October 3, 2018
|
|
The garden reader:
Native-plant hosts for Texas butterflies
By William Scheick
Jim Weber, Lynne Weber and Roland H. Wauer. Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies: A Field Guide. Texas A&M University Press, 2018. 260 pp. $30.00.
 Most addicted butterfly-watchers likely already know about the declining populations of the monarch. Ongoing Lone Star efforts to address their plight and replenish their numbers have been reported in recent media stories, including an article in Texas Gardener (March-April 2016).
While monarchs nectar on a wide variety of flowers, they rely on native milkweeds to lay their eggs. When the emerging larvae consume milkweed foliage, they ingest cardiac glycosides - toxic compounds deterring predation.
Other butterfly species, too, rely on one or more native plants to maintain the survival of their kind. Like the monarch, they nectar widely but restrict their egg deposits to particular plants.
How do the female butterflies identify these crucial plants? That remains a mystery as yet.
We know this much: both the plant and the insect realms are replete with chemical cues - some designed to entice, others designed to deter. Butterflies, it turns out, possess chemoreceptors located at the tips of their antennae and the bottom of their feet that function similar to our ability to taste and smell.
So butterflies have their world figured out even if we still struggle to understand it. At least we comprehend enough to inform ourselves about the native plants they need to thrive.
There is plenty to learn. Some nearby plants that we overlook, take for granted or perhaps treat as lawn nuisances might be serving a higher function than we ever imagined.
Consider, for example, the wild petunia (Ruellia nudiflora). Its runyonii variety hosts the malachite butterfly, which starts out as a horned black caterpillar with red "bristles."
And those annoying, deep-rooted Texas thistles (Cirsium texanum) - both the mylitta crescent and the painted lady call them home. The pearl crescent does likewise with heath asters (Symphyotrichum ericoides), whether or not they look weedy in a lawn.
To give us a better appreciation of these matters, the authors of Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies feature more than 100 floral species. Their profile of each plant includes an overall description (leaves, flowers, fruits), habitat identification, common names, general remarks and the identity of the hosted butterfly.
All of this information is easily accessible to the reader. "In writing this book," the authors explain, "we have tried to view plants through the eyes of a novice and in most cases have attempted to use simple English to describe each plant species and the features that characterize it."
Three dazzling photographs illustrate each plant, and two more show the pertinent butterfly. Overall, 140 butterfly species are featured in both larval and adult phases.
Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies
is extraordinary both as a rich educational resource and as a beautifully designed book.
|
|
|
AgriLife Extension entomologists: Fire ants, mosquitoes to be more prevalent after rains
By Paul Schattenberg
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
With recent rains subsiding in many parts of the state and the re-emergence of warmer, drier weather, Texans should expect to see a proliferation of fire ants and mosquitoes, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologists.
 |
|
|
As recent rains subside, Texans likely will again begin to see the familiar mounds of red imported fire ants. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo) |
According to Dr. Robert Puckett, AgriLife Extension entomologist at Texas A&M University in College Station, the typical ant colony has one or more egg-laying queens, along with worker ants and a number of winged reproductive males and females.
"To establish new colonies, the winged males and females leave the colony for mating flights," he explained. "These winged ants, capable of reproducing, leave their nest in search of mates. The males die soon after mating as do most of the females, but the surviving females go on to establish new nests."
Puckett said during rain events, while the fire ants are underground in their nests, water percolates through their colony and collapses many of their tunnels or chambers, so they have to rebuild.
"In doing so, they push the soil back out and create the mounds of various sizes that we see on our lawns," he said. "But on the positive side, after this activity, the fire ants are no longer hidden or inconspicuous."
He noted this would be an excellent time of year to consider using the "Two-Step Method" of fire ant control.
"We recommend that in the fall homeowners make a broadcast application of granular fire ant bait if their fire ant mound densities warrant it," he explained. "This wider application will allow greater coverage and serve to reduce the ant load once spring comes around. If any of the mounds reemerge in the spring, then we suggest direct treatment by a contact insecticide or granular baits."
Puckett suggested using a granular bait specifically labeled for the control of red imported fire ants.
"Rain can be a further complicating factor in applying the granular bait," he noted. "We recommend you find a time when at least 72 hours of dry weather are expected after application. Water will dilute the bait and contribute to 'bait failure' or a lesser ability of the bait to kill the ant. Also, the bait will absorb the water and make it less palatable to your ants."
If dealing with fire ants isn't enough, Texans will also see a significant increase in mosquito activity, according to Dr. Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension entomologist, Stephenville.
|
|
|
Aedes mosquitoes are the principal vector for many diseases, including Zika. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Dr. Mike Merchant) |
"The floodwater mosquito species are what we're primarily seeing now," Swiger said. "These are the species that primarily breed in ponds, ditches, marshes and other open-water locations. These species don't pose any significant health threat, but they are a nuisance and will bite you pretty much anytime."
