Thank you to all who attended our 16th Annual Spring Conference. It reminded us why this community is so special. The room was filled with curiosity, generosity, and the kind of good‑natured humor that makes all gardening topics feel friendly.
TX A&M AgriLife Extension Agent Truman Lamb’s presentation on trees gave us a wealth of practical guidance on caring for the species we treasure here in East Texas. If our trees could talk, they would have appreciated every minute of it — and probably taken notes.
Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Reuben Gay delivered a thrilling presentation on the American black bear in our area. He shared game‑camera photos of our wandering visitor, most recently spotted in early April near Hwy 241. This subadult male is the same bear last seen along the Neches River in Maydelle this past winter — clearly a young gentleman with a taste for travel. Now that spring is here, it’s anyone’s guess where he’ll head next. By mid‑summer he’ll reach full maturity, and he may decide to return to Louisiana’s breeding populations or wander back toward the Neches or Angelina River Corridors. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see where his paws take him.
Our two mini‑educational activities — Cooking with Herbs and Building a Victory Garden — were also big hits. Both sessions were well attended, and our speakers delivered practical, inspiring information with the kind of enthusiasm that makes you want to rush home and start a new project (or at least reorganize the herb bed).
A huge thank‑you to the TX A&M Forest Service for the donation of tree seedlings, and to the East Texas Iris Society, who brought iris bulbs and spent a great deal of time answering questions and sharing their expertise. And of course, a special nod to one of our frequently invited vendors — Babass Ranch. Every year they bring something new that we can’t wait to try out… or chow down on. Thanks to all for coming and making this year’s event truly special.
We learned, we laughed, we swapped stories, and we may have enabled each other’s plant‑collecting habits just a little. It was a day that fed both our minds and our roots — the kind of gathering that reminds us why we do what we do.
Save these dates for 2026:
• 26 September — Fall Plant Sale
• 17–31 October — Scarecrow Trail
And for 2027:
• 5 February — Seed Swap
• 20 March — 17th Annual Spring Conference
We hope to see you at all these fun events in the future.