Aggie Horticulture is hosting and online for a Facebook Live event on “Growing Blueberries in Containers.” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Specialist Tim Hartmann will share about how to grow blueberries in containers. A team of Extension Specialists will also be available to answer questions in the chat window during the event.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM CD
Online Event: Join Event
CEU Credits for Master Gardeners.
Blue Daze
The 4th Texas Superstar named in 2020 is sun-loving, low-spreading tropicl plant, Blue Daze. Brent Pemberton, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research ornamental horticulturist, Overton, said Blue Daze has been a long-time ornamental favorite of gardeners and landscapers and deserves the designation. “It’s a true-blue flower and a long-established Texas gardening staple,” he said. “Blue Daze is very popular because its claim-to-fame blue color is a coveted color in the flower world.”
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.
This post was summarized and the photograph taken from AgriLife TODAY. For more information about this hardy heat-loving tropical, see the full AgriLife Today article about Blue Daze.
EVENT – Forests & Human Health Connections – VIRTUAL CLASS
Immersion in forests and nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical well-being, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. It may even reduce mortality, according to scientists in public health. Join the conversation in science-based evidence and practices about health, forests, and natural landscapes.
Texas A&M Forest Service’s ALL ABOUT TREES has moved several of our live presentations to a web-based platform. This is in response to the important stay-at-home ordinances related to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Join us for this presentation series created to bring experts in forestry, healthcare, wellness, forest and nature therapy, and arboriculture to answer your questions interactively through a dynamic CHAT feature.
Check with your local Texas Master Naturalist or Texas Master Gardener chapters for Advance Training AT credits. For CEUs from ISA, SAF, TNLA, CME, and others organizational providers, a certificate of participation may be sent to you upon request for verification of attendance.
This class will be live on our WebEx platform allowing healthcare providers, certified forest therapy guides, foresters and arborists to answer your questions in real-time meeting state AT requirements.
COST: FREE
Thursday, May 14, 2020
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Program information is available by emailing or calling John Warner, jwarner@tfs.tamu.edu or 936/546-3169.
The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce the graduation of 19 Master Gardener Interns who completed its 2020 Master Gardener Training Class. Master Gardener training is tough any time, but this group of interns are a particularly hardy, dedicated, flexible and passionate group. The class endured unique challenges due to the pandemic sending the last five training classes, a total of 20 hours, to online video conference sessions. Even the required intern presentations and the final exam moved to an online format. All but one field trip was cancelled.
Congratulations to the 2020 BMGA intern graduates:
| Bobby Bentke | Linda Hufford |
| Mary Jane Berger | Lillian Kwiatkowski |
| Rex Boyd | Kathleen Lannou |
| Terri Burnham | Mike Lannou |
| Deanna Butler | Cindy McAllister |
| Cameron Carper | Scarbrough, Carol |
| Michael Fromm | Gary Scardino |
| Esther Hartman | Stephanie Vickers |
| Randy Hegemeyer | Bonnie Wills |
| Linda Hill |
The class started out as one of change, including a new statewide Texas Master Gardener Handbook with new material to include in the program. In addition, the class was held for the first time in Washington County, first steps were taken to revive the mentor program and at the start of the class, efforts were made to move some administrative components of the class online. Although bumps in the road were expected due to the changes, a pandemic shutting down in-person training halfway through the 15-week program was not anticipated.
However, with the work and guidance of Washington County Texas AgriLife Extension Agent Kara Matheney, the many professionals associated with Texas A&M University and the class participants’ eagerness to continue their training, classes moved online with Zoom video presentations from AgriLife Specialists and others to complete the course. Although challenges persisted, the material and speakers were of the high quality required for Texas Master Gardener training.
The BMGA 2020 Training Class Committee gives a special “thank you” to all who presented to the class in-person or via video:
Kara Matheney – Introduction to AgriLife
Dr. Jake Mowrer – Soil Characteristics & Soil Improvement
Elizabeth Wizzie Brown – Insects
Joseph Johnson – Tour of the Leach Teaching Gardens at Texas A&M
Charlene & B.R. Koehler – Plant Propagation
Randy Albers – Plant Propagation
Michael Potter – Landscape Design
Jayla Fry – Plant Development
Sheila McBride – Diseases
Joel Pigg – Water
Tim Hartman – Earth-Kind Landscapes
Erfan Vafaie – Integrated Pest Management
Tim Hartman – Fruit Trees
Rebecca Bowling – Lawns & Weeds
Skip Richter – Vegetable and Herbs and Organic Gardening
Three new ornamental Texas Superstars were announced this week in AgriLife TODAY. Click the plant name for the full AgriLife TODAY article on that Texas Superstar.
