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February 8, 2012 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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Texas Forest Service looking for landowners with ash trees
Texas Forest Service Texas Forest Service soon will be surveying ash trees across the state for signs of the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that kills its host. An exotic wood-boring beetle from Asia, the dark, metallic green insect bores into ash trees and feeds on the area between the wood and the bark, effectively killing the tree. The half-inch-long pest was first found in Michigan in 2002, and since has spread to at least 15 different states and Canada. The survey is designed to help tree experts determine if the beetle also has spread to Texas. “It’s killing millions of ash trees in the Lake states,” said Ron Billings, Texas Forest Service Forest Health Manager. “Right now, the emerald ash borer hasn’t been detected in Texas. The closest known location is Missouri. But these insects can be easily spread.” Beginning in March, foresters — working together with partnering agencies and trained volunteers — will begin hanging large, purple traps from select ash trees in Central and East Texas. They’ll be checked in June and August and then removed. Resembling a three-paneled box kite, the purple traps will be hung in or near ash trees in state and federal parks, campgrounds and on private lands with landowner permission. Any suspicious-looking beetles that resemble emerald ash borers will be collected for review by experts. More than 700 survey traps will be set out in 71 Texas counties this year as part of a cooperative effort between the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Texas Forest Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Stephen F. Austin State University College of Forestry and Agriculture and several volunteer citizen scientist groups. If you’re a landowner with ash trees — the only known host — on your property, live in one of the counties being monitored and would like to participate, surveyors could use your help. Notify your closest Texas Forest Service office or contact a Regional Forest Health Specialist in your area: Joe Pase at 936-639-8170 or jpase@tfs.tamu.edu (East Texas) James Houser at (512) 339-4589 or jhouser@tfs.tamu.edu (Central and South Texas) If the location is suitable, surveyors will set up and monitor the trap for you and then remove it at the end of the survey. If present in Texas, adult beetles would be searching for new hosts between April and August. After selecting a tree, the adults reproduce and their young larvae spend the winter feeding just beneath the bark before emerging in the spring as adults. The process repeats as the new adults fly off to find their own host. “Early detection and eradication are key steps in preventing the emerald ash borer from becoming established in Texas,” Billings said, explaining that infestations often start when people move infested nursery trees, logs or firewood into uninfested areas. For more information on the emerald ash borer and the trapping program, visit www.emeraldashborer.info. |
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AgriLife Extension horticulturist: Now is a good time in South Central Texas to prepare for spring fruition, competition By Paul Schattenberg Now is the time to think about planting fruit trees, ornamental annuals and other plants in South Central Texas for home landscaping and to show in spring competition, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert in San Antonio. “While there’s still an outside chance of a hard freeze, indications are good that the rest of winter will be mild enough to allow plant establishment and survival to the spring,” said David Rodriguez, AgriLife Extension agent for horticulture, Bexar County. “And if you have a greenhouse or other climate-controlled growing area, the weather is even less of a factor.” He said the South Central Texas climate permits the planting of trees, shrubs and ornamental plants just about all year long. “When planting a tree, shrub or ornamental plant, you can back fill the hole with the dirt you dug out, and this allows for more uniform water penetration to the root area,” he said. “Make sure the plantings have fresh, plump roots and briefly soak the root system in water. Then when you dig the hole, make the sides rough, not smooth. After the initial watering, you can water the roots sparingly as dormant plants need less water.” Rodriguez said an early start on planting will be particularly helpful to people interested in participating in spring competitions, including the Alamo Area Horticulture Show and Contest which will take place May 26 during Festival of Flowers activities in San Antonio. The Alamo Area Horticulture Show and Contest is presented by AgriLife Extension and the Bexar County Master Gardener association with sponsorship support