How to backyard big, even in small spaces |
|
TurfMutt Foundation
Backyarding is the practice of taking everyday activities — think entertaining, eating, working, and working out to name a few — into the green space around us. Even those living in an urban setting with a smaller yard — or no yard at all — can enjoy the benefits of backyarding, according to the TurfMutt Foundation, which advocates for the care and use of yards, parks, and community green spaces.
“Thanks to smaller yards, community parks, and neighborhood green space, backyarding big even in small spaces is possible,” says Kris Kiser, president & CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. “It takes a little planning and adopting what we like to call a ‘master backyarder’ mindset.”
This is terrific news since a recent survey conducted for the TurfMutt Foundation by The Harris Poll indicates that backyarding is increasingly important to Americans. More than three-quarters of Americans who have a yard (76%) say the family yard space is one of the most important parts of their home, according to the poll. Additionally, nearly a quarter of Americans who have a yard (24%) say they spend more time in their yards now than before 2020.
The TurfMutt Foundation offers this advice for getting outside and enjoying green space when you have a small yard…or no yard at all.
Plant with purpose. Plan carefully and creatively to utilize every square inch of living landscape real estate in support of your lifestyle. Need a place for your pet to do her business? Plant a small patch of grass. Long to take work outside? Set up a table in an under-utilized side yard (complete with a living landscape backdrop, of course) that can double as an outdoor dining area. Love nature? Plant a butterfly bush.
Use plants to create privacy. Rather than putting up a fence in a small yard, consider a “living wall” of trees or shrubs. It will make your outdoor space feel bigger and offer support to backyard wildlife and insects. Win, win!
Go vertical. Don’t forget to incorporate vertical space into your planting plans. You can hang flower baskets on your fence or railing. A trellis laced with living vines is a gorgeous focal point. Green walls are all the rage and utilize blank wall space to create a living landscape feature.
Utilize balconies & patios. Even if you don’t have grass or any soil to plant in, you can utilize containers to plant flowers, herbs, and even fruit and vegetables. There are also many planters available that attach to balcony railings.
Remember right plant, right place. Selecting the right plants for your lifestyle and climate is key to mastering a small backyard space. Consult the US Plant Hardiness Zone Map for help selecting the best plants for your microclimate. This will not only ensure you end up with plants that will thrive with minimal upkeep, and they will also be best for supporting local pollinators.
Enjoy community green space. Take your kids to the park for a study session. Walk the dog through the community green space at the end of your road. Plan a doggie playdate at the local dog park. These are all wonderful places to get a dose of Vitamin N(ature).
|
|
Texas A&M Forest Service task force leader thrives on challenges, impact of teamwork |
|
Texas A&M Forest Service
If you’re looking for Colton Curles, there’s a good chance you’ll find him outside, wherever there’s work to be done.
“I don’t do well sitting still,” said Curles, Texas A&M Forest Service Task Force Coordinator for the agency’s Central Branch.
Curles, who oversees 11 full-time and four seasonal employees of the Lost Pines Task Force, said his favorite part of the work is just that: the work.
“There’s really nothing like being out with the crew,” he said. “We spend a lot of time together, and it’s especially satisfying to see the impact we have.”
Answering the call
Curles began working for Texas A&M Forest Service as an 18-year-old seasonal Resource Specialist. The work primarily focused on fuels mitigation and prescribed burning, and he said he found it rewarding. He was also working as a seasonal employee for Lake Travis Fire Rescue and going to school.
“I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do,” Curles said. “But after three or four semesters, it seemed pretty clear that I was already doing what I wanted to do.”
He became a full-time Resource Specialist in 2014 and was named Task Force Coordinator in the Smithville office in 2019.
The work is challenging, but meaningful, he said.
“There are a lot of jobs where you can help people, but there aren’t a lot of jobs where you can see the immediate impact of what you’ve done,” Curles said. “When you’re working on a fuels project, you can turn around at the end of the day and look at the work you’ve done and see that you’re making a difference.”
