Norchester Garden Club will hold the 7th Annual Garage Sale as a fundraiser on November 14 and 15, 2014 from 9 to 3 each day in the Norchester Activity Center.  Projects we support are horticultural in nature such as the beautification of Norchester esplanades, the Matzke Park Butterfly Garden and the grounds of Norchester Activity Center.  

Donations are tax deductible and can be made at the Norchester Activity Center at 13439 Jones Road on Wednesday and Thursday, November 12 and 13, 2014 from 9 to 3.   Support of the community and surrounding area is greatly appreciated.  

Kudzu was introduced from Asia into the United States in 1876.  It has spread through southern states into Texas.  All parts of the plant need to be eradicated in order to prevent regrowth and undesirable spread in our area.  
   
Wikipedia - 
Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) is a serious invasive plant in theUnited States. It has been spreading in the southern U.S. at the rate of 150,000 acres (61,000 ha) annually, "easily outpacing the use of herbicide spraying and mowing, as well increasing the costs of these controls by $6 million annually."  Its introduction has produced devastating environmental consequences.  This has earned it the nickname, "The vine that ate the South."

Kudzu kills or damages other plants by smothering them under a blanket of leaves, encompassing tree trunks, breaking branches, or even uprooting entire trees. Once established in a habitat, kudzu is able to grow very quickly. Kudzu can grow up to 60 feet per season, or about one foot per day. 

In addition to its abilities to obtain nutrients and spread quickly, kudzu leaves have paraheliotropic movements, meaning that they move in response to the movement of the sun in order to maximize photosynthetic productivity.

The economic impact of kudzu in the United States is estimated at $100–500 million lost per year in forest productivity. In addition, it takes about $5,000 per hectare (2.5 acres) per year to control kudzu.  For power companies, it costs about $1.5 million per year to repair damage to power lines.

Control:  Most mechanical means of kudzu removal practiced in the southeastern United States involve mowing the vine or cutting it back. These methods, though more effective than herbicides, are more time consuming.  Vines must be mowed down just above ground level every month or two during the growing season in order to prevent them from growing back. When using this method of kudzu control, all of the plant material must be removed and/or destroyed (burned) to prevent the vines from taking root and re-growing.  Another method of mechanical removal is to remove the crown of the plant. This part must also be destroyed to prevent re-implantation.

For more details see:
Kudzu in the United States

Butterfly Garden Project
2013-14

The Matzke Park Butterfly Garden Project is an ongoing project of the Norchester Garden Club.  It is managed by the Butterfly Committee and maintained by garden club members to create a positive leisure and learning experience for residents of the Norchester Subdivision and surrounding communities.  Garden club and community volunteers along with Harris County Precinct 4 have participated in accomplishing some of the following this year:

*  Workdays - official and independent - to weed, trim, and mulch
*  Web site postings including  "Plant of the Week"
*  Plant Exchange called  "Givers, Takers and Flower Bed Makers"
*  Fire ant control
*  Garden signs - three juvenile signs designed, fabricated and installed
*  Lady Bug Release and Workday
*  Irrigation monitoring and repair
*  Moss rock purchased and placed around fence row bed
*  Children's Educational Program
*  Planting purchased and donated plants
*  Garden Party planned and hosted by Zonettes
*  Planning meeting, dinner and film  "The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies"  for Zone Leaders who focus on maintenance of an area of the butterfly garden and Zonettes who help randomly such as their honoring of Zone Leaders at the Garden Party
*  Butterfly Garden Committee Luncheon
*  Grant from the Native Plant Society of Texas
*  Butterfly Watering Sandpits