Tidal Wave Red Velour Petunia
Tidal Wave Red Velour Spreading Petunia has been named the latest Texas Superstar release based on its superior performance across the state, according to Mike Arnold, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Horticulturist.
Luck Star Deep Pink Pentas
Pentas, including long-time Texas Superstars and new series added to the list, offer season-long color for pollinator-friendly landscapes and gardens. David Pemberton, Ph.D., AgriLife Research Ornamental Horticulturist, Overton, said pentas are a Texas-tough landscape ornamental annual plant that offers a range of sizes and colors throughout summer.
Rio Grande Magenta Purslane
Cupcake, Muffin and Rio Grande purslane series were named Texas Superstars because plants show so many good characteristics, said David Rodriguez, AgriLife Extension horticulturist, San Antonio. “All these new selections bloom better, longer and are more heat resistant,” Rodriguez said. “They represent all the best qualities you can find in purslane.”
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.
To be designated a Texas Superstar, a plant must not only be beautiful but perform well for consumers and growers throughout the state. Texas Superstars must be easy to propagate, which should ensure the plants are not only widely available but also reasonably priced.
This post and the photographs were summarized from AgriLife TODAY articles. Click the plant name above to link to the full AgriLife TODAY articles.
NRCS will host a webinar, open to both conservation partners and the general public, on Monday, April 27, 2020, from 2 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST). To join the webinar, visit: http://nrcs.adobeconnect.com/tx-nrcs-grants/. Log in to Adobe Connect using the guest option and enter your name. To join by teleconference, call 1-888-844-9904 and enter access code: 1946147.
Grants are available for up to $4,000 for a vegetable garden, $3,000 for a pollinator garden, $5,000 for a rainwater harvesting system, and $6,500 for a seasonal high tunnel.
Review the Notice of Funding Opportunity before the webinar to be prepared to ask questions. The notice of funding opportunity for both grants is available at https://www.grants.gov. Applications for Project G.R.E.E.N. (opportunity number USDA-NRCS-TX-PG-20-GEN0010731) and applications for the Texas Urban and Rural Conservation Project (opportunity number USDA-NRCS-TX-URCP-20-GEN0010730) are due May 29, 2020.
B.R. Koehler Mole & Gopher presentation
Mole and gopher control is a frequent topic in our area. These animals are not only a nuisance, but they can also be destructive to lawns and gardens. When their tunnels collapse in my yard, they leave holes in the lawn making what I call “ankle-twisters,” so named from experience. Pocket gophers also pushed piles of sand up into our well house.
Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association member B.R. Koehler gave his presentation on Mole and Gopher Control to the Waller County Master Gardener Association on February. 22, 2020 at the Waller County AgriLife Extension Office in Hempstead. B.R.’s wife, Master Gardener Charlene Koehler, gave her usual assistance with the program.
The program was considered supplemental training for the Waller County Master Gardener Training class of five. The session was open to guests from the community for a total attendance of 35. B.R.’s program includes circulating his “mole & gopher coffins” around the room with preserved samples of a mole and a gopher. He does this so everyone can learn to identify them and see the difference between them.
Gopher sand in the well house.
According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, pocket gophers are burrowing rodents which live almost entirely underground. Gophers are well adapted to their underground existence, with stout forelegs and strong curved claws for digging. They have prominent, yellow incisor teeth and large, fur-lined external cheek pouches in which food is carried. The pocket gopher’s diet mainly consists of fleshy roots of various plants, including trees. Gophers normally eat tubers such as potatoes and peanuts. They also eat green tops and seeds that can be pulled down into their burrows.
Moles are small, burrowing mammals that feed on insects. Moles have furless, pointed snouts, small eyes concealed in the fur, and no external ears. They have broadened, shovel-like front feet, webbed to the base of the claws, that enable them to dig effectively for insects. Moles have a keen sense of smell and touch but are almost blind. Moles destroy only a few plants or bulbs by direct feeding. The main damage is done when plant roots are dislodged as the animals tunnel through the soil in search of insects. Their burrowing can disfigure lawns and parks, destroy flower beds, tear up the roots of grasses and create havoc in small garden plots.
For more information about controlling moles and gophers, review material provided by Texas A&M or attend one of B.R. presentations in the future.
