May 6, 2015
  

Heat-tolerant hybrid alyssum named Texas Superstar
  

By Robert Burns

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

 

Lobularia White Stream, a hybrid alyssum, has been selected as one of the 2015 Texas Superstar plants.

 

"White Stream is a new type of alyssum that will survive the heat of Texas summers," said Dr. Brent Pemberton, Texas A&M AgriLife Research ornamental horticulturist and head of the Texas Superstar board, Overton.

 

Alyssum has traditionally been a cool-season plant, Pemberton said.

 

"It's been happy in summers up north where it's cool. Here, we grow it in the fall, as a winter plant, and it will usually survive the winter in a protected location," he said. "But White Stream is just a whole new thing. In fact, it won't tolerate freezing temperatures at all. It gives gardeners in Texas the opportunity to have that kind of plant in the summer landscape."

 

Lobularia White Stream was developed by Danziger, an international floriculture company. White Stream is a spreading annual that makes a mat; it's used as ground cover in landscapes and produces fragrant flowers all summer, Pemberton said. It can also be grown in large pots as a patio plant.

 

All Texas Superstar plants undergo extensive tests throughout the state by AgriLife Research and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturists, Pemberton said. He's personally tested White Stream at the East Texas Horticultural Field Day trials at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton for the last three years, along with other alyssum varieties.

 

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

 

Pemberton noted that Danziger has other hybrid alyssums in the series: Lavender Stream, Silver Stream, Summer Stream, White Stream, Purple Stream and Bicolor Lavender. White Stream was chosen among the others because it proved to be the most heat tolerant.

 

All the hybrid alyssums are full-sun plants, he said. Though the cool-season alyssums are grown from seed, the heat-tolerant series is vegetatively propagated, and no seed is available at wholesalers or retailers, only rooted cuttings.

 

"You should be able to buy it in six packs or 4-inch pots - it's probably going to be more available in 4-inch or larger pots," Pemberton said.

 

Lists of wholesalers and retailers who stock Texas Superstar plants and labels can be found at http://texassuperstar.com/.

 

In the landscape, plants should be planted in about 1-foot spacings after the last freeze, he said. Fertility needs are the same as any other bedding plant. With good growing conditions, Lobularia White Stream should spread to fill in the spacing and create a good mat in about three to four weeks. Water use is moderate. They have limited tolerance to drought, but tolerate reflected heat well.

 

As for insect pressure, Pemberton said he hasn't had any significant problems. There are no disease issues either.

 

The garden reader:

Going vertical, high and low

 

By William Scheick

Book Reviewer

 

Shawna Coronado. Grow a Living Wall: Create Vertical Gardens with Purpose. Cool Springs Press, 2015. 160 pp. $24.99.

 

Smaller home landscapes these days require smart strategies when planning highly productive garden spaces. Vertical gardening is a topnotch strategy.

 

If you have crossvine, honeysuckle or Confederate jasmine covering a structure, for example, you already have a living wall. Even so, Shawna Coronado demonstrates, there are many more imaginative possibilities for "self-sufficient vertical gardens growing on the side of a building, fence, gate or balcony."

 

Her Grow a Living Wall is more than convincing. It's a handsomely illustrated, easy-to-follow and down-to-earth guide that will inspire readers to improve on their current fence-blanket standbys.

 

Although some of Coronado's projects are not ideal for hot, droughty Texas, there are nifty applicable separate chapters on cactus, succulents and herbs. Imaginative possibilities include living walls that provide aromatherapy, vitamin-rich results, urban water-saving selections and aphrodisiac species.

 

Chris McLaughlin. Vertical Vegetable Gardening. Alpha, 2013. 273 pp. $21.00. 

 

Chris McLaughlin's Vertical Vegetable Gardening is less concerned with living-wall beauty than with efficient built-from-scratch, upright devices resulting in "less work, less weeding, fewer pests, less time, less money and more produce."

 

This is very much a DIY book replete with smart construction instructions and helpful drawings. It even includes a chapter on "Vertically Challenged Veggies," which can be grown "in spaces far above ground level."

 

One pleasant surprise is a chapter on repurposing spice racks, tin tubs, garbage bags, fence panels, buckets, ladders, mattress springs, baby gates, kiddie pools and plastic drums as gardening spaces.

