January 29, 2014
  

New developments at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's Luci and Ian Family Garden

 

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

 

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center of The University of Texas at Austin is proud to announce new developments in the Luci and Ian Family Garden opening in spring 2014.

 

Named after lead donors Luci Baines Johnson, younger daughter of President Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson, and her husband Ian Turpin, the wonderland of native plant gardens will occupy 4.5 acres of woodland and meadow north of the center's main footprint - doubling the garden acreage on site.

 

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has raised $4.4 million of the $5 million for the Luci and Ian Family Garden that opens next May. It is considered the centerpiece of the center's master plan.

 

The Family Garden will help connect children and their families to the natural world by providing more than a dozen interactive features, including a small cave kids can climb inside, porous limestone "pedestals" for adding water to a creek, giant bird's nests, a metamorphosis maze, a spiraling wall inlaid with mosaics and much more.

 

"There is nothing like this garden in Texas," said Susan Rieff, executive director of the Wildflower Center. "The Luci and Ian Family Garden will offer children a fun and safe environment for exploring the natural world that we hope will instill in them a sense of wonder and excitement."

 

Designed by landscape architect W. Gary Smith and landscape architecture firm TBG Partners, the Family Garden will also be a model for eco-friendly landscaping, as it is a pilot project of the Sustainable Sites Initiative program. The project is being constructed by SpawGlass of Austin.

 

The $4.4 million raised thus far has come from more than 100 generous donors, including Lynda Johnson Robb. To learn more about the Family Garden, visit http://www.wildflower.org/familygarden.

 

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center of the University of Texas at Austin is the nation's leading voice for native plants, natural landscapes and ecological health. Its 279-acre site in Austin educates people about the beauty and versatility of wildflowers and demonstrates research into the many environmental benefits native plants provide. The Center was founded in 1982 by Lady Bird Johnson and actress Helen Hayes and moved to its present location in 1995.

 

Grow a nutritious garden in a pot

 

By Melinda Myers

Photo: Melinda Myers, LLC 

 

Don't let a lack of time or space get in the way of gardening your way to a healthy lifestyle. Plant a container of nutritious vegetables and herbs. Include a few planters on the front porch, back patio or right outside the kitchen door.

 

All that's needed is some potting mix, fertilizer, plants and a container with drainage holes. A 14 to 24 inch diameter pot or 24 to 36 inch long window box is a good starting size. Bigger containers hold more plants and moisture longer, so it can be watered less frequently.

 

Check containers daily and water thoroughly as needed. Self-watering pots need less frequent watering, allowing busy gardeners and travelers the opportunity to grow plants in pots with minimal care.

 

Fill the container with a well drained potting mix. Read the label on the container mix bag. Add a slow release organic nitrogen fertilizer at planting for better results with less effort. It provides small amounts of nutrients throughout most of the season and eliminates the need to mix and water in fertilizer throughout the growing season. Sprinkle a bit more on the soil surface midseason or when changing out your plantings.

 

Mix colorful flowers with nutritious vegetables for attractive, healthy results. Bright Lights Swiss Chard, pansies (their flowers are edible), colorful leaf lettuce, spinach, radishes, and trailing ivy make a great cool-season combination. Fresh-from-the-container-garden vegetables make the best tasting salads and the greens provide Vitamins A and C as well as calcium. Use the pansy flowers to dress up a salad or frozen in ice cubes for an added gourmet touch to beverages.

For summer, use a tomato, pepper, eggplant or peas, beans, and cucumbers trained on a trellis. All are packed full of nutrients and make a great vertical accent. Surround the towering vegetables with purple basil, tri-color sage, carrots, beets and a colorful trailing annual like verbena, lantana, or bidens.

 

Don't forget to squeeze in a few onions or garlic. The fragrant foliage can be decorative and these vegetables help lower blood sugar and cholesterol, while aiding in digestion.

 

So be creative and add a few small-scale, attractive vegetables high in nutritional value to a variety of containers this season.

 

Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written more than 20 gardening books, including Can't Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses "How to Grow Anything" DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda's Garden Moment segments. Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers' web site, www.melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips.  

Applications now available for 2014 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards

 

Nature Hills Nursery

 

Do you know a local community garden or community "greening" project that could use $1,500 in free plants? If so, tell them to apply for the 2014 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards.

