Extreme Plant Sale and Learning Extravaganza

Remember that our Extreme Plant Sale and Learning Extravaganza is coming up quickly.  It will be held in the Modern Living Mall at the Taylor County Expo Center on Saturday October1st from 8 am to 1 pm.

Here are the plants that will be at the sale:

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Fall is For Planting Wildflowers

wildflower

By: Audrey Gillespie

Isn’t it wonderful to be able to walk outside and enjoy temperatures under 100 degrees?  Fall is far and away the best season to plant most trees, shrubs, and perennials and the right time to sow some wildflower seeds.

If you are cautious about spending much money on more expensive plants as the drought continues, you might want to check out a few websites on wildflowers.  Texas boasts over a thousand species, so you are almost certain to find the perfect combination for your location.  Some great sites include Native American Seed Company at www.seedsource.com, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at www.wildflower.org, and Wildseed Farms at www.wildseedfarms.com. Whether you just want a small wildflower garden or you want to restore acres of native habitat, including wildflowers, you will find a wealth of information as well as some breath-taking photos.  For a small investment of money and time, you can look forward to a celebration of life and color in the spring and for years to come.

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EarthKind, Rainwater Harvesting, and Water Irrigation & Efficency Seminar This Week

Drip EmitterThis Thursday, September 8th the Big Country Master Gardeners will be presenting a seminar at the Abilene Public Library.  The seminar, titled “EarthKind, Rainwater Harvesting, and Water Irrigation & Efficiency” will be held in the second floor auditorium at 6:30 PM.  It will provide a triple dose of gardening knowledge in the areas of – you guessed it – EarthKind planting, Rainwater Harvesting, and Irrigation.

Here is the link to the event on Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=278530895490910

We hope to see you there!

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Big Country Master Gardeners featured in Abilene Living Magazine

The Big Country Master Gardeners were caught in action in the summer 2011 edition of Abilene Living Magazine.  The article titled “Mastering More than the Art of Gardening” details some of the work of the Big Country Master Gardener program and quotes Master Gardeners Kathy Feagan, Fred Perkins, Cheryl McCormick, Richard O’Shields, and Jean Dotson.  Also included were several great photographs of BCMG members at work.  Be sure to look for a copy of the magazine around town.  We will post an update when it is available electronically.

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Turk’s cap named new Texas Superstar

'Pam Puryear' Turk's cap, flower with pink blooms

"Pam Puryear" Turk's cap. (Texas AgriLife Research photo)

By: Robert Burns

COLLEGE STATION — Gardeners, hummingbirds and butterflies have it made in the shade with Turk’s cap, the newly designated Superstar by Texas AgriLife Research.

And “made in the sun too,” as the plant tolerates full sunlight as well, said Dr. Brent Pemberton, AgriLife Research horticulturist and chair of the Texas Superstar executive board.

Though not new to Texas by any means, Turk’s cap was designated a 2011 Texas Superstar because when it comes to climate and soils, it is a very tough, versatile plant, he said. (more…)

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Fall Plant Sale

'Autumn Sage, 'Salvia Greggii'

'Autumn Sage, 'Salvia Greggii' courtesy http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu

Even though it’s still really, really hot the Big Country Master Gardeners are busy planning for the fall plant sale.  Put it on your calendars now.  It will be Saturday, October 1st from 8:00 to 3:00.  Location is in the Modern Living Mall at the Taylor County Expo Center.  We will have more information on plants that will be available soon and will update this blog with the plant lists. Bring your wagons!

Add the event on Facebook here: 

Big Country Master Gardeners – Fall 2011 Plant Sale

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Mystery Insect

Mystery Insect

Several days ago, I found a strange insect in my garden. Do you know what it is?

Who am I?

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