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August 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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Blue Curls a
spectacular sight
It seems there is another blue wildflower that likes to be noticed other than our beautiful Texas Bluebonnet. This year in the Hill Country, Blue Curls were a spectacular sight. Blue Curls Phacelia congesta also called Fiddlenecks and caterpillars, is predominately an understory plant. In the hill country it really prefers the shade provided by our live oaks. These beautiful plants also grow in the shade of pecan trees as well as in full sun along highways and fence lines. Resources say that it likes dry rocky or sandy sites but I have seen it growing in nice loamy bottomland soil too. Blue Curls can be found in most of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. It won’t be the first wildflower blooming but it definitely finishes before the weather gets hot so you can enjoy them March through May. If you want to get the longest bloom time, then you will need to give them a little shelter from the blazing west sun, and make sure they get plenty of moisture in a site that is well drained. Just like the name suggests it has a beautiful blue color that is quite spectacular in big colonies. The buds are curled up radiating out from a center point. They look like the tentacles of an octopus or a curled-up caterpillar. As the tiny bell shaped flowers open, the curled stems gently unroll. The flowers have 5 tiny petals which are deeply lobed and have protruding stamens tipped with a yellow ball that are quite noticeable. When mature, the plant is between 12-36 inches tall with soft deeply cut leaves that give them a ragged appearance. The stems are quite brittle and will break easily. Blue Curls like the other two Phacelias (Gyp Blue Curls & Purple Phacelias) grows easily from seed and can be planted in meadows and gardens. This plant is deer-resistant and a must-have for any bee or butterfly enthusiast because of the abundant nectar it produces. |
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Project Orange Thumb plants seeds of community pride in San Antonio’s East Side
Fiskars On August 15, nearly 75 volunteers are expected to dig in to complete a garden makeover on San Antonio’s East Side — in a single day. Fiskars, a leading global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden and outdoors, has partnered with Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas and The Home Depot Foundation to build a community garden full of fruits, vegetables and flowers during a one-day garden installation through Fiskars’ community garden initiative, Project Orange Thumb. “Green Spaces Alliance was selected as a 2012 Project Orange Thumb garden makeover recipient from among hundreds of applicants across the United States and Canada,” said Fiskars President Paul Tonnesen. “We share Green Spaces’ eagerness to increase access to healthy food sources, promote educational opportunities and foster a sense of community in San Antonio’s East Side.” The event will take place at 1715 Center St., San Antonio, beginning with a “first dig” at 8 a.m. and culminating with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. Nearly 75 volunteers from Fiskars, Green Spaces Alliance, the Home Depot and the East Side community are expected to participate in the one-day installation. The "East Side Neighborhood Garden" was envisioned by a group of neighborhood women to increase fresh, affordable food resources and support community engagement,” said Angela Hartsell, Community Gardens Program Manager for Green Spaces Alliance. “Since the garden will benefit neighbors of all ages and all levels of gardening experience, Green Spaces is happy to provide volunteers to help with the heavy lifting and upkeep beyond the makeover day to ensure the garden’s long-term success.” The new 6,500 square-foot garden will contain 12 raised beds and four pedestal beds to make garden plots accessible for gardeners with varying needs. It will feature shaded benches and a community seating area, as well as a rain harvesting system to help preserve the infrequent Texas rainfall. Neighborhood residents are looking forward to the many benefits the new garden will provide. “Not only do community gardens provide access to fresh, affordable and nutritious produce, they create opportunities for our seniors to stay active and pass on their vast knowledge of South Texas gardening traditions to our youth,” said East Side Neighborhood garden steward Darlyne Drummer. “Community gardens give seniors safe, healthy places where they can go to socialize, exercise, contribute, and reap the rewards of growing their own fresh food despite their fixed incomes.” Author and TV host Joe Lamp’l designed the garden and will oversee the planting on the day of the event. The day-long installation will include a donation of a range of Fiskars garden tools, gardening materials, seedlings and start-up plants. San Antonio Housing Authority is providing the land for the garden. The East Side Neighborhood Garden will join a growing network of 33 gardens supported by Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas and run by non-profit community groups throughout the city. An additional 2012 Project Orange Thumb garden makeover took place in Ottawa, ON (June 21). For additional information, visit ProjectOrangeThumb.com and facebook.com/ProjectOrangeThumb. |
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Gardening tips
"To
give tomatoes a head start for fall," writes Tom Harris, "pinch off the
leaves except the top bunch and place them in one-gallon pots up to
those leaves; i.e., the stem is under the soil. Those little hair-like
things on the stem will become a large root ball in a few weeks."
