and there wasn’t much interest for people to come here. The work these men did encouraged the development and settlement of this area, because now people could buy a tract of land that could be irrigated. It gave people a reason to come here and buy property,” Davis said.

“Keep in mind that this system was here before Val Verde County was organized. This was part of Kinney County at that time, and Kinney County had only recently been organized. Kinney County did not even have a courthouse, because none of the company’s records were kept at Kinney County originally. All Kinney County records were kept in Uvalde County. So the very first records and documents pertaining to the irrigation company were kept in Uvalde County,” Davis said.

The canal builders were pioneers in the truest sense of the word, taming a wild and unsettled country with little to recommend it but

A gate on a portion of the canal system near the intersection of Mills and Canal streets in south Del Rio. From this point, the canal ducks under the city’s streets, flowing along the north side of Canal Street, under Pecan and South Main and west to Griner Street, where it re-emerges.

The Tardy Dam, on the right side of the photo, is one of two dams on the San Felipe Creek commissioned by the San Felipe Agricultural, Manufacturing & Irrigation Co. The other is at the Blue Hole.

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Darrell Davis has served as the superintendent of the San Felipe Agricultural, Manufacturing & Irrigation Co. since 2003. Here, he poses by the Tardy Dam.

that lovely series of springs that produced – and continue to produce – some of the best and most reliable water in the state.

Davis said he is unsure of exactly how the canals were built.

“I know this much – they were all built by horse and mule and human power, because I’m very sure they didn’t have any Caterpillar tractors or backhoes or bulldozers,” he said with a laugh.

Former State District Judge Brian Montagu wrote a history of the S.F.A.M.&I., and he wrote, “The earliest known record with respect to the organization of that which is now the San Felipe Agricultural, Manufacturing & Irrigation Company is found in Volume One of the minutes owned by the company. That record discloses a meeting of the shareholders of “The San Felipe Agricultural Company” on April 27, 1871. The members present were A.O. Strickland, Randolph Pafford, Joseph Ney, W. C. Adams and Jas. (James) H. Taylor.”

“Jas. H. Taylor was appointed ‘ditch commissioner’ to supervise operations at the munificent salary of $15 per month,”

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Montagu noted.

He recounts how one of the company’s founders, Strickland, “was killed by the Indians a short time after 1871,” though Davis said it is unclear if Strickland was here when he was killed or if he was in some western part of the state.

Today, more than 140 years after the company’s first meeting, the canals still provide water to thirsty land in south Del Rio, but there have been major changes over the years.

“Obviously, the biggest change, even in our lifetimes, is that there has been less agricultural acreage, farm acreage, and more of it has been turned into housing developments. So today a lot of our water goes to irrigate lawns that are adjacent to the canals. They can purchase an irrigation contract, just like anybody can who has a field, to water their yards,” Davis said.

The company currently has slightly more than 100 customers.

Changes have also occurred in how the company is run.

“The company was first run by those original stockholders, speculators,

farmers and through the years, when they would sell land, a lot of times people who bought land would also buy some shares in the company because they wanted some input as to how things were run,” Davis said.

He noted that in the 1930s, the Moody family and later, the Moody Foundation, acquired a significant amount of property between Del Rio and the Rio Grande and ended up becoming the majority stockholders in the S.F.A.M.&I Co. “In the 1980s, they owned the majority of the stock, so they pretty much ran the company the way they wanted to, although there were still some other stockholders, but they owned a controlling interest. Then they decided they would divest themselves of the canal company, as it was no longer a profitable enterprise for them, so they approached a group of businessmen here in Del Rio and said, ‘If you will form a nonprofit foundation, we will give you all of our shares in the canal company and we will also give you some of the property that we own in Del Rio, between Del Rio and the Rio Grande and

A gate on the Blue Hole Dam, looking south toward the Madre Ditch. The water impounded by the dam is a popular Del Rio swimming spot during the hot summer months.

you can use that property, the proceeds from the sale of that property, to subsidize the canal company, to build a trust fund that can be used to subsidize the canal company,’” Davis said.

He added, “So that was originally called the Del Rio Community Foundation, and the name has since been changed to the Val Verde Community Foundation. To make a long story short, today the foundation owns 100 percent of the stock in the canal company. The foundation has its own board of directors. They appoint members to the board of the canal company, so we’re talking about two different entities, one being the sole stockholder of the other, and two different boards of directors.”

Davis said the canal company still faces a number of challenges.

“Immediate challenges that we face on a regular basis include running a canal system in an urban environment because the canals run right through the south part of Del Rio, under streets, and one of the biggest problems is that we’re in a semiarid environment, and the largest trees in our community are on the creek and along

the canals,” Davis noting, that leaves and limbs from those trees often end up in the canals.

“Then you have this urban development.

You have a lot of natural debris that gets in the canals, like tree limbs, but unfortunately some people and their yard workers will rake up their leaves and when nobody’s looking, they throw them in the canal,” he said.

“I have people call me and say, ‘Your canal’s stopped up, and it’s overflowing, and your men aren’t doing their jobs.’ But my men work and clean stuff up, and they can go right down a canal and clean it, and people pile tree limbs and leaves close to the canal right after they come by and that stuff ends up in the ditch,” Davis said.

“Stuff gets thrown in the ditch daily.”

