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Master Gardeners Teach Students About Monarch Butterflies

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Nancy Galloway explaining the butterfly life cycle.

Students at Citadel Christian School in Brenham, Texas had the opportunity to learn about Monarch butterflies through two educational programs lead by Bluebonnet Master Gardener Assocation member Nancy Galloway, with assistance from Teresa Wilson and Mandy Ames, also Master Gardeners.  Both programs were held at the school on Novebmer 6, 2023.

The first program was for students in grades 1 through 4. It featured a detailed display illustrating theMonarch butterfly’s life cycle, from egg to butterfly, along with a live butterfly exhibit. Nancy, clad in signature Monarch orange top with a light brown field vest mimicing the colors of the Monarch, covered aspects of the north and south Monarch migrations, explaining the life cycle and yearly generational patterns.

Nancy Galloway leading class with Mandy Ames looking on.

Students were also given the chance to practice tagging Monarchs for research purposes, using simulated butterflies. In a practical demonstration, Nancy tagged a Monarch she caught earlier that day in her garden, with hopes that it would be found in Mexico, contributing to migration data.

Nancy Galloway talking with the class; Teresa Wilson looking on.

The second presentation was tailored for 10th-grade students who already had some knowledge of Monarchs. Nancy delved into the habits, nutrition, nesting needs, pests, and diseases associated with Monarchs. The class is now planning to create a natural area with milkweed, following Nancy’s recommendations, to establish a Monarch waystation habitat.

Nancy Galloway’s adeptness in adjusting lecture levels to suit the audience made the presentations informative. Teachers at the school also received educational packets to support ongoing learning.

This presentation was part of the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association’s work to provide garden-related education at the school.

2024 Texas Tomato Lovers Conference

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8:00 am: Gardens open. Join us for coffee and light breakfast

8:50 am – 9:00 am: Welcome: Jay White

9:00 am – 9:50 am: Rosanne Green – Growing Tomatoes with, and for the Young Family

10:00 am – 10:45 am: Destin Noak – Mastering Container Grown Tomatoes

11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Patty Leander– Know Before you Grow: Best Varieties for 2024 PLUS 8 Steps to Grafting Success.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 pm – 1:45 pm: Kevin Ong – The Beauty of Diseased Tomatoes

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Skip Richter– 10 Commandments of Tomatoes

3:30 pm:  Wrap up and final door prizes

Many Thanks to our generous sponsors!
The Antique Rose Emporium
Nelson’s Plant Food
Medina Agriculture Products

 

2024 Master Gardener Training Class Registration Open

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association announces opening registration for it 2024 Master Gardener Certification Training Class.

Our  2024  Class is scheduled each Wedenday from January 10th – April 24th, 2024 with the final graduation class on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.  The last class on April 24th is a Bonus Day including topics not contained in the standard training manuel.

Participants from Austin, Colorado, Fayette & Washington Counties are welcome to register for the class. The 50+ hours of classes will be held at the Washington County Expo Event Center at 1305 East Bell Road, Brenham, Texas 77833.

Details of  field trips for on-site learning will be announced in class.  The  Master Gardener Handbook,  compiled by the Texas Master Gardener Association, is included in the $200 registration fee.  You may register online below or contact the Washington County Extension office at (979) 277-6262 for more information.

Class size is limited to 25.

For more information about the Master Gardener Program and to apply for the class,  HERE

Flyer for Training Class

 

Tips for Safe Gardening in Extreme Heat Conditions

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Sun and dried grassExtreme heat makes for difficult gardening conditions for both the plants and the gardener. As gardeners, we focus on helping our plants and gardens survive the heat of Texas summer but also, we must also take steps to protect ourselves from the heat. More 100+ degree days are forcast for our area this summer.  Spending hours in such heat can pose serious health risks to gardeners. Heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heatstroke can be debilitating or even life-threatening.

Here are a few tips to help reduce heat-related illness while gardening in the extreme heat:

Dress Appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothing that allows air circulation. Long sleeves and pants can protect the skin from direct sun exposure and reduce the risk of sunburn. Additionally, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses can shield the face and eyes from harmful UV rays.