   

Meg Stout. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Aquaponic Gardening. Alpha, 2013. 335 pp. $19.95.

 

How to take advantage of vertical space is considered in an entire chapter in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Aquaponic Gardening. This chapter features towers, stacked planters, layered beds and trellises.

 

Aquaponic gardens, which can be as small as one square foot, "avoid chemical fertilizers by using fish to provide nutrients for the plants. The plants grow in a soil-free environment, and the roots clean the water for the fish."

 

Soggy settings, however, are detrimental to many plant roots, which become oxygen-deprived. In aquaponic gardening, "flood-and-drain action naturally bathes [media-grown] roots in oxygen," while "air lines with diffusers" located beneath roots provide oxygen to plants grown in water alone.

 

At every turn of the page Aquaponic Gardening is an eye-opening DIY guide, and not only relating to its fascinating subject. It is also amazingly informative about the amount and type of lighting needed per square foot, water pH and other matters any indoor grower will be grateful to know.

 

Heidi Howcroft and Marianne Majerus. Garden Design: A Book of Ideas. Firefly Books, 2015. 320 (oversize) pp. $49.95.

   

A much larger scale (vertical and horizontal) is featured in Garden Design, which provides a gorgeous portfolio of photographs documenting "the marvelous work" of landscape architects, garden designers and "gardeners who maintain the exemplary schemes." It is, as the subtitle indicates, "a book of ideas" waiting to be imitated since imitation is believed to be the sincerest form of flattery.

 

Pictorial subjects include, among many other topics, an all-season kitchen garden, prairie homage, contemporary rose parterre, slope gardening, walls and entranceways. The photos are large, lush, color-saturated and worth the price of admission.
Gardening tips

Fertilize young, established trees and shrubs with a turf type fertilizer this month. Apply 1 to 2 cups per inch of trunk diameter out to the drip line of each plant. Triple that if using an organic product. Rake it into the soil and cover with a 3-4 inch layer of mulch.

 

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 2015 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.
MAY

Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club is hosting its 16th annual Spring Garden Tour on May 2 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Rain date is May 9. Eight distinctive private gardens in Venetian Estates are featured on the tour. Tickets may be purchased on the day of the tour for $15 at the parking lot of the BancorpSouth Building, 8410 Highway 90A, next to the Venetian Estates. Fpr more information, visit SugarLandGardenClub.org.

Tomball: Katherine Ashby will present "Feng Shui in the Garden" at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 2, at The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball. For additional information, email info@arborgate.com or visit www.arborgate.com.

Southlake: The Southlake Garden Tour will be held Sunday, May 3, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For additional information, visit www.southlakegardentour.org.

  

Tyler: "Getting Ready for Hot Weather" will be presented as part of 1st Tuesday in the Gardens with Smith County Master Gardeners at noon, May 5, in the IDEA garden in the Tyler Rose Garden. Free and open to the public. The lecture is approximately 30 minutes with a Q&A session following. Seating is limited; please bring a chair for you comfort. In case of inclement weather, the program will be held in the Rose Garden Center. For more information http://txmg.org/smith/coming-events/  or 903-590-2980.

 

San Antonio: San Antonio Garden Center Clubs will meet at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 6, at 3310 N. New Braunfels @ Funston. The program features Bob Brackman, Executive Director of the San Antonio Botanical Garden, who will talk about "The Flowering Future" of the Botanical Garden and share details of the City's Master Plan for its development. Coffee at 9:30 a.m.; meetings are free and open to the public. For more information, go to www.sanantoniogardencenter.org or call 210-824-9981.

 
Tomball: Cynthia Graham, RN, BSN, will present "Pepperazzi" at noon, Wednesday, May 6, at The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball. For additional information, email info@arborgate.com or visit www.arborgate.com.

Bryan: Master Gardener Maggie Boriski with discuss Earth-kind Roses, Thursday, May 7, from Noon till 1 pm. at the Brazos County Extension Office - Dig Pavilion, 2619 Highway 21, West, Bryan. A lunch-hour educational program on Earth -Kind Roses will include walkabout in the rose garden and Question and Answer session. The public is invited and there is no charge.For more information, visit www.brazosmg.com , call the Brazos County Extension office at 979-823-0129, or send an email to brazosmg@brazosmg.com.

