Board Meeting: 8:30 – 10:00
Social: 10:00 – 10:30
Program: 10:30 – 12:00
Officer Elections & Faye Berry on Laws and Regulations
BMGA Chapter Meeting ONLINE
BMGA Chapter Meeting
Board Meeting: 8:30 – 10:00
Social: 10:00 – 10:30
Program: 10:30 – 12:00
Live Lunch and Learn Gardening Series – September 2020
Live Lunch and Learn Gardening Series – September 2020
Join Horticulturist David Rodriguez and Entomologist Molly Keck for their Live Lunch and Learn Gardening Webinar Series. Learn about your landscape and vegetable gardening. To join, click link below and put in the meeting id and passcode at the date and time of the presentation.
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central Time
Meeting ID: 990 2593 9574
Passcode: Garden2020
September 16: Where do Insects Go When it Rains?
September 23: September is Butterfly Month!
September 30: Dragonfly Watching
BMGA Chapter Meeting ONLINE
Board Meeting: 8:30 – 10:00
Social: 10:00 – 10:30
Program: 10:30 – 12:00
Link will be emailed.
9th Annual Texas Fruit Conference – Online
Texas AgriLife Extension announced today that The 9th Annual Texas Fruit Conference on September 21st and 22nd will be held On-line, rather than in person. The program is committed to providing an easily-accessible, Online web conference that will be practical and educational for the diverse Texas fruit growing community’s needs.
The tentative program plan is as follows:
Session 1, Monday, September 21st: 1 pm to 5:00 pm: Intro to Fruit Growing Workshop—a crash course in starting a fruit orchard—crop and variety options, soil and water evaluation, orchard design, planting, irrigation etc.
Session 2, Tuesday, September 22nd: 9 am to 11:30 am: Texas’ Fruit Future—a series of presentations aimed at new growing practices, new crops and new marketing strategies (Titles and speakers to be determined)
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm: Experiences in Growing Fruit Trees—a virtual field trip to one or more established fruit growers in Texas (Site(s) to be announced)
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm: Hard Questions—Good Answers—Live panel discussion with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Fruit Team
Registration Fee:
Monday (9/21) Only: Intro to Fruit Growing Workshop: $50
Tuesday (9/22) Only: Texas’ Fruit Future, Experiences in Growing Fruit Trees, Hard Questions/Good Answers: $35
Combination package: both sessions $70.00
Registration site: http://Agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ (Registration begins 8/14/2020)
For more information contact:
Monte Nesbitt
Horticultural Sciences
mlnesbitt@tamu.edu
2020 BMGA Scholarship Awards
The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is proud to announce its annual college scholarships winners. Three $1000 scholarships were awarded today to high school graduates from Washington, Fayette & Colorado Counties, Texas. The winners are Braylee Schomburg (Washington County), Megan Schultz (Fayette County) and Zane Wanjura (Colorado County). Each recipient attended the BMGA July 28, 2020 online video conference meeting to introduce themselves to the entire membership. The bright students received some words of wisdom from some of the Master Gardeners and fielded questions from the audience. Read more about them below or click this link: Scholarship Winner Bios.
Congratulations to all three winners!
Backyard Bug Hunt Recorded Series
If you missed Wizzie Brown’s Backyard Bug Hunt webinars, below are links to recorded series to date.
Ms. Brown is an Integrated Pest Management Program Specialist in Travis County. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Entomology from the The Ohio State University in 1996 and her Masters in Entomology at Texas A&M University in 1999.
When you find insects in your garden, your first instinct might be to destroy them, but that’s not always the best action. Of the 1.5 million known insect species in the world, more than 97% are beneficial to gardens, or simply benign. That leaves less than 3% that are agricultural and nuisance pests.
Bluebonnet Master Gardeners may claim CEU credit for these live or recorded events.
