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March 28, 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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Continued rain benefits wildflower
blooms in parts of Texas
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Recent showers mean a handsome show of Texas wildflowers in much of the state, but are encouraging the growth of less welcome plants as well, according to the senior botanist at The University of Texas at Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. “The rains we’ve been getting around Austin, Houston and elsewhere have been great for invasive species such as bastard cabbage as well as for the wildflowers we want to see,” said Damon Waitt, who also is the center’s senior director. Early spring rains have helped Texas bluebonnets and other native plants grow, as well as boosting their blooms and the germination of developing summer wildflowers. Among the locations to see good stands of the state flower are: White Oak Bayou from Loop 610 to Interstate 10 in Houston; along U.S. 290 near S. Lamar Blvd. and along Highway 1 in Austin; under the Montgomery Street Bridge of Interstate 30 in Fort Worth; and in the median of Highway 281 in north San Antonio. Stiff greenthread is also blooming in north San Antonio along Encino and Evans roads. And thick stands of California poppy can be seen from trails at the El Paso Museum of Archeology; stands of Drummond phlox and patches of Texas bluebonnets surround highways 181 and 123 between Beeville and Seguin, Texas; white prickly poppy, prairie acacia, and stands of bladderpod species are visible along Miners Road between Eagle Pass and Laredo. At the Wildflower Center, clusters of hundreds of Texas bluebonnets decorate the Savanna Meadow, and California poppy and large buttercup are among the current blooming options from the hundreds of native wildflowers on site. “All this rain has helped create a very lush Wildflower Center that will continue into future months,” said Waitt, noting that each day something new comes into flower at the center. Unfortunately, bluebonnets and other Texas wildflowers are harder to spot along roadways when they are mixed in with stands of invasive species such as bastard cabbage with its highlighter-yellow blooms. “Our garden staff works hard to keep invasive plants in check so visitors can enjoy an invasives-free Texas wildflower experience,” said Waitt. It’s a daunting task, he noted, as removing the plant and its taproot by hand and disposing of seeds is a labor-intensive method of bastard cabbage control. To determine whether a plant in your yard is an invasive one, visit this website the Wildflower Center developed: http://www.texasinvasives.org/invasives_database/. Developing wildflowers at the center can be viewed at http://www.wildflower.org/bbcam. For general public sightings, go to: http://lnstar.com/wildflowers/index.html, contact the Texas Department of Transportation at 1-800-452-9292, or view: http://www.dot.state.tx.us/travel/flora_map_disclaimer.htm. To learn more about wildflowers nationally, search the Wildflower Center’s Native Plant Information Network: http://www.wildflower.org/plants/. To purchase seeds to sow of mid- to late summer bloomers or potted native plants, visit: http://www.wildflower.org/suppliers/. |
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Why do dew drops do what they do on leaves?
Langmuir Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore once wrote, “Let your life
lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf.” Now,
a new study is finally offering an explanation for why small dew drops
do as Tagore advised and form on the tips, rather than the flat
surfaces, of leaves. It appears in ACS’ journal Langmuir.
In the study, Martin E. R. Shanahan observes that drops of water have a
preference for exactly where they collect on leaves as their surfaces
cool in the morning and afternoon. Those droplets, which condense from
water vapor — moisture — in the air, collect randomly across the
surfaces of flat leaves. However, dew drops tend to accumulate at the
tips of spindly leaves, even if that means defying gravity by moving
upwards. He explains that an inherent “unwillingness” or “lack of
necessity” of water drops to move on a dry surface governs their
positioning on flat leaves, causing them to stay where they form. Dew’s
tendency to head to the end of finely pointed leaves, however, sent
Shanahan looking for a different explanation.