  

Seguin: "Lawn Care" will be presented by Marvin Borth, Master Gardener, and the Guadalupe County Master Gardeners, noon-1 p.m., May 7, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 210 East Live Oak St., Seguin. Topics will include Lawn Types and Maintenance; Weeds, Pests and Control; and Fertilization. This presentation is free and attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch. For more information, call 830-303-3889 or visit http://guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.

Denton: "In-Town Gardens" is the theme of the 2015 Denton County Master Gardener Association Spring Garden Tour, which is open to the public from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. Five beautiful private gardens inside the Denton city limits are included on this year's tour, which raises funds for horticultural education programs. Veteran Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and point out interesting characteristics of each landscape. The garden at 2005 Burning Tree Ln. in Denton is a Pollinator's Paradise. It greets guests with an explosion of colorful plants and flowers, including old time-favorites: daylilies, sedum, daisies, lambs ears, coneflower, chrysanthemum, herbs, yarrow, salvia, Mexican milkweed and seasonal annuals. My Secret Garden, located at 908 Circle View Ln., is filled with graceful plants and antique and whimsical yard art. Mini-gardens fill every nook and corner, including a charming fairy garden. Several rainwater collection barrels supply water to the raised beds and colorful containers. All That Jazz is the name of the vibrant garden at 1218 Emerson Ln. The owners were striving for rhythm, balance, emphasis and unity when they planned their landscaping, and they incorporated trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables, all of them native or adapted to North Texas. At 2308 Crestwood Place in northeast Denton, visitors will discover Hidden Gardens and Wildscape, with mature tree-lined paths and secluded garden plots visited by bees, butterflies and critters, both wild and domestic. Each area has its own personality, providing the homeowners with several treasured places for work, play and renewal. The Heather Lane Herb Garden at 1306 Heather Lane features an organic landscape planted with herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, perennials and annuals. Dry-river beds and several rain barrels help supply water for the garden. The fifth garden is located at Lake Forest Village, the retirement facility at 3901 Montecito Rd. in Denton. Primarily a vegetable garden, it was built and is used by residents to produce food for their personal use. The surplus is sold in the Village grocery store to residents who might not be able to participate in garden activities. As a bonus, an assortment of flowers and Texas-adapted plants provide color and attract pollinators to the grounds. Garden Tour tickets are $10 per person and are available from Master Gardeners, local nurseries and online at www.dcmga.com. Children under 12 are admitted free. Admission to a single garden is $5 at the gate.

  

Nacogdoches: "Pining for Birds Arcadian Adventure" will take place 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, May 9. Join ornithologist Cliff Shackelford and horticulturist Greg Grant on a bird and nature walk as they hike through Greg's beloved backyard Rebel Eloy Emanis Pine Savanna and Bird Sanctuary in rural Shelby County. With annual prescribed burns, regular thinning, and standing snags, Greg maintains this 22-year-old, eight-acre stand of loblolly pines as a habitat for cavity dwelling birds and pine savanna wildlife. He named it for his outdoor-loving grandfather who formerly owned the property. Plan to see brown-headed nuthatches, pine warblers, eastern bluebirds, tufted titmice, Carolina chickadees, Carolina wrens, eastern phoebes, and an assortment of woodpeckers. Prepare to hike approximately one mile on dirt trails, so wear comfortable shoes. Transportation is provided and will leave from the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Center at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet, Nacogdoches. Group size will be limited. $30 for SFA Gardens members. $35 for non-members. For reservations contact sfagardens@sfasu.edu  or call 936-468-1832.

  

San Antonio: Visit and learn of the abundant community gardens in San Antonio. Join Green Spaces Alliance for an exclusive urban bike ride or walk to tour eight community gardens during the fourth annual SicloVerde! Choose from several tour options including the 17-mile ride, the 13-mile ride and a 5k walk or ride. Participants will gather at the first garden in the morning and travel in small groups with experienced guides, visiting with gardeners at San Antonio's community gardens before completing the loop and participating in closing festivities. SicloVerde 2015 will occur Saturday, May 9, starting at 7:30 a.m. at Eastside Sprouts Community Garden - a garden on the Ella Austin Community Center campus at 1023 N. Pine, 78202. Interested parties should visit www.greensatx.org/sicloverde for more detailed information and to register in advance.

