October 9, 2013
  
Lady Bird Johnson bluebonnet 'bluer than blue'
 

By Robert Burns

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

 

With such deep blue flowers that it was almost named 'Cobalt,' the newest Texas Superstar, Lady Bird Johnson Royal Blue bluebonnet, has some other extraordinary features as well, say Texas A&M AgriLife horticulturists.

 

"Lady Bird Johnson Royal Blue bluebonnet is an outstanding plant," said Dr. Larry Stein, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist, Uvalde. "It produces awesome color. The number of blooms it sets is typically more than a traditional blue bluebonnet."

 

Texas Superstar plants undergo extensive tests throughout the state by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension horticulturists, said Dr. Brent Pemberton, AgriLife Research horticulturist and chair of the Texas Superstar executive board.

 

To be designated a Texas Superstar, a plant must not just be beautiful but also perform well for consumers and growers throughout Texas, Pemberton said. Superstars must also be easy to propagate - which ensures the plants are not only widely available throughout Texas, but also reasonably priced.

 

Lady Bird Johnson bluebonnet fulfills the Texas Superstar mandate very well, Stein said. All bluebonnets trace their ancestry to a hardy winter annual native to Texas, and are commonly seen along roadsides and in uncultivated pastures throughout the state. The Lady Bird Johnson bluebonnet has the added advantage of producing as much as 40 percent more seed than traditional bluebonnets, which means it should be very easy to propagate.

 

The development of Lady Bird Johnson bluebonnet began with a serendipitous discovery, according to Stein, who participated in its selection.

 

Dr. Jerry Parsons, former AgriLife Extension horticulturist, San Antonio, and Stein have been selecting bluebonnet lines for years. It was Parsons who selected a line with a "true Aggie maroon color" in 1995, a plant that was subsequently named the Texas Maroon bluebonnet, Stein said.

 

Though officially retired, Parsons continues to work with him and others to develop new lines, Stein said.

 

"We discovered Lady Bird Johnson in a field of red bluebonnets," he said. "We were trying to isolate reds out from maroon bluebonnets, and we were getting these really dark blues coming up in the red fields. So we saved the seed of the really dark blues and isolated those until the line would come back 99-plus percent true."

 

Lady Bird Johnson has all the other hardy growth characteristics of the native Texas bluebonnet and can be grown from seeds or transplants, Pemberton said.

 

Both seeds and transplants should be available this fall from nurseries and home improvement stores participating in Texas Superstar promotions. A listing of retailers who participate can be found at http://texassuperstar.com/retailers/.

 

Stein said the growing recommendation for bluebonnet seeds is to sow in August through September in full sun. Sets can be planted much later, but they also need full sunlight, and will not perform well in an area that receives less than eight to 10 hours of full sun daily.

 

Bluebonnets need well-drained soil. In sticky soils with more clay, the recommendation is either to grow them in raised beds or amend the top layer of the soil with 3 to 4 inches of organic matter.

As they are Texas natives, once established, bluebonnets are typically tough and drought tolerant, he said.

 

Stein emphasized they do not tolerate soils that aren't well drained. Seeds may germinate, but plants will never fully develop, becoming either stunted or turning yellow and dying.

Peak bloom depends upon the weather, but usually comes in late March to early April, Stein said.

More information on bluebonnets, including how to grow them in a Bermuda grass or Zoysia lawn, can be found at http://bit.ly/182Xn4a.

 

Texas Superstar is a registered trademark owned by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, a state agency that is part of the Texas A&M University System. More information about the Texas Superstar program can be found at http://texassuperstar.com/.

 
PLANTS database provides answers for vegetative questions

Stacey Mitchell

USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

Recently the PLANTS website crossed a milestone with the uploading of its 50,000th image. The database, managed by the National Plant Data Team at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's East National Technology Support Center, hosts images of plants that grow in the U.S. and its territories.

 

The PLANTS site is one of USDA's most frequently visited websites.

 

Besides images, PLANTS provides basic information on plants, including scientific names and distribution. It is used worldwide by scientists, educators, conservationists, students, farmers, horticulturists and others. All of this information assists people in identifying plants with the correct scientific names.

