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June 13, 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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Low-maintenance flowers, foliage mean less work, more play
Tesselaar Plants The desire for low-maintenance landscapes just keeps growing,
according the latest gardening and landscaping surveys. At the same
time, Americans’ love for outdoor amenities like fire pits, grills,
dining areas and seating shows no signs of waning.
So combining the two should mean less work and more play, right?
Here, experts suggest fuss-free flowers and foliage for outdoor living.
“Whether you’re relaxing during a private moment in your personal
sanctuary or are hosting a dinner party, you don’t want to come out to a
tired, ailing landscape,” says Anthony Tesselaar, cofounder and
president of Tesselaar Plants. “The idea is to go for something that’s
easy-care, with season-long interest, so you never have to worry about
what’s outside your door.”
“We all lead such busy lives,” agrees California landscaper and North
Coast Gardening blogger Genevieve Schmidt. “You don’t want an outdoor
living space where you’re looking at more chores or another to-do list.”
Not-so-needy blooms
If you’re looking for less watering, spraying and pruning, flowers
aren’t out. Schmidt regularly uses drought-tolerant, blooming perennials
like catmint, hardy cranesbill geraniums, ornamental sages, Russian
sage, lavender, lion’s tail, euphorbia, sunrose, artemisia and phlomis.
Landscape roses are another favorite of Schmidt’s. Often called
“desert roses” in the southwest, these shiny-leaved, colorful bloom
factories can be a great choice for low-maintenance, season-long color
in beds or containers.
When planted en masse, carpet roses (which spread more horizontally
than vertically and become covered with a blanket of blooms) are also a
great way to quickly fill in a large bed while turning it into a more
low-maintenance, sustainable landscape.
The Flower Carpet range of roses, notes Tesselaar, won high marks in
the Dallas Arboretum’s famous plant trials in extreme heat. The series
has also won the most awards for disease-resistance; most notably,
Germany's coveted All Deutschland Rose (ADR) designation, the world's
top honor for disease-resistant roses. “And if you want roses in
containers, which succumb to drought even quicker, Flower Carpet's Next
Generation line offers even better heat and humidity tolerance.”
Another Tesselaar plant that did well in the Dallas Arboretum trials
was the Storm series of agapanthus (lily of the Nile). Say Tesselaar:
“It offers up to three flushes of blooms a season with full clusters of
strappy foliage in between for season-long interest.” Jimmy Turner,
Senior Director of Gardens for the Dallas Arboretum, says it’s good for
mass planting because of its sturdy, multiple flower stalks, uniform
height and multiple flushes of blooms, each lasting six to seven weeks.
But, Tesselaar notes: “It’s really a head-turner when it's by itself in
a pot."
Schmidt also recommends native and adapted plants (those that
naturally grow or thrive in your area without using a lot of resources,
respectively): “Native plants are especially nice for outdoor leisure
areas, because you’re inviting in the local cycles of wildlife and a
balanced local ecosystem, which means wonderful extras like singing
birds, the sight of butterflies and nature’s own methods of pest and
disease management.”
There’s a native plant society for almost every state, she notes, and
you can go to your state’s page to learn more about native plants in
your area.
Fuss-free foliage
Low-maintenance foliage can also soften and add character to outdoor
living spaces.
“Going without flowers doesn’t mean going without color,” says
Tesselaar. The colorfully foliaged Tropicanna cannas, which can handle
wet feet, can be potted and set right into your favorite water features.
And the dark-red, strap-like foliage of Festival Burgundy cordyline is
so extremely drought tolerant and pest resistant, you’ll wonder if it’s
real. Its basal-branching, low-growing structure allows for fuller, more
compact clumps and a gentle fountain effect – perfect for containers or
color blocking around your favorite outdoor living spots.
Festival, which is only hardy in Zones 7 or warmer, also overwinters
beautifully as a houseplant, says Tesselaar: “So you can simply bring
the patio pot in or out depending on the season, or replant it in the
landscape year after year.”