You may watch these webinars on the Travis County AgriLife Extension site or click the topics below:
Butterfly & caterpillar ID (Nymphalids & Papilionids)
Attracting insects to your yard
Fly identification & management
Canceled – Kids’ Kamp – Austin County
Tuesday – Thursday
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 P.M
All About Trees: Forests – Living Pharmacies
All About Trees: Forests – Living Pharmacies
Registration: Please cut and paste the link into your browser.
https://tfs.webex.com/tfs/onstage/g.php?MTID=e46376572ab72e9dea2d947c49b06c626
June 25, Thursday
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
All About Trees: Forests – Living Pharmacies is bringing the science, the chemistry, the biology to the field of wild edible and herbal medicine. Dr. Mark Merriwether Vorderbruggen is a chemist, with an MS in medicinal chemistry and a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry.
“An estimated 50,000 plant species are used medicinally. Within the plant kingdom, trees make a substantial contribution to this figure, and many species are used in traditional and modern medicine.”
“Medicine from trees, extracted from the wood, bark, roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, or seeds is fundamental to the well-being of millions of people. Where access to modern pharmaceuticals is limited, trees offer living pharmacies open to anyone with traditional knowledge on their medicinal properties.” (Global Tree Campaign)
Texas A&M Forest Service’s ALL ABOUT TREES has moved 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, arboriculture, chemistry, and science 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, and other 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 experts to answer your questions in real-time meeting state AT requirements.
__________________________________
For more information, contact:
JOHN R. WARNER, CF, CA, AF
URBAN DISTRICT FORESTER IV
Texas A&M Forest Service
1328 FM 1488, Conroe, TX 77384
936/546-3169 cell
tfsweb.tamu.edu
Plant Pathology for Master Gardeners – Free Online Course
Texas A&M AgriLife Exension offers a variety online gardning courses free of charge. One such offering is a self-directed course designed for Master Gardener interns to introduce the basic concept of plant disease development and an overview of the four common plant pathogen groups.
Plant disease is one of the most difficult topics for home gardeners. Although this course is designed for Master Gardener interns, experienced Master Gardeners may find this online course a good refresher on a complex topic.
These modules will provide some base information which will help participants gain a foundational understanding of the different plant-pathogen types, and will enhance better understanding of the material presented at classroom Master Gardener intern training on plant pathology.
See all available AgriLife online courses under the Plants and Garden.
Canceled – Kids’ Kamp – Fayette County
Tuesday – Thursday
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 P.M
Canceled Kids’ Kamp – Colorado County
Tuesday – Thursday
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 P.M
Canceled Kids’ Kamp -Washington County
Tuesday – Thursday
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 P.M
Gulf Coast Gardening Online Series – Free
Join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Horticulture agents and specialists as they discuss gardening in the Gulf Coast Region of Texas. Mark your calendars for these CEU opportunties.
Register to attend live events:
Link to recorded past events CLICK HERE
July 2020
July 1 at 10:00am – Home Citrus Growing by Ginger Easton-Smith, AgriLife Extension Ag and Natural Resources Agent in Aransas County
July 8 at 10am – Young Tree Care by Boone Holladay, AgriLife Extension Horticulture
July 15 at 10am – Cacti & Succulent Varieties by Kevin Gibbs, AgriLife Extension Horticulture
July 22 at 10am – Fabulous Figs for the Gulf by Stephen Brueggerhoff, AgriLife Extension Horticulture Agent in Brazoria County
July 29 at 10am – EarthKind Pest, Disease & Weed Control by Robert “Skip” Richter, AgriLife Extension Horticulture Agent in Brazos County
June 2020
June 3 at 10:00am – Annuals in the Summer Heat by Paul Winski, AgriLife Extension Horticulture Agent in Harris County
June 10 at 10:00am – Olives on the Texas Gulf Coast by Stephen Janak, Extension Program Specialist
June 17 at 10:00am – Gardening in Containers by Skip Richter, AgriLife Extension Horticulture Agent in Brazos County
June 24 at 10:00am – Turf Irrigation Audit by Michael Potter, AgriLife Extension Horticulture Agent in Montgomery County
Invitation to Virtual Master Gardener College
Texas Master Gardeners are inviited to join the online Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener College June 25-28, 2020. This is really a neat opportunity to learn from another state’s Master Gardener program. Although not all of the information pertains to Texas gardeners, much will. Please take this opportunity for more innovated learning.