The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association has kicked-off its 2020 fruit tree sale! Only varieties suitable for growing in the Austin, Colorado, Fayette, and Washington Counties are offered.
Pick up your trees at either of these locations:
March 20-21, 2020
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
1333 Downey Rd., Sealy, Texas
March 24, 2020
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Fayette County AgriLife Extension Office
255 Svaboda Ln., La Grange, Texas
By Christy Schweikhardt
For a kid growing up in Houston’s suburbs, my early love of vegetable gardening was an unusual passion. The gardening “bug” was sparked in the summer when I was about 10 years old. I traveled with an aunt and my two cousins to Oklahoma where we stayed about two weeks at the country home of my Great Aunt Joy, my grandmother’s sister. When we arrived, Aunt Joy showed us around the place, which included a tour of her massive vegetable garden. It was certainly massive to a kid whose family grew a few tomato plants in the backyard where the oak tree did not cast too much shade, but even today I would consider Aunt Joy’s garden an impressive in-ground home row garden. It was luscious green, with large and small yellow blooms on plants I had never seen before and vegetables ready to harvest. As we wandered up and down the rows, Aunt Joy identified the plants, talked about how to grow them and whispered loving encouragement to them. She showed me her compost piles and explained how they worked. I was fascinated.
Christy’s Tomato Bed 2019
While there, every day, sometimes before breakfast, I went out with her to survey the garden and harvest. This is still my routine in my garden now; out in garden first thing in morning. The bush green beans in Aunt Joy’s garden were coming in like gang-busters so over the first few days of our visit, we harvested bushels of them. I had never seen such piles of fresh green beans. Since most of my green bean-eating experience consisted of beans from cans, I was not a big fan. I usually dosed them with apple cider vinegar because I preferred the taste of vinegar to the beans. But even though I was not planning to eat many of the harvested green beans, anticipating how many beans would be ready to harvest each morning and picking them from the bush was just down right fun. We also harvested cucumbers which seemed to double in size every night.
When Aunt Joy cooked a pot of fresh green beans harvested that morning with onion and little bits of ham; boy did my impression of green beans change! They were fabulous, no vinegar needed, and so dramatically better than store-bought canned beans. Even a 10-year old could taste the difference and say “yum” while eating green beans. I thought I betrayed kids everywhere by suddenly loving green beans!
2018 Garden
As good as they were, with all of the cucumbers and green beans piling up to more than we could possibly eat right away, it was time to preserve. The beans were dumped out on yesterday’s newspaper (yes, we actually had paper newspapers in those days) on the kitchen table and we snapped them for hours it seemed; telling stories and laughing together while we worked. I then stood by the stove watching Aunt Joy pour hot liquid over the beans packed in jars and we set the lids and rings. After the beans were canned, next came slicing and pickling cucumbers. When we were done, jars of beans and pickles where stacked all over the kitchen.
A neighbor dropped by the house early morning the next day, before breakfast. Her family were beekeepers and harvested honey a few days ago. She left Aunt Joy a few jars of honey and Joy gave her a few jars of green beans and pickles. After she left, we made some toast, spread it with butter and drizzled that fresh sweet honey on top. I had nothing but toast and honey for breakfast that day and was full of energy. Toast, butter and honey is still a special treat for me that will take my mind back to that specific moment. I thought it was really cool how my Aunt traded produce from her garden with the beekeeper neighbor for honey. I learned that not only do vegetable gardeners enjoy showing off their garden and eating the produce, they enjoy the special pleasure of sharing it with others even more.
When we left for home, I had a few jars of green beans and pickles to take to my mother. I was excited explaining to her how we pickled, snapped, sliced and canned. I begged for a little sunny spot in the backyard to grow some vegetables. My mother, who is a childhood polio survivor, had a hard time getting down on the ground and gardening due to the ravages that cruel disease did to her leg muscles but she nonetheless helped me get a little garden plot going. I did not really comprehend then how physically hard it was for her to do this but I know now and appreciate so fully what she did to help me explore my new found interest.
Over the years, life and responsibilities got in the way of allowing me to pursue my gardening interests, but once I had a home of my own in Houston, the first project was starting the vegetable garden behind the garage. I read every gardening book I could get my hands on and had some great success and some failures. I dreamed of taking the Master Gardener classes offered in Harris County to learn from gardening experts but the classes did not fit into my work schedule.
