May 3, 2017
  
The garden reader:
Gardening with chickens
 
By William Scheick
Book Reviewer
 
Lisa Steele. Gardening with Chickens: Plans and Plants for You and Your Hens. Cool Springs Press, 2017. 176 pp. $22.99.
 
Whether your backyard is large or small, a garden there "can provide your chickens with lots of nutritious, inexpensive treats to supplement their regular feed and save you money."
 
Moreover, Lisa Steele adds, their "activities in the garden can help it thrive." Besides controlling weeds and insects, chickens become your "own personal team of compact mobile composters."
 
Steele's handsomely produced and highly accessible guidebook is invitingly designed mainly for beginners. It focuses on such useful matters as selecting location and providing fencing.
 
An especially helpful section focuses on how to landscape a chicken run, which otherwise tends to be barren. An enclosed run is safest, the author advises, because even "raccoons are notorious for reaching in through the lower fencing and grabbing unsuspecting chickens and trying to pull them through the holes."
 
Nutritious, easy supplements to free-ranging chicken's diet include grass and many weeds (clover, dandelion, Queen Anne's lace, plantain). Consider, too, both fresh and dried herbs.
 
Echinacea, rosemary and thyme, for example, contribute to healthy chicken respiratory and immune systems. Placing mint, basil and rosemary in nesting boxes calms sitting hens and repels insects and rodents.
 
Pam Freeman. Backyard Chickens: Beyond the Basics. Voyageur Press, 2017. 192 pp. $21.99.
 
At some point in her life, Pam Freeman "decided to combine [her] degree in journalism with [her] passion for chicks." The instruction included in her deeply informed new book derived from questions she received over the years from readers of Backyard Poultry magazine.
 
She thinks of her book as Chickens 2.0, intended for confident beginners and particularly for seasoned keepers. Her opening chapter, for instance, gives less attention to establishing your chicken garden than to "expanding your flock."
 
Freeman offers cautionary advice about "impulse buying" and inadequate financial and other planning for new chicks. When you do add to the flock, Freeman advises, consider a broody hen because that bird just "wants to hatch eggs and raise baby chicks."
 
Besides topflight tips on how to identify and house a broody hen, Freeman provides an insightful chapter on flock behavior (pecking order, preening, vocalizations, roosting, social interactions, piling), another good section on rooster behavior and yet another helpful unit on coop sanitation.
 
Freeman's expertise informs a handy troubleshooting guide, ranging from issues with egg shape and production to parasites, bumblefoot and wound care. An entire chapter features smart talk about predator management.
 
Lushly illustrated to the point of making the reader yearn for such beautiful birds, Backyard Chickens is chock full of fun facts.
 
Here's one: "you can generally tell what color egg a chicken will lay by looking at [the color of] its earlobes." Here's another: "Hard-boiled eggs spoil faster than uncooked eggs because boiling removes the bloom and leaves the pores in the eggshell open for contamination."
7 reasons why millennials love gardening
 
Green Earth Media Group
 
The stereotype: Millennials spend more time interacting with the digital world than the natural world around them. The reality: Five million of the 6 million people who took up gardening in 2015 were millennials, according to the 2016 National Gardening Survey .
 
More millennials (people between the ages of 21 and 34) than any other age group are falling in love with gardening. As a hobby, gardening is a great fit for the millennial mindset and lifestyle that emphasize individuality, independence and value. However, the advantages of gardening that attract millennials are also relevant to every age group, and anyone who wants to begin growing a nutritious, healthful food garden.
 
Here are seven reasons why more millennials than ever are taking up food gardening, and why you should, too:
 
1. Gardening fosters better nutrition. Millennials care about good nutrition and knowing where their food comes from. Multiple studies show members of the generation are health conscious, and understand the relationship between the food they eat, good nutrition and good health. Millennials know fresh vegetables deliver great nutrition, and millennial gardeners know that growing their own veggies and herbs also means they can put more nutritious food on the table. With transplant purveyors like Bonnie Plants offering more than 250 varieties of popular, heirloom, hybrid, new and tried-and- true vegetables and herbs, it's easy to grow a garden full of healthy, nutritious, economical veggies and herbs.
 
