March 8, 2017
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Grow your own tropical paradise in a container or garden
By Melinda Myers
Add an exciting new look to your garden, poolside, patio or deck with elephant ears. These easy tropical plants have tall stems and giant leaves that measure up to two feet across. You can use them to create an instant focal point in the garden, screen an unwanted view, or extend a bold welcome at the front door.
Elephant ears can be grown in containers as well as the garden, so if space is an issue, try some of the more compact varieties like Hawaiian Punch. You'll appreciate the impact this three-foot tall plant makes with its red stems and bright green leaves with dark red veining.
Or go big with six-foot tall Black Stem. Its smooth blue-green leaves are displayed atop striking purple-black stems. Variegated varieties are another option. The unusual foliage of Mojito, is decorated with blue-black dashes and splashes. No two leaves are alike on this beauty. For even more color and drama, don't miss Black Magic. Its dark, blue-black leaves measure 2 feet across and can grow up to 5 feet tall.
These are just a few of the many varieties that are well suited to home gardens. In warm areas (zones 9 to 11) elephant ears can be grown outdoors year-round. In cooler areas (zones 4-8) the plants are grown as annuals or can be brought indoors for the winter.
Give these bold beauties a space of their own or combine them with other interesting foliage plants such as caladiums, coleus, larger begonias, trailing sweet potato vines and other annuals. The fine leaves of ornamental grasses, such as shade tolerant Japanese forest grass and sedges, contrast nicely with the elephant ears' bold leaves.
Elephant ears are tropical plants that need warm soil and plenty of moisture all season long. They are happy to grow in sun or shade, though in hot climates the leaves need to be protected from midday sun. Fertilizing every 2 to 3 weeks will help your plants reach their full potential.
Elephant ears are available as spring-planted bulbs or as potted plants. The baseball-sized tubers can be planted outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 65°F. Prepare the soil by adding compost or other organic matter prior to planting. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the tuber and plant it pointy side up. The top of the tuber should be about an inch below the soil surface.
If you live in a cold climate and want to get an early start on the season, plant the tubers in containers filled with well-drained potting mix and grow them in a warm, sunny window for 4 to 6 weeks. Move the plants outdoors when the soil is warm and the danger of frost has passed.
Your tropical paradise awaits! Just choose a few containers or locate some spots in the garden where you can include these bold-leafed beauties. Before you know it, you'll be sipping your favorite beverage in your very own tropical garden.
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Tomato grafting
By Joe Masabni
Extension Small-Acreage Vegetable Specialist
Overton Research and Extension Center
On Saturday February 11, 2017, I was at Midland teaching a class on tomato grafting to Master Gardeners and interested public. We had 100 participants and all had a great time. I went through the history of grafting, as well as the whys and hows. We ended by a hands-on grafting demonstration. Afterwards, everyone got a chance to graft their own plants. We used an heirloom variety as a scion and grafted it on 'Celebrity' rootstock.
But first, what is grafting? According to Wikipedia, "grafting is a
horticultural technique whereby
tissues of
plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the scion while the lower part is called the rootstock. The success of this joining requires that the vascular tissue grow together."
Grafting vegetables is the same principle as grafting woody fruit trees, but the method is different. In vegetables, approach graft (pictures 1, 2) is used on bigger plants while grafting with clips (photo) is best used on seedlings or small sized plants. The latter is the most common grafting method used commercially. Nowadays, grafting can be done using machines that a person has only one job of feeding the separate plants and the machine does the rest. You can do an internet search for 'machine grafting of vegetables' and enjoy watching the grafting machines in action.
What you need for grafting are the following: scion and rootstock plants, clips, razor blade, label, and a high humidity/dark chamber for healing the cut plants after grafting. Clips come in various diameter sizes from 1 mm up to 7 mm for larger diameter plants. I bought my clips online from Johnny's Seeds, but they are available from many sources. Clips can be recycled after the plants heal.
In Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan, between 50 percent and 100 percent or more of planted vegetables are grafted. Grafting doesn't improve or change taste, quality, or fruit size. Grafting is not associated either with increasing yields. So why is Asia so enamored with grafting? Simply put, grafting is necessary to avoid soilborne diseases. When you graft a sensitive or susceptible plant onto a resistant rootstock, the scion never touches the soil and can grow and produce even if the soil is contaminated with diseases that would otherwise kill it. Nematodes, southern blight, fusarium root and crown rot are examples of soilborne diseases and pests that will kill a sensitive vegetable cultivar. But the resistant rootstock is not.
Grafted plants need about 10 days for the wound to heal. After which, they can be planted in the garden. With tomato, make sure you don't plant too deep so that the graft touches the soil or is buried in it. If it is, the scion will develop roots, and will have you lost all the benefit of the grafting rootstock.
