May 2, 2018
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The garden reader:
Veggie gardening with straw, ornamentals and water
By William Scheick
Joel Karsten. Straw Bale Solutions: Creative Tips for Growing Vegetables in Bales at Home, in Community Gardens and Around the World. Cool Springs Press, 2018. 176 pp. $24.99.
"Why not use a few bales of decomposing straw to grow vegetables," asks Joel Karsten. "If they were such good hosts for thistles and other weeds, shouldn't they grow peppers and tomatoes just as well?"
Karsten recommends veggies grown in recently decomposed straw located at the center of each bale, where fresh compost forms. Applying a high-nitrogen fertilizer to this center fosters the already-present bacteria and fungi that will perform the "heating" process of decomposition.
Karsten's brightly illustrated book supplements his original
Straw Bale Gardens Complete, which remains the introductory guide to the subject. His new book records the testaments of various bale-gardeners who found ingenious solutions for managing their locale, including a flood zone, a cold climate, a small space, a short growing season and rocky or clay soil.
Of special interest is "Battling the Lone Star Sun," featuring a gardener in Celeste, in Northeast Texas. That gardener found that her bales held water very well and functioned beyond her expectations when they received late-afternoon shade from several large trees.
And, she gleefully reports, there were "no weeds at all."
Lisa Mason Ziegler. Vegetables Love Flowers: Companion Planting for Beauty and Bounty. Cool Springs Press, 2018. 176 pp. $21.99.
"The best dose of medicine my gardens ever received were flowers," Lisa Mason Ziegler writes. "When flowers are coupled with all-natural gardening practices, it changes everything."
She suggests an interplanting ratio of 60 percent veggies and 40 percent flowers to "bring nature in to do the heavy lifting on insect control." Flowers entice birds, pollinators and other "beneficials" to manage pest problems naturally.
The author prefers annuals instead of perennials and offers precise cutting techniques to foster reflowering. "The secret to abundance in the flower garden, the vegetable garden and the herb garden is the same - harvest often."
Her warm-season favorites include zinnias, sunflowers, celosia, marigolds and tithonias. Her cool-season preferences include sweet peas, snapdragons, bee balm, coneflowers and poppies.
Ziegler does not identify specifically which ornamentals companion best with this or that veggie, nor which flowers particularly attract this or that pollinator. Instead, her book expresses a more general celebration of the joy of harvesting flowers as well as veggies from the same plot - sometimes even at the same time.
Tyler Baras. DIY Hydroponic Gardens: How to Design and Build an Inexpensive System for Growing Plants in Water. Cool Spring Press, 2018. 192 pp. $24.99.
The common assumption that plants require soil is groundless, Tyler Baras explains in his book. Plants not only thrive when grown in nutrient-rich water environments, they also require less space, less dependence on seasonal factors, less water and less care.
Hydroponic gardening requires plenty of equipment at first, including pumps, tubing, meters and grow lights. Although systems vary in difficulty, bottle, floating-raft and wicking-bed techniques provide three examples of "great beginner-friendly systems that don't require electricity."
The author provides abundant step-by-step photos with easy-to-follow instructions. The chapters of his excellent guidebook sequence from easy to complex projects.
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Unique edibles to wow your guests
By Melinda Myers
Make your next gathering one to remember by including a few unique vegetables on the relish tray, as a side dish or for dessert. Your guests will be "wowed," not only because you grew your own ingredients, but because of the unique shape, color or flavor of the vegetables you serve.
Create a memorable dining experience with attractive edible containers adorning the patio, balcony or deck. Include a few Candle Fire Okra plants in large containers to create a tropical feel. The dark green leaves, hibiscus flowers and colorful red pods make a striking display in a container or the garden.
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The uniquely shaped Mad Hatter sweet red pepper has a refreshing citrusy floral flavor. (Photo: All-America Selections)
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Surprise guests with
roasted Candle Fire okra and Candyland Red currant tomatoes. Roasting okra eliminates the slime that prevents many from eating this unique vegetable. And don't discard any overripe pods, use them in flower arrangements to dress up any event.
Allow your guests to harvest their own greens, herbs and cherry tomatoes to toss into their salads or season their meal. Use Prizm kale as a vertical dark green accent in your containers. Then add a contrasting ornamental leaf lettuce like Red Sails, long lasting vibrant Red Kingdom Mizuna (Japanese mustard) and edible flowers like calendulas, nasturtiums and pansies. The new Patio Choice tomatoes produce up to 100 yellow cherry tomatoes on an 18" plant. Plant it in a container for a splendid display then watch as guests harvest fresh tomatoes from your centerpiece.
Dress up the table, indoors or out, by using a few potted herbs as centerpieces. Include Dark Opal Basil with dark purple leaves and compact Dolce Fresca in a simple container or more decorative pot to create a splendid display. Just place a pair of garden snips on the table and let your guests flavor their meals.