2. You can save money in the grocery store. Millennials are into saving money. Eighty percent have a budget, 72 percent are saving for retirement and 51 percent have an emergency fund, according to a TD Ameritrade survey. Gardening can allow you to spend less in the grocery store produce aisle - and that kind of saving savvy appeals to millennials as well as any other age group!
 
3. Gardening is good for the environment. Awareness of environmental issues and a desire for healthful products that contribute to ecological balance are hallmarks of the millennial generation. A Nielsen study found millennials care about environmental issues and find ways to personally support a healthy environment. When you grow your own vegetables and herbs, "food miles," the distance a food item is transported from producer to consumer, shrinks substantially and includes only the distance from your kitchen to your own backyard.
 
4. You can grow a garden anywhere. While many millennials are city dwellers, others live in suburbs. The fact that they can garden anywhere - on a city balcony, urban patio or suburban backyard - makes gardening the perfect hobby for them. Using transplants, all gardeners can create a backyard garden plot, a vertical garden in an alleyway between city buildings, or a container garden on a balcony or deck.
 
5. The garden is a great place to come together as a family. It's true that millennials make the most use of digital devices of any generation; they also value deep family relationships. Planting a garden with their children, significant others or friends allows everyone to spend enriching time together, working toward an enjoyable, shared goal.
6. Gardening can be a challenge anyone can achieve.
Working toward a goal, and having a vision, are very important qualities for millennials. Gardening takes time and effort but with the right resources and information, it's something virtually anyone can succeed at. Millennials turn to online resources, like Bonnie Plants' vegetable and herb growing guides, gardening how-to's, videos and recipes to help them achieve and ensure success.
 
7. Gardening can be an adventure. Sixty-four percent of millennials say they love to cook, and 75 percent enjoy eating cuisine from other cultures, according to a survey by Barkley. For a generation of adventurous eaters and cooks, gardening can be an opportunity to grow and try new things, from edible flowers and exotic herbs, to new types of vegetables, all the while saving money by growing their own.
With millennials now dominating the workforce, and many starting families and reaching their peak earning years, it's likely their interest in gardening will continue to grow.
Explore America's best private gardens with the Open Days Program
 
The Garden Conservancy
 
The Garden Conservancy recently announces the 2017 Open Days season, a passport to visit hundreds of private gardens across the country and to participate in a host of intimate special programs with garden experts in a wide range of fields.
 
Founded by Francis H. Cabot in 1989, the nonprofit Garden Conservancy is dedicated to saving and sharing outstanding American gardens. Open Days is the Garden Conservancy's award-winning nationwide garden education program. Their vision is to fuel passion for gardens and gardening by getting people out exploring all sorts of gardens and talking to all sorts of fellow gardeners. The idea is for participants to get inspired and stay curious.
 
Since 1995, Open Days has welcomed more than one million visitors into thousands of extraordinary private landscapes - from urban rooftops to organic farms, historic estates to innovative suburban lots - in forty-one states. This incredible annual program is produced almost entirely by volunteers...hundreds of individuals who help showcase regional horticultural and stylistic expressions in a national context, celebrating the rich diversity in American gardens.
 
To enrich the garden visiting experience, Open Days Special Programs were introduced in 2015, including Digging Deeper and Experts in the Garden programs that enable intimate groups of guests to explore diverse aspects of the garden world with experts of every sort: farmers to artists, alpinists to landscape architects. This year, they're adding Family Time to the roster - programs designed to inspire gardeners of all ages and encourage multi-generational family groups to visit gardens, and of course, garden together. Following the 2016 calendar of nearly 40 sold-out Open Days Special Programs, the 2017 roster promises an array of memorable garden experiences. Because of limited space and their popularity, most of these special programs require advance ticket purchases, but many are free with admission to the gardens.
 
Now available for purchase, the 2017 Open Days Directory is a soft-cover book detailing the schedule of Open Days gardens and special programs. It includes vivid garden and program descriptions written by garden owners and event hosts, with detailed driving directions plus a complementary ticket for admission to one private garden. The directory includes garden listings in eighteen states and costs $27.95 including shipping. Visit www.opendaysprogram.org or call the Garden Conservancy toll-free at 1-888-842-2442 to order with a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, or send a check or money order to the Garden Conservancy at P.O. Box 219, Cold Spring, NY 10516.
 