Christy’s Container Garden 2019
One summer, I had to introduce myself to the neighbor who lived behind me because his teenage kids were hopping the fence to smoke cigarettes and joints in my garden, hiding from their parents. I knew because they were also leaving their cigarette butts and other paraphernalia behind in the garden. But what got me angry enough to take action was that the kids did not respect the plants in the garden and trampled them. Before going to the next block to discuss the problem, I peered over the fence into their back yard and I spotted a few tomato plants in a bed. I then went to their front door and rang the bell, a little nervous about how the parents would react to what I had to say. When the dad answered, I first mentioned that I could not help but notice his fine-looking tomato plants covered with fruit so I hope he would understand my situation. I then told him that I could care less about their kids smoking cigarettes and joints, that was not any of my business, and they could even do it in my backyard, but trampling my garden I could not tolerate. I said I hoped as one gardener to another, he would understand and speak with his kids. I don’t know how he felt about the kids smoking but we saw eye-to-eye as gardeners on the trampled plants – problem solved!
Many years later, after my husband and I retired and moved out to Washington County, Texas, I finally have the time and space for a proper garden. I completed the Master Gardener Training Class in 2016 with the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association. I thought I knew a lot about gardening before the class, but I learned so much more and changed how I garden. My success and enjoyment improved as well. As a Master Gardener I continue to learn and refine my garden practices.
I was surprised that the Master Gardener program gives me not only the opportunity to share produce from my vegetable garden with family, neighbors and friends, but it gives me the joy of sharing fact research-based gardening knowledge with others. Our lives have become more tech-heavy, hectic and with hand-sanitizer seeming to replace just plain soap & water sometimes, simply getting one’s hands in the garden soil refreshes the spirit. As a Master Gardener, if I help spark a passion in one child, teen or adult for gardening like my Aunt Joy did for me and help them to do it more successfuly, I will have shared the finest gift of all from my garden.
Earth-Kind® On-Line Master Gardener Training videos are made available by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. These videos are available to the public to learn more about Earth-Kind® gardening practices. This program is designed to provide information on a variety of environmentally friendly (Earth-Kind®) practices for use in the home landscape and garden. As your interest and knowledge in this area grows you will have an increased awareness of the many programs, practices and activities that are Earth-Kind®.
All Texas Master Gardeners must recertify each year to remain in the Texas Master Gardener program. In addition to the annual volunteer hour requirements, recertification requires Texas Master Gardeners to complete continuing education hours on topics of horticulture and gardening practices. This continuing education helps Texas Master Gardeners sharpen their gardening skills and learn new fact-based and scientifically sound practices supported by Texas A&M AgriLife.
Texas Master Gardeners may select from any of these on-line modules to obtain up to 3 hours of re-certification education credits in a calendar year. Each module is worth 1 hour of credit. Progress through the training program is tracked “on-line” and the results for each completed module are automatically forwarded to the Texas Master Gardener’s county Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Master Gardener Coordinator.
Participation in the Earth-Kind® On-Line Master Gardener Training will assist Texas AgriLife Extension Service to promote principles and practices that help conserve and protect our state’s valuable natural resources. Working together we can create a healthy and sustainable environment.
To go to the online modules, click the link below and following the instructions.
Link to: Earth-Kind® On-Line Master Gardener Training videos
Available videos are:
2020 Junior Master Gardener National Leader Training Announced
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service announced registration for the 2020 Junior Master Gardener National Leader Training has officially begun! Excitingly, JMG is celebrating its 20th Anniversary and the 2020 conference will not disappoint! County Extension Agents, Assistant Agents, Master Gardeners/Master Volunteers, Health Specialists, School Educators/Administrators and community volunteers whom work closely with local Extension offices are encouraged to visit the AgriLife Conference Services website at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/JMG to register, as soon as possible. Don’t miss out on this fun, engaging and valuable training opportunity!
Additionally, to learn more about the Junior Master Gardener program, access the specific details for this training, (including the conference host site/overnight accommodations) and select the registration button which leads individuals to the AgriLife Conference Services registration page referenced above, please visit the JMG website at http://jmgkids.us/2020jmgnlt/
The JMG program looks forward to working with a great group of conference attendees representing districts and regions throughout Texas this February 24-26, 2020 in College Station, Texas on the campus of Texas A&M University!
Trees available:
Live Oak
Shumard Oak
Overcup Oak
White Oak
Southern Magnolia
Mexican Plum
Baldcypress
Are you one of the many who lost trees due to Hurricane Harvey? If so, please join us for the Hurricane Harvey Community Tree Recovery Tree Distribution on October 25, 2019 in Sealy, Texas. All area residents are eligible to receive free trees to replace trees lost due to Hurricane Harvey damage. The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to join event sponsors International Paper, FedEx, Arbor Day Foundation and Texas A&M Forestry Service to distribute the trees and provide planting instructions to citizens seeking to replace lost trees.