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...
August is a great time to sow a wildflower meadow. That way the seeds will be sitting there waiting for those September cool fronts that provide needed moisture for germination. |
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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: The San Antonio Herb
Society invites members and visitors to the annual “Show and Share”.
Thursday, August 9 at 6:30 p.m., San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New
Braunfels, San Antonio. Learn from people who know the most about herb gardening,
cooking, sniffing, crafting and infusing...anything and everything is
herbal for this meeting! For more information, visit
www.sanantonioherbs.org. Free
and open to the public.
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.
Nacogdoches: Want to learn all the in’s and out’s of raising broilers in the backyard
for what amounts to chicken feed? If so, at $20 the Small Flock and Vegetable Short Course, set
August 10 at
the Texas AgriLife Extension Service office in
Nacogdoches County, was made to order, said Aaron Low, AgriLife
Extension agent for Cherokee County. Unlike other courses, attendees will also
be treated to several presentations on home vegetable gardening,
including growing heritage varieties and raising vegetables for organic
markets. The registration fee will include a catered lunch, educational materials
and break refreshments. To register, RSVP by Aug. 3 by calling
936-560-7711. The AgriLife Extension office in Nacogdoches is located at 203 W. Main
St. Morning presentations will include: “Raising Broilers in the Backyard,”
Dr. Greg Archer, AgriLfe Extension poultry specialist, College Station;
“Backyard Laying Hen Facilities and Nutrition Management,” Dr. Craig
Coufal, AgriLfe Extension poultry specialist, College Station; “Small
Flock Diseases, Treatments and Biosecurity,” Dr. Morgan Farnell, AgriLfe
Extension poultry specialist, College Station; “Selling the Goods
Produced by Your Backyard Flock-Regulations,” Coufal; and “Brown Eggs,
White Eggs, Red Chickens, White Chickens, Checkered Chickens — What
Breed Do I Buy?,” an Ideal Poultry Co. representative. After-lunch presentations will include “Ducks, Geese, Guineas or Turkeys
— Why or Why Not?” Ideal Poultry representative; “Home Gardening — Soil,
Irrigation and Size and Type of Garden,” Dr. Joseph Masabni, AgriLife
Extension horticulture specialist, College Station; “Insect Control in
Home Poultry Flock and the Home Garden,” Dr. Sonja Swiger, AgriLife
Extension entomologist, Stephenville; and “Heritage Gardening, Selecting
What to Grow, Selling produce and Organic vs. Non-organic vs. Mixture,”
Masabni. The program is jointly hosted by AgriLife Extension offices in Angelina, Cherokee, Nacogdoches and
Shelby counties.
Austin:
“Rainwater Harvesting in a Thirsty World” will be presented from 10 a.m.
until noon, Saturday, August 11, at Zilker Botanical Garden,
Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin. Turn water scarcity into
water abundance! New filtration and treatment technologies make
rainwater harvesting relatively easy. Rainwater harvesting systems can
be installed in existing buildings or incorporated into new
construction. Master Gardener Ed Parken will discuss how to
conceptualize, design, and implement sustainable water-harvesting
systems for your home and landscape. Parking and seating are limited so
please register online to reserve your seat at
http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture and click on “Public Seminar
Registration.” This seminar is free; Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per
adult, $1 per child or senior. The 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.