Hydration: Hydration is essential when working in hot conditions. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after gardening to replace fluids lost through sweat. Avoid excessive consumption of caffeinated or alcoholic beverages while in the heat, as they contribute to dehydration.

Time of Day: Schedule gardening activities during the cooler parts of the day, typically early morning or early evening. Avoid working during peak sunlight hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m when temperatures are at their highest. Take regular breaks in the shade or air conditioning to rest and cool down.

Use Sunscreen: Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 on exposed skin, at least 30 minutes before going outside to reduce the risk of skin cancer.  Sunscrean helps prevent UV-ray-damage to the skin which can cause cancer and  “thin” skin that tears and bleeds easily. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more frequently if sweating heavily.

Seek Shade & Air Conditioning: Use natural shade from trees and tall plants in the garden or create a shade structure in the garden. Take frequent breaks in shaded areas or go inside to the air conditioning to lower your body temperature and minimize the risk of overheating.

Although we garden year-around in Texas, July and August are probbaly the most challenging physcially for both the plants and for us.  By taking a few precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses, gardeners can continue to find joy in the garden even in the hash temperatures of summer.  Stay cool out there gardeners!

 

New Texas Superstar Brochure

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The Texas Superstar brochure is updated.  The new brochure is a beautiful, full color 44-page booklet with detailed descriptions, suggested uses and special notes for each plant with the Texas Superstar® designation. Texas Superstar: Strong & Stunning Plants for Texans

Link to the Texas Superstar: Strong & Stunning Plants for Texans brochure

You may print, download, view it in your browser or on device.  Be sure to have it available when planning your landscape and vegetable gardens.

To be designated a Texas Superstar®  a plant must be beautiful and perform well for growers throughout the state. Texas Superstars must also be easy to propagate, ensuring the plants are widely available and reasonably priced.
Texas Superstar® is a registered trademark owned by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, a state agency that is part of the Texas A&M University System. Plants are designated Texas Superstars by the Texas Superstar executive board, made up of nine horticulturalists from AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Tech University.

2023 Scholarships Awarded

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce the 2023 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:

Emma Eckelberg – Austin County
Abigail Hilley – Colorado County
Tamara Otto – Fayette County
Dawson Rudloff – 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 2023 scholarship winners!

Intern Class of 2023 Graduates

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BMGA Intern Class of 2023

On April 26, 2023 the Bluebonnet Master Gardeners held graduation ceremonies and a luncheon for 22 Interns at the Fayette County Agrilife Building in LaGrange, Tx.

Front row l-r:  Lucy Halasz, Colleen Clements, Pat Karisch, Patti Sobota, Carla Michalka, Terri Russell, Karen Miley, Bob Haeuser.

Back row l – r:  Sherise Davis, Jim Malik, Marian Tajchman, Mandy Ames, Gary Russell, Robin Greer, Greg Mills, Cindy Edge, Dennis Edge, Carol Daniels (class coordinator).

Not pictured:  Mary Frances Angello, Leslie Avioli, Alison Blake, Lilian Cavazos, Ra Shango.

Lunch-N-Learn: Washington County-April 5 & May 3, 2023

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The Washington County Bluebonnet Master Gardeners and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for Washington County, Texas announce their 2023 Spring Lunch-N-Learn Spring series.

These FREE to the public programs will feature speakers from the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association.

April 5, 2023 & May 3, 2023
Washington County Expo Event Center
1305 E. Blue Bell Road
Brenham, Texas 77833
(Parking and the Event Center face Blue Bell Road)  (Map)

2023 Master Gardener Training Class Registration Now Open

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is pleased to announce that its 2023 Master Gardener training classes begin January 19th in La Grange, Texas.  Registration is now open.

Go to Online Class Application

The series consists of 50 hours of training held every Thursday form January 19 to April 20, 2023.  Master Gardener Carol Daniels of La Grange is the coordinator of the 2023 training program.

The BMGA  class is designed for trainees from any of the four Bluebonnet Master Gardener counties of Austin, Colorado, Fayette and Washington.  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides the training material and many of the expert horticulture and related speakers used by Master Gardener programs statewide.

