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Secrets from the Garden
Chandor Gardens Newsletter - September 2020
The nights are steadily growing longer, the days are getting shorter,
and we have entered a reprieve from the brutal Texas heat. The
Ornamental Grasses have put out their photogenic seasonal tufts,
Pumpkin Spice Lattes are available once again, and it will not be long
until bags of candy stock store shelves as far as the eye can see;
autumn is imminent. Soon, the Cedar Elms will begin their annual
showers of their dainty gold leaves that scatter across the Garden
grounds, the Gingkoes will turn bright yellow and drop in unison, and
the Japanese Maples will turn vibrant shades of red. Are you ready? We
are, and we have some fun surprises in store for you, so let's fall in
love with fall all over again!
See you in the Garden,
Chandor Staff
To ensure you stay up to date on happenings in the
Garden, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
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Autumn Art Walk
Save the date for the Autumn Art Walk Sunday, October 18,
2020*!
Come out and enjoy the gardens, listen to great music,
eat great food, and shop for one-of-a-kind art pieces, handcrafted
items, jewelry, and so much more. We will provide a list of vendors and
what they sell soon.
Entry is $5 for ages 13 and over and free for children 12
and under. We will add Covid-19 guidelines closer to the date if needed.
We still have room for vendors!
Are you interested in becoming a vendor? We are looking specifically
for vendors who create handmade items for sale. This might mean
paintings or prints, candles, jewelry, soaps, and the like. If you
create with your hands, we want you! For more information on being a
vendor, please email Liz at ewhite [AT] weatherfordtx [DOT] gov to reserve your
spot.
* In the event of inclement weather on Sunday, Oct 18th,
a rain date has been set for Oct 25th.
** Last newsletter incorrectly had Saturday listed as the event day;
please note that it is on Sunday and forgive us for our error.
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Jack-O'-Lantern Nights at Chandor
Gardens
We are pleased to introduce an all-new autumn event for
Chandor Gardens: Jack-O'-Lantern Nights!
We will be hosting a pumpkin carving contest with prizes
for each age group's winning pumpkin! The pumpkins will be displayed
throughout the Garden, and people will be able to take an enchanting
walk through it at night and vote on their favorite pumpkins as they
light the way through.
More information on this event, how to enter the contest,
and where to purchase tickets will be released shortly, so make sure to
follow us on Facebook and Instagram for
more details on what is sure to become a favorite Garden Event.
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A staff member's children model their jack-o'-lanterns.
Get ready and start planning your pumpkins with your
family!
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Yoga Classes
Tuesdays & Thursdays
5:30 to 6:30 pm
Class Sizes Limited
Call to Make Reservation: 817-597-1503
Fee: Donation based
Led by: Loretta Benham
Instructor Loretta Benham offers yoga classes on Tuesdays
and Thursdays at Chandor Gardens. Loretta's mix of energetic sequences
incorporated with stillness through breath work and meditation to quiet
the mind will provide a healthy addition to any workout regimen. Bring
your mat and wear comfortable clothing.
In inclement weather, classes will be held in the Great
Room. For more information call 817-597-1503 or 817-613-1700.
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The Ashley Deal Memorial Garden
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The Ashley Deal Memorial Garden has been burgeoning with
seasonal color and has filled in nicely since its renovation back in
2018. The plaque, provided by the City of Weatherford and the Parker
County Master Gardeners, marks the entrance to this little Garden set
off from the main Garden to provide a private spot for remembrance and
reflection. The Parker County Master Gardeners have lovingly tended
this Garden in her memory. We would like to offer our appreciation for
all the ways they have helped beautify and maintain the Gardens.
If you are looking for a private space to stop and catch
your breath, maybe find some peace, there's a spot in the Garden
waiting for you.
For more information on the Master Gardeners, please visit https://www.pcmg-texas.org/
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Monarch Migration
Last newsletter, we discussed the then-upcoming migration
of the endangered Monarch Butterfly southwards to South America for
winter. We are pleased to announce that the first wave of these
majestic Monarchs has arrived in the Garden!
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Above, the Monarch gathers sustenance from the
lavender-hued blooms of annual Verbenas growing in the old Herb Garden
just north of the Manor.
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Above, check out our beautiful Jeana Phlox blooms (Phlox
paniculata), a favorite source of nutrition for the Monarch Butterfly.
