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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

 

Chapter Meeting – Fayette County

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Texas Master Gardener Logo

 

 

Board Meeting:  8:30 a.m – 10:00 a.m.
Social: 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Program: 10:30 a.m.– 12:00 noon

 

 

Speaker:  Ashley Grubb – Enchanted Gardens

Ashley is a Conservation Biologist and Entomologist by degree and currently working for Enchanted Gardens in Richmond as a Texas Certified Nursery & Water Smart Professional.

Summer Celebration in The Gardens at A&M-You’re Invited

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Invitation to Celebration

The Gardens at Texas A&M
Summer Celebration

Saturday, June 11, 2022
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Leach Teaching Gardens

Free parking available in lot 97.

Join us at our annual community Summer Celebration for food and fun for the family, including children’s educational activities, story time with Chance The Librarian, JJ’s snow cones, and more. You won’t want to miss this fun-filled morning! 

Learn More About The Gardens!

Gardens Logo

 

2021 Texas Master Gardener Virtual Conference- DAY 1

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The 2021 Texas Master Gardener State Conference will be held virtually this year on May 18-19, 2021. The leadership workshop will be on May 17, 2021.

Join us as we walk through Texas gardens! We have an amazing line-up of inspirational speakers ready to share with you their favorite topics in horticulture. We will also travel across the state through virtual tours to see the diverse gardens of Texas.

The conference offers continuing education hours for Master Gardeners including three keynote presentations, twenty-four breakout sessions, and four virtual tours.

The conference is also time to celebrate the Search for Excellence Awards and the incredible achievements our volunteers are accomplishing in education across the state.

Cost:  $50 includes both Day 1 & Day 2!

 

Register Button

2021 Plant Sale in Sealy at Levine Park

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Need to replace plants after this year’s winter blast?

 The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association’s 18th Annual Plant Sale is Saturday, April 10, 2021, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

New location:  Levine Park Pavilion, 410 Main Street, Sealy, across the street from city hall.

Plants for sale include roses, “Texas Superstar” plants, “Texas Native” plants, “Earth Kind” plants, succulents, butterfly friendly plants, ground covers, herbs, bushes, and a few surprises – something for everyone.  There will also be rain barrels, planters and other garden items.

All plants are locally sourced to insure they are climatized for this area. Master Gardeners will be on hand to help you find that special plant and give you guidance for its care.  Master Gardeners’ knowledge and passion for each plant will inspire you!

Proceeds from the sale help Bluebonnet Master Gardeners support the four counties (Austin, Colorado, Fayette, and Washington) with college scholarships, community gardens, free-to-the-public “Lunch & Learns”, and other local activities.  This is a sales-tax free sale.

More information:  https://txmg.org/bluebonnet

 

Plant Sale Flyer

Cultivate! Earth Friendly Gardening & Landscaping

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Bexar County Master Gardeners will host CULTIVATE!, its semi-annual educational seminar with 7 different gardening topics offered free and online. Each workshop is an hour long and full of great gardening information.  Join them for one or all seven! For workshop descriptions, and all the details go to  https://bexarmg.org/cultivate-sessions/

Our workshops this spring:

Succulents with MG Stephanie Jones

Texas Native Ornamental Shrubs for Your Landscape with MG Lynn Cox

Growing Vegetables in Bexar County with David Rodriguez Bexar County Extension Agent-Horticulture

After the Big Freeze…What to do in your Garden (Special session with David Rodriguez)

Gardening Begins with the Soil with MG Bill Swantner

Spring into Texas Superstar Annuals with MG Lynn Cox

Shady Characters in the Garden with MG Lynn Cox

Plant Picturepages by Aggie Horticulture

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LogoSometimes, the answer is just knowing where to look;  and someitimes, a picutre is just what you need to answer the question.   With the help of many collaborators, Aggie Horticulture assembled a few theme-oriented searchable databases for use in their classes and for the public to use and enjoy.  If you have not checked out Aggie Horticulture’s Plant Picturepages, the link is below.  Find the information you need in pictures or just enjoy the many horticulature related sites and photos.

Plant Picturepages

Online Homeowner Landscaping Programs in February

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The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Travis County Master Gardeners will host two free webinars designed to help attendees create and implement their own home landscaping master plan. Creating a landscape master plan is an important step if you are installing or redoing your garden. Planning helps you identify the unique characteristics and requirements for your particular garden. Additionally, good planning has other benefits like cost and time savings.  Travis County Master Gardener Sandy Stone will present both webinars.