The following are steps I follow when I graft tomato:
Prepare the rootstock (picture 3): make a horizontal cut and discard the top
Prepare the scion (picture 4): make a horizontal cut on the stem with a similar diameter as the rootstock and discard the bottom part.
Insert scion into clip (picture 5): insert the scion halfway into the clip
Attach to rootstock (picture 6)
Place in a high dome cover and cover with shade cover (picture 7). You want complete darkness for two days for the wound to heal. After two days, you can remove the shade cover, but keep the plants in the high humidity chamber for a few more days until you see new growth starting.
In seven to 10 days, the plant is healed and is ready to transplant to a larger pot or to the garden directly.
Try your hand at grafting. It's a fun challenge.
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Gardening tips
If you have noticed any scale insects on the branches of your fruit trees, apply a dormant oil prior to bloom and the growth on new shoots. Good coverage is essential. Also, do not apply after the trees have started to bloom and leaf out as this would damage the new growth and set trees back.
Have a favorite gardening tip you'd like to share?
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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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MARCH
Houston: "Chemical Safety in the Garden" will be the topic of the Houston Rose Society meeting on Thursday,
March 9, at the
Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston. The parking lot is Lot C, located at Hermann Drive and Crawford Street. Donald Burger, an American Rose Society master consulting rosarian and the Houston Rose Society garden chemical safety expert will present the program. Donald is the well-known teacher of "Bee Keeping in Your Backyard." He will be addressing the effects of chemicals on our bee population. Honey from Donald's hives will be given away as door prizes! Free admission. For more information, visit www.houstonrose.org.
Houston: "Current Plant Trends" by Paul Winski, Harris County Texas AgriLife Extension Agent. 10:00-11:30 a.m., Thursday, March 9, Genoa Friendship Garden Education Bldg., 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd., Houston. Free. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu.
Tyler:
Smith County Master Gardeners at the library, March 10 at 11:30 a.m. "Azaleas: New, Old, Native, and Exotic," with Keith Hansen, retired Smith County Horticulture Extension Agent. Presentation with Q&A to follow. Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College, Tyler. Free and open to the public. For additional information, call 903-590-2980.
Conroe
: Montgomery County Master Gardeners are offering two important classes about gardening on Saturday,
March 11. Session 1: Best Plants for the Landscape, 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.; Session 2: Pests & Diseases Affecting Flowers, Shrubs & Trees, 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., $5.00 per session or $7.00 for both. Enjoy the classes and return the next weekend for the plant sale! Montgomery Co. Master Gardeners, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. 936-539-7824
.
See plant list at http://www.mcmga.com/
.
La Marque:
"Bonsai": with GC Master Gardener Clyde Holt presenting 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., March 11, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Building in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St., La Marque; Ph 281-534-3413; email reservations to
[email protected], further details see
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/. $25 fee to cover cost of materials; you keep your tree. Class limited to 10 participants; must pre-register.
La Marque:
"Composting": with GC Master Gardener Jim Gilliam presenting, 1:00-2:30 p.m.,
March 11, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Building in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St., La Marque; Ph 281-534-3413; email reservations to
[email protected], further details see
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/. Free.
Johnson City: Blanco County Master Gardeners present David Rodriguez, Horticulturist with Texas AgriLife Extension Office in Bexar County. Rodriguez is a popular radio host of The Lawn and Garden Show on WOAI on Saturday mornings. Rodriguez will speak to the group on
March 14, at 1:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 105 North LBJ Drive, Johnson City.
Marion: Don Tuff presents "To Populate, We Pollinate"
Tuesday, March 14, 2017, 7:00 p.m., at St John's Lutheran Church, FM 465, Marion.
Pollinators - creatures that transfer pollen from plant to plant - are essential to plant reproduction, and our own. They are responsible for the survival and continuity of over 80 percent of the world's flowering plants. Our survival depends on pollinators' health; without them, most humans and animals would starve. From 1963 until 1998, Tuff (Ph.D. Entomology, Texas A&M) served as a professor of biology at Texas State University, teaching introductory botany and zoology; upper level classes in entomology, parasitology, comparative anatomy; and graduate classes in medical entomology, parasites of wildlife, and wildlife diseases. Tuff has now turned his attention to native bees, the flowers they pollinate, and the threats to their survival. Meetings are open to the public. Visitors are welcome.
There is a plant/seed exchange and greeting at 6:30 PM followed by the program at 7:00 PM. For more information, directions to St John's Lutheran Church, or membership applications, visit http://npsot.org/wp/guadalupe/.