Open Days are held rain or shine, and garden visits are self-guided. Admission starts at $7 per garden (kids 12 and under are free), and discounted ticket booklets are available in advance. Proceeds support the national work of the Garden Conservancy, as well as the horticultural and cultural non-profits that help organize us Open Days in their regions.
Gardening tips

May is a spring month that sometimes acts like a summer month, robbing the soil of needed moisture. Be sure to keep your ornamental and vegetable plants well-watered. If it is not raining, a good soaking once or twice a week should be adequate. Remember, plants needs moisture and oxygen (air) to thrive, so avoid saturating the soil. 

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.
Upcoming garden events
 
If you would like your organization's events included in "Upcoming Garden Events" or would like to make a change to a listed event, please contact us at Garden Events. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details at least three weeks prior to the event.
MAY
Nacogdoches: The Texas Pollinator PowWow will host their next conference May 5-6 at the Nacogdoches Exposition Center, with a fun- and fact-filled field day at Boggy Slough, outside of Lufkin. Speakers include: Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home and The Living Landscape; Merlin Tuttle, founder of Bat Conservation International; and Clay Bolt, communications lead for World Wildlife Fund's Northern Great Plains Program and renowned photographer and filmmaker. You can find out much more about the event at the Nacogdoches PowWow information page: http://www.texaspollinatorpowwow.org/nacogdoches-may-5-7-2017.html. The registration cost is remarkably affordable at $50 per day or $80 for both - lunch is included. You can attend Bat Night, led by Merlin Tuttle and Chris Comer, and/or Moth Night, led by Doug Tallamy and Dan Bennet for an additional $15/each. Attendees who participate in the Friday and/or Saturday conference are eligible to attend the free Sunday field day at Boggy Slough. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/texas-pollinator-powwow-tickets-29080640980. Online registration ends April 26, so sign up today to learn more about Birds, Bears, Bats, Butterflies, Bees and Blueberries.

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.

San Antonio: Kate Radomski, brand manager for Lady Bug Natural Brand and a Bexar County Master Gardener, presents "Soil Improvement" at the May 8 meeting of the San Antonio Rose Society. Radomski will teach attendees how to amend and prepare San Antonio soil using all-natural products so that they can have the most productive gardens and healthiest landscapes. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 North New Braunfels, San Antonio.

Hempstead: Peckerwood Garden, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead, will host a special evening with horticulturist, author, and TV gardening correspondent Brie Arthur on Tuesday, May 9. Arthur encourages gardeners to rethink the use of green spaces through her signature design technique, "Foodscaping," which pairs edibles with more traditional ornamental landscapes in an innovative way. Featured on the PBS television show Growing a Greener World, Brie is combining her passion for plants and design by communicating the value of horticulture. The Foodscape movement is a model of community development that incorporates sustainable, local food production. Her first book, The Foodscape Revolution, will be available for purchase and signing at her presentation. Brie will also demonstrate her easy bloody mary recipe that is included in her book. Special thanks to David Creech at Stephen F. Austin University Mast Arboretum for partnering with Peckerwood Garden to enable her Texas visit. Please join us prior to the lecture for a garden tour at 5:00 pm. A light dinner will be provided for a donation. Tour Tickets ($10) and Lecture Tickets ($10) can be purchased at https://mkt.com/peckerwood-garden-conservation-foundation/. The light dinner is by donation. You may donate online or at the door. Attendance is limited so advance reservations are necessary.