Homeowner Landscaping Plans: Site Documentation and Analysis
February 19, 2021
10:00 a.m.

Homeowner Landscaping Plans: Design, Implementation and Construction
February 26, 2021
10:00 a.m.

Although focused on Travis County gardening, gardeners in the BMGA counties may also find the information instructional.  BMGA Master Gardeners may earn CEU credits for attending the live presentation or watching the recorded sessions.

Sandy Stone, Travis Master Gardener. Photo from Travis County AgriLife Extension Website.

These webinars are limited of 100 attendees, but an unlimited number of people can register and see a recording of the program. Only registrants can access the live session or the program recording. You can submit questions ahead of time by clicking this link or during the webinar and get answers live as time allows. Afterward, questions that don’t make it to the webinar will receive emailed answers.

You may find more information on the Lawn & Garden sections of AgriLife Today as well as the Travis County AgriLife Extension website.

 

 

Mexican Heather Named Texas Superstar

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Mexican heather, an old-fashioned and reliable pollinator-friendly ornamental plant that adds big color to gardens and landscapes has been named the latest Texas Superstar.  David Rodriguez, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist, San Antonio, said Mexican heather has been a favorite ornamental plant in Texas gardens for many years. Mexican heather plants are also a top attractor for pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Mexican heather is best used in massing beddings, borders and containters.   It also is excellent in butterfly and pollinator gardens and hanging baskets.

Mexican heather photo

Allyson Mexican heather is one of the top performing varieties of this newly named Texas Superstar. (Photo by Brent Pemberton).

“There are other common selections of Mexican heather that are great plants, and I encourage gardeners to experiment with combinations, but we think Allyson is the best performing variety at this time,” he said. “It’s perfect for all sorts of plantings and works in all the criteria we look for in a Texas Superstar, including its role as an attractor of beneficial insects and pollinators.”

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 from and the photograph was taken from AgriLife TODAY.  For more information about Mexican heather, see the full AgriLife Today article about  Mexican heather.

A Walk on the Trail Around Levine Park

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By Renee Kofman, Bluebonnet Master Gardener

Many people enjoy walking the trail around Levine Park in Sealy.

The park is one square city block with amenities on every side. From the splash pad for cooling off, white sands volleyball court and children’s playground on one side to a white gazebo surrounded by red roses in the center to a military memorial statue with a park bench adjacent to luscious gardens on the opposite side facing main street.

From one end (Atchison St) to the next block (Hardemen St) are the BMGA project gardens. You are immediately captivated on your left by gorgeous Rose Creek Abelias, Dusty Miller’s, John Fanick Phlox, and 3 different Circuma’s, and a Red October Camellia (blooms in October and November).

Across the sidewalk you will find an evergreen Mambo Yellow Hibiscus Tree flanked by 2 large yellow Cuban Durantas surrounded by junipers, Borage and red Drift Roses.

As you continue down the path you can’t help to stop and smell the roses as”Miranda Lambert Rose” begs your attention.

Next to her are purplish -blues Mexican Sage and yellow golden Thyrallis standing erect with fushia trailing Winecup rambling about.

This bed continues into the butterfly garden with many Coneflowers, Yarrows, Sages, Butterfly Bush, Mimosa and crapemyrtle trees mixed with Gingers, Guaras, Phlox, Stokesia, Calendulas, Lantanas and Crinum Lilies for the butterfly’s enjoyment.

Across the sidewalk is a banquet of peach Drift Roses.

Keep going and you come to two huge gardens divided by the sidewalk that leads to the gazebo.  On each side in front are many dramatic yellow Florida Sunshine Ligustrums flanked with a beautiful multi-color Rising Sun Eastern Red Bud. Just behind the Ligustrums are 50 red Knockout Roses.

As you continue on your left are huge maroon Crinum Lilies, Hidden Ginger’s,yellow Cassia’s, Durantas, Cleodendrums, Vincas and Fireworks grass.

Keep walking and you’re at the gardens in front of the pavilion. You’re welcomed by aromatic Gardenias, Batface Cupheas, Mexican Bird of Paradise,red Drift Roses Fairy Duster, Vincas, Salvias, Circunums and Hummingbird Bush. Across the sidewalk are red Drift Roses.

On down on your right is a large bed of mixed color Pentas scattered with Dusty Miller’s.

