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Whether you’re new to the area or to gardening itself, are seeking the latest scientific information on pestmanagement, or want to join a community of gardening enthusiasts, you’ve come to the right place for
reliable, researched information.
Hays County Master GardenersThis newsletter is packed full of information and things to do.
February 2020President’s Message
Hello Gardeners!
We sure can’t say the weather is dullin Central Texas! Thus far this month,we’ve had weather in the 70’s,freezing nights and rain (finally!). But Ismell Spring, and it’s time to get myhands dirty.
We’ve got plenty of opportunities todo just that. Last month, we brieflydiscussed some major events/effortsthat would be coming up, and someof these are ready for you, or will beshortly:
Our Spring Training Class startsthis week! – Please take amoment on one of these Fridaysto come meet our new classand welcome them toHCMGA. Also, see the syllabushere https://txmg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/hays/files/2019/11/HCMG-2020-Facilitator-Training-Schedule.pdf. You are welcometo attend topics of interest toyou, but please call Marilyn
Connie WiermanPresident of HCMGA
The Spring Plant Sale projectteam will schedule two workdays over the next 3 weeks inthe greenhouse to repot plantsfor the April 4th event atDripping Springs Ranch Park.Keep an eye out for that emailannouncement.
Additionally, HEB’s Texas BackyardManager in Dripping Springs hasinvited us to share our knowledge intwo series of classroom styletrainings; 4 sessions in May and 4 inSeptember. And Desert DoorDistillery has invited HCMGA to takecenter stage in an open house theyplan to hold mid-May for living lightly
Love ahead of time to be surethere is space for you.
Look further on in this edition tofind out more about work daysplanned for our DemonstrationGardens at Jacobs Well withAnne Hollows and Bobby Knell
Work is starting on Greenhouseimprovements includingpreparation of the corral area forinstallation of the cacti gardenand seating area. Look for anemail with more details later thismonth.
in Hill Country. We’ll take the leadthrough our Speakers Network. Ifyou’d like to help in this effort, staytuned for a call for volunteers later thismonth.
Check the calendar and join yourcolleagues for other events andactivities this coming month!
Connie Wierman, PresidentHays County Master GardenersAssociation
Do you enjoy Facebook?
Like our Facebook page, HaysCounty Master Gardeners Outreach,so you will see what others are doingto beautify their world!
Check out our website:https://txmg.org/hays/
OfficersPresident – Connie [email protected] President-Elect – Bobby [email protected] Vice President – Marilyn [email protected]
Recording Secretary – [email protected]
Corresponding Secretary – [email protected] Treasurer – Craig [email protected]
Mark Your Calendar
February MeetingFebruary 26, 2020 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.Hays County Extension Office, 200 Stillwater Dr.Wimberley TX 78676Horse Trough Gardening with Janet BradfordJanet Bradford of the Wimberley Garden Club will share a unique wickinggardening system using galvanized horse troughs. Join us to learn about thisefficient, low maintenance twist on traditional trough gardens.
2020 Hays County Master Gardener Training Class
February 14 – April 24, 2020, Fridays from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.Hays County Extension Office, 200 Stillwater Dr. Wimberley TX 78676For More Information
The Wimberley Garden Club Presents:Passion for Gardening Tour25th annual Garden Tour - $20Saturday May 9 – 9:00 a.m - 3:00 p.mFor More Information
TMGA Annual ConferenceBlooming on the BrazosMcLennan County Master Gardener AssociationWaco Convention Center, Waco, TX 7670176701May 12 – 14 2020Registration is Open - https://txmg.org/conferenc
2020 Master Gardener Class Left to RightBack Row: Dave Story, Ken Smith, Steve Maastricht, Sue Maastricht, Johnny Pherigo, Joni Moore,Melinda Jackson, Juan Hernandez, Dan ZinnFront Row: Dan Williams, Fawn Pierce, Anna Russo, Anne Holly, Liz Smith, Teresa Kendrick, CayChampagne, Kathy Dessen, Janet EberhardtPhoto: Phyllis Janowski
2020 Hays County Master Gardener Training Class Ready to GO! February 14 – April 24, 2020, Fridays from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
ByKathleen Crabill, Master Gardener
The Hays County Master Gardeners are thrilled to be hosting another TrainingClass beginning on Friday, February 14.This training will be held 11 Fridays,continuing through April 24.
