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August 24, 2011 Welcome to Texas Gardener’s Seeds, the weekly newsletter for Texas gardeners. Please do not reply to this e-mail because 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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Don’t depend on Mother Nature to water your drought-stricken trees
By Holly Huffman With the Lone Star State mired in a record-breaking drought, the parched trees that dot the landscape can no longer depend solely on Mother Nature to quench their thirst. Just like people, trees need water to survive. Without it, they can’t carry nutrients up into their leaves or push the sugar they create down into their roots. During damper days, a mature tree — a mighty oak, flowering magnolia or even a stately pecan — likely could make-do with just the rain provided by Mother Nature. But as she gets stingier and stingier with her watering can, that’s just not the case anymore. “We’re seeing trees dying now, and the longer this goes on, the worse it’s going to get,” said Paul Johnson, a Texas Forest Service regional urban forester in San Antonio. “If you’ve got a tree in your yard … it’s stressed. Watering is the single most important thing you can do for your tree during a drought. Without water, trees stop growing and drop their leaves in an act of self-preservation. As the drought worsens, so does the tree, making it more susceptible to a potentially-deadly insect infestation or disease. “Trees are amazingly resilient so things look a little better now than I expected, but they’re still under serious stress,” Johnson said. “It’s worth the investment in your water bill to avoid the very real cost of having a tree removed, never mind losing the shade and cooling effect and all the other things trees do for us.” The key is making sure you water the right amount, the right way, Johnson said, explaining that watering too much or too little can be just as detrimental. Texas Forest Service tree experts have compiled a list of watering tips that can help you nurse your trees through the drought: Before you drag out the hose, check for and follow local water restrictions, which often are enacted during a prolonged drought. In San Antonio, for example, residents can water just one day a week during early morning and late evening hours. Well-established, valuable, mature trees should be watered every week or two during times of major drought. When you water, do so deeply — 6 to 8 inches into the soil under the foliage of the tree. Avoid shallow, frequent watering. You can measure the depth with a long screwdriver; taking note of how easy it slides into the soil. The easiest way to give your tree a good, deep soak is with a soaker hose or sprinkler system. A mature tree needs about an inch of water — or 60 gallons per 10-foot by 10-foot area — every week or two. Time your sprinkler or soaker hose so you’ll know how long to run them. With a sprinkler, place an empty tuna or cat food can near the tree and time how long it takes to fill it up. With a soaker hose, curl it up inside a kiddie pool, let it run for a set period of time and then measure how much water is released. Young, newly-planted trees should be watered three times a week. During each watering, they need 5 gallons of water for every inch of stem — or trunk — diameter, which is measured 6 inches above the ground. So if your tree measures 6 inches in diameter, that’s 30 gallons of water, three times each week. Water should be concentrated at the base of a new tree, which is why water bags are ideal. If you don’t have access to them, drill a few holes in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket, place it next to the tree, fill it up and let the water slowly drain out. Generally, a tree is considered established about two to three years after planting, but the ongoing, extreme drought is causing some older trees to struggle. Keep a close eye on any trees planted within the last seven years. Another option is to reduce your watering needs by removing plants that surround your tree. Grass and trees often fight for available water. Replacing that grass — especially around new trees — with a 6-foot diameter, 2-inch-deep circle of mulch can help keep moisture on the ground and available to the tree. |
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Please, please water your trees
By Peg Marquardt Editor’s Note: Wichita Master Gardener Peg Marquardt, with the assistance of local Master Gardeners, recently produced signs distributed throughout Wichita Falls, Burkburnett and Iowa Park to remind residents to “Please...Please Water Your Trees!” Here she tells us what prompted her campaign to save the trees. About 8-10 weeks ago, I noticed that many trees and shrubs throughout the city were showing signs of heat and drought stress. I knew that if people had never before needed to water their older, established trees and shrubs, in order to save them (because rain or cooler temperatures would always come to the rescue), it might not occur to them that our present record- breaking weather situation was making it an absolute necessity, in order to save many hundreds of old, beautiful majestic trees. As time went on, I noticed those stress signs were quickly turning to impending or actual death of hundreds of trees and shrubs. My heart began to sink at the thought of the physical, emotional, financial and esthetic loss of these trees throughout our entire community and short of driving down every street and calling out the