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March 24, 2010 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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Grass resource
revolutionizes biodiversity research University of Sheffield Grasses from across the world will be
documented in a new resource to help researchers understand the biology
and threats to these vital species, thanks to a project led by
scientists from the University of Sheffield, in collaboration with the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
The JISC-funded project will see experts
from the University’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences produce an
online resource called GrassPortal, offering public access to
evolutionary and ecological data on the world's grass species and
greatly expanding the web services currently offered by the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew.
GrassPortal, which is at the forefront of
a digital revolution in biodiversity research, will allow any of the
11,000 species of grasses to be defined by its geographical range,
climate preferences, and evolutionary relationships to other species.
It will offer scientists a one-stop-shop
for easily accessing and analyzing data on an unprecedented scale, and
will be particularly useful for researchers in the fields of climate
change, conservation biology, and evolutionary biology. Educational case
studies and sample datasets in these areas will also be packaged as
research-led teaching resources for university and school students.
Grasses are present on every continent on
the planet, and play major roles in the global economy and ecosystem.
They account for most of our staple food crops and livestock feeds,
including rice, barley, wheat, maize, millet and sugarcane. Grasses are
the main winners from deforestation, and form grasslands which
significantly influence our climate by altering the cycling of carbon
and water between the land and air.
Understanding the evolutionary and
ecological relationships between species is fundamental for biology, and
it is believed the same scientific approach used by GrassPortal could be
rolled out to cover all of the world’s half million plant species during
the coming decade.
Dr. Colin Osborne, Senior Royal Society
University Research Fellow from the Department of Animal and Plant
Sciences at the University of Sheffield and Director of the GrassPortal
project, said: “Grasses feed human civilization and economies, and our
lives would quickly fall apart without them. Understanding the biology
and threats to these species is vital for humanity in the 21st century,
and I’m delighted that Kew have joined with Sheffield to tackle this
global problem.”
Dr. David Simpson, Assistant Keeper in
the Herbarium, Library, Art and Archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew and GrassPortal Project Partner, said: “The worldwide importance of
grasses means that they are a key part of Kew's Breathing Planet
Programme to help save threatened plants and habitats and improve
people's quality of life. We are very pleased to join with Sheffield
University in this timely and vital initiative.”
Ben Showers, programme manager at JISC,
which has funded the work to take place, said: “GrassPortal will provide
a single point of access for scientists, researchers and students to an
extraordinary range of grass data. Bringing these disparate resources
together will allow new areas of research and study to open up, and help
save researchers time when searching for crucial information.” |
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Eliminating weeds has
economic, sociopolitical, and biological implications Invasive Plant Science and Management Containing or eradicating an invasive
plant species isn’t as simple as pulling weeds. Bioeconomics apply
because determining the best approach to managing a weed invasion
depends on the amount of investment that can or will be made. The
interplay of biological, operational, economic, and sociopolitical
factors — not just the weeds themselves — determines the final outcome
of a weed management program.
"Weed
Eradication — An Economic Perspective" appears in the
October-December 2009 issue of the journal Invasive Plant Science and
Management. The author states that eradicating a weed population is
often a better economic strategy than containing the invasion.
Containing or controlling the level of impact of weed invasions can
require a permanent, ongoing investment of resources. Eradication is
more cost-effective, but only if it is feasible.
Estimating the ultimate costs of a weed
management program is difficult. Bioeconomic techniques and models that
can use rough estimates of costs and benefits offer useful tools for
decision-making. In general terms, though, greater investment in weed
control is justified by greater threats.
A program to eradicate witchweed in the
United States has cost more than $250 million over a span of 50 years.
As a parasitic species with many hosts, witchweed became a threat to
produce crops and therefore to the economic marketplace. In this case,
the threat has justified the commitment, and the ongoing program is
meeting with success. But there are likely few other weed species that
society would find worthy of such expense when there are diseases or
animal populations, such as fire ants, that more directly affect human
lifestyles.
The feasibility of eradication can be
viewed as an equation. According to the author, “The effort to achieve
weed eradication comprises the detection effort (both active and
passive) required to delimit an invasion plus the search and control
effort required to prevent reproduction until extirpation occurs over
the entire infested area.” |
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Gardening tips
"I grow sunflowers and pole beans together using tomato cages, writes LoAnn Pham-Eiman. "They keep the tall sunflower stalks (planted in the middle of the cages) from leaning and support the bean vines (they climb on the wires) at the same time." 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 copy of Texas Gardener's 2010 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...