Developing a team
The Lost Pines Task Force covers a 24-county area of diverse landscape that includes a portion of the Gulf Coast, the Post Oak Savannah, the Lost Pines and parts of the Hill Country. The team responded to 156 requests for wildfire assistance across the region in the fiscal year that ended in August, with crew members also supporting wildfire and all-hazards response requests throughout the state.
As Task Force Coordinator, Curles said, his priority is to develop the effectiveness of the team. For much of the past year, Curles filled in as Assistant Chief for Central Branch, coordinating agency and out-of-state resources, moving personnel and equipment to staging areas based on risk assessments and supporting requests to provide personnel for statewide programs.
“My main job is to make sure the team has everything it needs to be successful. That’s first and foremost,” Curles said. “The rest of my job is responding to wildfires and doing anything that I can to make that part of the job easier, which means fuels mitigation projects, training and building relationships with partners.”
Curles also coordinates training for agency employees and partners while working to build relationships across the region.
The task force aims to offer 15 to 20 training courses each year for other partners, land management agencies and fire departments, with Curles involved in most of those classes.
Including other agencies and departments in the training helps Curles foster relationships that can be powerful in coordinating an emergency response.
“The best way to have a good relationship when we have a fire is to already have one before there’s a fire,” Curles said. “If we can build relationships through prescribed burning and fuels management projects, it makes things flow a lot smoother when there’s a situation that requires cooperation.”
Making a difference
In addition to wildfire response, the crew conducts fuels mitigation projects throughout the area, work that aims to reduce the intensity of wildfires and make response efforts safer.
“We try to prepare to handle as many fire calls as we can,” Curles said. “But a lot of our time is spent on work that is trying to prevent those calls from coming in.”
The work can be grueling and involves removing overgrown vegetation with chainsaws and mulchers.
“The focus is on ladder fuels, and in this area, that’s typically yaupon,” Curles said, “Ladder fuels allow a fire on the ground to make it to the canopy of a tree by climbing through that vegetation, so we’re really trying to remove that from the landscape.”
Fuels mitigation work is where Curles finds the greatest pleasure.
“Fuels work is always in my hands, and I get back exactly what I put into it,” he said. “It has an immediate sense of gratification.”
One project that Curles is particularly proud of is the crew’s work in and around Bastrop and Buescher state parks. The goal is to create shaded fuel breaks along park roads, including one that connects the two parks through private property.
The work, which started in 2018, is about 30% complete.
“It’s all done by hand,” Curles said. “We’re making good progress, and it feels good to see the improvement in the landscape.”
The project is one of many the Lost Pines Task Force is working on to decrease potential impacts of wildfire and improve aesthetics and public safety features.
“It’s really just one of those things that makes you feel good about your job,” Curles said. “Everyone wants to have pride in what they do, but seeing the direct impact we’re having on the landscape and the community and knowing that our efforts are helping to protect the public, that’s just a huge motivator for me.”
Sense of family
Curles, who grew up in Smithville, was introduced to Texas A&M Forest Service at an early age. His father, Robbie Curles, began working for the agency as a Resource Specialist just before Colton was born. Robbie Curles retired from the agency in 2016.
That personal connection to the agency isn’t something Curles takes for granted.
“I grew up around this task force, so I have a lot of pride that I’m able to be a part of it,” he said. “And the opportunity to lead the group means something special to me. It’s a milestone.”
Watching his father working on wildfires has also helped Curles navigate the job, particularly the demands for his time. Curles and his wife, Sterlyng, are expecting their second child this year.
“The biggest key for me — and it’s still a work in progress — is being present wherever I am,” Curles said. “If I’m at home, I have to prioritize being at home. If I’m with the crew, I have to prioritize being with the crew. And if I’m in my office doing paperwork, I try to prioritize being at the office.”
It’s important, he said, that his crew knows family comes first.
“The job does ask a lot of them, but that doesn’t mean they have to sacrifice a personal life,” he said.
Leading by example
Curles credits a long list of mentors, including agency retirees Rich Gray and Jimmy Mullis, with establishing the values of a strong work ethic.
