October 2, 2013
  

The garden reader: 
Plants for Texas gardens

By William Scheick

Book Reviewer

 

Mary Irish. Texas Getting Started Garden Guide. Cool Springs Press, 2013. 240 pp. $24.99.

 

"There is a certain presumption in offering a book that covers the whole state of Texas," Mary Irish admits in her Texas Getting Started Garden Guide. "It is, after all, large, nearly 800 miles wide and long, covering four USDA climate zones, with vast differences in rainfall, soils and temperature."

 

Consequently, Irish's ambitious goal is to identify over 150 plants that are most adaptable to "the greatest number of gardening conditions" in our state. In some cases, too, she includes species and cultivar recommendations appropriate for specific regions of our state.

 

Her page on plains yucca (Y. glauca), for instance, recommends substituting grass-leaved yuccas for cultivation in Far West Texas (Y. angustifolia) and humid South Texas (Y. filamentosa). In another example, forsythia lovers will benefit from her unique report on suitable cultivars, including one (F. viridissima) that "grows well in warmer zones."

 

Each of her plant profiles provides conversation-level commentary on "When Where and How to Plant," "Growing Tips," "Regional Advice and Care," "Companion Planting and Design," and "Try These."

 

The richly illustrated profiles are organized in separate sections devoted to annuals, bulbs, desert perennials, grasses, perennials, roses, shrubs, trees and vines. Included, too, are tips on water conservation, coping with deer, invasive plants, lawn replacement and public gardens.

 

A UT graduate with an Aggie M.S. degree, Mary Irish is a well-known and well-regarded expert on gardening in the Southwest. Her Agaves, Yuccas and Related Plants and her Perennials for the Southwest have long been in my personal library.

 

Irish is also the author of a gardening guide for Arizona and for Nevada as well as many books on desert gardening. Presently she lives in Castroville in South Texas and manages the plant sales program at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.

 

Her years-deep wealth of experience permeates Texas Getting Started Garden Guide, a handy and excellent resource for Lone Star gardeners.

 
Save money with Energy Saving Trees program

Texas A&M Forest Service

Money may not grow on trees, but by planting them in the right places, they could be saving you money. With a new tool from Texas A&M Forest Service as well as opportunities from partnering organizations, you can ensure that you are getting the most out of your trees.

Simply landscaping your yard and planting trees strategically can help keep your home cool, protect it from cold winter winds, and save energy-thus saving you money.

 

"Air temperatures can be as much as 20 degrees cooler in the shade and surface temperatures up to 40 degrees cooler," said Gretchen Riley, Texas A&M Forester and Tree Line USA Coordinator.  "Trees are a simple and effective way to reduce heat in and around our homes." To find the best planting locations for a tree in your yard, check out the animated graphic at http://texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/energy_efficiency.html.

 

Oncor Electric and CenterPoint Energy are two major utility providers that have partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to bring the Energy Saving Trees program to Texas. This free tree program has a web-based mapping tool that allows homeowners to compare energy savings based on the amount of shade different types of trees are capable of providing their home.

 

Partnering utilities companies will provide up to three trees for you to plant in the area of your yard that allows for optimal energy savings. This sponsored program allows homeowners to save money on bills in a way that may not have been considered before.

 

To find out more about the Arbor Day Foundation's Energy Saving Trees program and see if your electric provider is a partnering organization, visit http://energysavingtrees.arborday.org/#Home.   


Gardening tips

 

"I have a copper rain chain hanging from the corner of my front porch," writes Cindy Anderson, "which collects rainwater into a large glazed pot. To prevent the breeding of mosquitoes, it is important to keep a 'mosquito dunk' floating on top of the water. But it was often scooped up and accidentally discarded when watering nearby plants. The solution? Put the dunk into a mesh produce bag (from onions, potatoes, etc.) and tie it shut. The bag will still float, but will be much more visible when filling a water bucket."

 

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 2013 Planning Guide & Calendar. Please send your tips of 50 words or less to the editor at: Gardening Tips. 


Did you know...

