October 30, 2013
  

What's trending in the garden? Season-long foilage

 

Tesselaar Plants

  

Pooped out on gardening ideas by fall? One of the hottest up-and-coming trends is fabulous foliage. "People are spending less on gardening, and the plants they do buy have to offer interest through fall," said Anthony Tesselaar, cofounder and president of international plant marketer Tesselaar Plants. "With many flowers done by this point, those gardening on a budget are making sure the leaves left are worthy."

 

Interest in foliage is clearly there, according to the USDA's 2012 Floriculture Crops Summary, which showed a 4.6-percent rise in foliage plants bought between 2011 and 2012. But how do you incorporate foliage into your landscaping and container gardening? Here are four ways from Tesselaar and other experts.

 

Consider Color

"Color is the best jumping-off point to start your new adventure," write Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz in their new book Fine Foliage ($16.95, St. Lynn's Press). The book offers 60-plus foliage combos for every location and purpose.

 

"Begin by reading the color cues provided by key plants; then use them to establish color echoes with one another," they write. "Once you have your color link, vary the texture and form of the plants."

 

In their plant recipe "Foliage Fiesta," for instance, the Tropicanna canna, 'Finger Paint' coleus and 'Golden Ray' New Zealand flax (phormium) all sport shades of red, orange, green and cream. But the plants all offer different forms and textures, from the ovate leaves of canna to the serrated shields of coleus to the tough, spiky swords of New Zealand flax.

 

"Shrubs steal the show in fall," said About.com Gardening Guide Marie Iannotti: "They're also the most likely to still be around in nurseries." For attention-grabbing color, she suggested 'Henry's Garnet' sweetspire, gold-leaved caryopteris and late-season ornamental grasses like prairie dropseed, red switch grass and blue oat grass.

 

Allen Owings, a professor of horticulture with Louisiana State University's AgCenter in Hammond, Louisiana, also suggests adding ornamental grasses to your landscape design, as well as coleus, copper leaf plant (acalypha) and tapioca (cassava). For those in colder climates, he admits, some of these choices may need to be overwintered or bought in spring for season-long color.

 

Go dark

"Dark foliage is great any time of year, but it particularly suits the fall color palette," said Iannotti. "The clear jewel colors of fall flowers are all the more striking next to the newer, dark sedums like 'Chocolate Drop'. Near-black colocasias and cannas - like Tropicanna Black - are at their peak now and look amazing with a backdrop of gold or rusty tree leaves."

 

Salwitz and Chapman like dark-leaved varieties of euphorbia as well as coral bells like 'Obsidian' and 'Purple Ruffles'. For Halloween, they suggest super-dark plants like black mondo grass and the 'Black Pearl' ornamental pepper, which contrast beautifully with orange pumpkins.

 

Tesselaar recommends using Tropicanna Black cannas: "The rich broad leaves are one of the darkest colors in the cannas and they really add interest in the garden where planted, or when used as a centerpiece in a large mixed garden pot."

 

Owings loves dark alocasia and purple- and black-leaved ornamental peppers like 'Purple Flash' and 'Black Pearl'. "Dark purple- and black-flowered petunias also go well with Halloween and Thanksgiving-colored landscapes," he added.

 

To keep your garden from feeling like a black hole, however, Salwitz and Chapman suggest pairing dark beauties with brighter leaves, which act as an uplight or high contrast.

 

Vary plant forms

 

"Form refers to the overall size and shape of a plant, using terms such as mounding, columnar, vase-shaped or prostrate," write Chapman and Salwitz in Fine Foliage. "A garden that has 'flat lines' can be dull and uninteresting, whereas adding contrast in form can be used to move the eye through a space, make a visual statement and break up an otherwise predictable composition."

 

This is where tall or architecturally striking plants come in, said Tesselaar. He's especially fond of the mounding, strappy leaves and long, sturdy flower stalks of Storm agapanthus (lily of the Nile). In Fine Foliage's recipe "A Change of Pace," agapanthus foliage serves as an ideal contrast to golden bamboo's tall, willowy feathers and aeonium's thick, fleshy carpet.

