 March 9, 2016
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Changeable weather could help, hurt Texas wildflower displays
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Healthy rains in the fall and early winter put Texas on track for a spectacular 2016 spring wildflower season, but spotty rain and unusual warmth recently could dampen displays in some areas.
"The trick is always the weather," says Andrea DeLong-Amaya, director of horticulture at The University of Texas at Austin's Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. "Early in the year, the National Weather Service predicted the El Ni�o pattern to bring moisture, but that didn't really materialize for much of the state."
Regular rains since fall set the stage for many wildflower plants to pop up early this year and wait for warmth and moisture to bloom. Rain finally arrived in some areas the last week of February and the places it fell, which can vary even within a city, should enjoy excellent displays. Blooming will be less spectacular where the rain hasn't been steady.
DeLong-Amaya adds that Texas bluebonnets typically get out of the gate early and the Center already sports a few bluebonnets in bloom, thanks in part to that warmer-than-usual winter. Elbow bush are already blooming at the Center. And around Austin, bluebonnets, golden groundsel, and spiderwort are flowering. Following recent rain, other wildflowers in the Austin area are beginning to bloom, including ten-petaled anemones (also called windflower and ten-petal thimbleweed), Texas star and baby blue eyes.
San Antonio enjoyed extended blooms of fall wildflowers due to rainfall and warm temperatures. Late February rains, though light, should result in a strong spring blooming season there. Some bluebonnets had already bloomed in February - more than a month early - along with shrubby boneset, camphorweed and crucita, purslane speedwell and windflower.
Blooming phlox species and Englemann's or cutleaf daisies also have been spotted south of San Antonio along I-37, just north of Pleasanton. Near Corpus Christi, two good places to see wildflowers include the cemetery off Picton Lane in Rockport and the Linda S. Castro Nature Sanctuary in Fulton.
Last summer's drought could be a blessing in disguise in some areas, DeLong-Amaya noted, opening up niches for early spring wildflowers such as bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush by causing other species to die back.
Any possible cold snaps are also unlikely to damage native wildflowers already putting out buds, said DeLong-Amaya. She said most early bloomers can handle a frost, and only an unusually late and hard freeze will knock back flowers, and those can be replaced by others that bloom in their place.
Wildflower sightings provided by: Andrea DeLong-Amaya, horticulture director at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; Patricia Manning, professional botanist, Alpine; Lu Hollander, Brenham/Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau; Suzzanne Chapman, Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens; and Rhoda Poenisch, Olivia Sievers Ross, MJ Hansen, and Jerry Morrisey, chapters of the Native Plant Society of Texas.
Wildflower Sightings
Helping Texas' Wildflowers
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From dead leaves to rich soil
The Soil Science Society of America
Those dead leaves you forgot to pick up last spring can turn into very rich soil if handled the correct way. The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) March 1 Soils Matter blog post explains the process of how leaves are decomposed by worms, bugs and microbes - and turned into nutrient-rich compost and soil for your garden.
Soil scientist Jessica Chiartas explains the "soil food web":
1. Invertebrates - earthworms, beetle larvae, millipedes, mites, slugs, and snails - that live in the soil shred plant materials into smaller and smaller pieces, increasing the surface area on which soil bacteria and fungi can prey. Mulching the litter with your mower helps speed this process along, but in natural areas like forests, nature does all the work!
2. Next up is something you might call mold. Scientists call it fungi. Fungi send out filamentous threads, called hyphae, that operate much like plant roots. These hyphae release acids and enzymes necessary to break down dead plant material. This makes nutrients available to plants to sustain their own growth. You may have seen this whitish "mold" under leaves and thought poorly of it. It's quite hard-working, and adds a lot to your soil.
3. As the litterfall is consumed by the decomposer food web, water and inorganic nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) are released into the soil, where they can be taken up again by plants to foster new growth.
"So, do yourself a favor this spring (and next fall) and leave the leaves," says Chiartas.