Switchgrass is a tall, fast-growing native grass that is a larval food source for butterflies. Dove, quail and turkey use it for food and cover. It resembles Johnson grass but is not invasive and provides excellent erosion control around ponds and creeks.



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.

 

OCTOBER

 

La Marque: Galveston County Master Gardener Sandra DeVall will present "Texas Tuff Landscape Plants - Blooming and Beautiful," 6:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 1. This presentation is aimed at all who are looking for a variety of low-care plants that thrive in Galveston County. The plant choices Sandra has put together will save participants money by directing them away from plants that will not bring gardening success. This program can also serve as a good starting point for the Landscaping Series later this month or can stand alone. Sandra is a fourth-generation Texas gardener and presents a personal perspective on hundreds of tree, shrubs, annuals and perennials she has planted. Seminar will be held at 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 [email protected].

 

Kerrville: Seeds contributor Tom Harris, Ph.D., will lead "Gardening in a Drought," 6:30-8:30 p.m., October 2, at the Dietert Center, Kerrville. For registration information, contact Waverly Jones at www.clubed.net.

  

New Braunfels: The Comal Garden club will meet at 9:30 a.m., October 3, at Pavilion #16 Landa Park to make seed balls that will be tossed in Landa Park to help with restoration. For more information, contact Cecelia Lussen at 816-830-4647. 

  

San Antonio: Seeds contributor Tom Harris, Ph.D., will lead "Gardening in a Drought," October 3, at the Community Learning Center, 9750 Tesoro Drive, San Antonio. For registration information, contact Carrie Smith at www.communityed.neisd.net.

 

Austin: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin, will hold a Wildflower Center Fall Plant Sale Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6. Enjoy the Wildflower Center's Fall Plant Sale & Gardening Festival during prime planting time. With good fall rains expected, choose from the best selection of hardy Central Texas plants, shrubs and trees, including hard-to-find options. More than 300 native species will be available. Enjoy guided hikes at 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m., expert advice, story time, book signings and more. Admission: $9 adults, $7 seniors and students, $4 UT affiliates with identification, $3 children, free for Center members and children under 5. For more information, call 512-232-0100 or get more details including a plants list at: http://www.wildflower.org/plantsale.

 

Burnet: On October 5, the Highland Lakes Native Plant Society of Texas chapter will present their 4th annual Native Plant Festival and Garden Tour, featuring Cathy Downs from Comfort, Texas, Chairman of the "Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas" (BBMT) Program. Cathy is also a certified Monarch Larval Monitoring Project educator and teaches Monarch biology, habitat, and migration at various locations throughout Texas. Since certifying as a Texas Master Naturalist with the Hill Country chapter in 2005, she has been teaching children and adults about native Texas butterflies and their host plants with an emphasis on Monarch biology and migration. Cathy raises Monarch caterpillars for education and also propagates native milkweed. She hosts live Butterfly Pavilions at Nature Centers and State Parks throughout the Hill Country area. The free festival will be held from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery near Burnet. Cathy Downs will give her presentation at 10:30 a.m. Other activities include a native plant sale, native tree adoptions, information booths about butterflies, plants, and other nature-related topics, a bird blind, nature walks and hikes, a watershed demonstration, activities for the kids, and much more. The tours of three lovely native plant gardens in the region will be from noon - 4 p.m. and will cost $5 for adults. In addition to the Native Plant Society, members of the Highland Lakes Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Birding & Wildflower Society, and Friends of the Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery are sponsoring and will be volunteering at the festival and tour. For more information, visit http://www.yantislakesidegardens.com/npsot.

 

Denton: Join the Denton County Master Gardener Association at its annual Fall Garden Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 5. at the Denton Bible Church campus, 2300 E. University Dr., Denton (corner of Nottingham and Mingo). Learn more about water-wise landscape practices while touring booths filled with local crafts and gardening information. Adults can enjoy presentations on water conservation, landscaping and home and garden decorating and listen to live music by local choral groups. Children's activities include a bounce house, a petting zoo and face painting. Food and drinks are available at the 4H concession stand. Don't miss the opportunity to win door prizes or bid on silent auction items. More information is available at: http://dcmga.com/events/.

