June 8, 2016
  
East Texas Field Day in Overton June 23 to feature hundreds of ornamental varieties
 
By Adam Russell
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
 
This year's East Texas Horticultural Field Day will feature more than 500 varieties of ornamental plants and vegetables for public viewing, along with discussions by experts at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton.
 
The event, slated for June 23, will be held rain or shine.
 
Gardeners, professional landscape managers and seed company representatives will learn which landscape plants do well under East Texas conditions, said Dr. Brent Pemberton, Texas A&M AgriLife Research ornamental horticulturist. Pemberton said he started the trials in 1993 to meet the needs of commercial seed companies, local nursery managers and gardening enthusiasts.
 
There is no cost to attend or for the barbecue lunch. The field day will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. at the center's North Farm site, 10746 Farm-to-Market Road 3053, about four miles north of the center.
 
The field trial beds cover about 1 acre and are visible from the road. The center headquarters are about 2 miles north of downtown Overton on Farm-to-Market Road 3053. For driving directions to the center or the North Farm site, go to http://flowers.tamu.edu/field-day/ or call 903-834-6191.
 
The field day will feature everything from geraniums to petunias to verbena to begonias in outdoor plots, Pemberton said. Vegetable varieties will also be on display.
 
The trials include some of the standards of previous tests, including both old and new varieties of vincas, ornamental peppers and sweet potatoes, trailing petunias, verbenas, dahlias, coleus and cannas, Pemberton said. This year, an increased number of rapid-blooming perennial varieties, such as coreopsis, shasta daisies, gerberas, dianthus, phlox and salvias, which are billed as having the potential of blooming the first year from seeds or sets, will be on display.
 
There will also be almost 50 varieties of portulacas from about six new series that have been released over the past several years, he said.
 
"We try to assemble as many species as we can," he said. "There are some that have been around for years, recent releases and new ones, but some varieties on display won't be seen on the market until next year."
 
The field day will move to the ornamental trials and demonstration garden at the Overton center headquarters from 10:30-11:45 a.m. Dr. Joe Masabni, AgriLife Extension vegetable specialist, will also present plants in ongoing vegetable trials at the center.
 
From 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., a barbecue lunch will be provided courtesy of seed companies and other field day sponsors.
 
The afternoon speaker programs will be indoors at the Overton center's Bruce McMillan Jr. Auditorium. Topic and speakers topics:
  • Pemberton, Outstanding Performers at the Overton Trials.
  • Kaylee Decker, trials manager, Dallas Arboretum, Great Plants at the Dallas Arboretum.
  • Dawn Stover, research associate, Mast Arboretum, Stephen F. Austin State University, Wild About Color: Planting for Pollinators.
Pemberton said prior to the trials, there was little information available to greenhouse growers and the industry as to whether any particular bedding plant variety was suited to the East Texas climate and soils.
 
The bedding plant industry has had a $500 million annual economic impact in East Texas over the past decade, and though not recession proof, it hasn't experienced the downturn in consumer spending that other businesses experienced, Pemberton said.
 
"For everyone who likes to have flower color in their landscape, this is a great place to see the newest and the best for East Texas and this region of the country," Pemberton said.
Lawn and garden tip: Get chickens
 
Purina Animal Nutrition
 
Each garden comes with a sense of pride and the joy of sustainability. Imagine if you had a natural way to fertilize, control weeds, manage insects and improve soil aeration. Many of today's gardeners have found this solution through backyard chickens.
 
"In the backyard, there are few better combinations than a chicken and a garden," says Patrick Biggs, Ph.D., a flock nutritionist for Purina Animal Nutrition. "Along with fresh eggs and family fun, chickens are a natural and simple way to add to a backyard's health and beauty."
 
Read on to learn how backyard chickens can provide your garden with assistance.
 
Organic fertilizer
 
"Chicken waste is an excellent source of fertilizer for both the lawn and garden," Biggs says. "Manure from free-range chickens can break down naturally in the yard, providing valuable nutrients for the lawn. The correct balance for free-ranging is about 250 square feet of space per chicken."
 
To use chicken manure as garden fertilizer, consider creating a compost area. This process can reduce the nitrogen levels found in raw manure.
 
"Composting is an earth-friendly way to turn organic residues like manure, leaves or bedding into a material that can be used to fertilize the garden," he says. "After placing materials into a compost bin, microorganisms break them into fertilizer with the help of heat and oxygen."
 
When maintaining compost, remember to keep it enclosed. Chickens love foraging for scraps in compost areas, and eating too many scraps can dilute the nutrients in the diet.
 
Learn steps for composting here: http://bit.ly/1TEDoAE.
 
Soil aeration
 
Another benefit of adding chickens to your garden is soil aeration.
 