Schmidt loves the bright-red color of Japanese blood grass, along
with other low-maintenance ornamental grasses like maiden grass (miscanthus
— although it’s considered invasive in some areas of the country), blue
oatgrass, leatherleaf sedge, fountain grass and noninvasive dwarf or
clumping bamboo. Favorites in other parts of the country include ‘Elijah
Blue’ fescue, pampas grass (also invasive in some areas), Northern sea
oats, blue panic grass, muhly grass (also extremely salt tolerant and
prevents sand dune erosion) and little bluestem (hardy to Zone 3).
Then there are Schmidt’s other foliage faves: phormiums (New Zealand
flax), nassella (needlegrass) and Mexican feathergrass. Succulents, she
adds, have exploded in popularity — in containers, hanging baskets and
even as wall art.
Of course, the plants themselves aren’t the only part of a
low-maintenance landscape, say Schmidt and Tesselaar. There are also
tips and tricks like mulching, grouping together plants with similar
needs, efficient irrigation, reducing your lawn and maintaining healthy
soil. But low-maintenance plants are a key ingredient.
“Some work in the garden is great if you enjoy it, but we all have
tasks we’d rather not do,” says Schmidt. “I know I’d rather be doing
artful pruning, potting up containers and deadheading instead of weeding
or mowing. The idea is to reduce or eliminate what feels like work so
you’re free to focus on what really matters to you.” |
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AgriLife Extension to present citrus growing, greening program in San
Antonio
By Paul Schattenberg
The Texas AgriLife Extension Service for Bexar County will present a
two-part program on growing techniques for citrus and the citrus
greening disease during the evenings of June 19 and 20.
Both program sessions of “What Is Citrus Greening and Basic Growing
Techniques of Citrus in South Texas” will take place from 6:30 – 8:30
p.m. in Suite 208 of the AgriLife Extension office for Bexar County,
located at 3355 Cherry Ridge Drive in San Antonio.
The June 19 session will focus on simple citrus selection and growing
techniques, along with identifying and controlling the Asian citrus
psyllid, and will provide a short introduction on citrus greening.
The June 20 session will focus specifically on the citrus greening
disease, which has recently been confirmed in South Texas.
“A lot of home gardeners are interested in growing citrus in their
landscapes, but there are a number of questions and concerns about
growing and caring for citrus trees,” said David Rodriguez, AgriLife
Extension agent for horticulture in Bexar County. “For example, not all
citrus grows well in South Central Texas. Citrus species are typically
tropical or subtropical, so those in areas prone to freezing would do
well to choose a more cold-tolerant citrus species.”
In Texas, both home gardeners and the citrus industry have had concerns
over confirmed instances of citrus greening in the Lower Rio Grande
Valley.
“Citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing, is a bacterial disease
primarily spread by two species of psyllid insects, one of which is the
Asian citrus pysllid,” said Molly Keck, entomologist and AgriLife
Extension integrated pest management specialist for Bexar County. “While
the bacteria itself is not harmful to humans, citrus greening has
damaged citrus trees in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America.
It also poses a serious risk to the U.S. citrus industry, including for
Florida and South Texas citrus producers.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, trees infected with the
disease often produce misshapen and bitter fruit, and citrus greening
affects both the quantity and quality of the fruit produced. There is no
cure for citrus greening, and once a tree is infected, the only
effective means of control is its complete removal.
Speaking on citrus greening will be Frank Gibbons III, who has a
doctorate in horticulture from Iowa State University. He is a Bexar
County Master Gardener, member of the American Horticultural Therapy
Association, registered horticultural therapist, and an author and
speaker.
“I’ve done some surveying of citrus in Bexar County and have been
participating with David Rodriguez toward specializing in citrus
horticulture,” Gibbons said. “During the June 20 presentation, I’ll be
discussing what to look for in your own citrus trees, what the Asian
psyllid looks like and giving some of the symptoms trees with citrus
greening may manifest.”