provided by the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association. For the past two years, the contest has been part of Festival of Flowers activities held at the Alzafar Shrine facility, 901 N. Loop 410 West, between Blanco Road and Stone Oak Parkway. “This will be the third year of the competition and we are seeing a steady increase in the number and variety of entries,” said Rodriguez, one of the show coordinators. “There is a limit of three entries per division per exhibitor and all entries must have been grown by the exhibitor for at least three months prior to the competition.” Rodriguez said the show and contest is open to amateur home gardeners from Bexar and surrounding counties. Winning entries will be presented in nine different categories, including foliage and blooming potted or container plants; cactus and succulents; cut foliage, flowers and blooms; special displays, such as hanging baskets, dish gardens and container gardens; and vegetables and fruits. “The show is open to amateur gardeners of all ages, and contestants 17 years old and younger are judged separately from adult contestants,” he said. Rodriguez said the competition’s 2011 adult Best of Show winner was Jo Ann Bradley’s “Cajun Moon” rose spray, while the junior Best of Show winner was Cody Reiser’s “Succulent Garden” cactus arrangement. “The vegetables and fruits division of the show is usually a ‘growers’ choice’ and may include tomatoes, peppers, greens, onions and other in-season crops,” he said. “Growers should show three to five samples of the same variety — unblemished and uniform in size, color and overall growth. They also should have stems attached to help confirm they are home-grown.” He said each exhibitor must complete an official entry form either prior to the show or at the time of entering an exhibit. Guidelines and an entry form may be found at the Festival of Flowers website at http://safestivalofflowers.com or the AgriLife Extension office website for Bexar County, http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu. For more information, contact Rodriguez at 210-467-6575 or dhrodriguez@ag.tamu.edu, Mary Ann Johnson, majmgbc39@mac.com, or Sandy Justice, sandy@sandyjustice.com. |
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Learn to talk to your landscape plants as you deal with drought
By Robert Burns Dealing with drought, dead trees, water-use restrictions, wildfire
concerns: Yes, there will be some “downer” topics at the East Texas
Spring Landscape and Garden Conference, set Feb. 11 in Tyler, said a
Texas AgriLife Extension Service gardening expert.
But there will be a lot of fun topics too, said Keith Hansen,
AgriLife Extension horticulture agent for Smith County and program
planner.
“We’re having a variety of subjects that will help homeowners and
gardeners cope with drought conditions and water restrictions, plus some
fun and interesting topics,” Hansen said.
Held at the Tyler Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Dr., registration
for the program will be $35, payable at the door by cash or check only
and will include a hot lunch. Registration will start at 7:30 a.m., with
the program concluding at about 3:30 p.m.
The first presentation of the morning will be “Learn to Think Like a
Plant, Then You can Talk to Them,” by Dr. David Reed, professor and
associate dean at the Texas A&M University department of horticultural
sciences, College Station.
“Reed talks about plants being ‘schizophrenic hermits,’” Hansen said.
“They ‘live alone’ and ‘talk to themselves.’ But gardeners can learn the
‘language’ plants use to grow and function, and how that knowledge helps
us grow and take care of them.”
Another fun topic will be “Tillandsias: Easy-to-Grow Air Plants,”
given by Carmen Wagner, bromeliad expert, Canton.
“Carmen will tell us about her favorite tillandsias,” Hansen said.
“These are unique and easy-to-grow plants that can be used in a wide
variety of ways as decorations because they don’t need soil to grow. She
will discuss several types, and how they can be used around the home.”
Also in the morning will be “Composting – Good for Your Soil,” by
Malcolm Beck, author of the “Secret Life of Compost.”
“Malcolm Beck has been called the ‘Father of Compost’ in Texas,”
Hansen said. “He has been making and selling compost for decades in the
San Antonio area and is highly regarded by gardeners and
horticulturists.”
Afternoon topics will focus on dealing with drought, Hansen said.
“Firewise Landscaping – Give Your Home a Break,” will be jointly
presented by Anne Brown and Dee Bishop, both Smith County Master
Gardeners and Firewise Landscape Specialists.
In “Making Every Drop Count,” Hansen will discuss various water
conservation techniques in light of projected water-use restrictions
predicted for Tyler and other area communities this summer. He noted
that despite recent rains, there are still projections for a drought or
at least dryer than normal weather this summer.
