Rose rosette is a fatal viral disease spread by mites onto rose bushes. The disease leads to excessive thorn production, leaf distortion and excessive stem development, known as witches broom, at the ends of branches. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo) |
New research tackles rose rosette, black spot diseases |
By Kay Ledbetter
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
A new rose cultivar might smell sweet, but will it resist disease? Texas A&M AgriLife is leading a team of researchers to ensure the answer is “yes” to alleviate the estimated $10 million in annual disease-related loss to the rose industry.
“The goal of our latest project is to meet the increasing demand for carefree and sustainable roses that require fewer inputs, are resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses, and have high ornamental quality,” said David Byrne, Ph.D.
Byrne, the Basye Chair in Rose Genetics, is co-leading the new project with Oscar Riera-Lizarazu, Ph.D., both Texas A&M AgriLife Research rose geneticists in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Their new project, “Developing Sustainable Rose Landscapes via Rose Rosette Disease Education, Socioeconomic Assessments, and Breeding RRD-Resistant Roses with Stable Black Spot Resistance,” received $4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative.
Resistance necessary to rose rosette, black spot diseases
Rose rosette disease, caused by the rose rosette virus, is a significant threat to cultivation and production throughout the U.S. Black spot disease is the major fungal disease of field-grown roses throughout the world.
“These are the two most damaging rose diseases, and resistance to both is essential in a sustainable cultivar,” Byrne said.
Approximately 35% of garden roses sold are used by the professional landscape market. Recently, this sector has decreased its use of roses by about 10% each year due to rose rosette disease, according to the Census of Horticulture Specialties.
Currently, most cultivated roses are susceptible to these diseases, Byrne said, and thus the transport and distribution of infected asymptomatic plants propagates the disease spread. Already, plantings have been devastated in the Midwest and Eastern seaboard and major landscape firms are stopping the use of roses in some regions.
“We are concerned rose rosette disease has the potential to devastate the major rose production regions on the West Coast, Arizona and Florida if it is spread to those regions,” he said.
The project’s long-term goal is to develop sustainable landscapes based on cultivars resistant to rose rosette and black spot diseases.
This involves combining traditional plant breeding, with field evaluation sites in Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma, with molecular genetics to accelerate the process of stacking multiple copies of multiple resistance genes into a rose. This approach should at least double the rate of progress, reducing the time it takes to develop highly disease-resistant, sustainable plants for gardens, Byrne said.
In collaboration with industry partners and hundreds of citizen scientists, Extension programs in Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and Ohio will monitor rose rosette disease’s geographic distribution. In multi-state trials, these collaborators will determine the best practices for managing the diseases, including chemical and cultural control methods as well as disease-resistant germplasm.
As the management options are developed, the economics specialists on the team will assess the socio-economic impacts of the various management practices to provide decision support for the industry and gardeners.
“These sustainable best management practices will reduce human and environmental exposure to agrochemicals and will be designed to avoid the introduction of the disease into regions that currently do not have it and to manage its severity in infested regions,” Byrne said.
An extensive network of private and public stakeholders, including breeding programs, production and wholesale/retail nurseries, landscapers, consumers, rose enthusiasts, public gardens, major rose testing organizations and industry publishers, have committed to work with the Extension team to disseminate the information.
“We believe this widespread education will lead to better management and lower costs for the industry and longer-lived plants that deliver enhanced enjoyment and consumer satisfaction,” Byrne said.
The ultimate goal is the restoration of healthy rose collections to botanical gardens, public parks and private landscapes to improve the aesthetics, thus resulting in improved wellbeing and property values.
Nationwide effort in place
The multi-state team consists of 21 researchers from Texas A&M; the University of Minnesota; the University of Tennessee; USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland; the University of Tulsa; Oklahoma State University; the University of Georgia at Athens and Tifton; The Ohio State University; and the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.
