October 11, 2023

Lawn, garden and tree recovery from our brutal summer

By Mike Serant

Owner of MicroLife Organic Biological Fertilizers

https://www.microlifefertilizer.com/

For most of us, the summer drought and heat wave of 2023 was the worst we have ever experienced, even more severe that the drought of 2011. Couple this year with last summer’s heat/drought and we need to think seriously about giving our lawns and gardens the best chance to survive. We fully expect the future summers to be tough as well.

Building resiliency and internal strength for our soils and plants becomes essential. We all know that we absolutely need gardens and landscapes for our spiritual, mental and physical well-being. There is also the economic value of your landscapes too. A well-maintained landscape adds up to 15% of the total home value. For example, a $300,000 home may have $45,000 of that value tied to the landscapes.

In addition to the home value, we want our landscapes to be safe and happy places. We want gardens that are easy to enjoy and not sprayed with a bunch of chemical poisons.

To achieve the highest level of climate resiliency and to have safe, nontoxic environments, only organics will work. This is because of two basic truths about organics. 1) Only organics, not chemicals, follow Natural Law. So, what is Natural Law? Natural Law is how Mother Nature takes care of itself in the absence of humans. Plants have been on Earth for approximately 500 million years. Needless to say, Creation knows its business. Rather than tell Mother Nature what to do, let’s understand the way she wants to operate and flow with that. 2) Only Organics follows the Laws of Nutrition. The Laws of Nutrition clearly state that if you feed any organism the highest nutrition possible, that organism be it human, animal or plant will hit its optimum potential and have the least problems. Basically, we call this epigenetics, determining our future by what we do today.

With our lawns, gardens and trees we can affect their future by what we do today. With organics you’ll build the internal strength of your soils and plants plus have unparalleled beauty without toxicity. And you’ll save a small fortune on reduced water cost.

Feed the Soil and Feed the Plant

The original organic adage. When we say ‘feed the soil’ we don’t mean the clay, silt or sand particles but the infinite number of microorganisms that inhabit the soil ecosystem. Creation has evolved that the soil microbes and plants work together in a harmonious, symbiotic relationship. The plant gives up to 80% of its manufactured food through photosynthesis out the root system to attract and feed the microbes. The beneficial microbes in return protect the plant from harm, build bigger plant root systems, bring more nutrition to the plant and overall assist the plant with healthy growth. We know from scientific studies at The University of Illinois and The University of Manchester, among others, that a healthy soil ecosystem, teaming with microbes helps plants withstand drought better than plants in a poor microbe ecosystem. To see these studies, just Google “soil microbes help plants during droughts.”

What this all means is to be very discriminating in what you put on the soil. Whatever the material, be it compost, humates or fertilizers, etc., it must make the soil and the plant stronger. Another important organic adage, “To the soil do no harm.”

Recommended actions this fall to restore your lawns, gardens and trees.

On every square foot of soil, lawns, veggie beds, container pots and gardens of all types; apply either MicroLife Humates Plus or Leaf Mold Compost. This will start the revitalization of your landscape. The carbon, minerals and beneficial microbes in MicroLife Humates Plus or compost will rebuild your soils, restructure your soils and will breathe life back into stressed plants. Our goal is to save as many plants as we can. Unfortunately, a lot of plants have died and will die over the next several months. But most are on life support and need a helping hand. The cooler weather and rains will certainly help but all plants need a strong health boost that only organics can give.

The next step for all soils and plants is to apply MicroLife 624 everywhere. Many plants have started going into their all dormancy as the fall equinox occurred September 23. When plants enter their dormant period, they are still actively alive just in a different stage. Like when we go to sleep, we’re not dead, we are rebuilding. Fall is considered the most important time to fertilizer because the nutrition applied goes to build big roots, store up carbohydrates’ reserves needed for the spring growth and to build up cold-weather tolerance. Several sources are stating that we will have another cold winter so prepare now by taking great care of your plants.

A good quality organic fertilizer will give much greater nutrition than chemical fertilizers because they contain a greater magnitude of minerals and are a food source for the soil microbes. Most chemical fertilizers have only three minerals, and plants need at least 52. Plus, most chemical fertilizers are very high in salts, which kill microbes and cause soil compaction.