Woodway: Robin Liebe, Master Gardener, will present an educational program on Bee Friendly Gardening with an emphasis on the importance of cultivating year-round flowering native plants and provide general background information on bees and their absolute importance as pollinators. Bring lunch. Noon to 2 p.m., March 15, at The Pavilion at the Carleen Bright Arboretum,
9001 Bosque Blvd., Woodway
. Free. For additional information, call the Carleen Bright Arboretum at 254-399-9204 or email [email protected].
Seguin: Thursday, March 16,
at 7:00 p.m. Guadalupe County Master Gardeners will meet at the Texas AgriLife Extension. 210 E. Live Oak, Seguin. Get the buzz on bees with Gretchen Bee Ranch. Social at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Free. For more information, visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
Hempstead:
Peckerwood Garden presents Evening at Peckerwood Lecture Series: Friday, March 17, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., 20559 FM 359 Rd., Hempstead. "Exploring the Spice Islands in the footsteps of David Fairchild" with Chad Husby, Ph.D., Fairchild's Botanical Horticulturist. This talk will feature highlights of an 11-day exploration of the Moluccas (Spice Islands) organized by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in October 2016, retracing part of the last great plant collecting expedition of Dr. David Fairchild aboard the junk Cheng Ho in 1939 and 1940. Wine and refreshments provided. $10 admission and parking, $5 for members. For more info, visit http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/ or [email protected].
Round Top: The 22nd Annual Herbal Forum will take place 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday,
March 17, and 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday,
March 18, on the grounds of The Round Top Festival Institute, 248 Jaster Road, Round Top. The Herb Society of America, Pioneer Unit, will host the "Thyme Well Spent" Gift Shop and Plant Sale. For additional information, visit
www.herbsocietypioneer.org or email
[email protected].
Conroe: The Montgomery County Master Gardeners are having their annual Spring Sale, featuring avocados, perennials, vegetables, herbs and more, on Saturday,
March 18, at 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. Program is at 8 a.m.; sale is from 9 a.m. until noon. For more information, call 936-539-7824 or
visit www.mcmga.com.
La Marque:
"Tomato Stress Management": with GC Master Gardener Ira Gervais presenting, 9:00-11:00 a.m., March 18, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Building in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St., La Marque; Ph 281-534-3413; email reservations to
[email protected], further details see
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/. Free.
La Marque:
"Culture & Care of Palms": with GC Master Gardener OJ Miller presenting, 1:00-3:00 p.m.,
March 18, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Building in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St., La Marque; Ph 281-534-3413; email reservations to
[email protected], further details see
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/. Free.
McKinney: The Garden Show
will be presented by the Collin County Master Gardeners Association March 18 and 19 at Myers Park and Event Center in McKinney. The two-day event will feature vendors offering garden wares that range from whimsical to practical, and engaging educational programs. Collin County Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and offer ideas for more successful gardening experiences. Demonstrations and presentations will run throughout the show on a variety of gardening topics. Dynamic speakers will discuss subjects will include: Vegetable Gardening, presented by Linda Hornbaker; Monarchs to Mexico, resented by Steven Chamblee; Pollinator Garden Certification, presented by Nancy Payne; Indian Marker Trees, presented by Steve Houser; The History of Franconia Brewery, presented by Dennis Wehrmann; and "What is Farm to Table," panel discussion featuring renowned Chef Andrea Shakelford from Harvest & other local chefs. The Garden Show is an indoor event, so come rain or shine! Hours are from 9:00 a.m-5:00 p.m. Saturday 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Sunday. Entry on both days is a donation of $2 per person. Parking is free! All proceeds will benefit Hope's Door. Visit
www.ccmgatx.org/TheGardenShow
, or call 972-548-4232 for up-to-date information.
Orangefield: The Orange County Master Gardeners are having their 4th Annual Bloomin' Crazy Plant Fair Saturday, March 18, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Cormier Park, 8235 FM 1442, Orangefield. Hundreds of nursery and member-grown plants will be for sale, including many varieties of citrus, stone fruit, berries, cold-hardy avocados, LSU gold & purple figs, Texas Superstars, perennials, natives, annuals, house and tropicals along with succulents, lilies and many other hard to find and unusual plants. Plant specialists and members will be available to answer questions and help you select your plants. Specialty booths will be set up with unique gardening items. For more information, visit http://txmg.org/orange.
Pasadena: Harris County Master Gardener Perennial Sale, plant overview 8-9 a.m. Sale hours 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 18, Campbell Hall, Pasadena Fairgrounds, 7600 Red Bluff Rd., Pasadena. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu.
Seguin: Saturday, March 18
. It's time to garden! Spring Plant Sale with Vegetables and Landscape plants grown by Guadalupe County Master Gardeners. Look for us on the parking lot of the Silver Center, 510 E Court, Seguin, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. or until sold out. If it's pouring rain, the sale will be rescheduled for March 25.