window to please water your trees, I knew I had to do something, and do it fast! That is how I came upon the idea of the signs. I need to thank many of the Wichita Falls City Officials for supporting and encouraging my passionate plea as well as my fellow Wichita Master Gardeners for supporting my idea and paying for the signs. Although it is admirable that the public is starting to become conservative with their water usage, losing a beautiful tree creates a costly loss that will take 20-30 years to regain. Not only is there a great loss to property value when a large tree dies, but the cooling shade and protection it offers to our homes, vehicles and pets (as well as to the rest of our landscape) is invaluable. A dead tree can cost hundreds of dollars to have removed and is a hazard to everyone in the vicinity if it is left to dry up and become brittle. It may be too late for some landscapes, but with immediate action, there still is hope for the others. Don’t worry about lawns (unless you have new or expensive sod), because grass will come back when we do get rain. Water plants that take a long time to become what they are, mainly trees and large shrubs. Water early in the morning or in the evening when the tree is less stressed by the intense heat. Water them slowly, so the water has a chance to penetrate deeply. You can do this best with a soaker hose surrounding a tree as far out as its branches grow (this is called the dripline and is where most of the feeder roots are located; don’t just lay a hose next to the trunk of a large tree). Slow watering should take about three hours to be adequately beneficial but keep in mind, the larger the tree, the more water it requires to survive in this oppressive heat. Under normal circumstances, watering well once a week would be adequate, but under our present circumstances, twice a week may be necessary. It’s up to us now, so good luck! And let’s all pray for rain! |
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Vote for Galveston: Island in the running for tree-planting
scholarship
By Holly Huffman The beautiful, green tree canopy that once shaded Galveston Island was nearly wiped out three years ago when devastating Hurricane Ike slammed into the coastline. Since then, civic leaders and community volunteers have worked tirelessly to rebuild and reforest the island. Now, they need your help. The Galveston Island Tree Conservancy’s NeighborWoods program has been selected as one of 20 finalists vying for part of a $150,000 scholarship fund offered through the 50 States for Good project. The contest is sponsored by Tom’s of Maine, which specializes in natural personal hygiene products. “We lost 40,000 trees to the Hurricane Ike storm surge. We’ve been told that it’s one of the largest urban forest disasters in recorded history,” said Priscilla Files, tree planting coordinator with the Galveston Island Tree Conservancy. “We need the benefits of these trees and we’re not just talking pretty. We need them for cooling our homes, air filtering, storm water run-off — all the infrastructure benefits. It will be beautiful, but it’s not a beautification project.” Working together with Texas Forest Service, conservancy members and city leaders developed a plan to plant 25,000 trees over five years in an effort to replace the island’s tree canopy. More than 8,000 trees have been planted so far including 450 planted through NeighborWoods earlier this year. NeighborWoods is a tree-planting program that calls for municipal leaders and community residents to join forces as they plant and care for trees planted in city rights of way. Six winners will be selected as part of the 50 States for Good project. One will receive a grand prize of $50,000, while the other five take home $20,000 each. If the conservancy wins, it will use the money to fund an upcoming NeighborWoods project, which involves planting more than 700 trees in just one day next March using only community volunteers, Files said. The help will include Sea Aggies working through Big Event, a community service program at Texas A&M University and its Galveston campus. “If we get the big kahuna prize, it would be huge. It would be one heck of a tree-planting party,” Files said, laughing. “We’re the only Texas finalist. We need Texans to vote for Texans, and we need people to vote every day.” Online voting lasts through Sept. 13, 2011. Fans can vote once a day until the contest ends. The six projects garnering the most votes will be declared the winners. |
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Tiny ants can be big bother to many South Central Texas
homeowners
Paul Schattenberg Pharaohs and rovers sighted in homes throughout South Central Texas! No, it’s not a tabloid headline. The pharaohs aren’t related to King Tut or Ramses, and the rovers aren’t really too wild. However, these two diminutive ant species — found in pantries, on kitchen counters, and in and around sinks — can be a big bother for many South Central Texas residents, said Texas AgriLife Extension Service experts. “These ants typically become more active in the summer,” said Wizzie Brown, integrated pest management specialist for AgriLife Extension in Travis County. “Usually people immediately think any small, abundant ants making trails — usually to and from food or water sources in the home — are pharaoh ants, but they might be rover ants. Though different species, both types of ant are very small and move single-file in a row, so it’s easy to be confused.” Brown said, however, that