Daniel Duncum, with the Texas Forest Service, will answer the
question “Are My Trees Dead?”
This is an important question to ask before hiring a service to
remove dead-looking trees, Hansen said.
The program will wind up with a question and answer panel.
For more information, contact Hansen at 903-590-2980,
khansen@ag.tamu.edu, or visit the event’s Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/ETGardenConference. |
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The compost heap Starting seeds in a greenhouse “Are there any articles about starting seeds in a greenhouse?” writes K. Woodby. “I have planted one heck of a lot of tomato seeds and pepper seeds and they aren't germinating. I've used both dirt with chicken poop, jiffy pellets and Burpee pellets. In the 4-5 weeks I’ve been working on this, only some marigolds have germinated. I have them covered with the jiffy covers. And I've kept the pellets/soil moist. “The automatic vent windows open during the day and close at night. I also open the doors/windows when it is particularly warm. “Surely there is something?” We have written numerous articles on starting transplants from seed. Look under "seeds" and "tomatoes" on our online index at www.texasgardener.com. — Chris S. Corby, publisher |
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Gardening tips Right now (late winter) is one of the best times to dig and divide those chrysanthemums. Just be sure to do so before they start to send up new shoots. If you are too late, then it would be better to wait until they finish blooming this coming fall. 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 2012 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 PVPA (Plant Variety Protection Act) has provided incentives for the improvement of self-pollinated species by private plant breeders. This law is effective because it encourages the private sector to invest research funds on crops they could not otherwise afford to breed. Many of the exciting new ornamental and vegetable crops that we grow in our gardens today would not exist without this law. |
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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.
Galveston Island: Moody Gardens is hosting a night full of
bat themed activities while raising money for Bat Conservation
International, on Saturday, February 11. The event will be from 7 p.m.
until 10
p.m. in the Moody Gardens Visitors Center. This unique cocktail party
will feature specialty bat drinks and hors d’oeuvres prepared with
ingredients that are made possible because of bats’ ecological
importance. In addition, guests will be able to attend a special
presentation from guest speaker James Eggers, director of education of
Bat Conservation International. Attendees can also take a night tour of
the Rainforest Pyramid highlighting bat conservation and bring home a
“Bat’s Are Doin’ It” goody bag. Tickets are $50 per person or $90 for a
couple. The fundraiser will also include a variety of raffle prizes.
Each raffle ticket is $5 or three for $10. “The ‘Bat’s Are Doin’ It’
event will give Moody Gardens the opportunity to highlight the
importance of protecting these animals and will give guests the chance
to have an entertaining evening while contributing to a significant
organization,” said Assistant Curator/ Registrar Paula Kolvig.
Throughout 2012 Moody Gardens will bring attention to an often
overlooked, but important animal: the bat. The United Nations has
declared 2012 as International Year of the Bat and Bat Conservation
International (BCI) as an International Year of the Bat founding
partner. The International Year of the Bat campaign aims to raise global
awareness about bats, bat conservation and the unique roles bats play in
our environment. This event is open to visitors who are 21 years of age
and older. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Bat Conservation
International on behalf of Moody Gardens. For more information about
Year of the Bat: visit
batcon.org/yotb,
www.moodygardens.org or call Moody Gardens (800) 582-4673.
La Marque: "Gardening by
the Square Foot," presented
by Master Gardener John Jons, will be held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., February 11,
at the Wayne Johnson Community Center in Carbide Park, La Marque. Jons will cover the basic concepts of
successful Square Foot Gardening including garden bed design and
building, soil preparation, plant selection, care and maintenance. A
practice session will be included to get you started with your first
Square Foot Garden bed. This method of gardening is great for the
homeowner with a small back yard, for those that just want to grow
enough for their own needs, to start a community garden, or to create a
small garden to help educate children on the basics and joy of
gardening. Class size limited to 32 participants. "Kitchen Gardening," presented
by Master Gardener Mary Demeny, will be offered from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Demeny will cover various techniques for
vegetable gardening in your own backyard. She will include gardening
near the back door, recycling, mulching and composting for her garden.
