Registration: 11:50 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Program: 12:00 noon -1:00 p.m.
Summer Celebration in The Gardens at A&M-You’re Invited
The Gardens at Texas A&M Saturday, June 11, 2022 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! |
Lunch N Learn Series – Austin County
Small Farms & Vegetable Conference – 2022
Pete & Paula’s Pollinator Patch
Pete & Paula’s Pollinator Patch is a section of the Bluebonnet Master Gardener’s Sens Center Demonstration Garden in Austin County, Texas. The garden overall is dedicated to demonstrating sound techniques for growing vegetable and other food crops. However, this year, Master Gardeners Pete Smith and Paula Trahan started the “Pete & Paula’s Pollinator Patch” to demonstrate the use of plants which attract pollinators to the garden to pollinate the vegetables in the garden. As many fruit and vegetable plants require a pollinator to set fruit, attracting pollinators to the garden is necessary.
After about four months, Pete and Paula are pleased with how quickly our pollinator garden has progressed. “We truly got a late start, but everything has grown by leaps and bounds. Every plant was a pass along or freebie from the garden center.” Ms. Trahan explained. Pete & Paul’s next step is to include a small solar water feature in the center to attract more butterflies, bees and birds. Included in the garden are lantana, standing cypress, Asian purple basil, echinacea, porterweed, rock rose mallow.
Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference – Summer Session Scheduled
The Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference is a celebration of vegetable production along the upper Gulf Coast region. Counties of Waller, Wharton, Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, Colorado, and Austin join with Fort Bend to put on this event focusing on teaching sustainable practices to help producers maximize efficiencies and profitability. Although we were not able to host our annual Vegetable Conference in February, we have put together a short virtual summer session with topics centered around sustainable and organic production, disease and insect management, and variety selection. Partnering sponsors have allowed us to offer this program at a great price. The cost to attend is $10. We will offer three (3) continuing education credits in the General category for Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator license holders.
Come join us virtually at the Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference – Summer Session on Thursday, July 29, 2021. The conference will begin at 9:00 am and end at 12:00 pm.
To register, please go to https://tinyurl.com/t86xftbh. There will be no in office registrations. For general questions, please contact Brandy Rader at 281-633-7029.
2021 Fall Horticulture Seminar
Please join Texas A&M Agrilfe Extension Service August 27, 2021 for the Fall Horticulature Seminar, hosted by Texas A&M Agrilfe Extension Service for Austin County. Topics, which will be presented by AgriLife Extentions Agent Robert “Skip” Richter and Specialists Tim Hartmann, Ph.D and Monte Nesbitt, Ph.D include:
Planting Fall Vegetables
Fruit Tree Care and Maintenance
Citrus Tree Care and Maintance
Prepping Plants for Freezes
RSVP HERE by August 25, 2021 or call 979-865-2072.
Twenty Years and….Counting! (& the Keyhole Garden)
By Faye Beery, Bluebonnet Master Gardener Assocaiton
That is how long the Master Gardener program has been going in our 4 county region. On May 25, 2021 the Bluebonnet Master Gardeners celebrated our 20th anniversary of the demonstration garden in Austin County. While the weather was not the best, everyone enjoyed the program given by Dr. Shackelford, good food and seeing the Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association’s demonstration garden located at the Sens Acitvity Center in Bellville, Texas. Vegetables were available, most gave a voluntary donation to the garden, as well as some produce was avaialbe to pick in the garden.
A big attraction in the garden was the keyhole garden. The keyhole concept was first introduced into arid African regions by the U.K. organization Send a Cow. The idea was to help poor families grow their own food despite the poor soil and drought conditions. The keyhole concept is a raised circular bed with a wedge shaped cutout on one side which allows persons easy access to the whole bed. When seen from above, it resembles a lock and keyhole. In the center is a wire cage for compost which decomposes and provides nutrients to the bed. This form is less labor intensive and more affordable for people who want to grow their own food. And you don’t have to bend over.
The outer structure can be any sturdy material, cinder blocks, bricks, rocks are a good choice. They are placed in a round design with a wedge on one side so that individuals can reach the middle as well as the outsides allowing for easy planting and harvesting. The wire cage in the center makes it easily accessible to place the compost materials.