Swiger said as conditions dry, Texans can expect to see more "container breeder" species such as the Aedes mosquitoes, which have a much greater potential for spreading disease.
The Aedes mosquitoes have been identified as vectors for a number of diseases, including Zika, yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya and
eastern equine encephalitis.
"Also, during late summer and fall is when we tend to see a greater number of instances of West Nile, for which the Culex mosquito is a vector."
Swiger said the best means to defend against any mosquito-borne illness is to eliminate the vector.
"Attack the mosquitoes at the larval stage by removing standing water and using mosquito dunks in areas where they might breed," she said. "The ingredients in dunks are also available in granular form, which makes it easier to treat smaller areas of standing water."
Mosquito dunks, which contain naturally occurring bacterium, can prevent larvae from growing and spreading diseases. They do not pose a threat to people, pets or plants.
She said homeowners should put their efforts toward finding, draining and, if practical, removing any items that might provide a mosquito breeding ground, such as containers, bird baths, toys, tires, bottles and cans.
"It is generally a waste of time, money and effort for the average homeowner to try and control mosquitoes at the adult stage, but if you're going to have an outdoor event there can be a temporary solution," Swiger said. "There are some over-the-counter yard application methods, but these last 24-48 hours at most and only kill the mosquitoes that are present. However, there's no residual, so it won't have any effect the next round of mosquitoes."
Swiger said at the adult stage the best possible way to defend against mosquitoes is by using "the four Ds - Dress, Drain, Dusk/Dawn and Defend.
"Dress in long, loose-fitting, light-colored pants and shirts, drain any standing water from around the home, reduce outdoor activity during dusk and dawn and defend yourself with an insect repellent approved by the CDC and EPA," she said.
|
 |
Gardening tips
If you love Texas wildflowers, plant them now. Before planting, mow the area on your lowest setting. Water well and then spread the seeds in a broadcast manner. You can do this by hand or mix the seeds in some sand and use your fertilizer spreader to distribute them. Once the seeds are out, walk or drive your mower over the area to try to bring the seeds in contact with the soil.
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 2019 Planning Guide & Calendar. Please send your tips of 50 words or less to the editor at:
Garde
ning Tips.
|
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.
|
|
OCTOBER
Nacogdoches: The Southern Garden History Society, along with SFA Gardens, Friends of Historic Nacogdoches, Inc., and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present 300 Years of Plants on the Move in Texas in historic Nacogdoches, Friday and Saturday, October 5 & 6, to celebrate Texas' Tricentennial in gardening with tours, lectures, a book signing, and a reception. Lectures will cover a broad sweep of horticulture and garden history in Texas beginning with the Spanish era through pass-a-long Narcissus, garden scenes from the past, and modern introductions. Speakers include Jeff Abt, Dave Creech, Greg Grant, and William C. Welch. The event will be held at the prestigious, newly restored Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center, (936) 564-1234. The program begins Friday morning with optional walking tours of historic downtown Nacogdoches or the Ruby Mize Azalea Garden at Stephen F. Austin State University's SFA Gardens. The Ruby Mize Azalea Garden is the largest and most diverse azalea garden in the state featuring hundreds of cultivars and thousands of plants. After lunch, the program resumes at the Fredonia Hotel, where Southern Garden History Society board member Jeff Abt will present "Images from the Past-Lumber Town Landscapes and What They Tell Us." Jeff has used a microscope to look at the landscape details of old black and white lumber town photographs for a visual trip back into a horticultural bygone era. Lifetime Southern Garden History Society member and Texas Gardener Contributing Editor Greg Grant will present "From Arcadia to Arcadia-Grannies, Kissing Cousins, and Narcissus." Greg will tell the fascinating story of his serendipitous connection to his long lost distant cousin Celia Jones and their mutual love of heirloom Narcissus spanning from Arcadia, Texas to Arcadia, Louisiana. Premier horticulturist and director of SFA Gardens David Creech will present "Plants with Stories and Other Tall Tales." Dr. Creech will share his usual entertaining stories of the past, present, and future of SFA Gardens, the first botanical garden at a University in Texas. William C. Welch, honorary board member and past president of the Southern Garden History Society, will present "The Spanish Influences in Our Gardens-Celebrating 300 Years." Dr. Welch is author of numerous gardening books including Heirloom Gardening in the South with Greg Grant which will be available for purchase along with their latest book The Rose Rustlers. At 9 a.m. Saturday morning at SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, participants will have the opportunity to participate
in SFA Gardens' annual Fall plant sale, which features hundreds of heirloom, hardy, and hard to find plants for Texas and the South, grown by SFA Gardens' volunteers, staff, and student workers. All proceeds from the plant sale support SFA Gardens' development, maintenance, and educational programming. For more information on the program or a registration form, email:
fohni@yahoo.com
.