 

The correct identification of plants can be a serious business. For example, farmers and gardeners need to be able to properly identify weeds so they can take the appropriate steps to control them. Plant identification could even mean the difference between life and death. For example, edible parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and carrot (Daucus carota) are closely related and are similar in appearance to water hemlock (Cicuta maculata) and poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), two species that can be fatal if eaten.

 

The photos in the database have come from various sources, with many submitted by members of the public. Using the Image Gallery, one man was able to get a houseplant that had been in his family since the early 1900s properly identified as the cactus Rhipsalis. A woman from Alabama was able to identify a grass species, blackseed speargrass (Piptochaetium avenaceum), that grew in her yard and was injuring her dog with hard, sharp grains that penetrated the dog's skin.

 

An entomologist with the University of Colorado, who studies leafhoppers that feed on grasses, used PLANTS to familiarize himself with different species of grass commonly known as muhly (Muhlenbergia). The National Plant Data Team provided him with locations for populations of the rare New Jersey muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia torreyana), which resulted in the scientist discovering a new species of leafhopper that he is now naming and describing.

 

"The relationship between PLANTS, and its users is mutually beneficial," says Gerry Moore, Team Leader for the National Plant Data Team at the NRCS East National Technology Support Center in Greensboro, N.C.

 

"Through the resources on the website, we provide technical assistance to users in determining the proper scientific name for a plant, and they provide valuable contributions, such as high quality photos and new location information."

 

Visit the PLANTS gallery.
Gardening tips

 

We usually recommend mulching leaves in turf areas with a mulching mower. However, thick blankets of leaves that become deposited over turf grass growing under the shade of a tree should be removed and used as mulch elsewhere in the landscape or garden. This will allow light to reach the grass blades and give the turf a chance to rejuvenate.

 

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. 
Upcoming garden events
 

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.

  

San Antonio: Seeds contributor Tom Harris, Ph.D., will lead "Not that Kind of Drip: This Kind of Drip (Irrigation)," October 10, at the Community Learning Center, 9750 Tesoro Drive, San Antonio. For registration information, contact Carrie Smith at www.communityed.neisd.net.

  

San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society will meet 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, October 10, at San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio. The program will feature the Special Interests Groups, including aromatherapy, craft, culinary, healthy living, madhatters, and weed & gloat. The meet is free an open to the public. For additional information, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org.

 

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.

  

Brenham: Delight in the magical land of scarecrows and pumpkins during the 37th annual Scarecrow Festival, October 12-13, in Chappell Hill. The Scarecrow Festival boasts more than 250 juried exhibitors offering home accents, holiday items, clothing, jewelry and so much more. Enjoy the live entertainment and music lining the streets of Chappell Hill. Don't miss the special Children's Activity Corner which provides pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, barrel train rides and more. Sample the many booths featuring delicious country-style food. It's hearty and filling, perfect for an autumn day. Festival hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the festival is free; parking is $5 and no street parking is allowed. Convenient parking for cars, buses and handicapped persons is available. The parking lot is located on FM 1155 a short distance north of the intersection of Hwy. 290 and FM 1155. Chappell Hill is located halfway between Houston and Austin on Hwy. 290. For more information, call 1-888-BRENHAM or visit www.chappellhillhistoricalsociety.com.

 

Conroe: Montgomery County Master Gardeners will hold their Fall Plant Sale on Saturday, October 12, at the Texas A & M AgriLife Extension Office, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. The presentation will be at 8 a.m. and the sale is from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Fall vegetables, herbs, perennials, citrus, succulents, much more! Don't miss the camellias from the Coushatta Camellia Society. Call 936-539-7824 or visit  http://www.mcmga.com/ for more info.

  