  

Fort Worth: Make and take a mosaic stone during a class on Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m.- noon, at the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association demonstration and community garden pavilion at the Fort Worth Resource Connection. The garden is located at 1801 Circle Drive. The Resource Connection is located off Campus Dr, north from I-20. Look for the Resource Connection signs on Campus Drive. Class fee is $25 and limited to 20. Pre-registration is required for all classes. To register and for more information/directions, contact Billie Hammack at [email protected] or call 817-884-1296.

  

Jasper: Master Gardener plant sale at the Butterfly Festival & Fall Fest in downtown Jasper, October 5. Butterfly Festival includes free programs on how to attract pollinators to your garden, the monarch migration and more; free children's activities, scavenger hunt and several butterfly releases. In the butterfly garden learn about host plants for different species and organic control methods for unwanted pests. For more information contact the Texas A&M AgriLife office at 409-384-3721 or visit  jasper.agrilife.org.

 

La Marque: Galveston County Master Gardener Jan Brick will present "Perennials for Galveston County & the Upper Texas Coast," a program on perennials that thrive in Galveston County and the Upper Texas Coast, 9-11 a.m., Saturday, October 5. Also included in the program will be discussions on the best fertilizers, light, soil, moisture requirements as well as pests and disease to look out for and any special needs with commentary on interesting facts about each plant presented. Seminar will be held at 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 [email protected].

 

McKinney: The Collin County Master Gardeners Association will hold their 10th Annual Exclusive Bulb Sale with  a new twist this year. Tried and true heirloom and naturalizing bulbs will be available by pre-order only from August 1-31, with the event to be concluded with a Bulb and Perennial Mart on Saturday, October 5, at Myers Park and Event Center in McKinney. CCMGA will be selling a selection of perennials, and more spring, summer, and fall blooming bulbs at the Bulb and Perennial Mart. The perennials offered at the sale have been proven to be winners in the research and demonstration gardens at Myers Park. These Texas tough plants will add a splash of color to the garden throughout the year. The bulbs are researched and proven to be suitable for our climate and soil extremes. These lovely bloomers are perennial, do not require pre-chilling, are drought tolerant, and are excellent choices for water-wise gardens. Many of these hard to find bulbs are not available for purchase at local nurseries. Information about the Bulb and Perennial Mart, and a color brochure with descriptions of bulbs available for the pre-sale and an order form are available for downloading at the CCMGA Website: ccmgatx.org. Mailed orders must be accompanied by a check or money order payable to CCMGA and must be received by August 31, 2013. Visa and Mastercard accepted for online orders only. Please call the Collin County Master Gardeners Association at 1-972-548-4219 or 1-972-548-4232 for questions, additional information, and presentation schedule.

 

Nacogdoches: The SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host its annual Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, October 5, at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in historic Nacogdoches. A wide variety of hard-to-find, "Texas tough" plants will be available, including Texas natives, heirlooms, tropicals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and exclusive Greg Grant and SFA introductions. Most of the plants are extensively trialed in the gardens before being offered to the public and most are produced by the SFA Gardens staff and volunteers. This popular event benefits the SFA Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, Gayla Mize Garden, and educational programs hosted at the gardens. The educational programs at SFA Gardens reach more than 15,000 students ages 1 to 100 on a yearly basis. The public is encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon. For more information, call (936) 468-4404, or visit www.sfagardens.sfasu.edu two weeks before the sale for a list of available plants.

  

San Antonio: Annual 2013 Watersaver Landscape Tour, Saturday, October 5, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free and self-guided. Visit nine unique and exemplary yards that are filled with low-water, low-maintenance design ideas, most of them created by the innovative homeowner. Volunteers will be in each yard to answer questions about design, plants and other features. Sponsored by San Antonio Water System, San Antonio River Authority and Gardening Volunteers of South Texas in cooperation with Milberger Landscape Nursery. Find a complete list of the yards, pictures, landscape descriptions and locations at www.WatersaverLandscapeTour.org or call GVST (210) 251-8101.