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2016 named International Year of Pulses
The Crop Science Society of America
The UN declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (IYP). And, no, they don't mean the pulse you take to measure your heartbeat.
Pulses are edible grain legumes - think pinto, kidney, garbanzo, lentils, and peas. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) wants the public to recognize tasty and nutritious pulses "as a primary source of protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients." (http://www.fao.org/pulses-2016/en/)
The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) plans to celebrate IYP in various ways. "We've asked several of our key scientists to publish papers about pulse research in our Crop Science journal during 2016," shares Mark Brick, the chairperson of CSSA's IYP committee. Brick is a professor at Colorado State University.
CSSA also has created information for the general public about pulses, which can be found at www.crops.org/iyp.
"We want to increase awareness of the importance of beans and other pulse crops to human health," says Henry Thompson, an IYP team member. Thompson has collaborated on research with Brick that supports the clinical evidence between higher bean consumption and a reduction in cancer risk. "Beans are high in fiber and protein, and have many healthy attributes," says Thompson.
Besides eating more beans, CSSA encourages home gardeners to add some pulse crops to their garden beds. "Most pulses - like pinto beans and black eyed peas - can be grown in many U.S. locations," says Matthew Blair. "In addition to being healthy to eat, pulses are 'nitrogen fixers' and are good for your garden's soil." Blair is a professor at Tennessee State University, and a member of the IYP team.
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Gardening tips
Everyone is a gardener in March and April! A good first step is to clean up those flower beds and put the weeds and old plantings in the compost pile. Then incorporate a couple of inches of compost into the beds. If it is going to be a while before you plant, apply some mulch to keep the weeds at bay. When you are ready to plant, just pull the mulch away from the planting area and plant your seed.
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 copy of the latest issue of Texas Gardener magazine. Please send your tips of 50 words or less to the editor at: Gardening Tips.
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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.
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MARCH
Austin: "Lawn Maintenance for Water Conservation" will be presented Thursday, March 10, 10 a.m.-noon at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Travis County, 1600-B Smith Road, Austin. When there are drought conditions in Central Texas, landscape plants become water-stressed so it's important to look at how you are caring for your lawn to help it survive. Learn how to look for signs of insects, diseases and weeds. Find out the best way to water, fertilize, and mow your lawn. Daphne Richards, County Extension Agent-Horticulture, leads educational programming in the areas of home horticulture, urban agriculture, and the green industry and will share her knowledge on lawn maintenance. $10 through 2/29; $15 starting 3/1 and on-site. NO cash accepted - checks and credit cards only. Space is limited so register on-line early to reserve your seat! To register, visit https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty or phone 979-845-2604. For additional information, contact: Sue Carrasco, 512-854-9610 or [email protected].
Houston: "Fertilization - How Fertilizers Work and Factors that Impact Efficiency" will be the topic of the Houston Rose Society meeting on Thursday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston. The parking lot is Lot C, located at Hermann Drive and Crawford Street. This program will be presented by James Laperouse, master consulting rosarian. The program will cover fertilizer basics, but will also include a discussion on how weather, temperature and sunlight affect a plant's ability to take up nutrients. Free admission. For more information, visit http://www.houstonrose.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, March 10, in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. Tom Cox will present "Breaking New Ground with Conifers for the South." Cox and his wife, Evelyn, started the Cox Arboretum and Gardens in 1990 when they purchased an undeveloped 13-acre parcel in Canton, Georgia. Over the ensuing 25 years, this has evolved into one of the premiere collections of woody taxa in the Southeastern U.S. In 2002 and again in 2014, the arboretum was the host site for the American Conifer Society's national meeting and is now a frequent stop for gardening enthusiasts as well as those involved in serious plant study. A pioneer in the evaluation of conifers for adaptability in the Southeast, Cox is recognized as one of the leading authorities on growing conifers in the region. The arboretum received full accreditation in 2012 and is now a site for the preservation of rare and endangered plants from around the world. Cox is a frequent lecturer on the subject of conifers and other woody plants and is a member of the prestigious International Dendrology Society as well as Botanic Gardens Conservation International. He is a past president of the American Conifer Society and has been published numerous times in both British and U.S. conifer journals. He is the co-author of the recently published book, "Conifers and Ginkgo for the Southern Landscape." In 2014, his book was recognized by the Georgia Writers Association as first runner-up in the specialty category at their 50th year annual awards banquet. Cox graduated cum laude and received a bachelor's degree from The New York Institute of Technology and a master's degree in psychology from Georgia State University. 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, 2708 Raguet St., with continual shuttle service to the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building. For more information, call 936-468-1832 or email [email protected].
