April 5, 2017
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The garden reader:
Plant designs for small spaces - outside and inside
By William Scheick
Book Reviewer
Kay Maguire and Tony Woods. Big Ideas for Small Spaces. Firefly Books, 2017. 176 pp. $19.95.
Even someone who lives in an apartment, condo, loft or townhouse can find space for more plants than might at first seem possible. That space exists "on the walls and roofs around us, on windowsills and down narrow passageways," on fire escapes, ledges and even dark or shady basement patios.
The authors of
Big Ideas for Small Spaces successfully aim to reveal all such places hidden in plain sight, as it were. They also provide practical help for greening these usually barren spots.
Their 30 well-illustrated projects are ingenious yet surprisingly uncomplicated. These inspired and inspiring projects include wall pallets, succulent picture frames, gutter planters, hanging-chain screens, pot-holed shelves, slender balcony containers and a pot-pond.
Igor Josifovic and Judith de Graaff. Urban Jungle: Living and Styling with Plants. Callwey, 2016. 176 pp. $35.00.
Urban Jungle showcases five homes featuring "green styling ideas." This lavishly illustrated book is designed "for everyone who wants to bring more green into their home, no matter whether they are a beginner or an expert."
Cacti, succulents, "trailers" and typical houseplants steal the show in this book. And expect to be amazed by terrariums and a stunning array of ingenious container possibilities.
Besides smart styling ideas, readers will delight in numerous care tips as well as do-it-yourself instructions. For instance, if you ever wondered how to knot yarn to hold a hanging plant, you'll appreciate the authors' step-by-step demonstration of the technique.
Craft advice abounds, such as: "Never throw away old pallets and crates. The wood has a lovely patina that gives instant charm to the new things you can create with it."
The profiles are engagingly up-close and personal, as if the reader were invited inside each home for a leisurely visit and some genial conversation about living with indoor plants.
Irene Schampaert and Judith Baehner. Wonder Plants: Your Urban Jungle Interior. Lannoo, 2016. 240 pp. $42.50.
Highlighting 20 homes, the authors of
Wonder Plants likewise celebrate interiors stylishly decorated with a dash of nature's green. Living in an apartment or a city does not have to mean losing sight of nature.
The authors emphasize the "glamorous interplay between structures and color, volume and light." Even a black-and-white interior or a glass wall can be stylishly complemented by strategic plant placements.
Sometimes, too, well-positioned plants can (by design) enticingly blur "the border between interior and exterior." Nature can also be brought indoors by incorporating wood or stone in interior-plant styling.
The arresting photographs in this large-format book prove the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.
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Five tips for container gardening success
By Melinda Myers
Container gardens allow you to easily dress up your balcony and patio, create a colorful welcome for guests and keep edibles close at hand for cooking and entertaining. They're also a terrific way for new gardeners to get their start. Increase your success growing vegetables, herbs or flowers in a container with these tips.
Proper plant selection.
Select the right plants for the container and growing conditions. Closely check the plant tags for this and more information to help with your decision. Create attractive combinations with plants that look good together and require the same growing conditions.
And don't be afraid to mix flowers, herbs and vegetables. This is a great way to have both beauty and flavor on your patio, deck or balcony. Scour gardening magazines and the internet for free container planting plans
.
Selecting the right container.
Further increase your success by selecting a container large enough to accommodate your plants. The bigger the pot, the more moisture it can hold, maximizing the time between watering. A small pot with a large plant will need to be watered several times a day during hot weather and fertilized more frequently.
Use a container with drainage holes made from material suited to your gardening style and climate. Even if you could provide the exact amount of water your plants need, nature may intervene with an extra dose or two. Drainage holes prevent water from building up in the bottom of the pot, leading to root rot.
Those in areas with hot summers should avoid black and metal pots that can heat up in the summer sun and damage tender plant roots. Terra cotta pots are a traditional favorite. They are attractive, heavy and dry out more quickly than some other materials. Glazed pots are beautiful, but tend to be pricey and heavy to move. Plastic pots are affordable, come in a variety of styles and don't dry out as quickly as terracotta. Then there's the sturdy half whiskey barrel. This planter is a longtime favorite, but be sure to drill drainage holes in the bottom if it doesn't already have them.
Potting mix.