“They really set a standard in the agency for what hard work looks like and what dedication looks like,” Curles said. “I learned a lot about leadership from them, and that’s something I’m trying to emulate every day.”
Curles said he wants to sustain those lessons by encouraging others to seek out leaders they can learn from.
“Find those people who are dedicated to what they do and are really good at it and absorb all you can,” he said. “And be patient. Every day is a chance to learn something new. It’s a continual process. You’re never going to be exactly where you want to be. You just have to improve and be better than the day before.”
Mullis, who retired from the agency in 2023, was Assistant Chief for Central Branch when Curles was a seasonal employee before becoming a full-time Resource Specialist. He said Curles made an immediate impression as a self-starter who didn’t require a lot of supervision.
“He’s very dependable,” Mullis said. “What I appreciate most about him is his willingness to work and get things done.”
Mullis promoted Curles to his current role as Task Force Coordinator and credits his maturity for helping him thrive in the agency.
“When that opportunity came up, there was no one else that I would have considered within our group that would have been able to take on that responsibility,” Mullis said. “He wants to do the right thing and he expects other people to do the right thing. He wants Texas A&M Forest Service to be an agency that he can be proud of and move forward with. He’s all of the things you want an employee to be.”
Texas A&M Forest Service Interim Director Al Davis said Curles represents the future of the agency.
“It gives me great pride and pleasure to talk to him, listen to him, and stand back and watch how he operates,” Davis said. “He and others like him provide strong reassurance that the agency is in great hands, and we, as the leaders of the agency, have a responsibility to prepare them, mentor them and let them do their jobs.”
|
|
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
Houston: Master Gardener Open Garden Day. 8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m., May 20. Tour a variety of planting exhibits and meet with Harris County Master Gardeners. Plants will be available for sale in the greenhouse. Genoa Friendship Gardens, 1210 Genoa Red Bluff Road, Houston.
La Marque: “Home Fruit Growers Tour”: Explore fruit culture with visits to Fruits ’n Such Orchard, 6309 Ave. U, Dickinson, 832-443-6733; and Galveston County Master Gardener Discovery Garden, 4102 Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Held 9 a.m.-noon, May 20, rain or shine. Free. For additional information: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/.
La Marque: “Beautiful Blooms: Plumeria Seminar”: with Galveston County Master Gardener Loretta Osteen, 1:30 -3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 20. Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office classroom located inside Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. For additional information and pre-register: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/.
Pearland: The Lone Star Daylily Society's Annual Flower Show and Plant Sale will be held 10 a.m.-4:00 p.m., May 20, at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 5515 Broadway, Pearland. For additional information, visit www.LoneStarDaylilySociety.org.
Online: Gardening with Less Water. 11:00 am.-12:30 p.m., May 21, Free Virtual Lecture. No reservation required. Watch on Facebook - facebook.com/harriscountypl/live.
Tyler: The American Begonia Society along with the Southwest Regional Association of the Society will host their Annual Convention in Tyler the last weekend in May. Begonias visit the Rose City is the theme and the Begonias have been visiting the Rose City in preparation for their convention. Tours of the area have been planned by the Begonias visit Rose City for several days of the convention. The Tyler Rose Garden, Breedlove Nursery, and the Blue Moon Gardens are just a few of the stops that the Begonias have planned. Speakers for the convention include Texas AgriLife Horticulturist Greg Grant. Grant will be speaking Friday, May 26, on “Companion Plants for Begonias.” Two events that are highlights of any begonia convention are the plant sale and the begonia plant show. If you are looking for that unique begonia you saw online, this may be the place to find it. The plant show will let you see award-winning begonias. Both the sale and the show will be open to the public at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, 5701 South Broadway, Tyler. Hours for the show and sale are Friday, May 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, May 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact: Joyce Block, 817-933-2187 or Taddie Hamilton, 817-602-4573. For additional information, visit begonias.org.