rover ants are darker — a dark brown or almost black color as opposed to the pharaoh ant’s orange or rust color. Also, rovers are outdoor ants that come indoors searching for food and water — an activity that has become more prevalent with the region’s prolonged drought. “Pharaoh ants are also known as sugar ants due to their preference for sugary or sweet foods, and are also called pissants,” she said. While rover ants come indoors from the outside, pharaoh ants are already in the home, and only need a little encouragement to come out, Brown said. “The pharaoh ant is really about the only ant you can call a strictly urban ant in that it usually lives indoors, making its home behind walls or under appliances or carpet,” said Molly Keck, integrated pest management specialist in Bexar County. “They’re often found going into or coming out of the cover plates of electrical outlets. The outlets make it easier for them to access interior walls and they can use the wires as their super-highway to your kitchen or bathroom.” Rover ants typically make their home in the leaf litter on roofs or in gutters or under rocks, stones or concrete, she added. “While rover ants will eat sweet foods when they get really hungry, they seem to be most attracted to foods containing protein, such as dog food or meat,” she said. “You’ll more often find them clustered around a small piece of meat than something sugary.” Like other ants, rover ants that invade homes will often nest in damp interior walls around plumbing or near leaky window sills. Keck said the diminutive size of both species makes them relatively unobtrusive — unless moving en masse in a long trail across a household surface — and that neither species has much of a bite. Still, most people consider the ants a pest and are interested in ways to control them, Brown noted. “Ant baits are the best method of control for both types,” Brown said. “You don’t want to use a spray on either of these species as that likely will split up the colony and ultimately lead to more ants in more locations,” she said. “You need to be aware of differences in baits and the safest and most effective ways to apply or set them out.” “Typically there are only liquid baits or bait stations labeled for indoor use to control pharaoh ants, so you shouldn’t go putting a pile of ant bait in your kitchen or bathroom,” Keck warned. Keck said she prefers to use a solid bait to control pharaoh ants and a gel or liquid bait to control rover ants. “Rover ants can enter your house through weep holes, cracks or any other opening large enough to fit through,” she said. “For better pest control, you should seal any cracks or openings around windows and doors as well as other possible points of entry. “Outdoors, remove the remnants of any uneaten dog food, and trim the grass touching your house and the branches touching your roof as these may provide a means of access. Indoors, remove food sources — bread, cakes, chips, etc. — from kitchen surfaces and clean those surfaces thoroughly before using the bait.” Brown noted that removing alternative food sources makes the ant bait more appealing to the ants. “But if the ants don’t seem to be eating the bait, you may want to try a different type,” she said. “For example, some ant baits are sugar-based and others are protein-based, so the effectiveness of the bait may depend on the type of ant and the sort of food the ants are seeking.” Brown said placing a bait station near the area where the ants appear to be most active is likely the best approach to control. “But if you’re using a bait, be sure to keep it out of the reach of children and pets, and particularly keep it away from places where your cat might be able to get to it,” she said. She added that since pharaoh ants often enter and exit thought electrical outlets, taking the cover plate off and dabbing a small amount of gel bait in the wall void can be very effective. “Many people think you have to put a lot of gel in there to do any good, but a small amount is plenty to be effective,” she said. “Just remember to scrape off the old bait before putting on any new bait since the bait will dry and harden over time.” Brown and Keck both noted that while the ants are not a major health threat, they can potentially transmit disease and contaminate sterile materials — a particular problem in a hospital or similar setting where a high level of sanitation needs to be maintained. “For both ant species, it’s important that you choose the right type of control because of their ability to disperse and repopulate,” Brown said. “That’s why it is so difficult for some people to get rid of them. They’re persistent and can re-establish quickly, so you have to manage them properly so they don’t relocate and repopulate in multiple locations.” |
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Gardening tips
If you have notice limbs dying in your pecan trees, chances are that they are suffering from a zinc deficiency. This is a problem that often occurs in the western part of the state where soils have a tendency to be alkaline. To remedy this problem, apply several foliar feeding of zinc during the growing season. 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 Texas Gardener 2011 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 10 months from October 2010 through July 2011 have been the driest for that 10-month period in Texas since 1895, when the state began keeping rainfall records. |
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Upcoming garden events.