Next, invest in a quality potting mix that holds moisture, yet provides adequate drainage. These are usually a combination of peat moss, compost or coir to hold moisture, and perlite or vermiculite to aid in drainage. Leave garden soil in the garden where it belongs, not in containers.
Watering.
Check the potting soil moisture in your container gardens at least once a day and more often if the pots are small or temperatures high. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil is dry and allow the excess to run out the drainage holes. This shows you have moistened the potting mix, top to bottom, encouraging a robust root system to develop.
Extend the time between waterings with the help of self-watering pots. Their built-in water reservoirs provide water to the plants as the soil dries. Fill the reservoir as needed and make sure there is a weep hole. This allows excess water to drain out of the reservoir instead of saturating the soil and leading to root rot.
Fertilization.
Lastly, incorporate a slow release fertilizer into the potting mix at planting. This type of fertilizer provides small amounts of nutrients over a longer time period. Follow label directions and make additional applications as recommended on the fertilizer label.
As your container plants continue to thrive and you enjoy the flavorful vegetables and herbs and gorgeous flowers they provide, you'll soon be looking for more spaces to incorporate container gardens into your landscape.
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How do forests recover from fire?
Soil Science Society of America
Forest fires can be frightening, destructive events. The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) March 15 Soils Matter blog post explains the effects of forest fires on soil ecosystems-and how they bounce back.
"The extent of damage is related to the temperature of the fire and the speed at which it moves through the forest," says Mary Beth Adams, a soil scientist with the U.S. Forest Service.
How quickly the forest recovers is also linked to these factors. Slow, controlled fires can bring benefits. "Burning can add charcoal to the soil, and may result in a short pulse of nutrients in the ash," Adams explains. "Burning off the dead plant life, or weedy plants, increases sunlight to the forest floor. This often causes a flush of vegetation in response to the increase in light reaching the soil and available to plants. Extremely hot fires can sterilize the upper layer of the soils by killing the soil microbial life. They burn off large amounts of carbon stored in the soil, and change the ability of soil to absorb and retain water."
Sometimes recovery is an easy part of the natural process, but some interventions can help prevent further damage.
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Gardening tips
When your lawn (not weeds) has grown enough to mow twice it is time to fertilize. That usually occurs this month in most of Texas. If you fertilize any earlier, you are feeding the weeds, not the grass.
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
Texas Gardene
r's 2017 Planning Guide & Calendar. Please send your tips of 50 words or less to the editor at:
Garde
ning 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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APRIL
Angleton: The Brazoria County Master Gardeners Association will hold their 19th Annual Spring Plant Sale, 8:00 a.m.-noon, Saturday,
April 8, at Brazoria County Environmental Education Station, 799 E. Hospital Drive, Angleton. Plants for sale include heirloom plants, summer vegetables, and Texas native and adapted plants. For additional information, visit
http://txmg.org/brazoria/ or call 979-864-1558.
Austin: A Passion for Plants: An East Austin Garden Fair, will be held
April 8, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. rain or shine, at Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center, 2608 Gonzales Street, Austin. Ask the experts and get garden ideas. Lots of Kid-friendly activities! Fair showcases creative, low-cost ways to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit as well as information about landscaping, backyard animals and an assortment of demonstration activities. Free admission, free plants (while supplies last). Free garden magazines, seed catalogs and plastic garden buckets. Free soil screening for food gardeners - bring a 2-cup soil sample in a quart zip lock bag. For more information call 512-854-9600 or visit
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/local-extension-resources/east-austin-garden-fair/.
New Braunfels: Great native plants at the Spring Native Plant Sale at Folkfest in New Braunfels, Saturday,
April 8, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday,
April 9, noon-5 p.m. Butterfly and Hummingbird plants; Milkweed, Children's activities with plants. Heritage Village, 1370 Church Hill Drive, New Braunfels. Sponsored by the Lindheimer Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. Plant list and more info at
http://npsot.org/wp/lindheimer/main-page/. Directions: I-35 exit 189, west on Loop 337 to Church Hill Drive.
Sealy: The Bluebonnet Master Gardeners' Annual Plant Sale will be held 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., April 8, at Sealy's Spring Picnic on the grounds of the Liedertafel, 114 Lux Rd., Sealy.
