Features

My family moved to the big city of Dallas the summer before my sixthgrade year…and I can truly say, moving from small-town San Angelo and Santa Rita School, where I had been since first grade, to Sudie L. Williams Elementary in Dallas was a culture shock of major proportions.

Six months ago, The Garden Guy prognosticated that Augusta Lavender heliotrope was going to one of the hottest plants for 2022. This was really based on my trials at my house outside of Columbus, GA.

VFW Post 2933 held an award ceremony last week. Jesus Gonzalez-Albejar and Collin Heape were awarded first and second place respectively in the annual Voice of Democracy essay contest. Each received a certificate and a cash award for their winning submission. Presenting the awards were VFW Post 2933 Commander Jerry Martin and VFW Post 2933 Senior Vice Commander (SVC) Bob DeJong. Bob DeJong is also the chairman for the Voice of Democracy contest.

Friday Jan. 14, a news flash came across my phone saying verbatim ‘A Major Food Shortage is Coming Again in the United States’. That headline coupled with what we are seeing in the places we shop is enough to cause a level of anxiety.

How many times have you heard -- or thought to yourself -- “That’s none of my business” or “Nope. I’m not getting involved” or “That’s not my job?”

Hays County will be continuing countywide feral hog management efforts in 2022 after receiving a $7,500 grant from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Wildlife Services. The Hays County program will include a five-dollar bounty on feral hogs, one workshop, one webinar, a countywide survey and damage assessment and the continuation of a volunteer led trapping effort.

Adult

Last week, I opened the box of mementos my aunt had left for one of her daughters. My aunt passed away in 2011.

January 13

At the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, it was the Copper Canyon daisy that was guaranteed to put all visitors under a spell from the smell. It happened on a regular basis. After a class, I would take the students or clients on a personal tour of the garden. We would exit the side door of the conference center right into the Mediterranean Garden and instantly they become fixated on a shrubby marigold with a tantalizing fragrance.

First and foremost, a very happy 2022 to every one of you. As we begin this new calendar year, I am excited to announce the second year of the regional economic development strategy Vision 2025.

The Garden Guy wasn’t stopping to smell the roses but instead stared in awe at the form of a rosebud. Even though this new rose variety called Suñorita is considered a miniflora, the bud looked like a classic tiny hybrid tea. Then — out of nowhere as if to confirm my admiration — a butterfly landed on top and proceeded to investigate.