"Chickens naturally scratch and dig the soil to forage for seeds and bugs," Biggs says. "During this process, mulch and compost are spread, soil layers mixed and the ground loosens. Most importantly, oxygen is added to the soil and particle size is reduced."
 
Because chickens naturally enjoy digging, Biggs encourages protecting delicate and new or young plants as well as those with ripening produce.
 
"If there are certain areas you'd like to keep free of manure or if certain plants should be off-limits, add a fence or chicken wire," he recommends, outlining a chicken tunnel as an option. "This can also help ward off predators."
 
Additional tips to protect young plants include: rotating chickens through different areas of the yard, placing stones around plant bases or creating tepee-like structures over young plants.
 
Natural weed and insect control
 
In addition to fertilizer and soil aeration, chickens can help control weeds and insects in your garden and lawn.
 
"Chickens love a lot of the things that gardeners do not - like weeds and insects," Biggs says. "They forage for seeds and bugs, eat small plants and clean up fallen fruit and green leaves."
 
Since chickens love many different types of plants, Biggs recommends creating a diverse plant ecosystem that includes layers of plants. Layering should include these types of plants: cover, lush and shade. Plant layers may include trees, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, annuals, vines, edible plants and ground cover.
 
"Well-planned plantings can provide soil stability and help filter rainwater runoff," he says.
 
Considerations for cover plants are butterfly bushes, which grow fast, provide shade and are not eaten by chickens; and hawthorne, which has edible berries and leaves that chickens tend to avoid.
 
When it comes to toxicity, chickens will typically avoid poisonous plants. However, consider removing plants like poison ivy, boxwood, honeysuckle, nightshade, monkshood, oleander, tobacco and yew.
 
Raising free-range chickens
 
Consistency is important for chickens allowed to free-range in the garden. Training birds to know specific cues will help them return to the coop at night or during storms and maintain a balanced diet.
 
"Train chickens to come back to the coop when called," Biggs says. "Start with small periods of supervised time in the garden and work up to longer periods. Maintain a routine with how and when you let the chickens free-range."
 
Biggs emphasizes the importance of a complete feed in addition to garden treats.
 
"Plants and insects serve as treats for the flock, but they aren't a complete diet," he says. "To provide all the nutrients chickens require, offer a complete feed each morning before letting birds out to free-range with access to the feed throughout the day."
Gardening tips

"Because I have practiced non insecticide use on my Native Plants for many, many years," writes Carol Wilkerson, "I use baby powder with cornstarch on any aphids, grasshoppers, any type of plant bad guy. In a matter of 10 minutes tops the aphids fall off and don't return. The grasshoppers, and flying larva will die also. short of amazing."                
 
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.
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.
JUNE

Dallas: A Lawn Care Maintenance Workshop will be presented Thursday, June 9, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., at Timberglen Public Library Auditorium, 18505 Midway Road. Is the green in your lawn weeds or grass? Do you have brown circles in your yard? Proper lawn care maintenance is a key component to a healthy lawn. This workshop covers basic lawn maintenance practices and selecting the right turf grass to improve the health and longevity of your landscape. You will learn how maintain your landscape using less water, fertilizers and pesticides. Daniel Cunningham, a horticulturalist with the Water University at Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Dallas will be the instructor. To register for the Lawn Care Maintenance Workshop, call 214-670-3155.

Helotes: Dr. Larry A. Stein and Dr. Justin Scheiner will be present "The Basics of Homemade Wine," Thursday, June 9, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at Gardens at Old Town Helotes 15060 Antonio Drive, Helotes. They will provide a history of wine making, will discuss how to grow grapes and other winemaking fruit, will provide steps and equipment for starting, and will present a wine making demonstration. RSVP by emailing Angel Torres, or calling 210-631-0400. $40 per person includes lunch; make check payable to Bexar County Master Gardeners 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 212, San Antonio, TX 78230. Deadline to register is Monday, Noon, June 6.

