Survey finds room for more than 500 new trees in Houston neighborhood’s battle against urban heat |
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Texas A&M Forest Service
A community that has been identified as the hottest neighborhood in Houston could support more than 500 additional trees in public spaces, according to a recent street-by-street analysis conducted by Texas A&M Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy in Texas.
Last month’s survey of available public space for tree plantings is part of a comprehensive community initiative to mitigate the effects of heat, improve air quality and enhance nature in the Gulfton Super Neighborhood in southwest Houston.
The effort, known as Greener Gulfton, aims to increase the tree canopy across the neighborhood and reduce the impact of urban heat islands on the community. Urban heat islands are areas where temperatures are higher than surrounding rural areas due to the lack of vegetation and the concentration of concrete and asphalt.
The mapping of potential locations for new trees, done through a software application developed by Texas A&M Forest Service, will allow the partners behind the initiative to plan and implement tree-planting projects that will have a positive impact on the health and well-being of Gulfton residents.
The neighborhood, which sits between the 610 Loop and Beltway 8, southeast of Interstate 69 and north of Bellaire Boulevard, is home to a diverse population and is dominated by apartment complexes along with a mix of commercial and industrial development. It was the hottest neighborhood in a 2020 heat-mapping study of parts of Harris County conducted by The Nature Conservancy and a coalition of government agencies and research institutions — measuring 17 degrees warmer than the coolest area recorded in the county during the project.
Mac Martin, Texas A&M Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program Partnership Coordinator, said the neighborhood is lacking in tree canopy, which plays a role in making it warmer than other parts of the city and contributes to increased stormwater runoff and health-related issues like asthma and respiratory problems.
“It’s a heavily developed neighborhood,” Martin said. “So it’s great to see that there are so many opportunities to incorporate nature that will have a direct benefit for the residents.”
Martin said the estimates collected from the street survey will be used to calculate values of the added trees for economic, health and biodiversity benefits, creating a “before and after” snapshot of the neighborhood.
“That comparison will help show what more trees can really do for this community and others like it in terms of reducing heat and increasing the quality of life,” Martin said.
The goal is to use the data to attract funding to establish and maintain new trees in the Gulfton neighborhood, said Jaime González, Community and Equitable Conservation Programs Director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas.
“We want to get more information about what the urban forest looks like and where we can take it if we all work together,” González said. “That’s why this research is indispensable and will lead to some really good outcomes for the community.”
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By Valerie Smith
Sod Solutions Content Strategist
Have you ever noticed tiny black insects in your grass? If so, these could be chinch bugs — and they love to chow down on St. Augustine grass! One of the hardest things to distinguish between are the differences between drought damage, disease damage or insect damage. In fact, chinch bug damage looks very similar to drought. So how do we properly diagnose a chinch bug problem and more importantly, how do we treat an infestation? Below are some of the most frequently asked questions, a video and an infographic about chinch bugs. Although there are several different types of chinch bugs, most of this article will focus on the southern chinch bug. Look at the informational video on Clemson University Entomologist Dr. J.C. Chong who discusses the appropriate ways to identify, prevent and treat an infestation.
What are chinch bugs?
Chinch bugs are tiny black insects commonly found in lawns and gardens throughout North America. There are several different types of chinch bugs including the common chinch bug, the hairy chinch bug, the southern chinch bug and the western chinch bug.
Chinch bugs can be spotted in other grass types like centipede grass, but they tend to love St. Augustine grass the most.
What do chinch bugs look like?
The southern chinch bug is usually dark red, black or brown in color with a white band across the middle of its body. Some species of adult chinch bugs feature two distinctive white spots on their backs. They typically measure to about four millimeters in length (about 1/10th of an inch), which is about the equivalent of the tip of a pen. The immatures are either bright red or grayish with white line across their back.
What do chinch bugs feed on?
Chinch bugs enjoy eating plants in the grass family (mainly St. Augustine grass), however, you can also spot them in other grasses like zoysia grass, bermuda grass and others or agricultural crops like wheat, sorghum, rye, barley, oats and corn.
Although chinch bugs are a type of beetle, there is not a grub or larvae stage or a pupa/cocoon stage during the chinch bug lifecycle. Chinch bugs love lush, heavily fertilized grass and prefer grass that boasts a heavy thatch layer. They are not big fans of moisture.
How do chinch bugs damage grass?
Chinch bugs eat grass blades as a food source. They suck on the blades of grass and then inject the grass blades with poison in their saliva that stops water movement within the blade. This causes the grass blade to turn yellow and die. As a result, the chinch bug moves on to another nearby grass blade.
Over time, they move outward, forming a perimeter of large, dead patches in your lawn. Chinch bugs go through a gradual metamorphosis beginning as an egg, hatching as nymphs without wings and then transforming into adults with the addition of wings.
What time of year do chinch bugs damage lawns?
Depending on the area you’re located in and the type of climate your area has, chinch bugs begin to become active in the early spring, but they are the most active and destructive during late June-September when weather is warmest. Most people start to see visible damage around the beginning of August.