There are 15 miles of irrigation canals in south Del Rio, and the canals have names: The Madre, or Mother, Ditch, the old and new San Felipe Ditches, the Conception and the St. Mary’s.

“One thing that is important to this community that’s related to the canal system is that trust fund that I was talking

about. Most of that land has been sold . . . and that was the original intent, to spread those sales out over a period of time, over years, and then that money goes into that trust fund, and the corpus of that fund cannot be spent,” Davis said.

“Only 90 percent of the income from that fund can be spend. The corpus of the fund can’t be spent, and 10 percent of what it earns on an annual basis can’t be spent.

It has to be reinvested. Then 90 percent of what it earns can be used to subsidize the canal company, which it does, and if there are adequate funds left over after that primary goal has been met, then those funds can be used to make grants to 501(c) (3) organizations in our community,” he added.

“The Del Rio Council for the Arts, the Shumla School, the Casa De La Cultura, the Upstagers theater group and many others have been recipients of grants over the years,” Davis said.

“Typically, the foundation has been able to make total grants of $70,000 to $100,000 a year, and that’s divided up among several organizations,” he added. •

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Growing a Community Story and photos by RUBÉN CANTÚ

Alixia Castillon is ready to try a locally grown plant of broccoli, including florets, stem and even the leaves.

Located in the heart of historic San Felipe, the Del Rio Community Garden has become an oasis for those growing their own produce

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D

eveloped in a lot otherwise condemned to remain vacant due to floodplain rules and regulations, the Del Rio Community Garden has become an oasis for produce lovers who enjoy learning about gardening and for those who want to stay in touch with Mother Nature.

This initiative, started by Del Rio Parks Foundation President Laura Gill and a group of volunteers, is bearing fruit on more than one front, bringing people together working for a common cause, teaching children about fruits and vegetables, and helping parents and

grown-ups who want to live a healthier lifestyle.

Per Federal Emergency Management Agency regulations, this tract of land – located in the floodplain – cannot be utilized to build any kind of permanent structure.

The hard caliche ground doesn’t seem adequate to support any kind of produce, but somehow these gardening enthusiasts have managed to grow all kinds of crops including corn, cucumber, potato, squash, broccoli, peas, cauliflower, lettuce, different varieties of tomato, carrots, even a pineapple.

Maria Onofre-Silva, one of the lead volunteers

of the garden, said they filled some of the garden beds with organic compost and wood chips. “That’s all we used, the woodchips have been breaking down, and that is enough to grow these crops,” she said.

The garden is open to anyone and everyone and not just for learning: It is also open for socials and gettogethers like receptions, birthday parties, etc. Members of the public pay a small fee, which goes back to improving the garden and other projects.

The garden has become a teaching site, where anyone can learn the type of crops that grow in Del Rio, what doesn’t grow here, when to plant it and when would be a good time to harvest your crops.

“It is a learning experience for many because lots of people that come to Del Rio come from different places, and they don’t know what kind of crops they can grow

here,” said Onofre-Silva.

“I tell them that we are in a vortex, where two different kinds of climate converge, so we can go pretty much all year round. The

possibilities are limitless,” she said.

Onofre-Silva said that the Gulf weather extends its area of influence to Del Rio,

and the other component of the vortex is the northeastern zone.

Monica Salazar, vice president of the Del Rio Community Garden, said that all work done on the site is volunteer-based, and that not necessarily all involved perform gardening-related tasks.

“We have a group of about 60 volunteers on and off, and all of them help depending upon their abilities. We have some who have helped us to put the benches together, other ones helped with the garden beds, irrigation. The Boy Scouts have also helped,” Salazar said.

The garden and its volunteers often receive groups of children eager to learn new skills. Volunteers also take the class to some elementary schools and develop gardening projects in those schools.

“We have day cares coming in, anybody

Monica Salazar removes dead leaves and branches from a plant in one of the garden beds at the Del Rio Community Garden.

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Maria Onofre-Silva shows a dead grasshopper to a potential future volunteer.

Organic matter is left in the garden beds to compost and feed the crops.

who wants to learn about gardening can request a class on site or come to the community garden,” said Onofre-Silva.

Those visiting the garden include moms with finicky children who refuse to try vegetables. “But when they learn how to grow them, when they feel the texture, by the end of the season they may be willing to try it because it is theirs,” Onofre-Silva said.

Salazar said that the garden is also working with the local hospital to develop an initiative for the children, but that is a project still in the making.

Garden volunteers meet and work year round, twice a month for their work days and once a month to hold a farmers market.

Proceeds from the farmers market benefit the community garden.

Salazar said that the garden is currently holding an education series, with an average of three classes per month intended for children, parents and grown-ups in general.

Garden volunteers also meet on Monday mornings, from 10 a.m. until noon for morning socials. Mothers and their children including toddlers and babies, grandmothers, and even a couple of stay-at-home dads attend the socials on a regular basis, to share their experiences and to keep the gardening tradition not only alive, but flourishing. •

A small carrot grown in the Del Rio Community Garden.

Alixia Castillon learns about broccoli plants from Del Rio Community Garden volunteer Maria Onofre-Silva.

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DIY

Egg Carton Garden Story and photo by ADRIANA IBARRA

With spring just around the corner, it is the perfect time to start gardening.

Whether you live in a large house or a small apartment, everyone can enjoy the simple pleasure of watching seedlings grow into strong and healthy plants.