This is a unique opportunity for individuals who are interested in horticulture and serving their community. Master Gardeners are trained in all facets of horticulture such as plant & soil science, entomology, plant pathology, fruit and vegetable gardening, and much more. Upon completion of their training, Master Gardeners will be required to give at least 50 hours of volunteer service time in their local community in order to receive the title of “Master Gardener”.

An Open House is scheduled January 12, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Fayette County Extension Office, 255 Svoboda Ln., La Grange, Texas  for anyone interested in learning more about the program. This event will provide a great opportunity to visit with current Master Gardeners, learn about projects in each of the counties, and enjoy a few Master Gardener goodies.

2022 Scholarships Awarded

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce its 2022 annual college scholarships winners.  Eight scholarships, ranging from $1,500 to $1,000, were awarded to high school graduates from Austin, Washington, Fayette & Colorado Counties, Texas. To view the winners’ bios, see below.  The winners are:

Mackenzie Lee (Austin Co.)
Jagar, Rau (Colorado Co.)
Brynn Mikulenka (Fayette Co.)
Laura James (Fayette Co.)
Waylon Hinze (Washington Co.)
Weston Hinze (Washington Co.)
Keely Mikolajchak (Washington Co.)
Eli Saunders (Washington Co.)

All eight demonstrated outstanding acheivement in leadership, citizenship, community service and other endevours that form the basis of becoming lifelong responsible, productive citziens and leaders in their communtiies.

Congratulations to our 2022 scholarship winners!

Mackenzie Lee

Jagar Rau Brynn Mikulenka Laura James Waylon Hinze Westin Hinze Keely Mikolajchak Eli Saunders

 

Intern Class of 2022 Graduates

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By Faye Beery, 2022 Class Coordinator

On April 26, 2022, our new Bluebonnet Master Gardener intern class graduated with 33 interns.  One of them, Joe Jimenez, completed his 50 hours of volunteer work during the class period and is now a full fledged Master Gardener.  We also had the youngest intern that we have had, Webb Sherman, age 17.  The class had the largest ever enrollment with 40 students, but unfortunately, we lost 7 due to various reasons.

Joe Jimenez

Joe Jimenez with Class Coodinator Faye Beery.

Webb Sherman

Webb Sherman with Class Coordinator Faye Beery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We kept statistics for our class to determine the knowledge gained during the classes. Our pretest average grade was 55 with 23 missed. Our final test (posttest) averaged 89. The highest score was 98, made by several people. We also gave them 2 bonus questions from a list of words given them weekly that corresponded with their chapter. With the bonus questions, the average score was a 95. With the bonus questions, the highest score was a 108.

Several of the students were new to the area, having recently brought property in one of our 4 counties. There were also 3 sets of couples who were new to the area.

All of them were eager for information and asked lots of questions. They enjoyed the speakers and kept some of them a little over time to ask more questions. They are going to be good master gardeners, a good source of information for our community, and good friends.

Thanks also to the helpers for the class. Nikki Griffin was invaluable handling all the food and drink for the classes, as was Marcella Ausmus, helping with the hospitality and grading papers.  Esther Hartman, Susan Yancey, and Leah Pierce helped to grade papers also. Thanks to all who came.

2022 Intern Class

Bluebonnet Master Gardener Intern Class 2022

Interns:

Prudence Allwein
Ramin Baranpourian
Jim Campbell
Mary Lu Campbell
Nancy Darst
Linda Duffy
Carla Eriksson
Tory Farley
Jeri Franco
Dolores Gonzalez
Cheryl Grassmann
Freida Hale
Amy Schramm
Webb Sherman
John Sims
Chris Terry
Jim Hudgins		 Linda Huron
Joe Jimenez
Chad Johnson
Kayleigh Johnson
Lorrie Maddox
Scott Maddox
Rebecca Marek
Margie O’Brien
Mary Ott
Karen Reip
Jacqueline Samples
Keri Sherman
Barbara Shersh
Carrie Staples
Renee Urish
Angelica Zurita

 

2022 Master Gardener Training Class Announced

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Assocation is pleased to announce that its 2022 Master Gardener training classes begin January 13 in Bellville, Texas.  Registration is now open.

