January 8, 2020
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Create Your Own Low-Maintenance Relaxation Garden
By Melinda Myers
Create an outdoor space to relax and recharge. Transform a corner of your landscape, deck or balcony into your own escape from everyday deadlines and stress.
Use decorative fencing, sheer curtains or plantings to define the space and create a bit of privacy. An outdoor carpet, steppers or groundcover can also help define the space and create added comfort.
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As its name implies, Evening Scentsation petunia fills gardens and relaxation areas with its aroma especially in the evening hours. (Photo: All-America Selections) |
Provide a bit of protection from the blazing hot sun with a shade tree, pergola, umbrella or retractable awning. Deciduous trees and vines add shade during hot summer months, but let the warm sunlight shine through during the cooler months of the year.
Reduce maintenance by growing plants suited to your climate and growing conditions. Use fewer varieties and more of each to provide unity while reducing maintenance. Include permanent plantings of low maintenance trees, shrubs and perennials. Further reduce maintenance by selecting All-America Selections (AAS) winning plants (all-americaselections.org) that have been trialed across the US and Canada and selected for their performance in home gardens and containers.
Select varieties known for being low maintenance. Interspecific Supra Pink and Jolt dianthus are both such plants. Their showy flowers brighten the garden all summer long despite the heat and with no deadheading.
Add some therapeutic fragrance to your space by growing a pot or patch of Lavender lady, an English lavender. Brush your hand over the foliage and flowers to enjoy its relaxing fragrance. This compact variety flowers just 90 days from sowing and is hardy in zones 5 to 9.
Perfume the air with blue Evening Scentsation petunia. Perfect for containers and hanging baskets, its fragrance peaks during the evening hours. Set a container of compact Deep Purple nicotiana near your chair or entranceway for a fragrant greeting in the evening.
Get a boost of color and health benefits by inviting birds and butterflies into your sanctuary. Being in nature lowers your blood pressure and improves your mood and adding bird watching to the mix increases these benefits.
Plant Tip Top Rose nasturtium to bring in the hummingbirds and butterflies. This compact plant boasts showy rose-colored flowers that bloom all season long. Pluck a few of the edible leaves and flowers to enjoy in your salad.
Summer Jewel Salvias include red, white, lavender and pink flowered wind and rain tolerant beauties. You'll enjoy the butterflies and hummingbirds visiting the flowers and goldfinches feasting on the seeds.
Extend your enjoyment into the evening with some night lighting. Drape a string of lights over a pergola, arbor or tree. Lead the way to your retreat with some solar powered path lighting. Within the space, light a few candles or lanterns for more intimate lighting.
Brighten the night garden with a few flowers that shine during the darker hours. Gypsy White baby's breath is a non-invasive species and has better branching and heat tolerance, making it an attractive low maintenance option.
Mega Bloom Polka Dot vinca's bright white flowers are a standout in the garden. Its pure white petals with bright pink center provide a nighttime glow as well as daytime interest.
Be sure to include a comfortable chair, hammock or glider to relax into the space. Add the soothing sound of water to help mask any unwanted noise.
Then grab a good book, your favorite beverage and escape to your own backyard retreat. You'll leave the space refreshed and ready to embrace and enjoy whatever comes next.
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Editor's Note: Gardening news is slow at the beginning of the year, and many gardeners are unable to work in their gardens during winter. We thought you might enjoy a change of pace during this slow season, so following is a gardening-themed short story presented for your enjoyment. - Michael Bracken, editor
The Last Leaf
By Paula Messina
Ken looked out the window at the oak tree he'd planted more than fifty years earlier. The tree was his past and his present. It would soon be his future. He'd made his wishes known. He wanted to rest for eternity beneath the spread of its branches.
He was ready. He hit "send" and completed his final on-line purchase, a present for his granddaughter Ellie. He closed his laptop, placed it on the desk, and glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner. A car hummed up the road. Ellie was on time.
"Gramps, I'll make tea," she shouted from the kitchen. "I brought banana bread and that book you wanted."