Houston: "Are You Using the Right Equipment for the Job?" will be the topic of the Houston Rose Society meeting, Thursday, June 9, 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 Bob Patterson, owner of Southwest Fertilizer. Bob's program will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different types of chemical sprayers, fertilizer applicators, hand tools for rose gardeners, including a tutorial on how to dismantle and sharpen bypass pruning equipment. 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, June 9, in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. Greg Grant, research associate with the SFA Gardens' Pineywoods Native Plant Center, will present "Show Me Your Garden and I Shall Tell You What You Are: Twenty Years Creating One View."Grant, who is an award-winning horticulturist, writer, conservationist and seventh-generation Texan, will relate two decades of planning the landscape in front of his restored family home during his lecture. He lives in his grandparents' restored dogtrot farmhouse, where he tends a small cottage garden, his Rebel Eloy Emanis Pine Savanna and Bird Sanctuary, a flock of laying hens, and terriers Acer, Lizzie, Mollie and Sonny. He is author of "In Greg's Garden: A Pineywoods Perspective on Gardening, Nature, and Family" and "Texas Fruit and Vegetable Gardening," and is co-author of "Heirloom Gardening in the South," "Texas Home Landscaping" and "The Southern Heirloom Garden." He is currently finishing "The Rose Rustlers"with William C. Welch and Texas A&M Press. He also writes the popular "In Greg's Garden" column for Texas Gardener magazine and writes "Greg's Ramblings," a monthly blog at arborgate.com. Grant has degrees in floriculture and horticulture both from Texas A&M University, and he has attended post-graduate classes at Louisiana State University, North Carolina State University and SFA. His garden, farm and plant introductions have been featured in many magazines and newspapers, including Southern Living, Woman's Day, Texas Gardener, Neil Sperry's Gardens, The Dallas Morning News, The Houston Chronicle, The Los Angeles Times and The San Antonio Express News. 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.

San Antonio: On June 9, the San Antonio Herb Society will present a program by John Sells. John is a Master Gardener who loves plants. Extremely knowledgeable about East Asia plants, Bexar County flora, and our soils, he will talk of improving our soils so we can successfully grow more herbs, flowers, and other plants. This will be held at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.. Admission is free and the public is welcome. Check out the Herb Society website at www.sanantonioherbs.org.

San Angelo: The monthly Lunch 'n' Learn seminar on Friday, June 10, will feature Allison Watkins, AgriLife Extension Horticulturist talking about Landscape Pests. Find out how to win the battle against some of the common landscape pests in the Concho Valley. You'll learn how to combat insects, diseases and weeds. The seminar is held at the Edd B. Keys Building, 113 W. Beauregard, San Angelo, in the AgriLife Extension Office, first floor. It starts at noon and goes until 1 p.m. If you are on your lunch hour, feel free to bring your lunch. The cost is $5. All funds go toward the PPC garden projects.

Uvalde: Green Thumb Garden Club of Uvalde will celebrate their 50th Anniversary of Federation at 2 p.m., June 10, at First State Bank, 200 E. Nopal, Uvalde. It will be held in the McNelley Room. For additional information, email annienettles@att.net or call 830-278-5875 or 830-278-7222.

Conroe: Montgomery County Master Gardeners will offer a class on Composting and Soil Preparation for Gardening at the Montgomery Co. AgriLife Extension Office, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. 9 until 11a.m. June 11. $5.00 per person (cash or check) is due at registration the morning of each class. The fee covers costs of materials, supplies, coffee and snacks. Come get the latest information on the best methods for preparing your soil and making your own black gold. For more information, visit http://www.mcmga.com/ or call 936-539-7824.

Denton: Gardeners, observers and canines on leashes are welcome at the 2016 Denton County Fruit, Vegetable, Herb and Flower Show from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, June 11, in the Denton County Historical Park at Carroll Boulevard and Mulberry Street in Denton. This educational event is held annually to showcase the best flowers and produce grown in Denton County. Any county resident may enter the competition, and there is no entry fee. Registration will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. in two divisions: youth ages 18 and under and adults over 18. Contestants may enter as many classes as they like but only one entry per class. No combination of species is permitted. The contest focuses on best of species, and entries will be judged starting at 10 a.m. Each fruits and vegetable entry must include a sufficient in number to fill a dinner plate, which will be provided. Herb and flower entries are restricted to a single species. Vases will be provided for single-stem entries. Both potted flowers and herbs will be accepted. At the end of judging, ribbons will be awarded for the first three places in each class. Division champions and Best in Show winners receive rosettes and cash awards. Master Gardeners will be on hand during the event to answer gardening questions. For details, contact the Denton County Master Gardener Help Desk at 940-349-2892 or visit www.dcmga.com.

La Marque: "T-bud Grafting of Citrus and Fruit Trees" with GC Master Gardener Sue Jeffco presenting, June 11, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St., La Marque. Fee/Free. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Further details http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/. Pre-registration required. Class size limited to 24, others welcome to observe.
 
La Marque: "Planning for Your Successful Fruit Tree Orchard" with GC Master Gardener Herman Auer presenting, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., June 11, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St., La Marque. Fee/Free. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Further details http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/.

Austin: Garden blogger Sheryl Williams will discuss Summer Gardening in Austin on Monday, June 13. The Austin Organic Gardeners' Club meets at the Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Rd, in Zilker Botanical Gardens. Doors open at 6:30 pm for the opportunity to meet, mingle, and ask questions with local gardeners; club business begins at 7 pm, followed by the guest speaker's presentation. For more information, visit www.austinorganicgardeners.org .