Austin: Travis County Master Gardeners Association is sponsoring free gardening seminars on October 6, on the "The Care of Trees," and "Adding Roses to your Garden." The seminars will be held in the North Village Branch Library, 2505 Steck Ave., Austin, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Trees improve our environment, provide shelter from the hot Texas sun and add beauty to our landscapes, so keeping them healthy is extremely important. Travis County Master Gardener Wendy Buck will share tree maintenance procedures, such as mulching, proper pruning, limiting fertilization and supplemental irrigation techniques that will increase your trees' chance of withstanding our extreme weather swings. Growing roses in Central Texas is easier than you thought! Today there are many hybrid varieties that need little maintenance and have abundant blooms. Travis County Master Gardener Cher Coleman, who has 30 years of experience working with roses, will teach methods for proper selection of rose varieties, site prep and maintenance like pruning, pest control and fertilization. The seminar is free and open to the public. No reservations are required. Visit http://www.tcmastergardeners.org/event/the-care-of-trees/ for more information.
Cypress: Harris County Master Gardeners Fall Perennial Sale,
Saturday, October 6, 9:00 a.m.-noon (or sellout), at Berry Center of Northwest Houston, 8877 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress. Free. Large selection of plants, herbs and compost for sale. For additional information, call (713) 274-0950 or visit hcmga.tamu.edu.
Forney:
"Drought-Defying Landscapes: Making Beautiful Yards When Water is Scarce" will be presented Saturday, October 6, from 9 a.m. to noon at the First United Methodist Church, 414 W. Broad Street, Forney. Find out how to make your yard the envy of your neighbors without high water bills. Join Dr. Dotty Woodson as she guides attendees through the confusion of creating and maintaining an attractive landscape in a time of increasing water scarcity. Learn about plants with lower water requirements, cultural practices to conserve moisture, rainwater harvesting and other water-collection and conservation methods. Additional printed information, including plans for making a rain barrel and planning drip irrigation, will be available. The cost is $5 per person. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Light refreshments. To pre-register, call (972) 932-9069,or email sbburden@ag.tamu.edu by October 1.
Nacogdoches:
Stephen F. Austin State University's SFA Gardens will host its annual Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St., Nacogdoches. The sale will feature a variety of hard-to-find, "Texas-tough" plants, including Texas natives, heirlooms, perennials, shrubs and trees, with an emphasis on pollinator-friendly plants, as well as exclusive SFA introductions. The featured plants are extensively trialed before being offered to the public and are produced by SFA Gardens' staff members and volunteers. Parking will be available at SFA's Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center, located at 2428 Raguet St. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and bring a wagon for their plants. For
more
information
and
a
list
of
available
plants,
call
(936)
468-4404,
or
visit
sfagardens.sfasu.edu
two
weeks
before
the
sale.
Hallsville: Harrison County Master Gardener Association will present Greg Grant, world renowned gardener, author, public speaker, Texas Gardener contributing editor, and Texas AgriLife Extension Agent-Smith County giving a presentation on Heirloom Gardening on Wednesday, October 10. The event will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Gold Hall Community Center, 101 E Elm St., Hallsville. Free to the public; everyone welcome.
Houston: "Organic Landscape Architecture in Houston" is the topic of the Houston Rose Society meeting, Thursday, October 11, 7:00 p.m. at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston. Lanson B. Jones, founder of Lanson B. Jones & Company will present the program. Lanson B. Jones & Company is a landscape architecture firm started in 1994. As a student of landscape architecture, Lanson was impressed by the famous gardens and architectural designs of Europe. This experience inspired him to bring European gardens home to Texas and design gardens scaled to meet the needs of his clients. Lanson is a John Staub Award-Winning Landscape Architect. Arrive at 7:00 p.m. for social time; the meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Bring a special rose from your garden for Grow and Tell. Free Admission. For more information, visit www.houstonrose.org.