Ken closed his eyes. It seemed as if it were only yesterday when he'd called out to his grandfather that he'd brought the same collection of O. Henry stories. As Ken finished reading "The Last Leaf," his grandfather had slipped away.
Life had come full circle. Today, Ken sat in his grandfather's chair waiting to hear his grandchild read him home.
Those many years ago, Ken had balked at reading to his dying grandfather and had a conniption at his literary requests--Treasure Island, David Copperfield, Huckleberry Finn. Dusty, ancient tomes no one read.
It had taken two or three readings of Treasure Island before magic happened between Ken and his grandfather. Once it happened, there was no stopping them. The meetings grew from once a week to whenever Ken could make it. The bond between grandfather and grandson continued to grow in the final gift, an oak sapling, that his grandfather had arranged for Ken to receive after the funeral.
It was different with Ellie. She volunteered.
"I know how much you like to read aloud," she'd said. "If it's okay, I'll come read to you."
She'd been coming faithfully, bearing treats and dusty, ancient tomes no one read any more. The bond between them had grown as deep as the roots of the mighty oak outside his window.
The magic with Ellie? It was there from the first word.
She breezed into the room and set a tray on the desk. The aroma of cinnamon-apple tea perfumed the room. She kissed Ken's cheek. Her scent of wild roses mingled with that of the cinnamon and apples. He pulled her to him and inhaled deeply. With her warm smile and piercing blue eyes, Ellie favored Ken's late wife, Anna.
"I'm glad you're here," he said. "You light up my life."
"Oh, Gramps" She fussed over the blanket around his lap and adjusted the collar of his robe. "You know I love coming."
"How's school? Have you started your final exams?"
Doc Harper had promised Ken that he would make it to her graduation. He'd given Ken ten to one odds that he'd see his granddaughter receive her sheepskin.
"I have good news." She poured tea into Anna's cherished delicate bone china cups and cut him a generous slab of banana bread. As she handed him a plate, Ellie said, "I tried a new recipe. It has chocolate chips and bourbon."
"Sounds delicious. Is that your good news?" he teased.
She laughed, as he knew she would. "You're so silly. I have a job."
He felt a selfish relief. He'd dreaded that she would move hundreds of miles away and a developer would raze the homestead and chop down the oak tree.
"First grade teacher at the Mount. What do you think of that?"
He couldn't tell her that he'd prayed she'd stay put. His missed his other grandchildren, who were scattered across the country.
"That's wonderful, sweetie. You'll be a great teacher."
He pecked at the banana bread.
Ellie picked up the book. "I never read O. Henry before, but I enjoyed these stories. I read everyone except 'The Last Leaf.' I wanted to experience it with you."
She read in a warm, melodic voice that reminded him of his beloved Anna. "In a little district west of Washington Square the streets have run crazy and broken themselves into small strips called 'places.' These 'places' make strange angles and curves. One Street crosses itself a time or two."
Ken closed his eyes, letting the words wash over him. He pictured the dying Johnsy, her desperate friend Sue, and the leaves dropping, one by one, from the vine outside Johnsy's window. He reached out and took Ellie's hand. It was warm against his cold flesh.
The words were comforting and familiar, and Ellie's hand linked him to everyone who had come before and who would come after. Joy swelled in him, joy that he was leaving behind a good legacy.
"One morning," Ellie continued, "the busy doctor invited Sue into the hallway with a shaggy, gray eyebrow.
"'She has one chance in - let us say, ten,' he said, as he shook down the mercury in his clinical thermometer."
Ken imagined Ellie's face as his lawyer handed her the oak sapling and the deed to the house.
Ellie's voice brought him back to the present.
"'Six,' said Johnsy, in almost a whisper. 'They're falling faster now. Three days ago there were almost a hundred. It made my head ache to count them. But now it's easy. There goes another one. There are only five left now.'"
He brought Ellie's hand to his chest and held it there. She stopped reading.
"Go on." Ken's voice crackled like desiccated parchment. "I'm listening."
Her voice was soothing, a balm to his pain, a reassurance that all was in order.