 

For strong forms, Tesselaar also turns to cordylines. For a graceful, rounded, fountain effect, he recommends the basal-branching Festival Burgundy. For a more upright, spiky, narrow structure, there's the 8- to 9-foot-high Burgundy Spire.

 

And don't forget the trees and shrubs, added Iannotti, noting their availability in fall: "Shopping in fall lets you see exactly how they will fill out, whether they will elegantly weep or droop like a ninebark or beautybush or billow like a dappled willow."

 

On the other hand, cautioned Owings, a plant that gets too tall or wide can whack out of proportion with its supporting players in landscape design. "Know the mature size, including height and spread."

 

Contrast textures
 

"In garden terms, we use the word 'texture' to describe a surface, both visual and how it feels to the touch," Chapman and Salwitz write. "Without the contrast of different textures, the composition will look unexceptional."

 

In the recipe "Jewel Box," Festival Burgundy cordyline's long, narrow, strip-like leaf inks a bold, dark line across a mound of 'Gay's Delight' and 'Freckles' coleus, Persian shield and golden Hinoki cypress. In "Brushstrokes," feathery ferns serve as the perfect foil to bolder coral bells. And in "Warm and Fuzzy," velvety Rhododendron pachysanthum pairs brilliantly with glossy orange hair sedge (Carex testacea).

 

"Probably the biggest mistake home gardeners make is falling in love with plants that have soft, fluttering leaves or frilly foliage," said Iannotti. "Borders need spiky phormiums and big-leaved ligularia and bananas." Many of the bolder, spikier plants aren't hardy in cold climates, she noted, but they can be brought indoors, either as houseplants or stored dormant.

 

"Festival Burgundy cordyline performs exceptionally well as a houseplant," said Tesselaar. "Unlike many indoor plants, its leaves won't dry out because of forced-air heating."

 

The texture of plant materials depends on the size and disposition of the foliage, explained Owings. "Plants with large leaves that are widely spaced have coarse texture; those with small, closely spaced leaves have fine texture. Extremes in texture that prevent harmony in the composition should be avoided. On the other hand, some variation is needed for variety.

 
Collecting seeds for next year

 

By Tom Harris, Ph.D.

The Hill Country Gardener

 

I'm assuming that you are going to collect seeds from your own yard or the yard/garden of someone you know. If not, be sure to ask permission first, and, of course, you're not supposed to collect seeds from public lands.

 

The first thing you need to know is whether or not the plant you're going to collect the seeds from is a pure-bred, old-fashioned, or hybrid plant. If it's a hybrid, the seed you collect probably will not grow to look just like the plant you took it from. It'll look like one of the parents back down the line somewhere. If it's a pure-bred, the seeds will produce a plant that will most likely look just like the plant you took them from as all the parents back down the line looked exactly the same.

 

Once you know this, mark or identify some way the plant you're going to get the seeds from so you know for sure it's the one you want. If you don't mark it and it drops its flowers, leaves, etc., you may not know later which one it was.

 

Timing is critical to seed-collecting. If you get the seeds too early, they're not mature enough to sprout. If you get them too late, they'll be dried out too much and won't sprout, either. If the seeds have been partially eaten by insects or birds, skip those. If the seeds have mold on them, you missed the window. You're just going to have to be watching for the right time.

 

Flower seeds are usually starting to mature when the seed pod turns brown and possibly some of the stem is brown, also. You'll need to be watching the seeds during the maturation period because many times when the seed matures, the pod will pop open and send the seeds flying to get them away from the mother plant. Or, the seed pod will open and the seeds will fly away in the wind - desert willow, for example, or dandelions. If you think this might happen on the plants you're watching, put a paper bag over the plant and possibly some kind of "catching-cloth" underneath so that you'll get what you came for.

 

If the seeds are still a little moist when you collect them, lay them out on a table on the patio and let them dry for 2-3 days. Drying is essential for storage. Moist seeds might sprout and then it's all over.

 

Now, after you're sure they're dry but not dried out completely (you'll just have to trust me on this one - you'll know it when you see it) you're ready to store them. Personally, I use plastic bags (sandwich or snack size) and keep them in an old plastic cookie jar in the fridge. If the seeds aren't dry when you store them, they're likely to mold and that'll ruin them. Be sure you put them in the fridge and not the freezer - that'll kill 'em for sure.