Make any meal special with a Bok Choy Frittata. Your guests will be impressed when you create this popular dish from your own homegrown ingredients. Asian Delight Pak Choi (or Bok Choy) is slow to flower so you will enjoy season-long harvests. The mild flavored tender white stems and textured dark green leaves look good in containers, the garden and when served fresh in a salad, frittata or stir fry.
Serve a colorful platter of sliced tomatoes with the Chef's Choice series of red, pink, orange, yellow and green fruit. The globe-shaped beefsteak tomatoes have the perfect balance of acid to sugar. Their disease resistance, productivity, yield, flavor, color and performance made them winners in the non-profit All-America Selections national trials (
all-americaselections.org).
Stuff a few of the uniquely shaped Mad Hatter sweet peppers with cheese. Your guests will enjoy the beauty and refreshing citrusy floral flavor of this three-sided red pepper. The vigorous plant produces an abundance of fruit, so you'll have plenty to use fresh in appetizers and salads throughout the growing season or pickled for future enjoyment.
End the evening with a surprise. Serve each guest their own watermelon for dessert. Mini Love watermelon packs lots of sweet flavor into individual-size fruit. Or brighten their dessert plates with a slice or two of Gold in Gold. This eye-catching watermelon has a yellow rind with golden stripes. The orange-gold flesh is crisp and sugary.
With just a little planning, you can plant unique and beautiful edibles in your garden and containers this season. Then find fun ways to include these in dishes shared at potlucks, meals for family and friends, or as a snack to enjoy on a summer afternoon.
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What should I consider before using fertilizers and pesticides at home?
Crop Science Society of America
Choosing the right fertilizer or pesticide for your needs can be overwhelming. The April 7 Sustainable, Secure Food blog explains how to make the right choice, and why following label directions is important.
"No matter which product you end up selecting, the most important step before applying is to thoroughly read the label and all instructions," says Tracy Wilson, Central Oregon Research Center. "Just like you look at the dose of your pain reliever, you should check to see the best dose of fertilizers and pesticides!"
Wilson recommends soil testing before any treatment with a fertilizer. "You might be able to save some money and apply less fertilizer. Or you might just need to add one specific nutrient, and not others," Wilson says.
Pesticides also deserve well-informed use. "As with any household chemical, it is critical to follow the label instructions and exercise caution when handling," Wilson warns. "Improper use can pollute air, water, and soil."
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Gardening tips
It is that time of year when warm weather (at least we hope so) brings rapid growth and development of our warm-season crops like squash and green beans. Remember, size does matter when it comes to vegetables: the smaller, the better. Young, immature vegetables are much more tasty and nutritious than larger, well developed vegetables. So, if you find a 10 lb. zucchini hiding under the vines, don't give it to aunt Suzie. Instead, toss it in the compost pile and pick some of those smaller, tender ones for her. If your fingernail won't easily break the skin of the fruit then it is too mature for the table.
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 2018 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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MAY
Tomball: Henry Flowers, Festival Hill Gardens, presents "Ginger and Its Edible Cousins," at 10:00 a.m., Thursday,
May 3, at The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball.
Ginger is a fabulous herb of much use and history. Learn how to grow and use this wonderful plant and some of its wonderful cousins, such as turmeric and galangal. For more information, visit arborgate.com.
Arlington:
Native Plant Sale hosted by the Native Plant Society of Texas - North Central Chapter, Saturday, May 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at River Legacy Park - Elm Grove Pavilion, 701 NE Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. Sale plants have been grown organically from local seed by members - so no neonicotinoids. Knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and offer tips. Native plants are better adapted to our climate, have minimal water needs, don't need pesticides or fertilizers, and benefit birds, butterflies and the ecosystem in general. The event raises funds for outreach, including training, education and demonstration gardens. For a list of species with photos, visit
www.txnativeplants.org/plantsale/index.php
.
Conroe:
Saturday, May 5, Open Gardens Day. 9:00-11:00 a.m. Free! Bring your kids and gardening questions and join Montgomery County Master Gardeners in ther demonstration gardens at the AgriLife Extension Office, 9020 Airport Road, Conroe. There will be tours and plenty of Master Gardeners to identify plants and problems you may have in your garden and yard.
La Marque: "What is an Orchid", with Joyce McMillan and Clyde Holt, Galveston Bay Orchid Society past presidents and Galveston County Master Gardeners, presenting, 9-11 a.m.,
May 5, at Galveston County AgriLife Extension in Carbide Park, 4102 Main, La Marque; Ph 281-534-3413; email
galvcountymgs@gmail.com; for additional details visit
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html. Free, but registration required.
Marion: Guadalupe Chapter Presents "
Planting a Butterfly Garden:
A little space goes a long way" at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday,
May 8, at
St. John's Lutheran Church, FM 465, Marion. W
hether you have room for only couple of containers or nearly unlimited space in your yard, learn to make the most of that available area to attract butterflies and satisfy their needs throughout the year. Learn to plan and set goals for your garden using Texas native plants to attract, support and preserve Texas butterflies. April Rippel is a Guadalupe County Master Gardener who maintains her own butterfly and pollinator garden in a local suburban neighborhood. Rippel has spoken throughout Guadalupe County and while she holds a graduate degree in business, her passion is responsible gardening
.