"The lonesomest thing in all the world is a soul when it is making ready to go on its mysterious, far journey. The fancy seemed to possess her more strongly as one by one the ties that bound her to friendship and to earth were loosed."
Ellie stopped reading. She buried her head on his shoulder and sobbed.
"Don't be sad. I've had a good life. I loved and was loved. I am loved. You are such a comfort. Why don't we finish the story another time." He wiped the tears from her cheek. "You don't know how precious you are to me."
"I'll make a fresh pot of tea and tell you about my new job."
"I'd like that," he called out as she fled the room.
Exhaustion sapped his strength. He looked out the window at the oak tree and envisioned Ellie planting her own oak sapling.
He must have lost track of time. Ellie was back, holding his hand.
Ken closed his eyes, rested against the back of the chair, and imagined in another fifty or sixty years that Ellie would occupy the same chair. He heard her grandchild call out from the kitchen, "Grandma, I'll make tea. I brought banana bread and that book you wanted."
Paula Messina is a Massachusetts-based writer and public speaker.
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Gardening tips
Love asparagus? January is a great time to put out crowns all over the state.
Have a favorite gardening tip you'd like to share?
Texas Gardener's Seeds is seeking brief gardening tips from Texas gardeners to use in future issues. If we publish your tip in
Seeds, we will send you a copy of
Texas Gardene
r's 2020 Planning Guide & Calendar. Please send your tips of 50 words or less to the editor at:
Garde
ning Tips.
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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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JANUARY
Houston: Propagation of Blackberries and Fruit and Pecan Trees, Thursday
, Jan. 9, 10:00-11:30 a.m., Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Rd., Houston, Free. No Registration Needed. For more information, call (713) 274-0950 or visit hcmga.tamu.edu.
Houston: The topic for the Thursday, January 9, meeting of the Houston Rose Society will be "Extreme Bed Building." Mary Fulgham and Randy Keen will present the program. Fulgham is a Master Rosarian, past president of the HRS, editor of The Rosette and an avid rose hybridizer. Keen is a Consulting Rosarian and master rose bed builder! Together they grow over 400 roses in their Bellaire garden. January is the prime month to think about adding a new rose bed to your garden. Please join us to learn the best techniques to build a rose bed to help you grow beautiful roses! The meeting will take place at the Cherie Flores Pavilion, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston. Arrive at 7:00 p.m. for refreshments. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Free Admission. For more information, visit www.houstonrose.org.
Spring: Harris County Master Gardeners Green Thumb Series Lecture: Pruning, Thursday,
Jan. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Barbara Bush Library, 6817 Cypresswood Dr., Spring. Free. No registration required. For more information, call (713) 274-0950 or visit hcmga.tamu.edu.
Austin: Drip irrigation is an efficient way to conserve water and is an important tool in the Earth-Kind landscape. Attend this free workshop on January 11, from 10 a.m. to noon to learn how to install a drip irrigation system. Led by Travis County Master Gardeners Joe Posern and Sheryl Williams, attendees will install a drip irrigation system at the Freedom Home Baptist Church vegetable garden, 3405 Oak Springs Dr., Austin. This is a hands-on workshop to gain practical experience working with drip irrigation system design and component assembly. Tips on types of layouts, plant placement, and system maintenance are included. No prior irrigation experience or tools needed to attend. The event is rain or shine. Attendees are to bring work gloves, safety glasses, appropriate weather gear, and water. Space is limited. Please RSVP at
Drip Irrigation Workshop
. The garden is located behind the church. Off-street parking is available in front and along the east side of the church.
Bryan:
Learning at the Library - "Attracting Wild Birds to Your Backyard" will be presented
Saturday, January 11, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at Clara B. Mounce Public Library, 201 E. 26th St., Bryan
.
Food is the key to attracting the widest variety of wild birds to your backyard. This session informs you of the different types of feeding stations to consider depending on the species of birds you wish to attract. This event is open to the public at no charge.
Killeen: "Starting Tomatoes and Peppers from Seed" will be presented at 2:30 p.m., January 11, at Monarch Academy, 4205 Old Florence Road, Killeen.