If you would like your organization’s
events included in "Upcoming Garden Events" or would like to make a
change to a listed event, please contact us at
Garden Events. To ensure inclusion in
this column, please provide complete details at least three weeks
prior to the event.
Bexar County: Register now for Bexar County Master Gardener Class #54. Classes
begin August 24, meeting once a week 4 p.m.-8 p.m., and end November 16.
Application form available at
www.bexarcountymastergardeners.org.
Click on New Master Gardener
Class Application. Registration deadline is August 10.
Cibolo: Do you have a love for gardening
and want to learn more about horticulture? Then the next Guadalupe
County Master Gardener training class is for you. Classes are on
Wednesdays, August 24 to December 7 from noon to 4:30 p.m. at St Paul
Evangelical Church, 108 S Main, Cibolo. Learn from Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension specialists, staff and local experts. Topics cover 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 August 1. For more information, visit
www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org or contact Jose Antonio
Contreras,
elmerojose@gmail.com, 830-401-0800.
Bryan: A Fall Gardening Seminar will be held from 8:30 a.m.
until 3 p.m., August 27, at The Brazos Center, Room 102, 3232
Briarcrest Drive, Bryan. Sessions include Jim Johnson, AAF, AIFD, TMFA,
Distinguished Lecturer, Texas A&M University on "Seeing is Believing";
Kayron Dube, DDS, Brazos County Master Gardener on "Earth
Systems—Soils"; Patty Leander, Travis County Master Gardener Vegetable
Specialist and Texas Gardener contributing writer on "Fall Vegetable Gardening"; and
Chris Wiesinger, The Southern Bulb Company, on "The Bulb Hunter &
Heirloom Bulbs." Registration is $50/person and includes snacks and
sandwich lunch buffet. Preregistration by August 23 is preferred. Seminar
information and registration form is available at
brazosmg.com.
Nacogdoches: On Saturday, August 27, the SFA Department of Agriculture will host an
Outdoor Family Fun Day at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900
Raguet Street, from 9 a.m. to noon as part of its Nacogdoches Naturally
program. “Families will be able to experience a sampling of programs we
have planned for the coming year. They will be able to learn how to set
up a tent, practice casting with a fishing pole, learn how to use a
compass, try their hand at outdoor cooking or just go for a leisurely
hike,” explained Elyce Rodewald, education coordinator for SFA Gardens.
“Many of our program partners will be coming out to join us on this day
and we will offer activities to meet a variety of interests,” said Kerry
Lemon, project director for Nacogdoches Naturally. “Archery, bird
watching, making (and eating!) homemade ice cream, and going on a
scavenger hunt are enjoyable for people of all ages. We are excited
about starting off our program year with this fun, educational day for
families to be together outdoors.” Ms. Lemon added, “This will also be
an opportunity for families to sign up for our weekend programs
scheduled each month August 2011-July 2012.” There is no charge for the
Outdoor Family Fun Day and no registration is required. Parking will be
available at Raguet Elementary School. For more information about this
event or future events, call 936-468-1832 or email
erodewald@sfasu.edu.
San Angelo: There’s still hope for home grown
veggies this year for those who plant a fall garden, according to Texas
AgriLife Extension Service expert. To help gardeners succeed, the
AgriLife Extension office in Tom Green County will conduct a fall
vegetable gardening class at 6 p.m., August 30, at the Tom Green 4-H Center,
3168 N. U.S. Highway 67. “Most gardeners have struggled with their
vegetables this summer,” said Allison Watkins, AgriLife Extension
horticulturist in Tom Green County. “The heat and drought have made it
very difficult to grow healthy, productive plants. Many people don’t
realize that fall is a great time to garden. Milder temperatures and
fewer pests allow vegetable plants to produce well, making them easier
to care for than in the late spring and summer.” Watkins said the class
will provide information on planning and preparing a fall garden, pest
control, crop selection and timing, and gardening basics. There will
also be a question and answer session at the end of the program. “Even
some avid summer gardeners don’t realize that many of their favorite
spring garden plants such as tomatoes and squash can be successfully
grown in the fall,” Watkins said. “Then later in the season there are
cool-season crops to consider such as spinach and broccoli. And best of
all? It’s way more pleasant to work outside when it’s cooler.” Watkins
said gardeners further north in the Panhandle might run into trouble
with cold weather hindering warm season vegetable crops, but they can
certainly plant cool season crops successfully. The deadline to register
is Aug. 23. Individual registration is $25 which includes a meal, a
tomato plant and a chance at door prizes. Participants can pay at the
door, but all must RSVP to attend by contacting Watkins at 325-659-6522
or
aewatkins@ag.tamu.edu.