With organic fertilizer, humates and/or leaf mold compost, we are restoring soil, improving tilth and helping roots get bigger. And it gets even better than this, Organics will improve water infiltration (irrigation is more efficient) and Organics will help your soil system store water for longer periods of time. City irrigation water is expensive and is hard on plants because of the salts and high pH it contains. With organics you will not have to water as often. With organics and the subsequent soil improvement, you’ll have more water enter the soil system instead of running off into the street. And the watering will have more impact because the improved soil means deeper, more meaningful watering.

Do not use “Weed and Feed Fertilizers”

All herbicides, even those labeled for turfgrass, are poisons and will negatively impact your already weakened turf. Plus, all trees and shrubs roots that grow in your turf area (and they all do) will be harmed as well. To control weeds without chemical poisons please download our free “Organic Weed Control Booklet” https://www.microlifefertilizer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Organic-Weed-Control.pdf. Weeds have deliberately been given a bad name because all the money that is made off the sale of chemical herbicides. Our lawn weeds need to be called something else, like lawn herbs or maybe urban meadow plants. All plants are putting energy into the soil and are working to make it better. Besides, who wants to walk on poisons?

Trees, the most valuable part of the landscapes

We should always care for our trees above all else. They are the most valuable part of any landscape. A tree is generally worth $1,000 per caliber inch. For example, if you have two 10” caliber Live Oaks, they add $20,000 to your overall property assessment. Plus, the positive impact trees have on our well-being is enormous. For a fascinating look at trees’ value to society please see this incredible, short 7-minute video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY8ds4BiG1A.

Mr. Ed Dolphin, a certified ISA arborist and owner of The Woodlands Tree Experts, https://thewoodlandstreeexperts.com/, suggests the following to help our trees recover from the summer of 2023: To all trees, pour MicroLife Ocean Harvest, mixed with water, around the root systems weekly. Additionally, if you can, apply Leaf Mold Compost or MicroLife Humates Plus on top of the underground tree system. The restorative powers of the Humates and compost will work their way down to the tree roots. Tree root systems can be quite large, as much as three times the size of the tree canopy. If you need a tree expert to help with your trees, it is best to use a certified arborist. To find a certified arborist in your area, visit https://isatexas.com/for-the-public/find-an-arborist/.

Bringing back to life your landscapes and gardens with organics will always you pay big dividends. Remember every organic application builds off the last. Keep it up and you’ll have lawns and gardens ready now and for the future.

Mike Serant is the creator and owner of MicroLife Fertilizers, www.microlifefertilizer.com and president of OHBA, a 501-c-3 dedicated to Organic education, www.ohbaonline.org.

Planting strawberries in the cooler months is ideal for better quality fruit. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Sam Craft)

If summer’s end has you in a jam, plant strawberries now

By Katharine Cook

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Strawberries are a classic spring and summer fruit across Texas and the U.S., with the ripest berries found from as early as February to as late as early June.

So fall may be a strange time to think about strawberries, but a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert said now is the perfect time to plan for fall planting.

Home gardeners may be accustomed to planting strawberries in the spring, however, they likely won’t get the best results, said Russell Wallace, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulturist, Lubbock.

“The cooler months, especially during October, is the prime time to start planting strawberries for better springtime yields and quality fruit,” Wallace said. “We oftentimes get nurseries that sell plants in the spring, and that is really the wrong time of year because it gets too hot, too quickly for the strawberries.”

Fall weather is favorable

While strawberries are best enjoyed under the hot sun, they are a cool-season plant. The cooler weather provides chill hours that improve bud development and, ultimately, fruit production, Wallace said.

He said if you do buy strawberry plants in the spring, you can keep them under shade to help keep them cooler. However, the air temperatures may be too warm.

Wallace said strawberry plants prefer an average daytime temperature of about 72-75 degrees. If you’re living in Texas, this means October is a good time to let transplants take root.