Chard was accidentally discovered in Switzerland when a beet shriveled in the cold ground but the greens kept growing! It was thought to be a type of Cardoon. Swiss chard is a healthy, easy-to-grow alternative to spinach but much more tolerant of heat. Swiss chard makes a tolerable spinach substitute when conditions are too hot for spinach to grow well and is the perfect green for late season planting in Texas gardens. |
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Upcoming garden events.
If you would like your organization’s
events included in "Upcoming Garden Events," please contact us at
Garden Events. To ensure inclusion in
this column, please provide complete details at least three weeks
prior to the event.
Bonham: The 2010 Garden, Lawn and
Home Expo will be held Saturday, March 27, from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
at the Multi-Purpose Complex, 700 FM 87 at Hwy 56 West, Bonham. Speakers
include Kimberly Schofield, Beneficial arthropods; Steve Upson, Home
orchard and small fruit production; Dr. Dotty Woodson, Plants that beat
the heat and keep blooming; and Dr. Greg Church, Dinner from the dirt.
Vendors, lunch and refreshments provided by the Fannin Co. 4-H,
children's activities, silent auction and door prizes throughout the
day. $4.00 admission. For more information, visit
http://grovesite.com/mg/fcmg.
Rockport: The Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners
will hold their spring plant sale from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturday,
March 27, at Green Acres, 611 E. Mimosa, Rockport. In the event of
rain, the event will be postponed until April 3. For additional
information, call (361) 790-0103 or visit
http://aransas-tx.tamu.edu.
Tomball: The 5th Annual Rose Festival will be held Saturday,
March 27, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920,
Tomball. For additional information, visit
www.arborgate.com or call
(281) 351-8851.
Tyler: The East Texas Orchid Society will host "The Golden Age
of Orchids Show," 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturday, March 27, and
noon until 4 p.m., Sunday, March 28, at Discovery Science Place
Annex, 302 N. Broadway, Tyler. For additional information, visit
www.centraleasttexasorchidsociety.org.
Waxahachie: The Ellis County Master Gardeners will hold their 10th
Annual Lawn & Garden Expo on Saturday, March 27, from 9 a.m.
until 5 p.m. at the Waxahachie Civic Center, IH-35E and 287 Bypass. Neil
Sperry will be the keynote speaker. More than 100 exhibitors will be
selling and promoting lawn and garden-related products. Ellis Master
Gardeners will hold workshops throughout the day, and there will be a
children's workshop area and door prizes. For additional information,
visit
www.ecmga.com or call (972) 825-5175.
Houston: Dr. Douglas Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature
Home, will speak in Hamman Hall, Rice University, on Wednesday,
March 31. The event begins with a social at 6:30 p.m. Tallamy's
lecture begins at 7 p.m., followed by a panel discussion from 8 until
8:30 p.m. For parking information, visit
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~hamman/parking.htm. For additional
information, call Houston Audubon, (713) 932-1693.
Tomball: “Koffee with Kathy,” an informal chat with Kathy Huber, Houston
Chronicle Garden Editor sharing her love of gardening, will be held
Thursday, April 1, beginning at 10 a.m. at The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM
2920, Tomball. For additional information, visit
www.arborgate.com or call
(281) 351-8851.
Rockport-Fulton: Presented by the Rockport Herb & Rose Study
Group, the Sixth Rockport Herb Festival will be held Saturday, April 3,
from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., with programs starting at 9 a.m., at the
Paws & Taws Fulton Convention Center, 402 N. Fulton Beach Road,
Rockport-Fulton. For more information, visit
www.rockportherbs.org.
Kemah: Paula Kennedy will present "Migrating Birds" at the
Kemah-Bay Area Garden Club meeting Wednesday, April 7 at 9:30
a.m. at the Jimmie Walker Community Center, 800 Harris Ave., Kemah.
Light refreshments will be served. The public is invited. For more
information, contact Mary Ellen Chapman, at (281) 559-1912.