La Marque: "Growing Blueberries" with Honorary Galveston County Master Gardener Dr. David Cohen presenting, 9-10:30 a.m., January 11, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension
Bldg.
in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Pre-registration: For additional information, phone (281) 534-3413, email
galvcountymgs@gmail.com
; for additional details visit
http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html
. Free, but you must pre-register.
La Marque: "Planting Fruit Trees" with Galveston County Master Gardener Herman Auer presenting, 1-3 p.m., January 11, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension
Bldg.
in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Pre-registration: For additional information, phone (281) 534-3413, email
galvcountymgs@gmail.com
; for additional details visit
http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html
. Free, but you must pre-register.
Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardener Association will hold its first "Lunch and Learn With the Masters" program for the year Monday, Jan. 13, free to the public. The event will be at the Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Victoria County Extension Agent Matt Bochat will present a program titled "What's This?" The program will run from noon until 1 p.m. and those attending may bring a sack lunch and beverage.
Marion: Jen Parilli will present "The Fungus Among Us" at 7:00 p.m., January 14, at St. John's Lutheran Church, FM 465, Marion. There is a plant/seed exchange and greeting at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7:00 p.m.
Wimberly: The Hays County Master Gardener Association will hold a Master Gardener Training Course on 12 Fridays in spring of 2020. The Master Gardener Training Program is an educational/volunteer program conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service designed to increase the availability of horticultural information and extend horticultural projects throughout the community. The course will include presentations by experts in the field of horticulture, covering topics such as botany, plant pathology, vegetable and fruit growing, landscaping with native and adaptive plants. In addition to the lectures, there are tours and hands-on activities. Master gardeners utilize their training to serve the Hays County communities through approved volunteer projects. They establish educational and demonstration gardens. The Speakers Network supports the mission of the Texas Master Gardeners by providing training on gardening related topics. The classes will be 4 to 6 hours held on Fridays,
beginning
February 14 and ending April 24. The class locations will be at AgriLife Extension Office, 200 Stillwater, Wimberley, Jacob's Well Nature Area in Wimberley and Freeman Ranch outside San Marcos. Class capacity is 25. Registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. January 14, or when the class meets a maximum number of 25 students.
Submit the application early to reserve a place in the class. The cost of the training is $225.00 if submitted with the application by January 14 and $250.00 after that deadline. Payment must be made no later than the first day of class, February 14. Cash or check, non-refundable made payable to HCMGA. For additional information and a downloadable application form, visit
https://txmg.org/hays/
or contact the Hays County Extension office at (512) 393-2120.
Bryan:
Gardening with the Masters - "Start Tomatoes and Other Vegetables from Seed" will be presented
Wednesday, January 15, at Brazos County Extension Office, 2619 Highway 21 W, Bryan. January is a great time to start planning what vegetable varieties can be grown in your garden. Learn which catalogs to look through and how to start the process in a warmer indoor environment. This event is open to the public at no charge.
Houston: Harris County Master Gardeners Green Thumb Series Lecture: Pruning. Thursday,
Jan 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Freeman Branch Library, 16616 Diana ln., Houston. Free. No registration required. For more information, call (713) 274-0950 or visit hcmga.tamu.edu.
Tyler: Smith County Master Gardeners at the Library. "Pines, Pawpaws, and Pocket Prairies-Developing and Maintaining an Ecosystem for Birds and Butterflies" will be presented by Greg Grant-Texas A&M Extension Horticulture Agent, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
January 17, at Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College, Tyler 75702. Free and open to the public. Free parking garage. Call (903) 590-2980 for more information.
Waller County: The Waller County Master Gardeners are accepting applications through January 17 for the 2020 Master Gardener Training Program. Classes are scheduled Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. starting January 18 and include presentations by Texas A&M horticulture experts and Master Gardeners. The cost is $225 per person. More information can be found at www.txmg.org/wallermg/training or email wallermgardener2013@gmail.com.