La Marque: “Tomato Tasting in the Garden”: Tomato tastings, tomato research results, and Best in Show voting, 9-11 a.m., Thursday, May 25. Galveston County Master Gardener Discovery Garden inside Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque 77568. Free. For additional information and pre-register: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/.
|
|
JUNE
McKinney: The Collin County Master Gardeners Association will host their annual Walk in the Park on Saturday, June 3, from 9:00 a.m.-noon. A Walk in the Park features self-guided tours of the international award-winning research and demonstration gardens at beautiful Myers Park & Event Center in McKinney. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come to the country, explore the great outdoors, and see the season’s star plants in full bloom. Enjoy fun educational activities for children and demonstrations in the gardens. This is a free event for the entire family. Learn about Earth-Kind gardening principles and see beautiful plants that push the limits to survive and thrive in North Texas’s extreme weather conditions without fertilizer, pesticides, and with minimal irrigation. The gardens include perennials, annuals, herbs, a potager garden, a vegetable garden, a vineyard, a shade garden, shrubs, trees and grasses and even a children’s garden. Join the Collin County Master Gardeners for A Walk in the Park on Saturday, June 3, at Myers Park & Event Center, 7117 County Road 166, McKinney. For more information, visit https://ccmgatx.org/events/a-walk-in-the-park/. In the event of rain, A Walk in the Park will be rescheduled to Saturday, June 10.
La Marque: “Bramble On: Blackberries” with Galveston County Master Gardener Monica Martins and Horticulture Agent Stephen Brueggerhoff, Saturday, 9-11 a.m., June 10, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office classroom located inside Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. For additional information and to pre-register: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/.
Online: "Weed & Nutrient Management" will be presented by Fort Bend Master Gardeners, 2-3:30 p.m., Friday, June 16. This virtual presentation is free, but registration is required Landscape Success - Fort Bend (agrilife.org).
La Marque: “Plumeria Propagation” with Galveston County Master Gardener Loretta Osteen, Saturday, 1-3 p.m., June 17. Class limited to 12 people, pre-registration required. Location: Galveston County Master Gardener Discovery Garden inside Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. For additional information and to pre-register: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/.
|
|
AUGUST
Online: "Trees for Small Landscapes" will be presented by Fort Bend Master Gardeners, 2-3:30 p.m., Friday, August 18. This virtual presentation is free, but registration is required Landscape Success - Fort Bend (agrilife.org).
|
|
SEPTEMBER
Rosenberg: Sat., September 9: Grow Your Own Series: Composting with Fort Bend County Master Gardeners, 9-10:30 a.m. For additional details, visit Grow Your Own - Fort Bend (agrilife.org) or 281-342-3034.
Online: "Fall is for Planting" will be presented by Fort Bend Master Gardeners, 2-3:30 p.m., Friday, September 15. This virtual presentation is free, but registration is required Landscape Success - Fort Bend (agrilife.org).
|
|
NOVEMBER
Online: "Winter Protection" will be presented by Fort Bend Master Gardeners, 2-3:30 p.m., Friday, November 17. This virtual presentation is free, but registration is required Landscape Success - Fort Bend (agrilife.org).
|
|
Weekly Meetings
Galveston: The Young Gardeners Program is a school garden and healthy eating program operating on Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula. Every Saturday, 9-11 a.m., they host a garden Community Day at one of the schools. It's an opportunity for community members to work and play in the garden and it's kid-friendly. First Saturday - Crenshaw, 416 State Hwy 87, Crystal Beach; Second Saturday - Rosenberg Elementary, 721 10th St., Galveston; Third Saturday - Morgan Elementary, 1410 37th St., Galveston; Fourth Saturday - Oppe Elementary, 2915 81st St., Galveston.
|
|
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
Jasper: The Jasper County Master Gardeners meet on the first Monday of each month at St. Michael's Catholic Church from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The evening begins with pot luck social and then guest presentations and/or educational class to conclude. Visit https://jasper.agrilife.org/jasper-master-gardeners/ 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; Visit https://mastergardener.tamu.edu/become/ to become a member.
