 |
July 21, 2010 Welcome to Texas Gardener’s Seeds, the weekly newsletter for Texas gardeners. Please do not reply to this e-mail because the sending address is not monitored. See the bottom of this newsletter for information on how to subscribe, unsubscribe, or contact the editor. |
 Dr. Lloyd Nelson, Texas AgriLife Research small-grains breeder, knew his Panterra turfgrass was used at Kyle Field in College Station. He was surprised, however, when he recently learned it also was being used on South African World Cup soccer fields. (Texas AgriLife Research photo) |
East Texas breeder developed turfgrass used on World Cup soccer fields By Robert Burns You might call it a world-class save.
To rescue soccer fields being used for the World Cup in South Africa,
grounds managers used a turfgrass bred and developed near Overton in
East Texas.
Dr. Lloyd Nelson, small-grains breeder with Texas AgriLife Research,
recently learned that his Panterra turfgrass was used as part of a
fast-growing over-seeding blend on several South African soccer fields
used for the World Cup games.
"It is hard to believe a ryegrass variety bred and developed near
Overton, Texas, has the desired characteristics to be over-seeded on
soccer fields in South Africa," Nelson said. "We selected for traits
suitable for over-seeding football and baseball fields during the winter
in Texas, never dreaming it might be adaptable all over the world."
AgriLife Research released Panterra in 2003, licensing seed
production to Barenbrug USA, Inc., which uses Panterra in its SOS blend.
"SOS stands for Super Over Seeding," Nelson said. "SOS grass is a
blend of Panterra and a perennial ryegrass cultivar."
Nelson said Panterra has all the advantages of traditional winter
ryegrass turfgrasses with none of the disadvantages, which makes it "a
great candidate for sports fields as well as for overseeding home lawns
so they'll be green throughout the winter."
"They like Panterra because of its fast establishment, low growing,
fine leaf texture and beautiful medium green color, and early spring
transition," he said.
In parts of Texas and the southern U.S., it's possible to over-seed
warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda grass and St. Augustine, with
winter ryegrass. But many perennial winter ryegrasses are slow to die
out during the spring and may choke out the summer lawn as it struggles
to come out of dormancy.
Other ryegrasses, such as TAM 90 or Gulf, were largely developed for
winter pastures, and are also fast-growing, requiring frequent mowing
and should not be over-seeded on lawns, Nelson said.
Nelson, who also developed TAM 90, bred Panterra specifically to
avoid these problems. Panterra is a "dwarf" annual ryegrass, which means
it doesn't grow very tall. As a dwarf, it requires fewer mowings during
winter and spring, he said.
"Better yet, it dies off in mid- to late-May throughout most of
Texas, and it doesn't compete as much with Bermuda grass or St.
Augustine turf."
Nelson noted that Panterra also has been used on the university
soccer field and Kyle Field football stadium at Texas A&M University in
College Station in past years.
"Panterra's early maturity should allow an easy transition from the
winter grass to the warm season grass and put an end to brown or bald
spots in home lawns and soccer fields," Nelson said.
Those wishing to find a local distribution company for Panterra seed
may visit the Barenbrug website at
http://www.barusa.com, Nelson said. |
 |
Sub-surface irrigation system could yield big benefits for crops
By Blair Fannin A Texas AgriLife Research sub-surface irrigation study could reveal
ways that will lead to higher crop yields and save water annually.
Dr. Tom Cothren, AgriLife Research crop physiologist and professor at
Texas A&M University in the department of soil and crop sciences, is
leading a project that uses a drip system to deliver water to plants
rather than traditional furrow irrigation.
"Sub-surface irrigation reduces water loss from evaporation that
occurs from above-ground applications and places water in the root zone
where the crop can make most efficient use of its presence,” Cothren
said. “This system also eliminates runoff associated with furrow
irrigation."
The benefits are more uniform application of water to a specific
crop, Cothren said.