The answer is based on the fundamental principle of free energy, that
everything in nature seeks the lowest possible energy state. Shanahan
modeled two types of dew drops on a theoretical (simplified) cone-shaped
leaf: a thin, cylindrical sheath of water and a spherical drop centered
on the cone’s axis. In both cases, he found that the drop lowered its
energy by moving toward the point of the leaf. |
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Corn insecticide linked to great die-off of beneficial honeybees
Environmental Science & Technology New research has linked springtime die-offs of honeybees critical for pollinating food crops — part of the mysterious malady called colony collapse disorder — with technology for planting corn coated with insecticides. The study, published in ACS’ journal Environmental Science & Technology, appears on the eve of spring planting seasons in some parts of Europe where farmers use the technology and widespread deaths of honeybees have occurred in the past. In the study, Andrea Tapparo and colleagues explain that seeds coated with so-called neonicotinoid insecticides went into wide use in Europe in the late 1990s. The insecticides are among the most widely used in the world, popular because they kill insects by paralyzing nerves but have lower toxicity for other animals. Almost immediately, beekeepers observed large die-offs of bees that seemed to coincide with mid-March to May corn planting. Scientists thought this might be due to particles of insecticide made airborne by the pneumatic drilling machines used for planting. These machines forcefully suck seeds in and expel a burst of air containing high concentrations of particles of the insecticide coating. In an effort to make the pneumatic drilling method safer, the scientists tested different types of insecticide coatings and seeding methods. They found, however, that all of the variations in seed coatings and planting methods killed honeybees that flew through the emission cloud of the seeding machine. One machine modified with a deflector to send the insecticide-laced air downwards still caused the death of more than 200 bees foraging in the field. The authors suggest that future work on this problem should focus on a way to prevent the seeds from fragmenting inside the pneumatic drilling machines. The authors acknowledge funding from the University of Padova and the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali, Italy. |
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Gardening tips "Use the cardboard from inside toilet paper rolls for collars around young plants to protect from cut worms," suggests Cathy Ledbetter. "Cut the cardboard rolls into either two or three cylinders and, if needed, they can be slit up one side to gently wrapped around a plant's base. The brown cardboard ones blend in naturally and rot away into the soil at the end of the season. It's easy to end up with a bundle of free collars after a little while of saving them." 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 greatest one day rain event ever in the United States weather history was in Alvin, Texas, where it rained 43 inches in 24 hours. We ran across this interesting fact while reviewing Greg Grant’s brand-new book, Texas Fruit and Vegetable Gardening. This new book incorporates Greg’s horticultural expertise along with his homespun writing style and, unlike other books on vegetable gardening, this one includes chapters on fruit, nuts and herbs along with a nice selection of family recipes. It is a must have for every serious gardener in Texas and neighboring states. |
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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.
Houston: Susan and Peter Conaty will speak about the history
of the Nash Prairie, the largest parcel of intact tall grass coastal
prairie in Texas and Louisiana, with more than 300 species of native
plants and 120 species of birds at the March 28 meeting of The
Houston Chapter of the Native Prairie Association of Texas (HNPAT). The
meeting will be held from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Bayland Park
Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet, Houston. For more information, contact
hnpat@texasprairie.org or visit
www.texasprairie.org. Fort Worth: “How to Paint a Rain Barrel” is a hands-on class offered by
the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday,
March 30. Class fee is $15. To purchase a rain barrel, the total is $45.
Class is at the Community & Demonstration Garden at the Resource
Connection, 1100 Circle Dr., Fort Worth. Register for class at
merrymarylynn@sbcglobal.net. Class is limited to 20.
San Antonio: San Antonio
Garden Center 24th Annual Spring Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m.
until 4 p.m. March 30 & 31, 3310 N. New Braunfels @ Funston
by the Botanical Gardens. The Plant Sale is a major fundraising project
of the San Antonio Garden Center, providing customers with a variety of
popular shrubs, landscape plants, bedding plants, succulents, cacti and
herbs as well as a number of unique plants. A popular part of the sale
is the Donation Station where members donate plants, bulbs, seeds, etc.
from their gardens. For additional information, call 210-824-9981.
Burnet: The 14th Annual Hill Country Lawn & Garden
Show sponsored by the Highland Lakes Master Gardeners Association, in
conjunction with the Burnet Co. AgriLife Extension Service will be held
on Saturday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Burnet
Community Center, 401 E. Jackson St., Burnet. Vendors feature plants for
every garden, including native plants, exotic plants, herbs, vegetables,
succulents and houseplants. The latest in lawn/garden equipment and yard
decorations are also available for purchase. There will be informative
speakers, demonstrations, and a special children’s area. Raffle tickets
will be sold for a garden-themed quilt and many other prizes. Admission
is free. For additional information, contact Val Klaudt, Chairperson, at
512-588-0696 or
val.klaudt@gmail.com.