 

The Green America Awards were created to give national recognition and thousands of dollars in plants to community groups and organizations that are improving their local environments. The annual awards honor nonprofit groups and organizations that are literally "greening" their communities, parks, schools and public spaces by planting trees, shrubs and other plants. The award program is sponsored by Nature Hills Nursery, the largest online nursery and garden center in the United States with more than 10,000 products available for direct shipping to consumers.

 

Applications for the 2014 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards are now available online at www.naturehills.com/green_america_awards.aspx. Applicants can also visit the Nature Hills Nursery Facebook page to apply for the Green America Awards. Questions about the Green America Awards can be sent to gaa@naturehills.com.

 

The Prizes

 

The winners of the 2014 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards will be those nonprofit groups and organizations that truly are making a difference in their local communities. The prizes for the winning garden projects are as follows:

  • First Prize: $1,500 in plants
  • Second Prize: $750 in plants
  • Judges' Award: $250 in plants

The plant materials selected by the winners can contain any combination of shade trees, fruit trees, bushes, shrubs and perennials available from www.naturehills.com.

 

Who Should Enter

 

Based upon previous years' results, the winning entries for the 2014 Green America Awards are likely to be local community gardening or nonprofit landscaping projects that can make the best use of the trees, bushes and shrubs that Nature Hills Nursery will award. Potential 2014 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Award winning projects can be:

  • Outstanding community gardening projects that give local participants the opportunity to grow fresh food
  • A wildlife habitat for birds or animals on donated land that has been abandoned or neglected
  • A project that refurbishes neglected land into a community park
  • A local soil erosion control project that utilizes plants to stabilize steep hillside slopes or river banks
  • The reclamation of an abandoned lot with the creation of a fruit orchard that will provide much-needed food to nearby low-income residents

Applications for the 2014 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards will be accepted nationwide until April 17, 2014.

 

From all of the entries, eight semi-finalists will be selected by Nature Hills Nursery. The list of semi-finalists will be posted on the Green America Awards tab linked to the Nature Hills Nursery Facebook page.

 

Winners Picked by Facebook Votes

 

The actual winners of the 2014 Green America Awards will be determined by votes for each semi-finalist on the Nature Hills Nursery Facebook page. The voting will proceed in a series of head-to-head contests between pairs of semi-finalists. The winner in each head-to-head vote will advance to the next round. (Similar to the way college basketball teams advance to the next round in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.)

 

"We will use our Facebook page to create excitement for the Green America Awards and open up the final selection of winners to all of our Facebook friends," said Jeffrey Dinslage, President of Nature Hills Nursery. "We encourage all of the semi-finalists to contact their own friends, members, and social networks to lobby for votes. We want to create an online 'buzz' for all of the wonderful gardens. May the best community garden or nonprofit gardening project win!"

 

To cast a vote for a Green America Awards semi-finalist, a person must "Like" Nature Hills Nursery on Facebook and then click on the entrant of his or her choice to cast a vote.

 

In the First Round of Facebook voting, a winner will be selected in each of the four head-to-head contests. Voting in the First Round will begin on May 1, 2014 and will end at midnight Central Time on May 7.

 

The four victorious entrants will then move on to the Semifinals and be paired up against other First Round winners. Voting in the Semifinals will begin on May 8, 2014 and will end at midnight Central Time on May 14.

 

Based upon Facebook votes in the Semifinals, the two victorious entrants will proceed to the Final Round for a head-to-head contest that will determine which of the finalists will win the First Prize of $1,500 in plants from Nature Hills Nursery and which will win the Second Prize of $750 in plants. Voting in the Final Round will begin on May 15, 2014 and will end at midnight Central Time on May 21.

 

Final winners of the 2014 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards, as determined by Facebook voting, will be announced on the Nature Hills Nursery Facebook page and www.naturehills.com on May 22, 2014.

 

To enter the 2014 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards competition, visit www.naturehills.com/green_america_awards.aspx or the Nature Hills Nursery Facebook page. Questions about the Green America Awards can be sent to gaa@naturehills.com.
Gardening tips
  

There is still time, while trees are dormant, to make necessary pruning cuts. Limit your pruning to those limbs that are hanging too low, growing into the eves of your house and those that are damaged. Avoid the temptation to "top off" any tree as this weakens the tree and makes it very unattractive when it grows out. If you are pruning live oak or red oak be sure to use a clean saw and apply pruning paint to all wounds to help avoid the spread of oak wilt.