Register Button

The series consists of 50 hours of training held every Thursday until April 21, 2022 (Two classes will be on Wednesday February 16th and April 6th).  Master Gardener Faye  Beery of Bellville is the coordinator of the 2022 training program.  Ms. Beery was certfiied as a Master Gardener in 2012 and coordinated several training classes in Austin County.  The BMGA  class is designed for trainees from any of the four Bluebonnet Master Gardener counties of Austin, Colorado, Fayette and Washington.  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides the training material and many of the expert horticulture and related speakers used by Master Gardener programs statewide.

This is a unique opportunity for individuals who are interested in horticulture and serving their community. Master Gardeners are trained in all facets of horticulture such as plant & soil science, entomology, plant pathology, fruit and vegetable gardening, and much more. Upon completion of their training, Master Gardeners will be required to give at least 50 hours of volunteer service time in their local community in order to receive the title of “Master Gardener”.

An Open House is scheduled January 6, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Austin County Extension Office, 800 E. Wendt St., Bellville Texas 77418.  for anyone interested in learning more about the program. This event will provide a great opportunity to visit with current Master Gardeners, learn about projects in each of the counties, and enjoy a few Master Gardener goodies.

Texas Fruit Conference – October 11-12, 2021

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The Texas Fruit Conference is in its 10th year of providing education for the diverse fruit growing interests across Texas.

Dates for the 2021 Texas Fruit Conference are set for October 11th and 12th in New Braunfels, Texas, at the City of New Braunfels Civic Convention Center.  a reduced price of $55 has been set for Extension personnel interested in participating for their professional development.

Registration is open at Texas A&M AgriLife Events: http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/

Full Program Schedule:  Texas Fruit Growers Blog – Fruit & Nut Resources Fruit & Nut Resources (tamu.edu)

2021 Texas Fruit Conference Flyer

Pete & Paula’s Pollinator Patch

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Photo of Pete & Paula's Patch

Photo of Pete & Paula’s Patch

Pete & Paula’s Pollinator Patch is a section of the Bluebonnet Master Gardener’s Sens Center Demonstration Garden in Austin County, Texas.  The garden overall is dedicated to demonstrating sound techniques for growing vegetable and other food crops.  However, this year, Master Gardeners Pete Smith and Paula Trahan started the “Pete & Paula’s Pollinator Patch” to demonstrate the use of plants which attract pollinators to the garden to pollinate the vegetables in the garden. As many fruit and vegetable plants require a pollinator to set fruit, attracting pollinators to the garden is necessary.

Photo of lantana

Lantana

After about four months, Pete and Paula are pleased with how quickly our pollinator garden has progressed. “We truly got a late start, but everything has grown by leaps and bounds. Every plant was a pass along or freebie from the garden center.” Ms. Trahan explained.  Pete & Paul’s next step is to include a small solar water feature in the center to attract more butterflies, bees and birds. Included in the garden are lantana, standing cypress, Asian purple basil, echinacea, porterweed, rock rose mallow.

Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference – Summer Session Scheduled

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The Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference is a celebration of vegetable production along the upper Gulf Coast region. Counties of Waller, Wharton, Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, Colorado, and Austin join with Fort Bend to put on this event focusing on teaching sustainable practices to help producers maximize efficiencies and profitability. Although we were not able to host our annual Vegetable Conference in February, we have put together a short virtual summer session with topics centered around sustainable and organic production, disease and insect management, and variety selection. Partnering sponsors have allowed us to offer this program at a great price. The cost to attend is $10.  We will offer three (3) continuing education credits in the General category for Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator license holders.

Come join us virtually at the Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference – Summer Session on Thursday, July 29, 2021.  The conference will begin at 9:00 am and end at 12:00 pm.

To register, please go to https://tinyurl.com/t86xftbh.  There will be no in office registrations.  For general questions, please contact Brandy Rader at 281-633-7029.

 

2021 Fall Horticulture Seminar

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Please join Texas A&M Agrilfe Extension Service August 27, 2021 for the Fall Horticulature Seminar, hosted by Texas A&M Agrilfe Extension Service for Austin County.  Topics, which will be presented by AgriLife Extentions Agent Robert “Skip” Richter and Specialists Tim Hartmann, Ph.D and Monte Nesbitt, Ph.D  include:

Planting Fall Vegetables
Fruit Tree Care and Maintenance
Citrus Tree Care and Maintance
Prepping Plants for Freezes

RSVP HERE by August 25, 2021  or call 979-865-2072.