La Marque: Long time Galveston County Master Gardener Luke Stripling
will present a workshop on growing cool-weather vegetables in Galveston
County, 9 - 11:30 a.m., August 11, at the
Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main
Street (FM 519), La Marque. Topics will
include soil preparation, drainage, the use of raised beds, growing up
using fence or other supports, the best seed planting dates, the best
varieties, planting depth, fertilizer methods, water requirements, and
harvesting. For course reservations, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12
or email GALV3@wt.net.
La Marque: Palm tree enthusiast and Galveston County Master Gardener O.
J. Miller has more than 15 years experience with palms in our area and
will lead “Culture and Care of Palms in Galveston County”
1-3 p.m., August 11, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension
Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. 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. For course reservations, call
281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email
GALV3@wt.net.
Austin: Jason Avent, organic
inspector and grower, researcher, patent holder, and consultant with
Brite Ideas Hydroponics, will be explaining the similarities,
differences, and compatibilities of hydroponics, aquaponics, and organic
gardening, at 7:00 p.m., August 13. Learn methods to start growing organically whether you have a
balcony or an acre! The Austin Organic Gardeners Club meets at Austin
Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., in Zilker Botanical Gardens.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the opportunity to meet and mingle with local
gardeners; club business begins at 7 p.m., followed by the
presentation. For more information, visit
www.austinorganicgardeners.org.
Houston: The
August meeting of Houston Urban Gardeners (HUG) will be Monday, August 13, 6:30
p.m. at the Houston Garden Center in Hermann Park, 1500 Hermann Dr.,
Houston. 713-284-1989. Mary and Roger Demeny will show us pictures of their extensive home garden and explain what to plant and do now in our
veggie gardens. For more information, visit
houstonurbangardeners.org. Seabrook: Texas Gardener
Contributing Editor Skip Richter will provide a hands-on workshop on
"Vegetable Gardening and Healthy Eating" at 6 p.m., Tuesday, August 14,
at The Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park (on the lakeside), 5001 NASA
Parkway, Seabrook. Open to the public. $25 Fee.
Highland Lakes: "Fall Gardening Ideas" with Master Gardener Violet Carson will be
presented on Wednesday, August 15 in a free Highland Lakes Master
Gardener Green Thumb Program at noon at the Kingsland Library, 125 W Polk, Highland Lakes. For more
information, visit
www.yantislakesidegardens.com/greenthumb.
Ft. Worth: Make a “Living Wreath with Clay Pots and Succulents,” taught by Tarrant
County Master Gardeners, will be held Wednesday, August 15, from 10 a.m.
until noon, at Fort
Worth’s Resource Connection, Building 2300 Gymnasium, on Circle Drive.
The Resource Connection is located off
Campus Dr, north from I-20. Class fee is $45 and limited to 20 people.
To register or for more information, contact Billie Hammack at 817-884-1296 or
blhammack@ag.tamu.edu.
Seabrook: Eulas
Stafford, of the Plumeria Society, will provide a lecture on "Plumerias"
at 10 a.m., Wednesday, August 15, 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: “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.
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, August 16, in the Agriculture Building, Room 110, at
1924 Wilson Drive. SFA Gardens’ horticulturist and writer Greg Grant
will present “Gardening for Love — An Arcadian Dogtrot.” Grant will
share the story of his lifelong quest to restore his grandparent’s old
farmhouse and how he landscaped it with pass-a-long plants from friends
and ancestors along with his own ornamental introductions. The house and
garden were both featured in the July issues of Southern Living
and Neil Sperry’s Gardens magazines. Grant was born in Tyler,
raised in Longview, and has called Shelby County home for more than a
decade. His parents and two older brothers all graduated from SFA while
he obtained degrees in floriculture and horticulture from Texas A&M
University. Greg previously worked for the Texas Agricultural Extension
Service, Louisiana State University, Lone Star Growers, the San Antonio
Botanic Garden, and Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. He writes
regularly for Texas Gardener and Neil Sperry’s Gardens
magazines and recently published Texas Fruit and Vegetable Gardening
and Heirloom Gardening in the South, which received a 2012 Silver
Merit Award from the Garden Writers Association. He also writes a
monthly blog at
arborgate.com. 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 endowed fund are always appreciated. For more
information, call 936-468-1832 or e-mail
grantdamon@sfasu.edu.