Houston: Open Garden Day, 8:30-11:00 a.m., Monday, March 20, Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd., Houston. Master Gardeners available to answer your questions. Free. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu.
Flower Mound: Monarch Butterfly Flight School will be offered
Tuesday, March 21, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at Flower Mound Public Library, 3030 Broadmoor Lane, Flower Mound.
Help Monarch butterflies take flight this spring! Learn simple steps to create a Monarch Way Station in your backyard. Carol Clark, Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist, presents the Monarch life cycle, its magnificent migration through Texas and actions you can take now to support conservation of this threatened butterfly.
The event will include representatives from Keep Flower Mound Beautiful, Native Plant Society of Texas/Trinity Forks chapter, Denton County Master Gardeners Association, Texas Master Naturalists, Monarch Watch and Monarch Way Station owners from the community. These representatives will be available before and after this program to answer questions, provide resources and a free step-by-step guide to start your butterfly garden in North Texas.
To register for this free event, email
[email protected]
or call 972-874-6165.
Gonzales: The Gonzales Master Gardeners' 7th Annual Spring Plant Sale will be held Saturday, March 25, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in downtown Gonzales on Texas Heroes Square at the corner of St. Joseph and St. Lawrence Streets. Shoppers will have the opportunity to make selections from an assortment of vegetables (heirloom tomatoes, peppers and more), herbs, annual bedding plants, perennial/native plants, succulents, cacti, houseplants and citrus fruit trees. Check out the not-so-common perennials, hanging baskets, bromeliads, and dish gardens that will also be offered for sale. Take gardening questions to the "Ask the Master Gardener" booth and bid on the wide variety of items in the silent auction. Contact Fran Saliger for more information at 830-672-2953 or visit www.gonzalesmastergardeners.org.
Huntsville: Herb Festival at the Wynne Home, 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 25, on the grounds of the beautifully restored Wynne Home Arts Center, 1428 Eleventh Street, Huntsville. Sponsored by the Texas Thyme Unit of the Herb Society of America. Herb plants galore; Pollinator plants; Camellias; Vegetables, Kitchen, garden and herbal vendors; speakers; music; Children's Crafts; Artists and more! Free admission. The Wynne Home will be open to visitors. For information call, 936-891-5024.
La Marque:
"Turning Dirt Into Soil": with GC Master Gardener Jim Gilliam presenting, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.,
March 25, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Building in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main St., La Marque; Ph 281-534-3413; email reservations to
[email protected], further details see
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/. Free.
Lufkin: Angelina Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale, 8:00 a.m.-noon, Saturday,
March 25, Angelina Farmer's Market, 2107 S. Medford Dr., Lufkin. Annuals, perennials, herbs, roses, shrubs and trees. Bring a wagon and come early for best selection. Proceeds used to fund educational projects of Angelina Master Gardeners. Visit Angelina Master Gardeners on Facebook for a plant list close to sale date. For additional information, call 936-634-6414.
Athens: New York Times bestselling author Amy Stewart will speak at Henderson County Master Gardener's Spring Conference on Wicked Plants: the weed that killed Lincoln's mother and other botanical atrocities at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 30, at Hart-Morris Convention Center, 5601 CR 4812, Athens. Tickets are $25 each, seating is limited. Dinner is included. Advance purchase of tickets is encouraged. Doors open 5:30 p.m. A table may be reserved with the purchase of 8 tickets. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 903-675-6130 or email [email protected].
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APRIL
Austin: Trowel and Error, Mayfield Park Gardening Symposium will be held 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday,
April 1, at Mayfield Park 3505 W. 35th Street Austin (next to Laguna Gloria Art Museum). Presentations include: 10 a.m. Jay White, contributing writer for
Texas Gardener, Masters in horticulture, will present "Pest-free Organically"; 11 a.m. Patty Leander, Texas master gardener vegetable specialist and contributing editor for
Texas Gardener, will present "Tiny Garden/Small Garden: Microgreens to Straw Bales"; Noon, Bruce Leander, biotechnology, art, photography, golf, "sort of" the Photographer in Residence at Lady Bird Wildflower Center, will present It's a Snap To Take Good Garden Pictures: A Few Simple Tricks to "Develop" Outstanding Digital Pictures. Mayfield has the best deals in town for hard-to-find heirlooms and other perennials perfect for the April garden. A "garden goodie" raffle for the discerning gardener will round out the day. Sponsored by Friends of the Parks of Austin, a non-profit organization, Trowel and Error is the solitary fund-raiser for historic Mayfield Park. Although admission is free, a $5.00 donation is requested. For more information: 512-453-7074,
[email protected], or
mayfieldpark.org.