Houston: Learn how to stretch your gardening pleasure into the cool season by attending the Fall Garden Day learning event, October 12, 9 a.m.-noon, featuring timely talks and how-to demonstrations at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Demonstration Gardens, 3033 Bear Creek Dr., Houston. Attendees will rotate through seven areas staffed by Harris County Horticulture Extension Agents and Harris County Master Gardeners: "Grow Your Own Groceries" showing how to optimize fall vegetables in containers and small spaces and discussing which varieties perform best in our area. "Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers" covering ornamental fall color plantings in containers. (Plants will be available for participants to take home.) "The Scoop on Composting" demonstrating several methods for converting yard and kitchen waste into black gold for gardens. "Fall Lawn Secrets" talking about common problems with lawns, weed control, fertilizing and watering. "Invest in Trees" discussing why fall is the best time to plant woody ornamentals, shrubs and trees and demonstrating the keys to success. "Reproduce with Style" looking at ways to successfully propagate your favorite plants, including seed sprouting, rooting cuttings, layering and other techniques. "Coats and Sweaters for Plants" providing tips on how to keep your garden going into (and possibly thriving throughout) our winter months. There will also be an Ask-A-Master Gardener Booth to answer attendees' questions on other horticulture and landscaping topics. Among the take-aways will be a booklet with in-depth information on the topics covered, a re-seeding lettuce seedling and other surprises. Refreshments will be served. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $15 for those who pre-register or $20 on the day of the event. Attendance is limited, so pre-registration is encouraged. For more details or to pre-register, call 281.855.5600. For information about this or other upcoming Master Gardener events and programs, visit hcmga.tamu.edu, or call 281-855-5600. 

 

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 GALV3@wt.net.

 

Tyler: The Smith County Master Gardeners' "Bulbs and More" sale, a combined bulb sale and educational event, will be held October 12 at the Harvey Convention Center, 2000 W. Front Street, Tyler. The bulb sale, which is always a popular event, will feature more than 60 varieties, including 21 daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, irises, lilies, orchids, amaryllises, cannas, gingers and more. Also for sale will be container trees, shrubs and many plants grown by Master Gardeners. The Native Plant Society will also have plants available for purchase. The event is hosted by the Smith County Master Gardeners and the Texas A&M Agricultural Extension Service in Smith County. Admission to the event is free, with bulb prices ranging from $4 to about $15, Brown said. Proceeds from the plant sales will go to support local Master Gardeners projects. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., with presenters beginning at 9 a.m. This year's speaker is David Whitinger, creator of the websites http://AllThingsPlants.com and http://davesgarden.com. Whitinger is a Master Gardener in Cherokee County where he has extensive gardens, she said. His presentation will be titled "50 Best Tips for Gardening," a general overview of the very best gardening tips he has accumulated over decades of gardening. Whitinger will be followed by Smith County Master Gardener Merlin Eck, who will give a Powerpoint presentation of the bulbs and other plants on sale. The sale will begin at 11:30 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. Though the sale will officially end at 1 p.m., there will still be Master Gardeners on site to clean up and serve the public. For more information about Bulbs and More or Smith County Master Gardeners, call Master Gardener Rae Meinen at 903-590-2980. More information on horticulture programming by AgriLife Extension in Smith County can be found at http://agrilife.org/etg or http://scmg.tamu.edu/.

  

Houston/Ft. Worth: Ten 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.

Austin: Monday, October 14, Chris Doggett, Williamson County Beekeepers Association, shares his knowledge and appreciation of one of the most critical factors for garden success: bees! 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 guest speaker's presentation. Bring a little cash for the raffle! For more information, visit www.austinorganicgardeners.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 blhammack@ag.tamu.edu 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.

 

Kerrville: Seeds contributor Tom Harris, Ph.D., will lead "Not that Kind of Drip: This Kind of Drip (Irrigation)," 1:30-3:30 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m., October 16, at the Dietert Center, Kerrville. For registration information, contact Waverly Jones at www.clubed.net.

 

Seabrook: Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2 - 3rd Wednesday Lecture Series will present Gaye Hammond, Houston Rose Society, as the speaker on Wednesday, October 16, at 10:00 a.m. She will be giving a "hands-on" rose propagation class. Free and open to the public. Clear Lake Park meeting room, (on the lakeside), 5001 Nasa Parkway, Seabrook. For additional information, call 281-855-5600 or visit http://hcmga.tami.edu.

 

San Antonio: Seeds contributor Tom Harris, Ph.D., will lead "Sprinkler Conversion," October 17, at the Community Learning Center, 9750 Tesoro Drive, San Antonio. For registration information, contact Carrie Smith at www.communityed.neisd.net.