Through the Arbor Day Foundation’s Community Tree Recovery Campaign — a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation, International Paper and FedEx — Bluebonnet Master Gardeners Association will distribute 500 trees to homeowners in Sealy and surrounding areas on Friday, October 25th beginning at 9:00 a.m. at American Legion Hall, 1630 Meyer Street in Sealy, TX. These new trees will be free of charge for residents and will help to replace trees damaged and destroyed by the past four years of weather devastation.
Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation president said, “By replanting, we strive to bring healing and hope to the people and the communities in which they live, as well as help return the beauty and the value trees bring back to their properties.”
“Through the Arbor Day Foundation’s Community Tree Recovery program, International Paper is able to contribute to the resilience of the communities where our employees live and work,” said Tom Eugate, International Paper’s Sealy Container site manager. “Our entire business depends on the sustainability of forests, and we are proud to help provide healthy trees for this community and for the generations to come.”
The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Chapter in Texas is associated with its four county Texas A&M AgriLife Agricultural Extension offices. The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is a four-county chapter receiving guidance from four AgriLife professionals; one from each of Austin, Colorado, Fayette & Washington Counties.
With the flooding from Hurricane Harvey, many trees in the area have been seriously affected, and they will present a decrease in tree vigor and stability. Because of the growth patterns of trees, flood damage effects are usually only expressed 2-4 years after the event. Due to the massive number of stressed trees in the area, pests will reach peak populations and present a management problem for as many as 5 years into the future.
The coneflower oddities pictured came from Sens Center Vegetable Demonstration Garden that the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association manages in Bellville, Texas in June 2019. Our research shows that these plants are infected with Aster Yellows disease caused by phytoplasma. However interesting the effect, Aster Yellows is a serious garden disease impacting more than 300 plants species in 38 plant families.
The Texas Plant Disease Handbook lists the following as the most important impacted plants of Aster Yellows disease:
Crops: broccoli, buckwheat, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, endive, flax, lettuce, onion, parsley, potato, parsnip, pumpkin, red clover, salsify, spinach, strawberry and tomato.
Flowers: aster, anemone, calendula, Centaurea, China aster, chrysanthemum, Clarkia, cockscomb, Coreopsis, cosmos, delphinium, daisies, Gaillardia, hydrangea, marigold, Nemesia, Paris daisy, periwinkle, petunia, phylox, Scabiosa, snapdragon, statice, strawflower, veronica, and zinnia.
Weeds: cinquefoil, daisy fleabane, dandelion, horseweed, plantain, ragweed, thistle, wild carrot, and wild lettuce.
Yellows diseases are caused by phytoplasma. All known forms of these small, specialized bacteria cause plant disease. Phytoplasmas are naturally spread from plant to plant by sucking insects, particularly leafhoppers. The insects pick-up phytoplasma during their feeding on infected host plants, then spread the disease when they move to feed on other plants. The phytoplasma can overwinter in leafhoppers and on perennial host plants and will re-emerge in the Spring.
Phytoplasmas commonly cause distorted, dwarfed, and yellowish leaves and shoots often referred to as “yellows”. Other symptoms include abnormal flower and leaf development, shortened internodes, and shoot proliferation (known as “witches’ broom”). The flowers of infected plants sometimes develop green, leaflike structures as seen the coneflower photo from the Sens Center Demonstration Garden.
Aster Yellows wreaks havoc on all parts of the plant. There are no chemical or organic treatments known to cure, suppress or kill the disease so once plants become infected, they remain infected and are a host plant for further infection throught the garden. Failing to destroy the infected plant means it survives as a constant source of phytoplasma to be spread to other plants. Garden sanitation is key to managing the disease. Once the disease is discovered, all parts of the plant including the root system must be removed and destroyed. Although heat may kill the pathogen, it is best not compost diseased plants. As with all phytoplasmas, the Aster Yellows pathogen cannot survive outside of the plant so the bacteria will not remain in the soil.
An integrated pest and disease management approach including destroying infected plants immediately upon discovery of the disease, maintaining proper garden sanitation practices and attempts to control the leafhoppers is recommended. If you believe you have plants of any kind infected with Aster Yellows or a similar disease, contact the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab for information about diagnostic testing and recommendations for minimizing the spread of disease in your garden.