Hempstead: Peckerwood Garden presents Peckerwood Insider's Tours: Saturday,
April 1, 10 a.m., 20559 FM 359 Rd. Hempstead. Pre-Registration Required. Tours will highlight a focused subject each month, ranging from Peckerwood's specific plant groups, garden design strategies, seasonal interest and more. Attendees will have the rare opportunity to see sections of the garden never visited during the general tours as we explore "Early Interest Winter Plants." $15 admission and parking, Free for members. For more info, visit
http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/ or email
[email protected].
Marshall: The annual spring sale of the Harrison County Master Gardeners will be held Saturday,
April 1, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.The sale will be in the parking lot of the Tractor Supply, 105 N. East End Blvd (US 59), Marshall (one block south of the intersection of US59 and US80). Vegetables, annuals, perennials, and pass-along plants will be in abundance, so come early for the best selection!
Navasota: The Navasota Garden Club will meet at 10:00 a.m.,
April 5, at First Baptist Church, 300 Church Street, Navasota. The meeting will include the annual Club Flower Show starring whatever is blooming in your yard and a program entitled "A Glance into Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation." For additional information, contact
[email protected].
Woodway: Take lunch and enjoy a free Horticulture Seminar on Wednesday, April 19, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Carleen Bright Arboretum Pavilion,
9001 Bosque Blvd., Woodway
. Dr. Robert Creech, master gardener, will introduce Wendell Berry, an 81-year-old Kentucky farmer, as well as an award-winning poet, essayist, and novelist. Be inspired by Berry's thinking about the land, soil, farming and farmers. Listen to readings of his poetry along with some reflections on their implications. For additional information, call the Carleen Bright Arboretum at 254-399-9204 or email [email protected].
Hempstead: Peckerwood Garden presents Evening at Peckerwood Lecture Series: Friday,
April 21, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., 20559 FM 359 Rd., Hempstead. Topics will include various aspects of horticulture, botany, garden design, plant collecting adventures, conservation and many other related fields of interest. Wine and refreshments provided. $10 admission and parking, $5 for members. For more info, visit
http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/ or email
[email protected].
Tyler:
Smith County Master Gardeners at the library, April 21 at 11:30 a.m. "Flower Arranging from the Garden" with Master Gardener Neysa Mueller. Presentation with Q&A to follow. Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College, Tyler. Free and open to the public. For additional information, call 903-590-2980.
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MAY
Woodway: Steven Chamblee, Horticulturist of Chandor Gardens, will present "Peace, Love, & Milagros: Life Lessons from the Road," noon-2 p.m.,
May 17. During his 30-plus years road-tripping around Texas, Chamblee has collected great stories about horticultural heavens, botanical blunders, and tender tales that will melt your heart. Heeding the advice of a close friend, Chamblee has brought his favorite stories together for a very personal presentation of inspiration, enlightenment, and humor. The seminar will be held at the Whitehall Center of the Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd., Woodway. This is not the usual location. For additional information, call the Carleen Bright Arboretum at 254-399-9204 or email
[email protected].
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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
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 [email protected].
Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners meet at noon the
first Tuesday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension, 3033 Bear Creek Drive (near the intersection of Highway 6 and Patterson Road), Houston. For additional information visit
http://hcmga.tamu.edu
or call 281-855-5600.
Dallas: Garden Masters, Inc., meet the
first Wednesday of each month at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd., Dallas. The club hosts different speaker each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bring your lunch! For more information, email Bunny Williams at
[email protected].
Kerrville: Hill Country Master Gardeners meet the
first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm at Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 Hwy 27. For more information visit
www.hillcountrymastergardeners.org.
Midland/Odessa: The Permian Basin Master Gardeners meet at noon, the
first Wednesday of each month, lternating between the Midland and Ector County's Extensions Offices. For more information about location, call 432-498-4071 or 432-686-4700.
Navasota: The Navasota Garden Club meets on the
first Wednesday of each month (September through May) at 10:00 a.m., usually at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 300 Church Street, Navasota. If not meeting at the church, a change of meeting notice will be placed on the door at the North entrance. Guests are welcome. Members are from Grimes County and surrounding counties.
Allen: The Allen Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. on the
first Thursday of each month, February through December, at the Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main St., Allen. For more information, visit
www.allengardenclub.org.
Atlanta: The Cass County Master Gardeners meet the
first Thursday of each month at the Atlanta Memorial Hospital Conference Room, State Highway 77 @ S. Williams St., Atlanta. A business meeting is followed by an educational program. The public is welcome to attend. For additional information, call 903-756-5391 or visit
http://cass.agrilife.org.