What you’ll need: • 1 egg carton of your size and choosing

Method: • To begin, cut and remove the top of your egg carton. Set aside.

• Poke a small hole in the bottom of each dimple, the area where the egg is held, so the water can drain. (optional)

• 1 pair of scissors

• Place the smooth surface underneath the carton so the water does not go everywhere. (optional)

• 1-3 packs of seeds (in different varieties)

• Prepare the soil and arrange it into the dimples of the egg carton. Leave some room at the top for the next step.

• Soil • Water

• Make an indentation in the soil to fit 3-4 seeds. Try to leave some space at the bottom between the soil and the egg carton so the roots have room to take hold.

• Cover the seeds with soil and water.

• Remember to only water when the soil is no longer moist to avoid overwatering.

• After the seedlings have sprouted, gently transfer them to larger containers so they may thrive.

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GRANDE / JANUARY 2018

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Nataly Owens-Sanchez in her north Del Rio garden, part of which she has dedicated to plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Inviting Nature Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

N

ataly Owens-Sanchez said the idea of creating a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies came to her one day while she was doing the dishes.

“You’re standing there, and all you’re looking at is this dank darkness, so I talked to my husband Richard and asked him, ‘What can I put over here so I can see it when I look out?” And he told me, ‘Why not put another garden?’”

Owens-Sanchez was already an experienced gardener when she decided

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to create the butterfly and hummingbird garden. She and her husband had spent several years converting a portion of the back yard of their home in north Del Rio into a productive vegetable garden.

But one area, a narrow swath on the south side of their home, had been overlooked in the transformation.

“When we first moved in, that area along the house was just gross, a complete dead zone. Nobody went there,” she said.

“I just wanted to see something pretty,” Owens-Sanchez said, adding that

because of the way the sun moves over her property, there would not have been enough light in that area for growing vegetables.

Owens-Sanchez, who has a bachelor’s degree in biology, said she also wanted to plant “something that would help the environment.”

“My friend down the road was telling me about her hummingbirds and how they just swarm her patio because she puts out sugar water for them, and I thought instead of doing that, why don’t I

A Western Tiger Swallowtail sips nectar from a flower in a south Del Rio garden.

Below left, a Queen butterfly on a wild sunflower. Below right, a Pipevine Swallowtail on a wild sunflower.

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just plant a garden for them?

So that’s what I did,” she said.

“The first thing I did was to find out what types of hummingbirds we had in our area because it wouldn’t do any good to plant flowers that attract species of hummingbirds we don’t get, so, mostly what I’ve seen is Black-chinned Hummingbirds, although during migration I have seen other types,” Owens-Sanchez said.

She then researched the types of plants that would draw in Black-chinned Hummingbirds.

Owens-Sanchez said several species of climbing vines have been most successful in her efforts to attract hummingbirds to her garden, including morning glories and Spanish flag.

Another extremely successful flowering plant has been salvia, whose deep red, trumpet-shaped blooms attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

“It really just grows wherever you put it,” she said. “That is one of the main plants the hummingbirds come to, so I’ve planted it at various places throughout the garden.”

Owens-Sanchez said she had also read that Monarch butterflies are declining throughout their range and wanted to plant flowers to help them, as she knew their migration to their wintering grounds in Mexico carried them through Del Rio every

fall.

“So I dedicated a little area of the garden to butterflies. I planted fennel and dill and let it go to flower,” she said.

One year, she said, she had at least 20 Monarch butterfly caterpillars on her plants.

“I was overjoyed. They were so beautiful. I was overjoyed. Then one Saturday morning I went out there and grackles had eaten all of them. I just cried. I thought they were poisonous, that birds wouldn’t eat them. But it turns out the Monarchs become toxic because their caterpillars eat milkweed.”

Owens-Sanchez became a dedicated collector of milkweed seeds wherever she found them and now grows that Monarch-attracting plant in her yard as well.

Owens-Sanchez said a key to the success of both her vegetable and hummingbird gardens has been her garden journal.

“It’s kept me grounded, and anything that I see that’s important, I put it in the journal, for instance, my contacts, people I talk to, like my dirt suppliers or people I call for advice. I also read a lot of college research papers, and I write down words I don’t know, words that pop up a lot,” Owens-Sanchez said.

She also said one of the most important functions of her journal is as a record of cost – the money she spends on gardening-related items. •

A Southern Dogface butterfly visits the deep red flowers of a blooming salvia in the garden of Nataly Owens-Sanchez. A brilliant red hibiscus turns its face toward the sun in Nataly Owens-Sanchez’s butterfly and hummingbird garden.

Opposite, clockwise from top left, Gray Hairstreak, Red Admiral, Queen, female Black-chinned Hummingbird, Buckeye, Painted Lady, male Rubythroated Hummingbird (photo contributed by Doris Feathers) and Theona Checkerspot.

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New Year’s Eve is a night to spend with friends and family while sharing memories and welcoming the possibilities of the coming year. Add some herbal goodness to your midnight toast with an infusion of lavender simple syrup and a zing of citrus. Use your leftover syrup for coffee and cooking. Here’s to the 2018!

Ingredients: Sugar Water Lavender Champagne An orange or lemon

Lavender Champagne Toast Story by Megan Tackett Photo by Karen Gleason

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Method: Add equal parts water and sugar to a saucepan. Throw in a handful of lavender from your herb garden and heat over a stovetop at medium temperature.