Corinth: Keep your youngsters, ages 6 to 11, busy and learning new things during the summer by enrolling them in day camps offered by the Denton Parks Department. The Jr. Master Naturalist Day Camp (#46122) will be held from 9 a.m. until noon Monday, June 13 through Friday, June 17. Campers will enjoy a unique environmental experience led by Elm Fork Master Naturalist that includes nature studies, themed arts and crafts and a hike. There will be opportunities for interested campers to complete Jr. Master Naturalist certification. Activities will take place inside an air-conditioned classroom and outdoors in a beautiful community garden. The Jr. Master Gardener Day Camp (#46123) will be held from 9 a.m. until noon Monday, June 20 until Friday, June 24. The program allows kids to garden and learn more about the world through meaningful horticultural and environmental science activities led by Denton County Master Gardeners. Activities range from gardening, themed arts and crafts and environmental science studies. Classes are held inside an air-conditioned classroom and outside in an abundant garden. Each one-week camping session is $65 per child and is held at Global Spheres, 7801 S 1-35E, Corinth. Use the appropriate class number to register online at www.dentonparks.com or call 940-349-8285.

La Grange: Boone Holiday will present "Backyard Greenhouse Building" from 12:05 p.m. to 12:50 p.m., June 14, 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.

Conroe: MCMGA Family/Kids Day in the Gardens. Enjoy a fun day at the Discovery Garden, Montgomery Co. AgriLife Extension Office, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. 9 to 11 a.m., June 18. $5.00 per family (cash or check). Learn about the Junior Master Gardener program. Both parents and kids can participate in activities which include tours of the gardens at the Extension and learning about a variety of types of gardens. In addition, there will be presentations on Aquaponics, Composting, Worms, Seeds, and the Parts and Functions of a Plant, plus making a Terrarium to take home. Parents can learn how to make their gardens more kids friendly. For more information, visit http://www.mcmga.com/ or call 936-539-7824.

Denton: Learn to make your own original plant containers from hypertufa, an artificial stone created from portland cement and assorted aggregates. "Hypertufa for Ya" is scheduled from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, June 18, at the Denia Rec Center, 1001 Parvin St., Denton. All materials are furnished, but students should bring a bowl or other object that will serve as a mold for the project. The class, "Hypertufa for Ya," is open to anyone age 16 or older, and the cost is $15. Register online at www.dentonparks.com or call 940-349-8285. The class number is 46584.

La Marque: "Design Principles for Landscapes" with GC Master Gardener Karen Lehr, Masters in Landscape Architecture, presenting, 9:00-11:00 a.m., June 18, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St., La Marque. Fee/Free. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Further details http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/.
 
La Marque: "Growing Cucurbits (summer and winter squash, cucumbers and cantaloupes)": GC Master Gardener Herman Auer, Texas Master Gardener Vegetable Specialist, presenting, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., June 21, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St., La Marque. Fee/Free. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Further details http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/.

San Angelo: The Concho Valley Master Gardeners will be hosting their annual Water Conservation Seminar, Saturday, June 25, from 9 a.m. until noon. It will be held at the 4-H Building, 3168 N. US Hwy 67, San Angelo. The featured speaker is Dr. Dotty Woodson, Program Specialist-Water Resources, Biological & Agricultural Engineering Dept. Texas A& M Extension Service in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Woodson will be talking about rainwater harvesting, plant selection and irrigation efficiency. There will be vendors available to answer questions is display their product information. This seminar is open to the public and has no admission fee. Call 325-659-6522 to register and assure materials.
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/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 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.

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 stringer030@yahoo.com.

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 prairierose.npsot@gmail.com. 
 
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 wannagrow2@gmail.com.   
 
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/.

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 blackmtngardens@yahoo.com.

Bastrop/Lockhart: Texas Sage Master Gardeners meet the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Bastrop or Lockhart. Visit their Facebook page for location and educational topic of the month: https://www.facebook.com/TexasSageMG. For additional information, or to become a Texas Sage Master Gardener, email TexasSageMG@gmail.com.
 
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  6:30 pm at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. Meetings include an informative speaker and a Plant of the Month presentation. Meetings are free and visitors are welcome. For more information,visit www.npsot.org/w/lindheimer.  Note: there will be no meeting in June or December.
 
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.

San Antonio: The Bexar County Master Gardeners (BCMG) meet on the third Thursday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., Suite 208, San Antonio. During the months of Jan., March, May, July, Sep. and Nov., an evening meeting begins with a social time at 6 p.m. followed by a free presentation from 6:30-8:30 p.m. During the intervening months (Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct., Dec.), afternoon educational seminars/general meetings are held from 1-3:30 p.m. Check http://www.bexarmg.org/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting.
 
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 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 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 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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