Mary will also discuss home canning and use of an interplant technique
for growing vegetables among the flower beds and in pots. For additional
information call 281-534-3413. Ext. 12 or email
GALV3@wt.net.
New Braunfels: The Comal Master Gardeners will sponsor a
Backyard Vegetable Gardening Seminar at the New Braunfels Convention
Center on Saturday, February 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
featuring Patty Leander, contributing writer to Texas Gardener magazine,
and Daphne Richards, Travis County AgriLife Extension Agent. Included in
the $47 registration fee are demonstrations with hands-on activities,
door prizes, detailed handbooks and lunch. Attendance is limited.
Register at
http://txmg.org/comal/future-events/seminar. For additional
information, call 830-620-3440.
Rosenberg: The Fort Bend County Master
Gardeners will hold their Annual Fruit and Citrus Tree Sale on Saturday,
February 11, at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds - Barn H, 4310
Highway 36S, Rosenberg, 77471. The sale will open at 9 a.m. and will run
until 1 p.m. or until sold out. A training session for the public on
Fruit Trees will be given on Saturday, February 4, from 10:30
a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road,
Rosenberg,. It will include how to heel in your trees, pruning and how
to plant as well as an overview of plants at the sale. This year
tomatoes and peppers for spring planting will be offered at the sale.
Call 281-341-7068 or visit
www.fbmg.com for more information.
San Antonio: Growing Roses:
The Ultimate Garden Plant. Saturday and Sunday, February 11 & 12, 1
p.m., at Antique Rose Emporium, 7561 E. Evans Road, San Antonio. Learn
how easy it is to grow roses. Learn tips and techniques for rose
gardening success. Free. For additional information, call 210-651-4565
or visit
www.weAREroses.com.
Tyler: The East Texas Spring Landscape and
Garden Conference is scheduled for Saturday, February 11, at the
Tyler Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Drive off of Front Street in
Tyler. This is an annual event presented by the Texas AgriLife Extension
Service giving gardeners a chance to enhance their knowledge in a wide
rage of horticultural topics. The presentations begin at 8:30 a.m. and
continue until 3:30 p.m. There is no pre-registration; attendees must
register at the conference site. Doors open early at 7:30 a.m. giving
the public time to sign up and browse the gardening-related businesses
and organizations exhibiting services and products. The fee for the
conference is $35 and includes morning coffee with doughnuts and a
chicken box lunch. This year’s conference brings a variety of subjects
that will help homeowners and gardeners cope with drought conditions and
water restrictions, plus some fun and interesting topics. Speakers
include Dr. David Reed, Professor of Horticulture at Texas A&M in
College Station; Malcom Beck, the Father of Compost in Texas; Carmen
Wagner, a bromeliad specialist from Canton; Anne Brown and Dee Bishop,
both Smith County Master Gardeners are Firewise Landscape Specialists
trained by the Texas Forest Service and AgriLife Extension; Keith
Hansen, Smith County Horticulturist with AgriLife Extension Service; and
Daniel Duncum with the Texas Forest. After the conference and during
breaks, attendees can take advantage of a panel of speakers and Master
Gardeners who will be on hand to answer questions on landscaping issues.
The Spring Conference agenda is available at
EastTexasGardening.tamu.edu and
http://facebook.com/ETGardenConference.
Houston: At 6:30
p.m., February 13, Carol Brouwer, Ph.D., will present "What to
Plant and Do Now in Your Home Veggie Garden" at the Houston Urban
Gardeners will meet at the Houston Garden Center, 1500 Hermann Dr. Free
and open to the public. For additional information, visit
http://www.houstonurbangardeners.org///.
Dallas: Love Bugs Valentines Presentation at Texas
Discovery Gardens, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas from 6
p.m.-8 p.m., February 14. Enjoy wine, cheese and a stimulating
Valentine's Day talk on insect behavior and reproduction with John
Watts, Entomologist. $25 ea. or $40 per couple. $20 TDG Member or $30
per Member Couple. Register in advance at
www.texasdiscoverygardens.org or call (214) 428-7476 x343.
