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April 15, 2009 Welcome to Texas Gardener’s Seeds, the weekly newsletter for Texas gardeners. Please do not reply to this e-mail as the sending address is not monitored. See the bottom of this newsletter for information on how to subscribe, unsubscribe, or contact the editor. |
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Texas Forest Service hosts program focusing on keeping trees healthy during construction As a licensed
architect, Charles Todd Helton was doing "green" design work long before
it had a name.
The 38-year-old son of
a forester developed his passion for trees at an early age. And he's
spent the bulk of his career designing around mighty, old trees and
incorporating them into his plans.
"First of all, trees
are beautiful to look at and they provide other things, too. They shade
your house from the sun and keep utilities low — especially during the
summer, which is nice around here," Helton said from his office in
Spring, Texas. "I try to keep as many existing trees as I can."
But there is more to
saving the trees than simply opting not to cut them down, Helton and
Texas Forest Service officials warn. Construction can damage the trees
in your yard — even if you think you are building around them, said John
Warner, urban district forester with Texas Forest Service.
Building With Trees, an
all-day seminar hosted by Texas Forest Service, teaches you how to
retain trees during construction and land development. It's scheduled
for 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 23 at the Lone Star Convention Center in
Conroe.
Warner said the vast
majority of calls he gets are from people who sought out the perfect lot
dotted with mighty shade trees and then built their home right in the
middle of them — only to find the trees dead within the year. They
always ask the same question: "What happened?"
Building With Trees is
designed to answer that question. The class will feature Dr. Charles A.
Stewart, one of the nation's leading consultants on techniques for
saving trees during construction. It is the first time in more than a
decade the program has been brought to Texas.
"We're trying to bring
everybody to the table so they can learn how to communicate with each
other and lay out the best possible plan to retain tree cover on the
property — whether it's residential, commercial or the state," Warner
said.
Registration is $120
and includes lunch as well as an evening networking reception from 6:30
to 9:30 p.m. at La Torretta Del Lago Resort on Lake Conroe.
The seminar is geared
to people in the construction and forestry industries, as well as
landscape architects, real estate agents, elected and municipal
officials, community leaders, landowners and professors of architecture,
forestry, horticulture, planning and related disciplines.
Tree canopy is
disappearing in the urban environments and that can lead to the creation
of a heat island, or an urban area that is significantly warmer than
surrounding rural areas, Warner said, noting that trees provide green
benefits such as cleaner air and a cooler atmosphere.
It can take 20 years
before a newly-planted tree grows large enough to provide significant
shade, Warner said. So it makes sense to keep alive older, larger trees.
They create a more peaceful environment and are more aesthetically
pleasing.
"I always think of it
as one yard at a time," Warner said, explaining how a neighborhood of
100 homes each sitting on a half-acre wooded lot can have a cumulative
effect. "Pretty soon, you have a forest of trees." |
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Gardening tips
Spring is a good time to increase your favorite perennials by dividing them. Try using two forks back-to-back to separate clumps into two or more divisions for replanting. Have a favorite gardening tip you’d like to share? Texas Gardener’s Seeds is seeking brief gardening tips from Texas gardeners to use in future issues. If we publish your tip in Seeds, we will send you a free copy of Texas Gardener's 2009 Planning Guide & Calendar. Please send your tips of 50 words or less to the editor at: Gardening Tips. |
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Did You Know... The late freeze that hit the northern half of the state last week came at a time when many nut trees like oak and pecan were in bloom, wiping out much of the crop in that part of the state. We often have late freezes that get our fruit crops but the danger of freezing weather has usually past by the time our nut trees start to bloom. Expect to see lots of skinny, hungry squirrels in the garden this fall. |
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Upcoming garden events
College Station: The A&M Garden Club's 69th Flower Show will be held
April 17, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the College Station
Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy S, College Station. Members
will exhibit "Aggie Traditions" in small 8" floral designs in creative
or traditional choices. Horticulture classes include cut specimens of
annuals, perennials, roses, bulbs. Container grown plants include
flowers, ferns, foliage, fruit, planters, dish gardens, terrariums,
cactus. Other items include vegetable and fruit exhibits and tree and
shrub nodes. Sandra Williams will have a special exhibit on pollinators.