Hempstead: The Waller County Master Gardeners usually mee tat 9 a.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Waller County AgriLife Extension Office, 846 6th St., Hempstead. For more information on the meeting schedule, visit http://txmg.org/wallermg or call 979-826-7651.
Fort Worth: The North Central Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. except (January and July) in the Fort Worth Botanical Garden Building at
3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth. For additional information, contact President Theresa Thomas at [email protected].
Gonzalas: Gonzales Master Gardeners hold their monthly meeting at noon on the
first Thursday of each month at 623 Fair Street, Gonzales. Bring a bag lunch, drinks provided. Contact AgriLife Extension Office at 830-672-8531 or visit
http://gonzalesmastergardeners.org
for more information.
New Braunfels: The Comal Garden Club meets the
first Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Southbank Clubhouse, 222 Southbank Blvd., New Braunfels.
Hempstead: The Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation, 20559 F.M. 359, Hempstead, hosts a special Peckerwood Insider's Tour at 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month. Spaces are limited so pre-registration is required. $15, free for members. For more information, visit http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/.
SECOND WEEK
Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the
second Monday of each month (except December) at the Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. For more information, visit
www.austinorganicgardeners.org.
Jacksonville: The Cherokee County Master Gardeners meet on the
second Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Woodmen of the World, 1800 College Ave., Jacksonville. For more information, e-mail Tom Abbott at
[email protected].
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
[email protected].
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
[email protected].
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
[email protected].
Marion: The Guadalupe County (Schertz/Seguin) Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the
second Tuesday of each month except July, August and December at St. John's Lutheran Church in Marion. Directions to St. John's Lutheran Church: From FM 78 turn south onto FM 465 and the church is just past the Marion School on the right. From IH-10 go north on FM 465 towards Marion. The Church will be on the left, just before you get to town. A plant exchange and meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program at 7 p.m. Visitors are welcome. For more information or an application to join NPSOT visit
www.npsot.org/GuadalupeCounty/
or contact
[email protected].
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
[email protected].
Denton:
The Denton County Master Gardener Association meets from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. the
second Wednesday of each month
. Meetings are open to the public. For complete details, visit
http://dcmga.com/.
Humble: The Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, hosts a Lunch Bunch the
second Wednesday of each month from noon until 2 p.m. Take a sack lunch or order a box lunch from Starbucks when you call 281-443-8731 to reserve your spot. Master Gardeners and Masters Naturalists may earn CEU credits by attending.
Jacksboro: The Jacksboro Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. the
second Wednesday of each month (except June, July and August) at the Concerned Citizens Center, 400 East Pine Street, Jacksboro. For more information, call Melinda at 940-567-6218.
Longview:
The Gregg County Master Gardeners Association's Learn at Lunch program meet the second Wednesday of each month. The business meeting begins at 11:30 a.m., with the program at noon, at the AgriLife Extension Office, 405 E. Marshall Ave., Longview. The program is presented for horticultural education and is free to the public. For further information call 903-236-8429, visit www.txmg.org/gregg, or like us on Facebook at Gregg County Master Gardeners.
Rockport: The Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the
second
Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. at 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport, to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation. Sometimes they take field trips and have cooking demonstrations in different locations. For more information, contact Linda 361-729-6037, Ruth 361-729-8923 or Cindy 979-562-2153 or visit
www.rockportherbs.or
g and
http://rockportherbies.blogspot.com.
Woodway: The McLennan County Master Gardeners meet on the
second Wednesday each month at noon at the Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd., Woodway. Educational programs follow the business session. For more information, call 254-757-5180.
Beaumont: The Jefferson County Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. (social) 7:00 (meeting) the
second Thursday of each month except in July in the AgriLife Extension auditorium, 1225 Pearl 2nd floor (downtown Beaumont next to the Court House). For more information contact: 409-835-8461 or
txmg.org/jcmg.
Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. the
second Thursday of each month at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street. Georgetown. For additional information, contract Kathy Henderson at [email protected] or visit
http://www.npsot.org/wp/wilco.
Orange: The Orange County Master Gardeners Association holds their monthly meeting on the
second Thursday of each month. A short program is presented. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the new Orange County Expo Center on Hwy 1442 in Orangefield. Enter the building in the front entrance, first door on the right, Texas AgriLife offices. Pot luck supper at 6 p.m. Visit
http://txmg.org/orange
for more information.
San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the
second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels (corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels). For more information on programs, visit
www.sanantonioherbs.org.
Smithville: The Smithville Community Gardens meets at 5:30 p.m. the
second Thursday of each month at the Smithville Recreation Center.