Quitman: Steven Chamblee, Horticulturist of Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, will present "Peace, Love, & Milagros: Life Lessons from the Road," 4-5 p.m., Monday, April 10
, at the Quitman Public Library, 202 East Goode Street, Quitman (second block east of the Wood County Courthouse). During his 30-plus years road-tripping around Texas, Chamblee has collected great stories about horticultural heavens, botanical blunders, and tender tales that will melt your heart. Free to supporters of the Quitman Garden Club annual geranium sale, donation requested from visitors. Email quitmangardenclub@gmail.com for more information.
San Antonio: Emilia Collins and Nettie Sandoval will present "Propagating Roses" at 7 p.m., April 10, at San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 North New Braunfels, San Antonio.
Marion:
Texas Forester Mark Kroeze will present
"
What Tree is That?"
Tuesday, April 11, 7:00 p.m. at St John's Lutheran Church, FM 465, Marion.
Even if we know many native plants, trees can sometimes stymie us, especially in winter. Kroeze will teach how to use characteristics such as leaves, bark, shape, etc. to identify trees in any season. He will also demonstrate an easy-to-use Texas Forest Service on-line program for tree identification that he helped develop. The Texas Forest Service is concerned that Texas youth are not familiar with our forests. Kroeze is a member of the Texas A&M Forest Service, a certified forester, a certified arborist, and a graduate of the Municipal Foresters Institute. He works with municipalities and their urban forestry programs from San Antonio to the Rio Grande Valley.
Meetings are open to the public. Visitors are welcome.
There is a plant/seed exchange and greeting at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, directions to St John's Lutheran Church, or membership applications, visit http://npsot.org/wp/guadalupe/.
Houston: "Delighting in the Fragrance of Garden Roses" will be the topic of the Houston Rose Society meeting on Thursday,
April 13, at the
Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston. The parking lot is Lot C, located at Hermann Drive and Crawford Street. Mike Shoup will present the program. Mike is the owner of the Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, Texas. He is the author of many books and articles about roses including, most recently, Empress of the Garden. He is a long-time Texas Rose Rustler, hybridizer of numerous "Pioneer" roses and past president of the Heritage Rose Foundation. Mike will be bringing roses for door prizes and will autograph copies of his books. Free admission. For more information, visit
www.houstonrose.org.
Houston: "How to Take Care of Your Hand Tools" will be presented by Louis Mickler, Harris County Master Gardener, 10:00-11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 13, at Genoa Friendship Garden Education Bldg., 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd., Houston. Free. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu.
Nacogdoches: Steven Chamblee, director of Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, will present, "Great Garden Ideas" at Stephen F. Austin State University's SFA Gardens' monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13, in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St., Nacogdoches. Chamblee has been active in horticulture for 40 years. He began developing his green thumb in the 1970s while transplanting trees with his father. In 1986, Chamblee joined the Fort Worth Botanic Garden as a gardener and later worked as a greenhouse attendant. He enrolled in horticulture programs and earned an Associate of Applied Science at Tarrant County Junior College before completing a Bachelor of Science from Tarleton State University. Chamblee continued his studies through a fellowship in the prestigious Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture and earned a master's degree in public horticulture administration from the University of Delaware. After graduate school, he worked as the native plant horticulturist for the Heard Natural Science Museum in McKinney then returned to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, where he later served as education director for four years. Currently, Chamblee gives presentations across Texas and writes a monthly e-newsletter column entitled "Native Son." He has authored dozens of magazine articles and the book, "The Story of Chandor Gardens." The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare-plant raffle 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 nearby Raguet Elementary School, 2428 Raguet St., with continual shuttle service to the Brundrett Conservation Education Building. For more information, call (936) 468-4129 or
email sfagardens@sfasu.edu
.
San Antonio: "Baking Up a Storm With Herbs" featuring Suzanne Parker, will be presented at the April 13 meeting of the San Antonio Herb Society. Suzanne Parker is the founder and CEO of Powerhouse Bakery. As a registered dietitian and personal trainer, Suzanne's mission is to show her customers that healthy should taste amazing! Suzanne designs recipes to showcase the healthiest gluten free, non-GMO & organic ingredients. Her kitchen is run by several passionate foodies dedicated to health & wellness education and offer cooking classes, individual and group nutrition coaching. Suzanne will be demonstrating herbs used in the healthiest ways. Social time starts at 6:30 p.m. with the general meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. The San Antonio Herb Society meets at the San Antonio Garden Center located at the corner of Parland and New Braunfels. For more information visit www.sanantonioherbs.org.