Seabrook: Heidi Sheesley, TreeSearch Farms, will present a
preview of the Fall Sale plants from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m., Wednesday,
August 31, at The Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park (on the lake
side), 5001 NASA Parkway, Seabrook. This lecture is free and open to the
public. For more information, visit
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort/.
San Antonio: James Bliek,
teacher of Floral Design, North East ISD, will teach “Floral Design
Mechanics” at 10 a.m., Wednesday, September 7, at the San Antonio Garden
Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels & Funston, near the Botanical Gardens.
Wonder what to do with those flowers you bring in from the Garden? Join
this free lecture at the San Antonio Garden Center’s monthly meeting.
For additional information, contact
Sagc2004@sbcglobal.net or call 210-824-0435.
Austin: Fall Transplanting and Dividing
Perennials will be presented from 10 a.m. until noon, Saturday,
September 10, at Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd.,
Austin. Fall is the best time to transplant and divide your garden
perennials. Learn how to share your extra plants with others and
re-locate perennials that may have overgrown their current place in the
landscape. Get a jump on spring blooms by giving them a chance to
develop a strong root system. Join Master Gardener Velia Sanchez-Ruiz in
proper planning and execution of these essential garden tasks. For more
information, contact the Master Gardeners Help Line at 512-854-9600 or
visit
www.tcmastergardeners.org. Nacogdoches: Texas Gardener columnist Greg Grant leads "Landscape Design" from 9 a.m.
until noon, September 10, in Room 118, Ag Building, Stephen F.
Austin State University, Nacogdoches. $15 members, $20 non-members. For
more information or to make reservations, call 936-468-18312 or email
erodewald@sfasu.edu.
Pasadena: The best perennials, vines, gingers, bulb lilies and
herbs for the Gulf Coast will be available to purchase at the Fall Sale
and Expo, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturday, September 10, at
the Campbell Hall at the Pasadena Fairgrounds. 7600 Red Bluff, Pasadena.
For more information, visit
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort/. Haynesville, La: The thirteenth Annual Haynesville Celebration of
Butterflies will be held Saturday, September 11, at the Claiborne Parish
Fairgrounds in Haynesville, Louisiana, beginning with the annual
Butterfly Parade at 9:00 a.m. The day’s events will include a number of
activities including musical entertainment, creative fun for kids, a
nature photography contest, and a number of educational seminars. At 10
that morning, Michael Seal, owner and operator of “The Funny Farm” will
present “Bromeliads: Easier to Grow than Pronounce.” At 11:30 a.m.,
James Dean, member of the Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society who has been
built and erected more than 1,000 nest boxes over the years will present
“Bluebird Trails Across America.” The afternoon seminars begin at 1 p.m.
with Texas Gardener columnist and Heirloom Gardening in the
South co-author, Greg Grant, from the SFA Gardens at Stephen F.
Austin State University, presenting “Flapping about My Favorite
Butterfly Plants.” Later, at 3:20 p.m., Dr. Charles Allen, botanist and
author from Fort Polk, will talk about “Wildflowers of Louisiana.”
Before ending with a drawing for a butterfly quilt, host Loice
Kendrick-Lacey will present “A Butterfly Buffet: Guess Who’s Coming to
Dinner?” In addition, butterfly plants, crafts, and food will be for
sale. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children 6-18. The event is
sponsored by the Claiborne Chamber of Commerce, the Haynesville Garden
Club, and the LSU AgCenter. Haynesville, Louisiana is located on U.S.
Highway 79 in the Pineywoods, near the Arkansas border. It is
approximately 1.5 hours from Shreveport. For more information about the
Haynesville Celebration of Butterflies call Mrs. Loice Kendrick-Lacy at
318-624-1929 or 870-234-4910 or e-mail
loicelacy@att.net. Other local
information is available at
www.claiborneone.org.
Brown County:
Brown County and Central Texas Master Gardeners Association will partner
this fall to present a Master Gardeners class, to be held Tuesdays
beginning Sept. 13 through Nov. 15. For further information and
application forms, visit
http://brown-tx.tamu.edu/brown-tx@tamu.edu or mcculloch-tx.tamu.edu/mcculloch-tx@tamu.edu.
Application deadline is August 15.
Marion:
The Guadalupe County (Schertz-Seguin) Chapter of the Native Society of
Texas will resume regular monthly meetings Tuesday, September 13.
Botanist and former supervisor for the San Antonio Botanical Center Paul
Cox will present "Amazing Trees." Paul is co-author of Texas Trees-A
Friendly Guide. He will have some of the books to sell. The Society
meets the Second Tuesday of the Month at The Library, 500 Bulldog,
Marion. There will be a plant exchange and "meet and greet" at 6:30 p.m.
followed by the program at 7 p.m. It is open to the public and visitors
are welcome. For more information, directions to The Library, or
membership applications visit
www.npsot.org.guadalupecounty.
Seabrook: Dr. Carol Brouwer will present a lecture on Tree
Care from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 13, at
The Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park (on the lake side), 5001 NASA
Parkway, Seabrook. This lecture is free and open to the public. For more
information, visit
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort/.
Cross Roads: The National Junior Master Gardener specialist training
will be held in Cross Roads, September 15-17. This dynamic and intensive
2-1/2 day training conference is designed for those coordinating or
supporting JMG programs at the local, county, and regional level. Upon
completion, attendees will receive certification as a JMG Specialist by
the National Junior Master Gardener Program office and a host of
invaluable resources to grow JMG and youth gardening programs in the
local, regional or state level. For more information and to register,
visit
http://dcmga.com/events/2011-JMG-specialist/ or call 940-349-2892.
Kingsland: Learn
about the care and feeding of "House Plants" with Master Gardener Violet
Carson at a free program at noon Thursday, September 15, at the
Kingsland Library. This is presented by the Green Thumb Programs of the
Highland Lakes Master Gardeners in conjunction with Texas AgriLife
Extension. To learn about the Green Thumb programs and/or to be reminded
about attending, please visit
http://yantislakesidegardens.giving.officelive.com/greenthumb.aspx. San Antonio: The Amazing Butterfly Exhibit at the San Antonio
Botanical Garden, 555 Funston at N. New Braunfels, San Antonio, opens
the weekend of September 17-18 and continues through January 8,
2012. Explore the interactive maze to learn about the incredible life
cycle of butterflies and the surprising challenges they face every day.
The exhibit is free with admission. Admission is $8 adults; $6 students,
seniors, military; $5 children age 3-13. For additional information,
call 210-829-5100 or visit
www.sabot.org. Rockport: Todd
Cutting, Master Gardener, will present "Starting Winter Vegetables" from noon until 1 p.m., Tuesday,
September 20, at the Aransas
County Library, 701 E. Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information,
call (361)-790-0103.
Seabrook: Joe Williams, Horticulture Manager for the Houston
Zoo, will discuss "How to Maintain the Zoological Gardens" at10 a.m.,
Wednesday, September 21, at The Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park
(on the lake side), 5001 NASA Parkway, Seabrook. This lecture is free
and open to the public. For more information, visit
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort/. Houston: The Great Plants for Houston fall
plant sale will take place Saturday, September 24, at the Texas
Cooperative Extension, 3033 Bear Creek Dr., Houston. The sale day will
begin with a Plant Overview by Dr. Jean Fefer from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m.
The sale opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 1 p.m. The gardens will be
decorated with scarecrows which will be offered for sale by silent
auction throughout the morning of the sale. There will be booths in the
auditorium of the Extension Office building staffed by Master Gardeners
ready to discuss garden questions. There will be a garden book sale
offering the latest in information about gardening in the lobby. For
additional information, call 281-855-5600.
Victoria: The Victoria County Master Gardener
Association fall symposium will be September 24 at the VEG pavilion,
Victoria County 4-H Activity Center and the Victoria Regional Airport
Officers Club across from airport control tower in Victoria. The event
will begin at 8 a.m. with registration and conclude at 3 p.m. Emphasis
will be on growing trees and container gardening. Famed garden expert
Jerry Parsons of San Antonio, luncheon speaker, will discuss gardening
in the Coastal Bend. Heidi Shessley of TreeSearch Farms in Houston will
open the program at 9 a.m. For program and registration information
telephone Victoria County AgriLife Extension Office at 361-575-4581.