Suzanne Milstead is Chair of the Horticulture Division, Heather White is
Chair of the Design Division, and Sandra Williams is chair of the
Special Exhibits Division. Judy Schafer, Idalia Aguilar, and Jane Cohen
are cochairs of the Flower Show. The Flower Show is open to the public
with free admission. For more information, visit
www.sallysfamilyplace.com/Clubs/GardenClub.htm.
Burnet: Join Master Gardener and photographer Robert Yantis
for a free presentation "Local Butterflies and the Plants that Attract
Them" as part of the Highland Lakes Master Gardeners Green Thumb Program
at the Herman Brown Free Library, 100 E. Washington, on the Square in
downtown Burnet on Saturday, April 18, at 10 a.m. For more
information, call (325) 388-8849.
Edna: Jackson County Master Gardeners will host their Spring Plant Sale on
April 18. The sale will be at the Jackson County Service Building, 411 N. Wells, Edna, and the doors will open at 8 a.m. A wide variety of beautiful and healthy plants — annuals, perennials, shrubs and fruit trees — will be available, as will garden art, raffle items, and planters. For more information, call the Jackson County Extension office at (361) 782-3312 or email the Master Gardeners at
admin@jcmga.com.
Iowa Park/Wichita
Falls: The Benson Iris Society’s spring iris garden tours will be held
on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. until noon. The tours are open to the
public and are free to attend. This tour will display several hundred
varieties of blooming irises. Maps will be available at each garden
location. The gardens on this year’s tour are: Reusch Garden, 42 Surrey
Circle, Iowa Park; Parker Garden, 1276 Business Hwy 287, Iowa Park; S.
Moser Garden, 1104 Decker Rd., Wichita Falls; Rhoads Garden, 16012 FM
1954, Wichita Falls; B. Moser Garden, 3606 Alexandria St., Wichita
Falls; Griffith Garden, 4118 Rivercrest Dr., Wichita Falls; and Carter
Garden, 3595 McKinney Rd., Wichita Falls. For additional information,
call Deborah Rutledge, Benson Iris Society President, (940) 569-0922 or
Annetta Reusch, Benson Iris Society Vice-President, (940) 592-9001. Nacogdoches: The SFA Mast Arboretum will host its annual Garden Gala
Day on April 18 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the SFA Intramural Fields on
Wilson Drive, Nacogdoches. This event features the annual spring plant
sale fundraiser benefiting the SFA Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native
Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, and their educational
programs. All of the plants are produced at SFA by the staff, students
and volunteers. The public is encouraged to arrive early and bring a
wagon. For more information
and a list of plants for sale call (936) 468-4404, or visit
http://arboretum.sfasu.edu and click on "upcoming events." Rosenberg: The Texas Rose Rustlers and the
Fort Bend Master Gardeners will present "Fling With Felder," 10 a.m.,
April 18, at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, Building C,
Rosenberg. Felder Rushing has authored 15 gardening books, writes
numerous newspaper columns, and hosts a radio garden talk program. He
uses an off beat, “down home" approach with humorous anecdotes and
irreverent garden metaphors to help gardeners get past the “stinkin’
rules” of horticulture. Admission is free. For additional information,
contact Becky Smith at
bas@wcec-wb.net.