BMGA CEU credit.
BMGA Interns Only: Apply time to their volunteer hours.
Register by June 19, 2020:
From Garden to Glass: DIY Mocktails/Cocktails – Online Event
Join Aggie Horticulture & Denton County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension online for a Facebook Live event on “From Garden to Glass: DIY Mocktails/Cocktails”. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Horticulturist Janet Laminack will be sharing about how to create mocktails and cocktails from plants in your garden. A team of Extension Specialists will also be available to answer questions in the chat window during the event.
Friday, May 22, 2020 at 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM CDT
CEU credit for Master Gardeners.
Aggie Horticulture Live Facebook Events!
Join Aggie Horticulture on Wednesdays & Fridays at 1 p.m. Central time on the Aggie Horticulture Facebook Page to watch Facebook Live events!
Aggie Horticulture Live Facebook Events
Upcoming Events:
- 5/22/2020 – Friday 1:00 pm – From Garden to Glass DIY Mocktails/Cocktails
- 5/27/2020 – Wednesday 1:00 pm – “Some Like it Hot” – Growing Vegetables in Summer
- 5/29/2020 – Friday 1:00 pm – TBD
- 6/3/2020 – Wednesday 1:00 pm – Check your crape (and other plants) for scale
Qualifies for Master Gardener CEU Credits.
Prior Live Event Videos Available on Aggie Horticulture’s Facebook page:
- Raised Garden Beds, Location, Soil Mixtures and more!
- Starting vegetable seeds at home
- Planting vegetable transplants or direct seed into your garden!
- Home Fruit Production – Tips for Success!
- Small fruits for the backyard
- Floral Designs from your backyard – Growing, Cutting, Using your flowers and shrubs!
- Growing Herbs: Basil Bounty
- Backyard Grapes/Vineyards
- Pecan Grafting
- How to Prune Your Trees
- Lawn Care & Fertilization
- Drip Irrigation Essentials
- Grapevine Planting & Training Demo
- Tidying up your Irrigation System
- Keys to Successful Peach Production
- Indoor Gardening
- Growing Blueberries in Containers
Growing Blueberries in Containers – Online Event
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.
Online Backyard Basics Gardening Workshop -May 29, 2020
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will a present a Backyard Basics: Gardening webinar on gardening and landscaping from 9 a.m.-noon May 29.
“This is a free workshop, and we hope folks from across Texas will join us,” said Matlin Sain, AgriLife Extension agent, Presidio County. “We’ll have a group of experts covering the backyard basics you need to know to have a more successful garden.”
Tree disease and pruning will both be discussed at the Backyard Basics webinar. (AgriLife Research photo)
Participants need to register in advance for the event, which will be held on the Zoom meeting platform. Contact Sain with any questions.
Scheduled topics and expert speakers are:
- Integrated Pest Management for Your Garden – Jeanette Castanon, AgriLife Extension horticulture agent, Midland.
- How to Identify Tree Diseases in Your Yard – David Appel, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension plant pathology specialist, College Station.
- How to Properly Prune Your Trees – Jonathan Motsinger, Texas A&M Forest Service, Central Texas Operations department head, Idalou.
Each topic will be followed by a Q&A period. For more information, visit the website for the AgriLife Extension office in Presidio County.
Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association members participating in any AgriLife sponsored horticulure educational program may claim CEU credit for the program.
This post and the photo were taken from AgriLife Today’s article of May 13, 2020.
BMGA Graduates 19 New Interns
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
2020 TMGA State Conference in Waco
Save the Date! More information to come.
ONLINE BMGA Vegetables & Organic Gardening
We are excited to welcome Mr. Skip Richter for our BMGA Intern Training Class & Chapter Zoom Meeting on Vegetables and Organic Gardening.
Details to join the meeting were provided separately.
Webinar for Urban Garden Grants Application Process
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.
Canceled – Lunch-N-Learn Series Fayette County-Irrigation for Pots/Containers
Irrigation for Pots/Containers by Carol Daniels
All educational programs begin with
Registration at 11:50-12:05
Program from 12:05 – 12:50
Bring your own lunch and drink
All programs are free to the public!