Lufkin: Dr. Douglas
Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife
with Native Plants will present “A Case for Native Plants” at 7 p.m.
Thursday, September 29, at the Museum of East Texas, 503 North 2nd St.,
Lufkin. Tallamy is Professor and
Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology and director
of the Center for Managed Ecosystems at the University of Delaware in
Newark, Delaware, where he has authored 73 research articles and has
taught Insect Taxonomy, Behavioral Ecology, and other courses for 30
years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many
ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine
the diversity of animal com-munities. His book Bringing Nature Home;
How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens was published by
Timber Press in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 silver medal by the Garden
Writer’s Association. This lecture is free and open to the public. For
more information. call 936-634-6414 ext 102 or visit
http://go-lufkin.com/mastergardeners/.
Denton: Denton County Master Gardener Association
presents the 2011 Fall Garden Festival on Saturday, October 1. This free
event is held on the Denton Bible Church campus at the corner of
Nottingham and Mingo, Denton. This year’s theme is “Locavore,” focusing on those who eat foods grown locally whenever possible. This event includes
educational demonstrations and exhibits, vendors, and presentations.
Speakers include Executive Chef Charles Younts from the Classic Café in
Roanoke, Sue Newhouse and Trish Percy from Feed Texas First, Gene
Gumfory from Shiloh Field Community Garden, and Dr. Maggie Jover, from
Texas AgriLife Extension. For a complete list of exhibitors, vendors and
presentations, visit
http://dcmga.com/ or call 940-349-2892.
Conroe: The Montgomery County Master
Gardener Association is pleased to present Greg Grant, Horticulturist,
Plant Propagator and Humorist on Tuesday, October 4. The program will
start at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Thomas LeRoy Education Center,
9020 Airport Road, Conroe, which is across the street from the Lone Star
Convention Center. Greg is a contributor to Texas Gardener Magazine,
among others, and his topic for the evening will be Home Landscaping — Texas:
Right Plant, Right Place. His talk will include basic landscaping design
principles as well as some of his favorite plants. This is a rare opportunity to see one of
Texas’ best gardening speakers in a local setting. The fee will be
$20.00 per person and seating will be limited. Please call 936-539-7824
Monday through Friday for more information, or visit
www.montgomerycountymastergardeners.org. There will also be
information available about the Montgomery County Master Gardeners’ Fall
Plant Sale at this event, which will be held Saturday, October 15, from
9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Rockport: Dr. Marsha Hendrix, Master Gardener and Director of
the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, and Beth Wilson, Master
Gardener. will present "Recreating the Fulton Mansion Garden" from noon until 1 p.m., Tuesday,
October 18, at the Aransas
County Library, 701 E. Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information,
call (361)-790-0103.
Rockport: Keith Pawelek, Manger of Caesar Kleberg Wildlife
Research Institute, will present "Native Plants and Invasive Plants" from
10:15 a.m. until 12:15 p.m., Saturday, October 22, at the Aransas
County Library, 701 E. Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information,
call (361)-790-0103.
Rockport: Darlene Goorish, Master Gardener, will present "Winter
Care of Tropicals" from noon until 1 p.m., Tuesday, November 15, at the Aransas
County Library, 701 E. Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information,
call (361)-790-0103.
MONTHLY MEETINGS
Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners meet at noon the
first Tuesday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension, 3033 Bear Creek Drive (near the intersection of Highway 6 and Patterson Road), Houston. For additional information visit
http://hcmga.tamu.edu or call 281-855-5600.
Rockport: Rockport:
Monthly meetings of the Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners are held
at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Texas AgriLife
Extension Service - Aransas County Office, 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 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. 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.
Brownwood: The Brown
County Master Gardeners Association meets the first Thursday of
each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension
Office, 605 Fisk Ave., Brownwood. For further information, call Mary
Green Engle at 325-784-8453.
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.
Marion: The Guadalupe County (Schertz/Seguin) Chapter of the Native Plant
Society of Texas meets on the second Tuesday of each month except
July and August at The Library, 500 Bulldog, Marion. There is a plant
exchange and meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program
at 7 p.m. Visitors are welcome. For more information or an application
to join NPSOT visit
www.npsot.org/GuadalupeCounty/ or contact contact
guadalupecounty@npsot.org.