“Strawberries require a lot of care,” Wallace said. “They are best planted in the fall so they can get established during cooler weather.”

What, where and how of planting strawberries

Strawberries can thrive in small spaces and are ideal for square-foot gardening, Wallace said. But he stressed the importance of ensuring that they aren’t too close together, keeping them at about one plant per square foot. If plants are too close to each other they compete for nutrients, which may result in fewer and/or smaller berries.

Wallace added strawberry plants also prefer sandy soils, typically with a pH of less than 7.

He said soilless potting soil is effective but can require more daily care than usual because it can quickly dry your plants out. Wallace suggested keeping plants watered uniformly every day and using a water-soluble fertilizer twice a week.

When adding strawberries to your home garden, Wallace said to keep them as cool as possible.

“Try using shade cloth above your plants,” he said. “Place it about 5 feet or so above the plant to give it room to grow.”

When it comes to choosing the right strawberry variety for Texas, Wallace previously recommended planting June-bearers. However, he said further research revealed that several day-neutral varieties performed very well in Texas.

“My recommendation is to keep testing varieties to see what works best in your area,” Wallace said.

Changing your care with the seasons

Strawberries do require meticulous care, and with the changing weather from planting to harvest, the type of care administered changes. When you are planting in October, Wallace said it is important to keep the soil moist through consistent irrigation. It is also important for home growers to keep weeds and insects at bay.

Fertilizer is also an important amendment for strawberries.

“Keep them fertilized and try to promote as much plant growth as possible in the fall because that will increase more buds and more flowers later on in the spring,” Wallace said.

Depending on your location, Wallace said flowering and fruiting may start as early as January and last into the spring months. He said once you start to see flowers, it is vital to keep those flowers protected from freezing temperatures with plastic or row cover fabric.

For more information, see Wallace’s Low Tunnel Guide for Strawberries for home gardeners.

“You may lose flowers to cold temperatures, but they should reflower after that,” Wallace said. “But it will take about two or three weeks before they get more fruit if they are injured.”

When it comes to harvesting in the spring, Wallace warns against harvesting too early.

“You want to make sure they’re at least 75% red when they are picked to guarantee the best flavor,” Wallace said.

Protecting your strawberries

If you live in a cooler climate, you can protect your plants with a low tunnel covered with plastic. Generally, Wallace said if temperatures don’t go below freezing for very long, the plants should survive.

“Some of the leaves may burn off, but the plants should do just fine,” he said.

While you are protecting your plants against weather and insects, it’s also important to be wary of disease. Wallace notes that botrytis disease is very common on strawberry plants for home growers. A symptom of the disease is white or gray mold on the berries.

“It happens under very wet conditions,” Wallace said. “The flowers get infected, and then the fruit gets infected.”

He said if you aren’t using any pesticides, it’s best to pick the infected flowers or berries and put them in a plastic bag. Then, put them in the garbage as soon as possible to help curb the spread of the disease.

Make your plant selections now

Wallace suggested home growers start buying their plants now, since nurseries can sell out because many people understand this is the time of year to plant.

If you are not happy with the available varieties or are unable to find bare-root strawberry plants in the fall, you can look into online nurseries, he said.

“However, some larger nurseries have a minimum order of 30,000 since it is more cost effective for them,” Wallace said. “But some online nurseries will sell in bundles of 25, which is better for the smaller growers.”

OCTOBER

Houston & Online: Anita Clevenger will discuss ramblers and Ann Belovich’s amazing collection of over 350 varieties of rare ramblers that were located in the state of Washington. Anita will be joined by Claude Graves, who will share what the American Rose Society and the American Rose Center are doing to replicate and preserve Ann’s collection, as well as, establish a national conservation effort to reintroduce the ramblers into commerce and America’s gardens. This meeting has been approved for one hour of continuing education credit for ARS Consulting Rosarians. CRs are required to register by email to president@houstonrose.org with your GTM Screen name, email address, and rose society name in order to receive credit. This meeting is a hybrid meeting so you can join from home or office using a smart phone, tablet or computer using GoTo Meeting by clicking on the link below on October 12 at 7 p.m. or attending in person at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 1819 Heights Blvd., Houston. https://meet.goto.com/479378477. Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install.

