Passion and forward thinking collided as Ginger Proper, a Master Gardener, shared how to plant potatoes in a container. This happened at the Henderson County Master Gardeners Association’s (H.C.M.G.A.) monthly business meeting. Proper’s interjections were a response to a casual question by a member. … [Read more...] about Ginger Proper Inspires Potato Growing
Burr-Baby It’s Prickly Outside
I felt a prick sensation between my fingernail and flesh. Sure enough, a sticky burr had lodged itself there when I pulled at a nearby weed. But this is, burr, January! Spencer Sims, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent for our county, mentioned to me recently that sticky burr elimination is a … [Read more...] about Burr-Baby It’s Prickly Outside
Reimagine Spaces During Winter
Winter dormancy provides one an opportunity to reimagine an outdoor space. And sunny days invite outdoor activity to redesign “rooms” within a yard. In a neighborhood south of Athens off Loop 7, Katherine Middleton laid out a labyrinth with brick edging in her backyard. This “room” in the yard … [Read more...] about Reimagine Spaces During Winter
Lack of Plan Stinks
By Cynthia Hight “What can I do with all this standing water?” I stood, dumbfounded, asking this question as I gazed at the yard of a second home I own in Dallas. A broken sprinkler combined with heavy rain caused swaths of fescue to die. The core problem was soil level. When Yard Problems Pile … [Read more...] about Lack of Plan Stinks
Goals Take Root for 2026
Tick list in the new year: offer fresh programs to the community; construct a new greenhouse; move into the new Ag office; and train new interns. These were a few goals summarized at the recent annual meeting and awards banquet, held December 17, 2025, by Henderson County Master Gardeners … [Read more...] about Goals Take Root for 2026
Team Journey Towards Certification
Sixteen months ago, a metamorphic journey began of six interns. They desired to improve their gardening practices through Henderson County Master Gardener Association (H.C.M.G.A.) certification program. What the six discovered was the value of team synergy augmented by their handbooks. The interns … [Read more...] about Team Journey Towards Certification
Two Pecan Trees and a Dead Pig
Are you uncertain what to do with your fruit and nut trees this season? A helpful Texas A&M website is: https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/. It offers numerous fact sheets on how to plant and care for trees in a landscape or commercial enterprise. I used this resource to fact-check … [Read more...] about Two Pecan Trees and a Dead Pig
Great Escapes
Landscapes transport us to another place. They can shift our mood, spark imagination, and help us appreciate what is possible. Whether it’s a simple pot of flowers or a walk along a garden path, landscapes offer an escape from the ordinary into the extraordinary. These great escapes do not have … [Read more...] about Great Escapes
Rescued From Birdhouse Debacle
What’s Wrong With My Bluebird House? Ben Stuck asked, “Something is wrong with my bluebird house! Why is it vacant?”To be fair, “Ben Stuck” is my alter ego—the character I created to take the blame for my embarrassing gardening missteps. Last spring, I attended a “Let’s Grow” presentation by … [Read more...] about Rescued From Birdhouse Debacle