"Efficient use of water to a crop is becoming more important with
more demands for water in both the rural and urban areas."
"A drip system has the ability to reduce crop stress through frequent
low-volume applications of water," said Cy McGuire, design consultant
with Eco-Drip Irrigation, part of the research project team.
With expanding populations in both urban and rural areas, there will
be more demands by municipalities on water use in the future, scientists
said. The less water used by producers, the more producers will add to
their bottom line with minimal investment, according to researchers. The 8-acre field plot in College Station is part of several studies
involving Texas A&M graduate students in the cotton physiology
workgroup, Cothren said. The field is divided into 13 stations with 16
crop rows. Each row has a dripline or tape irrigation buried underneath
the rows at a depth of 16 inches. A dripline is spaced every 40 inches
with an emitter every 18 inches down the dripline. The emitters regulate
the application of water at a desired rate.
"Each set of 16 crop rows will be able to water independently of each
other through a computerized controller in order to apply varying
amounts of water," McGuire said. "Each station will also allow the
workgroup to vary the type and rates of chemical applications, such as
fertilizer."
The study is also examining the loss of water due to evaporation on
the soil surface. A benefit of a sub-surface irrigation system is the
elimination of water runoff and the ability to reduce crop stress
through frequent low-volume applications of water.
"Other forms of irrigation usually apply a higher volume of water at
longer intervals, which could lead to water stress during the
non-irrigating days," McGuire said.
John Rocconi, a graduate research assistant, said the investment
under a normal production area would be $800 per acre to $900 per acre.
"There’s less loss due to runoff because the water is applied
directly to the root system of the plant. I think it’s a good tool that
will be moving toward acceptance across the board by farmers."
Rocconi said a farmer can plant now and apply nutrients, such as
nitrogen, directly to the root system rather than having to wait for
rainfall, and save on production costs by "directly injecting nutrients
at the well house." |
 |
Gardening tips
Many insects, including bees, wasps and other flying creatures, often mistake brightly colored clothing for flowers so it is best to wear blander, more neutral colors when working in the garden. And, watch out for those hummingbirds if you wear a bright red shirt! Have a favorite gardening tip you’d like to share? Texas Gardener’s Seeds is seeking brief gardening tips from Texas gardeners to use in future issues. If we publish your tip in Seeds, we will send you a free Texas Gardener hat. Please send your tips of 50 words or less to the editor at: Gardening Tips. |
 |
Did You Know...
In Spain roots of the sticky elecampane Inula helenium are placed inside the windows as fly traps. |
 |
Upcoming garden events.
If you would like your organization’s events included in "Upcoming Garden Events," please contact us at Garden Events. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details at least three weeks prior to the event. Austin: "Better Photography in the Garden," a class to help gardeners capture the beauty of nature, will be held from 10 a.m. until noon, Saturday, July 24, at Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin. Learn tips on capturing plants and insects in the garden. Discussion will include how lighting, focal length and aperture interact in composing photographs and how to use a camera's programs (landscape, portrait, etc.) effectively. After the presentation, go into the Botanical Garden to practice. Participants must provide their own camera and have an understanding of how it works. All types of cameras are welcome. The seminar is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's Help desk at 512-854-9600. Houston: A Prospective Wine-Grape Grower Workshops will be held August 6 at the AgriLife Extension office for Harris County, located at 3033 Bear Creek Drive, Houston. The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m., with sign-in starting at 8:30 a.m. “The Prospective Wine-Grape Growers Workshop is a one-day educational program designed to provide an overview of the unique requirements and risks associated with establishment and operation of a commercial vineyard in Texas,” said Fritz Westover, Gulf Coast viticulture advisor for AgriLife Extension and state viticulture program coordinator. The workshop was created to address the most common concerns potential grape producers may have prior to committing valuable resources toward a commercial vineyard enterprise, he said. Program topics include: necessary viticulture expertise, vineyard site selection, risk factors, vineyard labor requirements and vineyard economics. The fee for each workshop is $125 per person or $200 per couple, and includes educational materials and lunch. Registration for each of the workshops can be completed online through AgriLife Conference Services at http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu. The workshop also serves as a prerequisite for application to the Texas Viticulture Certificate Program offered by Texas Tech University and AgriLife