Georgetown: The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will offer a home canning workshop on Oct. 13. The workshop will be from 1-4 p.m. in the training room of the AgriLife Extension office in Williamson County, 100 Wilco Way, AG 205. Registration is required and is limited to the first 15 people. Registration is $30 and can be done at https://tx.ag/WilliamsonHomeCanning. All educational materials, equipment and supplies are included in the course fee. For more information, contact Katie Sindac, AgriLife Extension family and community health agent, Williamson County, at 512-943-3300 or katie.sharpton@ag.tamu.edu. The workshop is for anyone interested in learning more or for those who need a refresher in pressure canning. Participants will be able to learn to preserve their food using canning equipment safely and properly. The course will be taught by Sindac and will cover the following topics: Types of canning methods; Pressure canning steps; Equipment; Canning safety.

Houston: Ask A Master Gardener with Harris County Master Gardeners, Thursday, October 12, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Friday, October 13, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Saturday, October 14, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The Church of St. John The Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd. Houston. Bring your gardening questions to “Ask A Master Gardener” at the Bulb & Plant Mart.

Houston: Genoa Friendship Garden: Open Garden Day, Monday, October 16, 8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. 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. Free.

Online: Green Thumb Gardening Lecture Series: “Trees and Tree Care” by Harris County Master Gardeners with Harris County Public Library, Tuesday, October 17, 11:00 a.m.-noon. Free Virtual Lecture. No reservation required. Watch on Facebook at facebook.com/harriscountypl/events.

San Antonio: Fall Floral Design School 2023, taught by The Rose Boutique, October 17, Noon-2 p.m., 3310 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio. $40 per class. Must be paid one week in advance, credit cards, checks or cash. Fee includes container, fresh flowers and greenery. Take home a beautiful, finished project. Remember to bring your floral tools, such as scissors & wire cutters. For more information, call 210-824-9981 or email info@sanantoniogardencenter.org.

Clear Lake. Native Plant Sale. Clear Lake Native Plant Society. October 20 from 4-6 p.m. and October 21 from 8-10 a.m. 2700 Bay Area Blvd. UH Clear Lake Campus.

La Marque: “Galveston County Master Gardener – 2nd Annual Fall Festival & Plant Sale” 9 a.m.-1 p.m., October 21. Fun, food, discovery, featuring Discovery Garden Tours and seminars, “Ask a Master Gardener” and Galveston County AgriLife Extension program booths, Master Gardener grown plants, Fall vegetables, herbs, bulbs, and more. Galveston County Master Gardener Discovery Garden inside Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. For additional information https://txmg.org/galveston or call 281-534-3413.

Bryan: Learning at the Library “Seasonal Plants After the Season,” Saturday, October 21, 10:00 a.m., Clara B. Mounce Public Library, 201 E 26th St., Bryan. MG Maureen Reap will speak on the selection, care, and after-life of seasonal plants: poinsettia, Christmas cactus, mums, and more. This event is open to the public at no charge.

Tyler: For their 25th anniversary, the Smith County Master Gardeners will present well-known speakers and authors Chris Weisinger of The Southern Bulb Company and Greg Grant, Smith County’s Texas A&M AgriLife Extension horticulturist. The lectures begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 21, at Pollard United Methodist Church (3030 New Copeland Road, Tyler). They will be bringing a selection of their own East Texas grown bulbs for the sale to those who attend the conference. Attendees will also have a chance to win fabulous door prizes, including two wonderful, two-night getaway packages, and a “super-sampler” of locally grown bulbs. After the door prizes are awarded, there will be a mini “Run for the Bulbs” when the special bulbs farmed by the speakers are presented for sale; first come; first served. The SCMG webstore (scmg-online.company.site) will open at 7 a.m. on Monday, 9 October, and close at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 18 October. Bulbs featured in the sale are all locally-trialed, hardy, heirloom, and hard-to-find. Quite a few of them rarely available for sale. A small selection of hardy trees and shrubs, along with autographed books by the two speakers, plus the new SCMG 2024 calendar and garden guide will be available for pre-order. Anything ordered from the webstore must be picked up between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday, 21 October, beginning immediately after the conference. During pick-up hours, there will be a plethora of Smith County Master Gardeners to answer gardening questions; “bonus” bulbs, artwork, and T-shirts for sale; children’s activities, and more helping them celebrate their exciting milestone. For more information, visit the Smith County Master Gardener website at https://txmg.org/smith/ or follow them on Facebook. Proceeds from the sale support horticulture education in Smith County, the Tyler Botanical Garden, and scholarships for horticulture students at Texas A&M and Stephen F. Austin State Universities. Smith County Master Gardeners are trained volunteers through the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