Seguin: Guadalupe County Master Gardeners will meet Thursday, August 16,
at 7 p.m. in the AgriLife Extension Bldg., 210 E. Live Oak, Seguin.
Molly Keck, Integrated Pest Management Specialist with the Texas
AgriLife Extension of Bexar County, will talk about "10 Bugs Every
Gardener Should Know." Keck has an M.S. in Entomology. Meetings are
free and open to the public. For more information, visit
www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org or call
830-303-3889.
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,
August 20. Children will learn to make a 'Garden Craft' and adults will
be instructed on 'Fertilizers' from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Master
Gardeners will also answer your gardening questions. Free and open to
the public. Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Houston.
San Antonio: Author Ralph Yznaga will discuss and sign his new book Living
Witness: Historic Trees of Texas at the monthly “Essentials
of Gardening” class presented by Gardening Volunteers of South Texas on
Monday, August 20. The second
session will feature Cheryl Gorhum on “Butterfly Gardens.” Gorhum is a
Master Gardener and GVST volunteer. Free and open to the public.
Noon-3 p.m. San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels. For additional information, call 210-251-8101 or
visit
www.GardeningVolunteers.org.
Bryan: Dr. Joe Masabni will
present Gardening 101 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., August 21 at the
Brazos Center, 3232 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan. The milder days of fall
create an ideal gardening environment for both the vegetable garden and
the gardener. This presentation will provide tips for preparing and
planting a fall vegetable garden, with information on recommended
vegetable varieties, suggestions for harvest and preparation, and
organic techniques for soil building and pest control. For more
information, visit
http://brazosmg.org.
San Antonio: Texas AgriLife Extension Service will be conducting its fall Master Gardener
class #56 for adults interested in gardening/horticulture and related
topics. They then return their knowledge and time by providing
educational outreach support for youth and adults. Deadline to register
is August 15; the cost is $220
with classes running every Wednesday from noon-4 p.m., August 22 -
November 14 at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service classroom, 3355
Cherry Ridge Dr. Suite 208, San
Antonio. For more information, contact Angel Torres at
210-467-6575 or
matorres@ag.tamu.edu.
McKinney: Collin County Master Gardeners 9th annual "Spring Blooming
Bulb Sale" fall fundraiser. Fall is just around the corner, the best
planting time of the year. We'll Skip over winter and start dreaming
about spring while planting bulbs purchased from the 2012 CCMGA Bulb
Sale. Look for outstanding new varieties and add to your old favorites.
Sale begins August 23 and ends October 1. For more information and
to download a flyer and order form visit,
www.ccmgatx.org. Fort Worth: The Organic Garden Club of Fort Worth will hold its Natural Urban
Living Home and Garden "Self Sustainability for Your Lifestyle" lecture
series on August 25 at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, 3220 Botanic
Garden Blvd., from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Speakers include Trish Perry, district
4 director TOGFA; "Garlic Mike" Kirby; Dave Pennington, Synergy fish; Jay
Mertz, founder of Rabbit Hill Farms; and "Tropical John" Thomas, organic
radio co-host. FREE admission. Door prizes after each lecture. Grand
prize to be raffled off at 4;45 p.m. $2.00 tickets. For additional
information, visit
www.ogcfw.webs.com or contact Esther Chambliss at 817-263-9322. La Marque: Since fall is the ideal time to plant onions and garlic, Sam
Scarcella, Galveston County Master Gardener since 1986, will be
presenting a program on what you need to know to grow your own onions
and garlic, 9-11 a.m., August 25, 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: “I would
like to grow roses, but they have so many problems” is a common
statement by local gardeners. From 1 until 3:30 p.m., August 25, Anna Wygryss program introduces you to roses that do not need pampering,
at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide
Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. What’s old is new again.
