Bluebonnet Master Gardener AssociationTexas AgriLife Extension Service

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Plant Party December 11, 2024

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Registration is now open!

Plant Party:
The Plant Manager’s Christmas Wish List

Join us on December 11th from 10:00 – 11:30 AM (Central) for “The Plant Manager’s Christmas Wish List“. We’ll have lots of great gift suggestions from professionals in the field and will be giving away lots of DOOR PRIZES!

You must register to receive the Zoom link the day before. It’s FREE!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PPWishLIst

Plant Party is a quarterly, advanced plant training series provided by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

2024 Water Program – In the Heart of Texas

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CEUs available to Master Gardeners   Program is free!

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Austin County is partnering with the Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation District to provide an educational lawn care program on Friday, September 13, 2024. The presentation will begin with updates on both the Mill Creek Watershed and the Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation District. The program will then proceed with Efficient Water Use on Landscapes; how to get the most out of your water and how to capture the rainwater for your use, then Fertilizer Use on Your Lawns; how important it is to use the right amount of fertilizer and herbicide on your lawn, and Selecting the Best Plants for Your Landscape; learn about what plants to have in your landscape to the better help lower that water bill and will survive our summer heat. Presenters include Dean Minchillo with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Lisa Nicklow with the Bluebonnet Master Gardeners. Updates will be provided by Annalee Epps with the Mill Creek Watershed and Zach Holland with the Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation District.

 The event will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office located at 800 E Wendt St, Bellville, 77418. Registration will be held from 1:00 – 1:30 pm, with the program beginning at 1:30 pm and concluding by 4:30 pm. The cost of attendance is free, thanks to the Bluebonnet Ground Conservation District.

Please RSVP by September 11th to the Austin County Extension Office or online at austin.agrilife.org to reserve your seat and ensure resource availability.

Propagation of Native Milkweed

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September 10th, 2024 from 8:00 am- till 2:00 pm

Weimar Civic Center
1754 IH-10, Weimar, TX 78962

The two presenters will be Howard Nemerov from Bastrop Master Gardeners and Nancy Denmark. Nancy Denmark runs a large SE Texas garden group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ButterflyJoy    They will provide us a hands on demonstration of how to be successful with Native milkweed.
Bring your own drinks and snacks, if there is something you want to share with others, please do so. Water and sodas will be provided.

2024 Scholarships Awarded

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce the 2024 annual college scholarships winners.  Scholarships were awarded to high school graduates from Austin, Colorado, Fayette & Washington Counties, Texas.  To view the winners’ bios, see below.  The winners are:

Ryleigh Gilfoil – Austin County
Kase Weishuhn – Colorado County
Cooper Mau – Fayette County
Madison Moran – Washington County

The recipients demonstrated outstanding achievement in leadership, citizenship, community service and other endeavors that form the basis of becoming lifelong responsible, productive citizens and leaders in their communities.

Congratulations to our 2024 scholarship winners!

Plant Party – Monitoring Native Vegetation

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Plant Party Logo

Registration is now open!
Join us on June 26th from 10:00 – 11:30 AM (Central) for “Monitoring Native Vegetation“. We’ll have 5 short presentations from experts in the field and will be giving away lots of DOOR PRIZES!

You must register to receive the Zoom link the day before. It’s FREE!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PPMonitoring

Plant Party is a quarterly, advanced plant training series provided by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

For more information contact:
Megan.Clayton@ag.tamu.edu, Tim.Siegmund@tpwd.texas.gov, Charles.Kneuper@usda.gov

 

 

 

Special Austin County Lunch-N-Learn – Disaster Prevention & Resilience

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The speaker will cover what to do before, during, and after a disaster.  Learn what types of disasters might happen in our area, how to prepare for each, and how to protect your family when a disaster occurs. Attendees will be provided with go/stay checklists to help them assemble an emergency kit.

Our presenter will be Stephen Burnett, Texas A&M AgriLife DAR Agent.

Bring your own lunch.
Light refreshments provided.
1 CEU credit for Master Gardeners

Intern Class of 2024 Graduates

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association (BMGA) and the Washington County AgriLife Extension Service  is proud to announce the graduation of 20 Master Gardener Interns who completed the 2024 Master Gardener Training Class.  The intensive training classes began January 10, 2024, and continued every Wednesday through April 24th at the Washington County Event Center in Brenham, Texas.  Trainees from all four BMGA counties were eligible for the class. The training class will not be held again in Washington County until 2028.

After completing 60+ hours of intense instruction, classroom training, field trips and passing a final exam, the interns are required to complete 50 hours of gardening volunteer service within one-year to certify as a Master Gardener.  Such volunteer activities on BMGA projects are designed to assist Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in educating the public about gardening. One of the 2024 interns, Ms. Jennifer Burnett, completed her 50-volunteer hour requirement prior to the class graduation date of April 23, 2024, so is now a certified Master Gardener.

Class Coordinator Al Prescott said that the 2024 class schedule incorporated “new field trips, new speakers and other new material not used before in BMGA training classes.”  Christy Schweikhardt added that changing the presenters and curriculum helps keep the program fresh and current.

Congratulations to the 2024 BMGA Master Gardener intern graduates:

Joe Bluemel, Donice Karl, Shawn Brightwell, Helen Luchak, Aubrey Brinkmeyer, Shari McCoy, Jennifer Burnett, Rebecca McDowell, Brenda Coston, Gloria Mifflin, Susan Finster, Sally Pitts, Kirby Gor, Rita Saulsbery, Jennifer Groleau, Ashlee Schaper, Heather Horton, Kelsey Wilson, John Jacobs and Christina Wise.

The 2024 Class Coordinators were BMGA Master Gardener volunteers Al Prescott, Christy Schweikhardt and Gary Scardino.  Washington County AgriLife Extension Agent Kara Matheney was the AgriLife sponsor of the class.  Class Coordinators were assisted by Master Gardener volunteers Beverly Anderson, Cathy Conway, Linda Jordan, Teresa Wilson, Kay Przyborski, Renee Urish, Lisa Nicklow and Cindy McAllister.

Plant Party- Cooking Up Natives Webinar

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Registration is now open for the March Webinar!Plant Party: Cooking Up Natives

Join us on March 20th from 10:00 – 11:30 AM (Central) for “Cooking Up Natives“. We’ll have 5 short presentations from experts in the field and will be giving away lots of DOOR PRIZES!You’ll need to register to receive the Zoom link the day before. It’s FREE!https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CookingNativesPlant Party is a quarterly, advanced plant training series provided by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

 

 

Soil Testing Campaign

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From Stacie Villarreal,  County Extension Agent – Agriculture & Natural Resource, Austin County

Exciting news! Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Offices presents the Multi-County Urban & Homeowner Soil Testing Campaign in conjunction with Austin, Colorado, Fayette, and Washington Counties. This event will run from February 15th – 29th, and is limited to soil samples for growing flowers, gardens, turf grasses, trees, vineyards, and woody ornamentals. This campaign is made possible through the support of the Bluebonnet Master Gardeners and is in cooperation with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Soil, Water, and Forge Testing Lab in College Station.

Soil samples submitted during this time frame will be $8.00 for a routine analysis and $15.00 for a routine analysis plus micro-nutrients. You may pick up information, collection bags, and forms at one of the County Extension offices or locations designated in each county.

 

Fayette County Flyer/Information: