Thanksgiving is a time for eating turkey, sharing time with family and thanking God for all the blessings of the year. The core group of Keep Blanco Beautiful wishes to take this opportunity to thank all those unheralded citizens who aide us in keeping our small town beautiful and promoting the “Blanco Spirit” which makes our community so special.

Did your pear and redbud trees bloom for the second time this fall? Mine did, again. They did it last year, but they bloom again in the Spring. I love this Fall weather, but we will have Winter soon. There are several things that need to be done before moving into the greenhouse.

On Nov. 15, 1997 towns and cities across the U.S.A. started celebrating America Recycles Day. The purpose of the day was to get communities excited about recycling; to educate, motivate and get enthused about what could be done to help our environment every day of the year. Blanco has a great recycling center that is well used by the members of our community but, we all could do better. Do you UP-CYCLE?

Can you hear the turkey gobbling, a deep voice saying “Ho Ho Ho,” and sleigh bells ringing as we are get ready for the Holiday Season? Thanksgiving is just 29 days away and KBB volunteers are busy getting Bindseil Park and city property decorated for the “Christmas in Blanco” Trail of Lights. Amy Petri and her FCCLA classes have been busy working with us for two weeks, wrapping lights on the tree trunks and putting new lights on our old city Christmas decorations.

“Christmas is a-coming, the goose is getting fat,” and Keep Blanco Beautiful is preparing for the celebration! Plans are underway for the Best Christmas Spectacular Ever! Lights are going up in Bindseil Park. Stars and trees, reindeer and camels, candy canes and candles (oh my!) are being refurbished thanks to the hard work of volunteers.

I have missed six weeks of summer, but a heart attack can do that. I’m doing much better now and I need to thank Ruby, Armando, and George for keeping the plants watered downtown. The five-inch rain helped; iit was an answer to our prayers. The temperature has cooled off enough to have a good effect on all blooming plants.

Last Tuesday, while working hard to Keep Blanco Beautiful, Judy Dorsett collapsed in front of City Hall. EMS responded quickly, rushing Judy to the Hospital. She is now recovering at home after receiving a stint for a 90% blocked artery. The crew of Keep Blanco Beautiful and the community wish her a speedy recovery.

Want to be up-to-date on the latest in yard maintenance? Plant a meadow. The trend for a “soft” look, low maintenance, environmentally friendly green space around your house is sweeping the country. They are even planting meadows in New York City! A meadow lawn attracts butterflies and birds. It helps the aquifer as the rain water is absorbed into the ground instead of used entirely by the plant or lost as run-off.

The following budget request was made to the City of Blanco by KBB for 2012 - 2013. There were not funds to help with our requests and it was suggested that we contact the public for assistance. Each year we have a membership drive as our fundraiser to cover all of the projects that we do in a year.

The fields and yards around Blanco were a beautiful green but are quickly turning brown. The sound of lawnmowers filled the air a couple of weeks ago but all is now quiet. The hot days of summer are alleviated by an afternoon playing in the flowing waters of the Blanco River.

Our South Texas spring and summer have been very different from last year. I feel blessed each time it rains. The landscapes and lawns are lush across our part of the country. When we have a dry spell, water your trees, landscapes, flowers and fruit trees. Each will need one inch of water each week to keep it healthy. Get ready for fall planting by preparing the beds for tomato transplants by marking the spots with a mound of fertilizer plus a handful of compost on top.

The Lavender Festival was large. That is the only way I can explain the amount of people, creative crafts, good music and food. Guests and locals alike enjoyed Bindseil Park while listening to good music and picnicing. This is very rewarding to all of the volunteers and for our hard work each week.

The annual Keep Texas Beautiful conference was held in San Antonio last week with Keep Blanco Beautiful members Retta Martin and Martha Gosnell in attendance. Wayne Gosnell went along for comic relief. Some insightful and helpful information was gained about how other communities are working to preserve their “sense of place” and make their towns and cities places where people actually want to live. As an incentive to communities across the state, each year the Governor’s Community Achie ...

Blanco Middle School compost project “heats up.” Science students at BMS measured temperature and deposited organic cafeteria waste in a compost tumbler. Students were excited to see the temperature rise over 120°F. During the school year, science students learned about the decay of biomass and the cycling of matter and energy in nature.

Summer is here and so are the 99-degree days. We need to prepare for another year of drought. Most of all, the landscape needs one inch of water each week. Potted plants, except succulents and large house plants, should be watered each day. Established vegetables, flowers, and fruit trees should be fed on a regular basis.