San Antonio: Spring is in full bloom April
18-19 at the San Antonio Botanical Garden! Hundreds of plant varieties,
expertly cultivated by the San Antonio Botanical Society Plant Team
volunteers and several other plant societies, will be on sale Saturday
and Sunday, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Budding gardeners and seasoned
horticulturalists alike are invited to see (and smell) all the exquisite
varieties available just in time for spring planting! South Texans
looking to survive the drought will also be inspired by the bright
blossoms and gorgeous greens of all the San Antonio-friendly species on
sale! Bring the "little sprouts" too, and take the whole family on a
little "Walk Across Texas!" This annual Fiesta event takes place on
Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. until noon. Botanical Society members
may get a "sneak peek" of the Plant Sale a day early, on Friday, April
17, 5:30-7:30 p.m., and at 8 a.m. Saturday morning. A second Spring
Plant Sale is planned for Sunday, May 3, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Plus, enjoy $1
off every Sunday in Spring through May 31! The Botanical Garden is
located at 555 Funston at North New Braunfels Avenue and is operated
under the auspices of the City of San Antonio Department of Parks &
Recreation. For more information, call (210) 829-5100 or visit
www.sabot.org. Houston: Tour the working and demonstration gardens maintained by the Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2 from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., Monday,
April 20, Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Houston. Visit a wonderful garden that includes an extensive vegetable garden, fruit orchard, perennials, roses, herb and cactus gardens and 2 working greenhouses. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer gardening questions during this free event. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult at all times. For more information, visit
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.
Rockport: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host
"The Well Designed Perennial Garden Landscaping," presented by Jeanna C.
Godfrey, DVM, Master Gardener, as one of their Brown Bag events, from
noon until 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, at the Aransas County
Library, 701 Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail
ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103.
Sugar Land: Sugar Land Garden Club will host "Early Spring Wildflowers
in Our Area" presented by Ruth Milburn on Tuesday, April 21, at the
Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way, Sugar Land. Ruth is a
retired Executive Director of the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
and member of the Native Plant Society of Texas — Houston. Free and open
to the public. Refreshments start at 9:30 a.m. and the program begins at
10 a.m. For more information, visit
www.sugarlandgardenclub.org. Rockport:
The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host Kids Garden Fest from
10 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturday, April 25, for children ages 4-12.
A sack lunch will be provided. Parental supervisor required. Kids Garden
Fest will be held at Green Acres, Children's Discovery Garden, 6111
Mimosa, Rockport. In the event of rain, the event will move to the
Arasas County Library, 701 Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information,
e-mail
ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103.
Wichita Falls: The
Benson Iris Society will hold their spring iris show on Saturday, April
25. “When Iris Eyes Are Shining” is the theme. The show will be at Our
Redeemer Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 4605 Cypress Avenue, Wichita
Falls. Iris growers are invited to enter up to 15 specimens in the
competition Saturday morning from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. The varieties
must be named varieties. Vases will be provided for the exhibitions. The
entry categories include Tall Bearded Iris, Medians, Arils and Arilbreds,
Historical Irises (those introduced 30 or more years ago), Space Age
(horned, spooned or with flounces) and Beardless Irises. Collections and
English Boxes may also be entered. Members of the Benson Iris Society
may also enter Artistic Design arrangements. Judging begins at 11 a.m.
The show will be open to the public from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. and is
free. For additional information, call Deborah Rutledge, Benson Iris
Society President, (940) 569-0922 or Annetta Reusch, Benson Iris Society
Vice-President, (940) 592-9001. Woodway: A Gardener's Gathering will be held
at the Carleen Bright Arboretum, Woodway, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.,
April 26. The free event, sponsored by Woodway Beautiful, will
include an opportunity to gather growing tips and advice, purchase
plants, and enjoy an afternoon of music and events for the entire
family. For additional information, contract (254) 399-9204.