Santa Fe: "Grafting Pecan Trees" with Galveston County Master Gardeners presenting/demonstrating, 2-3 p.m.,
April 13, 15102 Williams Street, Santa Fe. Free. Participants must pre-register: 281-534-3413. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Further details
www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston.
Waco: Join Master Gardeners at the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 1:00 pm. Learn about Butterflies and Bees and ask questions about specific garden interests. Handouts and seeds are available and it's all free! New temporary location: 500 Washington Ave. across from the Courthouse. Since November 2011, the Market has been and will continue to be open every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Tuesdays from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. seasonally, featuring the best local agricultural producers and artisan vendors within 150-miles of Waco.
Houston: Open Garden Day, 8:30-11:00 a.m., Monday, April 17, at Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd., Houston. Plants for sale in our greenhouse. Master Gardeners available to answer your questions. Free. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu.
Woodway: Take lunch and enjoy a free Horticulture Seminar on Wednesday, April 19, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Carleen Bright Arboretum Pavilion,
9001 Bosque Blvd., Woodway
. Dr. Robert Creech, master gardener, will introduce Wendell Berry, an 81-year-old Kentucky farmer, as well as an award-winning poet, essayist, and novelist. Be inspired by Berry's thinking about the land, soil, farming and farmers. Listen to readings of his poetry along with some reflections on their implications. For additional information, call the Carleen Bright Arboretum at 254-399-9204 or email jschaffer@woodwaymail.org.
San Antonio:
Environmental Horticulture, Thursday, April 20, 1-3 p.m., 3355 Cherry Ridge, San Antonio. Dr. Barron Rector, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Range Specialist in College Station, will discuss
the ecosystems of old and compare them to today!
Free. Bexar County Master Gardner (BCMG) Educational Seminars/General Meetings are held on the afternoon of the third Thursday every other month at the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office, Suite 208. For more information contact BCMG President at
President@bexarmg.org
, or call
210-699-0663
.
Seguin: Thursday, April 20,
at 7:00 p.m. Guadalupe County Master Gardeners will meet at the Texas AgriLife Extension, 210 E. Live Oak. National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward Meredith O'Reilly will present "Gardening for Wildlife." Learn how to attract butterflies and birds to your yard, plants to use and water features. Social at 6:15 p.m. Announcements at 6:45 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Free. For more information, visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
Hempstead: Peckerwood Garden presents Evening at Peckerwood Lecture Series: Friday,
April 21, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., 20559 FM 359 Rd., Hempstead. Topics will include various aspects of horticulture, botany, garden design, plant collecting adventures, conservation and many other related fields of interest. Wine and refreshments provided. $10 admission and parking, $5 for members. For more info, visit
http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/ or email
info@peckerwoodgarden.org.
Tyler:
Smith County Master Gardeners at the library, April 21 at 11:30 a.m. "Flower Arranging from the Garden" with Master Gardener Neysa Mueller. Presentation with Q&A to follow. Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College, Tyler. Free and open to the public. For additional information, call 903-590-2980.
Athens: Henderson County Master Gardeners Association's 2017 Plant Sale will be held 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 22, at Senior Citizens Center, 3356 State Highway 31E, Athens. Included will be a wide variety of trees, shrubs, bulbs, perennials, annuals, natives, heirlooms, vegetables and herbs. This event will be held inside. For more information, call 903-675-6130, email hendersonCMGA@gmail.com, or visit www.henderson-co-tx-mg.org.
Hempstead: Peckerwood Garden presents Peckerwood Garden Open Day: Saturday,
April 22, 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 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Purchase Tickets. $10 admission and parking, Free for members. For more info, visit
http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/ or email
info@peckerwoodgarden.org.
Houston: The spring Galveston County Plant Swap will be on Earth Day, Saturday,
April 22, from 8 a.m.-noon at the Johnson Space Center Gilruth Center on Space Center Blvd (between Nasa Rd. and Bay Area Blvd). It will be in the covered Bluebonnet Pavilion. Spend Earth Day morning swapping plants! For additional info, visit:
http://www.freewebs.com/gcplantswap/.