Web sources used for this post include: Texas Plant Disease Handbook, Texas Plant Disease Diagnosic Lab, Missouri Botanical Gardens, Ohio State Cornflower Clean-up, Wisconsin Horticulture Division of the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Yellow butterfly vine, also known as yellow orchid vine, a perennial, twining evergreen vine, has been named a Texas Superstar selection for its low maintenance requirements and beauty.
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.
To be designated a Texas Superstar, a plant must not only be beautiful but perform well for consumers and growers throughout the state. Texas Superstars must be easy to propagate, which should ensure the plants are not only widely available but also reasonably priced, said David Rodriguez, AgriLife Extension horticulturist, Bexar County.
Rodriguez said the clusters of dainty flowers on butterfly vine are a brilliant yellow in the summer sun. But it’s the seed pods that give the plant its most common name.
BMGA President Keith McGraw presents certficiate to Paul McClenndon.
Master Gardener Paul McClendon was presented his certification in Rainwater Harvesting from the Texas Master Gardner Association at the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association’s monthly meeting May 28, 2019 in Bellville, Texas. After attening the Rainwater Harvesting training class, Paul volunteered 20 hours to assist AgriLife Extension Service increase citizens’ awareness of rainwater harvesting. These 20 hours of volunteer service were on top of the annual 20 hours of volunteer time all Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association members are required to perform each year. Paul is a member of the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association serving Austin, Colorado, Fayette & Washington Counties, Texas.
Other BMGA members with Rainwater Harvesting Advanced Training certification include B.R. Koehler and Charlene Koehler, both of Sealy, Texas.
See a complete list of BMGA members with Advanced Training certifications.
Other topics in which Master Gardeners in Texas may gain advanced training certification are:
The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association’s 2019 week long summer camp for kids is accepting registrations now. The Kids Kamp will be held in all four BMGA counties for kids ages 10 to 13 years of age:
Washington County: June 3 – 7, 2019
Colorado County: June 10- 14, 2019
Fayette County: June 17-21, 2019
Austin:June 24-June 28, 2019
The kids will learn about worm composting, soil & gardening, nutrition & kitchen management, food preservation and good bugs and bad bugs in the garden. They will also make garden related crafts and healthy snacks.
Christy Schweikhardt, a Master Gardener who facilitated the soil & gardening segments of Kids Kamp for two years, said, “We fill the Kids Kamp with hands-on activities that are both fun and educational. The kids who participated in the past two Kids Kamps were entergeitc and eager to learn, even over summer break. For the volunteer Master Gardeners who particpate in running the Kids Kamp, it is rewarding to help AgriLife Extension Service and the State of Texas foster fact-based gardening and food knowelge in a future generation of Texas gardeners.”
At only $25.00 for the week, this may be the best bargin in summer fun.
Reminder to Master Gardeners who wish to join the 2019 TMGA Conference tours:
The DEADLINE to register for the tours is Feb. 21.
So, if you haven’t already registered now is the time!
Hope to see you in Victoria April 25.
For information go to www.2019tmgaconference.com
BMGA members interested in bees and pollinators can assist in a project with the ultimate goal of creating a field-tested list of the best Texas and Oklahoma landscape plants for pollinators. This is an opportunity for Master Gardeners to use their knowledge and skills in the garden to participate in a real citizen-data collection project to provide important data to scientists and researchers hoping to reduce the decline of pollinators in Texas and Oklahoma.
Michael Merchant, Ph.D, BCE, Professor and Extension Urban Entomologist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, asks Texas and Oklahoma Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists for feedback about the top plants for pollinators in their gardens. In addition, he wants to assess who is interested in participating in a pollinator count this summer. Exact details about the planned count will be provided later. But now, to get started, Master Gardeners may complete a survey indicating their interest in participating in a pollinator count and identifying top plants in their garden that attract pollinators.
Some of you may be familiar with Dr. Merchant and his AgriLife Extension Insects in the City blog or as a trainer in the Master Gardener program on the topic of entomology. Dr. Merchant says he knows there is a lot of collective wisdom of out there among gardeners and naturalist on what plants serve as highly attractive nectar sources for pollinators. If the project team can get a good response from Master Gardeners and others to this survey, it should give the project a good starting list of potential pollinator plants to study this summer.
Below is a link to a Qualtrix survey for Master Gardeners with an interest in bees and pollinators. If you are interested in assisting with this project, please complete the survey.