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Monarchs will be in the area for the next two months, so
come out and view the iconic butterfly while they are in town. Visiting
with these butterflies would make for a wonderful addition to a virtual
or home-schooling curriculum, so if your kids need to get out and get
into nature, we have the flora and fauna!
Also, admission for kids ages 12 and under is FREE, and
13 and up is only $5, so come take a sanity break with us, bring some
snacks, bring a camera, and capture the memories of watching them grow
and learn.
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Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
While the Jeana Phlox is a favorite snack for Monarch Butterflies, we
would not have them at all were it not for the Butterfly Milkweed's
blooms. The flowers and leaves of this plant are a primary source of
nutrition for Monarch caterpillars as well as many other pollinators,
and it is endemic to our area.
The vibrant blooms look beautiful in any sunny spot, and
no butterfly garden would be complete without this red and yellow
blossom. With specimens of this plant reaching a size of roughly 2
feet, both tall and wide, on average, this beneficial native is quite
striking and attractive in addition to helping increase the numbers of
endangered pollinators.
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Gift Shop
Take the Gardens home with you. There are postcards, note
cards, prints, and t-shirts sporting fabulous images of Chandor Gardens
in our gift shop. We feature unique handmade items by a variety of
local artisans specializing in textiles, stained and fused glass,
jewelry, painting, photography and much more.
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A new college freshman going away for school donated her
pet Slider Turtle named Douglas (No relation to Douglas Chandor) to the
Gardens.
Douglas has quickly taken to her new large surroundings,
and she has become extremely elusive to see. So, we would like to issue
a challenge: the first three people who can spot and take a picture of
Douglas the Turtle will receive two free Garden Passes in her honor.
We will even make it "easier" and reveal that her home is
in the big canal. But be warned, there is nothing easy about spotting
our newest Garden resident. She blends in perfectly with the newly
refurbished pond finish.
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The Plant Formerly Known as Philodendron
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The above-pictured plant has created quite the
controversy in the plant community. This plant, both an excellent
warm-months garden addition and a solid option for a houseplant, used
to be known as Philodendron (selloum/bipinnatifidum) or the
"Hope Philodendron," but that has changed!
As of 2018, this plant, and the closely related plant
known as "Xanadu Philodendron" have been reclassified to an entirely
new plant genus. Despite the fact that these plants have been
classified under their previous genus for decades, scientists
recognized that these plants were honestly quite different both
genetically and physically from the Philodendrons with which they were
grouped.
For instance, they grow tree trunk-like growth and shed
their lower leaves, which are not traits common in the Philodendron
family. So, botanical and genetic scientists did in-depth DNA studies
on the plants and concluded that they were not even closely related to
Philodendrons. The plants were then given their own new genus: Thaumatophyllum.
While this plant has been readily available for many years, it is the
perfect example of how science is always changing and growing, and how
much there is still to discover in the wonderful world of botany.
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Fall presents a gorgeous opportunity to have family
photos done with a seasonally appropriate background for perfect
holiday cards! All you have to do to schedule photography during our
open hours is call us at 817-613-1700 or
email Liz at ewhite [AT] weatherfordtx [DOT] gov to
get your appointment scheduled.
Our open hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5
pm, Saturday 9 am to 3 pm, and Sunday, noon to 4 pm.
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This shot of a happy little American Bumblebee (Bombus
pensylvanicus) cheerfully pollinating and feeding on a Walker's
Low Catmint plant is a most welcome sight in the Garden, if a little
blurry. However, we do not mind his quick movements that make it hard
to capture a truly clear photo, because a fast bee is a healthy bee,
and this little guy was as speedy as any we've seen around.
This bee species is classified as threatened, and its
numbers have decreased significantly in recent years. Our Garden Staff
works diligently to use insect-friendly materials and treatments
whenever possible to respect and protect the threatened and endangered
species populations that make their homes in Chandor Gardens.
Like the Monarch Butterfly, these entertaining yellow and
black balls of fuzz will only remain out and active for another month
or so. Come visit to see them and take a moment to appreciate the
diversity of the North Texas ecosystem!
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Contact Information
Chandor Gardens
711 W Lee Avenue
Weatherford, TX 76086
Phone: 817-613-1700
Fax: 817-598-4354
Private Tours and Events
Available year-round by appointment
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Public Hours
Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Sunday, noon to 4:00 pm
Closed all City Observed Holidays
Admission
Adults: $5
Children 12 and under: Free
(Children must be accompanied by an adult.)
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