  

Tomball: Felder Rushing will present "Art in the Garden" at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 9, at The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball. For additional information, email info@arborgate.com or visit www.arborgate.com.

Hempstead: Mother's Day Open Day takes place May 10 at the Peckerwood Garden, 20559 F.M 359, Hempstead. Visitors enjoy 1-hour guided tours of the garden led by knowledgeable docents, exploring key collections such as the Mexican oaks and magnolias. Seasonal highlights are featured and there is the opportunity to purchase many of the plants from the garden at our nursery on Open Days. Refreshments are available, and parking and plant sale admission is free. Peckerwood Garden Open Day hours are 10-4 p.m. Guided tours are offered each day at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and you may reserve a place on the tour of your choice in advance. Tour fee is $10 per person.Peckerwood Garden Foundation members are always welcome, free of charge, to participate in Open Days tours. To purchase tickets, visit https://squareup.com/market/peckerwood-garden-conservation-foundation?utm_source=peckerwood-garden-conservation-foundation&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=button_v1#menu.

Austin: The Austin Organic Gardeners' Club meets at the Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Rd, in Zilker Botanical Gardens, Monday, May 11. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the opportunity to meet, mingle, and ask questions with local gardeners; club business begins at 7 p.m., followed by the guest speaker's presentation. For more information, visit www.austinorganicgardeners.org.

 

Houston:" Sharing What to Plant and Do Now in your Veggie Garden" will be presented at the Houston Urban Gardeners (HUG) meeting, 6:30 p.m., Monday, May 11, at the new location: Moody Park Community Center, 3725 Fulton St., Houston. For more information, call 713-692-6925 or visit www.houstonurbangardeners.org. Free.

  

Schertz: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners will present a Lunch and Learn class on herbs from noon to 1 p.m. on May 11 in Schertz. Gail Johnson, Guadalupe County Master Gardener, will present "Twenty Great Herbs for South Central Texas." Mrs. Johnson's program will discuss not only successful varieties of herbs for this area, but the seasonality of growing herbs. The program will be at the GVEC Service Center Community Room, 908 Curtis Street, Schertz, and is free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to bring lunch, and free handouts will be available.For further information, visit  www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org or call the Guadalupe County Extension Service Office in Seguin at 830-303-3889.

 

Austin: "Alternative Methods of Gardening" will be presented May 14, 10 a.m. to noon, at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Travis Co, 1600-B Smith Road, Austin. If you have limited garden space or time yet still have a desire to nurture your green thumb, Master Gardener Pat Mokry will teach you how to raise carefree veggies, herbs and flowers using self-sufficient grow boxes. Then, for some more 'new' gardening techniques, Master Gardener Marian Stasney will describe the ancient practices of both keyhole gardening and hugelkultur. $10/seminar for early registration; $15/seminar for late or on-site. Register: For additional information, contact Daphne Richards, 512-854-9600 or drichards@ag.tamu.edu.

  

Houston: "International Flower Expo 8 in China" will be the topic of the Houston Rose Society meeting on Thursday, May 14. The speaker will be Mr. Sam Jones. In 2013 Sam and his wife toured rose and botanical gardens across China with a delegation which included American hybridizers, garden directors, industry leaders and ARS officials. Sam will share his marvelous pictures of roses grown in China. Sam and his wife have been active members in their local rose society in Nashville, Tenn., and the American Rose Society. The Houston Rose Society meets at the Parish Hall of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1819 Heights Blvd, Houston. Entrance to parking lot is on W 19th Street near Yale St. Free admission. For additional information, visit http://www.houstonrose.org.

  

La Grange: Jason McBroom, Fayette County Commissioner, will lead "Drip Irrigation," noon-12:50 p.m., May 14, at the Fayette County Agricultural Building, 255 Svoboda Lane, La Grange. For additional information, call 979-968-5831 or visit http://fayette.agrilife.org.