San Antonio: Growing Old Garden Roses: Plant Selection, Pruning,
Pests, and Propagation, Wednesday, February 15, 1 to 4 p.m., at Antique
Rose Emporium, 7561 E. Evans Road, San Antonio. This Comal Master
Gardeners class is open to the public. Learn just how easy it is to grow
roses at this comprehensive class. Pack a lunch, arrive early, and eat
in the garden. Free. For additional information, call 210-651-4565 or
visit
www.weAREroses.com.
Austin: “Rose Care and Pruning” will be
presented Thursday, February 16, from 10 a.m. until noon at the
Travis County AgriLife Extension Office, 1600 B Smith Rd., Austin.
Discover the varieties of roses available and care requirements. Learn
how to plant a rose, fertilizer requirements, disease identification,
general care, and pruning. Bring pruning shears for hands-on lesson.
This seminar is free and open to the public. It is presented by the
Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife
Extension Service in Travis County. For more information, call
512-854-9600 or visit
www.tcmastergardeners.org.
Seguin: Paul Cox, botanist and former
supervisor at The Botanical Gardens (in San Antonio) will present a
program about the poisonous nature of some of our landscape plants at
the Guadalupe County Master Gardeners meeting Thursday, February 16, at
the Texas AgriLife Extension Bldg., 210 E. Live Oak, Seguin. The meeting
is free and open to the public. For more information, visit
www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org or call 830-303-3889.
Diboll: New timber tax laws could allow
landowners to recoup some of the losses they sustained from the
relentless drought and devastating wildfire season that plagued Texas
during the last year. The federal rules geared toward landowners who
experienced a significant timber loss will be explained during a 2012
Timber Income and Property Tax Workshop in Diboll. Hosted by Texas
Forest Service, the all-day tax workshop is designed to give landowners
— as well as the professionals who prepare their taxes — a leg up when
it comes to forest management planning. The workshop is scheduled for 8
a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, February 17 at the Lottie and Arthur
Temple Civic Center, 601 Dennis St., Diboll. Registration is $70 and
includes lunch and a workbook. The workshop also will focus on changes
to state taxes for timber producers and contract lumberjacks, who now
will need a registration number from the Texas Comptroller’s Office
before they can be exempt from the sale and use tax. The sale and use
tax is applied to goods and services paid for throughout timber
production such as site preparation, planting, cultivating and
harvesting. For more information or to register, visit
http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/timbertaxworkshop or contact
Staff Assistant Monica Jadlowski at 979-458-6630 or
mjadlowski@tfs.tamu.edu.
Austin: Master Gardener Joy Williamson will
discuss “Raising Backyard Chickens,” Saturday, February 18, 10
a.m.-noon, at Zilker Botanical Garden, Garden Center, 2220 Barton
Springs Rd., Austin. Williamson shares her expertise in the fascinating
hobby of raising backyard chickens. She will be sharing her tips on the
benefits of this garden activity, how to get started, FAQ on coop
construction and how to protect your feathered friends. This seminar is
free, but space is limited and reservations are required to ensure a
seat is available. Sign-up online at
http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/. Please note, the Zilker
Park entrance fee is $2 per adult and $1 per child or senior. This
seminar is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer
arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County.
For information, call 512-854-9600 or visit
www.tcmastergardeners.org.
Bryan: Saturday, February 18, the Brazos County Master
Gardeners will host "Successful Gardening in Challenging Climates," on
Earth-Kind methods for landscape recovery and survival. The all day
seminar (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) will include topics on soil improvement,
plant selection, water conservation and how plants respond to extreme
weather. Speakers include Texas Gardener Contributing Editor Skip Richter, Heidi Sheesley, Dotty Woodson
and Monte Nesbitt. The cost is $35 and includes snacks and a sandwich
lunch buffet. It will be held at the Brazos Center, 3232 Briarcrest Dr.,
Room 102, Bryan, TX. For more information, visit
brazosmg.com, call
979-823-0129 or email
brazosmg@brazosmg.com.
