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2024 Water Program – In the Heart of Texas

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CEUs available to Master Gardeners   Program is free!

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Austin County is partnering with the Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation District to provide an educational lawn care program on Friday, September 13, 2024. The presentation will begin with updates on both the Mill Creek Watershed and the Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation District. The program will then proceed with Efficient Water Use on Landscapes; how to get the most out of your water and how to capture the rainwater for your use, then Fertilizer Use on Your Lawns; how important it is to use the right amount of fertilizer and herbicide on your lawn, and Selecting the Best Plants for Your Landscape; learn about what plants to have in your landscape to the better help lower that water bill and will survive our summer heat. Presenters include Dean Minchillo with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Lisa Nicklow with the Bluebonnet Master Gardeners. Updates will be provided by Annalee Epps with the Mill Creek Watershed and Zach Holland with the Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation District.

 The event will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office located at 800 E Wendt St, Bellville, 77418. Registration will be held from 1:00 – 1:30 pm, with the program beginning at 1:30 pm and concluding by 4:30 pm. The cost of attendance is free, thanks to the Bluebonnet Ground Conservation District.

Please RSVP by September 11th to the Austin County Extension Office or online at austin.agrilife.org to reserve your seat and ensure resource availability.

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

 

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

 

Ask an Expert is now Ask Extension

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Question Mark image

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.

Washington County Spring Lawn, Landscape, and Garden Soil Testing Campaign 

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The Spring Lawn, Landscape, and Garden Soil Testing Campaign is underway in Washington County and will run January 25 – February 26. This campaign is made possible through the support of the Multi-County Ag Committee and in cooperation with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Soil, Water, and Forage Testing Lab in College Station.  Link to Event Page

Soil sample bags and submittal forms for the soil testing campaign are available at three locations including:

  • The Washington County Extension Service located at 1305 East Blue Bell Road in Brenham
  • Brenham Produce located at 1103 South Market in Brenham
  • Plants-‘N-Things located at 3900 Highway 36 South in Brenham

All soil samples, forms, and payment must be returned to the Washington County Extension office to receive the discounted pricing.  Full payment by check payable to MCAF is due when the samples are submitted to the Extension Office.  Extension Office staff will deliver your samples to the testing lab.  Sample results will be returned to the County Extension Office and then distributed to submitters via email or regular mail.

Soil Campaign

This Soil Testing Campaign offers homeowners and gardeners the opportunity to have their soil tested to determine its current fertility and receive a recommendation to improve the fertility required to maintain and produce the best possible outcome for their garden, lawn, or landscape.  This campaign is only intended for soil analysis on non-agricultural land; only samples from lawns, landscapes, and gardens will be accepted.

The cost for a routine analysis will be $8.00 and a routine analysis with micronutrients will cost $15.00.

In exchange for the reduced testing cost, some information regarding your management practices will be asked on the soil testing form.  The information you will be asked to provide includes the last time the area was fertilized, a description of previously used fertilizers, and whether or not the soil has been sampled in the past.

If you have any questions concerning the Spring Lawn, Landscape, and Garden Soil Testing Campaign, please contact the Washington County Extension office at (979) 277-6212 ext.2.

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

 

Live Lunch and Learn Gardening Series

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Lunch & Learn

Live Lunch and Learn Gardening Series – August 2020

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central Time
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 the link below and put in the meeting ID and Passcode at the date and time of the presentation.
Join the Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 990 2593 9574
Passcode: Garden2020
Schedule:
August 11: Tomato 101: Growing Basics
August 12: Pests of Tomatoes
August 18: Lawn 101: Turfgrass Basics
August 19: Lawn 101: Turfgrass Pests
August 25: Growing a Fall & Winter Vegetable Garden
August 26: Managing Cool Weather Fall Veggie Pests
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central Time
For more information, contact David Rodriguez,  dhrodriguez@ag.tamu.edu

 

Gulf Coast Gardening Online Series – Free

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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

Gulf Coast Gardening Online

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:

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.

 

2020 Training Class

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Our  2020 Master Gardener Certification Training Class is scheduled each Thursday from January 16th – April 23rd with the final graduation class on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.  Participants from Austin, Colorado, Fayette & Washington Counties are welcome. The 64 hours of classes will be held at the Washington County Extension Sales Facility at 1305 East Bell Road, Brenham, Texas 77833 (use the Independence Rd entrance) , plus some field trips to be announced in class.  The updated training manual compiled by the Texas Master Gardener Association, is included in the $175 registration fee.  You may register online below or contact the Washington County Extension office at (979) 277-6262 for more information.

 

Bluebonnet Master Gardener Volunteer Program Application

 

2020 Training Class Flyer

Map to Open House & Class Location

2020 Training Class Flyer