Angleton: The Brazoria County Master Gardeners meet at 11 a.m. on the
second Friday of each month at the Brazoria County Extension Office, 21017 County Road 171, Angleton. There is a general business meeting followed by a brief educational program each month. For further information call 979-864-1558, ext.110.
College Station: The A&M Garden Club meets on the
second Friday of each month during the school year at 9:30 a.m. in the training room of the College Station Waste Water Facility building at the end of North Forest Parkway, College Station. Expert speakers, plant sharing, and federated club projects help members learn about gardening in the Brazos Valley, floral design, conservation, and more. For more information, visit
http://www.amgardenclub.com/.
Houston: The Spring Branch African Violet Club meets the
second Saturday of each month, January through November, at 10:30am at the Copperfield Baptist Church, 8350 Highway 6 North, Houston. Call Karla at 281-748-8417 prior to attending to confirm meeting date and time.
Kilgore: Northeast Texas Organic Gardeners meets at 1:30 p.m. on the
second Saturday of each month. For more information, call Carole Ramke at 903-986-9475.
Dallas: The Rainbow Garden Club of North Texas meets the
second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Meetings are held at member's homes and garden centers around the area. For more information, visit
www.RainbowGardenClub.com.
THIRD WEEK
Arlington: The Arlington Men's Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the
third Monday of each month (except December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact Lance Jepson at
[email protected].
Cleburne:
The Johnson County Master Gardener's meet on the third Monday of each month at McGregor House, 1628 W Henderson, Cleburne. Meeting times are at 2 p.m. October through April, except December and at 6 p.m. May through September. An educational program precedes the business meeting. For additional information, contact Sue Matern at 817-517-9076.
New Braunfels: The Comal Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. the
third Monday of each month (except April and December,) at the
GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. An educational program precedes the business meeting. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, call 830-620-3440 or visit
http://txmg.org/comal/.
Texarkana: The Four Corners Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 7 p.m. on the
third Monday of each month at the Southwest Center, 3222 W. 7th St. (U.S. 67), Texarkana. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Belinda McCoy at 903-424-7724 or
[email protected].
Corpus Christi: The Nueces Master Gardeners meet at noon the
third Tuesday of each month, except December, at Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Dr., Corpus Christi. An educational program precedes the business meeting. For further information call 361 767-5217.
Evant: The Evant Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m., usually at the bank in downtown Evant. To confirm the date, time and place of each month's meeting, call 254-471-5860.
New Braunfels:
The Lindheimer Chapter (Comal County) of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the third Tuesday of each month at
6:30 pm
at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. Meetings include an informative speaker
and a Plant of the Month presentation. Meetings are free and
visitors are welcome. For more information,visit www.npsot.org/w/lindheimer.
Note
: there will be no meeting in June or December.
Rockport: Monthly meetings of the Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners are held at 10 a.m. on the
third Tuesday of each month at Texas AgriLife Extension Service - Aransas County Office, 892 Airport Rd., Rockport. For additional information, e-mail
[email protected] or call 361-790-0103.
Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club meets on the
third Tuesday of each month, September through November and January through April at 10 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land. The club hosts a different speaker each month. For more information, visit
www.sugarlandgardenclub.org.
Denton: The Denton Organic Society, a group devoted to sharing information and educating the public regarding organic principles, meets the
third Wednesday of each month (except July, August and December) at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Avenue. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are preceded by a social at 6:30. For more information, call 940-382-8551.
Glen Rose: The Somervell County Master Gardeners meet at 10 a.m., the
third Wednesday of each month at the Somervell County AgriLife Extension office, 1405 Texas Drive, Glen Rose. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call 254-897-2809 or visit
www.somervellmastergardeners.org.
Granbury: The Lake Granbury Master Gardeners meet at 1 p.m. on the
third Wednesday of each month at the Hood County Annex 1, 1410 West Pearl Street, Granbury. The public is invited to attend. There is an educational program each month preceding the business meeting. For information on topics call 817-579-3280 or visit
http://www.hoodcountymastergardeners.org/.
Seabrook: The Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10 a.m. on the
third Wednesday of each month at The Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park (on the Lakeside), 5001 NASA Road 1, Seabrook. The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.
Brownwood: Brownwood Garden Club meets the
third Thursday of each month, 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. The club meetings are at Southside Baptist Church, 1219 Indian Creek Road, with refreshments and a speaker presentation. Visitors are welcome. For more information, email
[email protected] or call 817-454-8175.
Hallettsville: The Hallettsville Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. on the
third Thursday of each month from September through May, at the Hallettsville Garden and Cultural Center, 605 E 2nd St, Hallettsville. Each month, the club hosts speakers that provide informative programs on a wide range of gardening subjects, and refreshments are provided by member hostesses after the business meeting. Visitors are welcome. Please email Sharon Harrigan at
[email protected] for more information.
Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston (NPSOT-H) meets at 7:30 p.m. on the
third Thursday of each month except for October (4th Thursday) at the Houston SArboretum and Nature Center in Memorial Park (4501 Woodway Dr.). For more information on programs, and for information about native plants for Houston, visit
http:/npsot.org/wp/Houston.
San Antonio: The Bexar County Master Gardeners (BCMG) meet on the
third Thursday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., Suite 208, San Antonio. During the months of Jan., March, May, July, Sep. and Nov., an evening meeting begins with a social time at 6 p.m. followed by a free presentation from 6:30-8:30 p.m. During the intervening months (Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct., Dec.), afternoon educational seminars/general meetings are held from 1-3:30 p.m. Check
http://www.bexarmg.org/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting.
Seguin: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners meets at 6:30 p.m. the
third Thursday of each month, at the AgriLife Building, 210 East Live Oak, Seguin. After a brief social hour, the meeting and guest speaker begins at 7 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 830-303-3889 or visit
www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
Hempstead: The Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation, 20559 F.M. 359, Hempstead, hosts the Evening at Peckerwood Lecture series at 7 p.m. on the
third Friday of each month. Tickets are available online. Tickets are $10, $5 for members.For more information, visit
http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/.
FOURTH WEEK
Brackenridge Park: The Native Plant Society San Antonio Chapter meets every
fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Lions Field Adult and Senior Center, 2809 Broadway at E. Mulberry, Brackenridge Park, except August and December. Social and seed/plant exchange at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bea at 210-999-7292 or visit
www.npsot.org/sanantonio.
Bryan: The Brazos County Master Gardeners, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, meet the
fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Brazos Center, 3232 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan. There is a public gardening program at each meeting and pertinent information may be found at
brazosmg.com or 979-823-0129.
Edna: The Jackson County Master Gardeners present their "Come Grown With Us" seminars on the
fourth Tuesday of each month, January through October, beginning at 7 p.m. at 411 N. Wells, Edna. The seminars are free, open to the public and offer 2 CEU hours to Master Gardeners or others requiring them. For additional information, contact the Jackson County Extension Office at 361-782-3312.
Linden: The Caddo Wildflower Chapter of Native Plants Society meets the
fourth Tuesday of each month at the senior citizens building at 507 S Kaufman St. in Linden at 6:30. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Karen Tromza at
[email protected].
Fort Worth: The Organic Garden Club of Forth Worth meets at 7 p.m. on the
fourth Tuesday of each month except July and December at the Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center, 3220 Botanic Blvd., Ft. Worth. Refreshments are served. For more information, call 817-263-9322 or visit
www.ogcfw.webs.com.
San Antonio: The Native Plant Society of Texas San Antonio Chapter meets the
fourth Tuesday of each month, except August and December, at the Lions Field Adult & Senior Center, 2809 Broadway, San Antonio. Social and plant/seed exchange at 6:30 p.m., program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit
www.npsot.org/sanantonio or email
[email protected].
Houston: The Houston Native Prairie Association meets at 7 p.m. on the
fourth Wednesday of each month at the Cherie Flores Pavilion in McGovern Centennial Gardens at Hermann Park, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston. For more information, contact
[email protected].
Austin: The Garden Club of Austin meets at Zilker Botanical Gardens auditorium, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, at 7:00 p.m. on the
fourth Thursday of each month. 7:00-7:30 p.m. Refreshments and Social, followed by a presentation at 7:30 p.m. Free. For additional information, visit
http://thegardenclubofaustin.org/.
Leander: The Leander Garden Club meets on the
fourth Thursday of each month (except July and August) at 10:30 a.m. at the community room behind the Greater Texas Federal Credit Union,1300 N. Bell, Cedar Park, unless there is special event planned. Following a program and short business meeting, we share a pot-luck luncheon. To confirm the meeting place and time, please call president Cathy Clark-Ramsey at 512-963-4698 or email
[email protected].
Dallas: The Dallas County Master Gardeners meet the
fourth Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. For location and program information, visit
h
ttp://www.dallascountymastergardeners.org/ or contact The Helpdesk, M-F, 8 to 4:30 214-904-3053.
Dallas: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 7:00 p.m. on the
fourth Thursday of each month at the REI, 4515 LBJ Freeway, Dallas. For more information, call 214-824-2448 or visit
www.gdogc.org.
Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the
last Thursday of each month (except November and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact David at 817-483-7746.
Hempstead: The Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation, 20559 F.M. 359, Hempstead, holds an Open Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. Tours start at 10 a.m. and the last tour leaves at 2 p.m. Tickets available online or at the gate. $10, free for members. For more information, visit http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/.
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