Gonzales: The Gonzales Master Gardeners’
second annual Spring Plant Sale will be held Saturday, March 31,
from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. downtown at Texas Heroes Square. Plants of
all kinds, shapes, colors will be available for shoppers to select from
and children will have the opportunity to plant some seeds in their very
own decorated pot. Other activities include an “Ask the Master Gardener”
booth which will include renowned horticulturalist Dr. Calvin Finch for
those with gardening questions, a silent auction, and the Girl Scouts
and Odd Fellows selling food and drink. Proceeds from the silent auction
and the sale of plants will be used to continue improvements at the
Eggleston House Children’s Garden, the Fair Street Exploratorium and
other ongoing community projects and educational programs.
Granbury: Lake Granbury Master Gardeners will
sponsor a Plant Sale on Saturday, March 31, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at
400 Deputy Larry Miller Dr., Granbury, in the parking lot of Justice
Center and Annex 1.
Fort Worth: “Composting, Compost Tea and Worm Composting” is offered by
the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association, Saturday, March 31, 10
a.m.-noon. Class fee is $5 or with composters $45 or $65. Class is at
the Community & Demonstration Garden at the Resource Connection, 1100
Circle Dr., Fort Worth. Register for class at
merrymarylynn@sbcglobal.net. Class is limited to 20.
Huntsville:
The Texas Thyme Unit of the Herb Society of America will host its first
Herb Day at the Wynne Home on Saturday, March 31, from 9 a.m. until 2
p.m. The event will be held on the grounds of the historic Wynne Home,
1438 Eleventh St., Huntsville. The event will feature noted garden
speaker, writer, and editor Judy Barrett, who will give a talk on Roses
– Herbs with a little something extra! She will also sign her books,
including What Can I do With My Herbs and Myths and Truths
about Growing Roses. Master Gardeners Bonney Kennedy and Glenda
Marsh will also speak on using herbs to attract butterflies and
hummingbirds to the garden. The event will also include an herb,
camellia and rose plant sale, herbal crafts and products, bake sale, art
and music, kitchen and garden vendors, demonstrations and herbal
workshop and tours of the Ella Ruth Herb Garden. For more information,
contact Maryann Readal at
mreadal@yahoo.com.
San Antonio: The San Antonio Rose Society will be at The
Antique Rose Emporium, 7561 E. Evans Road, San Antonio, from 10 a.m.
until 2 p.m., Saturday, March 31, to answer "rose-y" questions.
For more information, call 210-651-4565 or visit
www.weAREroses.com. Waxahachie: The Ellis County Master Gardeners will host their 12th
Annual Lawn & Garden Expo on Saturday, March 31, from 9 a.m. until 5
p.m. at the Waxahachie Civic Center, 2000 Civic Center Lane, Waxahachie.
There will be activities and door prizes throughout the day. Visit all
of the 100 plus exhibitor booths focusing on lawn- and garden-related
products and services. Children will love the workshops where they can
make garden projects. Ellis County Master Gardeners will present
workshops on herbs, perennials and vegetable gardening. There will be a
huge master gardener plant sale area, as well as an information booth
where specialists answer horticultural questions. Guests speakers
include Steven Chamblee, Chief Horticulturist for Chandor Gardens; Steve
Woodward of The Wild Bird Center in Fort Worth; and Steve Houser,
President of Arborilogical Services, Inc. Tickets at the door are $5.00;
children under 12 are free. Free tickets are available from our sponsors
after March 1. For a list of our sponsors, as well as further
information on the Expo, visit
www.ecmga.com or call 972-825-5175.
Round Rock: Jeff Ferris will lead a Rainwater
Harvesting Workshop from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., Sunday, April 1, at Unity
Park Community Garden, 2746 Gattis School Rd, Round Rock. his class will
present an overview of basic rainwater collection techniques and storage
systems. Class will include a discussion of water quality differences
between tap, well and rainwater, calculating the potential quantity
captured and storage issues. The hands-on portion of the class will
include construction of a basic rain barrel and interconnecting multiple
barrels. Handout included. One lucky attendee will receive a free rain
barrel! $20 fee due at start of class (cash or check to Neighborhood
Harvest Project). 20 seat limit. Registration required. Register at
http://www.neighborhoodharvestproject.org/events.html.
San
Antonio: Robbie Will, Manager of the San Antonio Antique Rose Emporium,
will discuss “Things You can do with Roses & Herbs of the Year” at 9:30
a.m., April 4, at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N New Braunfels,
at the corner of Funston & New Braunfels by the Botanical Garden.