Fredericksburg: The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will
present a "Vine Nutrition and Canopy Management" advanced wine-grape
grower workshop from 1-5 p.m. April 27. The workshop will be held
at the Pierce’s Disease Research Center vineyard. The center is located
at 191 Business Court Drive, Fredericksburg. Topics related to producing
quality fruit for quality wine will be presented by Penny Adams,
AgriLife Extension’s Hill County viticulture advisor, and Fritz
Westover, the agency’s Texas Gulf Coast viticulture advisor. Adams will
present information on grapevine nutrition, petiole sampling and
fertilization techniques. Westover will demonstrate grapevine canopy
management techniques. Experienced grape growers are the target audience
for the advanced workshops, but that new commercial wine-grape growers
can also benefit from attending. The Vine Nutrition and Canopy
Management workshop fee is $20, and attendees must register for the
event. Registration can only be made through AgriLife Conference
Services at their Web site,
http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu, or by
calling (979) 845-2604. Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Insect
Control," Noon-1 p.m., April 27, at the Pattie Dodson Health
Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Helen Boatman will speak. Free to
public. Bring sack lunch. For additional information, contact Victoria
County Extension Office, (361) 575-4581.
Fredericksburg: A Texas AgriLife Extension Service-sponsored
“Prospective Wine-Grape Growers Workshop” for Central Texas is scheduled
for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on April 28. The workshop will be presented at
the AgriLife Extension office, Gillespie County Agriculture Building, 95
Frederick Road, in Fredricksburg. Workshop topics include: necessary
viticulture expertise, vineyard site selection, risk factors, vineyard
labor requirements and vineyard economics. Penny Adams, Texas AgriLife
Extension's Hill County viticulture advisor, and Fritz Westover,
AgriLife Extension’s Texas Gulf Coast viticulture advisor, will provide
the program instruction. The prospective growers workshop is a
prerequisite for registration and acceptance into the Texas Tech
Viticulture Certificate Program. Cost for the workshop is $125 per
person or $200 per couple, and includes educational materials and lunch.
Registration can only be made through AgriLife Conference Services at
their Web site,
http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu, or by
calling (979) 845-2604. Austin: Travis County Master Gardeners Association
will present "Creating a Wildlife Garden," May 2, from
10 a.m. until noon, at Hampton Branch, Austin Public Library, 5125
Convict Hill Rd., Austin. This seminar will teach you how to build a
habitat that is more attractive to beautiful songbirds, butterflies,
frogs, and other beneficial wildlife. Using native wildflowers, shrubs,
and trees will increase the beauty of your property, protect the
environment, and provide a nurturing refuge for all types of animals.
Requirements for building a certified wildlife habitat will also be
covered. For more details, see
http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call
the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.
Tyler: 2009 Home Garden Tour, sponsored by the Smith County
Master Gardeners, will be held May 2, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Five delightful homes, ranging from a large formal traditional garden in
an historic neighborhood to a modest home in a country setting,
spotlight a variety of landscaping styles and methods. Tickets are $10
in advance and $12 the day of the tour. To order tickets: make checks
payable to SCMG and mail to 14608 Foxwood Circle, Tyler TX 75703.
Aransas/San Patrico Counties:
The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host a Hidden Gardens
Tour, Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Explore eight
beautiful gardens in Aransas and San Patricio Counties. $10 per person.
Tickets may be purchased at Green Acres, 611 E. Mimosa, Rockport, and at
Greens N Things, 801 Moore Ave., Portland. For additional information,
e-mail
ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103.
Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club will host its tenth annual Spring
Garden Tour on Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour, which is
open to the public, will highlight eight delightful gardens in the Sugar
Land area and feature diverse gardening styles. Tickets are $12 to view
all eight gardens or $3 for a single garden and are available for
purchase at any of the gardens. For a listing of all addresses and a map
to the gardens, visit
www.sugarlandgardenclub.org or call (281) 491-9609.
Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Rainwater
Harvesting," Noon-1 p.m., May 11, Pattie Dodson Health Center,
2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Glen and Kathy Chilek will speak. Free to
public. Bring sack lunch. For additional information, contact Victoria
County Extension Office, (361) 575-4581. Georgetown: The Native Plant Society of Texas,
Williamson County Chapter meets from 7 to 9 pm on the second Thursday of
each month at the Georgetown Library, 402 W 8th St., Georgetown. On
Thursday, May 14, Kelly Conrad Bender of Texas Parks and
Wildlife, and author with Noreen Damude of Texas Wildscapes: Gardening
for Wildlife, will speak on creating wildscapes and how you can get the
latest information, since the book is now out of print.