Keep on and on your left at the end of the block is our Sensory garden filled with Rosemary, Kale, Dill Fennel, Curry, Borage, Kangaroo paw, red and yellow Roses, Lantana, Vincas, Bay leaf Tree, Firecracker, Penstemen and the most fragrant Almond Verbena bush.

Across the sidewalk is our last garden with Mexican Mint Marigold in the center surrounded by red and white Caladiums and dwarf Little John Bottlebrush.

Our walk has been a treat. Come visit us soon.

 

Junk in the Garden, Part One

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By Paula Trahan, Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association

There are many ways to add “junk” in your garden, hence, this being part one!

As an avid collector and recycler I have found an outlet for my collections.  Most items in the garden were free, dumpster dives and hand me downs.  Living in a 1911 Cat Spring farmhouse, new statuary and formal gates do not suit its history.  The double washer had been left here by the previous family.  A rusty birdcage is waiting to find its perfect location.

Rose Garden Sign

 

The signs throughout (Rose Garden, Kitchen Garden and The Potting Shed) were purchased at a garden center’s closing sale for less than $30.00 total.

 

The Potting Shed

 

There is purple potting bench made from an old horse farm fence with a small picket panel for the backing.  Plants get plenty of attention at this sunny spot. The awning was from a 1949 home in Seguin, painted purple to match the bench. This gate is one of three purchased at separate times from $10-50.00.

 

Picket Fence Corner of Yard

Another corner of the picket fenced back yard holds a washtub and watering can with an unusual turned spigot.  The post above has a curliecue portion of an iron bed which has been repurposed to hold hummingbird feeders.

 

 

Ceramic Mice in the Roses

 

Friendly little ceramic mice share the roses with a cypress stump which was used as the foundation for this home.

 

Wrought Iron Hanging Basket

 

 

 

 

A lovely wrought iron hanging basket holds a galvanized pan perfect for a respite for birds on our sunny days.  The bird’s hiding places are many within the climbing butterfly vine and confederate rose.

 

Kitchen Garden Sign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terracotta cherubim toss kisses to one another beneath an unknown variety of rose collected at Shiloh Battlefield Church. A small metal tiered shelf is a nice place to add small plants or these stained glass containers with a path light on top.  To the right of the “Kitchen Garden” sign is the entrance to the vegetable garden with raised beds.  The beds are constructed of 2×12” boards removed from the farmhouse exterior and they will be in place for many years.

 

Vintage Gate with Ceramic Butterflies

 

Another vintage gate, this one with an arbor above made from wood from the farmhouse.  Ceramic butterflies flit over the surface and the two iron candle lights have photocell lights within.

Lighting your garden for safety is very important. At the base of the steps is a pair of inexpensive path lights with stained glass covers among the irises and morning glories.

Stain Glass Path Lights

 

 

 

 

 

 

As most of us seasoned gardeners know it can be costly to enrich your outdoor spaces. Using found items not only is great for the environment but adds so much personality. Thank you for touring “junk in the garden”.

Aggie Horticulture Live Facebook Events!

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LogoJoin 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:

Blue Daze Named Texas Superstar

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Blue Daze Texas Superstar Photo

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.

Tour of Leach Teaching Gardens

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Leach Teaching Gardens SignIt was a cold and windy day February 6, 2020 when the Bluebonnet Master Gardener 2020 Training Class toured the Leach Teaching Gardens at Texas A&M University.  Nonetheless, the class bundled up in jackets, hats, gloves and winter boots and did not let the blustery day deter their enthusiasm to get out in the gardens.

AgriLife’s Joseph Johnson, Program Manager – The Gardens at Texas A&M University, met the class in the AgriLife building atrium where he gave a brief history of The Gardens and their purpose.  He explained that the concept of the overall project, The Gardens at Texas A&M University, is for training, research and to enhance the green space on campus.  The Leach Teaching Gardens is Phase I of the 27-acre garden project on Texas A&M campus.  The Leach Teaching Gardens, which opened June 15, 2018, encompass seven-acres and are named after lead donors Amy & Tim Leach.

Vinyard

The Vinyard

Mr. Johnson explained that each garden section, or “room”, has a theme and is designed in the size of an average urban home’s yard.  This way, homeowners who visit the gardens will see design, techniques and plants that can realistically be used in their Texas yards and gardens.