Magnolia: Residents in the Montgomery County
area interested in learning how to protect themselves from wildfire are
invited to a town hall meeting next month. The gathering is set for 7
p.m. Thursday, April 5, at the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department
Training Center, 18215 Buddy Riley Blvd., Magnolia. Representatives from
the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department and Texas Forest Service will be
on hand to talk about what residents can do to protect their home,
property and family from the devastation of wildfire. The subject matter
hits close to home for many in the area. The Riley Road Fire in
September 2011 burned almost 20,000 acres in Grimes, Montgomery and
Waller counties – destroying 73 homes. At the preparedness workshop,
residents will be introduced to the Ready, Set, Go! wildfire action
plan. The plan provides checklists for families to work through with
each other so there is a clear understanding of what to do when a fire
breaks out. More than 80 percent of wildfires in Texas occur within 2
miles of a community. The wildfire statistics from 2011 are staggering.
Almost 4 million acres burned, destroying 3,017 homes. Almost 40,000
homes directly threatened by wildfire were saved through the efforts of
local, state and federal fire resources. For more information, visit
www.texasfirestorm.org and
www.texasfirewise.org.
Highland Lakes: The Kingsland Garden Club Annual Plant sale
will be held at
the Kingsland House of Arts & Crafts Spring Sale behind Wells Fargo Bank
on Chamberlain St. in Kingsland on Saturday and Sunday, April 7 & 8,
on the East side. Get good homegrown Hill Country plants at reasonable
prices. Arrive early for best selection. Open Saturday 10-4 and Sunday
after 11 a.m.
Little Elm: The "Water is Life" Expo will be helped from 9:30
a.m. until noon, April 7, at the Little Elm Town Hall. Speakers
include Dotty Woodson, Ed. D. on "Irrigation for Drought" at 9:30 a.m.
and "Rainwater Harvesting at 11 a.m., and Janet Laminack, CEA-Horticulture,
on "Texas Tough Plants" at 10:15 a.m. For more information, visit
www.littleelm.org.
Seabrook: Skip Richter, a Harris County Extension Agent — Horticulture
and contributing editor to Texas Gardener magazine, will lecture on
"Super Stars and Other Blooms," from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Tuesday,
April 10, at The Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park (on the lakeside), 5001
NASA Parkway, Seabrook. This lecture is free and open to the public.
Austin: Wildflower Days, the Lady Bird Johnson
Wildflower Center’s spring season of events, began Monday, March 12, and
continues through Thursday, May 31. The center grounds are open every
day, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is
located at The University of Texas at Austin, 4801 La Crosse Ave,
Austin. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center celebrates the 2012
centennial of the birth of its founder by opening 16 new acres and
holding special celebrations this spring. The main gardens have hundreds
of Texas bluebonnets prepping to put on a great show, and bluebonnets
and Indian blanket will be among the offerings in surrounding meadows.
Enjoy the peak of wildflower season at upcoming public events that
include:
Spring Plant Sale & Gardening Festival, Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and
15 — gardening tips from experts and plenty of wildflowers and other
drought-tolerant native plants for purchase; Wildflower Gala, Friday, April 27
— the most fun — and most sustainable — garden party ever;
National Wildflower Week Photo Exhibit, Monday, May 7, through Sunday,
May 13 — Texas Highways and the Wildflower Center present a portfolio of
wildflower photographs. Sponsored by Canon; National Public Gardens Day,
Friday, May 11 — free admission through Better Homes & Gardens online
offer; Gardens on Tour, Saturday, May 12 — a tour of five private native
plant gardens plus the beautiful landscapes at the Wildflower Center on
Mother’s Day weekend; Mollie Steves Zachry Texas Arboretum Opening,
Saturday, May 19 — come celebrate Texas trees at the new, 16-acre
arboretum. Ceremonies begin with an 11 a.m. ribbon cutting, followed by
refreshments, guided tours and more. Daily admission: $8 adults, $7
seniors and students, $3 children, and free for members and children
under 5. For more information on events, call 512.232.0100 or visit
http://www.wildflower.org.
Additional centennial event information is available at
http://www.ladybirdjohnson.org. Austin: Texas AgriLife Extension and the
City of Austin are partnering to present the East Austin Garden Fair.
