Be Texas Water Smart and Tighten the Faucet, Texas

By Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples

 

When tanker trucks are needed to haul drinking water into town, water restrictions prohibit farmers and homeowners from accessing the water they need to grow our food and water supplies become limited, we should learn the lesson - it is time to reconsider how each of us uses water adn then do our part to tighten the faucet.

 

While we have been blessed with recent rains adn some parts of Texas have greener grass, we could be just weeks away from more dire, dryer weather.  We can't let our guard down.  Even with better conditions, the state water plan dictates nearly 25 percent of our future water needs will be met through water conservation.

 

The worst one-year drought on record has shown us that if we do not take action now, we not only face severe water restrictions, but also may see business dry up.  A drain on business means a loss of jobs, sales tax revenue and economic development.  In the agriculture sector alone, the 2011 drought has cost Texans nearly $8 billion.  We should not be willing to tolerate more loss when part of the solution is as simple, easy and inexpensive as conserving what we already have.

 

The recently launched Texas Water Smart consumer awareness campaign encourages each of us to take a few simple, common-sense steps toward reducing wasteful water habits.  This campaign will complement the great work already done by Metroplex water managers to raise awareness of conserving one of our most precious resources.

 

Thanks to the leadership of the nursery and landscape industries and local retail stores, the Texas Water Smart campaign is meeting consumers in the aisle to make sure we know how to prepare and maintain lawns and gardens to conserve water and money.

 

For example, most of us are quick to notice leaks inside our homes and address them, but how many of us pay attention to leaky outdoor sprinkler systems and faucets?  Fixing leaks outside your house is just as important as stopping those inside.  Pick up a wrench or call a professional, but stop those outdoor leaks that drip unnoticed and drain our reserves.

 

Other simple options include growing water-conscious plants and using drip irrigation and soaker hoses to help conserve water.  You also can look for ways to be water smart at your local nursery and landscape supply store, or through Texas Water Smart's interactive website.

 

We also encourage you to learn more about conservation through your local water utility.  From South Texas, West Texas and across North Texas, community leaders, associations and local businesses have been working tirelessly to educate us on where our water comes from and understand that it can't be replaced.  Be smart and put the tools to work.  Making water conservation a part of your daily life is an action every Texan can take today to have water tomorrow and into the future.  

 

Tighten the faucet, Texas.  We'll all be glad we did knowing we've invested in our drinking water, food supply and jobs.

 

Be a responsible Texan by being Texas Water Smart.  Visit www.TexasWaterSmart.com for more information.

 

New Texas Superstar kept blooming through 2011′s blistering days

May 21, 2012

Contacts

Globe amaranth survived at Texas AgriLife trials where other varieties failed

"Fireworks" is a new globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) variety that showed off its heat and drought tolerance in trials at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in 2011. All older gomphrena varieties and some new ones were named Texas Superstars for 2012. (Texas AgriLife Research photo by Robert Burns) of the Texas Superstar executive board. As a result of that attention, there is a “broader color pallet,” various heights and other qualities.

“The new varieties were developed at a really important time because we recently experienced a lot of record heat and drought, and this plant is tolerant to that,” he said. “Now we not only have more colors but varieties of gomphrena that are of different heights.
Texas Superstar plants undergo extensive tests at Overton, Lubbock, San Antonio and College Station by AgriLife Research and Texas AgriLife Extension Service horticulturists, Pemberton said.

of the Texas Superstar executive board. As a result of that attention, there is a “broader color pallet,” various heights and other qualities.

“The new varieties were developed at a really important time because we recently experienced a lot of record heat and drought, and this plant is tolerant to that,” he said. “Now we not only have more colors but varieties of gomphrena that are of different heights.
Texas Superstar plants undergo extensive tests at Overton, Lubbock, San Antonio and College Station by AgriLife Research and Texas AgriLife Extension Service horticulturists, Pemberton said.

To be designated a Superstar, the plant must not just be beautiful but also perform well for consumers and growers throughout Texas. Superstars must also be easy to propagate, which should ensure the plants are not only widely available throughout Texas but also are reasonably priced.

It’s always been known that globe amaranths were very heat tolerant, but that knowledge was largely anecdotal from gardeners observing the plant’s behavior in gardens, Pemberton said. “Now there’s science-based proof based on performance tests during the 2011 heat wave.”
Pemberton started testing bedding plants and ornamentals in 1994 under East Texas conditions with about 100 entries. By 2011, the number of entries had grown to more than 400, and there were 17 globe amaranth varieties among them, he said.

“They were watered, but there are a lot of things that just didn’t make it through despite getting some supplemental water,” Pemberton said. “There are a lot of things that just didn’t make it through the heat but these plants did very well.”