 

I have seeds in my fridge that I've had for 10 years or more and many of them will still sprout. Sure, the germination rate goes down a little each year, but when you have 200-300 seeds you've collected, it's no big deal. If one doesn't sprout, put another one in. Eventually it'll sprout.

 

To identify what's in each package, I use old business cards and write on it the type of seed and the year I collected it. You can add other information if you'd like or need to.

  

Be forewarned, however, that not all the seeds you collect are going to sprout. Remember that the plant put out thousands of seeds not expecting them all to sprout - that'd be too many for nature to deal with. So only a few of the thousands will grow to be viable plants just like Mom.

 

That's probably way more than you really wanted to know, but you've got to know about all of it if you want to be successful with your seed collecting. Good luck.
Gardening tips

 

Avoid applying fertilizer to warm-season turf grasses this late in the fall. It would be a waste of money because warm-season grasses have gone dormant in most areas. It would also feed any winter weeds that have sprouted.      

 

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
 
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

  

San Antonio: Seeds contributor Tom Harris, Ph.D., will lead "Square Foot Gardening and Beyond)," October 31, at the Community Learning Center, 9750 Tesoro Drive, San Antonio. For registration information, contact Carrie Smith at www.communityed.neisd.net.  

 

NOVEMBER

 

La Marque: Master Gardener Gene Speller will present "The Chile Pepper Extravaganza - Seminar & Tasting" Saturday, November 2, 9 a.m.-noon, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. The program will start with a period of observation and/or tasting of various chili pepper variety samples. Attendees are encouraged to bring in their own chili peppers, especially any unusual or special varieties. Samples will need to be brought in plastic zip-lock bags with your name, the name of the pepper and "heat level" (Scoville units, if known). A presentation will follow with topics that include the background and origin of pepper plants; how to start from seed; culture and growing tips; recommended varieties; insect and disease control; and pepper uses & recipes. Peppers discussed come from all four 'heat' groups: mild, medium, very hot and extremely hot. For course reservations, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email GALV3@wt.net. 

 

Bandera: Seeds contributor Tom Harris, Ph.D., will lead "Conversion from Sprinkler to Drip," November 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Northside Learning Center, Bandera. For registration information, contact Susan Underwood at www.nisd.net/ace.

 

La Marque: Galveston County Master Gardener and Landscape Designer Karen Lehr will present "Landscape Design III -Design Principles" Tuesday, November 5, 6:30-8 p.m. at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. In this last in a series of three programs you will learn more design principles and how to organize your landscape plans and designs. For course reservations, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email GALV3@wt.net.

 

New Braunfels: The Comal Garden club will meet at 9:30 a.m., November 7, in the Southbank Clubhouse, 222 Southbank Blvd, New Braunfels. Sherry Jentsch of Blumen-Meisters Florist will be demonstrating ideas for holiday centerpieces, with her creation as the door prize. 

 

San Antonio: Seeds contributor Tom Harris, Ph.D., will lead "Fall Gardening...Get Ready!," November 7, at the Community Learning Center, 9750 Tesoro Drive, San Antonio. For registration information, contact Carrie Smith at www.communityed.neisd.net.

 

Hempstead: Peckerwood Garden in Hempstead will host Fall Open Days 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.

 

Houston: Houston Urban Gardeners will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, November 11, at Houston's Multi-Service Center, 1475 W. Gray, Houston. Marcella Murff will speak on: What to Plant and Do Now in your home garden. If you want to learn more about Veriditas, they are having an Open House November 2. For more information, email info@houstonurbangardeners.org. 


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.

  

Kerrville: Seeds contributor Tom Harris, Ph.D., will lead "Haircuts for Your Plants (Pruning)," 1:30-3:30 p.m., November 13, at the Dietert Center, Kerrville. For registration information, contact Waverly Jones at www.clubed.net.