San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society will present a demonstration of Kokedama, the Japanese Moss Ball Garden or String Garden by Betty Riggs, a member of the Windcrest Garden Club 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., March 10, at the San Antonio Garden Center, on 3310 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio. Learn to grow herbs and other plants in confined spaces. Admission is free and the public is welcome.For more information, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org.
Conroe: The Montgomery County Master Gardeners are having their annual Spring Sale, featuring avocados, blueberries, raspberries, perennials, vegetables, herbs and more, on Saturday, March 12, at 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. Program is at 8 a.m.; sale is from 9 a.m. until noon. For more information, call 936-539-7824 or visit www.mcmga.com.
La Marque: March 12 "Tomato Stress Management, Part 3" with GC Master Gardener Ira Gervais presenting, 9-11 a.m., at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Fee/Free. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Further details www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. La Marque: March 12 "Vermiculture - Worm Castings For Your Garden" with GC Master Gardener Linda Brown presenting, 1-2:30 p.m., at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Fee/Free. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Further details www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. San Antonio: Sarah Loden will present "Gardens Alive Community Art Project," 10 a.m.-1 p.m., March 12, at the Beacon Hill Community Garden, 1144 W. Gramercy PI, San Antonio. Artist and storyteller, Sarah Loden, will touch on a wide number of subjects surrounding plants, including nutritious eating habits, the lifecycle of a plant, a garden's ecosystem, and acts of social kindness. All ages are encouraged to participate in the storytelling show, creating a fun and engaging platform to discuss and reflect on the value of plants, plant life, and the role we each play in caring for the earth and each other. The Beacon Hill Community Garden will additionally be brought into vivid display with a colorful, quirky array of ornamental figures created and installed by the community members during the course of the event. The community-constructed artwork will become a permanent fixture of the space, serving to decorate and invite people to visit and use the garden for years to come. The event is sponsored by Green Spaces Alliance, Beacon Hill Neighborhood Association, and the San Antonio Department for Culture and Creative Development.
Schertz: Bob Cox, John Lewicki, and the Guadalupe County Master Gardeners will present a Lunch and Learn about Texas Superstar Plants, noon-1p.m., Monday, March 14, in the GVEC Community Room, 908 Curtis St., Schertz. Attendees are welcome to bring lunch, and free handouts will be available. For additional information, email [email protected].
Bastrop: Do you know a good bug from a bad one? Tommie Clayton and Susan Jung, First [Bug] Detector Specialists, will explain the difference on March 15, from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Bluebonnet Electric Co-op building (650 Hwy 21 East) in Bastrop. With more than 30 years of Master Gardening experience between them, Tommie and Susan are also founding members of Texas Sage Master Gardeners, which serves Bastrop and Caldwell Counties. For more information, visit http://txmg.org/tsmg/, email [email protected], or call 512-581-7186.