Katy: Harris County Master Gardeners Green Thumb Series Lecture: Pruning, Saturday,
Jan. 18, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Maude Smith Marks Library, 1815 Westgreen Blvd., Katy. Free. No registration required. For more information, call (713) 274-0950 or visit hcmga.tamu.edu.
La Marque: "Growing Great Tomatoes, Part 2 of 3" with Galveston County Master Gardener Ira Gervais presenting, 9-11:30 a.m., January 18, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension
Bldg.
in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Pre-registration: For additional information, phone (281) 534-3413, email
galvcountymgs@gmail.com
; for additional details visit
http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html
. Free, but you must pre-register.
La Marque: "Growing Peaches in Galveston County": with Galveston County Master Gardener Herman Auer presenting, 1-3 p.m., January 18, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Bldg. in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Pre-registration: For additional information, phone (281) 534-3413, email
galvcountymgs@gmail.com
; for additional details visit
http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html
. Free, but you must pre-register.
College Station:
Get Growing Series - "Bluebirds: How to Attract them to Your Yard" will be presented
Tuesday, January 21, 6:00 p.m., Lick Creek Nature Center, 13600 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station. Bluebirds are some of the most sought after backyard birds. Backyard birders who know how to attract bluebirds by meeting the birds' exact needs can enjoy the benefits of these colorful, charismatic thrushes. This event is open to the public at no charge.
Houston: Harris County Master Gardeners Green Thumb Series Lecture: Pruning, Tuesday,
Jan. 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Spring Branch Memorial Library, 930 Corbindale, Houston. Free. No registration required. For more information, call (713) 274-0950 or visit hcmga.tamu.edu.
Cypress: Harris County Master Gardeners Plant Sale: Fruit Trees (Citrus, Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Avocados, Berries, Figs, and More.)
Saturday, Jan. 25, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Ask a Master Gardener will be on hand to answer questions and Growing with Plants and Nature will have children's activities for kids between 3-12. Richard & Meg Weekley Park, 19110 Longenbaugh Rd., Cypress. For more information, visit hcmga.tamu.edu.
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FEBRUARY
McKinney: The Collin County Master Gardeners Association will host "Grape, Fruit Tree & Berry Workshop" on February 7, from 8 a.m.-4 .p.m., and "Vegetable & Edible Gardening" on February 8 from 8 a.m.-noon. Both events will be held at the Landing at Myers Park & Event Center,
7117 County Road 166, McKinney. To learn more about either workshop, visit
www.ccmgatx.org
. Seating is limited so registration is required to ensure there will be enough handouts and goodie bags for attendees.
Killeen: "Building Healthier Soil with Compost and organic Amendments"" will be presented at 2:30 p.m., February 8, at Monarch Academy, 4205 Old Florence Road, Killeen.
Huntsville: Henry Flowers of Brenham will headline the slate of speakers for the 2020 Spring Expo presented by the Walker County Master Gardeners. Flowers, known for his 16 years as Director of Gardens for the Round Top Festival Institute (Festival Hill) in Round Top and previously with the Antique Rose Emporium, will be featured at noon on Saturday, February 22. Flowers is a native Texan, a graduate of Texas A & M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture and a Master of Agriculture degree in Floriculture. He is a member of the Herb Society of America Pioneer Unit, and has been a featured speaker at herbal forums, nursery workshops, and educational events across the state and U.S. Bill Runyon, Texas CoCoRaHS State Coordinator, will take the spotlight on Sunday, February 23 at 1:00 p.m. CoCoRaHS is an acronym for Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network, and is now 21 years old. Otis Cunningham, Planning and Resource Utilization Group, MSOC Maintenance Team of NASA, will be another featured speaker. Cunningham is noted for his presentations on Moon Gardening. The 2020 Spring Garden Expo will take place at the Walker County Fairgrounds, 3925 SH 30, Huntsville, TX 77340. The two-day event will be held Saturday, February 22, 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 23, 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Vendors, Children's Area, Ask A Master Gardener and other speaker programs will run each day. For more information, email
walkercomg@gmail.com
or call (936) 435-2426.