La Marque: "Anyone Can Grown Roses," presented by Master Gardener and American Rose Society Consulting
Rosarian, John Jons, will be held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., February 18,
at the Wayne Johnson Community Center in Carbide Park, La Marque. Jons will cover the basics for successfully growing
large healthy roses in Galveston County that will include rose bed
design and building, rose variety selection, planting and ongoing care.
For additional
information call 281-534-3413. Ext. 12 or email
GALV3@wt.net.
Marble Falls: Soil is the engine of the garden and should be treated as a resource. It
is estimated that 80 percent of the problems related to landscape plantings
originate with soil issues. Learn what to do to make soil work better.
The program “It All Starts with Soil” will be presented free by Master
Gardener Sheryl Yantis and the Highland Lakes Master Gardener Green
Thumb Programs at the Marble Falls Library, 101 Main St. at 10:30 a.m.
on Saturday, February 18. For more information about this and gardening
programs in the Highland Lakes area, visit
http://www.yantislakesidegardens.com/events.
Mauriceville: Interested in becoming a Master
Gardener? Attend the five Green Thumb Series offered by Texas AgriLife
Extension Orange County. Become eligible to begin a Master Gardener
internship upon completion of all five series. The first series will be
held at the Mauriceville Community Center, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Classes
are as scheduled: February 21 “Sprouts, Shoots and Roots”; February 28
“Planning and Preparing Your Garden Area”; March 6 “Structures for
Planting Year Round”; March 20 “Thriller, Spillers and Fillers-Container
Gardening”; March 27 “Spice Up Your Life with Herb Gardening.” The cost
is $30 per person per series and covers all classes and materials. For
additional information, call the Texas AgriLife Extension Service at
409-882-7010 or visit
orange.agrilife.org.
Dallas: Biology of Butterflies at Texas Discovery
Gardens, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas, from 10 a.m.-noon,
February 25. Go beyond the Butterfly Basics! An advanced look at the
world of butterflies: their biology, behavior and adaptations to the
environment with Entomologist John Watts. $15; $10 for TDG Members.
Register in advance at
www.texasdiscoverygardens.org or call (214) 428-7476 x343.
Wichita Falls: The Wichita County
Master Gardeners is sponsoring speakers for the 15th Annual Arts Alive!
Home and Garden Festival at the Multi Purpose Events Center, 1000 5th
Street, Wichita Falls. Hours for the show are 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday,
February 25.
Dr. William C. Welch from Texas A&M is the featured speaker, kicking
things off at 9:30 a.m. with his presentation "Tough Perennials For
Texas Gardens," after which he will be selling his latest book
Heirloom Gardening in the South in the Master Gardener Booth. Local
Meteorologist Bryan Rupp will present "Texoms's Climate: Past, Present,
Future"; author and gardener Judy Barrett will present "Secrets of
Garden Success with Herbs and Heirlooms"; and Julie Whitis will present
"Square Foot Gardening."
Ft. Worth: "Rainwater Harvesting" will be offered
from 10 a.m. until noon March 3 in the fifth floor conference room at
the Tarrant County Plaza Building, 200 Taylor St., Ft. Worth. $15
enrollment. There is an optional extra fee of $50 for materials to make
a rain barrel during class. Advance reservations are preferred, but not
required. Contact the AgriLife office at 817-884-1945 for more
information or to enroll.
San Antonio: Learn to grow "Veggies in Your Backyard," Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m.,
at Antique Rose Emporium, 7561 E. Evans Road, San Antonio. From soil
prep to harvest, Keith Amelung will share his expertise and recipes on
growing the best veggies ever. Get out the bushel basket! Free. For
additional information, call 210-651-4565 or visit
www.weAREroses.com.
