June 7, 2017
|
|
The garden reader:
A cornucopia of flowers and veggies
By William Scheick
Book Reviewer
David Austin. The English Roses: Classic Favorites & New Selections. Firefly Books, 2017. 320 pp. $49.95.
A visit to the Tyler Rose Garden reveals a section featuring David Austin roses. That might seem surprising since these roses generally prove to be finicky in Texas.
However, the climber 'Graham Thomas' has done well when planted for eastern exposure only. And the crimson-bloomed 'Darcey Bussell' rose bush has performed decently in North Texas.
These flowers and their kin are displayed magnificently in
The English Roses. Photographers Howard Rice, Andrew Lawson and Ron Daker have produced a gorgeous full-page (eleven-by-nine inch) image of each flower.
The commentary in this large book traces the ancestral history of the English rose as well as attempts a definition of its distinctive qualities. All that's missing is fragrance, which isn't hard to imagine, given the luxuriousness of the photographs.
Carolyn Dunster. Urban Flowers: Creating Abundance in a Small City Garden. Frances Lincoln, 2017. 192 pp. $29.99.
No doubt about it: urban living spaces have shrunk, requiring a good imagination for defining places suitable for growing plants, especially roses. Obviously, windowsills, courtyards, balconies, terraces and some rooftops accommodate certain types of plant cultivation.
Looking harder for plant-friendly niches, Carolyn Dunster ingeniously adds steps, nooks, crannies, corners, light wells, fire escapes, doorways and even drainpipes. Particularly clever, for example, she paints a brick-wall segment behind a drainpipe to minimize its ugly visual impact and then she attaches a series of planters to it.
The author also insightfully recommends plants used "as a screening device ... to create the impression of being in a self-contained private space." Whether or not utilized for privacy, "climbing plants are some of your best allies," she notes, emphasizing a preference for "a wall or fence covered in glossy green ivy leaves than left bare and soulless."
Mother Earth News Guide to Vegetable Gardening. Voyageur Press, 2017. 271 pp. $27.99.
Veggies possess ornamental appeal, too, and readers familiar with
Mother Earth News - promoting fit and sustainable living for nearly 50 years - will celebrate this new compendium of down-to-earth veggie advice.
Besides pertinent instruction on maintaining soil health, other parts of this book highlight how to develop small spaces, utilize vertical-gardening techniques and build an inexpensive mini-greenhouse. Also, by growing perennial veggies, "you'll create a more diverse garden [and] you'll spend less time working and more time harvesting."
Following this recommendation is a list of the 10 best perennial veggies, including Jerusalem artichoke. "The bright blooms of sunchokes are as beautiful as the plant's edible tubers are delicious."
Of course, many other specific veggies and fruits receive up-close attention, and so do strategies for pest control and bee-attraction. Particularly helpful is a chapter on the best veggies to grow in shaded areas that receive at least three hours of direct-sunlight exposure each day.
Joy Larkcom. The Salad Garden. Frances Lincoln, 2017. 289 pp. $24.99.
During the last three decades many more veggie cultivars have appeared. Their names sound promising, but are they all as productive as the older kinds?
To answer this question, Joy Larkcom draws "on advice from knowledgeable specialists, and the trials carried out by the Royal Horticultural Society, to suggest the best of what is available for today's salad growers."
So, the veggie profiles in her book prove to be as richly detailed as any advice-seeking gardener could possibly wish for. And the author also acknowledges that today many people want beauty as well as productivity in their veggie gardens.
Consequently, she offers help on how to use plants to create visual effects. For example: "To make the most impact with colourful plants, I always plant in groups at equidistant spacing rather than in traditional rows."
|
|
 |
|
Enjoy an attractive and convenient composting station
By Melinda Myers
Make recycling green debris into compost convenient and attractive. Create a space you and your neighbors will appreciate. And locate composting in a convenient area that is easy to access and manage, so you are more likely to do it.
You'll quickly recoup your initial investment of time and money. Spend less time hauling the materials to the recycling center and money spent on soil amendments.
Most importantly, you'll boost the health and beauty of your landscape while helping the environment.
Start by looking for spaces in the landscape or garden where compostable materials can easily be moved into the bin, pile turned, and the finished compost harvested and transported into the garden where it is needed. You found a place to stow the trash cans without ruining the beauty of your landscape or offending your neighbors, so do the same with your compost area.
Purchase or build a compost bin that matches your landscape style. Some bins are built to be an attractive addition to the landscape while others are designed to fade into the garden and go unnoticed. Try using materials similar to your fence, shed or other structures. Situate the bin, so it appears to be an extension of these or an additional garden feature.