 

Bandera: Seeds contributor Tom Harris, Ph.D., will lead "You're in Texas Now - Gardening Here is Different," October 84, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Northside Learning Center, Bandera. For registration information, contact Susan Underwood at www.nisd.net/ace. 

  

Dallas: "Trees for North Texas" will be presented October 8, 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. at 17360 Coit Road, Dallas. This program teaches proper tree selection and planting for North Texas. Selecting the right tree and planting it properly helps improve the sustainability of your home or business landscape. Tree list provided. For more information and to register, visit http://dallas.tamu.edu or email [email protected]. 

 

Seguin: The Guadalupe Master Gardeners will meet on Thursday, October 8, at the AgriLife Building, 210 E. Live Oak, Seguin. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. with Liz Palfini, Texas Parks and Wildlife, speaking on "Weeding through Heirlooms, Historic and Just Plain Good Old Days Gardening Propaganda." The meeting is free and open to the public. The regular business meeting will take place at the end of the program. For further information visit, www.guadalupemastergardeners.org.

 

Conroe: Montgomery County Master Gardeners will present "Landscaping with Texas Natives" 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., Wednesday, October 9, at the Thomas LeRoy Education Center, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. "Landscape Design with Texas Natives" will be presented by Wm. Alan King, Registered Landscape Architect. "Why Choose Natives?" and "Native Alternatives" will be presented by Diana Foss, Texas Parks and Wildlife. Registration is $20 per person, due by October 1. Late Registration will be $25. Door prizes! Registration form and more information available at http://www.mcmga.com/, www.facebook/montgomerymastergardenerassociation or by calling 936-539-7824.

 

Fort Worth: Take an informal guided tour of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Perennial Garden led by members of the Perennial Garden Master Gardener Project, 10 a.m., October 9. The free tour is held on the second Wednesday of each month. The tour lasts about 45 minutes with time for questions. No advance reservations are needed. Sign up at Botanic Gardens and show up.  

Humble: Sherry Cruse will present "Decorating for the Holidays" noon-2 p.m., Wednesday, October 9, at Mercer Arboretum & Botanic, located one mile north of FM 1960 at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. Learn how to scare and thrill this Halloween and get great ideas for holiday get-togethers. For more information, call 281-443-8731 or visit www.hcp4.net/mercer.

 

Fort Worth: Tour the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Trial Garden led by members of the Trial Garden Master Gardener Project, 9 a.m., Thursday, October 10. The free tour is held on the second Thursday of each month. The tour lasts about 45 minutes with time for questions. No advanced reservations are needed. Sign up at Botanic Gardens and show up.

  

Odessa: Permian Basin Master Gardeners will present Growing Beautiful Roses in West Texas on October 10 at Ector County Extension Office, 1010 E. 8th, Odessa. For more information, call 432-498-4071.

 

Bryan/College Station: Brazos County Master Gardeners present an Autumn Garden Tour from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday, October 12. The gardens include: Versatile Suburban Garden with Edibles and Ornamentals, 3913 Lienz Lane, College Station; Resourceful Native Plant and Wildlife Haven w/Harvested Rainwater, 11785 Durrand, College Station; Charming, Old-Fashioned Cottage Garden, 201 Hensel Avenue, Bryan; Ambitious Vegetable, Fruit and Native Garden, 3198 Golden Trail, College Station. Gardens may be visited in any order but are NOT stroller or handicap accessible. $10 per adult-Good for all four gardens and are available at Brazos County Master Gardeners' exhibit at Brazos County Fair and Expo 9/5-8 (cash or checks); Brazos County Office of Texas AgriLife Extension Service (checks only); on the day of the tour at any garden home (cash or checks). For additional information, call 979.823-0129 or visit brazosmg.com.