Extension. For more information on the certification program, go to http://winegrapes.tamu.edu and look under Educational Opportunities. Austin: for the fall and winter season. Join Master Gardener Vegetable Specialist and Texas Gardener Contributing Writer Patty Leander to learn the basics of vegetable gardening with an emphasis on varieties that flourish in the fall and winter months when she presents “Fall Vegetable Gardening,” from 10 a.m. until noon, Saturday, August 7, at Southwest Hills Community Church, 7416 W. Hwy 71, Austin.. Broccoli, lettuce, Swiss chard, radishes and spinach are among the fantastic crops that grow well in our cooler season. Vegetable gardens don't end in fall, so come learn how to keep yours going year round. This seminar is free and open to the public. For additional information, visit www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at 512-854-9600. Pearland: The Harris County Master Gardener Association will present a program on Landscape Maintenance, from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., Tuesday, August 10, at Bass Pro Shops, Highway 288 at the Sam Houston Tollway, Pearland. For more information, visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu. Seguin: Guadalupe County Master Gardeners is now accepting applications for Evening Training Classes. School will be Wednesdays, August 11 through December 1, 6-9 p.m. at the Texas AgriLife Extension Building, 210 Live Oak, Seguin. Interested in learning about vegetable and flower gardening, trees and the environment? Enjoy sharing knowledge of plants and gardening with people in your community? Want to participate in positive community service programs with volunteers that have similar interests? Then the Master Gardener program could be for you. Learn from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension specialists, staff and local experts, including Malcolm Beck, Texas Gardener Contributing Writer Patty Leander, Flo Oxley, John Dromgoole and Drs. Larry Stein and Mark Black. Topics cover botany & plant growth, entomology, xeriscaping, propagation, herbs and vegetables, tree care and pruning principles, composting and organic horticulture, water conservation and much more. Sign up now before the classes are full. Registration is $170 with a 10% discount for early payment. For more information, please contact Robert Teweles at 210 289-9997, email rteweles@satx.rr.com or visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org. Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will meet at 7 p.m., Thursday, August 12, at the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor, 402 W 8th St., Georgetown. Dan Hardy will present "Butterflies as Botanists." Visitors welcome. For additional information, contact Susan Waitz at 512-948-5241 or visit http://www.npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/default.htm. Henderson: The 2010 Bluebird Symposium will be held Saturday, August 14, from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at New Civic Center at Lake Forest Park, 1006 HWY 64, Henderson. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. for registration and Silent Auction. Early Bird registration ends July 1 (ten extra door prize tickets.). To register, visit http://www.texasbluebirdsociety.org/documents/symposium2010.pdf. For additional information, contact Andrea Brown at 903 836 2197. Seabrook: Dr. Carol Brouwer, County Extension Agent for Horticulture, will present a program on Landscape Design Tips beginning at 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 18, at The Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park (on the lakeside),. 5001 NASA Road 1, Seabrook. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu. Austin: “How to Manage Garden Insects” will be presented Saturday, August 21, from 10 a.m. until noon at the LCRA Redbud Center, Room 108N, 3601 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin. Insects can be one of the biggest challenges for gardeners. But you can deal with pests effectively without spraying general insecticides all over your plants. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can teach you how to protect your garden without harming the environment or your plants. Learn to distinguish beneficial insects in your backyard from harmful insects. Basic IPM strategies will be described that can help manage insect pests throughout the landscape, in vegetable gardens, even in the home. This seminar is free and open to the public. It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at 512-854-9600. Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will meet at 7 p.m., Thursday, September 9, at the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor, 402 W 8th St., Georgetown. Dr. Pat Richardson will present "Rainbow Soil: Managing for the Ultimate in Soil Quality." Visitors welcome. For additional information, contact Susan Waitz at 512-948-5241 or visit http://www.npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/default.htm. Fredericksburg: 5th Annual Wildscapes Workshop — Better Basics: Backyards, Birds & Butterflies. September 11, Registration & Plant Sale open at 8 a.m., Seminars 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Garden Tours 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. United Methodist Church, 1800 North Llano Street, Fredericksburg. Take a comprehensive look at using native plants to provide a sustainable environment that will attract the local wildlife to your landscape. Speakers will show how to expand your living space by creating outdoor retreats using native plants and hardscape. The cost of $35.00 includes morning snack and lunch, along with afternoon tours of gardens that exemplify the information taught during the seminars. Raffles, a big door prize and a silent auction will be ongoing throughout the day. Several local nurseries will be selling hard-to-find native plants and volunteers from the Fredericksburg Chapter will be selling even harder-to-find books about native plants. For more information visit www.npsot.org/Fredericksburg or contact Lynn Sample at 830-889-1331. Shelby County: The SFA Gardens of Stephen F. Austin State University will host a tour of two historic Shelby County homes from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, September 11. Dogtrot houses were built with breezeways or “dog runs” through the middle of them for air circulation. “Without electricity or air-conditioning, these homes were designed for air to flow through the middle and circulate through cross-ventilated doorways and windows in a Southern climate where the hot humid summers were much more unbearable than the brief winters,” said Elyce Rodewald, SFA Gardens education coordinator. “Of course dogs could circulate through them as well!” These homes, the original “green” houses and were once common throughout the South, have practically disappeared in modern society, Rodewald explained. One of the homes that will be toured in the Arcadia community belonged to the maternal grandparents and great-great-grandparents of SFA Gardens research associate Greg Grant, contributing editor to Texas Gardener and co-author of Home Landscaping-Texas and The Southern Heirloom Garden. The other home belonged to Grant’s paternal great-grandparents. The properties feature Grant’s pocket prairie, where he rescues and grows native wildflowers from imperiled local roadsides, as well as his tall grass prairie restoration project. The properties are home to more than 100 bluebird houses that Grant has constructed and erected. He also grows an annual crop of sugar cane on one property for syrup making. Grant will also display his collection of historic family quilts. Cost is $25 for SFA Gardens members and $30 for non-members. Transportation is provided from the SFA Mast Arboretum. Space is limited, and advanced registration is required. To register call 936-468-1832 or e-mail erodewald@sfasu.edu. Rockport-Fulton: Rockport-Fulton’s 22nd HummerBird Celebration will be held September 16 through 19. Celebrate the ruby-throated hummingbird migration and other birds in the area with four days of speakers, bus birding field trips, boat birding trips, hummer home guided bus tours and programs. More than 90 vendors are located in the HummerBird Malls. Outdoor exhibits include butterfly tent, live birds of prey, and nature centers. For additional information or to register, visit www.rockporthummingbird.com or www.rockport-fulton.org or call the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce at 800-242-0071. Austin: “Growing a Great Lawn” will be presented Saturday, September 18, 10 a.m.-noon at Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin. Knowing how to grow a great lawn can help you save money, water and have a wonderful area to complement your house. Learn the best information on the care and feeding of your lawn. Topics will include choosing the right turf for your site, irrigation, fertilization, proper mowing technique, and disease diagnosis and treatment. This class is free and does not require reservations. For more details, visit http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call The Travis County Master Gardeners help desk at 512-854-9600. Edna: The Jackson County Master Gardeners Association will hold its fall plant sale from 8 a.m. until noon, Saturday, September 18, at the Services Building in Edna. Citrus and fruit tree orders may be placed at the sale for October delivery. A list of plants for sale will soon be available at www.jcmg.com. San Antonio: "Gardens by Moonlight" offers the best live music, culinary treats and romance under the stars from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m., Saturday, September 25, at the San Antonio Botantical Garden, 555 Funston at N. New Braunfels, San Antonio. Moonlight and beautiful landscape lightinthe Botanical Garden's beautiful 33 acres. Admissn is $20 for ad. For additional information, call 210-829-5100 or visit www.sabot.org. College Station "Gardening Study School IV" will be October 11-12 at the Texas A&M University Horticulture Building, College Station. Taught by Dr. Joe Novak, Texas A&M University Department of Horticulture, includes Outdoor Identification of Plants, Specialized Styles of Gardening, Growing Woody Ornamentals, Growing Fruit, Herbs, Home Irrigation, and The Garden and Health. Admittance is limited to 35 attendees. Registration is due October 1 to Texas Garden Club State Chairman: Jane W. Cohen, 3655 McCullough Road, College Station, TX 77845; 979-690-3500. A registration form may be downloaded from: http://www.texasgardenclubs.org/p/GSSRegistrationFormOct2010.pdf. Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will meet at 7 p.m., Thursday, October 14, at the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor, 402 W 8th St., Georgetown. George Damoff will present "Native Earthworms." Visitors welcome. For additional information, contact Susan Waitz at 512-948-5241 or visit http://www.npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/default.htm. MONTHLY MEETINGS Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners meet at noon the first Tuesday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension, 3033 Bear Creek Drive (near the intersection of Highway 6 and Patterson Road), Houston. For additional information visit http://hcmga.tamu.edu or call 281-855-5600. Rockport: The Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners meets at 9 a.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the AgriLife Extension Office - Aransas County, 611 E. Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail aransas-tx@tamu.edu or call 361-790-0103. Kilgore: Northeast Texas Organic Gardeners meets at 10 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Wildwood Eco-Farm in Kilgore. For more information, call Carole Ramke at 903-986-9475. Allen: The Allen Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, February through December, at the Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main St., Allen. For more information, visit www.allengardenclub.org. Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners meet at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. For more information, visit www.main.org/aog. Marion: The Guadalupe County (Schertz/Seguin) Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the second Tuesday of each month except August at The Library, 500 Bulldog, Marion. There is a plant exchange and “getting to know you” at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program at 7 p.m. Visitors are welcome. For more information or an application to join NPSOT visit www.npsot.org/GuadalupeCounty/. Pearland: The second Tuesday of each month the Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold a free evening educational program for the public, called the Green Thumb Series, at Bass Pro Shop, Highway 288 at Sam Houston Tollway, Pearland. For more information visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu or call 281-991-8437. Schertz: The Guadalupe County (Schertz/Seguin) Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) meets the second Tuesday of each month except July and August at the library, 798 Schertz Parkway, Schertz. A plant exchange and meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by a program at 7 p.m. For additional information or an application to join NPSOT, contact guadalupecounty@npsot.org. Rockport: The Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the second Wednesday of each month, with the exceptions of June and July, to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation, meets at 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport at 10 a.m. Sometimes they take field trips and have cooking demonstrations in different locations. For more information, contact Linda 361-729-6037, Ruth 361-729-8923 or Cindy 979-562-2153 or visit www.rockportherbs.com. Beaumont: The Jefferson County Master Gardeners meet at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the AgriLife Extension Office, 1225 Pearl Street, Suite 200, Beaumont. For more information, call 409-835-8461. Brownwood: Brown County Master Gardeners Association meets the second Thursday of each month, from Noon to 1 p.m., at the Brown County AgriLife Extension Office, 605 Fisk, Brownwood. For additional information, call Freda Day 325-643-1077, or Mary Engle 325-784-8453. Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street. Georgetown. For additional information, contract Billye Adams at 512-863-9636 or visit http://www.npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/default.htm. Orange: The Orange County Master Gardeners meet at the Salvation Army in Orange on the second Thursday of each month. A covered-dish dinner at 6:30 p.m. is followed by a speaker and business meeting at 7 p.m. San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels (corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels). For more information on programs, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org. College Station: The A&M Garden Club meets on the second Friday of each month during the school year at 9:30 a.m. at the Senior Circle Rooms, College Station Professional Building II, 1651 Rock Prairie Road, College Station. Expert speakers, plant sharing, and federated club projects help members learn about gardening in the Brazos Valley, floral design, conservation topics, and more. For more information, visit www.sallysfamilyplace.com/Clubs/GardenClub.htm. Dallas: The Rainbow Garden Club of North Texas meets the second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Meetings are held at member’s homes and garden centers around the area. For more information, visit www.RainbowGardenClub.com. Cleburne: The Johnson County Master Gardeners meet the third Monday of each month at McGregor house on the corner of West Henderson and Colonial Dr. in Cleburne. A program starts at 6 p.m., followed by a meet-and-greet with refreshments and a short business meeting. For information visit http://www.jcmga.org/. Arlington: The Arlington Men's Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month (except December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact Lance Jepson at LJepson@aol.com. Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September through November and January through April at 10 a.m. at the Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way, Sugar Land. The club hosts a different speaker each month. For more information, visit www.sugarlandgardenclub.org. Denton: The Denton Organic Society, a group devoted to sharing information and educating the public regarding organic principles, meets the third Wednesday of each month (except July, August and December) at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Avenue. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are preceded by a social at 6:30. For more information, call 940-382-8551. Glen Rose: The Somervell County Master Gardeners meet at 10 a.m., the third Wednesday of each month at the Somervell County AgriLife Extension office, 1405 Texas Drive, Glen Rose. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call 254-897-2809 or visit www.somervellmastergardener.org. Granbury: The Lake Granbury Master Gardeners meet at 1 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Hood County Annex 1, 1410 West Pearl Street, Granbury. The public is invited to attend. There is an educational program each month preceding the business meeting. For information on topics call 817-579-3280 or visit http://www.hoodcountymastergardeners.org/. Seabrook: The Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at The Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park (on the Lakeside), 5001 NASA Road 1, Seabrook. The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu. Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas — Houston (NPSOT-H) meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month except for October (4th Thursday) and December (2nd Thursday). Location varies. For locations, for more information on programs, and for information about native plants for Houston, visit http://www.npsot.org/Houston. Rosenberg: The Fort Bend Master Gardeners meet at 7:15 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month except December at the Bud O’Shieles Community Center located at 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg. For more information, call 281-341-7068 or visit www.fbmg.com. Seguin: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of each month, except December, at the Texas AgriLife Extension Bldg. at 210 E. Live Oak, Seguin. An educational program precedes the business meeting. The public is invited to attend. For topic or other information, call 830-379-1972 or visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org. Atlanta: The Caddo Wildflower Chapter of Native Plants Society meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Horne Enterprise building in Atlanta at 7 p.m. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Kay Lowery at frostkay268@aol.com. Brackenridge Park: The Native Plant Society San Antonio Chapter meets every fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Lions Field Adult and Senior Center, 2809 Broadway at E. Mulberry, Brackenridge Park, except August and December. Social and seed/plant exchange at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bea at 210-999-7292 or visit www.npsot.org/sanantonio. Edna: The Jackson County Master Gardeners present their "Come Grown With Us" seminars on the fourth Tuesday of each month, January through October, beginning at 7 p.m. at 411 N. Wells, Edna. The seminars are free, open to the public and offer 2 CEU hours to Master Gardeners or others requiring them. For additional information, contact the Jackson County Extension Office at 361-782-3312. Fort Worth: The Organic Garden Club of Forth Worth meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month except July and December at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens main building. Refreshments are served. For more information, call 817-274-8460. San Antonio: The Native Plant Society of Texas San Antonio Chapter meets the fourth Tuesday of the month, except August and December, at the Lions Field Adult & Senior Center, 2809 Broadway, San Antonio. Social and plant/seed exchange at 6:30 p.m., program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/sanantonio or call Bea at 210-999-7292. Dallas: The Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month at the North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd., Dallas. For more information, call 214-824-2448 or visit www.dogc.org. Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (except November and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact David at 817) 483-7746. |
 |
Sale! A book so
good, even the insects like it
That’s right. We
have a small quantity of The Vegetable Book that have been
nibbled on by silverfish. The result is very minor cosmetic
damage. We can’t sell them as new books at full price so we are
forced to drastically reduce the price to $13.87 (includes
tax and shipping). That is more than half off the regular
price! This should appeal to all the tightwads out there as well as
those who would like to have a second, not-so-perfect copy of Dr. Cotner’s timeless classic to carry with them to the garden as a
working copy. Hurry while supplies last!