The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association has a long standing interest in educating the public about and creating pollinator-friendly landscapes. The Sheridan 4H Youth Butterfly Garden in Colorado County, Texas is an example of a pollinator friendly garden. In addition, through our Kids’ Kamp summer program, Lunch-N-Learn series and other programs, we include education about the importance of pollinators to our nation’s food production and agriculture. BMGA can continue its dedication to increase awarness of the importance of pollinators and in helping to increase pollinator-friendly landscapes in our area with a strong participate in this project from its members.
Did you know that one out of six Americans does not know from where their next meal will come? There are people in our communities and surrounding areas that are experiencing hunger. Food pantries help fill in the gaps but often lack healthy, fresh produce.
AmpleHarvest.org is a non-profit organization that uses the power of the internet to connect 8,387 registered local food pantries spread across all 50 states with gardeners willing to donate their excess produce. AmpleHarvest.org reminds Master Gardeners and all home gardeners that they can help by planting just a little extra to donate and improve the health of their neighbors and community. When you donate your excess garden bounty, you are helping to relieve hunger, reduce food waste and making an impact on obesity and other food-related diseases. If your good gardening skills provide you with extra bounty, more than your family can eat, don’t let it go to waste! Even a small donation of freash vegetables and fruit will help increase food security in your area.
Unfortuantly, not all food pantries can accept fresh produce. AmpleHarvest.org connects gardeners to food pantries near them that can accept fresh produce. To find a food pantry near you to donate your fresh harvest visit www.AmpleHarvest.org/find-pantry
Today, AmpleHarvest.org is reaching out to gardeners in Southern states, like Texas, fortunate enough to have an active gardening season this time of year to remind them of the need for donations. Winter months are usually a lean time of year for donations and this year other circumstances have placed added pressures on the food pantries. Regardless of anyone’s politics, federal employees who are impacted by the government shutdown as well as those working for businesses in the community that are also affected still need to eat fresh healthy food.
The AmpleHarvest.org issued a press release at www.AmpleHarvest.org/shutdown encouraging Southern gardeners to help.
Some of the food pantries in BMGA’s area that accept fresh produce now, or anytime, are:
Christian Community Services Center
Pantry #3864
814 N. LaSalle St.
Navasota, TX 77868Contact: Patricia Gaston
Phone: 936-825-7454
Fax: 936-825-7454
Email: pgaston2008@yahoo.com
Lighthouse
Pantry #4057
929 Silliman St.
Sealy, TX 77474
Phone: 979-398-9591
Email: lighthousepcg.sealy@yahoo.com
Schulenburg Area Food Pantry
Pantry #4531
1835 Oakland Rd
Schulenburg, TX 78956
Contact: betty ohnheiser
Phone: 979 561 6439
Smithville Food Pantry
Pantry #5317
107 SW 2nd Street
Smithville, TX 78957
Contact: S.A. Martin
Phone: 512-237-2322
Email: smithvillefoodpantry@gmail.com
The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Assocation, serving Washington, Fayette, Colorado and Austin Counties, is hosting two open houses the first week in January 2019. Cerfified Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions about the Master Gardener Program and how they serve the community by assisting the area’s AgriLife Extension Agents in educating the public about gardening. The Master Gardeners will accept applciations for the 2019 intensive training class which is required to acheive Master Gardener cerfitification. The series of classes start January 17, 2019 and run through April 25, 2019 in La Grange.
The series of classes taught by experts in various area of horticulture consist of both class room instruction and field trips. Instruction consists of fact-based non-biased information about horticulture. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is the sponsor of the Master Gardener Program in Texas and provides many of the expert instructors and resources for the training class.
Come find out more about whether the Master Gardener Training is for you by joining us at either the open house in Brenham on January 8, 2019 or in La Grange on January 1o, 2019
The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Assocation 2019 training classes begin January 17th in La Grange, Texas. The series consists of 50 hours of training held every Thursday until April 25th, 2019. Master Gardener Carol Daniels of La Grange is the coordinator of the 2019 training program. Ms. Daneils also coordinated the 2017 training class for BMGA. The 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 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”.
Two Open House dates have been set for January 2019 for anyone interested in learning more about the program. These two events 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.
January 8, 2019 – 11:30am-1:00pm – Washington County Fairgrounds Sales Facility
January 10, 2019 – 10:00am -12:00noon – Fayette County Extension Office
2019 Training Class Application Form_
Training classes begin January 17th and will be held every Thursday through April 18th at the Fayette County Extension Office at 255 Svoboda Lane in La Grange from 8:30am-12:30pm. Final assesment and graduation will be held April 23. Applications are available at the Fayette County Extension Office. Class size will be limited, so to ensure your spot in the 2019 BMGA Training Class the application and payment of $175 must be turned into the Extension Office as soon as possible.