 

La Marque: The annual Galveston County Master Gardener Ornamental and Perennial Plant Sale, held 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, October 12, offers a variety of plants suitable for Galveston County including heat-tolerant perennials, shade-loving plants and tropical's, gingers, plants for butterfly or hummingbird gardens, and hard-to-find varieties... especially hardy ones for the area! The sale will be held in the parking lot next to the Wayne Johnson Community Center in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519). La Marque. For additional information, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email [email protected].

 

Houston/Ft. Worth: A total of 10 Texas gardeners will share their private gardens with the public in 2013 through the Garden Conservancy's Open Days program, America's only national private garden-visiting program. Open Days in Texas take place on the following dates. Sunday, October 13: Visit four private gardens open in Fort Worth, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Features include a country estate with formal spaces and an organic orchard, an urban garden using earth-friendly methods and native plants, sculptural pieces and unusual container plantings, and a cottage garden focused around a fountain and large planting beds. Each of these Open Days Program dates is self-guided and no reservations are required. A $5 admission fee collected at each garden supports the national preservation work of the Garden Conservancy. The Open Days program features hundreds of magnificent spaces not normally open to the public. From April through October, garden hosts across the country welcome the opportunity to learn and exchange gardening ideas, and give the public access to explore and enjoy their private gardens. For a complete list of the more than 300 private gardens participating in eighteen states, visit the Garden Conservancy and its Open Days program online at www.opendaysprogram.org or call toll-free weekdays, 1-888-842-2442. The 2013 Open Days Directory ($21.95 including shipping and handling) is the only comprehensive source for details on the 2013 season. The Directory provides descriptions, visiting dates and hours, and driving directions to each private garden. The Directory also includes one free admission ticket to any private garden participating in the program, a $5 value. To purchase a Directory or to join the Garden Conservancy as a member and receive a free copy, call 1-888-842-2442 or visit www.opendaysprogram.org.

 

Fort Worth: Learn to make herb vinegar from Master Gardener Rita Hottel, 10 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, October 15, at the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association demonstration and community garden pavilion at the Fort Worth Resource Connection. The garden is located at 1801 Circle Drive. The Resource Connection is located off Campus Dr, north from I-20. Look for the Resource Connection signs on Campus Drive. Class fee is $10 and limited to 20. Pre-registration is required for all classes. To register and for more information/directions, contact Billie Hammack at [email protected] or call 817-884-1296.

  

Midland: Permian Basin Master Gardeners will present Growing Beautiful Roses in West Texas on October 15 at Midland Extension Office, 2445 E. Hwy 80, Midland. For more information, call 432-498-4071.

 

Seguin: The Guadalupe Master Gardeners will meet on Thursday, October 19, at the AgriLife Building, 210 E. Live Oak, Seguin. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. with Liz Palfini, Texas Parks and Wildlife, presenting "Weeding Through Heirlooms, Historic and Just Plain Good Old Days Gardening Propaganda." The meeting is free and open to the public. The regular business meeting will be held at the end of the program. For further information visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.

 

La Marque: Galveston County Master Gardener and Landscape Designer Karen Lehr will present "Landscape Design - Analyzing your Landscape," 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, October 22. This is first in a series of three programs that will give you the tools to analyze your own site and assess your landscape needs. It is suggested all three programs in the series be registered for and attended as the information advances through each program and will not be repeated. Dates of Landscape Design II and III are planned for October 29 and November 5. Seminar will be held at 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 [email protected].

 

Fort Worth: Make and take a glass orb terrarium on Saturday, October 26, 10 a.m. - noon, at the Master Gardener demonstration and community garden greenhouse at the Fort Worth Resource Connection. The garden is located at 1801 Circle Drive. The Resource Connection is located off Campus Dr, north from I-20. Look for the Resource Connection signs on Campus Drive. Class fee is $12 and limited to 20. Pre-registration is required for all classes. To register and for more information/directions, contact Billie Hammack at [email protected] or call 817-884-1296.

 

NOVEMBER

 

Humble: Brenda Beust will present "The 10 Commandments of Lazy Gardening" noon-2 p.m., Wednesday, November 13, at Mercer Arboretum & Botanic, located one mile north of FM 1960 at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. Learn how to enjoy the garden with less effort. For more information, call 281-443-8731 or visit www.hcp4.net/mercer.