This year’s theme is “Grow Well — Grow Your Own,” offering lots of
information on creating your own garden space. The fair will be held
from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday, April 14, at the Zaragoza
Recreation Center, 2608 E. Gonzales Street, Austin. Informational and
activity booths will be offered for adults and children on various
topics such as composting, rainwater harvesting, school gardens, insects
and pests, nutrition and exercise to name a few. Information will be
available in both English and Spanish. Attendees will be eligible for a
free plant. This event is open to the public and parking and admission
are free. For information, call 512-854-9600 or visit
www.tcmastergardeners.org.
Austin: Who is that perched on your
birdbath? Jane Tillman, Master Naturalist, Chairperson of the Travis
Audubon urban habitat committee and a National Wildlife Federation
Habitat Steward Host, will help attendees get acquainted with common
backyard birds and visitors during “Cultivate Your Backyard Birds” from
10 a.m. until noon, Saturday, April 14, at the Hampton Branch
Library, 5125 Convict Hill Rd., Austin. Basic bird identification will
be covered along with ways to make your yard/greenbelt more attractive
to these feathered creatures. Space is limited at this location and
reservations are required to ensure a seat is available. Sign-up online
at:
http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/ Please note that any empty
reserved seats will become open seating at 9:50 a.m. 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 information, call 512-854-9600 or visit
www.tcmastergardeners.org.
Cleburne: The Master Gardeners of Johnson County will hold The 4th
Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the
Cleburne Senior Center, 1212 Glenwood Dr., behind the Cleburne
Conference Center. Texas Tuff perennials, Earthkind Roses, ornamental
grasses and the best tomato and pepper plants will be available. Also
check out the day-long demonstration of the ins & outs of installing
your own drip irrigation for flower beds or vegetable gardens.
La Marque: From 9 a.m. until noon, April 14, Galveston County Master
Gardener Propagation Specialists Anna Wygrys, Ann Lyon and Terry Cuclis
will present “Propagation Techniques for the Home Gardener,” a program
on various propagation techniques including rooting rose cuttings, bulb
propagation by chipping, seed starting, begonia leaf cuttings and air
layering. Plant propagation is a fun and inexpensive way to expand the
numbers and types of plants in your garden. The seminar will be held at
the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102
Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. For course reservations, call
281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email
GALV3@wt.net.
La Marque: From 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., April 14, Galveston County Master
Gardener Herman Auer, Propagation Specialist, will present “T-Bud and
Wedge Grafting for Fruit Trees and Citrus,” a program and hands on
workshop on grafting. Attendees will leave the class ready to begin
their own grafting projects with confidence. The two grafting methods
presented will be T-bud grafting, used on many types of fruit and citrus
trees about the size of a pencil, and the more commonly used wedge
grafting. Additional grafting specialists will be on hand to provide
one-on-one assistance. Note:: Class is limited to 32 persons
participating. You must pre-register in order
to attend. Other persons may attend for observation only.
For course reservations, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email
GALV3@wt.net. The seminar will be held at the Galveston County
AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La
Marque.
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.
San
Antonio: The San Antonio Garden Center will sponsor a Judged Standard
Flower Show Saturday, April 14, using the theme “Let’s Go to the
Movies.” Floral Design, Horticulture specimen and Special Exhibits will
be judged. The show will feature designs in Sougatsu technique and Jerry
Parsons’ display of “12 months of watersaver landscape color.” See how
floral designers have communicated their ideas and memories of top
favorite movie titles to the viewers through creative use of plant
materials. Viewing is available free to the public from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
at the Garden Center, 3310 N New Braunfels, San Antonio.
Houston: Tour the working and demonstration gardens maintained by the
Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2 from 8:30 a.m. until 11
a.m., Monday, April 16, at The Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red
Bluff, Houston. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your
gardening questions during this free event. Children are welcome, but
must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Free and open to the
public.
San Antonio: Robbi Will will lead "Roses: The Ultimate Garden
Plant" from noon until 2 p.m. and Jerry Parsons will lead "Texas
Superstars: Easy Plants for Your Garden" from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.,
Wednesday, April 18 at The Antique Rose Emporium, 7561 E. Evans
Road, San Antonio. These sessions are free. For more information, call
210-651-4565 or visit
www.weAREroses.com.
Seabrook: Betty Linderman will lecture on "Amaryllis" at 10 a.m.,
Wednesday, April 18 at The Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park (on the
lakeside), 5001 NASA Parkway, Seabrook. This lecture is free and open to
the public.
