Trade leaves for trees

Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange continues to have innovative and relevant events for Southeast Texans. This Saturday, they will offer a double chance to help the environment; get rid of leaves that would go to a landfill and get a free tree. Here's the announcement, taken from their website:

On Feb.13, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center will swap trees for leaves. Participants may bring one or more bags of leaves to Gate 4 at Shangri La and receive a tree. Gate 4 is located approximately one block west of the entrance of Shangri La on Park Avenue in Orange. The address for this entrance is 2140 Park Avenue. Signs will show the entrance. Trees will be swapped for leaves between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and Noon. Anyone who would like to receive a tree to plant on their property can bring one or more bags of leaves to swap for a native tree in a one-gallon pot. Bags should contain only leaves, no trash, sticks or limbs. Most of the trees available are a variety of oak and only the first 200 participants will receive a tree. Please, only one tree per participant. If participants would simply like to donate their leaves, they are not required to take a tree.

Leaves from this project will be composted and used in Shangri La gardens. Workers will be available to unload leaves and load trees. This is an excellent way to help save landfill space and provide needed composted materials for Shangri La. For additional information, please phone (409) 670-9113.

Paul James at Shangri-La

Paul James, the host of HGTV's Gardening by the Yard, will not be making his scheduled appearance at Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange.

James, who lives in Oklahoma, is known for using goofy jokes and making faces while giving out serious advice for gardeners. He was supposed to lecture at Shangri La Oct. 17, but his people called and cancelled, a spokeswoman at Shangri La said. No reason was given.

No appearance has been rescheduled.

Orchid Festival at Shangri La

Orchid lovers - be sure and check out the Orchid Festival at 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Oct. 10 at Shangri La Botanical Gardens in Orange. Orchids are among the world's most beautiful flowers - and make up 20% of all identified plant species, according to Shangri La, which houses many varieties in its Epiphyte House.

Among the events: 10 a.m. - Growing Orchids in the Gulf Coast Area by Jim Butler, accredited judge with the American Orchid Society.

1 p.m. - Orchid Jewels of East Texas by authors Joe Liggio and Ann Orto Liggio.

10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily Oct. 13-17 - Guided tours of the Exhibition Greenhouses.

All events are free for Shangri La members and included in the general admission fee for non-members ($4 for kids, $5 for seniors and $6 adults). Check it out at http://www.shangrilagardens.org/

Ed Begley, Jr & Earth Week 2009 at Shangri-La

If you haven't yet been to the magical Shangri-La Botanical Gardens in Orange, this is the week to do so. For Earth Week 2009, Michael Hoke and his crew have lined up everything from seminars on composting and tropical gardens to painting classes and a lecture on bats (with the delightful Mel Moreau). Be sure to watch the butterfly release at 4 p.m. on Wednesday (April 22).

My pick for the week is an appearance from 6:30-8 p.m. tonight at the Lutcher Theater by Super GreenGeek Ed Begley, Jr, who I've had a crush on ever since watching him as Dr. Victor Erlich in St. Elsewhere. How can you not love a man whose commitment to the earth is so complete he generates power for his toaster by riding a stationary bike? If you're not a St. Elsewhere fan, you might know Ed from his HGTV show, "Living With Ed," or one of his 200-plus TV and film roles.

Events continue through Saturday.

Sunrise Serenity

If you don’t already have plans to attend an Easter Sunrise service at your church, the folks over at Shangri-La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Orange invite you to theirs. Sunrise in a garden can feed the soul on any day; for people of faith, watching the sun come up over a garden on Easter morning can be a deeply spiritual experience.

The gates open at 6:30 a.m. and the service begins at 7:30. Rev. Tom Stephenson from First United Methodist Church in Orange will conduct the service and Doug Rogers will provide the music. The gardens are at 2111 W. Park Ave in Orange. From Beaumont, take Interstate 10 east toward Orange. Exit 877/Hwy 87/16th Street. Follow the feeder road and turn right onto 16th Street. Go 2 miles to W. Park Avenue and turn right. Go about a quarter-mile. The gate is on the left.

Don’t forget to take your own chairs as seating will not be provided.