In addition to Byrne and Riera-Lizarazu of the Rose Breeding and Genetics Program, the Texas A&M AgriLife team consists of Charlie Hall, Ph.D., Ellison Chair in Floriculture, and Patricia Klein, Ph.D., professor and executive associate dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, both in the Department of Horticultural Sciences; Kevin Ong, Ph.D., plant pathologist and director of the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, and Jeanmarie Verchot, Ph.D., plant virologist, both in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology; Luis Ribera, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist and director of Texas A&M’s Center for North American Studies; and Marco Palma, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics. All the Texas A&M AgriLife team members are based in Bryan-College Station.
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Trees still struggling with effects of drought, leading to muted fall colors, potential for pests |
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Texas A&M Forest Service
A summer without significant rain could lead to an autumn without significant fall colors.
Despite some late summer rain, much of Texas remains abnormally dry or in some stage of drought, and trees across the state are continuing to show signs of stress.
This fall is expected to be warmer and drier than average, and combined with the effects related to the lingering drought, that means this year’s fall foliage may be less vibrant than usual.
“Many trees put on fewer, smaller leaves this spring or started to change color or prematurely drop their leaves in the summer,” said Karl Flocke, Texas A&M Forest Service Woodland Ecologist. “All of this will most likely lead to fall colors that are less impressive than in years past.”
Deciduous trees drop their leaves in the fall to conserve energy. Normally, fall colors start showing when the green chlorophyll in the leaves begins breaking down.
“However, due to the drought, some trees have already defoliated,” said Courtney Blevins, Texas A&M Forest Service Urban Forester. “Others still have their leaves, but they are dead and brown. These trees obviously will not be giving us any fall colors to enjoy this year.”
The best opportunity to see fall foliage at its peak in Texas will be mid- to late-November, according to a fall foliage predication map at smokymountains.com.
During prolonged periods of drought, trees can generate yellow and brown pigments to protect their photosynthetic organs from damage caused by excess sunlight.
“This is similar to the process that causes the color change of leaves in the fall, but instead of being triggered by cold weather, it is caused by abnormally dry conditions,” Flocke said. “This is one of the reasons why people may have noticed dull yellows and browns across Texas for months now, even though we have still not experienced widespread cold weather.”
Even when drought conditions relent, trees could continue to struggle with the effects of the prolonged dry period for years. Those effects include secondary pests and diseases that target trees already under stress from other factors, including a lack of water.
“There are many long-term effects that trees will have to deal with years after the drought has ended,” said Blevins. “They don’t just suffer during the drought. Add to this the stress from the 2021 freeze, and it complicates the situation even further.”
Wood-boring insects, root rots and canker-causing pathogens are particularly common in many tree species after drought. Trees also may be stressed by human activities, such as construction or other actions that disturb or compact soil or damage roots.
There are dozens of species of wood-boring insects, but they are all similar in destruction, and infestations can increase dramatically in stressed trees. Wood borers, particularly bark beetles, flatheaded borers and longhorn beetle larvae, tunnel under the bark, and if enough of them colonize a tree, it will eventually die from damage to the phloem layer — the part of the tree that transports food.
In pine trees, infestations of Ips bark beetles can prove especially devastating after drought. The beetles will feed on the tissue of the trees, causing the pine needles to fade to a light rust color before turning dark brown and eventually falling off and defoliating the trees. By the time a pine tree starts turning colors, it could be too late to save.
In live oaks and other hardwoods, ambrosia beetles are common after drought or stress periods, with compacted toothpick-shaped sawdust coming out of the bark as a typical sign of infestation. Symptoms of an infestation include the sudden discoloration of leaves in the crown or branches. Infestations in juvenile trees usually prove fatal. Mature trees may survive the infestation but typically makes the tree susceptible to other health issues.
The best option is to ward off an attack by keeping trees healthy so that they won’t be attractive to beetles and their natural defenses can fend off attacks.
With many shade trees going into premature dormancy and otherwise stressed because of the dry summer, it can be difficult to assess their health. Just because leaves begin to fall from a tree, does not mean the tree is dead. For small trees, you can use a fingernail to scrape some of the smaller twigs. If there is green underneath, the tree is not dead.