 

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 2014 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.

JANUARY  

 

Georgetown: An Earth-Kind Landscape Design School will be held Jan. 31- Feb. 1 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office for Williamson County, 3151 S.E. Inner Loop, Suite A in Georgetown. The school will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Jan. 31 and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Feb. 1. It will consist of an in-depth classroom program, plus a personalized 30-minute landscape design consultation with a landscape professional. Earth-Kind landscaping uses research-proven techniques to provide maximum gardening and landscape enjoyment while preserving and protecting our environment. The objective of Earth-Kind is to combine the best of organic and traditional gardening and landscaping principles to create a horticultural system that emphasizes water conservation, energy conservation, reduction of fertilizer and pesticide use and a reduction of yard wastes. Lunch for Feb. 1 and refreshments are included in the $125 per-household registration. Per household refers to either one or two people living at the same address. Dr. Steve George, professor and AgriLife Extension landscape specialist and creator of the Earth-Kind Environmental Landscape Management System, will be the program's lead instructor. When the course is complete, attendees will have been given a wealth of landscape knowledge and will leave with a labeled working landscape plan for either their front or backyard. Potential attendees may wish to contact their local nursery or landscape professional to see if there are any tuition scholarships for this program. There will also be an opportunity for an extended consultation on Feb. 2 with Dr. George. Anyone interested is encouraged to ask about the fee for this consultation and the availability for this opportunity when they register. Hall said each household will be required to bring a scale drawing of the landscape they wish to work with on the first evening of the school. Graph paper and an information packet will be provided when attendees register. To register, go to http://williamson.agrilife.org/event and the click on Williamson County Earth-Kind Landscape Design School. Seating is limited and registration ends when the class is filled. Payment must be made at the AgriLife Extension Office, with checks made payable to: Williamson County Demonstration Fund. For more information, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Williamson County at 512-943-3300.

 

FEBRUARY

  

Cleburne: "Spring Thyme Cleaning" with Certified Herbalist Pat Kriener, a free gardening lecture, will be presented at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 1. Learn how to use herbs, essential oils and some basic items you already have in your kitchen cabinets to make cleaning products. Just think healthy alternatives to clean and polish your house from top to bottom while at the same time killing germs. While supplies last, everyone will go home with a 2 oz. all purpose cleaner. Hosted by the JC Herb Society at Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum, 2500 S Hwy, Cleburne. For more information, call 817-793-4625.

 

La Marque: The Galveston County Master Gardener Annual Fruit & Citrus Tree Seminar & Sale will be held Saturday, February 1, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Wayne Johnson Community Center in Carbide Park located at 4102 Main St., La Marque. A seminar is scheduled from 8-8:55 a.m. prior to the sale. Heidi Sheesley of TreeSearch Farms will provide a presentation discussing many of the plant varieties that will be available in the sale. A wide variety of fruit and citrus trees adapted to Gulf Coast growing area will be offered at the sale. Plant sale starts at 9 a.m. Check website for updates: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/. 

 

College Station: Kate Kelly, master gardener, will present "Spring Vegetable Gardening" 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 4 at Cypress Grove Intermediate School, 900 Graham Road, College Station. It is time to get into your spring gardening. Get the scoop on bed preparation, the best vegetable varieties, planting and management practices. For additional information, visit brazosmg.com or call 979-823-0129.  

  

Dallas: "Landscape Basics" will be presented February 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Texas A&M AgriLife Research l Extension Center at Dallas, 17360 Coit Rd., Dallas. Is your landscape brown and crispy? Learn to create and install a water efficient landscape or garden. You will learn proper soil preparation, native and adaptive plant selection, and how to design and plan a small or large project. Plant list provided. Dates and times are subject to change. Register at dallas.tamu.edu/courses.

 

Glen Rose: Join the Prairie Rose chapter of the NPSOT on Tuesday, February 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the Somervell County Citizen Center, 209 SW Barnard, Glen Rose, for what will "bee" a "honey" of an evening! Teresa Taylor will present a program on bee forage that will teach us how to keep those precious bees happy! Teresa will show us how we can entice and encourage honeybees to take up residence in our landscape and thus encourage the all-important process of pollination to take place in our own backyards. Teresa will first have us examine what we have already and then what we can do to enhance our landscape with a variety of trees, shrubs and flowers to bring and keep the important honeybees home!  