Simmer until syrup becomes fragrant, about 10 minutes.

Move syrup to a covered container and refrigerate until cool.

At toast time, add about a tablespoon of syrup to each champagne flute and top with champagne.

Garnish with citrus twist and lavender sprig. Cheers and enjoy!

Hope your New Year’s Eve is a blast, and may peace, love, friendship and prosperity light up each day of 2018.

Thank you for brightening our year with your visits!

GRANDE / JANUARY 2018

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A Grande Life: Valorie Wiley Story and photo by ADRIANA IBARRA

B

uilding a life is like building a house. A good house has a strong foundation, sturdy walls and sometimes, even a happy family inside. And much like a house, a life can be demolished either by catastrophic events or by one’s own choosing. Rebuilding may seem an insurmountable difficulty, but no challenge is so great that it cannot be overcome by hard work and perseverance.

One Del Rioan has proven to herself and others just how true those words are. Her name is Valorie Wiley and she works as a specialty assistant store manager at a local home improvement store.

Throughout her life, Wiley has come face to face with conflicts and triumphs that molded her into the woman she is today.

Like others she fell in love and started her family, but 23 years after she said “I do”, her entire life changed. With the end of her marriage through divorce, Wiley said she was left with no sense of who she was as a person. “ For years I was nothing but a wife and a mother,” she said.

Even with everything falling apart she knew she had to stay strong, pick up the pieces, and rebuild. A journey of self-discovery and forgiveness made her a brand new person. “I had to learn to let things go and that changed my life,” she said.

With her teenage daughter looking to her for guidance, Wiley went on to earn two degrees online at 45 years old. “My daughter watches everything I do and I wanted to show her how to be strong just like my mother had shown me,” she said. Even when that meant being up at 2 a.m. finishing papers, she soldiered through all of it out of sheer willpower.

She earned degrees in business management and human resources. With her degrees, Wiley began work at The Home Depot where she got promoted to specialty assistant store manager.

Through The Home Depot, Wiley built homes for those in need with Habitat for Humanity. “My favorite time to be there is during the wall raisings, all of the hard work is realized and the people moving in can see how their homes will look,” she said.

At work she sees how her mentoring and advice changes an employee’s outlook on the workplace. “I go into work thinking about what I can do to make a difference with customers and our employees,” she said. With some positive reinforcement, they go from shy to friendly and outgoing. “I love seeing them bloom into better employees and I am proud of their growth, it’s very rewarding to see them really shine,” she said.

Outside of work, Wiley pictures herself looking back on all she has accomplished in her life and the lessons she has learned, “ The person I am today is because I went through the hard times in life and I wouldn’t change a thing,” Wiley said. • Editors Note: This month, we’re introducing “A Grande Life,” showcasing the extraordinary lives of ordinary Del Rioans.

GRANDE / JANUARY 2018

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Orange Cake Story and photo by BONITA SANTILLAN

Ingredients for cake: • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons almond flour • 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour (with rising agents) • 2 oranges • 4 eggs • 1/4 cup olive oil • 1 cup white sugar • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon rosemary Ingredients for glaze: • 1 orange • 1/2 cup white sugar • 1/4 cup water • 1 teaspoon orange broth Directions for cake: • Place whole oranges into a saucepan of water and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 15 minutes. Drain and return oranges to pan with fresh water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 more minutes. Oranges should be soft. Cut into halves, along with rind, and remove any seeds. (Save the boiled orange broth for the glaze) • Preheat oven to 320ºF. Grease bundt or cake pan of choice.

• Place orange halves into food processor and blend until smooth.

• In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sugars until thickened. Add inO orange, flours, baking powder, oil and rosemary and gently combine.

• Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 45-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

R

osemary is one of those herbs you can use in a variety of foods: chicken, fish, sauces, Italian cuisines and … cakes? Yes. Combining fresh orange with the woodsy, citrus-like flavors of rosemary enhances both the earthy and citrus flavors of both ingredients.

I would have never thought to combine the two ingredients in a pastry, but travel really does expand your mind. A visit to Australia introduced me to this lovely dish where I tasted a gluten-free version of it at a local café in Northern Queensland. That’s when I knew I had to recreate this when I got back home to Texas.

This recipe uses fresh rosemary, which provides a more subtle flavor as opposed to using dried rosemary. The herb provides a number of benefits as do most herbs.

I’m no doctor, but rosemary is said to contain vitamins and minerals such as iron, potassium, fiber and an abundance of B vitamins, just to name a few.

When living with a gluten intolerance, your body is often deprived of vitamins and minerals — mostly B vitamins. So being able to provide your body with these vitamins through other foods other than breads and cereals, it is important to include these more often in your daily diet. Mother Nature always comes through. •

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Directions for glaze: • Squeeze orange juice into saucepan and mix in the sugar and water. Cook over low heat and stir for 5 minutes.

Glaze will thicken slightly but will still have a watery consistency.

• Remove from heat and add in orange broth saved from the boiled oranges. Set aside to cool.

• When cake pan is cool enough to touch, set cake onto desired display and drizzle the cooled glaze onto the cake.

Tip: You can also make the glaze ahead of time or while the cake is baking so that it will be cooled in time for drizzling.

For more recipes, visit my food and lifestyle blog at bonitappetit.com.