Speed up the composting process by creating a pile at least three feet tall and wide. Use only insect- and disease-free materials. Do not include meat; fat; bones; dairy products that can attract rodents; or weeds and invasive plants that can survive most composting and end up back in your garden.
Mix nitrogen-rich green materials such as vegetable scraps, and herbicide-free grass clippings and carbon-rich browns such as cornstalks, evergreen needles and tree leaves. Top this 8 to 10" layer with compost and sprinkle three cups of a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer over this layer. The organic nitrogen helps feed the microorganisms that break down the raw materials into compost. Continue layering with plant debris, compost and fertilizer until the pile is at least three feet high.
Use plants to screen the compost process. Place a simple wire bin in the middle of the garden. It's convenient, since this is the place you generate garden debris and use much of the finished product. The surrounding plantings will hide the bin.
Or place your bin behind a garden border of tall grasses, shrubs or other permanent plantings. Make sure your neighbors' view is equally as nice. Leave sufficient room for adding materials to compost, turning the pile if needed and harvesting the compost.
Team up with your neighbors to create more gardening and composting space. Design a shared garden and compost area across the lot line. Use steppers for easy access and beautify both yards with attractive plantings. You'll each enjoy the extra garden space and valuable compost you create.
Up the ornamental appeal a bit more by installing a decorative fence as a backdrop for one of your garden beds. Design the screen to run parallel to a fence or hedge along the lot line. Leave enough space between the two structures for composting, storing mulch, shredded leaves, garden stakes and more. Include a gate or entryway along the side for easy access.
Once you start exploring options, your creativity will help you build a composting space suited to your needs. Then get ready to enjoy the increased beauty and productivity that the compost will provide in your gardens and containers.
|
|
The compost heap
Tropical paradise
|
Gardening tips
If you cut back overgrown shrubs this past fall through spring, it is time to shear them again to encourage more branching and denser foliage. Be sure to keep the base wider than the top to allow light to reach all areas of the shrub.
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.
|
JUNE
Houston: "
Soil Composition + Fertilizer + Water = Beautiful Roses"
is the topic of the Houston Rose Society meeting, June 8, at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavillon, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston. The parking lot is Lot C located at Hermann Drive and Crawford Street. Dr. David Reed will present the program. Dr. Reed is a professor of horticulture in the department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University. Dr. Reed's research focuses on plant nutrition, especially iron nutrition and the effects of water quality and salinity on plants. Learn about growing beautiful roses from the soil up! Free admission. For additional information, visit
www.houstonrose.org
.
Houston: Thursday, June 8, "Beneficial Insects" will be presented by Galveston County AgriLife Agent Dr. William Johnson. Harris County Master Gardeners Prec. 2.
10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., at the Genoa Friendship Garden Education Building, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd., Houston. Note: New Location. For more information, visit: https://hcmga.tamu.edu.
San Antonio: Each month, various San Antonio Herb Society Special Interests Groups (SIGs) meet and experience the joy of herbs. At the June meeting, get familiar with the activities of each of these SIGs. Learn what they have to offer in friendships, knowledge exchanging, and herb uses. Culinary 1 & 2, Aromatherapy, Mad Hatters, Herbal Crafts, and Weed-n-Gloat, will discuss their Interest Groups at the June 8 general meeting. Please join us for an interesting night and learn how to might participate in one or more of these groups. The herb society meets the second Thursday of the month at the San Antonio Garden Center, N. New Braunfels and Parland, San Antonio. The meeting is open to the public and free of charge. There will be refreshments and a social time at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting begins at 7:00.
Austin: Wild in the City: Living with Austin's Urban Wildlife, Saturday, June 10, 10:00 a.m.-noon, Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin. Got critters? Meredith O'Reilly will lead a discussion of common wildlife species seen in Austin's urban landscape and offer practical tips for humans to co-exist with wildlife while protecting home and garden. Meredith is the gardening specialist for 4-H CAPITAL and a Texas Master Naturalist. Seminar is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required. Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child (ages 3-12) or seniors (age 62 & over), $3 for non-Austin Residents. Cash or check accepted. For more information contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Travis County, 512-854-9600.
Conroe
: Aquaponics: Try It and Like It! on
Saturday, June 10, 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
$5.00 per person at the door. Grow your fish and veggies together! The benefits, required elements and processes of an aquaponic system will be demonstrated and explained. A tour of the Aquaponic Garden on the Extension facilities will highlight the program.
Montgomery Co. Master Gardeners, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe
. 936-539-7824or www.mcmga.com.