How do I identify a chinch bug infestation?
Chinch bug damage is easy to identify. At first, you’ll see a general yellowing of the turf, but the grass eventually dies and they can kill the entire lawn. Other symptoms include thin, bare spots that are not good looking even at a low infestation level. Damage looks similar to drought damage, so if you know your area has received a lot of water or you’ve kept up with proper irrigation practices and can rule out drought, you may have chinch bugs.
Diseases like brown patch, which St. Augustine is prone to, appear in circular patterns whereas chinch bug damage has irregular patchy areas of damage. This can make diagnosis difficult. However, the best thing to do is take samples and send to your local extension office for diagnosis.
You may be able to spot chinch bugs toward the edges of your lawn where you can see further into the grass canopy. Chinch bugs are really small, so you may need a magnifying glass.
You can also detect chinch bugs by conducting a soap flush test. Take an empty coffee canister or similar can and make sure it is open on both sides so that it does not have a top or a bottom. You should be able to remove the top and the bottom of the can with a can opener the same way you would open a can of beans in the kitchen.
Once you have removed the top and the bottom, stick the can three inches deep into the soil. You may have to force the end of the can into your lawn or dig a small hole prior to setting the can up.
Fill up 3/4s of the can with water and let it sit for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes are up, stir the water so that you agitate everything inside and see if any chinch bugs float to the top. You can also do this with PBC pipe with a sharpened edge, as Dr. J.C. Chong explains in the above video, that you can push two or three inches into the soil.
Where can I find chinch bugs in my lawn?
If you want to try to look for chinch bugs, be sure to bring a magnifying lens with you as you spread the turf near the soil with your hand. They are harmless to humans, so don’t worry about being bitten. It may be easier to spot chinch bugs if you look toward the ends of your lawn where you may typically edge so that you can see part of the soil and where the grass is growing.
How do I treat chinch bugs?
Cultural Control
There are a few things you can do to prevent and control chinch bugs without insecticides. However, these are not always the most effective treatments and chinch bug damage may continue to ensue. As previously mentioned, chinch bugs like hot, dry conditions for optimum feeding. This is why it’s helpful to irrigate your lawn during hot, dry weather periods. One inch of rainfall or irrigation a week is sufficient.
Another step you can make is thatch removal. Chinch bugs move into hibernation during the winter and occupy the soil’s surface. Use a rake to remove thatch from the top layer of your lawn to destroy hibernation sites or locations where eggs and nymphs may live.
Chemical Control
If your lawn’s damage is severe and the chinch bugs are not manageable with cultural methods, you can use a chemical treatment. Insecticide treatments are usually required when populations reach 15-20 sq. ft. in a yard. There is an abundance of insecticides you can apply on your lawn for chinch bug treatment — granular or liquid.
The chemicals you will need to look for are trichlorfon (this can be kind of harsh, so use it in extreme infestations), bifenthrin and carbaryl. Bifenthrin is the most recommended chemical for homeowner usage. Be sure to read the label carefully before purchasing or applying the insecticide on your lawn.
How do I prevent chinch bugs?
The absolute best treatment strategy for chinch bugs is preventing them before an infestation gets out of hand. Damage typically doesn’t show up until August, but it can still appear at different times of the year. Preventing beforehand will save you a lot of time and money. Start with doing this in late June and early July.
Earwigs are insects that are good for your lawn and garden. Earwigs feed on other damaging lawn insects such as chinch bugs, sod webworms and smaller sized mole crickets. In fact, earwigs can eat up to 50 chinch bugs in a day.
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Upcoming Garden Events
If you would like your organization's events included in "Upcoming Garden Events" or would like to make a change to a listed event, please contact us at Garden Events. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details at least three weeks prior to the event.
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MAY
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/.
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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.
Houston and Online: Houston Rose Society will meet online and in-person at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 8. The meeting will be led by Mary Fulgham and Randy Keen, who recently won four trophies at the American Rose Society’s National Show held in Shreveport last month. Mary and Randy grow more than 200 hundred roses at their home in Bellaire and have been members of HRS since 1978. Mary is currently Co-Editor of The Rose-Ette, HRS Past President, ARS Master Rosarian and Horticultural Judge. Mary and Randy encourage members to bring at least one rose to the meeting so they can walk attendees through the easy process of reading the show schedule and entering blooms into the show. HRS is hosting the South Central District Show on October 28 at the Bellaire Civic Center and we are hoping our members will participate. If you can't bring a rose, come anyway to watch the interesting “tricks of the trade” and to enjoy the in-person fellowship with others who love roses. If you cannot attend in person at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church,1819 Heights Blvd., Houston, you can also join us from the comfort of your home on a computer, tablet or smart phone using GoTo Meeting at 7 pm CT. Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone: https://meet.goto.com/539617501. Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install.
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/.
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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).
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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).
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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).
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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.
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Monthly Meetings
If you would like your organization's events included in "Monthly Meetings" or would like to make a change to a listed meeting, please contact us at Monthly Meetings. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details.
FIRST WEEK
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.
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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
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