EarthKind Gardening has re-introduced gardeners to “Old Garden Roses,
Our Ageless Beauties.” For course reservations, call 281-534-3413, ext.
12 or email
GALV3@wt.net.
San Antonio: Texas AgriLife Extension Service provides an
opportunity for children 8-13 in age to learn about gardening by growing
their own vegetables through the mentoring of Bexar County Master
Gardener volunteers. Each child is allotted a 3.5’ x 28’ plot at the
beautiful San Antonio Botanical Garden. Children will have fun growing
different types of seeds, herbs, vegetables, and ornamental annual
flowers. Weekly educational gardening presentations will stimulate these
young minds. The children will also participate in fun, hands-on Junior
Master Gardener activities. The fall session will be conducted every
Saturday, starting August 25 and concluding on December 8. For more
information, contact Angel Torres at (210) 467-6575 or
matorres@ag.tamu.edu. Download the application at:
http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/files/2011/12/Application-Childrens-Vegetable-Garden.pdf. San Antonio: From 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., August 29,
learn to plant and select vegetables and fruit trees at the appropriate
time of the season, how to compost, and how to combine plants for better
yield, insect control, and more at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service,
3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, San Antonio. Speakers will include County
Extension Agent David Rodriguez and Master Gardener specialists.
Registration fee is $10, paid at the door. RSVP to Angel Torres at
210-467-6575 no later than August 27. 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.
San Antonio: Mike Pecen, landscaper, will
share his belief to “design the future without destroying the past” as
the featured speaker at the 9:30 a.m. September 5 meeting of the ,
3310 N New Braunfels and Funston. The Garden Center is dedicated to
educating the community about plants, floral design and gardening. The
meetings are open to everyone. Pecen will speak about the “Lessons We
Can Learn from Historic Texas Landscapes.” He designs landscapes to
“deliver satisfying places to nourish the human spirit as well as the
earth.” He works as an associate of Dixie Watkins III & Associates, a
local landscape architecture and land planning firm that specializes in
preserving cultural and natural resources. Mike says, “Landscape is all
around us, and he believes we deserve better than we have.” He
co-designed the roof garden of the Austonian, which won an “Austin
Business Journal “Going Green” award in 2011. For more information call
210-824-9981. San Antonio: Melissa White will lead the
annual Floral Design School sponsored by the San Antonio Garden Center
beginning September 6. A speaker on the local and national level, White
has spoken on topics such as color trends and influences; specializing
in marketing and floral arrangements. As the owner of Bonika, she has
exercised her distinctive eye for the extraordinary to design bouquets,
centerpieces and other beautiful arrangements for brides. At the Floral
Design School you will learn to create your own beautiful centerpieces
which you will take home. The School starts Thursday, Sept. 6,
and continues each week until October 18 from noon
until 3 p.m. at the San Antonio Garden Center, by the Botanical Gardens.
Tuition for all six classes is $140 and includes instructions from White
as well as flowers and greenery to complete a take-home project each
week. This year’s chairman, Lillie De Los Santos, will be happy to
answer your questions. Call 210- 824-9981 or 210-416-2826 for a
registration form or send your check for $140 payable to the San Antonio
Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio, TX 78209. For more
information, visit
www.sanantoniogardencenter.org or email
sagc2004@sbcglobal.net. Enrollment is limited.