Denton:
Urban gardeners and area farmers are invited to enter the 2017 Denton County Fruit, Vegetable, Herb and Flower Show, which starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 10, at the Denton Community Market,
317 W Mulberry St. This educational event is co-sponsored by the Denton County Master Gardener Association and the Denton Economic Program to recognize county growers of all ages who raise the best local flowers and produce. All county residents are eligible to compete, and there is no entry fee. Registration starts at 9 a.m. in two divisions: youth ages 18 and under and adults over 18. The contest focuses on best of species, and judging starts at 10 a.m.
All entries will be judged on a combination of market qualities: maturity, appearance, fragrance, color, size, uniformity and freedom from blemishes, pest damage and disease. Difficulty of growing in the North Texas environment will also be a factor. Fruits and vegetables will also be judged on flavor. Each fruit and vegetable entry must include a sufficient number of samples to fill a dinner plate, which is provided. Contestants may enter as many classes as they like but only one entry per class. No combination of species is allowed. Herb and flower entries are restricted to a single species. Vases will be provided for single-stem entries. Both potted flowers and herbs will be accepted. At the end of judging, ribbons will be awarded for the first three places in each class. Division champions and Best in Show winners receive rosettes and cash awards.
Master Gardeners will be available to answer gardening questions.
For more information, contact the Denton County Master Gardener Help Desk at 940-349-2892 or visit the DCMGA website at www.dcmga.com .
San Antonio: Rhiannon Spaw will present "Organic Gardening with Fox Farms Soil & Fertilizer Company products" at 7:00 p.m., June 12, at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio.
Marion: Native Plant Society of Texas Guadalupe Chapter presents "Let's Take a Walk in Warbler Woods" 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 13, at St. John's Lutheran Church, FM 465, Marion. Susan & Don Schaezler have dedicated their property and much of their lives to creating and maintaining a 124-acre island of serenity and bird song barely half a mile from one of the busiest freeways in the country. Lying near the convergence of three ecological regions, the Woods hosts an amazing 289 species of birds as well as bobcats, ringtail cats, foxes, bats and more than a dozen species of reptiles and amphibians. Come and enjoy an armchair tour of this unique and delightful wonderland, led by the Schaezlers themselves. 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/.
Athens: Henderson County Master Gardeners Association presents Summer Series I: Peace, Love and Milagros - Life Lessons from the Road (With a Side of Beauty in the Beets), a presentation by Steven Chamblee, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 15, at the Senior Citizens Center, 3354 Highway 31 East (next to Fairgrounds), Athens. Chamblee is chief horticulturist for Chandor Gardens in Weatherford. This event is free to the public. For more information call 903-675-6130 or email hendersonCMGA@gmail.com.
Marion:
Saturday, June 24, 11:00 a.m.-noon, Guadalupe County Master Gardener Marvin Borth will present Small Gardens for Small Spaces: A Look into the World of Container Gardening at the Marion Community Library, 500 Bulldog Lane, Marion. Free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
Overton: The 2017 East Texas Horticultural Field Day will feature more than 500 ornamental plant and vegetable trial varieties for public viewing, along with presentations by experts at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton. The event, slated for June 29, will be held rain or shine. Gardeners, professional landscape managers and seed company representatives can learn which landscape plants and vegetables do well under East Texas conditions. The trials started in 1993 to meet the needs of commercial seed companies, local nursery managers and gardening enthusiasts. There is no cost to attend or for the barbecue lunch provided by sponsors, but organizers ask that attendees RSVP by June 23 for an accurate meal count. The field day will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. at the center's East Farm 2 miles east of Overton on Texas Highway 135 N. The Ornamental Trial garden is on County Road 133 just past the former Kilgore College Demonstration Farm on Texas Highway 135. A tour of the ornamental trials at the Demonstration Garden at the Overton center will follow. The center headquarters are about 2 miles north of downtown Overton at 1710 Farm-to-Market Road 3053. For driving directions to the center or the East Farm site, visit http://flowers.tamu.edu/field-day/ or call 903-834-6191. The trials include some standard varieties from previous tests, including both old and new varieties of begonias, New Guinea impatiens, salvias, coreopsis and pentas. Dr. Joe Masabni, AgriLife Extension vegetable specialist, Overton, will also present plants in ongoing vegetable trials at the center. This year, Masabni will feature ongoing trials of grafted tomato varieties. The field day will move to the ornamental trials and demonstration garden at the Overton center headquarters from 10:30-11:45 a.m. Lunch is from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Afternoon speaker programs will be indoors at the Overton center's Bruce McMillan Jr. Auditorium. Speakers and topics will include: Brent Pemberton, Texas A&M AgriLife Research ornamental horticulturalist, Top Performers from Recent Trials - the Labor Day Report; Jenny Wegley, Dallas Arboretum horticulture director, Dallas, Top Performers at the Dallas Arboretum; Suzanne Wainwright, Buglady Consulting ornamental entomologist, Using Biological Control in Production; and Dr. Dotty Woodson, AgriLife Extension water resource specialist, Dallas, Rain Barrel Demonstration.
