1. Experience it!
KRAFTSMEN BAKERY
rises to the top
T H E BAYO U C I T Y ’ S B LO O M I N ’
with spring festivals
5 life moments
TO GET ORGANIZED FOR
Jeff Kaplan plants the seeds for
creating a healthy environment
Think you know the Houston
man? Think again. He’s more
than meets the eye. > PAGE 57
Guide to the
Bayou Man

2. Sensory Gardens
Create a backyard haven that speaks to all your senses.
BY JULIE OSTERMAN
DOWN HOME TO THE 9s TECH SAVVY IN FIVEembody
SIGHT: FLOWERS, BUTTERFLIES
AND BEES, OH MY!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it’s
important to take an active role in design-
ing your garden, whether you do it yourself
or hire someone to help.
“There’s no such thing as too many flow-
ers,” says David Morello, owner of David
Morello Garden Enterprises, who advises
adding hot season annuals to your garden
in April or May. “I pick complementary
colors, and put as many together as
possible.”
Certain varieties attract butterflies and
bees, adding to the visual appeal, like but-
terfly pentas, lantana and salvia, which
Morello plants in his own garden. Lure
monarch butterflies with a trellis of Mexican
flame vine, or hummingbirds with red flow-
ering plants like azaleas or petunias.
Morello says there are no big secrets in
caring for your garden. “Every plant has
needs, and so your job as the caretaker…
is to understand what these plants require
and then give them lots of it,” he says.
Tip: Good soil and light conditions are
critical for happy plants. “If you’ve got full
sun, you can rejoice,” Morello says, “because
you can have a very colorful flower garden.”
LEYENDECKERLANDSCAPE/DEBORASMAILW
W
hether your goal is simply
creating something pretty
or more functional like
growing your own produce, it’s easy
to create an outdoor haven that sat-
isfies your sensory needs, from sight
and sound to taste, smell and touch.
A sensory garden is designed for
your personal tastes, but not all of
us are blessed with a vision of what
a backyard retreat can be. So here
we’ll focus on the gardens you can
design, based on your favorite sen-
sory delights. Feel free to go wild in
your own garden and incorporate
more than one, or if you’re
truly inspired, try them all.
28 bayou city magazine March/April/May 2014

3. TASTE: FROM YOUR GARDEN
TO YOUR TABLE
Growing edibles at home offers many ben-
efits—most importantly, healthy and con-
venient food for your family.
Portia Leyendecker, of Leyendecker
Landscape, encourages all her clients to
plant “things that give back to you,” and
to get their neighbors involved, too, for a
fun community effort. She recommends a
nontill method for planting, with bales of
organic pine needles as a border, and com-
posting to enrich the soil.
“If the soil’s in good shape, that not only
helps retain moisture, but also encourages
macrobiotic life,” she explains.
Now’s the time for planting Brussels
sprouts, beets, okra, tomatoes, greens,
herbs, watermelon, blackberries and
more. Edible flowers like nasturtiums,
calendulas and dianthus can add color
and flavor to salads, or act as a delicate
garnish for your meal.
Tip: If pests appear on your produce,
Leyendecker suggests spraying a mixture
of dish soap, water and red peppers. “Boy,
that’ll teach them,” she assures.
SOUND: FOUNTAINS DOUBLE AS
BIRDBATHS
From bubbling fountains to gushing water-
falls, incorporating a water feature in your
garden provides soothing sounds for your
garden getaway. The added bonus: Birds
and other wildlife will flock to your foun-
tain, adding sounds of Mother Nature to
the mix.
“[My fountain] is the most popular water-
ing hole in the Heights,” Morello says, as a
blue jay bathes vigorously in his back yard.
“It’s usually standing room only out there.”
To attract mockingbirds, which he calls
the “most beautiful songsters,” he suggests
planting beautyberry shrubs.
Tip: Another way to enhance the aural
experience is to pipe house music into the
garden, Morello adds. Be sure to include
comfortable seating for optimal enjoyment.
explore
no green thumb required
Don’t have the time or talent to do it your-
self? Visit these public gardens offering
sensory experiences for all to enjoy.
BAYOU BEND COLLECTION
AND GARDENS
A favorite stop on the Azalea Trail,
Bayou Bend boasts 14 acres of finely
manicured gardens—truly a sight for
sore eyes. The gorgeous and fragrant
grounds feature the former home of
Houston civic leader Ima Hogg.
6003 Memorial Drive. mfah.org
COCKRELL BUTTERFLY CENTER
Step into this tropical rain forest at
the Houston Museum of Natural
Science, and you’ll be greeted by a
cascading 50-foot waterfall. Discover
visual delights around every corner,
including exotic plants and hundreds of
butterflies. 5555 Hermann Park Drive.
713-639-4629, hmns.org
JAPANESE GARDEN
In Hermann Park, the Japanese Garden
is perfect for a sensory stroll past
beautiful flowers, manicured shrubs, a
teahouse and koi pond complete with
quaint bridges and a gentle waterfall.
It’s free on two levels: no admission
fee and an escape from the daily
grind. 6000 Fannin St. 713-284-8300,
jashouston.com
FROBERG’S FARM
Pick your own strawberries from
March to May at this working farm
about 45 minutes south of downtown.
Also enjoy fresh-picked produce like
broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts.
Visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
3106 W. Highway 6, Alvin. 281-585-3531,
frobergsfarm.com
LEYENDECKERLANDSCAPE/DEBORASMAIL|BAYOUBEND/RICKGARDNER
SMELL: FRAGRANT FLOWERS AND
AROMATIC HERBS
Roses are an obvious choice for irresistible
inhaling. Morello sticks with old antique
varieties because they’re incredibly fragrant
and carefree, he says. Sweet almond verbena
and angel trumpets also fill a room, but his
favorite fragrance emanates from the sweet
olive hedge along his house.
“It’s not particularly a beautiful shrub, but
the scent can fill a garden space,” he says.
Leyendecker adds butterfly ginger lilies
to the list, and their culinary cousin, the
herb ginger, works double-time in the
sensory garden, offering fragrance and
flavor. Rosemary, sage, basil, mint and
oregano also grow well in the Bayou City.
Leyendecker recommends Mexican mint
marigold as a substitute for tarragon, since
the latter languishes in the humid South.
Tip: Short on space? Many herbs will thrive
in containers on your porch or windowsill.
TOUCH: DON’T BE AFRAID TO GET YOUR
HANDS DIRTY
Planting and caring for your garden offers
a hands-on experience that’s calming and
nurturing.
“Getting your hands in the soil, you’re
experiencing life, and it’s been known to
extend life,” Leyendecker says. “When you’re
stressed, get out there in your own yard, pour
yourself a glass of wine and harvest or plant
a tomato, peppers, eggplant or arugula.”
It’s a feast for the senses.
scan this page
with Layar to tease
your senses with
more gardens.
+
bayoucitymagazine.com 29