La Marque: March 15 "The ABC's of Home Composting" with GC Master Gardener Ken Steblein presenting, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Fee/Free. Participants must pre-register: 281-534-3413. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Further details www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. Midland/Odessa: Permian Basin Master Gardeners will present a program on vegetable gardening in your landscape on Tuesday, March 15, with a repeat identical program on Wednesday, March 16. The class will be taught by Patty Glenn Leander, a native Texan and former Midlander who is passionate about home-grown vegetables. She is a contributing editor for Texas Gardener magazine, a Texas Master Gardener Vegetable Specialist and a writer for The Masters of Horticulture ( www.masterofhort.com). She grows vegetables year-round in her Austin garden and encourages the use of sound, horticultural principles that will lead to gardening success. The class will be held at the George H W & Barbara Bush Commemorative Hangar, 9600 Wright Drive, Midland. The class will begin at 6:30 on Tuesday night and at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Both programs are free, but please pre-register at the Ector County Extension office at 432-498-4071. Woodway: Master Gardeners Carol Wood and Ila Jean Carothers will present "Some Like it Hot" (plants that thrive in Texas heat) and "Shade Gardening" (plants that thrive on less light) from noon until 2 p.m., March 16, at 1 Pavilion Way (The Pavilion at Woodway Arboretum). For more information, call 254-399-9204. Lunch with the Masters will continue every 3rd Wed. in 2016. Sponsored by the McLennan County Master Gardeners and Carleen Bright Arboretum.
San Antonio: "What to Grow in the Shade" will be presented at the BCMG General Meeting, March 17, 6-8:30 p.m., at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, San Antonio. Bexar County Master Gardeners (BCMG) meeting begins with a social time at 6 p.m. followed by a special, free presentation at 6:30 p.m. Dotty Woodson will lead the presentation. 1.5 CEUs for MGs. For more information, email the BCMG President, [email protected], or call 210-699-0663. Seguin: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners will meet Thursday night March 17 at the AgriLife Building, 210 East Live Oak, Seguin. A social gathering will be at 6:30 p.m. followed by the educational program at 7 p.m. The topic of the meeting will be "Low Water Us Landscaping," presented by Dr. Calvin Finch. The membership meeting will follow the educational program. For further information, please call the AgriLife staff at 830-303-3889 or visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org. Orangefield: The Orange County Master Gardeners Association is having their Annual Bloomin' Crazy Plant Fair Saturday, March 19, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., at Cormier Park, 8235 FM 1442, Orangefield. Plants of all kinds will be available for sale, including Texas Superstars, annuals, perennials, natives, vegetables, citrus, berries, vines, tropicals, succulents, trees and many more. Vendors will be available selling plant and garden related products. For more information, visit http://txmg.org/orange. Round Top: Plants and gifts for sale March 18-19: Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Round Top Festival Hill, 248 Jaster Road, Round Top, free admission ( www.herbsocietypioneer.org).
San Angelo: Lunch 'n' Learn Gardening Seminar-Earthkind Landscaping-Noon until 1 p.m., March 18, at Edd B. Keys Building, 113 W. Beauregard, 1st floor in the AgriLife Extension Office meeting room, San Angelo. Allison Watkins, AgriLife Extension Horticulturist for Tom Green County, will be talking about the aspects of an Earthkind Landscape. This is a way to have a pretty landscape that doesn't require much water and will be strong through our drought situations. Cost: $5. San Antonio: The Annual San Antonio Garden Center Plant Sale will be held Friday, March 18, and Saturday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Hanging baskets, landscape perennials, bedding plants, daylilies, roses, cactus and succulents, native plants and herbs will all be available for purchase. Drought tolerant and locally grown. Plus, pass-along plants donated by Garden Center members. For more information, visit sanantoniogardencenter.org or call 210-824-9981. Admission is Free. Dallas: Two Water-Wise Landscape seminars will be presented Saturday, March 19, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Auditorium (Building E), 17360 Coit Road, Dallas. Landscape designer and author Bonnie Reese of Beautiful Landscapes will be the speaker at both sessions. First-time seminar attendees at each session will receive a copy of Ms. Reese's book, "Common- Sense Landscaping" (limit one per household). Attendees can also enter a drawing for free bags of GreenSense organic fertilizer from Rohde's Nursery and Nature Store. There will be 3 drawings per session. Water-Wise Landscape Design 101, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Whether you have a new landscape or plan to update an existing area, it is critical to begin with a good design. This program teaches the principles of landscape design with an emphasis on how to create a beautiful landscape that will save resources - natural and financial! Fantastic Plants for North Texas, 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Using colorful photographs, Bonnie demonstrates the natural beauty of native and adapted plants that thrive in the North Texas region. Learn when, where and how to plant each of the recommended plants, their size and height at maturity, seasonal color, texture and more. This program provides information on trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, groundcovers and turf grasses. Space is limited, so register online at SaveDallasWater.com or by calling 214-670-3155.