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May the NEW YEAR bring joy, peace & happiness to you & your entire family...

Thank you Del Rio for another great year. We look forward to serving you in 2018

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“Let us be the one you turn to.” *Spacious guest rooms *IHG Rewards loyalty program *24 hr Business Center *Outdoor Pool and Jacuzzi *Fitness Center *Complimentary wireless high-speed and Hardwired Internet access *Outdoor pool, whirlpool and fitness room *Complimentary Hot Express Start Breakfast

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To make your reservation: Call 1-800-HOLIDAY Or 830-488-6280

Holiday Inn Express

2410 Bedell Ave • Del Rio, Tx 78840 www.hiexpress.com/delriotexas GRANDE / JANUARY 2018

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Garden Fresh Prints Winter florals for every occasion

Clarissa plays loteria while wearing an Oakland floral tee and pink Miramar skirt.

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Fashions provided by Bee Trendy Boutique Photos by Karen Gleason

Kaylah holds a lavender plant in an orange Tustin tunic and a floral Ventura skirt.

Sadie sports a Bradbury floral dress and a pink Glendora cardigan.

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Kaylah plays loteria in a green California tunic and floral Miramar skirt.

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Clarissa smiles in a blue Torrance tee.

Sadie shows off her loteria cards in an Auburn floral dress.

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Unique Antique

Gracie’s Finds Story and photos by MEGAN TACKETT

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An antiquing couple brings curious finds to their downtown shop

T

ucked away in the heart of Del Rio’s historic downtown district is a store with eclectic antique treasures, some that predate the city itself.

Gracie and John Lissner, owners of Gracie’s Finds at 630 South Main St., find joy in bringing their customers one-of-a-kind collectibles, furniture and home décor from regional estate sales and auctions.

When they receive a chair, dresser or desk that’s not quite in sellable condition, but salvageable enough for repair, Gracie gives the piece new life with a fresh coat of chalk paint, a technique that’s both affordable for the Lissners and

“I realize that some stuff won’t sell right away but they make the store more interesting”

appealing to buyers.

“People are fascinated with it,” John said. “Sometimes it’s easier to sell than actual antiques.”

At a recent auction, the Lissners accumulated four Russian imports: a pommel horse, an 8-foot long sled, a dough trough and a cobbler’s bench. While some shoppers might find these items eccentric, the Lissners know the perfect owner will eventually walk through the door.

“I realize that some stuff won’t sell right away but they make the store more interesting,” John said.

A large wooden carousel horse is one of the intriguing pieces shoppers can discover at Gracie’s Finds, located downtown at 630 S. Main St.

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“They’re conversion pieces that will sit for a while because not everybody needs it but somebody will come along that just has to have it.”

The Lissners recently bought out a former Del Rio antique dealer, Jim Oden, who moved overseas and had to leave his vintage collectibles behind. The additional inventory brought a new dynamic to their shop, John said, which now features rare records and vintage movie posters.

One particularly intriguing collection brought in with Oden’s inventory is an assortment of miniature lead tanks, ships and trucks, that the military once used to strategize battles and attacks.

“They look like monopoly pieces,” John said. “But they were actually used in war planning.”

After buying out Oden, Gracie and John also acquired an international marble collection, some made of actual marble, others of glass and clay. Some marbles were regularly used in play while others were for show only.

The married pair of 25 years regularly adds new curiosities from both Del Rio sellers and international auctioneers. There’s always something new to discover at Gracie’s Finds. •

A vintage pair of brown leather baby shoes sits on a chalk-painted vanity with a delicate doily and ornamental flower.

At a recent auction, the Lissners accumulated four antique Russian imports: a pommel horse, an 8-foot long sled, a dough trough and a cobbler’s bench.

Oden’s inventory brought Gracie’s Finds an assortment of miniature lead tanks, ships and trucks, that the military once used to strategize battles and attacks.

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4218 Veterans Blvd, Del Rio,TX 78840 Cell Phone: 830.313.0106 www.rmontgomeryrealestate.com

GRANDE / JANUARY 2018

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Out There

Langtry Cactus Garden Story and photos by MEGAN TACKETT

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L

ANGTRYThe dilapidated buildings that mark Langtry’s eastern entrance don’t provide travelers much incentive to stop at the Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center and Cactus Garden. But these attractions that Langtry’s 13 residents consider their backyard are worth a stop on your Highway 90 journey, and even warrant a trip in and of itself.

The cactus garden contains 38 cactus species and 33 other plants inside its two acre landscape. Lee Hoy, the visitor center’s supervisor, says guests will experience a different garden each season, since many of the plants bloom at different times of the year.

“I encourage people to come at various times of year because different plants bloom at different times,” Hoy said. “A lot of people want to see cacti in bloom so they come out in April and May, but a lot of our cactus, especially the smaller species, bloom earlier in the year.”

One significant plant found in the garden, and abundantly throughout the region, is the Lechuguilla Agave, which grows exclusively in the Chihuahuan Desert. Early Pecos people used the plant’s woody stalks, Hoy said, for roofing, poles and fences.

“Lechuguilla is known as an indicator plant for the Chihuahuan Desert,” Hoy said. “It’s very sharp. Needless to say it’s pretty nasty if you step in it.”

Langtry serves as one of Red Yucca’s few native homes, Hoy said, although it’s

now commonly used for landscaping and has been introduced to other areas. The plant can grow up to eight feet tall and blooms vibrant large red flowers, which attract hummingbirds.

