Vaccinations may not get us to Covid-zero but they will help us live more normal lives and go on garden club field trips! Where better to go than “Hope” Farms Gardens annual open house. In the past 10 years, Barbara Lopez has transformed her home into an amazing collection of unique flowerbeds and garden areas that she opens to the public each May.
The inventory of plants for sale was limited due to February’s deep freeze but we enjoyed strolling through the beautiful gardens to admire the hundreds of varieties of registered day lilies as well as citrus and fruit trees, and a large selection of gingers. The property is awash in colorful blooms, lush flowerbeds and islands of greenery with unique, whimsical artifacts that accent the meticulous landscaping.
Load the wagons!
We had a delicious lunch at Pizza Shack in Willis where Donna Marie treated everybody to their famous BabyCakes.
Next stop was The Growers Outlet in Willis, the largest family owned nursery and garden center in Montgomery County. More shopping!
Field trip trivia: Hope Farms Gardens is in Cut and Shoot, frequently noted on lists of unusual place names. According to one local legend, Cut and Shoot was named after a 1912 community confrontation that almost led to violence. The dispute may have been over:
– The design of a new steeple for the town’s only church,
– The issue of who should be allowed to preach there, or
– The conflicting land claims among church members.
Whatever the circumstances were, a small boy at the scene reportedly said he was scared and declared, “I’m going to cut around the corner and shoot through the bushes in a minute!” This statement apparently stayed in the residents’ minds and was eventually adopted as the town’s name.
Thanks to Donna Marie for arranging another fun trip, and to Detlev and Viviane for the pictures.
The Woodlands Garden Club 