 

La Marque: "Gardening by the Square Foot" will be presented Tuesday, February 4, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. Presented by Galveston County Master Gardener John Jons. This program is an introduction to the gardening methodology of gardening by the square foot. Discover this unique way of planning the bed, selecting plants, building the bed, maintaining the bed and renewing the bed. This is an ideal program for anyone who would like to learn a simple, productive method of gardening that will enable them to teach children or adults with limitations how to learn and enjoy gardening. For course reservations, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email GALV3@wt.net.    

 

Austin: The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Travis County and Travis County Master Gardeners will present a series of five monthly drought-related programs in Austin, beginning with a composting program on Feb. 6. "Drought is a persistent issue in Central Texas and throughout state," said Daphne Richards, AgriLife Extension agent for horticulture, Travis County. "These programs are intended to help people make gardening and landscaping choices that will allow for greater drought tolerance and lower water use, as well as using fewer chemicals that might enter the water table." All five Dealing with Drought Conditions programs will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on their respective dates at the AgriLife Extension office in southeast Austin, located at 1600-B Smith Road. Each program is $10 for early registration and $15 for late or on-site registration. To register, go to http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu. The series dates topics will be: Feb. 6 - Composting for building and maintaining healthy soils. Whether getting ready for a spring garden or just improving the health of lawn and landscape, compost is an easy and inexpensive amendment, safe to use and beneficial for the environment. March 6 - Rainwater harvesting. Don't let valuable rainwater wash down the gutter; capture it and use it to water gardens and landscapes. Learn the basics of rainwater harvesting and how to construct a basic system suited to your needs. April 3 - Landscaping to conserve water. Learn proper techniques for watering, feeding and maintaining healthy grasses and landscapes. May 1 - Drip irrigation for the garden. Learn how to install an effective water-wise drip irrigation system and how to monitor its efficiency. Includes an explanation of the irrigation system at AgriLife Extension's demonstration garden. June 5 - Alternative methods of gardening and irrigation. People with time, space or physical limitations can learn how to raise vegetables, herbs and flowers using self-sufficient grow boxes, as well as keyhole gardening and "hugelkultur," to expand their gardening repertoire. For more information, contact Richards at 512-854-9600 or drichards@tamu.edu.

 

Dallas: "Vegetable Garden-Springs or Fall" will be presented February 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Texas A&M AgriLife Research l Extension Center at Dallas, 17360 Coit Rd., Dallas. Know where your food comes from by growing your own vegetables. Learn proper soil preparation, garden design, disease and insect identification, and the proper time to germinate vegetable seeds and/or when to transplant vegetables into your garden for the season Register at dallas.tamu.edu/courses.

 

Austin: "Rose Selection and Care" will be presented Saturday, February 8, 10 a.m.-noon, at Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin. Master Gardeners Carolyn Williams and Holly Plotner will discuss rose selection and care to encourage better bloom production. They will cover the different types of roses and their features, as well as handy tools and their proper care. This seminar is free; Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child or senior. For information, visit www.tcmastergardeners.org or call 512-477-8672.

 

Dallas: Saturday, February 8 from 10 a.m. to noon, join Dr. Peter Schaar in Texas Discovery Gardens' newly renovated Heirloom Rose Garden as he literally slashes through the heart of rose pruning myths. Learn the proper way to prune your roses to have plentiful, gorgeous blooms come spring. As a bonus, you will also take home a new rose to add to your garden. $25, $20 for TDG Members. Register online or at 214-428-7476 x343. Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park - 3601 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Dallas. Register at http://texasdiscoverygardens.org/events_and_classes.php.

 

Ft. Worth: It's every vegetable gardener's goal to raise the perfect tomato. Whether you are a novice or experienced, tomato growers will learn step-by-step how to grow the best tomatoes for North Texas at the Tarrant County Master Gardeners Association Spring Conference "Tomato Roundup: All you ever wanted to know about growing tomatoes" on Saturday, February 8, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Resource Connection, 2300 Circle Drive, Fort Worth. Speakers will be William "Bill" Adams and Tom LeRoy. Both are retired Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agents whose books include "The Texas Tomato Lovers Handbook," "The Southern Kitchen Garden" and "Commonsense Vegetable Gardening in the South." Topics include: selecting the best tomato variety, grafting tomatoes, selecting the best location, fertilization, irrigation, insects and diseases and weed control. There will be time for Q&A with the speakers. There will be breakout sessions on make and take tomato cages or simple drip irrigation unit; examples of three types of raised beds; and cooking with tomatoes. Cost of the conference is $45 including lunch. Check the website at tarrantmg.org for the conference brochure and registration information. Or contact Pam Braak at 817-488-5665 or p.braak@verizon.net. 