Providing water is the most helpful way to reduce the stress to trees during drought conditions. Established trees may not need supplemental water, but should be monitored for signs of stress, including leaves that are dropping or wilting, small or malformed leaves, and yellowing or browning of the tips of leaves.
Younger trees should be watered up to three times per week in the absence of precipitation. Early in the morning and late in the evening are the best times to water to avoid the water being lost to evaporation during the heat of the day.
The toll from the drought on the state’s trees won’t be known for some time, as it could take months for stressed trees to show symptoms.
In the meantime, landowners should keep a close watch on their trees and take measures to maintain tree health throughout the year.
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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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The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has caused the cancellation or rescheduling of many events these past few years. If you wish to attend any of the events listed below, please contact the presenters in advance to determine if the event has been cancelled, postponed, moved online or if it will take place as scheduled. |
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OCTOBER
Houston and online: Propagating roses is one of the most difficult and rewarding hobbies once you see the newly created rose bush. Roses can be propagated from the planting of cuttings, grafting cuttings onto a new root stock, or using seeds from the rose's hips. Deanna Krause will share with us her proven techniques to propagate as a way to expand and share her garden with others. Deanna and her husband, Earl, have been growing roses for over 40 years and are active rose exhibitors with many first-place trophies. Their garden includes unique rose varieties that are hard to find in other gardens. Ray Ponton, a long-time friend and hybridizer with the Texas Rose Rustlers named one of his seedlings in commerce after Deanna. You can purchase the shrub "Deanna Krause' at the Antique Rose Emporium. All Consulting Rosarians who attend this virtual meeting will receive one hour of continuing education credit. CRs will be required to email Suzanne Gilbert at sgilbert2@icloud.com prior to the meeting with their email address and screen name used on GoTo Meeting and also include the name of their rose society in order to receive credit. The meeting will be held at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1819 Heights Blvd., Houston, or virtually from the comfort of your home using a computer, tablet, or smart phone at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 13. To join online: https://meet.goto.com/957814789. If you are new to GoTo Meeting, get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install.
Bryan: Brazos County Master Gardeners present Learning at the Library – “Tis the Season for Seasonal Plants,” Saturday, October 15, 10:00 a.m., Clara Mounce Public Library, 201 E. 26th St., Bryan. Brazos County Master Gardener Maureen Reap will talk about how to select plants that will last through the holiday and what to do with them afterwards. This event is open to the public at no charge.
Georgetown: The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host an organic growers conference Oct. 18-19 at Williamson County EMS, 3189 S.E. Inner Loop, Georgetown. The event will cover the fundamentals of organic farming and how to become a certified organic grower. The event will be from 1:30-5:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Oct. 19. Cost is $50 and preregistration is required at https://tx.ag/OrganicGrowers. Contact Kate Whitney, AgriLife Extension horticulturist for Williamson County, at 512-943-3300 or by email at kate.whitney@ag.tamu.edu for additional information. Conference schedule: Oct. 18: Introduction to the World of Organics – Bob Whitney, AgriLife Extension state organic program specialist, Stephenville; Tour of Gabriel Valley Farm – Cathy Slaughter, owner, Georgetown. Oct. 19: Cover Crops – Bob Whitney; Soils, Soil Microbiology and Rhizosphere – Betsy Pierson, Ph.D., professor, Texas A&M Department of Horticulture Sciences, Bryan-College Station; Organic Crop Pest Control: More Than Magic – Holly Davis, Ph.D., Certis Biologicals field development manager and entomologist, Floresville; Beneficials in Organics – Blaine Junfin, Kunafin “The Insectary” entomologist, Del Rio; Soil Testing for Nutrients and Health – Bob Whitney; An Organic Program is Not All That Hard – Brandi Chandler, Texas Department of Agriculture coordinator for organic certification, Austin; All About Compost – Zong Liu, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Bryan-College Station.