Many of the garden’s plants may appear dead or even disappear into the ground after a dry spell, Hoy said. When precipitation deprived, Hoy says the Scaly Cloak Fern loses much of its texture but can easily bounce back.

“With a little bit of moisture they’ll fill up and do just fine,” he said.

A particularly curious plant that resides in the cactus garden, Hoy said, is the Living Rock Cactus, which recedes into the ground during times of drought.

The cactus creates pinkish purple blooms in late October to early November, however, the cactus can take four to five years to grow the size of a quarter, he said.

“It’s one that a lot of people come here to look for,” Hoy said. “We put rock rings around it help people find it.”

Coming into its 50th year, the visitor center and cactus garden employees are looking forward to an exciting addition in the near future. Hoy said he is currently advocating to the Texas Department of Transportation, which operates the center, to construct a butterfly garden on the Judge Roy Bean Museum’s lawn. The garden, Hoy said, will feature flowering plants that attract varying butterfly species that travel through the region during their annual migrations. •

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Lee Hoy, the visitor center’s supervisor, says guests will experience a different garden each season, since many of the plants bloom at different times of the year.

Grow your own cactus garden: Tips from Hoy The Prickly Pear cactus is very easy to plant, Hoy says. It varies in size and shape depending on the species, and, due to a genetic mutation, some even grow without spines, he said. Prickly Pear pads can be broken off from one plant and easily planted in your garden, he said.

Tree Cholla is a great cactus that’s easy to grow for residential landscaping, Hoy says. It forms a branching, shrub-like appearance and provides security, habitat for wildlife and beautiful purple blooms, he said.

Claret Cup is another easy to grow cactus, Hoy said, and provides beautiful red blooms in the spring. It grows in low clumps and is readily found in most nurseries, he said.

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IF YOU GO TX-25 Loop and Torres Avenue, Langtry, Texas 78871 60 miles west of Del Rio on Highway 90 Regular Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day

GRANDE / JANUARY 2018

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Grande Garden Picks There’s no time like the present to grow your own garden.

Start now with these local finds and come spring, your garden will flourish with life.

Showcase your greenery in a few beautifully designed planting pots from Little Acre Nursery.

Want a garden come spring? Plant now!

Swing by Sutherlands and pick from a wide variety of Ferry-Morse flower or vegetable seeds.

Just like humans, many plants require daily hydration. Quench their thirst with these vibrantly colored aluminum watering cans from Russell’s True Value.

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Personalize your garden with a vibrant pop of color. Decorative dragonflies and other creatures found at Sutherlands.

No garden is complete without a bit of wildlife.

Grab this sunflower feeder and a bag of birdseed at Russell’s True Value and watch Del Rio’s diverse birds find their way to your home.

The first step of gardening is grabbing a good pair of gloves. Find Digz gardening gloves in a variety of prints at The Home Depot.

New to gardening? Succulents are the perfect low-maintenance start to testing out your green thumb. Affordable, resilient and available at The Home Depot.

Be a part of something Grande.

ASHLEY LOPEZ Advertising Director

ALBERT TREVINO Advertising Representative

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Contact any of our representatives to be a part of the Del Rio Grande!

830-775-1551

KIM DUPILL Advertising Representative

May you and your family have a joyous and prosperous New Year ahead!

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Bishop’s Beauties Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

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Y

ou don’t notice the orchids right away, which is a surprise, given their exotic, flamboyant blooms.

What you do notice the moment Judy Bishop leads you into the glassed-in porch at the rear of her home is the breathtaking view of the lapis lazuli expanse of Lake Amistad beyond the windows.

But the extraordinary setting provides the perfect backdrop for Bishop’s collection of Phaelaenopsis orchids.

Bishop, a retired teacher, smiles when asked about her love of the exotic plants, native to jungles in Asia on the other side of the world.

“I’m a farmer’s daughter and a schoolteacher,” she said. “I like to see growth.”

Bishop learned her love of green, growing things as a child in South Carolina.

“I lived on a farm, and we grew corn, tobacco and cotton. I was my father’s right hand man because I was the oldest, so I learned an awful lot about growing plants,” Bishop said.

“My mother liked to arrange flowers, but that’s not what I like to do. I like to grow. For instance, I have a fern outside – that needs to be repotted desperately, by the way – my grandmother gave it to me. My mother and grandmother took care of it when we went to the Philippines, and I have had a piece of that fern growing for more than 50 years,” she said.

Bishop said she first fell in love with exotic orchids when she

The clear blue waters of Lake Amistad and the green of Judy and Bob Bishop’s lake side back yard provide a perfect backdrop for this blooming Phaelaenopsis orchid, one of 22 orchid plants the Bishops tend.

Judy Bishop, retired teacher and an Air Force wife for 27 years, relaxes in her home near Lake Amistad. Bishop said she fell in love with orchids when she accompanied her husband Bob when he was stationed in the Philippines.

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Judy Bishop tends one of her 22 orchid plants, which are placed near the back porch of her home at Lake Amistad. She said she has learned that orchids love the light, though not direct sunlight.

Cultivation and cross-breeding of Phaelaenopsis orchids have resulted in a variety of stunning cultivars, like this beauty.

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lived in the Philippines. Bishop said the Air Force sent her husband, Bob, to the islands, and she accompanied him.