Tomball: “What’s New and Unique in The Plant World,” will be presented
by Rand Hopkins, Monrovia Plants, Thursday, April 8, beginning at 10
a.m. at The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball. Get a sneak preview of
what’s new from this industry leading nursery. For additional
information, visit
www.arborgate.com or call
(281) 351-8851.
Austin: Cool Plants for the Shade Garden is a free,
in-the-garden discussion to be held Friday, April 9, from 9 a.m. until
11 a.m. in the Demonstration Garden at AgriLife Extension Office of
Travis County, 1600B Smith Rd., Austin. See some of the shade loving
plants growing and learn about other perennials and annuals which
require limited sun. This seminar is free and open to the public. It is
presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer
arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. For
information, visit
http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master
Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.
Quitman: The Governor Hogg Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. 100 Gov. Hogg Parkway. Quitman, will host a Plant Sale and Dogwood Fiesta Saturday,
April 10, at 9 a.m. and is over when the plants are gone. Find new, uncommon and Texas-tough perennials, ornamental grasses, hanging baskets, exotic plants and natives. For more information, visit
www.woodcountyarboretum.com or call Pam Riley (903) 466-4327.
Pearland: The Harris County Master Gardener Association will
present a program on WaterSmart Landscapes, Tuesday, April 13,
from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., at Bass Pro Shops, Highway 288 at the Sam
Houston Tollway, Pearland. For more information, visit,
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.
San Antonio: Sandy Ross and Kathy Carroll will discuss plant
propagation and give demonstrations on semi-hardwood and root cuttings
at the The Guadalupe County (Schertz/Seguin) Chapter of the Native Plant
Society of Texas meeting 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 13, at the
Antique Rose Emporium, 7561 E. Evans Road, San Antonio. For additional
information, contact
quadalupecounty@npsot.org.
Hermann Park: The Houston Urban Gardeners will meet at 6:30
p.m., Wednesday, April 14, at the Houston Garden Center in
Hermann Park. Dianne Norman with Wabash Antiques and Feed Store will
talk about "What to Plant NOW." For additional information, visit
www.houstonurbangardeners.org.
Austin: The AgriLife Extension Office of Travis County, 1600 B
Smith Road, Austin, will host "Plant Propagation" from 1 a.m. until 11
a.m., April 17. Learning how to propagate from existing plants is a
great way to populate your garden or pass along your favorites to
friends. This seminar covers various propagation methods including
cuttings, layering, and division, and help you overcome that fear of
starting plants from seeds. The seminar will be part presentation, part
participation so class size is limited to 30 participants. Please
call the Master Gardener Help Desk at (512) 854-9600 to reserve your
place. Participants must also bring scissors and an empty, clear
plastic, 2-liter soda bottle with lid for the hands-on project. This seminar is free and open to the public.
For additional information, visit
www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master
Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.
Beaumont: The
Jefferson County Master Gardeners will host their annual spring plant
sale and Market Day April 17, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Southeast
Texas Regional Airport, Hangar #4, Jerry Ware Drive, Beaumont. This
event is the largest of its kind in the Golden Triangle, complete with
vendors of all kinds and, of course, a huge plant sale. Gardening
seminars are offered free of charge and Master Gardeners are on hand to
answer questions and to help you choose the right plants for your
landscape. For more information, call (490) 835-8461.
Georgetown: Spring Garden Fair, sponsored by Williamson County
Master Gardeners, will be held April 17, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
at the WilCo AgriLife Extension Office, 3151 Inner Loop Rd., Georgetown.
The fair will include gardening classes, a country store, demonstrations
on rainwater harvesting, identifying oak wilt, a huge plant sale and so
much more! A Plant Preview class is offered at 8 a.m. highlighting the
plants available; attendees will get early admission to the sale. Granbury: Lake Granbury
Master Gardener's Annual Plant Sale will be held Saturday, April 17,
from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Hewlett Park Pavilion, Granbury, across from
the Conference Center. All of your favorite plants will be offered as
well as some new items. Mini seminars will be presented by Master
Gardeners and will include drawings for prizes. For more information,
contact the Hood County AgriLife Extension office at (817) 579-3280.