Online: Harris County Master Gardners present "Citrus Trees" 11:00 a.m.-noon, October 18. Free virtual lecture through Harris County Public Library. No reservation needed: facebook.com/harriscountypl/events.
Bryan: Brazos County Master Gardeners present an educational program Tuesday, October 25, 7:00 p.m., Brazos County Extension Office, 4153 County Park Court, Bryan. Brazos County Master Gardeners will host Gretchen Riley, Head of the Forest Systems Department of the Texas A&M Forest Service, who will talk on selecting, planting and caring for trees in our urban Texas gardens, a timely subject after the losses we’ve sustained this summer. This event is open to the public at no charge.
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NOVEMBER
Tyler: The award-winning Smith County Master Gardener Association will host the Texas Superstar State Master Gardener Advanced Training November 1-3 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, 5701 South Broadway Ave., Tyler (903-561-5800).This training was created as an intensive multi-day workshop that helps empower Master Gardeners with knowledge and skills required to effectively support and multiply Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service efforts in Earth-Kind horticultural education within their counties. During the training, certified Texas Master Gardeners will learn about the history of the Texas Superstar plant program as well as the benefits and landscape usages of these specially designated plants. The class winds up with a tour of the Tyler Botanical Garden and an invitation to attend the Smith County Master Gardener Association monthly meeting where Smith County horticulturist Greg Grant will present a lecture on landscaping with native plants. Instructors for this year’s training include Greg Grant, David Rodriguez, Dr. Larry Stein, and special guests Keith Hansen, Erin Smith, and Dr. Andrew King. Rodriguez is the Bexar County Horticulturist, Stein the head of Extension Horticulture at Texas A&M, Hansen the retired Smith County Horticulturist-Emeritus, Smith a research Associate at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, and King the owner of King’s Nursery in Tenaha. To be eligible for the Texas Superstar Advanced Training, an applicant must possess an up-to-date Master Gardener certification. Master Gardener applications must be approved by their local Master Gardener program coordinator and County Extension Agent. Only two Master Gardeners per county are allowed, unless space is available by noon Monday, October 3. Additional Master Gardeners in each county should sign up on the waiting list. The cost for the training is $225 if registering by October 3. After that, the cost is $250. To register (or for more information) call 903-590-2980 or visit the Smith County Master Gardener website at txmg.org/smith/ and click on coming events. Registration deadline is October 17, and spaces are limited.
Houston: Houstonians will have the opportunity to purchase a large variety of herb plants, culinary blends, teas, crafts and more at the 49th Houston Herb Fair on Saturday, November 5 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Southside Place Clubhouse, 3743 Garnet Street, Houston, near West University. Beyond the herbal marketplace, the Herb Fair boasts an onsite cafe with baked goods. Kids and adults alike are invited to join us for craft activities and educational demonstrations. The Herb Fair is free to attend. More information is available at http://www.herbsociety-stu.org/.
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DECEMBER
Online: Plantable Christmas Tree Alternatives, by Brandi Keller - Texas A&M AgriLife County Extension Agent – Horticulture, Thursday, December 1, 10:00 a.m., FREE Virtual Lecture, Register is Required at homegrown2022.eventbrite.com.
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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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Marion: The Guadalupe Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the second Tuesday of each month except July, August and December at St. John Lutheran Church in Marion. Directions to St. John 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 always welcome. For more information or an application to join NPSOT 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 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.
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 Gardener's meet on the third Monday of each month at Johnson. County Agricultural Office, 109 W. Chambers, 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 Elaine Bell at 817-309-8052.
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/.
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 American Red Cross Building, 2700 Southwest Fwy. For more information about meeting presentations and native plants, visit http://npsot.org/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 Westside Community Center, 2932 S. I-35 Frontage Road, New Braunfels. Meetings start at 6:15 p.m. with a meet and greet time, followed by a short business meeting. Programs begin around 7:00. 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 or to join, visit www.npsot.org.
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 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 (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. 2022. 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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