The new varieties are now available ranging in height from 6 inches to 4 feet, and rich purples and pinks have been added to the flower colors that were historically limited to light purple or white.

“Hybridization and selection in the closely related Rio Grande globe amaranth (Gomphrena haageana), a Texas native, has added strawberry red to orange flowers to the mix,” Pemberton wrote in the Superstar board’s official description.

“The button, cylindrical cones, or sparkler-shaped flowers offer season-long color from late spring to frost. Individual flower clusters also have a long duration of effectiveness as it is the straw textured colored bracts that constitute the showy portions of the flowers, lasting long after the tiny reproductive portions of the flowers have senesced,” Pemberton said.

Pemberton also noted that small “seed-feeding birds find the tiny amaranth seeds irresistible and are attracted to the plants in small flocks.”

Texas Superstar is a registered trademark owned by AgriLife Research, a state agency that is part of the Texas A&M University System. More information about the Texas Superstar program can be found at http://texassuperstar.com/.

2012 Texas Master Gardener Conference May 3 – 5 in San Antonio

By: Paul Schattenberg

SAN ANTONIO – The 2012 Texas Master Gardener Conference – River Walk and Garden Talk — will take place May 3 – 5 at the Norris Conference Center, 4522 Fredericksburg Road in San Antonio, said event coordinators.

The conference is sponsored by Texas A&M University’s department of horticultural science and its Benz School of Floral Design, they said It is hosted by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Bexar County and the agency’s Bexar County Master Gardeners.

The 2012 Texas Master Gardeners conference will be held May 3 - 5 in San Antonio at the Norris Conference Center adjacent to Wonderland of the Americas shopping mall. The conference will include a plant sale to which the public is invited. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo)

“We’re very excited to be hosting this year’s conference, which is open to only Texas Master Gardeners, but also has a plant sale the general public can enjoy,” said David Rodriguez, AgriLife Extension agent for horticulture in Bexar County. “There will be lots of speakers, classes, events and tours during the conference. Master Gardeners should enjoy the awards banquet in the Oak Ballroom and our keynote speaker, Mary Sue Koontz-Nelson, who will present ‘Living and Loving It!”

Rodriguez said he expects about 500 – 700 Texas Master Gardeners from county Master Gardener associations across the state to attend, adding that the general public is invited to participate in the conference’s May 3 – 4 plant sale.

The plant sale will be at the conference center entrance at Wonderland of the Americas shopping mall from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 3 and then again from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 4.

“Admission is free, and plant purchases must be made by cash or check,” Rodriguez said. “We’ll have a nice variety of plants at special event pricing, plus there will be about 20 vendors there from the green industry.”

He said the plant sale will highlight past and present Texas Superstar selections, with plants provided by Peterson Brothers, Color Spot and Monrovia nurseries. The sale also will introduce the new Orange Frost citrus plant – a Changsha and Satsuma cross.

“The Orange Frost citrus is currently exclusive to Greenleaf Nursery in El Campo and will not be available for general release until 2014, so this is a rare opportunity to obtain this unique citrus plant,” he said. “This winter-hardy citrus has its own root system, produces delicious, seedless fruit and can be grown in a container or planted into a landscape.”

Orange Frost -- a new citrus cross of Changsha and Satsuma varieties -- will be sold at the May 3 - 4 plant sale at the Texas Master Gardener conference in San Antonio. Orange Frost is currently exclusive to Greenleaf Nursery in El Campo, and won't be generally released until 2014. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Jerry Parsons)

Rodriguez said conference registration will begin at 10 a.m. on May 3, with presentations to follow from 1:15 – 5 p.m. An optional dinner will he held downtown during that evening. May 4 presentations will begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. May 5 is reserved for tour activities.

The conference will feature more than 20 speakers representing the green industry, AgriLife Extension, Master Gardener associations, Texas AgriLife Research, the Junior Master Gardener program and various businesses, agencies and utilities.

“There will be presentations by authors, lecturers, professors and other experts in horticulture, organic gardening, heirloom gardening, botany, landscaping, floriculture, plant breeding, plant pathology and diagnostics, resource conservation, urban forestry, farmers markets, fruit and vegetable production, and more,” Rodriguez said.

The regular conference registration cost of $210 includes eight hours of classes of the attendee’s choosing, as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Friday and a conference T-shirt. It also includes a raffle ticket for Friday night’s door-prize drawing.

The May 3 dinner and May 5 tours are in addition to regular conference activities, so there is an additional charge for participants.

“The Thursday dinner will be on the historic River Walk in downtown San Antonio,” Rodriguez said. “The meal will be made using local produce – deliciously prepared and beautifully presented – and transportation is included from the Norris Conference Center to the restaurant. The cost is $35 per person and space is limited, so attendees should sign up for it as soon as possible.”