Come out and enjoy lots of wonderful refreshments and a chance to learn more about what all the Master Gardeners have to offer! For more information on the Master Gardener program, contact the Extension office at (979) 968-5831.
The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife.
The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.
Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid, service or accommodation in order to participate in this meeting are encouraged to contact the Fayette County Extension Office at (979)968-5831 seven work days prior to the meeting to determine how reasonable accommodations can be made.
Bluebonnet Master Gardeners Renee’ Kofman, Mikie Ehret, Jeri Berckenhoff, Pete Berckenhoff and Diva Garza Houlette, in a joint effort with Boy Scout Troup 548 headed by Clayton Ribardo, restored the Prayer Garden at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (ICC) in Sealy. BMGA contributed funds for the new annual plants and shrubs and BMGA directed the project, including planting all the plants. An irrigation system was installed by Logiscapes, LLC. Seventeen-year-old Scout Clayton Ribardo jumped at the opportunity to lead the Scouts in this project and thus worked to earn his Eagle Scout Badge. Clayton, along with the eight other Scouts, raised funds for the materials, worked on replacing the old walkway of the garden with crushed granite, added new borders, new soil, mulch and sod in the garden. BMGA Project Leader Renee Kofman said “The BMGA Master Gardener’s thoroughly enjoyed working with the Scouts on this project. It was a lot of hard work for everyone and a labor of love, all for the glory of God.” The Prayer Garden is located at 500 4th Street in Sealy and is open to the public for prayer and meditation
As a four-county Texas Master Gardener Chapter, BMGA is lucky to benefit from not one, but four Texas A&M AgriLife Agricultural Extension Agent advisers, one from each BMGA county. That means BMGA can tap into the knowledge, training, experience, passion of all four professionals.
Scott Willey is the County Agricultural Extension Agent for Fayette County, Texas and one of BMGA’s County Agent Advisors. Scott was born and raised in La Vernia, Texas (Wilson County) on a small family farm. La Vernia is just east of San Antonio, Texas. The Willey farm consisted of three enterprises: a small herd of registered cattle, a 1500-tree commercial pecan grove, and 500 peach trees for a “pick your own” operation. During the summers when in elementary school, Scott and his brother would help their grandma pick and sell peaches.
Since 1992, the Willey family has been very active showing cattle, heifers and steers, all over the state. During the same time, they have been active members of the Texas Junior Simmental/Simbrah Association (TJSSA) where Scott currently serves as a youth advisor. TJSSA is a youth organization designed to teach young cattle breeders about the beef cattle industry through educational contests. Because of this organization the Willey family had an opportunity to show cattle all over the nation.
Upon graduating from high school in 2002, he attended Palo Alto Community College in San Antonio for two years. Scott than transferred to Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where he was a member of the livestock judging team and Alpha Tau Alpha. He graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Agribusiness and minors in Animal Science and Business Administration in 2007. After graduation he accepted a position with Circle M Farms in Milford, Utah; a 60,000 head farrow to finish sow farm.
In April 2008 Scott started with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service where he Frist Stepped for a month with Philip Shackelford at the Austin County Extension Office. On May 12, 2008 Scott officially became the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Fayette County. In 2012 he finished his M.S. degree in Agriculture Science from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Scott appreciates working with both adults and youth of Fayette County and helping them solve problems and improve management practices that impact their lives. In 4-H, Scott enjoys the opportunity to work with the youth livestock component, because of his background in 4-H/FFA. His primary focus is the heifer and steer, broilers, commercial heifers, swine. Scott is also the livestock judging coach in Fayette County, and helps several judging teams with oral reasons.
From an adult programing effort, the diversity is what makes his job both interesting and challenging. A few of the primary issues are new landowner education, beef cattle production, and home horticulture. Because of Scott’s early years and some opportunities, he has enjoyed his work establishing (with the help of several people) the fruit tree demonstration at Winedale.
Scott also serves on the board for the Fayette County Fair and enjoys hunting and fishing when time allows.
Within BMGA, Scott is known as a valuable resource for questions about fruit trees and pecans as well as for his organization management experience. Scott recently commented that due to his experience growing and especially eating fresh peaches, he can tell if a dish was made with canned verses fresh peaches just by taste. I for one, believe him!