Houston: The Houston Rose Society will be hosting their spring rose show on Saturday,
April 22, at Memorial City Mall, 303 Memorial City Way, Houston, noon-4 p.m. Use the entrance near Dillards. See roses grown by expert exhibitors and decide what your next rose will be! Free to the public. For more information, visit
www.houstonrose.org.
Houston: Houston Rose Society Spring Garden Tour,
Sunday, April 23, noon-6 p.m. See four spectacular gardens filled with roses of all kinds. Consulting rosarians will be on hand to answer your questions about roses. This event is free to the public. For more details about the tour visit www.houstonrose.org.
La Marque: "Beneficials in the Garden" presented by Dr. William M. Johnson, Galveston County Extension Agent for Horticulture, 6:30-8:00 p.m.,
April 25, 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.
Schulenburg: The Schulenburg Garden Club is hosting a Flower and Horticulture Show from noon to 4:00 p.m.,
April 25, at the Schulenburg Civic Center, 1107 Hillje, Schulenburg. Lunch, plants and country store items available for purchase. This year's theme is Fairy Tales and Rhymes. Free and open to the public.
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MAY
Tyler:
Smith County Master Gardeners at the library, May 5 at 11:30 a.m. "Heat Loving Plants" with Master Gardener Andie Rathbone. Presentation with Q&A to follow. Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College, Tyler. Free and open to the public. For additional information, call 903-590-2980.
Austin: Inside Austin Gardens Tour, will be held
May 6, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. rain or shine, and features 5 private gardens, 1 public garden. A rare, behind-the-scenes look at gardens that demonstrate realistic, sustainable practices for Central Texas. Garden Themes: Earth-Kind Landscaping; Wildlife Restoration & Preservation; Birds, Butterflies, and Zen; Sun & Shade; A Journey Through Fairyland and the AgriLife Testing Ground. $20 advance purchase for all 6 gardens $25 on tour day for all 6 gardens, $5 on tour day for single-garden ticket. Information and tickets at
www.InsideAustinGardens.org or call 512-854-9600.
La Marque: "Tool Time Hands-on Workshop" with Galveston County Master Gardeners Henry Harrison, III, and Tim Jahnke presenting/demonstrating, 9-11 a.m.,
May 6, at the Galveston County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street, La Marque. ring 2-3 garden tools to work on. Class size limited to 30 participants; pre-registration required. Ph 281-534-3413, e-mail
galvcountymgs@gmail.com to pre-register. For further details, visit
www.aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. Free.
Waco: The Annual Master Gardener Plant sale will be held May 13 at the Westview Village Shopping Center, 551 N. Valley Mills Dr., Waco, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Browse a great selection of plants, including flowers, shrubs, vegetables, house plants, roses, Texas Superstars, herbs, and more. Also available: special gifts for Mother's Day, hanging baskets, color bowls, and seeds. Cash, checks and credit cards accepted. Proceeds fund many community projects. For more information, call 254-366-8246.
Woodway: Steven Chamblee, Horticulturist of Chandor Gardens, will present "Peace, Love, & Milagros: Life Lessons from the Road," noon-2 p.m.,
May 17. During his 30-plus years road-tripping around Texas, Chamblee has collected great stories about horticultural heavens, botanical blunders, and tender tales that will melt your heart. Heeding the advice of a close friend, Chamblee has brought his favorite stories together for a very personal presentation of inspiration, enlightenment, and humor. The seminar will be held at the Whitehall Center of the Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd., Woodway. This is not the usual location. For additional information, call the Carleen Bright Arboretum at 254-399-9204 or email
jschaffer@woodwaymail.org.
Galveston County: "Galveston County Home Fruit Growers Tour,"
May 20. Three fruit orchards on tour, 9 a.m.-noon; visit sites in any desired order. Locations: 1) Galveston County Master Gardener (homeowner) at 5202 Highland Road, Santa Fe; 2) Galveston County Master Gardener Demonstration Orchard and Garden, 4102 Main Street, La Marque; 3) Wilson and Renee Hillman's Fruits 'n Such Orchard at 6309 Ave. U, Dickinson; ph. 832-443-6733. Further details visit
www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston. Pre-registration not required. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Free.
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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.
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.
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.
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/.
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.
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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