Attendees are encouraged to bring samples from any citrus trees they may
have for help in identifying any plant-maintenance or disease-related
problems.
“The sample should be fresh and representative of the problem as it
appears and affects the tree,” Rodriguez said. “A small stem with few
leaves attached placed in a sealed plastic bag should be fine.”
The cost of the program is $12 for both sessions and payment is required
in advance. Checks should be made out to Bexar County Master Gardeners
and sent to Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Attn: Angel Torres, 3355
Cherry Ridge Drive, Suite 212, San Antonio, Texas 78230.
Attendees should RSVP to Torres by June 15 at 210-467-6575 or
matorres@ag.tamu.edu. |
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The compost heap Killing trees "Does anyone have a
suggestion for something to do to self-planted trees along fence lines,
etc.?" asks Brian Graham. "I can dig them out of flower beds, etc. but sometimes along fence
lines the best you can do is cut them back. That works for awhile, but
they come back. Is there some safe treatment that can be put on
them — leaves or stump — that will kill them off? Round-up works on grass,
etc. but I have never found it good on trees and shrubs. A friend whose
family came out of the hills of West Virginia says their home remedy was
to spread a small circle of lye on the ground around the base of the
plant. Any help would be appreciated."
You don’t say
what kind of trees are on your fence row. Cedar can simply be cut down
and they shouldn’t re-sprout. Mesquite and hackberry and many others,
on the other hand, will re-sprout from the stump. There are several
herbicides that are available for use on trees along a fence row but
should not be used in the home landscape or garden. Remedy and Sendero
are two that you could consider. Be sure to follow all label directions
before using. — Chris S. Corby, publisher |
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Gardening tips
Dry, hot weather brings on spider mite infestations in vegetable crops such as tomatoes, as well as ornamentals such as butterfly bush. The best way to control these tiny red pests is to dislodge them with a strong blast of water to the underside of the leaf surface. Be sure to thoroughly blast all of the foliage on each plant for best control. 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 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin
recently received a $74,000 renewal grant that will allow hundreds more
Texans to take free workshops on identifying foreign insects and other
invaders that may harm the state’s iconic landscapes before they become
established.
Using a previous grant, Jessica Strickland, the
center’s invasive species program coordinator, has trained 140
participants in workshops statewide with funding from the USDA’s Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). A workshop Saturday, June
16, at the center has more than 60 registrants already and still has
openings. Houston and Rosenberg workshops will occur soon to end the
initial grant. In addition, 353 volunteers have received online training
this year on detecting invasive pests. |
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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.
San Antonio: Botanist, lecturer, and writer Paul Cox will
discuss how to identify edible weeds in the garden at 6:30 p.m.,
Thursday, June 14 at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New
Braunfels, San Antonio. this lecture is free and open to the public. For
more information, visit
www.sanantonioherbs.org.
Ft. Worth: Learn canning and jelly making from Tarrant County
Master Gardeners from 10 a.m. until noon, Saturday, June 16, in
the Lonestar Room, 5th Floor, Tarrant County Plaza Vuilding, Fort Worth.
Class few is $5 and the class is limited to 30 people. To register or
for more information, contact Billie Hammack at 817-884-1296 or
blhammack@ag.tamu.edu.
San Antonio: William Varney of Urban Herbal
in Fredericksburg will talk about creating his labyrinth as well as
"Growing Herbs in Small Spaces" at the Essentials of Gardening class on
Monday, June 18 at San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New
Braunfels, noon-3 p.m. In the second session of the monthly class, learn
"Drought Survival for Trees and Shrubs" from David Vaughan, certified
arborist with Etter Tree Care. Free and open to the public. No advance
reservations required. Presented by Gardening Volunteers of South
Texas. For more information. call 210-251-8101 or visit
www.GardeningVolunteers.org.
Bryan: Brazos County Master Gardeners will present "Irrigation and Rainwater
Harvesting" on June
19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Brazos Center, Room 102,
3232 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan. For more information, visit
brazosmg.com
or call 979-823-0129.