|
JULY
Austin: July 8, The 6 D's of Container Gardening Success. Whether you want winter color or summer vegetables, you can grow it in containers. The session covers the major considerations and decisions that lead to gardening success - from design and soil to irrigation and sunlight. Participants will come away with a list of recommended plants and resources suitable for Central Texas. Travis County Master Gardener Kirk Walden is a hands-on experiential gardener. Seminar is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required. Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child (ages 3-12) or seniors (age 62 & over), $3 for non-Austin Residents. Cash or check accepted. For more information contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Travis County, 512-854-9600.
Conroe
: Rainwater Harvesting and Irrigation by the Homeowner on Saturday, July 8. 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. $5.00 per person at the door. Concerned with costs for water? Prepare for extended dry spells by using rainwater harvesting. Methods for limiting "over watering" and "wasting water" are enhanced by using irrigation systems. How to create an irrigation system for your
own landscape will be shared. Montgomery Co. Master Gardeners, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe
. 936-539-7824 or www.mcmga.com.
Seguin:
Guadalupe County Master Gardeners are now accepting applications for the next "Become a Master Gardener" class, to be held on Tuesdays starting August 8, and continuing through December 5, from 12:45 p.m.-4:45 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension, 210 E. Live Oak, Seguin. Cost of the class is $190. Application deadline is July 31. Class size is limited. Contact Kay McElveen at hkaymcelveen@gmail.com or 479-790-2933. Registration forms available at www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
|
AUGUST
Brookeland: Sodbusters Symposium,
August 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rayburn Country Club, 2376 Wingate Blvd., Brookeland, near Lake Sam Rayburn in East Texas. Lectures by Chris Weisinger, The Bulb Hunter; Melda Siebe of Wild Thymes Herb Farm; and Randall Kroll, Texas Parks and Wildlife. Ticket holders are treated to lunch, door prizes and a live auction, but anyone can drop in and shop the vendors, plant sales and silent auction. For more information and an order form, visit
http://counties.agrilife.org/jasper/files/2017/03/Sodbuster-2017-order-tickets-early-4.pdf.
|
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/.
|
Texas Gardener digital edition available-Only $19.95 per year (digital only) or $9 per year if you tack it on to your print subscription!
Same magazine as our print edition without the paper and at a better price. Fully compatible with your desktop, laptop, iPad or Tablet. Access Texas Gardener anywhere, anytime: at the office, home, vacation, even in the garden. Easy to use with robust features and fully searchable archive as long as your subscription is active. Click on this link to explore your options
http://www.texasgardener.com/Store/Products/productlisting.aspx?id=4
Easy Gardening for Texas
By Joseph G. Masabni
Only $31.94 (includes tax and shipping)
Gardening in the Lone Star State has unique challenges, but that doesn't mean you can't grow vegetables here. This new book tells what varieties are best, how to handle insect and disease problems, and how to control weeds with a minimum of work, plus detailed growing information on a host of vegetables that do well in Texas. This is the perfect guide for gardeners new to the state as well as those more-experienced gardeners looking for a handy guide of research-tested advice. 220 pages with lots of color photos! Click on this link to order
http://www.texasgardener.com/Store/Products/viewproduct.aspx?id=126.
Easy Edibles
By Judy Barrett
Only $29.75 (includes tax, shipping)
Eating fresh and eating local has really caught on! Easy Edibles: How to Grow and Enjoy Fresh Food focuses on ways to grow some of your own food without devoting a lot of space, time and work to the project. Barrett also covers how and where to find the bounty offered at local farmers markets, farm stands and pick-your-own operations. This book is the perfect gift or guide for folks new to gardening or those who have limited time and resources but still want to eat fresh! Click on this link to order
http://www.texasgardener.com/Store/Products/viewproduct.aspx?id=123
Garden Design Bible
By Tim Newbury
Only $26.59 (includes tax, shipping)
Like having your own landscape architect and contractor at your constant disposal without the cost. Whatever your desire the Garden Design Bible has a plan that you can adapt to your own space. Choose from 40 designs, or mix and match elements from several to create your own ideal garden. Over 100 color photos and illustrations. If you have the space and need inspiration and direction, let the Garden Design Bible be your guide! Click on this link to order
http://www.texasgardener.com/Store/Products/productlisting.aspx?id=1
|
|
|
|
|