Jacksonville: "The Circle of Life" Spring Garden Conference will be held beginning at 8 a.m., March 19, at First Christian Church, 1920 Beaumont St., Jacksonville. Speakers include Grace Barnett, Monarch Czar, National Wildlife Federation; Erfan Vafaie, Entomologist, Texas A&M Extension Service; and Kyle Tengler, Smith County Extension Agent, Permaculture Design Consultant. Registration fee: $10. For more information, call 903-683-5416.
La Marque: March 19 "Honey Bees Around the Garden" with GC Master Gardener Robert Marshall presenting, 9-10:30 a.m., at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Fee/Free. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Further details www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. La Marque: March 19 "Turning Dirt Into Soil" with GC Master Gardener Jim Gillian presenting, 1-2:30 p.m., at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Fee/Free. Participants must pre-register: 281-534-3413. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Further details www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston.
Orangefield: The Orange County Master Gardeners Association will host their Annual Bloomin' Crazy Plant Fair on Saturday, March 19, at Cormier Park, 8235 FM 1442, Orangefield. Available will be Texas Superstar plants, natives, perennials, annuals, vines, tropical storm, vegetables, citrus, blueberries, and many other varieties. In addition, vendors will have locally produced products, specialty plants and organic items for plants and lawns. For more information, visit txmg.org/orange. San Antonio: "Spring Vegetable Seminar" will be presented March 19, 10:30 a.m. to noon, at Fanick's Garden Center Inc., 1025 Holmgreen Rd., San Antonio. David Rodriguez, AgriLife Extension Service, will demonstrate how to properly plant, grow and harvest vegetables. David has a ton of experience in gardening and loves to share his knowledge of and passion for vegetables. Seminar is free, but donations to the Children's garden are welcome. 1.5 CEUs for MGs. For more information, visit Fanick's website: http://www.fanicknursery.com/Upcoming%20Events.htm. San Angelo: Youth Garden Club. 4-5:30 p.m. March 21-May 9 at Southside Rec Center, 2750 Ben Ficklin Rd. 3rd, 4th & 5th grade youth will learn about planting, growing fresh vegetables, eating healthy, preparing food and more. Instructors will be Master Gardeners using the "Learn, Grow, Eat & Go!" curriculum from the Texas A&M Extension's Junior Master Gardener program. Students will have classroom activities and hands-on experience working in the new Children's Adventure Garden, projected to open in April. Cost is $10 for 8-weeks. Must pre-register by March 11. Call 325-656-3104. Mail registration to: The People/Plant Connection, P.O. 62841, San Angelo, TX 76906. Bryan: Brazos County Master Gardeners will present a Community Education Program, "Firewise Landscaping: Reducing Wildfire Risk in the Wildland-Urban Interface," 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at the Brazos Center, 3232 Briarcrest, Bryan. Neighborhoods close to dense woodlands in Southeastern Texas can be at risk for wildfires. Learn about creating a defensible space in the home ignition zone by becoming Firewise. Improve evacuation preparedness and learn about plant species that offer aesthetics while having firewise characteristics. Presented by Stuart Coombs and Jordan Adams, Wildland Urban Interface Specialists for the Mitigation and Prevention Department at Texas A&M Forest Service. They provide public outreach at events and workshops through empowerment and education, completing wildfire hazard assessments and post fire assessments, community wildfire protection plans, public information officer duties, prescribed fire, incident response and assistance with the Firewise Communities USA and Ready, Set Go programs. Visit brazosmg.com for more information. Bryan: Brazos County Master Gardeners will present "Gardening with the Masters - Composting," noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, March 23, at the Brazos County Extension Office, 2619 Highway 21 W, Bryan. Master Gardener Compost Specialist Tommy Myrick will lead attendees through the steps for creating black gold from garden waste and kitchen vegetable scraps. Composting yard wastes can reduce what goes to the local landfill by 30 percent or more. The program is open to the public at no charge. Visit brazosmg.com for more information. La Marque: March 29 "'Texas Tuff' Landscape Plants - Blooming and Beautiful" with GC Master Gardener Sandra Devall presenting, 6:30-8 p.m., at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque. Fee/Free. Participants must pre-register: 281-534-3413. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Further details www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. Athens: The Henderson County Maser Gardeners 2016 Spring Conference will be held March 31 at the First United Methodist Church in Athens. There will be a silent auction at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m., Dr. David Creech will discuss native plants. $25. For additional information, email [email protected].