“I didn’t have them in the house there, they were growing in the yard,” she said.

“That’s where I first fell in love with them. I just knew I had to have them. I mean, they’re gorgeous, but I had no idea how easy they are to grow.”

Bishop was an Air Force wife for 27 years.

“You know what? The first orchid I ever had was about 25 years ago, in my house in San Antonio, and they did not rebloom there. I guess I just didn’t have the light. We moved to Del Rio 20 years ago, and I put my orchids out here, when this was a screenedin porch. They rebloomed here, and I was hooked,” she said.

“These are plants that need light. Not direct light. In the summer out here, I have to pull the shades in the afternoon,” she said.

Bishop currently cares for a total of 22 orchids, all of them of a species called Phaelaenopsis.

“I’ve tried different kinds of orchids. The Dendrobiums and the Phaelaenopsis do well here,” she said.

Bishop noted that orchid plants can live a long time “if you take care of them.”

“I did lots of research when we moved down here, and I also started buying more orchids. I buy them pretty much anywhere – H-E-B, The Home Depot, Lowe’s in San Antonio, Sam’s and Costco, nurseries,” Bishop said.

She said she does not buy orchids online because she does not like the way they are shipped.

“After they bloom, I’ll take all of them downstairs and repot them. I’m one of those fortunate people who have a place downstairs to work, so I can repot, and that’s what I love, the dirty work. I like to get my hands in the dirt every day,” Bishop said.

“I think that’s why I went into teaching, too,” she added.

Bishop began teaching in 1965, teaching business education until she married Bob. “Then we started moving, and there were more jobs available in English, so I started teaching English in the Philippines in 1970, and I taught English until I retired in 2007,” she said.

“I enjoy and appreciate seeing growth.

It doesn’t really matter what kind of growth, if it’s growth in one’s ability to write or seeing my orchids rebloom and making that happen by taking care of them,” Bishop said.

Bishop also loves another type of plant – Christmas cactus.

“My grandmother was instrumental in getting me started with Christmas cactus.

She simply loved them, and once I started growing them, well, I can’t help it. In the spring, every two or three years I break off pieces and root them in a dish pan, and start new plants so that I can keep all of them going. I love the different colors,” she said.

Bishop also noted having plants in the house is healthy.

“I believe orchids help with headaches,” she said. “I do not have a room in this house that does not have a plant in it. It makes the floor dirty, but it makes the air clean.”

“Plants also calm people down and relieve them of stress,” Bishop said.

“Plants are necessary for my life. I simply could not live in a place without plants.” •

At left, clockwise from top left, Christmas cactus, which can bloom in a variety of colors including deep red, white, pink, purple, yellow and peach, are another one of Judy Bishop’s favorite plants. Bishop said her grandmother introduced her to the Brazilian cactus.

• Phaelaenopsis orchids, like this stunning cultivar in Judy Bishop’s collection, can have blooms that last months, if they are properly cared for.

• Often the most colorful feature of an orchid is its “throat” and “lip.” In this lightly veined white Phaelaenopsis, the lip is a velvety reddish-purple, while its throat is red and purple with purple spots.

• Also called moth orchids because their side petals resemble the wings of moths, Phaelaenopsis orchids are native to southeast Asia.

• Phaelaenopsis orchids like these can be purchased in a variety of shops. Judy Bishop said she has purchased orchid plants from H-E-B, The Home Depot, Sam’s Choice, Costco and Lowe’s.

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Landscape Artist Story and photos by BRIAN ARGABRIGHT

Little Acre Nursery’s Enrique Galvan says that every project his company handles is different. This particular client wanted to incorporate a water feature into a landscape renovation.

W

here you or I see a lot full of dirt and rocks, Enrique Galvan sees a canvas on which to create his latest masterpiece.

The owner of Little Acre Nursery has been doing his part to beautify Del Rio and the surrounding area, one project at a time, for more than two decades.

Little Acre Nursery has been a part of Del Rio longer than it’s been a part of Galvan’s life. Most people remember its humble beginnings as a small nursery, complete with greenhouse, on the corner of Pecan and Greenwood streets in downtown Del Rio.

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In 1994, Galvan purchased the business. Landscaping wasn’t Galvan’s original love. He went to college in Mexico and worked toward a degree in business administration with an eye on becoming a certified public accountant.

When he came to the United States, Galvan moved to Austin and worked for a wholesale nursery in the Oak Hill suburb of the state’s capital.

“I started from scratch there. I did everything … helped build greenhouses, installed watering, heaters, whatever was needed,” Galvan said.

Little Acre Nursery’s Enrique Galvan said there are unique challenges to every project overseen by his company, but he said the challenge is just part of the joy he gets from his work.

In 1994, Galvan decided to purchase Little Acre and bring what he had learned to Del Rio. “I saw an opportunity to buy it and did so. That was 23 years ago. We stayed there for about a year and a half before moving to 3708 Veterans Blvd. A few years later, we moved to where we are now and we’ve been at this three-acre facility ever since,” Galvan said. “I was able to grow this business to what it is today – the biggest nursery in this area.”

Little Acre may be a Del Rio tradition, but the work Galvan and his crew do isn’t limited to just this city. They’ve also done work for businesses and entities in Eagle Pass, Uvalde and Carrizo Springs.