He said Saturday’s tours of cultural and agricultural sites in San Antonio will include a Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard tour and riverboat tour of Mission Reach, the newly landscaped portion of the San Antonio River. Tours are $50 and include lunch, transportation and shopping. Spouses may participate in tours at the same price and depending on space available.

Master Gardeners also can take advantage of additional workshops in citrus and flowers taught by renowned professionals for an additional fee, he said.

“But you must sign up for the conference to participate in any classes, workshops, or tours,” Rodriguez said.” Registration is limited to 700 participants, so reserve your spot at this amazing conference as soon as possible.”

Rodriguez said payment may be made by PayPal, credit card or, if necessary, by check.

“For expediency and reporting purposes, we prefer as many people as possible register online,” he said. “But if someone is unable to register online, a registration packet can be obtained by someone else through the conference website ( http://www.2012tmgaconference.org/Reg_Print.pdf.) The form can be filled in and mailed with a check, and registration will be completed once both of these are received.”

He said hard copy registrations and checks should be mailed to Bexar County Master Gardeners, Inc., 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., Suite 208, San Antonio, Texas 78230.

There will be a $100 cancellation fee for any cancellation up to April 3. There will be no refunds for cancellations received after April 3. All cancellations must be emailed to conf@bexarcountymastergardeners.org.

For more information, go to http://www.2012tmgaconference.org or email the Bexar County Master Gardeners at conf@bexarcountymastergardeners.

“This conference is a great opportunity for Master Gardeners to meet, exchange ideas and experiences, learn and have a good time,” Rodriguez said.

Bexar County horticulturist gets Superior Service Award for volunteerism

April 9, 2012

Paul Schattenberg, 210-467-6575, paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – David Rodriguez, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent for horticulture in Bexar County, has received his agency’s 2011 Superior Service Award in the category of volunteerism.

This award is presented to staff who demonstrate outstanding performance or provide exceptional service to AgriLife Extension, an educational outreach agency of the Texas A&M University System, according to award guidelines.

Rodriguez has been an AgriLife Extension agent in Bexar County for the past six years.

According to his nomination, Rodriguez has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture from Texas A&M University, plus extensive experience in the region’s green industry. He also has previous experience with AgriLife Extension, once serving as a senior intern under Drs. Jerry Parsons and Calvin Finch — both formerly with AgriLife Extension – to help establish the agency’s first Master Gardener class in 1989.

Also cited in the award nomination was the Bexar County Master Gardener association, a volunteer horticulture program supporting AgriLife Extension programs and activities throughout the county.

“David continually looks for volunteer opportunities for Master Gardeners and is himself very involved in horticultural efforts to improve the community and educate youth and adults,” said Barbara Lutz, president of the Bexar County Master Gardener organization. “He’s most deserving of this award, especially because he leads by example.”

According to the nomination, last year Bexar County Master Gardener program volunteers contributed 35,716 hours to various horticulture-related programs and activities, which according to the standardized per-hour dollar value for volunteerism, translated into more than $720,000 in service to San Antonio and Bexar County. Additionally, last year Bexar County Master Gardener volunteers made more than 250 community presentations reaching more than 30,000 county residents.

There are currently about 400 volunteers in the Bexar County Master Gardener program.

“In the time David has been providing leadership for this program, the number of volunteer hours and extent of volunteerism to benefit San Antonio and the county has increased substantially,” said Lupe Landeros, AgriLife Extension director, Bexar County.  “He also has helped increase youth horticulture programming, expanded educational outreach to the community and green industry, increased public awareness of the Master Gardener program and developed a more defined and directed use of volunteer manpower.”

Landeros said some major project areas in which Rodriguez and the Bexar County Master Gardeners participate include youth gardening, community adult horticultural education, water conservation and proper irrigation, sustainable limited-space gardening and community beautification.

According to the award citation, Rodriguez also oversees and directs the volunteer activities of the Bexar County Master Gardener Youth Gardening program, which serves more than 200 area schools, the majority of which are located in low-income areas of Bexar County.

Landeros added that Rodriguez has further helped increase awareness of horticultural issues, as well as the AgriLife Extension and its local Master Gardener program, through his participation in radio programs on WOAI and KEDA, other media-related activities and presentations in various large and small public venues.

“It’s truly an honor to receive this award, but it’s really a reflection of the time, effort and dedication by the leadership and volunteers of the Bexar County Master Gardener association,” Rodriguez said. “They’re really the ones who make us look good.”

Contacts

Lupe Landeros, 210-467-6575, g-landeros@tamu.edu

David Rodriguez, 210-467-6575, dhrodriguez@ag.tamu.edu

Research Beds at the Children's Garden