2024 Scholarships Awarded
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!
2024 Water Program – In the Heart of Texas
Plant Party – Monitoring Native Vegetation
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:
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
2024 Lunch-N-Learn Series – Fall Austin County
Special Austin County Lunch-N-Learn – Disaster Prevention & Resilience
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
2024 Home-Grown Vegetable Contest
16th Annual Austin County Fair Wine Competition
Intern Class of 2024 Graduates
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.
Fruit & Citrus Tree Sale
Kids Kamp 2024
Bluebonnet Master Gardener 2024 Plant Sale
Plant Party- Cooking Up Natives Webinar
Registration is now open for the March Webinar!Plant Party: Cooking Up Natives
2024 Washington County Lunch-N-Learn Gardening Series
2024 Colorado County Lunch-N-Learn Series – Winter/Spring
2024 Lunch N Learn Series – Spring – Austin County
2024 Spring Lunch-N-Learn Series – Fayette County
Soil Testing Campaign
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:
2024 Small Farms & Vegetable Conference
39th Annual Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference
Plant Party – All About Evergreens Webinar
Registration is now open for the December Webinar!Plant Party: Join us on December 20th from 10:00 – 11:30 AM (Central) for “All About Evergreens“. 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! 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. Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association Members recieve 1.5 CEU credits for this program.
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Master Gardeners Teach Students About Monarch Butterflies
Article and photos submitted by Teresa Wilson.
![](https://txmg.org/bluebonnet/files/2023/11/butterfly-7a-300x217.jpg)
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.
![](https://txmg.org/bluebonnet/files/2023/11/butterfly-no-face-235x300.jpg)
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.
![](https://txmg.org/bluebonnet/files/2023/11/Nancy-and-me-225x300.jpg)
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
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
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