Save The Date!
Connecting Agriculture and Health
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: From the Ground Up Ground Up
Tuesday, January 5, 2021 – 8:50 am – 4:00 pm
Waco Convention Center – Waco, TX
Learn more about the connection of agriculture and health and the
vital role agriculture plays in our daily lives.
FTGU Save the Date 2021 PDF
Award Winning Master Gardeners
The Texas Master Gardener Association (TMGA) presented its 2019 Search for Excellence Awards during a virtual meeting August 20, 2020. For the third time in four years the Bell County Master Gardener Association (BCMGA) was recognized as the Outstanding Association in the Large County category (membership between 100-199)… Read More
Horticulture Education – Videos
In order to provide more community outreach and education on horticultural topics, we are producing videos that, for the time being, will fill-in for our cancelled monthly seminars. This video was created by Bell County Master Gardener Sylvia Maedgen. She gives a tour of her garden and provides a discussion on “Freezable Veggies”.
Hear More from Sylvia on Freezing for Food Preservation
Master Gardeners and Friends,
When working McLane Children’s Hospital Healing Garden, Eldreds Nursery Foundation, Salado Demonstration Gardens and the KMCG, guidelines have been updated to no more than 10-member participation per each scheduled work day. All, in person, BCMGA meetings, projects and events remain cancelled until further notice. If you find yourself working at the Extension grounds, Temple College please be mindful to keep your distance at 6 feet, wear a mask when required or if you are led to do so.
BCMGA Help Desk
Monthly Help Desk Report by Kathy Love
Well over 50% of calls to the BCMGA Help Desk are tree and lawn concerns, but the runner-up to those two issues is insects, most generally insect identification.
In June and July, the desk has logged 9 contacts from citizens concerned they have seen the recently publicized Asian Giant (Murder) Hornet (AGH) Vespa mandarinia. In all but one instance we were able to assure the concerned citizens they were seeing either the Eastern Cicada Killer Sphecius speciosus (7 calls), the Western Cicada Killer Sphecius grandis (1) or in 1 case a bald faced hornet Dolichovespula maculata… Read More
Should you have any horticulture questions or concerns please email a photograph, contact information and questions to our email address at bell.mg@agnet.tamu.edu. Requests for assistance will be addressed by email or by phone. We are again making home and site visits with appropriate social distancing and protective face coverings, so email or call the help desk, to request a visit.
BCMGA Activities Close-up
Want to know more about us, close-up? Read our latest monthly newsletter.
September 2020 Blooming Bell
Community Spotlight
Killeen Municipal Court Garden
July 1st 2020: The Master Gardeners have continued to maintain all aspects of the garden without the students. As of the first of June the Master Gardeners increased to a group of no more than 10 and wear a mask if 6-ft social distancing is not an option. We now have two rows of okra planted with half of one row using heirloom seeds that had been donated. If they are successful will let a few pods dry to collect seeds for next year. The Clemson Spineless has always been a prolific producer with some plants reaching about 5 feet tall. We also have planted another row of Yellow Squash. The Zucchini, Butternut and Spaghetti are now producing. All available rows have been planted. A few years ago we discovered that broadcasting carrot seeds in a raised bed does much better than planted in a row in the farm area. Attached photo does show a carrot harvest last week. The total produce harvested and delivered for June is 1,346.75 pounds and the year to date total is 2,588.75 pounds. We are looking forward to having the students back at the garden.
July 2020 KMCG Report
Randy and Kathleen Brown’s grandkids
McLane Children’s Hospital Healing Garden
June 25th 2020: After the March suspension of project activities at the McLane Children’s Hospital Healing Garden, six BCMGA members led by project co-coordinators Linda Farmer and Nestor Centeno met at the garden and replaced the winter spent plantings in the garden pots we maintain with new summertime plantings. The Garden is well on it’s way to again being a beautiful place for a period of rest and relief, possibly from something difficult, for patients, parents, family, friends and hospital staff.
BCMGA Mission Statement
The Bell County Master Gardeners Association assists the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in providing high quality, relevant, research-based horticultural education and service to the residents of Bell County and the state of Texas through outreach, teaching, and demonstration projects.
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