Fort Worth: The Greater Fort Worth
Herb Society's Annual Herb Festival will be held from 9 a.m. until 3
p.m., May 16, at the Fort Worth Botanic Center, 3220 Botanic
Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. For additional information, call (817)
874-6405, e-mail
festival@gfwhs.org, or visit
www.gfwhs.org.
Victoria: The Victoria County Master Gardeners Association will
hold its 2009 Annual Garden Tour May 16, from 9 a.m. until 5
p.m., and May 17, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Six beautiful gardens
which extend into home living areas will be featured. Tickets are $15
per person and may be ordered by check payable to VCMGA and addressed to
Victoria County AgriLife Office, 442 Foster Field Dr., Victoria, TX
77904. For additional information about locations and the May 16 tour
plant sale, call the AgriLife Office at (361) 575-4581. Rockport: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host
"Composting the Easy Way," presented by Russell Bell, Master Gardener, as one of their Brown Bag events, from
noon until 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, at the Aransas County
Library, 701 Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail
ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Greenville: The Hunt County Master Gardeners Town and Country
Tour will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. May 30 at Heritage
Garden, 2217 Washington St., Greenville. In the event of rain, the event
will be held June 6. For additional information, visit
www.huntcountymastergardeners.com or
call (903) 455-9885. Rockport: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host
"Rainwater Harvesting," a seminar presented by Karen Ivey,
Administrator, San Patricio Municipal Water District, from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30
1.m., Saturday, June 6, at the Old Rockport School,, 619 N. Live
Oak, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail
ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103.
Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Essentials for Building a
Trellis, Arbor and Raised Beds," Noon-1 p.m., June 8, at the
Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Ed Gregurek
will speak. Free to public. Bring sack lunch. For additional
information, contact Victoria County Extension Office, (361) 575-4581.
Austin: Travis County Master Gardeners Association
will present "Rainwater Harvesting for Your Garden," Saturday,
June 13,
from 10 a.m. until noon at Riverplace Country Club, 4207 River Place
Blvd., Austin. Enjoy a free seminar concentrating on capturing rainwater
and lowering water usage in your landscape. This session will teach you
all the basics on building a non-potable rainwater harvesting system. In
addition, learn about rain gardens which capture valuable rainwater in
your landscape. Vendors representing tank and gutter companies will be
available to answer specific questions. City of Austin representatives
will be available to answer permit and rebate questions. This seminar is
free and open to the public and does not require reservations. For more
details, visit
http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis
County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.
Austin: The Travis
County Master Gardeners Association are hosting "Becoming A Garden
Detective: Diagnosing Plant Problems," from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., June
16, at Steiner Ranch Towne Square Community Center, 12550 Country
Trails Lane, Austin. Just when you think you've done everything right by
your plants, one of them starts to go downhill. One of the biggest
challenges for gardeners is correctly diagnosing plant problems and
finding effective, safe solutions. Is your plant dying because of an
insect, environmental or disease problem? Learn the causes of plant
problems, the process for diagnosing plant problems, and preventive
garden management techniques. This class is free and open to the public.
A plant clinic will run during the seminar to help you diagnose current
problems so please bring samples of problem plants. For more
information, visit
http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis
County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.
Rockport: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host
"Weeds to Watch For," presented by Lonnie Matthew, Master Gardener, as one of their Brown Bag events, from
11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 16, at the Aransas County
Library, 701 Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail
ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Quitman: The Friends of the Arboretum is hosting a photography contest to promote
and document the natural resources, history and beauty of Wood County.
Both amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to
participate in this contest. Photographers are to submit electronic
images of flowers, native plants, landmarks, architectural elements, and
landscapes that depict one of the four seasons in Wood County. Images
must have been taken within Wood County, and within the last two years.