 

DECEMBER

 

Humble: Casey Scribner and Brooke Judice of Trees for Houston will present "Trees in Urban Areas" noon-2 p.m., Wednesday, December 11, at Mercer Arboretum & Botanic, located one mile north of FM 1960 at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. Scribner and Judice will offer information about the importance of trees in an urban environment, recommended trees for our area, plus tips for how to plant and take care of them. For more information, call 281-443-8731 or visit www.hcp4.net/mercer.

 

MONTHLY MEETINGS

 

FIRST WEEK

 

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 www.txmg.org/wichita 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.

 

Midland: The Permian Basin Master Gardeners meet at noon, the first Wednesday of each month at the Permian Basin Readiness Center at the Midland International Airport. For more information, call 432-498-4071.

 

New Braunfels: The Comal Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month (except December) at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. An educational program preceeds the business meeting. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, call 830-620-3440 or visit http://txmg.org/comal/.

 

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 hold their monthly meeting at noon on the first Thursday of each month at 623 Fair Street, Gonzales. Bring a bag lunch, drinks provided. Contact AgriLife Extension Office at 830-672-8531 or visit http://gonzalesmastergardeners.org for more information.

 

SECOND WEEK

 

Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month (except December) at the Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. For more information, visit www.austinorganicgardeners.org.

 

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, August and December at St. John's Lutheran Church in Marion. Directions to St. John's Lutheran Church: From FM 78 turn south onto FM 465 and the church is just past the Marion School on the right. From IH-10 go north on FM 465 towards Marion. The Church will be on the left, just before you get to town. 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 [email protected].

 

Quitman: The Quitman Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Quitman Library on E Goode Street, Quitman. It is a diverse group that welcomes all visitors. For more information, e-mail [email protected].

 

Denton: The Denton County Master Gardener Association meets from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month at 401 W. Hickory St., Denton. Meetings are open to the public. More information is available at: http://dcmga.com/.

 

Humble: The Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, hosts a Lunch Bunch the second Wednesday of each month from noon until 2 p.m. Take a sack lunch or order a box lunch from Starbucks when you call 281-443-8731 to reserve your spot. Master Gardeners and Masters Naturalists may earn CEU credits by attending.

 

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.

 

Woodway: The McLennan County Master Gardeners meet on the second Wednesday each month at noon at the Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd., Woodway. Educational programs follow the business session. For more information, call 254-757-5180.

 

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 a.m. in the training room of the College Station Waste Water Facility building at the end of North Forest Parkway, 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.

 

THIRD WEEK

 

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 [email protected].

 

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.

 

Corpus Christi: The Nueces Master Gardeners meet at noon the third Tuesday of each month, except December, at Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Dr., Corpus Christi. An educational program precedes the business meeting. For further information call 361 767-5217.

 

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 [email protected] or call 361-790-0103.

 

Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September through Novemberand 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.

 

Brownwood: Brownwood Garden Club meets the third Thursday of each month, 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.  The club meetings are at Southside Baptist Church, 1219 Indian Creek Road, with refreshments and a speaker presentation. Visitors are welcome. For more information, email [email protected] or call 817-454-8175).

 

Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston (NPSOT-H) meets at 7:30 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 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 June and 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.

 

FOURTH WEEK

 

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.

 

Linden: The Caddo Wildflower Chapter of Native Plants Society meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the senior citizens building at 507 S Kaufman St. in Linden at 6:30. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Karen Tromza at [email protected].

 

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 [email protected].

 

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 [email protected].

 

Dallas: The Dallas County Master Gardeners meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. For location and program information, visit http://www.dallascountymastergardeners.org/ or contact The Helpdesk, M-F, 8 to 4:30 214-904-3053.

 

Dallas: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday 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.

Texas Gardener's Seeds is published weekly. � Suntex Communications, Inc. 2013. 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.

 

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Publisher: Chris S. Corby ● Editor: Michael Bracken 

 

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