When the gardens were designed, the design criteria required use of the native soil and water rather than bringing in soil or treating the water.  As the soil in the area is sandy loam and the water has a high salinity content, this presented special design challenges. One area in the garden that illustrates the challenge with the local water, is where the irrigation system sprays on the lower leaves of some young trees. The salt in the water damages the leaves, especially in warmer temperatures, so the damaged leaves fall off the trees.  Eventually the trees will grow tall enough so that the water does not spray the leaves and the trees will survive. Mr. Johnson explained that the teaching point is that a drip irrigation system is so important in the Brazos River Valley area.

Water Garden

The Water Garden

The garden areas the class toured included the Earth-Kind garden provided by donations from the Texas Master Gardener Program which includes a rainwater harvesting system, a vegetable garden, a water garden, a butterfly garden, a pollinator garden, a vineyard, bird garden, the Food and Fiber field featuring wheat (corn in warmer months), a peach and plum orchard, the Mexican Heritage Garden celebrating the many plants originally from Mexico that grow well and are common in Texas gardens, sections celebrating Texas’ rich German and Czech heritage and of, course, an Aggie Maroon & White garden.

Century OakA special section of the garden was left totally in its native condition as its center piece is a magnificent 200+ year old post oak tree, dubbed the Century Oak.  Mr. Johnson explained the measures that taken to protect this special tree from damage during the construction of the rest of the garden and the importance of not disturbing the area around the tree.  He explained that that post oak are sensitive trees that do not do well when their environment is disturbed.  Nor do they transplant well. He is working with others on a research project to try to develop techniques to grow and transplant post oak so that in the future, areas where post oak are lost due to urbanization and other disturbances to their environment may be replanted.

Although Winter may not be the most robust growing season, a visit to the Leach Teaching Gardens on a cold windy day in February clearly illustrated that Texas gardeners can have beautiful and interesting gardens year around by planning and choosing the proper plants.  Many in the tour group expressed desire to come back in the Spring to the gardens again.

The 2020 Bluebonnet Master Gardener Training Class is appreciative of Mr. Johnson’s knowledge about and passion for the Leach Teaching Gardens, and especially grateful for his willingness to bundle-up in winterwear  to provide a such a fine informative garden tour on a day most folks would rather stay indoors!

From more information about the Leach Teaching Gardens, visit: https://gardens.tamu.edu/leach-teaching-gardens/

2020 Master Gardener Open Houses

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The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association is hosting three Open House events in January, 2020.  If you are interested in learning more about the Master Gardener Program in Texas or want to sign-up for the intensive 5o- hour certficiation training class, please be our guest at one of these three events:

La Grange Open House
January 8, 2020
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Fayette County AgriLife Meeting Room
255 Svoboda Ln, Rm 134
La Grange, TX 78945

Brenham Open House
January 9, 2020
11:30 a.m.– 1:00 p.m.
Washington County Fairgrounds Sales Facility (Entrance on Independence St across from Sherriff’s Office)
1305 East Blue Bell Road
Brenham, TX  77833

Bellville Open House
January 9, 2020
10:00 a.m. 12:00 noon
AgriLife Extension Office – Austin County
800 E. Wendt St.
Bellville, TX 77418

The Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association 2020 Training Class will be held in Brenham.  Space is limited.  For more information and to apply online visit our Application Page.

 

Earth-Kind Landscape Short Course in Somerville

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The 2019 Earth-Kind Landscape Short Course by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Horticulture Sciences Program is a continuing education program designed for professionals responsible for managing and maintaining urban green space such as residential landscapes, parks, commercial properties and golf courses.

The course will also benefit municipal, schools, city personnel and landscape businesses, particularly those interested in developing sustainable urban landscape conservation programs.

Texas Master Gardeners earn CEUs for this course.

When:
December 16 – 18, 2019

Where:
Texas A&M HortTREC
3199 CR 269 E.
Somerville, TX 77879

Speakers:

  • Dr. Mike Arnold
  • Dr. Gerald Bergner
  • Ms. Wizzie Brown
  • Dr. Becky Grubbs
  • Dr. Mengmeng Gu
  • Dr. Young-Ki Jo
  • Dr. Mark Matocha
  • Mr. Shea McLamore
  • Ms. Laura Miller
  • Dr. Genhua Niu
  • Dr. Kevin Ong
  • Dr. David Reed

Master Gardener Online Earth-Kind Training

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Earth-Kind Logo

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: