August 23, 2017
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Invasive Bagrada bug may cause 'stink' in South Central Texas
By Paul Schattenberg
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
The Bagrada bug (Bagrada hilaris) an invasive stink bug that has been slowly spreading through the southwestern U.S. for the past decade, has recently been reported in Hays County, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist.
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Bagrada bug. (Photo by Dr. Salvador Vitanza)
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"This bug can cause serious crop damage as well as cause damage to plants in commercial nurseries and home gardens and landscapes," said Molly Keck, AgriLife Extension entomologist and integrated pest management specialist, Bexar County.
Keck said adult Bagrada bugs have the same coloring as harlequin bugs, but are about one-third to one-half their size with smaller orange markings and no white markings.
She said the Bagrada bug is primarily a pest of cole crops in the mustard family, or Brassicas, including brassicaceous weeds such as wild mustard.
"Bagrada bug prefers plants such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, radishes and brussels sprouts," she said. "However, it is also known to feed on cotton, Sudan grass and Bermuda grass.
Keck said the bug has needle-like mouthparts used to penetrate and feed on plants and young seeds. They can cause a range of damage from leaf spotting, wilting or stunting, which can result in the plant not producing a flower, heads not forming, or even death of the plant."
She said a high concentration of Bagrada bugs can significantly damage young broccoli and cabbage plants left unprotected in as few as two to three days.
"This pest is certainly capable of producing the kind of numbers needed to cause this type of damage," she noted.
The recent identification of the pest in Hays County, however, is not the first instance of the bug being found in South Central Texas, said Wizzie Brown, AgriLife Extension entomologist for Travis County.
"The Bagrada bug has also been identified in the Austin area," she said. "We've had reports of the bug from residents who have home gardens or who tend community gardens. The bugs appear to have shown up sometime late last year and then sprang up again on some cole crops this spring. Some people reporting them thought they were baby stink bugs."
Bagrada bugs gather on plants and lay their eggs one at a time or in small clusters on the underside of leaves and stems or in soil beneath the plant. The eggs start out white and turn an orange-red as they get older. Young Bagrada bugs change color from bright orange-red to near black with red markings as they get older. Newly molted nymphs are also red but quickly darken to a near-black color with the white and orange markings.
Keck said early detection is important as bug populations can build quickly, but can be difficult because they are small compared to other vegetable pests and may be easily overlooked until populations become large.
"It's usually difficult to observe Bagrada bugs until there's been some damage, so look carefully for damage like light-green lesions, which are easier to spot than the insects during the early period of infestation," she said. "If you're a home gardener, be sure to inspect plants and shipping containers for the bug or signs of possible bug infestation before you plant."
More frequent monitoring for the bug may be necessary when temperatures rise above 75 degrees, as the bugs are typically more active and visible during the warmer parts of the day. In gardens where the pest is present in large numbers, Keck said it may be advisable to remove host plants and replace them with plants not in the mustard family.
Keck said while some control methods may include picking the bugs off by hand or using a hand-held vacuum cleaner to remove them from the plants, it is often easier to tap the plant and let the bugs fall onto a cloth in order to collect them. Also, pyramid traps baited with crushed sweet alyssum inside polypropylene bags can be used to catch and destroy these bugs, especially when in large numbers.
In larger production systems, cultural control methods such as weed control and planting transplants as opposed to seeds may reduce populations and damage by Bagrada bugs.
"Stink bugs are difficult to manage with insecticides and repeat applications are often necessary," Keck said. "Adult bugs usually fly away before they contact the insecticide and return later. Home vegetable growers will probably have better control by using plant covers or screening to exclude the bugs - or by removing host plants from the garden."
Keck said if insecticides are used in a home garden or landscape, be sure to check the pesticide label to make certain the product is registered for use in that specific application. She noted there has been some success using pyrethrum to suppress adults while azadirachtin and insecticidal soaps have been shown to help reduce nymph populations.
She said experience with the bug on commercial cole crops in conventional field vegetable production in Arizona and California has shown success using carbamate, neonicotinoid, organophosphate or pyrethroid insecticides for control.
However, she noted, most Organic Materials Review Institute-approved pesticides are unable to control Bagrada bug.
For agricultural purposes, pesticides with quick-acting contact activity such as pyrethroids may provide good short-term protection against Bagrada bugs feeding on emerging leaves and transplants, Keck said. Once transplants become established, foliar sprays of pyrethroids and neonicotinoids should help prevent further feeding damage.
"Of course, while these bugs may move to other areas on their own, it is important people don't help them by inadvertently transporting infested plants or produce into new areas," she said.
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Post Offices to bloom with floral bouquet still lifes Forever stamps
USPS
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Digital Images and Paintings © Elizabeth Brandon
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Available nationwide, the stamps were dedicated at the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum & East Sioux Falls Historic Site in Sioux Falls, S.D. Followers of the U.S. Postal Service's Facebook page can view the first-day-of-issue ceremony live at facebook.com/USPS.
"The Postal Service has a long tradition of showcasing flowers and floral artwork on stamps. Flowers have been a perennial favorite, with hundreds of floral stamps released over the years," said U.S. Postal Service Employee Resource Management Vice President Simon Storey. "Each of these stamps is a small masterpiece, or as we say in the Postal Service, miniature works of art. And since they are Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price. These stamps will always be perfect for your birthday cards, thank-you notes, party invitations, wedding RSVPs and other important announcements."
"It's very fitting that we will be dedicating the Garden Forever stamps at the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum. Mary Jo and her husband Karl were friends of mine and they were great South Dakotans," said South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard. "I'm glad to be able to attend this ceremony at the serene location that the Wegner family established in Mary Jo's honor."
"What an honor and privilege it is for me to have my artwork of florals selected for a grouping of United States Forever Stamps," said stamp artist Elizabeth Brandon. "I feel a real pride in the fact that so many people can enjoy the traditional and colorful flowers adorning their mail. Art is for everyone, and we all need beauty wherever that may appear. Placing a small stamp of art on our envelopes is one of the small joys of life."
Brandon's paintings were inspired by floral still lifes created by Dutch and Flemish artists of the 17th and 18th centuries. Each stamp features one of four of Brandon's paintings of flowers from the garden artfully arranged in a container.
The floral paintings of Dutch and Flemish artists feature exuberant, massed floral arrangements, which give the impression of wild abandon and impromptu creativity. However, the arrangements were in reality carefully thought out and many times purely imaginary - and frequently botanically impossible. Though the flowers looked as if they had just been plucked from the garden, the bouquets might include flowers that did not bloom during the same season or even grow in the same country.
One stamp features red camellias and yellow forsythia in a yellow pitcher; another stamp features white peonies and pink tree peonies in a clear vase. An arrangement of white hydrangeas, white and pink roses, green hypericum berries and purple lisianthus in a white vase graces a third stamp; and a fourth stamp shows blue hydrangeas in a blue pot.
The Flowers from the Garden stamps are being issued as Forever stamps in booklets of 20 and coils of 3,000 and 10,000. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price. Art director Derry Noyes of Washington, District of Columbia, designed the stamps.
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Gardening tips
Fruit plants are setting their buds for next year's crop mid- to late summer. Drought stress now will have a negative effect on next year's fruit crop. Therefore, it is important to keep them adequately watered without overwatering.
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 copy of
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r's 2017 Planning Guide & Calendar. Please send your tips of 50 words or less to the editor at:
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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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AUGUST
Hempstead: Peckerwood Garden presents Peckerwood Garden Open Day: Saturday,
August 26, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., 20559 FM 359 Rd., Hempstead.
Visitors enjoy 1-hour guided tours of the garden led by knowledgeable docents.
Guided tours are offered approximately every 30 minutes, leaving between 10 am and 2 pm.
Purchase Tickets. $10 admission and parking, Free for members. For more info, visit
http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/ or
eventregistration@peckerwoodgarden.org.
Nacogdoches: Stephen F. Austin State University's SFA Gardens will host Permaculture Design 101 with Theron Beaudreau from 9 a.m. to noon, August 26, at the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building, located at 2900 Raguet St., Nacogdoches. Through this introduction to the sustainable gardening techniques of permaculture, participants will learn about holistic design strategies for East Texas that regenerate the land and surrounding ecosystems. Permaculture design focuses on the relationships between elements in the garden and how gardeners can arrange these elements for the most efficient and low-maintenance gardens. Beaudreau's design methods help produce an abundant harvest with minimal weeding and watering, which can be beneficial for gardeners. Beaudreau studied with Geoff Lawton at the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia, and he has been involved in permaculture design and education for more than a decade. He also is the owner of Integrated Acres, a consultation and design firm that has helped farmers and ranchers across Texas to hone their stewardship approach to the land. The seminar costs $15 for SFA Gardens members and $20 for non-members. To register, contact SFA Gardens' education office at (936) 468-1832 or sfagardens@sfasu.edu.
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SEPTEMBER
Austin: The Austin Cactus and Succulent Society will host its Spring Show and Sale on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day Weekend (September 2 and 3) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day, at the Austin Area Garden Center at Zilker Botanical Garden in Zilker Park (2220 Barton Springs Road). Admission to the show is free with paid admission to Zilker Botanical Garden ($2 adults, $1 children and seniors). The show offers visitors a chance to see rare and beautiful cacti and succulent species from around the world. Several vendors from Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico will sell native and exotic cacti and succulents, and hand-made pottery at reasonable prices. There will be a daily silent auction and hourly plant raffle of rare and collectible cacti and succulents. Educational information, literature, and expert advice will be available.
Austin: Bulbs for the Austin Area will be presented 10:00 a.m.-noon,
September 9, at Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin. Are you tired of planting bulbs that bloom once and you never see them again? Learn some of the reasons bulbs struggle in our climate and soil while others naturalize into generous clumps that you can share with your friends. Travis County Master Gardener Betty Dunn will discuss some reliable and newer varieties that grow well in our area. Seminar is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required. Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child (ages 3-12) or seniors (age 62 & over), $3 for non-Austin Residents. Cash or check accepted. For more information contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Travis County, 512-854-9600.
La Marque: "Simply Succulents" with Texas Certified Master Gardener and Creative Director for North Haven Gardens in Dallas Paula Spletter presenting, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.,
September 9, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413, e-mail
galvcountymgs@gmail.com ; further details see
www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Fee/Free.
La Marque: "Herbs" with Fort Bend County Master Gardener and Coastal Prairie Texas Master Naturalist Tricia Bradbury presenting, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.,
September 9, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413, e-mail
galvcountymgs@gmail.com; further details see
www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Fee/Free.
San Angelo: Registration is underway for the 6th Annual Fall Landscape Symposium sponsored by the Concho Valley Master Gardeners, to be held Saturday, September 9, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Center, 7887 N. US Highway 87, San Angelo. Due to limited seating, pre-registration is required. Deadline to register is Wednesday, September 6, but don't wait too late seats fill up fast. Three excellent speakers who are tops in their fields will be presenting throughout the day at this year's Symposium: Steve Kainer-Owner/Manager, Hill Country Gardens & Nursery, presnting "Landscape Water Features--Using water features and small ponds in the garden"; Bill Adams-Author and Photographer, presenting "Garden Photography" and "Fall Gardening and Planning for the Spring Tomato Patch"; and Felder Rushing-Author, Radio & TV Personality & Photographer, presnting "Slow Gardening" and "Yard Art--The Good, The Bad and the Unbelievable." Registration cost for the Fall Landscape Symposium is $30 per person. The deadline is Wednesday, September 6. Cost includes refreshments throughout the day and lunch. On the day of the seminar, sign-in starts at 8 a.m. The speakers start at 8:30 a.m. and continue until 3:15 p.m. Due to limited seating, pre-registration is required. No refunds for cancellations. To pay by check or cash, go to txmg.org/conchovalley, download the registration form, and mail or bring it to the Extension Office, 113 W. Beauregard, San Angelo, Texas 76901. You'll also find parking and hotel information on the website. To pay on-line with a credit card, go to http://squareup.com/store/cvmg. For questions or more information call 325-659-6522. No childcare will be provided.
