Sens Center Demonstration Vegetable Garden
BMGA Leader: Garry Kroeger
Location: 200 Briar Ridge Drive, Bellville, Tx. Behind the building.
Work Schedule: Every Wednesday, 8:00 a.m.
Purpose: Master Gardeners demonstrate various techniques for growing vegetables in all seasons in this garden located at the Sens Activity Center in Bellville, Texas. The produce from the garden is either sold at the local Bellville Farmers’ Markets or donated. In 2017, the garden produced approximately one thousand pounds of fresh produce of which nearly half was donated to local persons in need. Garry Kroeger is the Master Gardener leader with assistance from Master Gardener Pete Smith and a crop of other BMGA Master Gardener volunteers.
Levine Park/ Sealy City Hall Beds
BMGA Leader: Renee Kofman
Location: Levine Park, 410 Main St., Sealy, Tx.
Work Schedule: Contact Renee Kofman.
Purpose: Levine Park is a city of Sealy Park located in the center of town covering one city block. The Master Gardeners demonstrate rose gardens, perennial nature gardens and pollinator gardens. BMGA maintains the beds by weeding, mulching, monitoring irrigation and adding seasonal color. The Abe and Irene Levine Trust graciously provides much of the funding for these gardens.
West End Public Library Garden & Children’s Annual Summer Reading Program
BMGA Leader: Cindy McAllister
Location: 1464 Main Street, Industry, TX 78944 – West End Public Library
Work Schedule: Contact Cindy McAllister
Purpose: The West End Library garden project serves as a catalyst for introducing more community members to the Master Gardener Program. Project participants maintain the flower beds and partner with the library during the children’s annual summer reading program. During the six week reading program, brief presentations on gardening and introductory age-appropriate topics are offered by Master Gardeners to the children to promote interest in horticulture and the Junior Master Gardener program. The flower beds feature Texas Superstars and perinnials to provide an attractive setting for this high traffic location.
Sealy High School Culinary Vegetable Program
BMGA Leader: Renee Kofman
Location: 2372 Championship Drive, Sealy, TX 77474
Work Schedule: Contact Renee Kofman
Purpose: In partnership with Better Living for Texans program by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, BMGA helps the culinary arts students:
Identify the characteristics of a suitable garden site;
Evaluate soils and identify the main components as sand, silt, clay, or loam; Make compost and know what materials are best for home composting;
Identify good maintenance practices common to vegetable gardens; Keep a journal to help observe plant health, growth, investigate problems, and record steps taken to resolve problems; Identify causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of common vegetable disorders and diseases; Detect common insect pests and beneficial insects;
Follow best practices for harvesting, handling, and storing produce.
Prayer Garden
BMGA Leader: Jerilene and Pete Berckenhoff
Location: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 500 4th Street, Sealy, Texas
Work Schedule: Contact Jerilene and Pete Berckenhoff
Purpose: The purpose of this garden is to demonstrate the how the use of plants and landscaping can create a serene and meditative experience in the garden.
Sens Activity Center Flower Beds
BMGA Leader: Garry Kroeger
Location: 200 Briar Ridge Drive, Bellville, Texas
Work Schedule: Every Wednesday, 8:00 a.m.
Purpose: Maintain the flower beds around the Sen’s Center.
HOA Building - Sealy
BMGA Leader: Renee Kofman
Location: 915 Frydek Rd., Sealy, Tx. 77474
Work Schedule: Contact Renee Kofman
Purpose: Demonstration garden.
Austin County Lunch-N-Learn
Leader: Stacie Villarreal
Location: Austin County Extension Office: 800 E Wendt St., Bellville, TX 77418
Work Schedule: Contact Stacie Villarreal
Purpose: Educational seminars on various gardening topics delivered during lunchtime on the 3rd Tuesday of select months. Work needed includes arranging topics, speakers, set-up and clean-up. The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association sponsors several Lunch N Learn Series programs in our four counties. These gardening presentations are free to the public. Light refreshments are provided or bring your own lunch.
Extension Office Assistance
Extension Office Assistance
BMGA Master Gardeners may volunteer time to assist their local AgriLife Extension Office with various projects. Please contact your local AgriLife Extension Agent for what assistance is needed.
Austin County Extension Office Planter Boxes
Project Leader: Renee Kofman
Location: Austin County Extension Office: 800 E Wendt St., Bellville, TX 77418
Work Schedule: Contact Renee Kofman
Purpose:Texas SuperStar demonstrate planters are filled with labeled Texas SuperStar plants. These plants demonstrate how well they can handle our Texas heat and cold weather and some which can also serve as pollinators. The smaller planters are used in partnership with the Austin County 4-H for educational purposes to expand the interest and knowledge of horticulture in youth.