Office Update Due to significant damage of the extension office facility from the heavy rainfall on Sat, May 25th, the support staff from Bexar County Extension office has been temporarily relocated to Suite 104. The Master Gardener Office has reopened. Carol is in the office on Wed and Fridays from 9am to 2pm. If you need to reach our office, call 467-6575 and immediately punch in ext 220 when the recording starts. The Hotline Phone can be reached Mon - Fri from 9am to 4pm by calling 210-467-6575 and immediately pushing 227 when the message starts. To email a question to the hotline, send it to info@bexarcountymastergardeners.org. The hotline staff will be in suite 208 for now. Please Note: Recently, one of our members had a virus on their computer which sent out an email about being stranded in the Philippines. Since this member is a very active and involved MG, they did have numerous MG email addresses in their contacts book. Our email distribution list was not "hacked.” Please always use good judgement about clicking on links and believing what is written in emails. --------------------------------------------------------- “Under New Watering Rules, You Can Sleep In”Most of you have seen that headline in the Sunday paper and many of you can relate to the 7-11 convenience stores. The new watering hours of 7-11 A.M. and 7-11 P.M. will be easy to remember and we will probably notice less people with bags under their eyes! I think that was a great move by SAWS for another reason, when timers are set for daylight hours people will spot irrigation problems and leaks they didn’t see before. As pointed out in the article by Karen Guz, Conservation Director at SAWS “the darkness hid watering malfunctions and leaks that wasted thousands of gallons.” Bexar County Master Gardeners are trained, certified volunteers who support the educational horticulture programs and Texas AgriLife Extension service in Bexar County. We work with County Extension Agent-Horticulture David Rodriguez to create and maintain gardens that showcase plants for our area; we share planting, composting, and irrigation methods; we present information at garden and trade events, organize educational programs and conferences; answer horticultural inquiries over the telephone; present educational programs to various groups; introduce children to gardens through programs in schools; and increase awareness of integrated pest management, water conservation, and other environmental stewardship issues. Master Gardener training sessions are held in spring and fall, with a short, intensive course during the summer for teachers to train with the Junior Master Gardener curriculum. The Spring 2013 class began March 6. After acceptance into the program, students are required to submit a background check, attend the 13-week course, and complete 50 hours of volunteer service within a year before they are certified as a Master Gardener. Lectures by experts in their field, hands-on activities, and field trips make up the classroom experience. A large variety of volunteer activities offered throughout the year provide ample opportunity to complete the service requirement. After initial certification, Master Gardeners are required to complete 30 hours of service and 6 continuing education hours each year to re-certify. Learning and teaching others is the Bexar County Master Gardener mission. We are “hands-on” gardeners who are interested in sharing all aspects of gardening with anyone who will listen. Please enjoy our website. Lisa Nixon President Bexar County Master Gardeners 2012 - 2013 | TAKE NOTE !! Registration for 2013 Texas Master Gardener Conference which will be held Oct 17 (Thurs) to Oct 19 (Sat) opened on Monday, June 10th. Please check their website at: http://2013tmgaconference.org/ $100 Coupon to Give up the Grass. This pilot program is being offered to help homeowners transform traditional grass-dominated landscape into an attractive one that requires less water. SAWS has simplified water-wise landscaping by using a plant-by-numbers approach. Qualified residential water customers will receive a $100 coupon toward the purchase of a pre-planned, garden bed package at participating retailers. There are two plant package options The coupon covers a portion of the plant package cost. This is a pilot program is offered June 1-July 31, 2013, but may be revised at any time. For more information on this pilot program, contact SAWS Conservation at 210-704-SAVE (7283). For particpation requirements and other details: http://www.saws.org/Conservation/Outdoor/Coupon/ For the Complete Listing of Volunteer and Learning Opportunities, please go to the current eBlast page found: here June 20, Thurs, 8am - 11ish Volunteers for Work Party at Children's Vegetable Garden. David needs a few Master Gardeners to join him doing some general work at the garden including with the blackeye pea beds. Please show up with some basic tools, a hat and water. For more information, contact David at dhrodriguez@ag.tamu.edu June 18, Tues, 2pm - 3:30pm: Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite! (1.5 CEUs) will be held at Westfall Branch Library, 6111 Rosedale Ct., 78201. Summer travels are upon us and that could mean bed bugs in your home! The experts say its only a matter of time before we all experience bed bugs, so be prepared! Having bed bugs does not mean you are not clean, it only means you leave your house! Learn how to identify, prevent, and manage bed bugs. You will get the chance to see (non-living) stages of the bed bug, videos of bed bug inspections, and more. Hosted by Entomologist, Molly Keck with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. For info call: 210-467-6575, or email: mekeck@ag.tamu.edu Jun 19, Weds, 1-3pm: Bexar County Master Gardeners Educational Seminar. Due to the ongoing water damage restoration & recovery at the Extension and Master Gardener offices, meeting location for this seminar has been moved to Coker United Methodist Church, located just off 281 near the airport at 231 E North Loop Rd (MAP). The 2 CEU-presentation of "Water: Good to the Last Drop" will be offered by BCMGs' own irrigation efficiency specialists who will share tips, ideas, and project possibilities for everyone -- whether living in an apartment or single dwelling. Here is a basic itinerary of what to expect: 1:00 - 1:15: Update on Drought Restrictions - Carol White 1:15 - 1:30: Converting Spray Heads to Drip Irrigation - Tom Harris 1:30 - 1:45: Troubleshooting Installed Spray & Rotors - Stan Winchester 1:45 - 2:00: "Catch Can" Precipitation Rate Test - Laura Rogers 2:00 - 2:30: Practical demo of how to install the basic components of a Drip Irrigation System to a Water Source - Shanna Cianno 2:30 - 3:00: Hands on connecting of basic drip components under the guidance of Shanna Cianno, Sandy Justice, Ron Csehil, and other Irrigation Efficiency Experts and Water Conservation "Rock Stars." Mark your calendars and come on out to learn from some of our finest! For any questions, call 423-421-2891, or email: vince.vita@bexarcountymastergardeners.org This meeting is open to the public and there is no charge. June 23, Sun, 2 - 4pm: Family WaterSaver Gardening (for families w/children ages 9+)2 CEUs. Fee: $25 ($22.50 members). Class fee includes 1-2 adults and up to 3 children. Sponsored by SAWS at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston To register online, please visit www.sabot.org. For more information, please contact 210.207.3270 or programregistrar@sabot.org. Spend quality time with your family and learn how to have a great-looking, low-water landscape. Families with tweens and teens can learn in this interactive, hands-on course. June 24-26, Mon-Weds: Master Gardener Specialist Training First Detector-Plant Disease (16 CEUs) at the Horticulture/Forest Science Building, TAMU, 2133 College Station, TX 77843-2133. Final Registration Fee, Jun 1 to 17: $175. For information call, 979-845-8052, or email, plantclinic@ag.tamu.edu
Jun 25, Tues, 6:30pm-8:30pm: Backyard Gardening Series: "Catch the Rain and Use it Later” 2 CEUs. Come visit with Master Gardener Specialist- Lou Kellogg and his Team to learn about the basics of rainwater catch systems. Who knows, you may be the lucky one to win a ready-to-use rain barrel! For more information and to RSVP, contact Angel Torres at (210) 467-6575. Registration fee of $10 is payable at the door. If you are outside and find some of those large grubs, Molly Keck would like them. Please contact her at MEKeck@ag.tamu.edu to make arrangements to transfer them to her. Volunteers Needed: Inspiration Garden at Herff Farm, Boerne Texas is a beautiful organic garden that sits within the Herff Farm. The garden offers several hands-on gardening opportunities. Weekday worker bee opportunities are harvesting, dead-heading and planting, etc. The garden offers Saturday internships for those who are not comfortable with the organic concept or speaking with the public. Once comfortable, interns will become Saturday morning docents, answering gardening questions for the public. Experienced Master Gardeners are welcomed for any position. Volunteer as much or as little as you like. For information, please contact Shanna Ciano at 210-324-5200 or email shannac@beecreek.net. Earn 1 CEU for completing the online quiz, Overview of the Process of Plant Genetic Engineering: http://agbiosafety.unl.edu/education/summary.htm Need Information or Have Gardening Questions? Contact the Bexar County Master Gardener Hotline: Phone: 210-467-6575, immediately push 227 when the message starts! (Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm) Email: info@bexarcountymastergardeners.org Read about Bexar County's Youth Gardening Program: http://today.agrilife.org/2013/05/14/bexar-county-youth-gardens/ INFORMATIVE WEBSITES What’s happening this week throughout the state with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service? http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/ Texas Master Gardeners Association INTERESTING ARTICLES TO READ State funding of capital projects versus water conservation Texas Headed for Another Record Drought DAVID'S READING RECOMMENDATIONS Artichokes finding a place in the ‘heart’ of Texas:http://today.agrilife.org/2013/04/04/artichokes-in-heart-of-texas/ Water Planning: |
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Disclaimer: The Texas Master Garden Association of Texas activities are coordinated by AgriLife extension. This site is a publication of the Bexar County Master Gardeners Association and the information contained herein is for educational purposes only. References to products and trade name are for identification only and do not imply endorsement or criticism of similar products by Bexar County Master Gardeners Association (or of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service). We are a nonprofit organization of trained volunteers who provide horticultural and environmental education and service to the community. Educational programs of Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating. Copyright © 2011 Bexar County Master Gardeners |
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