A strong advocate of the keyhole concept is Deb Tolman, PhD, from Clifton, Texas. She is an environmental scientist and landscape designer and co-founder of the Silo Project a non-profit organization, which is centered on sustainability. Due to her outreach and workshops, there are more than 70 keyhole gardens in Clifton, which is in arid North Texas. She recommends a 3:1 ratio of brown and green material which forms the core garden. Decomposition rapidly generates heat and breaks down the material to feed plants. Brown material includes brown grass/leaves; paper and wood, straw, sawdust, lint from the dryer or vacuum, and lots of cardboard, which is the first layer in the bottom of the bed. It should be thoroughly wet to begin decomposition. Green materials include kitchen scraps, manure, green grass/leaves, or plants. Her website provides instructions on how to construct a keyhole garden. Follow the link to her Field Guide PDF .
There is also a new addition to the garden which is currently under construction this week. It is Pete and Paula’s pollinator patch. They plan to include plants which attract pollinators to the garden to pollinate the vegetables that grow there. We’ll have more on this when they begin planting.
I know everyone is happy to get back to our regular meetings. See you at the next one!
2021 Texas Master Gardener Virtual Conference- DAY 1
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!
Small Farms & Vegetable Conference 2021
Aggie Horticulture – Vegetables at The Gardens
Aggie Horticulture – Eggshells & Banana Peels for the Veggie Garden
BMGA Chapter Meeting – Sealy
BMGA Chapter Meeting at the American Legion Hall in Sealy.
Time: 8:30 – 10:00 Board Meeting
10:00 – 10:30 Social/Team Time
10:30 – 11:30 Presenter
11:30 – 12:00 General Chapter Business
Place: Austin County /Sealy American Legion Hall, 1630 Meyer Street, Sealy, TX 77474
Presenter: Jay White – Texas Gardener Magazine
Presentation: Texas Gardener’s Grow Great Vegetables
Masks and social distancing required.
All snacks must be individually wrapped food items.
Aggie Horticulture: Onion Freeze Protection
Deadline for Tomato & Pepper Plant Orders
Deadline to place your order is TODAY.
Washington County Horticulture Committee Tomato & Pepper Plant Sale – Now Accepting Orders
Calling all gardening enthusiasts! It’s that time of year again and we wanted you all to be the first to know that the Annual Tomato and Pepper Plant Sale is officially here and we are ready to take orders. The varieties featured have all been selected by Washington County Horticulture Committee Members and are suitable for our area.
This year the lineup features 13 tomato varieties including one new option. In addition to some new tomato varieties we will be offering basil, cilantro, dill, and parsley as part of the sale! Also included in the selection will be bell peppers, banana peppers, poblano peppers, jalapenos, eggplant, squash, and zucchini! A brief description of each tomato variety is included on the back of the flyer; we have put some basic information together to help you make the best decision!
If the great selection and confidence in the proper varieties for our area is not enough, we are also offering these plants at $2.50 per pack! Plus, all proceeds from this sale benefit the youth of Washington County through the annual AgriLife Extension – Horticulture Committee Scholarship Program. Each year the Horticulture Committee works to identify graduating seniors pursuing a degree in agriculture who are deserving of a scholarship and will award these scholarships in May at their school assemblies.
Order forms are available online at https://washington.agrilife.org/plantsale or at the Washington County Extension Office. All orders must be paid for when they are placed, and no orders will be accepted without payment. For more information on the Tomato and Pepper Plant Sale please call the Extension Office at (979) 277-6212.
Orders are due by March 12th! – Don’t delay, order today!
Pick-Up will be on Tuesday, March, 23 from 10:00am-5:30pm at the
Washington County Expo Sales Facility in Brenham!
Online Event: The Unexpected Health Benefits of Gardening
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
Presenter: Jennifer Shukaitis, Family & Community Health Sciences Educator III (Eqv. to Asst. Professor), Dept. of Family and Community Health Sciences
Cultivate! Earth Friendly Gardening & Landscaping
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-
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
Cultivate! Earth Friendly Gardening & Landscaping
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-
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
Aggie Horticulture -March Checklist Live with Larry Stein
Don’t forget to tune in every Wednesday and Friday @ 1:00PM to hear what Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agents & Specialists have to share. Aggie Horticulture Facebook Live.
Plant Picturepages by Aggie Horticulture
Sometimes, 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.
Ask an Expert is now Ask Extension
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?
Frozen Plants? Aggie Horticulture Facebook Live Events
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.
Protecting Landscapes & Horticulture Crops from Frosts & Freezes
As temperatures drop below freezing in our area, gardeners may need to take action to protect their plants and landscapes. Luckily, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Monte Nesbitt and Robert “Skip” Richter give advice on protecting landscapes and horticultural crops from frosts and freezes. For the full version of this paper (9 pages) please click this link: Protecting Landscapes and Horticulture Crops from Frosts and Freezes
Washington County Spring Lawn, Landscape, and Garden Soil Testing Campaign
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.