These photographs will be used by the Friends of the Arboretum various
print and electronic media to be distributed at various venues and
displayed on the Friends' website. First prize winners in each class
will receive a professionally printed 11 X 14 canvas of their original
work, which will be donated by jeb Originals in Winnsboro. Second and
third place winners will each receive a ribbon. And, all prize winners
will receive recognition from the display of their work in various
venues and forums. Classes are: Adult Amateur, Adult Professional,
Student Senior Division (Ages 17 to 14), and Student Jr. Division (age
13 and younger). There is no entry fee, but all entries must be
accompanied by the completed official entry form, which can be
downloaded at
http://woodcountyarboretum.com. Entries
must be received prior to midnight on July 1. Contestants may
enter as many times as they wish, but a separate official entry form
must be included for each entry. The Gov.
Hogg Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, located in Quitman, is a
23-acre site dedicated to gardens, walking trails and the preservation
of historic buildings. The development of the site is ongoing with
volunteer help from Wood County Master
Gardens, local garden clubs, various civic organizations and the
generosity of the area businesses. The Friends of the Arboretum is a
non-profit group dedicated to raising funds and volunteering time in
support of the development of the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. For additional information, contact Pam
Riley at (903) 967-2820 or email
friendsarboretum@yahoo.com.
Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Water Gardening," Noon-
1p.m., July 13, at the Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N.
Navarro St., Victoria. Pat Plowman will speak. Free to public. Bring
sack lunch. For additional information, contact Victoria County
Extension Office, (361) 575-4581.
Austin: The Austin Pond Society will host the 2009 Pound Tour
July 18 and 19. Approximately 15 ponds will be included in the
tour on Saturday and another 15 on Sunday. For additional information,
visit
www.austinpondsociety.org.
Rockport: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host
"Xeriscape Gardening with Native Plants," presented by Karen
Ivey, Administrator, San Patricio Municipal Water District, as one of their Brown Bag events, from
11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, at the Aransas County
Library, 701 Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail
ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Mulching, Composting and
Water Conservation," Noon-1 p.m., August 10, at the Pattie Dodson
Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Monica Pilat will speak.
Free to public. Bring sack lunch. For additional information, contact
Victoria County Extension Office, (361) 575-4581.
Schertz: The next Guadalupe County Master Gardener training class
is for anyone with a love for gardening and a desire to learn more about
horticulture. Classes are on Wednesday August 12 to December 9th
from 6:15 p.m. until 9:15 p.m. and two Saturdays at the Schertz Civic
Center, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz. Instructors include Texas A&M
AgriLife Extension specialists, staff and local experts, including
Malcolm Beck, Patty Leander and Drs. Larry Stein and Mark Black. Topics
include botany and plant growth, entomology, Xeriscaping, propagation,
herbs and vegetables, tree care and pruning principles, composting and
organic horticulture, water conservation and much more. Registration is
$170 with a 10% discount if received by June 10, and $125 for 2nd
household member if sharing a handbook. Payment plan also available. For
more information, an application and a list of speakers, please email
gsammermann@gvec.net or call (830) 372-4690. Applications are also
available on our Web site at
www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org. MONTHLY MEETINGS
Rockport: The Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners meets at 9
a.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the AgriLife Extension
Office - Aransas County, 611 E. Mimosa, Rockport. For additional
information, e-mail
aransas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361)
790-0103.
Kilgore: Northeast Texas Organic Gardeners
meets at 10 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Wildwood
Eco-Farm in Kilgore. For more information, call Carole Ramke at (903) 986-9475.
Allen: The Allen Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. on the
first Thursday of each month, February through December, at the
Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main St., Allen. For more information, visit
www.allengardenclub.org.
Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners meet at 7 p.m. on the second
Monday of each month at the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. For more
information, visit
www.main.org/aog.
Friendswood: The second Tuesday of each month the
Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold a free evening
educational program for the public, called the Green Thumb Series, at
Southeast Church of Christ, 2400 W Bay Area Blvd., Friendswood, about 1
mile west of I-45 and Baybrook Mall. For more
information visit
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu or call
(281) 991-8437.
