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Bluebonnet Master Gardener AssociationTexas AgriLife Extension Service

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

BMGA Chapter Meeting – Weimar

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April 27, 2021 – Intern Graduation
Weimar Civic Center at 1754 I-10
Weimar, TX 78962
BMGA Intern Class Graduation.  There are 11 graduates.

8:30  – 10:00:     Board of Directors Meeting
10:00 – 10:20:    Social/Team Time
10:20 – 10:30:    Pledges/Prayers (Al Prescott)
10:30 – 11:00:    Graduation
11:00 – 11:30:     Presentation on new VMS system (Stacie Villareal)
11:30 – 12:30:    Catered Lunch – This is NOT a pot-luck so please do not bring food.

Social distancing and masks required.

2021 Virtual Advanced Training in Rainwater Harvesting

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Rainwater Harvesting

 

 

 

 

Think you know everything about Rainwater Harvesting? Think again! and then sign up for the online 2021 MG Advanced Training in Rainwater Harvesting. Most sessions will be led by Dr. Dotty Woodson, retired Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Water Specialist. Those that have had classes with Dotty know she is an excellent speaker and a super educator. Sign up for the class and learn new things about Rainwater Harvesting from Dr. Dotty Woodson.

The Master Gardener 2021 Rainwater Harvesting Advanced Training Class is being offered to certified Master Gardeners only by Tarrant County Master Gardeners. The training will be an online event on three consecutive Fridays in May, meaning participants can remain at home (living more cheaply than being on the road) and still obtain excellent Rainwater Harvesting training. Remaining at home is also good for spring gardens!

Three consecutive Fridays – May 7, 14, & 21, 2021
Virtual Presentation hosted by the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association

Tuition is $125.00

Registration  Deadline April 30, 2021
Click for Registration Information

AgriLife logo

Pollinator Citizen Science Project Opens Again March 22, 2021

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Logo with butterflyMaster Volunteers, a group that includes Master Gardeners, contributed 7434 observations to the Pollinator Citizen Science Project according to the last updated summary on December 21, 2020.  Based on data collected in the project so far, the most visited plant by honey bees was Melochia tomentosa, also known as Teabush or Pyramid Bush.  For more information about this Texas native pollinator plant, visit the USDA Plant Database or the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center website 

photo of teabusy

Melochia tomentosa, also known as Teabush or Pyramid Bush

The purpose of the project is to use citizen scientists to determine the attractiveness of different commercially available ornamentals (annuals or perennials) to different groups of pollinators in the Southern USA, namely Texas and Oklahoma.

Due to popular demand and great results from 2020 and 2019, Pollinator Citizen Science Project is launching yet again this year.  The required training and quiz start online on-demand Monday March 22, 2021, accessible through the project page. The training will be similar to last year, with some added training on plant identification (offered by Dr. Vikram Baliga from Texas Tech University).  There will also be a live Q&A session later that week to answer any questions citizen scientists may have related to the project.

As before, BMGA members may recieve CEU credit for the training and volunteer hour credit for the time collecting and submitting data to the project.  This is a true citizen science project allowing ordinary citizens to make a  contribution that matters to the horticulture of our state.

When: Mar 25, 2021 02:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada) 
https://agrilife.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMqc-2rqzkvGdfxKLO8vgAuj9ulTtgO3FiL

Results for  2020
Result for 2019

Many congratulations to the Project Team:

 

Online Event: The Unexpected Health Benefits of Gardening

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Unexpected Health Benefits Flyer

Planting flowers and vegetables can result in beautiful bouquets and bountiful harvests for your meals. But did you know that gardening offers many health benefits as well? Join Jennifer Shukaitis, MPH, FCHS Educator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension from the State Office to learn how gardening may benefit the well-being of you and your family members.  See registration link below:

When: March 31, 2021 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Central Time

BMGA CEU: 1 hour

Register for the Event Here

Presenter: Jennifer Shukaitis, Family & Community Health Sciences Educator III (Eqv. to Asst. Professor), Dept. of Family and Community Health Sciences

 

 

Ask an Expert is now Ask Extension

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Ask an Expert is now Ask Extension.  This service offers one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions from across the United States.  Before posting a new question, you may also search previously answered questions in the Knowledgebase catalogue.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR EXTENSION EXPERTS?

Ask A Question

Search the Knowledgebase

Frozen Plants? Aggie Horticulture Facebook Live Events

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Texas A&M  Extension Horticulture faculty are using their weekly Facebook live events and one additional event to talk about the freeze and what to expect with plants. The schedule will be as follows:

Wednesday 1:00 p.m. Ornamentals & Vegetables

Friday 1:00 p.m. Fruit

Friday 4:00 p.m. Turf

These events can be found on Facebook on the Aggie Horticulture page and will be useful information for Master Gardeners and the public.  All events are free and open to the public.

Online Chapter Meeting – Texas Tough Roses

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Texas Master Gardener Logo

ONLINE TEAMS MEETING

Date:            Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Time:           10:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m.

Format:       Online Microsoft Teams meeting

Topic:          Texas Tough Roses

Presenter:   Suzanne Gilbert-President, Houston Rose Society

General BMGA business meeting to follow.

BMGA members will receive an email with the link to the meeting.  Be sure to check your “junk” or “SPAM” folders if you do not see the email in your Inbox

 

Online Horticulture Learning Could Never be Easier

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LogoSo many online horticulture learning opportunities you don’t know where to start?  This guide can get you started learning from horticulture experts.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recorded many of their programs for viewing on your own schedule.  These recorded presentations are free to the public.

Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association members may claim Continuing Education Units (CEU) for these all AgriLife programs that pertain to gardening and horticulture; live or recorded.  Just watch the presentation and record your time as CEU.  BMGA members, remember to get your CEU credits recorded by December 31, 2020 to apply those hours to your re-certification requirement.  For 2020, you need 6 CEU credits.

Below are links to some of these programs to start learning from our Aggie experts.

Gulf Coast Gardening Online Series
There are 22 videos for more than 24 hours of learning. Topics include:

Young Tree Care – Video  #5
Earth Kind Pest Disease & Weed Control – Video #10
Texas Superstar Plants – Video #19

Horticulture & Gardening Webinar Series with David Rodriguez, County Extension Horticulture Agent, Bexar County
There are currently 17 of these recorded sessions for more than 13 hours of education. Topics include:

Getting Your Lawn and Landscape Ready for Summer Heat – Video #9
Tomato Basics 101 – Video #13
Butterfly Gardening – Nectar Plants – Video #5

Aggie Horticulture Facebook Live Recordings
There are 55 horticulture recorded events. Wow!  You do not need a Facebook account to watch.  Topics include:

Homeowner Greenhouses- Video #41
Transitioning to a Fall Garden, Two Parts – Video #40 & #45
Toys for Vegetable Gardening – Video #50
Fall Blooming Flowers & Biennials Planted in Fall – Video #51
Growing Blueberries in Containers – Video 18