Longview: The Gregg County Master Gardeners
Association meets the second Wednesday of each month from noon to
1 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension Office, 405 E. Marshall Ave.,
Longview. The public is invited to attend. There is an educational
program preceding the business meeting. For further information call
Cindy Gill at 903-236-8429 or visit
www.gregg-tx.tamu.edu.
Rockport: The Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the
second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. at 619 N. Live Oak Street,
Room 14, Rockport, to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical
uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation. 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.org and
http://rockportherbies.blogspot.com.
Beaumont: The Jefferson County Master Gardeners meet at 7 p.m. the
second Thursday of each month at the AgriLife Extension Office,
1225 Pearl Street, Suite 200, Beaumont. For more information, call 409-835-8461.
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.
Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the
Native Plant Society of Texas meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. the
second Thursday of each month at the Georgetown Public Library, 402
W. 8th Street. Georgetown. For additional information, contract Billye
Adams at 512-863-9636 or visit
http://www.npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/default.htm.
Orange: The Orange County Master Gardeners meet at the
Salvation Army in Orange on the second Thursday of each month. A covered-dish dinner at 6:30 p.m. is followed by a speaker and business
meeting at 7 p.m. 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.
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.
Arlington: The Arlington Men's Garden Club meets from 7 p.m.
until 9 p.m. on the third Monday of each month (except December)
at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more
information, contact Lance Jepson at
LJepson@aol.com.
Cleburne: The Johnson County Master Gardeners meet at 2 p.m. on the
third Monday of each
month at McGregor House, 1628 W. Henderson, Cleburne,
which includes a program and a meet & greet. For
more information, call Diane Asberry at 817-558-3932.
Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club meets on the
third Tuesday of each month, September through November
and January through April at 10 a.m. at the Sugar Land
Community Center, 226 Matlage Way, Sugar Land. The club hosts a
different speaker each month. For more information, visit
www.sugarlandgardenclub.org.
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.somervellmastergardeners.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/.
Seabrook: The Harris
County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10
a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at The Meeting Room
at Clear Lake Park (on the Lakeside), 5001 NASA Road 1, Seabrook. The
programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.
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 7:00 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 at 7 p.m. the
third Thursday of each month, except December, at the Texas AgriLife Extension
Bldg. at 210 E. Live Oak, Seguin. An educational program precedes the
business meeting. The public is invited to attend. For topic or other information,
call 830-379-1972 or
visit
www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
Atlanta: The Caddo Wildflower Chapter of Native Plants Society meets the
fourth Tuesday of each month at the Horne Enterprise building in
Atlanta at 7 p.m. Visitors are welcome. For additional information,
contact Kay Lowery at
frostkay268@aol.com.
Brackenridge Park: The Native Plant Society San Antonio Chapter
meets every fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the
Lions Field Adult and Senior Center, 2809 Broadway at E. Mulberry, Brackenridge Park,
except August and December. Social and seed/plant exchange at 6:30 p.m.
Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bea at 210-999-7292 or visit
www.npsot.org/sanantonio.
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 817-263-9322 or visit
www.ogcfw.webs.com.
San Antonio: The Native Plant Society of Texas San Antonio
Chapter meets the fourth Tuesday of the month, except August and
December, at the Lions Field Adult & Senior Center, 2809 Broadway,
San Antonio. Social and plant/seed exchange at 6:30 p.m., program at 7:00 p.m. For
more information, visit
www.npsot.org/sanantonio or call Bea at 210-999-7292.
Leander: The Leander Garden Club meets on the fourth Thursday of each month
(except July and August) at 10:30 a.m. at the Leander Presbyterian
Church, 101 N. West Drive, Leander, unless there is a field trip or an
event at a member's home. Following a short business meeting, there is
usually a program, followed by a shared pot-luck luncheon. To confirm
the meeting place and time, please call Cathy Clark-Ramsey at 512-963-4698 or email
texascatalina@yahoo.com.
Dallas: The Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month at the North Haven Gardens, 7700
Northaven Rd., 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.
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Texas Gardener’s Seeds
is published weekly. © Suntex Communications, Inc. 2011. All rights
reserved. You may forward this publication to your friends and
colleagues if it is sent in its entirety. No individual part of this
newsletter may be reproduced in any manner without prior written
permission from the publisher.
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
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