Schertz: The Guadalupe County
(Schertz/Seguin) Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT)
meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Guadalupe County
Annex, 1101 Elbel Road, Shertz. A plant exchange and meet-and-greet
begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by a program at 7. For additional
information or an application to join NPSOT, contact
guadalupecounty@npsot.org.
NOTE: The April meeting date and location have changed. The April
meeting will be held Tuesday, April 14, at the Antique Rose
Emporium, 7561 E. Evans Road, San Antonio. Robbi Will, former commercial
plant nursery manager, will present a program on propagating native
plants. As usual, the program begins at 7 p.m., followed by a short
business meeting. Rockport: The Rockport
Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the second
Wednesday of each month, with the exceptions of June and July, to
discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical
uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation, meets at 619
N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport at 10 a.m. Sometimes they take
field trips and have cooking demonstrations in different locations. For
more information, contact Linda (361) 729-6037, Ruth (361) 729-8923 or
Cindy (979) 562-2153 or visit
www.rockportherbs.com.
Brownwood: Brown County Master Gardeners Association
meets the second Thursday of each month, from Noon to 1 p.m., at the Brown
County AgriLife Extension Office, 605 Fisk, Brownwood. For additional
information, call Freda Day (325) 643-1077, or Mary Engle (325)
784-8453. San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio
Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels
(corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels). For more information on programs, visit
www.sanantonioherbs.org.
College Station: The A&M Garden Club meets on
the second Friday of each month during the school year at 9:30
a.m. at the Senior Circle Rooms, College Station Professional Building
II, 1651 Rock Prairie Road, College Station. Expert
speakers, plant sharing, and federated club projects help members learn
about gardening in the Brazos Valley, floral design, conservation
topics, and more. For more information, visit
www.sallysfamilyplace.com/Clubs/GardenClub.htm.
Dallas: The Rainbow Garden Club of North Texas
meets the second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
Meetings are held at member’s homes and garden centers around the
area. For more information, visit
www.RainbowGardenClub.com.
Sugar Land:
Denton: The Denton Organic Society,
a group devoted to sharing information and educating the public
regarding organic principles, meets the third Wednesday of each month
(except July, August and December) at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N.
Bell Avenue. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings begin at
7 p.m. and are preceded by a social at 6:30. For more information,
call (940) 382-8551.
Glen Rose: The Somervell County
Master Gardeners meet at 10 a.m., the third Wednesday of each month at
the Somervell County AgriLife Extension office, 1405 Texas Drive, Glen
Rose. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call (254) 897-2809 or
visit
www.somervellmastergardener.org. Granbury: The Lake Granbury Master
Gardeners meet at 1 p.m. on the third
Wednesday of each month at the Hood County Annex 1, 1410 West
Pearl Street, Granbury. The public is invited to attend. There is an
educational program each month preceding the business meeting. For
information on topics call (817) 579-3280 or visit
http://www.hoodcountymastergardeners.org/.
Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas —
Houston (NPSOT-H) meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month except for October (4th Thursday) and December (2nd Thursday). Location
varies. For locations, for more information on programs, and for
information about native plants for Houston, visit
http://www.npsot.org/Houston.
Rosenberg: The
Fort Bend Master Gardeners meet at 7:15 p.m. on the third Thursday of
each month except December at the Bud O’Shieles Community Center
located at 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg. For more information, call (281)
341-7068 or visit
www.fbmg.com.
Seguin: The
Guadalupe County Master Gardeners meets the
third Thursday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension
Bldg. at 210 E. Live Oak at 7 p.m. For more information, phone (830) 379-1972 or
visit
www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
Longview: The Northeast Texas chapter of the Native
Plant Society of Texas meets the third Thursday of each month
at St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Longview. For more information, call
Logan Damewood at (903) 295-1984.