Kaufman: The Kaufman County Master Gardener Association meets the first Monday of each month (second Monday if the first is a holiday) the First Community Church at 1402 Trinity Drive in Crandall. An educational program begins at 10 a.m., followed by the business meeting. For topic and additional information, visit http://www.kcmga.org/ and check Events. Refreshments will be available. For more information or to ask about accommodations, call 469-376-4520, or email Jackie Robertson at jrobertson@ag.tamu.edu.
Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners meet at noon the first Tuesday of each month at a location in Houston to be determined. For additional information, visit http://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/ or call 713-274-0950.
Schulenberg: Schulenburg Garden Club meets the first Tuesday of each month, at 11:30 a.m., September-May, at the Schulenburg First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 110 Upton Ave., Schulenburg.
Corpus Christi: The Coastal Bend Cactus and Succulent Society meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Dr., Corpus Christi. The purpose is to stimulate an interest in cactus and succulent plants by providing a forum to foster and broaden knowledge of the plants. Join the society on Facebook: Coastal Bend Cactus & Succulent Society.
Dallas: Garden Masters, Inc., meet the first Wednesday of each month, Sept.- May, at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd., Dallas, 75230. The club hosts different speakers each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come early and order lunch from the The Cafe, which features a healthy menu, fresh local produce and sustainably produced meats and fish (or call in advance to order 972-338-2233). For more information about Garden Masters Inc, email Marcia Borders at borderlineart1@gmail.com.
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: The Permian Basin Master Gardeners (Ector/Midland counties) have monthly meetings at noon on the first Wednesday of each month at the West Texas Food Bank, 1601 Westcliff Drive in Midland. For more information 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 Presbyterian Church Family Life Center, 302 Nolan Street, Navasota. If not meeting at the church, a change of meeting notice will be placed on the door of the Family Life Building. Guests are welcome. Members are from Grimes County and surrounding counties.
San Antonio: The San Antonio Garden Center meets on the first Wednesday of each month from September – May at 3310 N. New Braunfels @ Funston, San Antonio. Social and plant sale begins at 9:30 a.m. Program at 10 a.m. Open to the public. For more information visit www.sanantoniogardencenter.org.
Allen: The Allen Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, February through December, at the Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main St., Allen. For more information, visit www.allengardenclub.org.
Atlanta: The Cass County Master Gardeners meet the first Thursday of each month at the Atlanta Memorial Hospital Conference Room, State Highway 77 @ S. Williams St., Atlanta. A business meeting is followed by an educational program. The public is welcome to attend. For additional information, call 903-756-5391 or visit http://cass.agrilife.org.
Fort Worth: The Native Plant Society of Texas - North Central Chapter meets the first Thursday of each month, excluding January and July, at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7:00 p.m. Guest speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Members, friends, family, guests and the public are welcome. For a list of speakers and topics or more information, visit http://www.txnativeplants.org.
Hempstead: The Waller County Master Gardeners usually meet at 9 a.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Waller County AgriLife Extension Office, 846 6th St., Hempstead. For more information on the meeting schedule, visit http://txmg.org/wallermg or call 979-826-7651.
Gonzales: Gonzales Master Gardeners hold their monthly meeting at noon on the first Thursday of each month at 623 Fair Street, Gonzales. Bring a bag lunch, drinks provided. Contact AgriLife Extension Office at 830-672-8531 or visit http://gonzalesmastergardeners.org for more information.
New Braunfels: The Comal Garden Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Southbank Clubhouse, 222 Southbank Blvd., New Braunfels.
SECOND WEEK
Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month (except December) at the Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; club business begins at 7:00 p.m., followed by a presentation. 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 The First Methodist Church, 1031 TX-456 Loop, Jacksonville. For additional information, contact Kim Benton at kim.benton@ag.tamu.edu.
Cedar Park/Leander/Liberty Hill: The Hill Country Bloomers meet the second Tuesday of each month (except December) at 7 p.m. at the Cedar Park Recreation Center, 1435 Main Street, Cedar Park. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to socialize and swap plants and seeds. Meetings feature guest speakers on a variety of topics for the home gardener or landscaper. They host a plant sale in the spring and a garden tour in the late summer/early fall. Throughout the year they contribute time and expertise to local projects. Those with any level of experience are welcome. Non-members are invited to their first meeting at no cost. Membership and speaker info is available at www.hillcountrybloomers.com.