Nacogdoches: Stephen F. Austin State University's SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 14, in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches. Barbara Stump, research associate for development for SFA Gardens, will present "SFA Gardens - My Azalea Retrospective, the Unabridged Version." Stump will reveal a few secrets and lessons learned during the 18-year development of the SFA Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden. Stump has been associated with the gardens since she began working toward her master's degree in 1997. Her master's thesis, "The Site Analysis and Design of the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden," involved coordinating efforts to build the 8-acre garden and plant more than 8,000 specimens, of which 6,500 are azaleas. She is a member of the Azalea Society of America and also served as the editor of The Azalean, the society's quarterly journal, from 1997-2007. The ASA has been invaluable in expanding the network of nurserymen and azalea growers. In addition, the society generously donated special collections of azaleas to the Mize Azalea Garden. Stump co-chaired the 2007 and 2015 National ASA conventions held in Nacogdoches, and she was recently elected vice president of the National ASA. The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month at SFA's Pineywoods Native Plant Center. A rare plant raffle will be held after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves lecture series fund are always appreciated. Parking is available at the nearby Raguet Elementary School, 2428 Raguet St., with continual shuttle service to the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building. For more information, call 936-468-1832 or email grantdamon@sfasu.edu.

 
Atlanta: The Cass County Master Gardeners will host "Walk in the Garden," a garden conference and yard tour, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., May 16, at Whippoorwill Gardens, 5024 FM 2328 Atlanta. Four morning classes will be followed by afternoon tours of four local gardens. Tickets are $10 if purchased by May 8; $12 after May 8 and at the door. For additional information, call 903-756-5391 or 903-748-3414.

Dallas: Attend a Drip Irrigation class at Texas Discovery Gardens May 16 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Water more deeply and efficiently: convert your spray heads and watch your sprinkler system save you money with this hands-on drip conversion class. Learn how to install drip irrigation tubing from your faucet or how to convert an existing zone to drip. Drip irrigation is the most efficient irrigation method and essential to sustainable landscapes and foundation watering. $25, $20 for TDG members. Register in advance at www.texasdiscoverygardens.org or call 214-428-7476 ext. 343. The Gardens are at 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas.

 

Ft. Worth: The Greater Fort Worth Herb Society presents "Remembering Old Thymes" Herb Festival May 16 at the Ft Worth Botanic Gardens, 3220 Botanic Gardens Blvd., Ft Worth, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission $2.00, children under 12 Free. Presentations include: 9:30 Laura Miller "Herbs in Edible Landscape"; 10:30 Judy Barrett "Antique roses"; 1:00 Dr. Judy Griffin "Herbs for Health & Beauty." Free demonstration at 2 p.m.: "How to make markers for your garden" by Stacy Moore, president Ft Worth Herb Society. For more information, visit www.gfwhs.org.

 

Rockwall: The New Inspirations Garden Tour-Look, Listen, Learn!", Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. -3:30 p.m. This new event hosted by the Rockwall County Master Gardener Association will include 3 inspirational gardens to tour at your leisure from 9:30-1:30 and then a classroom session with Dr. Dotty Woodson from 2:00-3:30. Tickets will be available beginning Friday, April 24. Cost is $15.00. For more information visit rockmga.org or call 972-204-7660.

 

Sugar Land: The Great Grow, a 501c3 community and school garden organization, will present "Treesearch Farms: The Unique and Different" Plant Sale and School Garden Event at Imperial Farmer's Market, 198 Kempner St, Sugar Land, May 16. Plant Sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. School Garden Presentations at 11 a.m. For additional information, contact Diana Miller, Program Director, 713-724-3113, or visit www.TheGreatGrow.com.

 

Waco: The McLennan County Master Gardeners will host a Plant Sale 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, May 16, at the Westview Bowling Lanes Parking Lot, 4565 W. Waco Drive, Waco. Cash, Check & Credit Cards accepted. Browse the great selection of plants, including flowers, shrubs, vegetables, and herbs grown in members' yards. Also: arts & crafts, hanging baskets, color bowls, fairy gardens, and compost for sale, plus free recycling for old, reuseable pots!