 

Farmers Branch: The Celebration of Roses will be celebrated on October 19 in the Rose Gardens of Farmers Branch with an outstanding slate of speakers in council chambers. Pat Shanley, America Rose Society VP & Chair ARS Marketing Committee, will present "A Vision of Roses - A Vision of ARS." Pat, coeditor of Reader in Rose Culture, The Sustainable Rose Garden, is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable grower of roses in her own garden, Stone Cottage. Tom Carruth, curator of the Rose Collection at the Huntington and an award-winning hybridizer, will speak on "Just for the Smell of It." Tom has introduced more than 100 rose hybrids that include such favorites as Julia Childs, Memorial Day, Cinco de Mayo and Ebb Tide. Tom's creations can be found throughout the Rose Gardens of Farmers Branch. Stephen Scanniello tackles "The Truth about Climbing Roses: Myths, Lore, Legends & Some Facts." Gardener, rosarian, historian, writer and raconteur, Stephen has authored/co-authored five books. He creates/maintains private and public gardens throughout the U.S. The most recent and 25th recipient of the Jane Righter Medal from the Garden Club o f America can be described as a rose whisper. The Dallas Rose Society's Fall Rose Show and the Farmers Branch Rose Show will be held in City Hall. The show in addition to being a beautiful display of blooms provides great insight to which roses perform in the MetroPlex. Rose plants will be available for sale and Consulting Rosarians will be available to answer rose questions. Exhibiting in the Dallas Rose Society Rose Show is open to all. Visit dallasrosesociety.com for a show schedule. Onsite free registration will be in the Gussie Field Watterworth pavilion beginning at 10:30. Parking will be at City Hall, 13000 William Dodson Parkway. Shuttles will be available to transport through the gardens. Master Gardeners will be on site to answer your Rose Rosette Disease and gardening questions. The bluegrass band Copper Canyon will serenade during the complimentary grilled hot dog lunch. City Hall will open at noon for the rose show and speakers. While the Celebration concludes at 4:30, Bloomin' Bluegrass will continue into the evening at the Historical Park. for additional information, visit bloominbluegrass.com.

 

Grapevine: "Plant Native - Plant Now" will be presented Saturday, October 19, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Grapevine Botanical Gardens at Heritage Park, 411 Ball Street, Grapevine. The "Plant Native - Plant Now" sale will focus on nectar and host plants for butterflies and feature native and adapted trees and shrubs that are hardy and unique. The event will be part of the Butterfly Flutterby festivities occurring at the gardens. For additional information, visit  www.grapevinegardenclub.org.

 

Hempstead: Peckerwood Garden in Hempstead will host Fall Open Days October 19 & 20 and November 9 & 10. Plant sales are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guided garden tours are at 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. Tours are $10.00. The garden is not wheelchair accessible and please, no young children. The Garden is not a "wander at will" type location and is only available through the guided tours. Peckerwood Garden is located at 20571 Hwy. 359, Hempstead. For additional information, call 979-826-3232 or e-mail info@peckerwoodgarden.org. 

 

Huntsville: The 4th Annual Butterfly Festival & Plant Sale will be held October 19, 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., 102 Tam Road, Huntsville. Walker County Master Gardeners invite you to celebrate butterflies with seminars, garden tours, face painting, children's activities and a monarch Tag and Release event. Natives, fruit trees, roses, perennials and butterfly merchandise for sale. Located at the corner of Highway 75 North and Tam Road approximately 2 miles north of the Pilot Truck Stop on Highway 75. Call 936-435-2426 for more information. 

 

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.

 

Houston: Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2 will host Open Garden Day on Monday, October 21, at their Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd., Houston. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer gardening questions. Hours are 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. with a program on dividing Daylillies, Canna Lillies and Iris at 9:30 am. Free and open to the public. Children invited! For additional information, call 281-855-5600 or visit http://hcmga.tami.edu.

 

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 GALV3@wt.net.

 

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 blhammack@ag.tamu.edu 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 guadalupecounty@npsot.org.

 

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 quitmangardenclub@gmail.com.

 

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 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.

 

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 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 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 boeblingen@centex.net 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 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month, at the Justice Center, 211 Court Street, Seguin. After a brief social hour, the meeting and guest speaker begins at 7 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 830-303-3889 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 khtromza@yahoo.com.

 

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 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.

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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.

 

Missed an issue? Back issues of Texas Gardener's Seeds April 2006-September 2013 are available at www.texasgardener.com/newsletters. Back issues beginning October 2013 are available here. 

 

Publisher: Chris S. Corby ● Editor: Michael Bracken 

 

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