Marble Falls: Dr. Deb Tolman will present “Keyhole
Gardening” at the Helping Center Garden, 1315 Broadway St., Marble Falls
(corner of Broadway and N Street one block south of HEB on 1431) on
Wednesday, June 20. Registration starts at 8 a.m. Demonstration of
construction of Keyhole Garden starts at 8:30 a.m. Program then moves
across the street to Cross View Baptist Church for a presentation about
her 30 years of experience with sustainable practices, Q & A, and a
light lunch. Cost is $10.00 in advance by check to HLMG or $15.00 at the
Garden. Mail check to: Highland Lakes Master Gardeners, 1701 E. Polk St.
Suite 12, Burnet, TX 78611. Her DVD on Keyhole Gardening will be
available as well as info on Master Gardeners, Helping Center, Farmers
Market, and Friends of the Garden. So bring your chair and reserve a
spot to learn how “Waste Can Equal Food!” Call Karen at 512-789-3955 for
more information.
Seabrook: Dan Cook will
discuss "Ponds," at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 20, at The Meeting Room at
Clear Lake Park (on the lakeside), 5001 NASA Parkway, Seabrook. This
lecture is free and open to the public.
Nacogdoches:
The SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State
University will host the monthly Theresa and
Les Reeves Lecture Series at
7 p.m. Thursday, June 21, in the Agriculture Building, Room 110, at 1924
Wilson Drive. Mike Teal, RLA will present “Highways are for More Than
Getting from Here to There.” Teal is an Assistant Professor of Practice
in the Texas A&M Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban
Planning. Teal’s scholarly interests focus on transportation aesthetics
and maintainability of landscape development, corridor management for
visual and environmental quality, water quality, and highway
environments. He also owns and operates a small Landscape
Architecture/Design firm based in College Station. He has a BS in
Horticulture from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Master of
Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M University. He has practiced as a
Licensed Landscape Architect, registered with the State of Texas, since
1999. The Theresa and Les Reeves Garden Lecture Series is normally held
the third Thursday of each month at the Arthur
Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture’s
SFA Mast Arboretum. A rare
plant raffle will be held after the program. The lecture is free and
open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves lecture
series fund are always appreciated. For more information, call
936-468-1832 or e-mail
grantdamon@sfasu.edu.
College Station: On June
23 "Fire Wise and Water Smart" will be presented at the
Texas Forest Service, 200 Technology Way, College Station. It will
address how to evaluate your landscape and prepare in case of fire
threats. It is from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and requires pre-registration at
brazosmg.com or 979-823-0129.
San Antonio: "Sustaining a Garden Community Workshop,"
including community building, fundraising, increasing membership,
marketing your garden, garden signage, and communication, will be held
at 9 a.m., June 23, at Olmos Park Terrance Community Garden, San
Antonio. To register, visit
www.greensatx.org/upcoming-events/register-for-a-workshop.
For more information, call 210-222-8430.
Bryan: "Fruits and Vegetables in Prevention of Cancer: Scientific Oddity or
Clinical Reality?" by Dr. Bhimanagouda Patil will be presented on
June
26 from 7-8 PM. It is free and open to the public at the
Brazos Center Room 102, 3232 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan. For more
information, visit
brazosmg.com or call 979-823-0129.
Buchanan Dam: Join Master Gardener Sheryl Yantis on Tuesday, June 26, for a very
enjoyable and informative program on "Gardening For Wildlife - Birds,
Bees, Butterflies, etc." presented by the Highland Lakes Master Gardener
Green Thumb programs. Learn interesting things about our desirable
backyard visitors and how to attract them to your yard. The program is
part of the Lakeshore Library Speaker Series and is at 2:30 p.m. You must call
the library to reserve your seat for this free program at (325)
379-1174.
Ft.