Nocogdoches: The SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches will host its annual Garden Gala Day on
April 17 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the lower arboretum parking lot on Wilson Drive. Stephen F. Austin State University Outdoor Pursuits will host an Earth Day Celebration in conjunction with this year’s sale. The event features the annual spring plant sale fundraiser benefiting the SFA Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, and educational programs hosted at the gardens. All the plants are produced at SFA by the staff, students and volunteers. A wide variety of hard to find, “Texas tough” plants will be available. The public is encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon. For more information, call (936) 468-4404, or visit
http://arboretum.sfasu.edu and click on “upcoming events.”
San Marcos: Heirloom tomatoes and native
plants will be for sale along with free garden tool cleaning and
sharpening service, Saturday, April 17, at the San Marcos Nature
Center, 430 Riverside Dr., San Marcos. Bring your dull shovels and hoes.
Get ready to plant your purchases. Sponsored by Hays County Master
Gardeners and San Marcos Nature Center. Stephenville: The annual Native & Heirloom Plant
Fair will be held Saturday, April 17 on the grounds of the beautiful
Stephenville Museum in Stephenville. A wide variety of vendors offer
native & adapted plants, herbs, garden supplies, concessions, books,
produce, yard art, seeds, and arts & crafts. Informative speakers will
share gardening ideas. Vendor space is free; contact Russell for details
at
pfau@tarleton.edu or (254) 968-9761. For additional information,
visit
http://www.stephenville.com/museum/.
Rockport:
David Ilfrey, Landscape Designer, will present "Deigning with
Native Plants" from noon until 1 p.m., Tuesday,
April 20, at the Aransas County Library, 701 E. Mimosa, Rockport.
For additional information, call (361) 790-0103 or visit
http://aransas-tx.tamu.edu.
Seabrook: Diana Foss from Texas Parks & Wildlife will present
"Backyard Pollinators" beginning at 10 a.m., April 21, at The
Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park (on the lakeside), 5001 NASA Road 1,
Seabrook. For more information, visit
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu . Austin: The Travis County Master Gardeners
Association will present DIY Pond Building, Wednesday, April 28, from 7
p.m. until 9 p.m., at Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd.,
Austin. Always dreamed of a little pond in your yard? Not only can you
have one but you can build it yourself. Attend this free seminar and
learn step-by-step lessons on the basics of building a pond yourself.
This seminar will help you determine the supplies and equipment needed
for the job, gather information about pond plants, and determine which
fish will do well in your pond. In addition, hear instructions on
general pond maintenance, installing pond lighting and how to prevent
unwanted critters in your pond. This seminar is free and open to the
public. For more details, visit
http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master
Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.
Austin: "Gardening for Butterflies & Hummingbirds" will be
held at the Demonstration Garden at the AgriLife Extension Office of
Travis County, 1600 B Smith Road, Austin, from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.,
Friday, May 7. This seminar is appropriate for anyone wanting to
incorporate the correct plants into the garden to attract these
beauties. Learn plant food sources, host plants and nesting places for
the most common butterflies and hummingbirds in Central Texas. This
seminar is free and open to the public. For additional information,
visit
www.tcmastergardeners.org
or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.
Denton: The Denton County Master Gardener 2010 Spring Garden
Tour and Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday,
May 8. Tickets $8 in advance; $10 at the gate; $5 single garden.
Children under 14 free. For additional information, including locations
of the gardens, visit www.dcmga.com
or call (940) 349-2883. Rockport: The 10th Annual Hidden Gardens Tour by Aransas/San
Patricio Master Gardeners will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.,
Saturday, May 8. Tickets are $10 and are available from the
Aransas County Texas AgriLife Extension office, 611 E. Mimosa. In the
event of rain, the tour will be rescheduled for May 15. For additional
information, call (361) 790-0103.
San Antonio: The San Antonio Antique Rose Emporium and the Comal
Master Gardener Association will present their annual Herb Affair at the
Antique Rose Emporium, 7561 E. Evans Road, San Antonio, Saturday, May 8, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Dill, the 2010 Herb of the Year, will be featured. Demonstrations will
include the many ways to use herbs throughout the home and garden,
including herbs for pest control, cleansers, nature printing and other
crafts. For additional information, visit
www.antiqueroseemporium.com,
http://grovesite.com/mg/comal,
or call (210) 651-4565.