  

Smithson Valley: The Lindheimer Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will hold their monthly meeting on  May 19 at 7 p.m. at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, Smithson Valley. Mary Irish will present "Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad, Botanical Names?" a talk on why botanical names matter, how to figure them out, and what a great deal of information they carry with them. Mary is a native Texan who returned in 2012 from Arizona and currently manages the plant sales program at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. She is a garden writer (10 books), lecturer and educator, has served as Director of Public Horticulture at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, was on the Board of the Arizona Nursery Association, and served as the Chair at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.The public is welcome. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/wp/lindheimer. 

 

Seabrook: Victor Madamba, Galveston County Master Naturalist, will present a program on Monarch Butterflies at10 am, Wed., May 20, in theMeeting Room at Clear Lake Park, 5001 NASA Parkway, Seabrook. For more information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu.

 

Woodway: "Raised Bed Gardening" will be presented by Master Gardener Ila Jean Carothers from noon-2 p.m., May 20, at the Pavilion at Carleen Bright Arboretum, 1 Pavilion Way, Woodway. Learn the advantages of growing in raised beds and learn how to construct various types of raised beds. For more information, call 254-399-9204.

 

San Antonio: A rain barrel workshop will be offered May 23 at Rainbow Gardens, 8516 Bandera Road, San Antonio, as part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Backyard Basics series. A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores water for when it is needed most. Learn to conserve water to benefit your plants and garden. Attendees will make a rain barrel to take home and put to use. The Bexar County Master Gardener rainwater specialists will also provide information at the event. The cost for the workshop is $50 per person and due by May 15. Attendance is limited, and reservations must be made with payment to Angel Torres, 210-467-6575 or matorres@ag.tamu.edu. Backyard Basics promotes healthy living by providing residents of Atascosa, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall and Wilson counties with information about the benefits of homegrown and homemade foods. For more information, visit  http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/backyardbasics/.

 

Bryan: Master Gardener, Kate Kelly will give a presentation on squash, Wednesday, May 27, from noon till 1 p.m. at the Brazos County Extension Office - Dig Pavilion, 2619 Highway 21, West, Bryan.Bring your lunch and get your questions answered about raising squash; pollination, diseases, squash bugs. The public is invited and there is no charge.For more information, visit www.brazosmg.com, call the Brazos County Extension office at 979-823-0129, or send an email to brazosmg@brazosmg.com.

 

Dallas: Find out about those mystery trees and shrubs in your yard May 30 from 10 a.m. to noon with Director of Horticulture Roger Sanderson at Texas Discovery Gardens. Bring photos of the specimens as well as a cutting. He will do his best to answer questions and share great trees and shrubs for North Texas landscapes.  $25, $20 for TDG members. Register in advance at www.texasdiscoverygardens.org or call 214-428-7476 ext. 343. The Gardens are at 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Dallas, Texas 75210.

 

Tyler: The Smith County Master Gardener Annual Garden Tour will be held May 30. This is a unique opportunity to view four private gardens and landscapes in the Tyler area. For more information, visit http://txmg.org/smith/coming-events/ or call 903-590-2980.

JUNE

 

Austin: "Preparing for the Fall Vegetable Garden" will be presented June 11, 10 a.m. to noon, at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Travis Co, 1600-B Smith Road, Austin. Imagine gardening without sweat dripping from your brow or mosquitoes buzzing in your ears or having to water every day. Those are just a few of the many benefits of the cool season vegetable garden. Join us as we discuss vegetable selection, soil preparation and the importance of timing for the fall and winter garden. Master Gardener Patty Leander is a writer for Texas Gardener magazine and grows vegetables year round in her Oak Hill garden. $10/seminar for early registration; $15/seminar for late or on-site. Register: For additional information, contact Daphne Richards, 512-854-9600 or drichards@ag.tamu.edu. 

 

San Antonio: Engage in gardening and engage your community. Join Green Spaces Alliance for the second Community Harvest Blitz. The theme is Salsa Gardening and it will be a chance to learn about gardening, participate in cultivation, watch and taste food demonstrations straight from the garden by local chefs, share a meal with new friends, and watch a movie all in the garden setting. Green Spaces' Community Harvest Blitz will occur Saturday, June 13, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Gardens of St. Therese - a west side community garden at 906 W. Kentucky Ave, 78201. Multiple activities are scheduled for all age ranges. Interested parties should visit www.greensatx.org/fruitfulsa for more detailed information and must register their planned attendance. Materials and foods will be limited by the number of registered attendees.