 

La Marque: "The ABC's of Home Composting" will be presented Saturday, February 8, 9-11:30 a.m. at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. Galveston County Master Gardener Ken Steblein will provide practical information for converting yard, garden and kitchen waste into compost. Compost is that magical soil amendment that is a soil conditioner, fertilizer and the key ingredient in organic gardening. For course reservations, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email GALV3@wt.net. 

 

La Marque: "Kitchen Gardening" will be presented Saturday, February 8, 1-3 p.m. at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. Presented by Galveston County Master Gardener Mary Demeny. Presentation and discussion on vegetable gardening in your own backyard. The presentation will emphasize gardening on a smaller scale and making use of vegetables inter-planted in your flower beds and in pots. For course reservations, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email GALV3@wt.net.

 

New Braunfels: The Comal Master Gardener Association will host its third annual Spring Seminar from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. February 8 at the New Braunfels Civic Center. The program is "Specialty Gardens in the Landscape" and will present programs on Container Gardens, Succulent Gardens, Herb Gardens, Pollinator Gardens and Rose Gardens. Cost is $49 per person and includes lunch and snacks. For additional information or to register, go to: txmg.org/comal/seminar.  

 

Austin: Are you looking for new ideas on gardening? Taelor Monroe co-hosts "Permablitzes," a hands-on permaculture workday and workshop. She will discuss the virtues of permaculture, with a special look at hugelkultur, on Monday, February 10. The Austin Organic Gardeners Club meets at Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Rd, in Zilker Botanical Gardens. Doors open at 6:30 pm for the opportunity to meet and mingle with local gardeners; club business begins at 7 pm, followed by our guest speaker's presentation. Bring a little cash for the raffle! For additional information, visit www.austinorganicgardeners.org.  

 

La Marque: "Heirloom Tomatoes" will be presented Saturday, February 22, 9-10:30 a.m. at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. A presentation by Master Gardener Terry Cuclis covering 25+ varieties of heirloom tomatoes that can be grown in Galveston County. Topics include a brief history of tomatoes and their origin, variety characteristics, culture and care of tomatoes. For course reservations, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email GALV3@wt.net. 

 

Dallas: Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and join an evening chat on Drought Resistant Plants Wednesday, February 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Some common - and not so common - landscape plants are tough enough to survive Stage Four Water Restrictions as you plan for your 2014 gardens. Led by Director of Horticulture Roger Sanderson. $5; $4 for TDG Members. Register online or at 214-428-7476 x343. 3601 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Dallas. http://texasdiscoverygardens.org/events_and_classes.php.

 

Dallas: Saturday, February 15, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Marilyn Simmons, host of The FarmGirls Organic Gardening Radio Show, teaches how to create a tea garden with herbs. From roses, rose hips, lemon verbena, and more - you will leave with knowledge of what to plant to create your own herbal tea blend! $25; $20 for TDG Members. Register online or at 214-428-7476 x343. 3601 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Dallas. http://texasdiscoverygardens.org/events_and_classes.php.

 