Nacogdoches:
Stephen F. Austin State University's SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m., October 11, in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St., Nacogdoches. SFA horticulture alumnus Dr. Andrew King will present, "You Can Take the Boy out of East Texas, but You Can't Take the Azaleas Out of His Garden: Growing Ornamentals in a Challenging Environment." King was raised in Tenaha, Texas, on a small retail nursery that was founded in 1915 by his great-grandfather. Through four generations, the nursery has remained in the King family. His father, mother and grandmother all instilled in him a love of horticulture. When it was time to further his education at the university level, it was an easy decision. King received a bachelor's degree in agriculture with an emphasis in horticulture from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2004, and his master's and doctoral degrees from Texas A&M University in 2010 and 2015, respectively. He has served as a lecturer in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at TAMU since January 2016, teaching many of the plant production courses, including nursery management and production, and plant propagation, as well as some introductory courses, such as garden science. Recently, he has introduced a class titled "Wild Edible, Cultivated and Poisonous Herbs" that focuses on the medicinal, poisonous and culinary aspects of plants that people often overlook. His research interests include plant propagation, trialing plant materials and nursery crop improvement. The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare-plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series fund are always appreciated. Parking is available at the PNPC and Raguet Elementary School, 2428 Raguet St. For more information, call (936) 468-4129, or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu .
Tyler: From Bulbs to Blooms - Fall Conference and Sale, October 13. Greg Grant, Smith County Horticulture Agent and Bulb Expert, and Keith Kriedler will be the featured speakers. Along with bulbs, trees and shrubs will be available as well as area vendors. Registration 8:30 a.m. Program 9:00 a.m. Sale to follow 11:30 a.m. Harvey Hall, 2000 W Front St., Tyler. Free and open to the public. For additional information, visit https://txmg.org/smith/coming-events/ or call (903) 590-2980 for additional information.
|
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, Alternating 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.
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 Lind Spivey, Corresponding Secretary at
spivey209@hotmail.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@yahoo.com for more information.
Houston:
The Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston Chapter meets at 6:45 pm on the third Thursday of each month at the Houston Arboretum Nature Center (entrances at 4501 Woodway Dr. and 120 West Loop N). 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 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/.
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
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/.
|
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!
Same magazine as our print edition without the paper and at a better price. Fully compatible with your desktop, laptop, iPad or Tablet. Access Texas Gardener anywhere, anytime: at the office, home, vacation, even in the garden. Easy to use with robust features and fully searchable archive as long as your subscription is active. Click on this link to explore your options
http://www.texasgardener.com/Store/Products/productlisting.aspx?id=4
2018 Planning Guide & Calendar
Only $14.95 per copy (includes tax and shipping)
Make gardening easier and more enjoyable in 2018. No more keeping it in your head or, worse yet, juggling all those wrinkled, sweat-stained pieces of paper that seem to accumulate and end up lost. It's time to get organized and the perfect way to start that off is with your very own copy of the 2018 Texas Gardener Planning Guide and Calendar. No more guessing when to plant or do different activities. You will find everything you need in one simple but informative guide and calendar. Plus plenty of room to record your own planting dates, rainfall events and other data for future reference.
Here's a sample of what you will find in this information-packed guide:
- Many, many practical and timely garden tips that are for Texas - not Maine or California!
- Organic, earth-friendly tips to make your garden grow and prosper
- Lots of space to record your own activities for future reference
- Planting dates and tips for vegetables, flowers, herbs, fruit and lawns
Order today, while it's fresh on your mind. Don't forget to order copies for your gardening friends and relatives!
Easy Gardening for Texas
By Joseph G. Masabni
Only $31.94 (includes tax and shipping)
Gardening in the Lone Star State has unique challenges, but that doesn't mean you can't grow vegetables here. This new book tells what varieties are best, how to handle insect and disease problems, and how to control weeds with a minimum of work, plus detailed growing information on a host of vegetables that do well in Texas. This is the perfect guide for gardeners new to the state as well as those more-experienced gardeners looking for a handy guide of research-tested advice. 220 pages with lots of color photos! Click on this link to order
http://www.texasgardener.com/Store/Products/viewproduct.aspx?id=126.
Easy Edibles
By Judy Barrett
Only $29.75 (includes tax, shipping)
Eating fresh and eating local has really caught on! Easy Edibles: How to Grow and Enjoy Fresh Food focuses on ways to grow some of your own food without devoting a lot of space, time and work to the project. Barrett also covers how and where to find the bounty offered at local farmers markets, farm stands and pick-your-own operations. This book is the perfect gift or guide for folks new to gardening or those who have limited time and resources but still want to eat fresh! Click on this link to order
http://www.texasgardener.com/Store/Products/viewproduct.aspx?id=123
Garden Design Bible
By Tim Newbury
Only $26.59 (includes tax, shipping)
Like having your own landscape architect and contractor at your constant disposal without the cost. Whatever your desire the Garden Design Bible has a plan that you can adapt to your own space. Choose from 40 designs, or mix and match elements from several to create your own ideal garden. Over 100 color photos and illustrations. If you have the space and need inspiration and direction, let the Garden Design Bible be your guide! Click on this link to order
http://www.texasgardener.com/Store/Products/productlisting.aspx?id=1
|
|
|
|
|