 

New Braunfels: Melissa Guerra, an 8th generation Texan: self taught culinary expert with expertise in native medicinal plants both Mexican and Southwest, will visit the San Antonio Herb Society, Thursday, November 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels. As a food historian, she specializes in the food ways of the American continent, especially Texas regional, Mexican, and Latin American cuisine. She also hosts a cooking show on KLRN. Learn from people who know the most about herb gardening, cooking, sniffing, crafting and infusing...anything and everything is herbal for this meeting! For more information, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org.

 

Houston: Harris County Master Gardeners will host Open Garden Day from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., Monday, November 18, at their Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Road, Houston. "Overwintering Tropicals" will be presented at 9:30 a.m. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer gardening questions. This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, visit http://hcmga.tamu.edu or call 281-855-5600. 

  

Bandera: Seeds contributor Tom Harris, Ph.D., will lead "Build Your Own Drip Irrigation System," November 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Northside Learning Center, Bandera. For registration information, contact Susan Underwood at www.nisd.net/ace.

 

La Marque: At the "Texas Upper Gulf Coast Citrus Show" Thursday, November 21, 6:30-7 p.m., at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque citrus grown by local gardeners will be on display for the general public. Rosettes and ribbons will be awarded to the best quality entries. Home citrus growers are encouraged to enter any type of citrus fruit for judging. Details, including dates and times for entry submission will be available at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/ Call 281-534-3413, ext. 12, or email GALV3@wt.net for additional information.

 

La Marque: As a continuation of the Citrus show, Monte L. Nesbitt, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Program Specialist, will present "Citrus for Texas Upper Gulf Coast" Thursday, November 21, 7-8 p.m. at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque The course will cover the topics of citrus variety selection and establishment, production, pest problems, and an update on Citrus Greening and other serious threats. (Pre-registration for this program is not necessary.) For course reservations, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email GALV3@wt.net.

 

Seguin: The Guadalupe Master Gardeners will meet on Thursday, November 21, at the Justice Center, 211 Court Street, Seguin. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. Paul Johnson, of the Texas Parks & Wildlife, will talk about "Proper Tree Pruning." The meeting is free and open to the public. The regular business meeting will be at the end of the program. For further information visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org or call 830-303-3889.

 

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.

 

MARCH

 

Jacksonville: The Cherokee County Master Gardener Association will hold their annual Spring Conference March 8. The conference will be held at the First Christian Church Fellowship Hall, 1920 Beaumont Street, Jacksonville. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the first speaker will be at 9 a.m. There will be a $10.00 fee which includes drinks, refreshments and a chance to win one of four door prizes. The program will feature three well known respected speakers. Greg Grant is Lecturer in the School of Horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University. He was formerly the Cherokee County Horticulturist with the Texas Cooperative Extension in Rusk. He is also co-author, with William C. Welch, of the book Southern Heirloom Garden, and he is a columnist for Texas Gardener magazine. He has traveled extensively to botanical and public gardens throughout the United States and Europe and is a popular public speaker in the southern United States. Dave Whitinger is the creator of several large and popular websites, most notably Dave's Garden and All Things Plants. He moved to Cherokee County in late 2007 and lives just outside Jacksonville with his wife and 6 children. They have a homestead with extensive gardens, cows, chickens, and various other domestic animals. In addition to being a member of the Cherokee County Master Gardeners, Dave is also a software programmer whose passion is to bring gardeners together and provide them with custom made software tools that both serve gardeners as well as take online gardening to the next level. Keith Hansen has been the Texas AgriLife Horticulturist for Smith County since 1992. Prior to that, he was the extension agent for Nueches County. Keith has a weekly column, "Keeping it Green," in the Tyler Morning Telegraph and has written numerous articles for other publications. For more information, contact Ginny Scurlock at 903-530-8610 or at ginnyscurlock@yahoo.com.

 

Monthly meetings

 

If you would like your organization's events included in "Monthly Meetings" or would like to make a change to a listed meeting, please contact us at Monthly Meetings. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details. 

 

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 new Orange County Expo Center on Hwy 1442 in Orangefield. Enter the building in the front entrance, first door on the right, Texas AgriLife offices. 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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Publisher: Chris S. Corby ● Editor: Michael Bracken 

 

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