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MARCH
Jacksonville: The Cherokee County Master Gardeners 2020 Spring Conference will be held
March 14 at the First Christian Church, 1920 Beaumont St., Jacksonville. For more information, contact Kim Benton at
kim.benton@ag.tamu.edu.
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Weekly Meetings
Galveston: The Young Gardeners Program is a school garden and healthy eating program operating on Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula. Every Saturday, 9-11 a.m., they host a garden Community Day at one of the schools. It's an opportunity for community members to work and play in the garden and it's kid-friendly. First Saturday - Crenshaw, 416 State Hwy 87, Crystal Beach; Second Saturday - Rosenberg Elementary, 721 10th St., Galveston; Third Saturday - Morgan Elementary, 1410 37th St., Galveston; Fourth Saturday - Oppe Elementary, 2915 81st St., Galveston.
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Monthly meetings
If you would like your organization's events included in "Monthly Meetings" or would like to make a change to a listed meeting, please contact us at Monthly Meetings. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details.
FIRST WEEK
Jasper:
The Jasper County Master Gardeners meet on the first Monday of each month at St. Michael's Catholic Church from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The evening begins with pot luck social and then guest presentations and/or educational class to conclude. Visit https://jasper.agrilife.org/jasper-master-gardeners/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting; Visit
https://mastergardener.tamu.edu/become/ to become a member.
Kaufman:
The Kaufman County Master Gardeners meet the first Monday of each month at the First Community Church at 1401 Trinity Drive in Crandall. January through April and August and September meetings are at 9 a.m., with the remaining meetings beginning at 7 p.m. For additional information, visit http://www.kcmga.org, call 972-932-9069 or email to sbburden@ag.tamu.edu.
Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners meet at noon the
first Tuesday of each month at a location in Houston to be determined. For additional information, visit
http://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/ or call 713-274-0950.
Schulenberg: Schulenburg Garden Club meets the first Tuesday of the month, at 11:30 a.m., September-May, at the Schulenburg First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 110 Upton Ave., Schulenburg.
Dallas:
Garden Masters, Inc., meet the first Wednesday of each month, Sept.- May, at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd., Dallas, 75230. The club hosts different speakers each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come early and order lunch from the The Cafe, which features a healthy menu, fresh local produce and sustainably produced meats and fish (or call in advance to order
972-338-2233)
. For more information about Garden Masters Inc, email Marcia Borders at
borderlineart1@gmail.com
.
Kerrville: Hill Country Master Gardeners meet the
first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm at Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 Hwy 27. For more information visit
www.hillcountrymastergardeners.org.
Midland: The Permian Basin Master Gardeners (Ector/Midland counties) have monthly meetings at noon on the
first Wednesday of each month at the West Texas Food Bank, 1601 Westcliff Drive in Midland. For more information call 432-498-4071 or 432-686-4700.
Navasota: The Navasota Garden Club meets on the
first Wednesday of each month (September through May) at 10:00 a.m., usually at the First 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.
Fort Worth:
The Native Plant Society of Texas - North Central Chapter meets the first Thursday of each month, excluding January and July, at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7:00 p.m. Guest speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Members, friends, family, guests and the public are welcome. For a list of speakers and topics or more information, visit http://www.txnativeplants.org.
Hempstead: The Waller County Master Gardeners usually meet at 9 a.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Waller County AgriLife Extension Office, 846 6th St., Hempstead. For more information on the meeting schedule, visit http://txmg.org/wallermg or call 979-826-7651.
Gonzalas: Gonzales Master Gardeners hold their monthly meeting at noon on the
first Thursday of each month at 623 Fair Street, Gonzales. Bring a bag lunch, drinks provided. Contact AgriLife Extension Office at 830-672-8531 or visit
http://gonzalesmastergardeners.org
for more information.
New Braunfels: The Comal Garden Club meets the
first Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Southbank Clubhouse, 222 Southbank Blvd., New Braunfels.