Marion: The Guadalupe Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will hold its meeting at 7: 00 p.m., May 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church, FM 465, Marion. The speaker will be Craig Hensley, park specialist at Guadalupe River State Park, who will speak on the subject of composite flowers. 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: "Residential Rainwater Harvesting" will be presented by Teresa See, Harris County Master Gardener, 10:00-11:30 a.m., Thursday, May 11, at Genoa Friendship Garden Education Bldg., 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd., Houston. Free. For more information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu.
Houston: "Growing Roses is for Everyone!" is the topic of the Houston Rose Society meeting on Thursday, May 11, at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston. The parking lot is Lot C, located at Hermann Drive and Crawford Street. The program will be presented by Pat Shanley, president of the American Rose Society. She is an ARS Horticultural Judge, Arrangements Judge and a Master Rosarian. In 2010 she co-edited The Sustainable Rose Garden. Currently Pat is the chairman of the American Garden Rose Selections (AGRS)a national testing program for new rose varieties. Free admission. For more information, visit www.houstonrose.org.
Denton: Five private residential gardens and two public gardens will be showcased on the 2017 Denton County Master Gardener Association spring garden tour from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. "Passport to Nature" is the theme of this year's tour. "Journey through the City Cottage Garden" at 3005 Terry Court, Denton, which has evolved in response to Mother Nature. Since this garden's debut on the 2011 garden tour, it has grown and filled out. "Treasures on Leisure Lane" at 3852 Leisure Ln., Denton, is four acres of Certified Wildlife Habitat. "Pollinator's Paradise II" at 2005 Burning Tree Ln., Denton, is an explosion of beloved plants and colorful flower, all tried and true Texas survivors. "Texas Tropical Resort" at 1520 Hunters Ridge Circle, Denton, was created using interior design principles: size, shape, texture and movement. "Lazy Gardener's Oasis" at 1306 Ballycastle Ln., Corinth, is a compact garden with a meandering path. The tour's two public gardens are the Courthouse on the Square, 110 West Hickory Street, Denton, and the nearby Denton County Historical Park at 317 West Mulberry Street, Denton. Tour tickets are $10 each and available from Master Gardeners; at the Denton County Extension office, 401 W. Hickory St., Denton; at the Redbud Festival in Denton on April 22; at the DCMGA Plant Sale on April 29; at Denton County Calloway's locations; or online from the Denton County Master Gardener website at www.dcmga.com. Tickets also may be purchased at any of the homes on tour day. Admission to a single garden is $5 at the gate. There is no charge for children aged 12 and under. Admission to both public gardens is free. Master Gardeners will be at each location to answer questions.

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.

Houston: Open Garden Day, 8:30-11 a.m., May 15, 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 more information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu.

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.

Seguin: Guadalupe County Master Gardeners will meet at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 18, the Texas AgriLife Extension 210 E. Live Oak, for popcorn and a viewing of the movie "Seed-The Untold Story." Few things on earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds. Social at 6:15 p.m. Announcements at 6:45 p.m. Free. Open to all. For more information, visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.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.

Ft. Worth: The Greater Fort Worth Herb Society presents their 31st annual herb/garden festival 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., May 20, at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, 3220 Botanic Gardens Blvd., Fort Worth. General admission $4.00, children under 12 free. Silent Auction, vendors, annuals & perennials, herbs, plants, handmade soap, cheese, honey, garden art, jewelry, herbal pet products and much more. Presentations: 10:30 a.m., Tonja Wells, CNH consultant, presents "Energize your life with herbs"; 1:00 p.m., Amanda Vermillion, The Tea Mistress LLC, presents "History of tea and its origins." For more information contact herbalhen@gmail.com.

Pearland : "22nd Annual Daylily Show and Sale" will be presented by the Lone Star Daylily Society, May 20, at the Epiphany Lutheran Church, 5515 W. Broadway, Pearland. Times for the show are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., while the Daylily Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free. See all the beautiful flowers on display at the nationally sanctioned flower show and stop to get some really great deals on the daylilies being offered at super low prices, $5-$12. There will be hundreds of fans to choose from, with local experts to answer any questions. See what all the excitement is about and find out about one of the easiest plants to grow in our area. You'll be rewarded with beautiful blooms and be able to watch the plants increase and grow more beautiful by the year. For more information, visit lonestardaylilysociety.org or call Debbie Pike at 979-236-1478.

Waco: Visit the McLennan Co. Master Gardeners booth at the Downtown Farmers Market, 500 Washington Ave., Waco, on Saturday, May 20, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to learn about easy propagation practices. Two propagation specialist will be on hand to demonstrate simple propagation techniques and to answer specific gardening questions. Free seeds and handouts available on many topics.

Seguin: Gail Johnson will present "Practical Fruit Growing for the Home Gardener" noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, May 24, at the AgriLife Extension 210 E. Live Oak. Johnson will discuss keeping it simple and selecting the right varieties. Free. Everyone is welcome. For more information, visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
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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