Austin: Learn “How to Construct Compost Bins,” Thursday, April 19, from
10 a.m. until noon, at the Travis County AgriLife Extension Office, 1600
B Smith Rd., Austin. Learn how to build a simple wire enclosure and a
three bin compost station. Go away with building plans and the knowledge
to complete your project. 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
information, call 512-854-9600 or visit
www.tcmastergardeners.org.
Kemah: Kemah Gardenkids, A Junior Master Gardener
Group, will present its first "Vegetable and Garden Show" at 9:30 a.m.,
April 21, at Kemah Community Center. The cost is free. Food will be available. See great
displays of youth-grown vegetables, herbs and flowers. There will also
be a garden art photo category. Enjoy a session on gardening in
containers. All area youth are invited to show their produce. See the
website for free registration and more information. The Kemah Community
Center is located at 800 Harris Avenue (near Hwy 146), Kemah. For more
information, call 281-334-7529 or visit
www.Kemahgardenkids.org.
La Marque: From 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., April 21, palm
tree enthusiast and Galveston County Master Gardener O. J. Miller, who has over 15 years
experience with palms in our area, will present “Culture and Care of
Palms in Galveston County.” This program will include an
introduction to palms, an overview of the exotics and commonly found
palms at nurseries in our area, palm planting methods, palm
fertilization, freeze preparation and proper care. The program will
include a discussion on the better varieties of palms for Galveston
County and the surrounding area. The seminar will be
held at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park,
4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. For course reservations, call
281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email
GALV3@wt.net.
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.edu and click on “Arboretum”
then “Garden Events.”
San Antonio: In "Pep Up Your Garden with Peppers," Cindy
Meredith will share her knowledge of the wonderful world of spicy and
not-so-spicy peppers. Be dazzled by the varieties, colors, shapes,
sizes, and flavors available. This free lecture will be presented at 10
a.m., April 21, at the Antique Rose Emporium, 7561 E. Evans Road,
San Antonio. For more information, visit
www.weAreroses.com.
San Antonio:
The Texas Rose Rustlers Spring Symposium will be held from 1 p.m. until
5 p.m., April 21, at the Antique Rose Emporium, 7561 E. Evans Road, San
Antonio. Speakers include Mike Shoup leading "Empress of the Garden" at
1 p.m.; Jerry Parsons leading "Texas Superstars" at 3 p.m.; and Robbi
Will leading "Roses and the Company They Keep," a garden tour, at 4 p.m.
Free and open to the public. For more information, visit
www.weAreroses.com. 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.
Austin: “Preparing Your Landscape for Summer” will
be presented from 10 a.m. until noon, Thursday, May 17, at the Travis
County AgriLife Extension Office. 1600 B Smith Rd., Austin. There are
numerous things to do to ensure healthier, bushier, plants with
increased blooms. Learn when to fertilize which plants, which plants to
pinch back and other tips from a pro. 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 information, call 512-854-9600 or visit
www.tcmastergardeners.org.
Nacogdoches: SFA Gardens
will host its sixth Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference May
18-19, on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University in historic
Nacogdoches. SFA is home to the Mast Arboretum, the Ruby M. Mize Azalea
Garden, the Gayla Mize Garden, and the Pineywoods Native Plant Center,
all part of the Arthur Temple
College of Forestry and Agriculture. In
addition to great local field trips and a native plant sale, the
conference will feature workshops and lectures on many timely topics
including drought-tolerant ornamental plants, firewise landscaping,
birding by ear, invasive species, wildscaping, native perennials, and
landscape design. Join home gardeners and Master Gardeners alike to
learn more about uniquely adapted native plants and various Texas
ecosystems. For more information visit
sfagardens.sfasu.edu or call 936-468-4404.
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/.
Houston: The Spring Branch African Violet Club meets the second Saturday
of each month, January through November, at 10:30am at the Copperfield
Baptist Church, 8350 Highway 6 North, Houston. Call Karla at
281-748-8417 prior to attending to confirm meeting date and time.
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.
New Braunfels: The Comal Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. the fourth
Monday of each month at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New
Braunfels. For additional information, call 830-620-3440.
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 each 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.
Houston: The Houston Chapter of the Native Prairie Association
of Texas (HNPAT) meets from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. the fourth
Wednesday of each month at Bayland Park Community Center, 6400
Bissonnet, Houston.For more information, contact
hnpat@prairies.org. 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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