Shrubs, flowers and rain barrel sales benefit SWCD

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January 23, 2013

Shrubs, flowers and rain barrel sales benefit SWCD

Anonymous Weatherford Democrat The Weatherford Democrat Wed Jan 23, 2013, 06:37 AM CST

There is still time to order tree seedlings for spring planting from the Parker County Soil And Water Conservation District.

Pre-paid orders are being taken until Feb. 13. Delivered in bulk by the Texas Forest Service, seedlings will be ready for pick up on Feb 22. The seedlings are affordable plantings that can replace the dead or dying trees left over from the devastating drought of over a year ago.

The Texas Forest Service provides the seedlings for the district’s annual sale and are shipped from their West Texas Nursery in Idalou in February. Each year the choices are slightly different, but always include native hardwoods, evergreens and a selection of shrubs. This year evergreen species include Afghanistan Pine, Oriental Arborvitae, Austrian Pine, Desert Willow, Fourwing Saltbush, Italian Stone Pine, Lacebark Elm and Pinyon Pine. Seedlings are generally 6 to12 inches tall and come in plastic tubes. Each has a root volume of 10 cubic inches and sells for $2.50 each or in sealed boxes of 30.

Bare-rooted hardwood seedlings are generally 12–18 inches in length and are only available for purchase in lots of 25 for $35 each. Hardwoods offered this year include black cherry, green ash, hackberry, bur oak, chinkapin oak, post oak, shumard oak, osage orange, pecan, red mulberry, redbud, sand plum, aromatic sumac and smooth sumac.

Rain barrels are the district’s newest sale item. Rainwater is naturally soft and does not have chemicals that are added to our drinking water, so plants have a tendency to grow healthier when using rainwater.

Rain barrels are available in a terra cotta color in the 50-gallon capacity for $92, the 53-gallon capacity for $102, and the 60-gallon capacity for $119. The 63-gallon capacity for $124 and the 67-gallon capacity for $129 are only available in blue. All prices include shipping from the manufacturer straight to your door.

Wildflower mixes are available in one pound bags and sell for $25 each. Mixes contain 13 to 17 different flowers covering an area of more than 2,000 square feet.

Information may be obtained by calling the Parker County SWCD on Thursdays or Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 817-594-4672, ext. 109, or by emailing the district at parkercountyswcd@tx.nacdnet.org. Also, check out the district’s website at www.parkercountyswcd.org.

The Parker County SWCD is located in the USDA Service Center at 604 N. Main, Ste. 100, in Weatherford.