Hempstead:
The Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation, 20559 F.M. 359, Hempstead, hosts a special Insider's Tour at 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month. Spaces are limited so pre-registration is encouraged. $15, free for members. For more information, visit http://peckerwoodgarden.org/product/peckerwood-insiders-tours/.
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 Woodmen of the World, 1800 College Ave., Jacksonville. For more information, e-mail Tom Abbott at
tom@deerfield-abbey.org.
Cedar Park/Leander/Liberty Hill: The Hill Country Bloomers meet the
second Tuesday of each month (except December) at 7 p.m. at the Cedar Park Recreation Center, 1435 Main Street, Cedar Park. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to socialize and swap plants and seeds. Meetings feature guest speakers on a variety of topics for the home gardener or landscaper. They host a plant sale in the spring and a garden tour in the late summer/early fall. Throughout the year they contribute time and expertise to local projects. Those with any level of experience are welcome. Non-members are invited to their first meeting at no cost. Membership and speaker info is available at
www.hillcountrybloomers.com.
Glen Rose: The Glen Rose Garden Club meets at 10 a.m. on the
second Tuesday of each month (September through May) at the Somervell County Community Center in Glen Rose. For additional information, email
stringer030@yahoo.com.
Glen Rose: The Prairie Rose Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 6 p.m. on the
second Monday of each month at the Somerville County Citizen Center, 209 SW Barnard St., Glen Rose. For additional information, email
prairierose.npsot@gmail.com.
Harrison County: The Harrison County Master Gardeners meet on the
second Tuesday of each month in the Harrison County Annex building, 102 W Houston St. (south side of the square), Marshall. Meetings are held in the 2nd floor AgriLife Extension meeting room. For more information, call 903-935-8413, or email
wannagrow2@gmail.com.
Marion: The Guadalupe 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
guadalupecounty@npsot.org.
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.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 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. 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 10:00 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.
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.
Killeen: Youth Backyard Gardening Initiative holds community engagement meetings the
second Saturday of each month at 2:30 p.m. at Monarch Academy, 4205 Old Florence Road, Killeen. To learn more, visit
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ybkydgarden/.
Dallas: The Rainbow Garden Club of North Texas meets the
second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Meetings are held at member's homes and garden centers around the area. For more information, visit
www.RainbowGardenClub.com.
THIRD WEEK
Arlington: The Arlington Men's Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the
third Monday of each month (except December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact Lance Jepson at
LJepson@aol.com.
Cleburne:
The Johnson County Master Gardener's meet on the third Monday of each month at 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 Elaine Bell at 817-309-8052.
New Braunfels: The Comal Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. the
third Monday of each month (except April and December,) at the
GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. An educational program precedes the business meeting. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, call 830-620-3440 or visit
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
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.
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
aransas-tx@tamu.edu or call 361-790-0103.
Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club meets on the
third Tuesday of each month, September through November and January through April at 10 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land. The club hosts a different speaker each month. For more information, visit
www.sugarlandgardenclub.org.
Denton: The Denton Organic Society, a group devoted to sharing information and educating the public regarding organic principles, meets the
third Wednesday of each month (except July, August and December) at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Avenue. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are preceded by a social at 6:30. For more information, call 940-382-8551.
Glen Rose: The Somervell County Master Gardeners meet at 10 a.m., the
third Wednesday of each month at the Somervell County AgriLife Extension office, 1405 Texas Drive, Glen Rose. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call 254-897-2809 or visit
www.somervellmastergardeners.org.
Granbury: The Lake Granbury Master Gardeners meet at 1 p.m. on the
third Wednesday of each month at the Hood County Annex 1, 1410 West Pearl Street, Granbury. The public is invited to attend. There is an educational program each month preceding the business meeting. For information on topics call 817-579-3280 or visit
http://www.hoodcountymastergardeners.org/.
Brownwood: Brownwood Garden Club meets the
third Thursday of each month, 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. The club meetings are at Southside Baptist Church, 1219 Indian Creek Road, with refreshments and a speaker presentation. Visitors are welcome. For more information, email
boeblingen@centex.net or call 817-454-8175.