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APRIL
Gonzales: The Gonzales Master Gardeners' 6th Annual Spring Plant Sale will be held Saturday, April 2, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in downtown Gonzales on Texas Heroes Square located just west of Gonzales County Court House. Shoppers will have the opportunity to select from an assortment of vegetables, herbs, annual and perennial plants, succulents, cacti, houseplants and citrus fruit trees. A wide variety of vegetable plants will include heirloom tomato plants, various pepper varieties and much more. A great selection of herbs for the garden will be available. Check out the not-so-common perennials, hanging baskets, bromeliads, and dish gardens that will also be offered for sale. Bring gardening questions to the "Ask the Master Gardener" booth and stop by to bid on the wide variety of items in the silent auction. Food and drink will also be available for sale. Proceeds from the silent auction and the sale of plants will be used for education projects for the school children, adult education programs and other community projects. Contact Fran Saliger at 830-672-2953 for more information.
Dallas: Is your landscape brown and crispy? Learn to create and install a water efficient landscape or garden. You will learn proper soil preparation, a large selection of minimal water use plants that are native and adaptive, and how to design and plan a small or large project. Plant list provided. " Water Efficient Landscape" will be presented 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, April 2, and Saturday, April 9, at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Building E Auditorium, 17360 Coit Road, Dallas. For additional information, visit http://dallas.tamu.edu.
Marshall: The Annual Spring Plant Sale of the Harrison County Master Gardeners will be held on Saturday, April 2, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., on the Tractor Supply parking lot at 105 E End Blvd (Hwy 59) in Marshall. Many Master-Gardener grown (pass-along) plants will be available, as well as commercially-grown flowers and vegetables, all at competitive prices. Arrive early for the best selection. Nacogdoches: SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host its annual Garden Gala Day Spring Plant Sale and Earth Day Celebration from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet Street, in historic Nacogdoches. A wide variety of hard-to-find, "Texas tough" plants will be available, including Texas natives, heirlooms, tropicals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and unusual species. Most of the plants are trialed in the gardens before being offered to the public and most are produced by the SFA Gardens staff and volunteers. This popular event benefits the SFA Mast Arboretum, Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, Gayla Mize Garden, and educational programs hosted at the gardens. The educational programs at SFA Gardens reach more than 15,000 students of all ages on a yearly basis. The 9th Annual SFA Earth Day Celebration presented alongside the SFA Spring Garden Gala Plant Sale will begin at 10 a.m. and feature informational booths, guest speakers, activities for kids of all ages, free local food, live music, and more. Held in the beautiful setting of the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, the outdoor festival is sponsored by Campus Recreation's Outdoor Pursuits program, the SFA Student Sustainability Coalition, SFA Gardens, and Nacogdoches Naturally. The celebration is an opportunity for members of the SFA student body and the Nacogdoches community to join together in furthering the vision of a sustainable campus and community. Parking is available at the nearby Early Childhood Research Center, 2428 Raguet St. The public is encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon. For more information, call 936-468-4404, or visit www.sfagardens.sfasu.edu two weeks before the sale for a list of available plants. Tyler: Tyler 1st Tuesday in the Garden, "Bullet-Proof Plants," will be presented in the IDEA Garden in the Tyler Rose Garden Center, 420 Rose Park Dr., Tyler, noon-1:00 p.m., April 5. Free and open to the public. Seating is limited; please bring a chair for your comfort. In case of inclement weather, program will be held inside the Rose Garden Center. For more information visit http://txmg.org/smith/coming-events or call 903-590-2980.