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.
Seguin/Marion: The Guadalupe Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the second Tuesday of the month except for July, August, and December. The Chapter alternates meetings. Seguin, First Presbyterian Church, January, March, May, September and November. Marion, St. John Lutheran Church, February, April, June and October. Meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Program at 7:00 p.m., Visitors are always welcome. For more information, contact guadalupecounty@npsot.org or visit https://npsot.org/wp/guadalupe/
Quitman: The Quitman Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Quitman Library on E Goode Street, Quitman. It is a diverse group that welcomes all visitors. For more information, e-mail quitmangardenclub@gmail.com.
Denton: The Denton County Master Gardener Association meets from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings are open to the public. For complete details, visit http://dcmga.com/.
Humble: The Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, hosts a Lunch Bunch the second Wednesday of each month from noon until 2 p.m. Take a sack lunch or order a box lunch from Starbucks when you call 281-443-8731 to reserve your spot. Master Gardeners and Masters Naturalists may earn CEU credits by attending.
Jacksboro: The Jacksboro Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month (except June, July and August) at the Concerned Citizens Center, 400 East Pine Street, Jacksboro. For more information, call Melinda at 940-567-6218.
Longview: The Gregg County Master Gardeners Association's Learn at Lunch program meet the second Wednesday of each month. The business meeting begins at 11:30 a.m., with the program at noon, at the AgriLife Extension Office, 405 E. Marshall Ave., Longview. The program is presented for horticultural education and is free to the public. For further information call 903-236-8429, visit www.txmg.org/gregg, or like us on Facebook at Gregg County Master Gardeners.
Rockport: The Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the
second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. at 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport, to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation. Sometimes they take field trips and have cooking demonstrations in different locations. For more information, contact Linda 361-729-6037, Ruth 361-729-8923 or Cindy 979-562-2153 or visit www.rockportherbs.org and http://rockportherbies.blogspot.com.
Woodway: The McLennan County Master Gardeners meeting is held on the second Wednesday of each each month at noon at the Central Presbyterian Church, 9191 Woodway Dr., Woodway. For more information, call 254-757-5180.
Beaumont: The Jefferson County Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. (social) 7:00 (meeting) the second Thursday of each month except in July in the AgriLife Extension auditorium, 1225 Pearl 2nd floor (downtown Beaumont next to the Court House). For more information contact: 409-835-8461 or txmg.org/jcmg.
Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street. Georgetown. For additional information, contract Kathy Henderson at kshend@verizon.net or visit http://www.npsot.org/wp/wilco.
Orange: The Orange County Master Gardeners Association holds their monthly meeting on the second Thursday of each month. A short program is presented. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the new Orange County Expo Center on Hwy 1442 in Orangefield. Enter the building in the front entrance, first door on the right, Texas AgriLife offices. Pot luck supper at 6 p.m. Visit http://txmg.org/orange for more information.
Pasadena: The Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month at The Genoa Friendship Garden Educational Building at 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Pasadena. The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.
San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels (corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels). For more information on programs, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org.
San Marcos: The Spring Lake Garden Club meets the second Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m., September-May, at McCoy's Building Supply Headquarters, 1350 IH-35, San Marcos. Contact Terri Boyd (512) 395-66644 x6134.
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. at Peace Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 2201 Rio Grande Blvd., 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 10:00 a.m. 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.
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 Gardeners meet on the third Monday of each month at Johnson. County Agricultural Office, 109 W. Chambers, Cleburne. Meeting times are at 6 p.m. An educational program precedes the business meeting.
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 comalmg.org.
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.
Abilene: The Master Gardeners meet the third Tuesday of each month at the Taylor County Extension Office, 1982 Lytle Way, Abilene. For more information, contact Big Country Master Gardeners Association at mgardeners@yahoo.com.