Edna: The Jackson County
Master Gardeners present their "Come Grown With Us" seminars
on the fourth Tuesday of each month, January through
October, beginning at 7 p.m. at 411 N. Wells, Edna. The seminars are
free, open to the public and offer 2 CEU hours to Master Gardeners
or others requiring them. For additional information, contact the
Jackson County Extension Office at (361) 782-3312.
Fort Worth: The Organic Garden Club of Forth
Worth meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month except
July and December at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens main building.
Refreshments are served. For more information, call (817) 274-8460.
Seabrook: The Harris
County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10
a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at The Meeting Room
(on the Lakeside) at Clear Lake Park, 5001 NASA Road 1, Seabrook. The
programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.
Dallas: The Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 6:45 p.m. on the
fourth Thursday of each month at the Fretz Park Recreation Center,
located at the corner of Hillcrest and Beltline Road in Dallas. For more
information, call (214) 824-2448 or visit
www.dogc.org.
Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m.
until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (except November
and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street,
Arlington. For more information, contact David at (817) 483-7746.
If you would like your organization’s events included in
"Upcoming Garden Events," please contact us at
Garden Events. To ensure inclusion in
this column, please provide complete details at least three weeks prior
to the event. |
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The Southern Kitchen
Garden
By William D. Adams and Thomas R. Leroy A kitchen garden, or potager, is a
celebration of the seasons: brimming with vegetables, herbs, flowers,
and even fruit trees, it’s our link with nature and a source for fresh
produce. The kitchen garden has always been an important part of life in
the rural South, at times meaning the difference between being well-fed
or going to bed hungry. In recent times, the kitchen garden has become
more fashionable and now more and more homeowners are reaping the
delicious rewards of growing their own food.
A kitchen garden needs little more than a
small raised bed, so an aspiring gardener with only a modest backyard
will have plenty of room to get started. If you have more space on your
hands, then you can include some produce requiring a little more space
like fruit trees, corn or pumpkins.
In the book, the authors with take you
through the process of starting your very own kitchen garden from
location to soil preparation to planting and then to harvest. It is also
loaded with useful information on propagation, pest control and is laced
with mouth-watering recipes and beautiful color photographs.
$21.30 plus shipping*
Order online with credit card at
www.texasgardener.com or call toll-free 1-800-727-9020.
*Or with credit card by phone and receive
FREE shipping. That is a $3.50 savings! Visa, MasterCard and Discover
accepted. |
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Wish you’d saved
them?
Are you missing an important issue of
Texas Gardener? Or, perhaps, just tired of thumbing through stacks
of back issues looking for the tips and techniques you need to make your
garden grow? These new CDs provide easy access to all six issues of Order by calling 1-800-727-9020.
(Discover, MasterCard and Visa accepted.)
*Other volumes will be available soon. |
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Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac
Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac is a giant monthly calendar for
the entire state — a practical, information-packed, month-by-month guide
for gardeners and "yardeners." This book provides everything you need to
know about flowers and garden design; trees, shrubs, and vines; lawns;
vegetable, herb, and fruit gardening; and soil, mulch, water, pests, and
plant care. It will help you to create beautiful, productive, healthy
gardens and have fun doing it.
$26.63 plus shipping*
Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or
order on-line.
*Mention
Texas Gardener’s Seeds when ordering by phone and we’ll waive shipping charges. (Discover, MasterCard and Visa
accepted.) |
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Fiber row cover
valuable year-round
Grow-Web encourages plant growth and development, and also provides
protection from insects, birds, diseases and frosts. It is also air and
water permeable and allows for ventilation. Grow-Web provides excellent
protection to seedlings when applied directly to the seedbed.
$30.64 per 12.3’ x 32.8’ roll (includes shipping!)
Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or
order on-line.
(Discover, MasterCard and Visa
accepted.) |
|
|
Missed an issue? Back issues of Texas Gardener’s Seeds are available at www.texasgardener.com/newsletters. Publisher: Chris S. Corby ● Editor: Michael Bracken Texas Gardener’s Seeds, P.O. Box 9005, Waco, Texas 76714 ● www.TexasGardener.com |