Worth: Learn about cactus gardens from Tarrant County Master
Gardeners from 10 a.m. until noon, Thursday, June 28, in
Building 2300, Room 2351, Circle Drive at the Resource Connection, 1100
Circle Drive, Fort Worth, located off Campus Drive, north from I-20.
Class few is $5 and the class is limited to 30 people. To register or
for more information, contact Billie Hammack at 817-884-1296 or
blhammack@ag.tamu.edu. Austin: A Garden Photography seminar will be
held from 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, June 30, at Zilker Botanical
Garden, Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin. A retired expert
in the field of biotechnology, Texas Gardener contributing
photographer Bruce Leander concentrates now on his love of fine art
nature photography — macro and landscape. His work with the Wildflower
Center has produced a series of stunning plant studies which highlights
the fine work being done there. He will share with us the tools and
methods he recommends to get started in this fascinating aspect of
horticulture. This free class doesn’t require a reservation but if you
want to ensure a seat, sign up online at
http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/ Please note that any empty
reserved seats are open seating at 9:50 am. This seminar is presented by
the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas
AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County.
www.tcmastergardeners.org. For information, call 512-854-9600.
Ft. Worth: Learn to make a Butterfly Puddle from Tarrant
County Master Gardeners from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., Saturday, June 30,
at the TCMGA Community and Demonstration Garden at the Resource
Connection, 1100 Circle Drive, Fort Worth, located off Campus Drive,
north from I-20. Class few is $20 and the make-and-take class is limited
to 20 people. To register or for more information, contact Billie
Hammack at 817-884-1296 or
blhammack@ag.tamu.edu. Houston:
The Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2 will host an Open
Garden Day from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., Monday, July 2, at the
Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Houston. Tour the working
and demonstration gardens. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer
questions and offer gardening lessons to children. This event is free
and open to the public. Ft. Worth: "Sustainability" will be presented from 10 a.m.
until noon, July 7, in Lonestar Room A & B at the Tarrant County
Plaza Building, 200 Taylor St., Ft. Worth. Registration is $15. Advance
reservations are preferred, but not required. For more information or to
enroll, call 817-884-1945. Seabrook: Master Gardener Jean Fefer
will lecture on "Community Gardening" at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 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. San Antonio: "A Lot in Common,"
a movie in the garden, will be shown at dusk., July 12, at the
Alamo Heights Community Garden, San
Antonio. To register, visit
www.greensatx.org/upcoming-events/register-for-a-workshop.
For more information, call 210-222-8430.
Austin: “Identifying Good and Bad Bugs”
will be presented from 10 a.m. until noon, Saturday, July 14, at the Austin Garden
Center at Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin.
Wizzie Brown, integrated pest management specialist for AgriLife
Extension in Texas, will lecture about how to manage pests in your yard
through IPM. IPM is an environmentally responsible and minimal use of
chemicals that may also kill beneficial insects, harm pets or possibly
enter the water table. She will teach how to identify good bugs vs. bag
bugs and the thoughtful, careful use of pesticides for control in our
gardens and landscapes. This free class doesn’t require a reservation
but if you want to ensure a seat, sign up online at
http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/. Any empty reserved seats
are open seating at 9:50 a.m. 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,
www.tcmastergardeners.org. For information, call 512-854-9600.
Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2 will
host an Open Garden Day from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., Monday, July
16, at the Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Houston.
Tour the working and demonstration gardens. Master Gardeners will be on
hand to answer questions and offer gardening lessons to children. This
event is free and open to the public. Seabrook: Master Gardener
Jean Fefer will lecture on "Plants of the Bible" at 10 a.m., Wednesday,
July 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: “How to Plan and Install Home Drip
Irrigation” will be presented from 10 a.m. until noon, Thursday, July
19, at the Travis County AgriLife Extension Office, 1600 B Smith Rd.,
Austin. Conserve water and reduce water stress to potted plants,
landscaping or vegetable garden by using a drip irrigation system. Learn
about the two most common drip systems available and how to utilize one
or the other or combination of the systems. Discover how to test the
water pressure to determine the length of the run. Gain knowledge by
watching how the pieces are assembled. Take away the knowledge necessary
to create your own system. 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,
www.tcmastergardeners.org. For information, call 512-854-9600.