Schertz: Do you enjoy the colors and antics of butterflies, hummingbirds, and song birds in your garden? Want to find out how you can entice them to visit your yard? Then attend the Natives to Fly For: Attracting Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and Song Birds to Your Yard workshop. This daylong event will feature four experts to show you how you can have lots of little visitors in your landscape: Craig Hensley, award-winning community educator with Texas Parks & Wildlife, will explain "Butterfly Basics: Who They Are and What They Need"; Mark Klym, coauthor of Hummingbirds of Texas, will speak on "Want Hummingbirds? Think Lasagna"; Ann Mallard, Audubon Society member and nature photographer specializing in bird life, will present "Songs in the Garden--Creating a Native Habitat for Birds"; Kelly Simon, author of Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife, will pull all this information together as she shows participants how to create a "Central Texas Habitat." The workshop takes place Saturday, February 22, at the Schertz Civic Center, 1400 Schertz Pkwy, Schertz. The hours are 9-3 and the $40 registration fee includes lunch and snacks. Registration begins at 8:30. Door prizes will be given throughout the day. In addition to the workshop, participants can shop the booths of two local nurseries offering many of the plants discussed by the speakers, purchase books on workshop topics, and select bird-related items from Wild Birds Unlimited. Authors Mark Klym and Kelly Bender will sign their books during lunch. But wait, there's more! A beautiful bluebonnet quilt and two 55-gallon, hand-painted rain barrels will be raffled during the workshop. Raffle tickets may be purchased at the event. Natives to Fly For is sponsored by the Guadalupe County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 830-303-0333. The number of tickets is limited, so call early. For more information, visit http://npsot.org/wp/guadalupe/.  

 

La Marque: "Honey Bees Around the Garden" will be presented Tuesday, February 25, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. Presented by Galveston County Master Gardeners Stewart McAdoo and Robert Marshall. A presentation and discussion on the history, types, social life and hive structure of honey bees. Included in the program will be an overview of residential honey bee keeping. For course reservations, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12 or email GALV3@wt.net.  

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.

  

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.

 

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

 

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 Thursday of each month at 3015 Richmond Ave., 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.
Texas Gardener digital edition available

Same magazine as our print edition without the paper and at a better price. Fully compatible with your desktop, laptop, iPad or Tablet. Access Texas Gardener anywhere, anytime: at the office, home, vacation, even in the garden. Easy to use with robust features and fully searchable archive as long as your subscription is active. Visit www.TexasGardener.com and click on the digital radio button to subscribe.
Garden success starts here!

Make gardening easier and more enjoyable in 2014. No more keeping it in your head or, worse yet, juggling all those wrinkled, sweat-stained pieces of paper that seem to accumulate and end up lost. It's time to get organized and the perfect way to start that off is with your very own copy of the 2014 Texas Gardener Planning Guide and Calendar. No more guessing when to plant or do different activities. You will find everything you need in one simple but informative guide and calendar. Plus plenty of room to record your own planting dates, rainfall events and other data for future reference.

Here's a sample of what you will find in this information-packed guide:
  • Many, many practical and timely garden tips that are for Texas - not Maine or California!
  • Organic, earth friendly tips to make your garden grow and prosper
  • Lots of space to record your own activities for future reference
  • Planting dates and tips for vegetables, flowers, herbs, fruit and lawns
Order today, while it is fresh on your mind. Don't forget to order copies for your gardening friends and relatives!

Only $12.80 per copy (includes shipping, handling and tax).

To order using your credit card, call toll-free 1-800-727-9020 or online at
www.TexasGardener.com.
Buy two books, receive cap free!

The Vegetable Book

By Dr. Sam Cotner

 

Finally, back by popular demand and in its fourth printing, the most informative and comprehensive "how-to" book on vegetable gardening in Texas (also, suitable for most other areas of the South) written by the late, great Dr. Sam Cotner, former head of horticulture at Texas A&M University and lifelong gardener. This interesting read has over 370 pages of detailed information on every crop, from Asparagus to Watermelon including problem/solving sections for each vegetable. If you want to maximize your enjoyment and success growing vegetables in Texas, this book is a "must have," whether you are a beginner or a seasoned gardener. Price $34.02

The Texas Tomato Lover's Handbook

By William D. Adams

 

The best thing for tomato enthusiasts since the tomato itself! Adams draws on more than thirty years of experience to provide a complete, step-by-step guide to success in the tomato patch. Learn everything from soil preparation, planting, feeding, caging and watering. Liberally sprinkled with the author's easy humor and illustrated with his own excellent photographs, this must-have book has everything you'll need to assure a bumper crop! 189 pages. Lots of color photographs! Price: $31.94

Order both books, receive a FREE Texas Gardener cap!

($15.82 if ordered separately)

 

Remit payment to:

TG Books * PO Box 9005 * Waco, TX 76714

or call Toll-Free 1-800-727-9020

 

American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Discover Accepted

Texas Gardener's Seeds is published weekly. © Suntex Communications, Inc. 2014. 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 

 

Texas Gardener's Seeds, P.O. Box 9005, Waco, Texas 76714

www.TexasGardener.com