Alvarado: The Alvarado Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month during the months of September through May (excluding December). The meeting time is 1 p.m. and the locations vary for each meeting. The club hosts a different and exciting speaker each month that focuses on enriching the lives of all gardeners. Meetings are free and include a light lunch. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, please contact 817-680-4291.
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.
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/.
Waco: The McLennan County Master Gardeners host Lunch with the Masters on the third Wednesday of each month at noon at MCC’s Emergency Services Education Center (ESEC), 7601 Steinbeck Bend Dr., Waco. These educational programs are free and open to the public. Attendees bring their own lunch. For more information, call 254-757-5180.
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, 107 Fink Street, 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 afterwards. Visitors are welcome! Please email Sharon Harrigan at sharonspetals@gmail.com for more information.
Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston Chapter meets at 6:45 pm on the third Thursday of each month at the Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway, Houston. For more information about meeting presentations and native plants, visit https://npsot.org/wp/houston/.
Mineola: The Fannie Marchman Garden Club meets at the Mineola Civic Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month from September through May. For additional information, find them on Facebook or email FannieMarchmanGardenClub@gmail.com.
Ft. Worth: The North Texas Daylily Society is affiliated with the American Daylily Society and is located in AHS Region 6. Club meetings are held in the Camellia Room located inside the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, on the third Thursday of each month (excluding June and July). Throughout the year NTDS hosts guest speakers, special interest programs, an annual daylily show, an annual daylily sale, and social activities and outings. For more information visit, their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/northtexasdaylilysociety.
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 with presentation is held 6:00-8:00 p.m. During the intervening months (Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct.), afternoon educational seminars/general meetings are held from 1:00-3:00 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.
Fort Worth: The Greater Fort Worth Herb Society meetings are held the third Saturday of each month at Texas Garden Club Inc, 3111 Old Garden Club Rd., Fort Worth (located next to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden), 10:00 a.m. to noon, September through June. For more information, email herbalhen@yahoo.com.
FOURTH WEEK
New Braunfels: The New Braunfels Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the fourth Monday of each month except July and December. Meetings are held at the New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E. Common St, New Braunfels. Meetings are “hybrid” with in-person and Zoom available. They start at 5:45 PM. with a meet and greet time, followed by a short business meeting at 6:15 PM. Programs begin at 6:30 PM. Native plant and seed exchanges are held monthly. Expert speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information about Zoom or to join, visit https://npsot.org/wp/newbraunfels/.
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 County Extension Office, 4153 County Park Ct., 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.
San Antonio: The Native Plant Society of Texas San Antonio Chapter meets the fourth Tuesday of each month, except August, November and December, at the Gathering Hall at The Urban Ecology Center at Phil Hardberger Park and via Zoom. 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 (except November and December) at the Houston Red Cross Building, 2700 Southwest Freeway, Houston. Refreshments served at 6:30 p.m. 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 June, July and August) at 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Room of the Leander Presbyterian Church, 101 N. West St., Leander, unless there is a special event planned. Following a program and short business meeting, there is a pot-luck luncheon. To confirm the meeting place and time, please call President Kathleen Tully at 512-422-8580 or email LeanderGardenClub@gmail.com.
Dallas: The Dallas County Master Gardeners meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. For location and program information, visit http://www.dallascountymastergardeners.org/ or contact The Helpdesk, M-F, 8 to 4:30 214-904-3053.
Denton: The Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets the fourth Thursday of each month to share information about native plants. Excellent programs are heard each month. Social time begins at 6:30, program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit https://npsot.org/wp/trinityforks/.
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, hosts a garden Open Days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. Drop-in tours are permitted but pre-registration is encouraged. Docent led tours are $10 for guests, free for members. For more information, http://peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/.
Dallas: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month (except November and December) at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas. For more information, visit www.gdogc.org.
|
|
Texas Gardener's Seeds is published weekly. © Suntex Communications, Inc. 2023. All rights reserved. You may forward this publication to your friends and colleagues if it is sent in its entirety. No individual part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher.
Texas Gardener's Seeds has been published each Wednesday since April 26, 2006.
Texas Gardener's Seeds, P.O. Box 1676, Brenham, Texas 77834-1676
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