Ft. Worth: "Fall Vegetable Garden:
The Best Season in Texas" will be presented from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.,
August 4, in Lonestar Room A & B at the Tarrant County Plaza
Building, 200 Taylor St., Ft. Worth. Registration is $15. Advance
reservations are preferred, but not required. For more information or to
enroll, call 817-884-1945.
Nacogdoches: An "Estate Planning and Taxation Workshop,"
designed for forest landowners, consulting foresters, accountants,
attorneys, and others who work with forest landowners in matters
pertaining to estate planning and timber taxes, will be presented by Dr.
Robert Tufts, an attorney and associate professor in the School of
Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University, from 9 a.m. until 3
p.m., Friday, August 10 in Room 117, Arthur Temple College of
Forestry & Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University, East
College at Raguet Street, Nacogdoches. Registration, which includes
lunch and workbook: $35. For additional information, call the Texas
Forestry Association at 936-632-8733. Austin: “Planting the
Fall Vegetable Garden” will be presented from 10 a.m. until noon,
Thursday, August 16, at the Travis County AgriLife Extension
Office, 1600 B Smith Rd., Austin. In spite of the warm temperatures, it
is time to prepare for the fall vegetable garden. Discover which
warm-season vegetables can be replanted now and which vegetables thrive
in our mild winter temperatures. Learn the basics of soil preparation,
how to plant seeds and transplants. Learn the varieties recommended for
this area and the ideal times for planting. Novice and experienced
gardeners will learn valuable information. 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,
www.tcmastergardeners.org. For information, call 512-854-9600.
Ft. Worth: "Native & Adapted Plants"
will be presented from 10 a.m. until noon, September 1, in
Lonestar Room A & B at the Tarrant County Plaza Building, 200 Taylor
St., Ft. Worth. Registration is $15. Advance reservations are preferred,
but not required. For more information or to enroll, call 817-884-1945.
Ft. Worth: "Landscape Design" will be presented from 1 p.m. until
5 p.m., November 3, in Lonestar Room A & B at the Tarrant
County Plaza Building, 200 Taylor St., Ft. Worth. Registration is $15.
Advance reservations are preferred, but not required. For more
information or to enroll, call 817-884-1945. Ft. Worth:
"Individual Consultations" will be available from 10 a.m. until noon,
December 1, in Lonestar Room A & B at the Tarrant County Plaza Building, 200
Taylor St., Ft. Worth. Registration is $15. Advance reservations are
preferred, but not required. For more information or to enroll, call
817-884-1945. 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.
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
guadalupecounty@npsot.org.
Jacksboro: The Jacksboro Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. the
second Wednesday of each month (except June, July and August) at the
Concerned Citizens Center, 400 East Pine Street, Jacksboro. For more
information, call Melinda at 940-567-6218. 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.
Rockport:
Monthly meetings of the Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners are held
at 10 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Texas AgriLife
Extension Service - Aransas County Office, 892 Airport Rd., Rockport. For
additional information, e-mail
aransas-tx@tamu.edu or call
361-790-0103.
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 Fruit and Vegetable Gardening By Greg Grant 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. This easy-to-follow, color-packed guide features:
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Your year-round guide
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Have the best garden ever with your
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The Texas Tomato Lover's Handbook
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In Greg's Garden: A Pineywoods Perspective on Gardening, Nature and Family An intimate and personal exploration of the life of
one of Texas’s most beloved gardeners, In Greg’s Garden: A Pineywoods
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volume the first nine years of Greg Grant’s columns from Texas
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Revised and updated from their original
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nature and family. With degrees in floriculture and horticulture from
Texas A&M University and extensive hands-on experience as a
horticulturist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Stephen F.
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In Greg’s Garden: A Pineywoods Perspective on
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Wish you'd saved
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Are you missing an important issue of
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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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