Gonzales: Registration is currently underway for Gonzales Master Gardeners fall class. Classes start September 12 and run through May. Classes are held every other Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the PACE building located at 623 Fair St., next to Gonzales Elementary. Learn with the experts. Class topics include botany, plant propagation, soils, vegetables, fruit and nut trees, insects, fertilizers, rainwater harvesting, and many more. Contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office at 1709 Sarah DeWitt, Gonzales, call 830-672-8531 for an application and more
information, or contact Robbie Cole for more information at 281-734-1391. For more information, visit
http://Gonzales.agrilife.org
or http://gonzalesmastergardeners.org.
Marion: Cathy Downs, a conservation specialist with Monarch Watch, will provide a lively, fascinating and up-to-date presentation on monarch butterflies and the health of the species at 7:00 p.m., September 12, at St. John's Lutheran Church, FM 465, Marion. There is a plant/seed exchange at 6:30. For additional information, directions to the church, or membership applications, visit http://npsot.org/wp/guadalupe.
Houston: Linda B. Gay will present "Roses Love Companions" at
the Houston Rose Society meeting, September 14, 7:30 p.m. at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavillon, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston. The parking lot is Lot C located at Hermann Drive and Crawford Street. Gay was director of Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens from 2000-2011. In 2015, she assisted in the development of the new McGovern Centennial Gardens in Hermann Park, sharing her knowledge and love of plants, tweaking new garden plantings and teaching staff and volunteers best management practices for the garden. Gay can be found at The Arbor Gate on the weekends, teaching classes, meeting garden friends and helping newbies pick the best plants for our area. She writes a monthly garden article for Houston House and Home and "talks dirt" with Craig Cohen on Houston Matters Radio. This fall Linda will be an adjunct professor in the Horticulture Department at Houston Community College in Katy. Free Admission. For more information, visit www.houstonrose.org.
La Marque: "A Passion for Plumeria" with Galveston County Master Gardener Loretta Osteen presenting, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.,
September 16, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413, e-mail
galvcountymgs@gmail.com; further details see
www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Fee/Free.
New Braunfels: Learn all about the sunflower family when Craig Hensley leads "Confusing Composites: An Introduction to the Sunflower Family" at the Lindheimer Native Plant Society (NPSOT) meeting September 19 at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. The meeting begins with social time at6:30 p.m., followed at 7 p.m. by the presentation.
New Braunfels and Sattler: The Native Plant Society needs help in creating plant beds on the grounds of Folk Fest at the Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture in New Braunfels on Wednesday, September 20, and Saturday, September 23; and in establishing screening plantings to separate a neighboring business under construction at Tye Preston Memorial Library in Sattler on Wednesday, September 27, and Saturday, September 30. Times will be posted closer to the dates at http://npsot.org/wp/lindheimer/ or https://www.facebook.com/npsot.lindheimer/.
La Marque: "Bulb Mania" with The Garden Club of Houston award-winning member Dodie Jackson presenting, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.,
September 23, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413, e-mail
galvcountymgs@gmail.com ; further details see
www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Fee/Free.
La Marque: "Composting, Turning Dirt into Soil & Soil Health Assessment" with Galveston County Master Gardener Jim Gilliam presenting, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.,
September 23, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413, e-mail
galvcountymgs@gmail.com ; further details see
www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Fee/Free.
Arlington:
Native Plant Sale hosted by the Native Plant Society of Texas - North Central Chapter, Saturday, September 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at River Legacy Park - Elm Grove Pavilion, 701 NE Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. All sale plants have been grown organically from local seed by members, so they don't have neonicotinoids. Knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and offer tips. Native plants are better adapted to our climate, have minimal water needs, don't need pesticides or fertilizers, and benefit birds, butterflies and the ecosystem in general. The event raises funds for outreach, including training, education and demonstration gardens. For a list of species with photos, visit http://www.txnativeplants.org/plantsale/index.php.
La Marque: "Favorite Fall Vegetables (Cruciferous & other vegetables)" with Galveston County Master Gardener Gene Speller presenting, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.,
September 30, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Participants must pre-register: Ph 281-534-3413, e-mail
galvcountymgs@gmail.com; further details see
www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Many of the vegetables included in this presentation will be offered for sale as transplants at the Galveston County Master Gardener Fall Plant Sale on October 14. Fee/Free.
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OCTOBER
Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will have a Fall Plant Sale on
October 7 at the MG Pavilion & Victoria Educational Gardens, 283 Bachelor Dr., Victoria. The sale will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude when the plants are sold out. This year the theme will be "Fall Is The Time For Planting" and will have fruit and citrus trees, fall color bowls, fairy gardens, succulents, Texas Superstars, fall annuals, perennial shrubs and color. Arrive early for the best selections.
Tyler: From Bulbs to Blooms - Fall Conference and Sale will be held October 14. Greg Grant, Texas Gardener contributing editor, and Smith County Horticulture Agent and Bulb Expert, will be the featured speaker on Hard to Find Bulbs and Bulbs good for the South. Along with bulbs, trees and shrubs will be available. Registration, 8:30 a.m.; Program, 9:00 a.m.; Sale, 11:30 a.m. Harvey Hall, 2000 W Front St., Tyler. Free and open to the public. For additional information, visit https://txmg.org/smith/coming-events/ or call 903-590-2980.
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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 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.
Navasota: The Navasota Garden Club meets on the
first Wednesday of each month (September through May) at 10:00 a.m., usually at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 300 Church Street, Navasota. If not meeting at the church, a change of meeting notice will be placed on the door at the North entrance. Guests are welcome. Members are from Grimes County and surrounding counties.
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.
Fort Worth:
The Native Plant Society of Texas - North Central Chapter meets the first Thursday of each month, excluding January and July, at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7:00 p.m. Guest speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Members, friends, family, guests and the public are welcome. For a list of speakers and topics or more information, visit http://www.txnativeplants.org.
Hempstead: The Waller County Master Gardeners usually meet at 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.
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.
Hempstead: The Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation, 20559 F.M. 359, Hempstead, hosts a special Peckerwood Insider's Tour at 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month. Spaces are limited so pre-registration is required. $15, free for members. For more information, visit http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/.
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.or
g 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 Kathy Henderson at kshend@verizon.net or visit
http://www.npsot.org/wp/wilco.
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.
Pasadena
: The Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10 a.m. on the
second Thursday of each month
at The Genoa Friendship Garden Educational Building at 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Pasadena. The programs are free and open to the public. For more information,
visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu
.
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.
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/.
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.
Hallettsville: The Hallettsville Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. on the
third Thursday of each month from September through May, at the Hallettsville Garden and Cultural Center, 605 E 2nd St, Hallettsville. Each month, the club hosts speakers that provide informative programs on a wide range of gardening subjects, and refreshments are provided by member hostesses after the business meeting. Visitors are welcome. Please email Sharon Harrigan at
sharonspetals@yahoo.com for more information.
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.
Hempstead: The Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation, 20559 F.M. 359, Hempstead, hosts the Evening at Peckerwood Lecture series at 7 p.m. on the
third Friday of each month. Tickets are available online. Tickets are $10, $5 for members.For more information, visit
http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/.
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.
Austin: The Garden Club of Austin meets at Zilker Botanical Gardens auditorium, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, at 7:00 p.m. on the
fourth Thursday of each month. 7:00-7:30 p.m. Refreshments and Social, followed by a presentation at 7:30 p.m. Free. For additional information, visit
http://thegardenclubofaustin.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
h
ttp://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.
Hempstead: The Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation, 20559 F.M. 359, Hempstead, holds an Open Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. Tours start at 10 a.m. and the last tour leaves at 2 p.m. Tickets available online or at the gate. $10, free for members. For more information, visit http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/.
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