$13.87 includes tax and shipping! (while supplies last) Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or order on-line. (Discover, MasterCard and Visa accepted.) |
 |
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife By Kelly Conrad Bender
NEW EDITION of the popular Texas Parks & Wildlife book, now with
fully searchable DVD containing all the plant and animal information you
need to customizTexas
Wildscapes program provides the tools you need to make ahome for all
the animals that will thrive in the native habitat you create.
In Texas Wildscapes, Kelly Conrad Bender identifies the kinds of
animals you can expect when you give them their three basic needs: food,
water, and shelter. She then provides guidelines for designing and
planting your yard or garden to best provide these requirements for the
many birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates the
environment will attract. $31.88 includes tax and shipping
Order online with credit card at
www.texasgardener.com or call toll-free 1-800-727-9020.
Visa, MasterCard and Discover
accepted. |
 |
Wish you'd saved
them?
Are you missing an important issue of
Texas Gardener? Or, perhaps, just tired of thumbing through stacks
of back issues looking for the tips and techniques you need to make your
garden grow? These new CDs provide easy access to all six issues of Order by calling 1-800-727-9020.
(Discover, MasterCard and Visa accepted.)
*Other volumes will be available soon. |
 |
Doug Welsh's Texas Garden Almanac
Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac is a giant monthly calendar for
the entire state — a practical, information-packed, month-by-month guide
for gardeners and "yardeners." This book provides everything you need to
know about flowers and garden design; trees, shrubs, and vines; lawns;
vegetable, herb, and fruit gardening; and soil, mulch, water, pests, and
plant care. It will help you to create beautiful, productive, healthy
gardens and have fun doing it.
$26.63 plus shipping*
Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or
order on-line.
*Mention
Texas Gardener’s Seeds when ordering by phone and we’ll waive shipping charges. (Discover, MasterCard and Visa
accepted.) |
 |
Fiber row cover
valuable year-round
Grow-Web encourages plant growth and development, and also provides
protection from insects, birds, diseases and frosts. It is also air and
water permeable and allows for ventilation. Grow-Web provides excellent
protection to seedlings when applied directly to the seedbed.
$30.64 per 12.3’ x 32.8’ roll (includes shipping!)
Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or
order on-line.
(Discover, MasterCard and Visa
accepted.) |
 |
Become a Texas
Gardener fan on Facebook Become a fan of Texas Gardener magazine on Facebook. See what we're up to at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Texas-Gardener-Magazine/301356291835?ref=nf. |
|
|
Texas Gardener’s Seeds
is published weekly. © Suntex Communications, Inc. 2010. All rights
reserved. You may forward this publication to your friends and
colleagues if it is sent in its entirety. No individual part of this
newsletter may be reproduced in any manner without prior written
permission from the publisher.
Missed an issue? Back issues of Texas Gardener’s Seeds
are available at
www.texasgardener.com/newsletters.
Publisher:
Chris S. Corby ●
Editor:
Michael Bracken
Texas Gardener’s Seeds,
P.O. Box 9005, Waco, Texas 76714 ●
www.TexasGardener.com
|