Hallettsville: The Hallettsville Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. on the
third Thursday of each month from September through May, at the Hallettsville Garden and Cultural Center, 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
sharonspetals@gmail.com for more information.
Houston:
The Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston Chapter meets at 6:45 pm on the third Thursday of each month at the American Red Cross Building, 2700 Southwest Fwy. For more information about meeting presentations and native plants, visit http://npsot.org/houston.
San Antonio: The Bexar County Master Gardeners (BCMG) meet on the
third Thursday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., Suite 208, San Antonio. During the months of Jan., March, May, July, Sep. and Nov., an evening meeting with presentation is held 6:00-8:00 p.m. During the intervening months (Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct.), afternoon educational seminars/general meetings are held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Check
http://www.bexarmg.org/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting.
Seguin: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners meets at 6:30 p.m. the
third Thursday of each month, at the AgriLife Building, 210 East Live Oak, Seguin. After a brief social hour, the meeting and guest speaker begins at 7 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 830-303-3889 or visit
www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
Fort Worth: The Greater Fort Worth Herb Society meetings are held the
third Saturday of each month at Texas Garden Club Inc, 3111 Old Garden Club Rd., Fort Worth (located next to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden), 10:00 a.m. to noon, September through June. For more information, email
herbalhen@yahoo.com.
FOURTH WEEK
New Braunfels: The New Braunfels Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the
fourth Monday of each month except July and December. Meetings are held at the Westside Community Center, 2932 S. I-35 Frontage Road, New Braunfels. Meetings start at 6:15 p.m. with a meet and greet time, followed by a short business meeting. Programs begin around 7:00. Native plant and seed exchanges are held monthly. Expert speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information or to join, visit
www.npsot.org.
Brackenridge Park: The Native Plant Society San Antonio Chapter meets every
fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Lions Field Adult and Senior Center, 2809 Broadway at E. Mulberry, Brackenridge Park, except August and December. Social and seed/plant exchange at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bea at 210-999-7292 or visit
www.npsot.org/sanantonio.
Bryan: The Brazos County Master Gardeners, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, meet the
fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Brazos 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
khtromza@yahoo.com.
San Antonio: The Native Plant Society of Texas San Antonio Chapter meets the
fourth Tuesday of each month, except August and December, at the Lions Field Adult & Senior Center, 2809 Broadway, San Antonio. Social and plant/seed exchange at 6:30 p.m., program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit
www.npsot.org/sanantonio or email
npsot.sanantonio@gmail.com.
Houston: The Houston Native Prairie Association meets at 7 p.m. on the
fourth Wednesday of each month (except November and December) at the Houston Red Cross Building, 2700 Southwest Freeway, Houston. Refreshments served at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact
hnpat@prairies.org.
Austin: The Garden Club of Austin meets at Zilker Botanical Gardens auditorium, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, at 7:00 p.m. on the
fourth Thursday of each month. 7:00-7:30 p.m. Refreshments and Social, followed by a presentation at 7:30 p.m. Free. For additional information, visit
http://thegardenclubofaustin.org/.
Leander:
The Leander Garden Club meets on the fourth Thursday of each month (except June, July and August) at 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Room of the Leander Presbyterian Church, 101 N. West St., Leander, unless there is a special event planned. Following a program and short business meeting, there is a pot-luck luncheon. To confirm the meeting place and time, please call President Kathleen Tully at 512-422-8580 or email LeanderGardenClub@gmail.com .
Dallas: The Dallas County Master Gardeners meet the
fourth Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. For location and program information, visit
h
ttp://www.dallascountymastergardeners.org/ or contact The Helpdesk, M-F, 8 to 4:30 214-904-3053.
Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the
last Thursday of each month (except November and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact David at 817-483-7746.
Hempstead:
The Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation, 20559 F.M. 359, Hempstead, hosts a garden Open Days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. Drop-in tours are permitted but pre-registration is encouraged. Docent led tours are $10 for guests, free for members. For more information, http://peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/.
Dallas: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month (except November and December) at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas. For more information, visit www.gdogc.org.
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