Meetings are open to the public. Visitors are welcome.
There is a plant/seed exchange and greeting at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program at 7:00 p.m.
For more information, directions to St John's Lutheran Church, or membership applications, visit http://npsot.org/wp/guadalupe/.
Houston: "Which Rose is Right for You?"
is the topic of the Houston Rose Society meeting, Thursday, May 10. Please note: the meeting location will be The Lott Clubhouse, 6201 Hermann Park Drive, Houston (just southwest of the zoo). This is a one-time location change. Chris VanCleave will present the program. Chris is known as the Redneck Rosarian. He is the creator of the Rose Chat Podcast and past president of the Birmingham Rose Society. Chris is a candidate for vice president of the American Rose Society. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. Arrive at 7:00 p.m. for social time and refreshments. Free Admission. for more information, visit www.houstonrose.org.
Nacogdoches: James Wilhite, Wilhite Landscaping of Tyler, will present "Planting by the Moon: Rhyme or Reason," 7:00-8:30 p.m., May 10, in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Natice Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St., Nacogdoches. For more information, call (936) 468-4129 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.
Tyler: Master Gardeners at the Library, May 11, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. "Sex in the Garden, All about Propagation" with Master Gardener Debby Watkins. Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College, Tyler. Free and open to the public. For more information, visit
www.txmg.org/smith
or call (903) 590-2980.
Austin: The Travis County Master Gardeners Association is sponsoring free public seminars on the second Saturday of each month from May to September. The seminars include:
May 12 - Gardening with Cacti and Succulents;
June 9 - Easy Composting with Worms;
July 14 - Container Gardening Success;
Aug. 11 - Permaculture: Sustainable Design;
Sept. 8 - Fall Vegetable Gardening. O
n May 12 learn how cacti and succulents can add an appealing and compelling look to your garden. These water-wise plants work well together and share low-maintenance growing conditions. In addition, their wide range of leaf colors and structure add visual interest and drama to any setting. Join members of Austin Cactus and Succulent Society, Andrea Wakefield and Jeff Pavlat, as they share their expertise and suggestions on all of these matters. Each seminar will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Austin Area Garden Center at the Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Spring Road, Austin. A park entrance fee is required. Fees are $2 per adult, $1 per child (ages 3-12) or seniors (age 62 & over), and $3 for non-Austin Residents. Cash or check accepted.
Tomball: Felder Rushing, Author, presents "Art in the Garden," 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Saturday,
May 12, at The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball.
A chat with the South's most laid-back garden guy. For more information, visit arborgate.com.
Athens: The Henderson County "Learn at the Library" Series presentation on "Square Foot Gardening" has been rescheduled to May 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Clint W. Murchison Memorial Library, 121 S. Prairieville, Athens. Master Gardener Susan Skommesa, who recently moved from Southern California, has a very informative presentation and tips on small area gardening. You definitely don't want to miss this! For more information, visit txmg.org/hendersonmg or call (903) 675-6130.
Fort Worth: Greater Fort Worth Herb Society presents "Herb Festival," 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., May 19, at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, 3220 Botanic Gardens Blvd., Forth Worth. Admission $4.00; children under 12 free. Vendors, silent auction, presentation at 10:30 Cherisa Scott (owner of Pabio's Lotus garden apothecary) "The story of a healing herb." For more information contact, call (817) 263-9322.
La Marque:
"Home Orchard Tours,"
3 fruit tree orchards and vegetable gardens available to tour, orchard owners and Galveston County Master Gardeners at each site to guide and answer questions. Visit sites in any order, 9 a.m.-noon, May 19, rain or shine. Locations: Wilson and Renee Hillman's Fruit n Such Orchard, 6309 Avenue U, Dickinson 77539; located off Bowerman Road and FM 517; ph. 832-443-6733. Galveston County Master Gardener homeowner at 5202 Highland Road, Santa Fe 77517. Galveston County Master Gardener Discovery Garden orchard in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque 77568. Registration not needed. For additional details visit http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html. Free.
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JUNE
Tomball: Bill Adams, Author, presents "Grafting 101," at 10:00 a.m., Saturday,
June 2, at The Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball.
Bill shares his knowledge and experience of grafting with the home gardener.
For more information, visit arborgate.com.
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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 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.
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
bunny-williams@sbcglobal.net.
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.
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 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
tom@deerfield-abbey.org.
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.
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.
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.
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/.
Abilene: The Master Gardeners meet the
third Thursday of each month at the Taylor County Extension Office, 1982 Lytle Way, Abilene. For more information, contact Lind Spivey, Corresponding Secretary at
spivey209@hotmail.com.
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@yahoo.com 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
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 at the Cherie Flores Pavilion in McGovern Centennial Gardens at Hermann Park, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston. 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.
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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Texas Gardener digital edition available-Only $19.95 per year (digital only) or $9 per year if you tack it on to your print subscription!
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2018 Planning Guide & Calendar
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