 

San Antonio: Engage in gardening and engage your community. Join Green Spaces Alliance for the third Community Harvest Blitz. The theme is Fall Harvest, as this is National Food Day. It will be a chance to learn about gardening, participate in cultivation, watch and taste food demonstrations straight from the garden by local chefs, share a meal with new friends, and watch a movie all in the garden setting. Green Spaces' Community Harvest Blitz will occur Saturday, June 13, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at River Road Community Garden - a near north community garden at 780 E. Huisache, 78212. Multiple activities are scheduled for all age ranges. Interested parties should visit www.greensatx.org/fruitfulsa for more detailed information and must register their planned attendance. Materials and foods will be limited by the number of registered attendees.

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

  

Kaufman: The Kaufman County Master Gardeners meet the first Monday of each month at the First Community Church at 1401 Trinity Drive in Crandall. January through April and August and September meetings are at 9 a.m., with the remaining meetings beginning at 7 p.m. For additional information visit http://www.kcmga.org, call 972-932-9069 or email to sbburden@ag.tamu.edu.


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.

Dallas: Garden Masters, Inc., meet the first Wednesday of each month at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd., Dallas. The club hosts different speaker each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bring your lunch! For more information, email Bunny Williams at bunny-williams@sbcglobal.net.

 

Kerrville: Hill Country Master Gardeners meet the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm at Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 Hwy 27. For more information visit www.hillcountrymastergardeners.org.

 

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.

Atlanta: The Cass County Master Gardeners meet the first Thursday of each month at the Atlanta Memorial Hospital Conference Room, State Highway 77 @ S. Williams St., Atlanta. A business meeting is followed by an educational program. The public is welcome to attend. For additional information, call 903-756-5391 or visit http://cass.agrilife.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.

Fort Worth: The North Central Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. except (January and July) in the Fort Worth Botanical Garden Building at 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth. For additional information, contact President Theresa Thomas at kayleetl@sbcglobal.net.

 

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.

New Braunfels: The Comal Garden Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Southbank Clubhouse, 222 Southbank Blvd., New Braunfels. 

 

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.

Jacksonville: The Cherokee County Master Gardeners meet on the second Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Woodmen of the World, 1800 College Ave., Jacksonville. For more information, e-mail Tom Abbott at tom@deerfield-abbey.org.  

 

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. Meetings are open to the public. For complete details, visit 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's Learn at Lunch program meet the second Wednesday of each month. The business meeting begins at 11:30 a.m., with the program at noon, at the AgriLife Extension Office, 405 E. Marshall Ave., Longview. The program is presented for horticultural education and is free to the public. For further information call 903-236-8429, visit www.txmg.org/gregg, or like us on Facebook at Gregg County Master Gardeners. 

 

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 6 p.m. (social) 7:00 (meeting) the second Thursday of each month except in July in the AgriLife Extension auditorium, 1225 Pearl 2nd floor (downtown Beaumont next to the Court House). For more information contact: 409-835-8461 or txmg.org/jcmg.

 

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.

Smithville: The Smithville Community Gardens meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Smithville Recreation Center. 

 

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.

  

Kilgore: Northeast Texas Organic Gardeners meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. For more information, call Carole Ramke at 903-986-9475.

 

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 Gardener's meet on the third Monday of each month at McGregor House, 1628 W Henderson, Cleburne. Meeting times are at 2 p.m. October through April, except December and at 6 p.m. May through September. An educational program precedes the business meeting. For additional information, contact Sue Matern at 817-517-9076.

  

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.

 

Evant: The Evant Garden Club meets on the third 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 254-471-5860. 

 

New Braunfels: The Lindheimer Chapter (Comal County) of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. Meetings include an informative speaker, plant of the month presentation, and plant raffle. Visitors are welcome. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/wp/lindheimer.

 

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 November and January through April at 10 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Road, 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) at the Houston SArboretum and Nature Center in Memorial Park (4501 Woodway Dr.). For more information on programs, and for information about native plants for Houston, visit http:/npsot.org/wp/Houston.

 

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 email npsot.sanantonio@gmail.com.

 

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.
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