San Antonio: San Antonio Garden Center Clubs will meet Wednesday, April 6, at 10 a.m. at 3310 N. New Braunfels @ Funston. The program, "Keeping the Bloom in Blooms," will feature Joe Don Zetzsche, the Director of HEB's Blooms. He will talk about the logistics of supplying and running the Blooms floral departments in 250 stores and the unique joys and challenges of such a large operation. Coffee at 9:30; meetings are free and open to the public. For more information visit sanantoniogardencenter.org or call 210-824-9981.
Huntsville: Herb Festival at the Wynne Home will be held Saturday, April 9, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1428 Eleventh Street, Huntsville. Sponsored by the Texas Thyme Unit of the Herb Society of America. Herb, butterfly and hummingbird, camellias and perennial plants for sale. Speakers, herbal and garden vendors, artists, musicians, food, and children's activities. The Festival is free. For information call 936-891-5024.
New Braunfels: The NPSOT, Lindheimer Chapter, will present "Spring Native Plant Sale" on April 9, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and April 10 from noon to 5 p.m. The sale will take place at Folkfest in Heritage Park, 1370 Church Hill Dr., New Braunfels. There will 40+ varieties of native plants, with special focus on butterfly and hummingbird plants. Activities for children will be included.
La Grange: La Grange: Fayette County Master Gardeners present their Lunch-N-Learn on "Companion Planting" with Pat Mokry as speaker from 12:05 p.m. to 12:50 p.m., April 12, at Fayette County AgriLife Extension Service, 255 Svoboda Lane, La Grange. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information call 979-968-5831. San Antonio: "Annual Grafting Seminar" will be presented April 16, 9 a.m. to noon, at Fanick's Garden Center Inc., 1025 Holmgreen Rd, San Antonio. Dr. Larry Stein from the AgriLife Extension Service will demonstrate how and why fruit, nut and citrus trees are grafted. Learn all the different grafting techniques such as inlay, four flap, cleft, and approach grafts, and some of the budding techniques such as chip budding and t-budding. Also learn about the overall care of fruit, nut and citrus trees before and after grafting them. This seminar is very popular so arrive early for best parking and seating. Seminar is free.3 CEUs for MGs. For more information, visit Fanick's website: http://www.fanicknursery.com/Upcoming%20Events.htm. Canyon Lake: The NPSOT, Lindheimer Chapter, will be sponsoring the "Native Landscape Certification Program, Level 1: Introduction to Native Landscapes," to be held on April 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Tye Preston Memorial Library, Canyon Lake. The course will focus on the value of including and preserving native plants in landscapes. The classroom and outdoor sessions will cover 45 native plants to use in landscaping and 5 exotic invasive plants to avoid. Students graduating with a Certificates of Completion or Competency may progress to Level 2 or 3. The cost of the program is $37 for members and non-members alike. To register, visit http:/npsot.org/wp/nlcp and click on register beside the Lindheimer class. For additional information, about registration, contact Meg Inglis, NLCP Coordinator, [email protected] or 512-589-1316. For additional information about the class, contact Sara Riggs, Class Coordinator, [email protected] or 512-236-8571. Ft. Worth: The Tarrant County Master Gardener Association Annual Plant Sale and Gardening Demonstration will be held 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, April 30, at the Tarrant County Resource Connection, 1801 Circle Drive, Ft. Worth. For additional information, visit www.tarrantmg.org.