Bryan: Educational Event “Cedar Fever: Junipers in Central Texas,” Tuesday, October 24, 7:00 p.m., Brazos County Extension Office, 4153 County Park Court, Bryan. Join Morgan Abbott, Regional Woodland Ecologist, Texas A&M Forest Service, in exploring the relationships between cedars (Juniperu spp.), humans and where they intersect: Central Texas. Delving deep into ecological roles, historical practices, and taxonomy, this hour-long presentation examines Cedar Fever and how it affects residents of Central Texas. This event is open to the public at no charge.

La Marque: “Becoming A Master Gardener.” Texas Master Gardeners are experienced volunteers devoted to public education about gardens, lawns, trees, flowers, and fruits. Join Galveston County Master Gardeners for a roundtable seminar October 28 exploring the 2024 TMG training program, and how to apply to become a Texas Master Gardener at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office classroom located inside Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. Pre-register for this seminar and learn more: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture or call 281-309-5065.

La Marque: “Plumeria Care in Winter,” a presentation by Galveston County Master Gardener plumeria expert Loretta Osteen, October 28, 1-3 p.m. 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 or call 281-309-5065.

McKinney: The 2023 CCMGA Fall Plant Sale, presented by The Collin County Master Gardeners Association, will be held Saturday, October 28, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. or until sold out. This event will be held in the Show Barn at Myers Park & Event Center in McKinney. Proceeds from the sale benefit community outreach programs, horticultural education programs, workshops, and water conservation education throughout Collin County. Fall is the best time for planting in North Texas. Gardeners know they can find the best plants for North Texas gardens at The CCMGA Fall Plant Sale. CCMGA has carefully curated a collection of locally grown drought tolerant plants that are well suited to our climate and will perform well in North Texas gardens. Attendees will find a selection of cool-season annuals along with dozens of varieties of perennials, shrubs, ferns, grasses, groundcovers, succulents, vines, daylilies and annuals that are not typically found at big box stores. CCMGA has worked with our growers to offer increased inventory for the sale. Collin County Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice to help homeowners plant with success. Arrive early for best selection! There is no sales tax, and purchases can be made by cash, check, or credit card. Bringing your own cart or wagon is recommended. With the exception of Service Dogs, No Dogs Allowed. Parking is free. The 2023 CCMGA Fall Plant Sale will be held rain or shine inside the Show Barn at Myers Park located at 7117 County Road 166, McKinney. To learn more visit www.ccmgatx.org.

Monthly Meetings

If you would like your organization's events included in "Monthly Meetings" or would like to make a change to a listed meeting, please contact us at Monthly Meetings. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details. 

FIRST WEEK

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 the first Monday of each month at Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road, Houston. Announcements begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by an educational lecture. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu/lecture-series.

Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners meet the first Tuesday of each month at Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road, Houston. Announcements begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by an educational lecture. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu/lecture-series/. Location is subject to change for Holidays & Voting days.

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., at the First Baptist Church Family Life Building, 500 E. Holland St., 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 at 11:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, in the Harrison County Extension Office, 2005 Warren Drive, Marshall. Meetings are held in the AgriLife Extension meeting room. For more information, call 903-935-8413, or email hctxmastergardener@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, visit https://npsot.org/chapters/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, January-September. Social time begins at 6:30, program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit https://npsot.org/chapters/trinity-forks/.

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.

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.