Victoria: The Victoria County Master Gardener Association will hold its
annual fall plant sale Saturday, Sept. 8, from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.,
or until all plants are sold, whichever comes first. The event is free
to the public at the VEG Pavilion, 283 Bachelor Dr., Victoria, located
across from the old flight tower at Victoria Regional Airport. Proceeds
from the sale benefit the Victoria Educational Gardens located adjacent
to the pavilion.
San Antonio: Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas will host a
"Natural Garden Stewardship Workshop" at 9 a.m., September 15, at
Beacon Hill Community Garden, San Antonio. For additional information,
call 210-222-8430.
Midland/Odessa: Texas
AgriLife Extension Service and PBMGs will host an Earthkind Home
Landscape School, September 17, 18, 26 & 27. For more
information, call 432-498-4071 or 432-686-4700.
Austin: “Divide and Transplant Perennials” will be
presented from 10 a.m. until noon, Thursday, September 20, at the Travis
County AgriLife Extension Office, 1600 B Smith Rd., Austin. Perennials
tend to increase in density and size over the years which diminish the
vigor of the plants. Solve this problem by learning to properly divide
and transplant these plants. Learn which plants need to be periodically
divided and how to correctly perform the task. Discover what is needed
to appropriately transplant the plants into new beds. Gain an
understanding of how to prepare the plants to pass on to friends. This
seminar is free and open to the public and 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.
San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society presents its first
Scholarship Garden Tour, benefitting St. Philip’s Culinary Arts Program,
on Saturday, September 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The self-guided
tour features nine differently-themed gardens, for only $10 per ticket.
Themes include: Texas Eclectic, Cacti and Containers, Xeriscape,
Re-Purposed, Budget, Square-Foot, Wildscape and Butterflies, Urban
Chick(en) and Urban Chic. Each garden is proudly sponsored by a
locally-owned garden center or nursery, and each offers unique take-home
tips for your own gardens and yards. Tickets are available from any San Antonio Herb Society member or online at
www.sanantonioherbs.org. Attendees
will also be eligible for garden-related prizes to be drawn at the San
Antonio Herb Market on October 20.
Sugar Land: Sugar Land
Garden Club is hosting its 14th annual Sugar Land Garden Art & Plant
Sale on Saturday, September 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Sugar Lakes
Clubhouse, 930 Sugar Lakes Drive. Admission is free. For more
information, visit
sugarlandgardenclub.org or call 281-491-9609.
Austin: “Compost Tea 101” will be presented from
10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Saturday, September 29, at Hampton
Branch Library at Oakhill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd., Austin. Compost Tea is
a great fertilizer for your garden. This seminar will cover what you
need to know for setting up a simple "do-it-yourself" compost tea
brewer, what goes in it, how to avoid problems, and recipes for using
compost tea in your garden! 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 become open seating at 9:50 a.m. 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.
San Antonio: Green Spaces Alliance of South
Texas will host a "Gardening for Wildlife Workshop" at 9 a.m.,
October 20, at Beacon Hill Community Garden, San Antonio. For
additional information, call 210-222-8430. 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.
San Antonio: Green
Spaces Alliance of South Texas will host a "Garden Design & Maintenance
Workshop" at 9 a.m., November 17, at River Road Community Garden,
San Antonio. For additional information, call 210-222-8430.
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.
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.
Angleton: The Brazoria County Master Gardeners meet at 11 a.m. on the second Friday
of each month at the Brazoria County Extension Office, 21017 County
Road 171, Angleton. There is a general business meeting followed by
a brief educational program each month. For further information call
979-864-1558, ext.110.
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 Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center, 3220 Botanic Blvd., Ft.
Worth. 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 community room behind
the Greater Texas Federal Credit Union,1300 N. Bell, Cedar Park, unless
there is special event planned. Following a program and short business
meeting, we share a pot-luck luncheon. To confirm the meeting place and
time, please call president Cathy Clark-Ramsey at 512-963-4698 or
email
info@leandergc.org
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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