2021 BMGA College Scholarships Announced

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce its 2021 annual college scholarships winners.  Three $1000 scholarships were awarded to high school graduates from Washington, Fayette & Colorado Counties, Texas.  The winners are Taylor Limbaugh (Fayette County),  Clayton Boeker (Washington County) and  Leroy Stavinoha, III (Colorado County).   All three demonstrated outstanding acheivement in leadership, citizenship, community service and other endevours that form the basis of becoming lifelong responsible, productive citziens and leaders in their communtiies.

Congratulations to all three 2021 scholarship winners!

Taylor Limbaugh, Fayette County

Clayton Boeker, Washington CountyLeory Stavinoha, III, Colorado County

2021 Master Gardener Training Class Graduates New Interns

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2021 Intern Class

The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce the graduation of 10 Master Gardener Interns who completed its 2021 Master Gardener Training Class.  The training classes began January 12th and continued every Tuesday through April 27th at the Weimar Civic Center.  This was the first Master Gardening Training class held in Colorado County, although trainees from all four BMGA counties were eligible for the class.  The 2021 Class Coordinator was BMGA member Robbie Showers, who was assisted by Lynn Showers.  Colorado County AgriLife Extension Agent Laramie Kettler was the sponsor of the class. Some training presentations were virtual while some where in-person.

After completing 64 hours of intense instruction and passing a final exam, to be certified as a Master Gardener,  the interns are required to complete 50 hours of gardening volunteer service within 1-year.  Such volunteer activities must be work on approved BMGA projects that assist Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in educating the public about gardening.

One of the ten interns, Ms. Nancy Galloway, completed her 50-volunteer hour requirement prior to the class graduation date in April.  Robbie Showers commented that the 2021 “interns are eager to learn and work hard to get their hours.”  She said they “were a great bunch of people to work with” during the class.

Congratulations to the 2021 BMGA Master Gardener intern graduates:

Cheryl Rose
Mariar Schonenberg
Frank Montieth
Norma White
Nancy Galloway
Regena Williamson
Mary Ellen Holub
Lisa Slinkard
Linda Miller
Sharon Wegenhoft.

Bugs by the Yard & Unwanted Guests Podcasts

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Bumble Bee Insects and pests are some of the most diffcult challenges home gardeners and homeowners try to manage.  To address these issues, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists in entomology and integrated pest managemnt (IPM) have team-up to present two podcasts:  “Bugs by the Yard”  and “Unwanted Guests”.  Both are free and open to the public to listen and learn from these specialists.

Bugs in the Yard: A weekly podcast focused on garden pests and bugs.

Hosts: Texas A&M AgriLife Exention
Dr. Erfan Vafaie (IPM Specialist)
Molly Keck (entomologist, Bexar County)
Wizzie Brown (entomolgoist, Travis County)

Listen:    Link to Listen to Bugs by the Yard Podcasts

Unwanted Guests: This podcast covers insects and pests we don’t want in the house.

Hosts: Texas A&M AgriLife Exention
Robert Puckett, Ph.D. (entomolgist, Bryan-College Station)
Jane Hurley (IPM Specialist, Dallas)
Molly Keck (entomologist, Bexar County)
Wizzie Brown (entomolgoist, Travis County)

Listen: Availalbe on podcast platforms like iTunes and Audible.

 

 

 

 

 

Black Soldier Fly – A Quick and Easy Method for Composting

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The black soldier fly has a unique life-history and are quickly gaining global attentionf or their ability to convert organic waste into valuabe protein and rich fertilizer.  This Texas A&M AgriLife Extension online workshop will highlight rearing methods of the black soldier fly application to everyone from backyard hobbiests to the scale of industrialized production. 

What:  Black soldier Fly – A Quick and Easy Method for Composting
When: May 28, 2021 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
How: Via Zoom link Launch Meeting – Zoom

Blck Soldier Fly