Houston: Carol Brouwer, Ph.D., will discuss “What To Plant and Do Now in
Your Veggie Garden,” Houston Urban Gardeners, Houston Garden Center, at
6:30 p.m., Monday, February 13. Free. Brouwer will provide plenty of ideas on unusual, colorful and productive varieties of
winter crops such as cauliflower, broccoli, broccoflower, turnip greens,
sugar snap peas and much more. For additional information, call
713-528-1104.
Highland Lakes/Marble Falls: Join Master Gardener and Master Naturalist Linda O’Nan and have fun
learning about the succulents that grow successfully in the area in
“Succulents Are Fun to Grow.” This free program will be presented by the
Kingsland Garden Club at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, March 2, at the Marble
Falls Library. Visitors are welcome to attend the Club meeting at 1 p.m.
For information on upcoming gardening programs, visit
www.yantislakesidegardens.com/events.
Austin: The Sunshine
Community Gardens annual plant sale will be held March 3, from 9 a.m.
until 2 p.m., at 4814 Sunshine Drive, Austin. The Sunshine Community
Gardens annual plant sale is an outstanding source for organic starter
plants, offering many varieties of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, herbs
and other items. Arrive early for the best selection of hard-to-find and
popular varieties. Free admission. Visit
http://www.sunshinecommunitygarden.org/ for a complete list of
items.
Longview: The Gregg County Master Gardeners
will hold their 2012 Spring Garden and Landscape Seminar, Saturday,
March 3, at the First United Methodist Church, Faith Center, Whaley
St. entrance, 7:45 a.m.-noon. The theme of the seminar is “Gardening in
Drought Conditions.” Registration is 7:45-8:30. Program begins at 8:45.
Dotty Woodson, Water Resource Program Specialist, Dallas, will present
programs on “Landscape Water Conservation” and “Rainwater Harvesting.”
Belinda McCoy McLaughlin, Native Plant Society member, Daingerfield,
will speak on “No Drought About It: Native Plants are Texas-Tough.”
Master Gardeners will be available during the breaks to answer gardening
question at the “Ask a Master Gardener” table. Complimentary
refreshments, door prizes, garden-related vendors and a raffle will be
part of the morning’s activities. Advance tickets, $10 and $12 at the
door. For tickets or more information, contact Gregg County AgriLife
Extension Office at 903-236-8429 or visit
gregg-tx.tamu.edu. Dallas: Modern Victory Gardens: Spring and Summer Vegetable
Gardening, at Texas Discovery Gardens, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr.
Blvd., Dallas, from 9 a.m.-noon, March 17. Join a growing trend and
learn how to create a bountiful organic community or backyard vegetable
garden with Director of Horticulture Randy Johnson. $25; $20 for TDG Members. Register in advance
at
www.texasdiscoverygardens.org or call 214-428-7476 x343.
Orange: The Orange County Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale will take
place at Cormier Park on FM 1442, in Orangefield. The gates will open at
8 a.m. and close at noon on Saturday, March 17. There will be a large
variety of plants, including perennials, bedding, tropical, vegetable,
herbs, some trees, houseplants and Texas Super Star plants. An Ask the
Master Gardener? booth will be set up. A raffle will be held to raise
money for the Junior Master Gardener Groups. For more information, visit
http://txmg.org/orange.
Houston: Ohara Ikebana Grand Master Ingrid Luders will lead a
workshop at the Houston Garden on Friday March 16, and Luders will create
flower arrangements in a demonstration at the Museum of Fine Arts,
Houston, at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 18, in the American General Room in the
(new) Beck Building. This promises to be an inspiring event that will
give you ideas for improving your own flower arrangements. The Ohara School of Ikebana uses traditional and modern arrangements. They
originated the use of low, flat containers (moribana) to greatly
diversity styles of flower arrangements. Cost: $40 for the workshop and
optional $15 for a bento lunch. Preregistration is required at least 24
hours in advance so that the correct amount of floral material will be
available. To preregister or obtain more information, please call Molly
Rose at 713-854-2803 or Sushila Mathew at 713-932-8510. The
demonstration is free and open to all with Museum admission. There will
be a reception following the demonstration.
Rockdale: The Third Annual
Milam County Nature Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday,
April
14, at Rockdale Fair Park in Rockdale. This is a
family-oriented event for all ages of nature lovers. This year’s mascot
is the Bat, and so there will be special emphasis on these wonderful and
beneficial creatures. There will be presentations by experts on Bats and
Bat Houses, Wildflower Legends and Folklore, and Conservation, as well
as numerous hands-on nature activities for the kids, such as making
animal tracks, digging for artifacts, and some fun bat projects.
Educational booths for everyone will include: reptiles, insects, fish,
hunting, bats, birds, bees, butterflies, archaeology, native plants,
wildflowers, and much more. The nature photo contest (submission
deadline March 31) will
have winners announced with all photos on display. For additional information, visit
http://txmn.org/elcamino/naturefest/ and
http://txmn.org/elcamino/naturefest/photo-contest/, email
ElCaminoRealMasterNaturalist@gmail.com, or contact Texas
AgriLife Extension Service at 254-697-7045.
Nacogdoches: The SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State
University will host its annual Garden Gala Day from 9 a.m. until
2 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant
Center, 2900 Raguet St. A wide variety of hard-to-find, “Texas tough”
plants will be available, including Texas
natives, heirlooms, tropicals, perennials, unusual species, and
exclusive SFA introductions. Plants are extensively trialed in the
gardens before being offered to the public. This popular
event features the annual spring plant sale benefiting the SFA Mast
Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden,
Gayla Mize Garden, and educational programs hosted at the gardens.
The educational
programs at SFA Gardens reach more than 15,000 students ages 1 to 100 on
a yearly basis. The public is encouraged to arrive early and bring a
wagon. For more information, call 936-468-4404,
or visit
www.sfagardens.sfasu.edudu and click on “Arboretum”
then “Garden Events.” Ft. Worth: "Lawns & How to Irrigate
Responsibly" will be offered from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. May 12 in the
fifth floor conference room at the Tarrant County Plaza Building, 200
Taylor St., Ft. Worth. $15 enrollment. Advance reservations are
preferred, but not required. Contact the AgriLife office at 817-884-1945
for more information or to enroll. 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:
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.
Wichita Falls: The Wichita County Master Gardener Association
meets at 5:30 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension Office, 600 Scott Street,
Wichita Falls, on the first Tuesday of each month.
For more information, visit
http://www.overthegardengate.org or call 940-716-8610.
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.
Gonzalas: Gonzales Master Gardeners Association holds their
monthly meeting on the first Thursday of each month. A short
program is presented. The meeting is held from noon until 1 p.m. at 1405
Conway St. (Odd Fellows Lodge). Bring a bag lunch, drinks provided.
Contact AgriLife Extension Office at 830-672-8531 or e-mail
gonzales@ag.tamu.edu for more information.
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.
Evant: The Evant Garden Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month
at 10 a.m., usually at the bank in downtown Evant. To confirm the date,
time and place of each month's meeting, call 254-471-5585.
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 Association holds their monthly meeting on the
second Thursday of each month. A short program is presented. The meeting
starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Bldg. cor. MLK & Strickland in
Orange. Pot luck supper at 6 p.m. Visit
http://txmg.org/orange for more information.
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 am at the Peace Lutheran Church, 2201 Rio
Grande, College Station. Expert speakers, plant sharing, and federated
club projects help members learn about gardening in the Brazos Valley,
floral design, conservation, and more. For more information, visit
http://www.amgardenclub.com/.
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 Sharon Smith at 817-894-7700.
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 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.
Bryan: The Brazos County Master Gardeners, a program of Texas AgriLife
Extension, meet the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Brazos
Center, 3232 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan. There is a public gardening
program at each meeting and pertinent information may be found at
brazosmg.com or 979-823-0129.
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 Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 7:00
p.m. on the fourth Thurday of each month at the REI, 4515 LBJ Freeway, Dallas. For more information, call 214-824-2448
or visit
www.gdogc.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. 2012. 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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