Alvin: The Lone Star Daylily Society will hold a daylily and
plant sat, May 15, from 9 a.m. until sold out, at the Alvin
Senior Center, Alvin. Judging of flowers begins at 10:30 a.m. and the
show opens to the public at 2 p.m., For additional information, visit
www.lonestardaylilysociety.org or call Michael Mayfield at (281)
996-9310. San Antonio: The San Antonio Daylily Society
Show and Sale will be held Saturday, May 15, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at
the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio. For
additional information, call (210) 824-9981.
Austin: "How to Create a Wildlife Habitat" will be presented
from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., Saturday, May 22, at the Demonstration
Garden at AgriLife Extension Office of Travis County, 1660 B Smith Road,
Austin. Learn how to attract butterflies, birds, insects, toads, and
other creatures by utilizing plants which create food, cover, water and
places to raise young. A Master Naturalist volunteer will lead the
discussion. This seminar is free and open to the public. For more
information, visit
www.tcmastergardeners.org
or call the Travis Country Master Gardener's help desk at (512)
854-9600.
Brenham: The Barrington Living History Farm's gardens will be
open Saturday and Sunday, May 29-30 from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Learn about the foods pioneers grew to feed their families in the Brazos
Valley in the 1850s. See the heirloom varieties Republic of Texas
President Anson Jones may well have been growing on his farm. Barrington
Living History Farm is located at Washington-on-the-Brazos State
Historic Site off Highway 105 on FM 1155 between Navasota and Brenham.
Admission: adults $5; students, $3; children 6 and under free. For
additional information, call (936) 878-2214, ext. 246, and ask for
Kellie, or visit
www.birthplaceoftexas.com. Nacogdoches: The Stephen F. Austin State University Pineywoods Native Plant Center will host the 5th Lone Star Regional
Native Plant Conference June 2-5 in Nacogdoches. The conference will be
held on the SFA campus, home to the Mast Arboretum, the Ruby Mize Azalea
Garden, and the 40-acre Pineywoods Native Plant Center. Join a unique
blend of naturalists, horticulturists, nurserymen, landscapers, and
gardeners and for talks ranging from green roofs to landscape design and
native azaleas, guided tours featuring unique local flora, and
educational workshops. Registration begins February 1. For more
information, visit
http://arboretum.sfasu.edu or contact Dawn Stover at (936) 468-4404
or
dparish@sfasu.edu. Weatherford: The 26th annual Parker County Peach Festival will
be held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturday, July 10, in downtown
Weatherford. More than 200 arts/crafts, produce and food vendors will
line the historic streets. Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 and
under are free. For additional information, visit
www.peachfestivaltx.com or
contact
info@weatherford-chamber.com or (888) 594-3801. MONTHLY MEETINGS
Rockport: The Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners meets at 9
a.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the AgriLife Extension
Office - Aransas County, 611 E. Mimosa, Rockport. For additional
information, e-mail
aransas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361)
790-0103.
Kilgore: Northeast Texas Organic Gardeners
meets at 10 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Wildwood
Eco-Farm in Kilgore. 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.
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.
Pearland: The second Tuesday of each month the
Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold a free evening
educational program for the public, called the Green Thumb Series, at
Bass Pro Shop, Highway 288 at Sam Houston Tollway, Pearland. For more
information visit
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu or call
(281) 991-8437.
Schertz: The Guadalupe County
(Schertz/Seguin) Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT)
meets the second Tuesday of each month except July and August at
the library, 798 Schertz Parkway, Shertz. A plant exchange and meet-and-greet
begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by a program at 7 p.m. For additional
information or an application to join NPSOT, contact
guadalupecounty@npsot.org.
Rockport: The Rockport
Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the second
Wednesday of each month, with the exceptions of June and July, to
discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical
uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation, meets at 619
N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport at 10 a.m. 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.com.
Beaumont: The Jefferson County Master Gardeners meet at 7 p.m. the
second Thursday of each month at the AgriLife Extension Office,
1225 Pearl Street, Suite 200, Beaumont. For more information, call (409)
835-8461.
Brownwood: Brown County Master Gardeners Association
meets the second Thursday of each month, from Noon to 1 p.m., at the Brown
County AgriLife Extension Office, 605 Fisk, Brownwood. For additional
information, call Freda Day (325) 643-1077, or Mary Engle (325)
784-8453.
Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the
Native Plant Society of Texas meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. the
second Thursday of each month at the Georgetown Public Library, 402
W. 8th Street. Georgetown. For additional information, contract Billye
Adams at (512) 863-9636 or visit
http://www.npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/default.htm.
Orange: The Orange County Master Gardeners meet at the
Salvation Army in Orange on the second Thursday of each month. A covered-dish dinner at 6:30 p.m. is followed by a speaker and business
meeting at 7 p.m. San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio
Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels
(corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels). For more information on programs, visit
www.sanantonioherbs.org.
College Station: The A&M Garden Club meets on
the second Friday of each month during the school year at 9:30
a.m. at the Senior Circle Rooms, College Station Professional Building
II, 1651 Rock Prairie Road, College Station. Expert
speakers, plant sharing, and federated club projects help members learn
about gardening in the Brazos Valley, floral design, conservation
topics, and more. For more information, visit
www.sallysfamilyplace.com/Clubs/GardenClub.htm.
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.
Cleburne: The Johnson County Master Gardener Association meets
at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The public is invited to
attend. There is an educational program each month preceding the
business meeting. For information on topics call (817) 556-6370 or visit
http://www.jcmga.org/.
Arlington: The Arlington Men's Garden Club meets from 7 p.m.
until 9 p.m. on the third Tuesday 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.
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.somervellmastergardener.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 7:15 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 preceeds the
business meeting. The public is invited to attend. For topic or other information,
call (830) 379-1972 or
visit
www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
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) 274-8460.
Brackenridge Park: The Native Plant Society San Antonio Chapter
meets every fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the
Lions Field Adult and Senior Center, 2809 Broadway at E. Mulberry, Brackenridge Park,
except August and December. Social and seed/plant exchange at 6:30 p.m.
Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bea at (210)
999-7292 or visit
www.npsot.org/sanantonio. Dallas: The Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 2:30 p.m. on the
fourth Sunday of each month at the North Haven Gardens, 7700
Northaven Rd., Dallas. For more
information, call (214) 824-2448 or visit
www.dogc.org.
Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m.
until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (except November
and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street,
Arlington. For more information, contact David at (817) 483-7746.
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Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife By Kelly Conrad Bender
NEW EDITION of the popular Texas Parks & Wildlife book, now with
fully searchable DVD containing all the plant and animal information you
need to customize your backyard habitat.
Whether you have an apartment balcony or a multi-acre ranch, the Texas
Wildscapes program provides the tools you need to make a home for all
the animals that will thrive in the native habitat you create.
In Texas Wildscapes, Kelly Conrad Bender identifies the kinds of
animals you can expect when you give them their three basic needs: food,
water, and shelter. She then provides guidelines for designing and
planting your yard or garden to best provide these requirements for the
many birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates the
environment will attract. $31.88 includes tax and shipping
Order online with credit card at
www.texasgardener.com or call toll-free 1-800-727-9020.
Visa, MasterCard and Discover
accepted. |
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Wish you'd saved
them?
Are you missing an important issue of
Texas Gardener? Or, perhaps, just tired of thumbing through stacks
of back issues looking for the tips and techniques you need to make your
garden grow? These new CDs provide easy access to all six issues of Order by calling 1-800-727-9020.
(Discover, MasterCard and Visa accepted.)
*Other volumes will be available soon. |
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Doug Welsh's Texas Garden Almanac
Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac is a giant monthly calendar for
the entire state — a practical, information-packed, month-by-month guide
for gardeners and "yardeners." This book provides everything you need to
know about flowers and garden design; trees, shrubs, and vines; lawns;
vegetable, herb, and fruit gardening; and soil, mulch, water, pests, and
plant care. It will help you to create beautiful, productive, healthy
gardens and have fun doing it.
$26.63 plus shipping*
Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or
order on-line.
*Mention
Texas Gardener’s Seeds when ordering by phone and we’ll waive shipping charges. (Discover, MasterCard and Visa
accepted.) |
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Fiber row cover
valuable year-round
Grow-Web encourages plant growth and development, and also provides
protection from insects, birds, diseases and frosts. It is also air and
water permeable and allows for ventilation. Grow-Web provides excellent
protection to seedlings when applied directly to the seedbed.
$30.64 per 12.3’ x 32.8’ roll (includes shipping!)
Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or
order on-line.
(Discover, MasterCard and Visa
accepted.) |
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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 |