“Word of mouth helps our business grow, and we receive calls from a variety of companies who want to work with us,” Galvan said.

Chances are you pass by Galvan’s work every day. Some of Little Acre’s clients have included the United States Border Patrol, Stripes, the San Felipe Del Rio CISD, Walmart and Val Verde Regional Medical Center. His work can be seen at nearly every housing complex in Del Rio, several local schools and school district buildings, private businesses and Laughlin Air Force Base.

“We’ve done 40 to 45 percent of the landscaping at buildings at Laughlin as well as the golf course,” Galvan said. “In town, we’ve done most of the commercial properties and about 60 percent of the houses around Del Rio.” Photos around Galvan’s office, which features dozens of certifications, layouts of completed projects and projects to come, as well as photos of Galvan and his family, depict some of his most memorable projects.

One photo shows a massive tree dangling from a crane. It’s a reminder of a project in which Galvan and his team were tasked with transplanting several large trees to make way for a new runway at Laughlin. It took six weeks and

Little Acre Nursery owner Enrique Galvan takes a break during work on the H-E-B Amistad Urban Oasis.

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Chances are you drive past one of Enrique Galvan’s designs each day. This was the landscaping work as Starbucks was taking shape.

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hours and hours of manpower, heavy equipment and plenty of shovels to transplant the trees, roots and all.

Another photo showcases Galvan’s latest masterpiece – the Amistad Urban Oasis in front of the Del Rio Civic Center.

It was a labor of love for him, the Del Rio Parks Foundation and the city of Del Rio. Galvan said it’s one of his all-time favorite projects not only because of how it turned out, but of what it meant to him and his team.

“I like to create. When you start something like the civic center job it’s definitely something different.

You go out there and start moving dirt and you start creating something beautiful. It’s not the biggest project we’ve ever done, but it’s one of the nicest layouts,” Galvan said. “The project received a lot of criticism from people, but in the end it showed you can create something beautiful using local resources and local people. It’s a beautiful representation of Del Rio, and I appreciate the opportunity that was given to us to do this.”

Galvan also points to his work at the visitors’ headquarters at Laughlin Air Force Base as a testament to what he and his Little Acre team can achieve.

“There were lots of challenges with that project.

We planted more than 60 palm trees and hundreds of plants in the winter and come spring they just blossomed into this thing of beauty. Ten years later it’s still a beautiful thing to see,” Galvan said.

Galvan knows beauty when he sees it, but don’t call him a gardener. When it comes to his projects, he knows what works and what doesn’t. He knows what will last and what won’t, and he said people should do their research before starting any project at their home.

“Number one, know the selection of plants before you use them. Don’t only focus on the varieties, but learn about their growth habits. You have to have a plan before you start digging holes,” Galvan said.

“Remember that what you plant in the winter won’t look the same in the spring. Sometimes you won’t get that same effect. Anybody can go out and plant or make your landscape design, but it could be something you regret in a couple of years.”

As for what Galvan sees in regards to the future of landscaping, he said people are definitely taking into account the changing weather patterns found in this part of the country.

“Every property, every design is different. Some folks ask for less grass or less sod. A lot of recent projects have asked for more drought-tolerant plants or landscapes that require less maintenance,” Galvan said. •

One of Enrique Galvan’s most memorable projects was the relocation of several large trees at Laughlin Air Force Base as space was needed for a new runway.

Little Acre Nursery began life as the Little Acre Garden Shop in downtown Del Rio. Galvan purchased the business in 1994. It moved to its current location in 2002.

Enrique Galvan has owned Little Acre Nursery for more than 20 years, and his company has done landscaping for hundreds of businesses in and around Del Rio. This is part of the landscaping he did for Cripple Creek.

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Last Look Happy New Year readers!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.

We’re excited to start 2018 off with this beautiful edition of Grande magazine.

Rather than pursuing the tired “New year, new you” approach, we decided to go with a “new growth” theme. Similar to our art issue, this month’s gardening theme organically lends itself to effortlessly gorgeous photos.

One of my favorite things about living in Texas is that I’m constantly surrounded by a unique display of cactus and vegetation. Being from Washington state (have I mentioned that enough yet?) I’m much more used to coniferous trees like evergreens and firs. When I decided to move to the Lone Star State, I couldn’t wait to see the region’s different plant life.

I was assigned to write an “Out There” piece about Langtry’s cactus garden, which I had visited once before in February, and I couldn’t wait to return. I find the hour-long drive and the visit to the garden itself peaceful and mind-expanding. Lee Hoy was kind enough to walk me through the garden, explaining every cactus and plant we passed in fascinating detail.

Many other community members were kind enough to invite us into their gardens as well. Judy Bishop and Nataly Owens-Sanchez brought Karen into their orchid and hummingbird/butterfly gardens, respectively, and Ruben visited Del Rio’s Community Garden, located in the heart of San Felipe. Both stories, in my opinion, couldn’t have been told and photographed better.

As always, I hope you enjoyed this month’s issue of Grande as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

See you next month!

Sincerely, Megan Tackett Creative Director

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Karen Gleason photographs Clarissa Rosales with a basket of veggies for this month’s cover.

Adriana Ibarra prepares a set up and photographs this month’s DIY.

Valorie Wiley poses confidently for her story in “A Grande Life.”

One of Rafael Flores’ pigs, which helps clear out Bermuda grass on his property, pops out to say, “Hello.”

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