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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 [email protected].
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 [email protected]. 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/Odessa: The Permian Basin Master Gardeners meet at noon, the first Wednesday of each month, lternating between the Midland and Ector County's Extensions Offices. For more information about location, call 432-498-4071 or 432-686-4700.
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. Hempstead: The Waller County Master Gardeners usually mee tat 9 a.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Waller County AgriLife Extension Office, 846 6th St., Hempstead. For more information on the meeting schedule, visit http://txmg.org/wallermg or call 979-826-7651. 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 [email protected].
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 [email protected]. Glen Rose: The Glen Rose Garden Club meets at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month (September through May) at the Somervell County Community Center in Glen Rose. For additional information, email [email protected]. Glen Rose: The Prairie Rose Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Somerville County Citizen Center, 209 SW Barnard St., Glen Rose. For additional information, email [email protected]. Harrison County: The Harrison County Master Gardeners meet on the second Tuesday of each month in the Harrison County Annex building, 102 W Houston St. (south side of the square), Marshall. Meetings are held in the 2nd floor AgriLife Extension meeting room. For more information, call 903-935-8413, or email [email protected].
Marion: The Guadalupe County (Schertz/Seguin) Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the second Tuesday of each month except July, August and December at St. John's Lutheran Church in Marion. Directions to St. John's Lutheran Church: From FM 78 turn south onto FM 465 and the church is just past the Marion School on the right. From IH-10 go north on FM 465 towards Marion. The Church will be on the left, just before you get to town. A plant exchange and meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program at 7 p.m. Visitors are welcome. For more information or an application to join NPSOT visit www.npsot.org/GuadalupeCounty/ or contact [email protected].
Quitman: The Quitman Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Quitman Library on E Goode Street, Quitman. It is a diverse group that welcomes all visitors. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Denton: The Denton County Master Gardener Association meets from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. the
second Wednesday of each month. 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 [email protected].
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/.
Texarkana: The Four Corners Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Southwest Center, 3222 W. 7th St. (U.S. 67), Texarkana. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Belinda McCoy at 903-424-7724 or [email protected].
Bastrop: Texas Sage meets the third Tuesday of each month. The location varies. For additional information, call 512-581-7186 or email [email protected].
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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] or call 817-454-8175.
Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston (NPSOT-H) meets at 7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month except for October (4th Thursday) 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 AgriLife Building, 210 East Live Oak, 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 [email protected].
Fort Worth: The Organic Garden Club of Forth Worth meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month except July and December at the Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center, 3220 Botanic Blvd., Ft. Worth. Refreshments are served. For more information, call 817-263-9322 or visit www.ogcfw.webs.com.
San Antonio: The Native Plant Society of Texas San Antonio Chapter meets the fourth Tuesday of each month, except August and December, at the Lions Field Adult & Senior Center, 2809 Broadway, San Antonio. Social and plant/seed exchange at 6:30 p.m., program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/sanantonio or email [email protected].
Houston: The Houston Native Prairie Association meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Cherie Flores Pavilion in McGovern Centennial Gardens at Hermann Park, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston. For more information, contact [email protected].
Leander: The Leander Garden Club meets on the fourth Thursday of each month (except July and August) at 10:30 a.m. at the community room behind the Greater Texas Federal Credit Union,1300 N. Bell, Cedar Park, unless there is special event planned. Following a program and short business meeting, we share a pot-luck luncheon. To confirm the meeting place and time, please call president Cathy Clark-Ramsey at 512-963-4698 or email [email protected].
Dallas: The Dallas County Master Gardeners meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. For location and program information, visit http://www.dallascountymastergardeners.org/ or contact The Helpdesk, M-F, 8 to 4:30 214-904-3053.
Dallas: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the REI, 4515 LBJ Freeway, Dallas. For more information, call 214-824-2448 or visit www.gdogc.org.
Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (except November and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact David at 817-483-7746.
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