The training team has been meeting and preparing for a great class session,putting all the finishing touches on the program, and looking forward to meetingthe 2020 potential new Hays County Master Gardeners on the first day ofclass.This session has some new and exciting speakers and topics (i.e.
Beekeeping) lined up. Of course, many of our favorite speakers will be with usagain.
Classes will be held at the AgriLife Extension Office, 200 Stillwater, Wimberley,Jacob’s Well Nature Area in Wimberley and Freeman Ranch outside of SanMarcos.
Thank you to all the Master Gardeners who had advertised the class andencouraged people to enroll. You have made it possible for this class sessionto happen this year.
Here is the link to the 2020 Class Schedule:https://txmg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/hays/files/2019/11/HCMG-2020-Facilitator-Training-Schedule.pdf
Rasmey Mau Raymond Photo: Marilyn McCray
January MeetingBy
Marilyn McCray, Master Gardener
President Connie Wierman called the meeting to order. She presented adetailed Financial Report for year-ending 2019 and the planned budget for2020, including some of the major budget programs for 2020 to give membersa high-level perspective of what's on tap for 2020. With the exception of theTraining Class which is already set up, most of these activities/events will needthe support of our membership and volunteers. She posted the open volunteerpositions for January, the key one being the Volunteer Coordinator.
One of our very own, the talented and inspiring Rasmey Mau Raymond,shared the video tour of her garden, Food for Family & Wildlife on Austin PBS'sCentral Texas Gardener, followed by a question and answer session. Thevideo, first aired in October of 2016, featured how she and husband Matthewreclaimed hard-packed soil to restore their 25 acres. Rasmey wanted organicfood for her young family, a fragrant cottage garden for pollinators, and habitatfor birds.
"Central Texas Gardener featured Rasmey a few years back when she workedat a nursery," said Linda Lehmusvirta, Producer. "I loved the story of how she
developed her own garden to provide food for her family and the wildlife.Rasmey's passion and enthusiasm, along with her encouragement, invitesnew and experienced gardeners to come along on her adventure!"
Speakers Network 2020Helen Aristar-Dry
Photo : Rachel Peterson
Speakers Network Events are on the MasterCalendar in VMS. The 2020 “In The Garden LibrarySeries” calendar is now on the webpage.More information on the Speakers Network here inVMS and the HCMG website General EventCalendar.
Information is available on the VMS website to helpgardeners develop new talks or revise existing ones. Templates, informationon writing presentation objectives and hints on talk delivery are all listedas Speakers Network Resource Guides, Dry runs or rehearsals before asympathetic audience of Speakers Network members, are offered to speakersdeveloping a new or redesigned talk.
Project SpotlightMiller Science Night ProjectMiller Middle School, San Marcosby Marilyn Love, Master Gardener
Master Gardeners Rasmey MauRaymond, Christi Shannon, andMarilyn Love along with ExtensionAgent Kate Blankenship participatedin the 2020 Miller Middle SchoolScience Night. Our display focused onfruits and vegetables easily grown inTexas which can be used to makehealthy smoothies using freshingredients. We had a colorful trifoldcovering the “Texas Grown” fruits and veggies. The students were able to ridea bicycle with a blender attached (mechanical transfer of energy) to make theirown smoothies. We provided recipes for the fruity and green smoothies thestudents sampled. A fun time was had by all!
Photo: Anne HollowsJacobs Well Demonstration Garden
ByAnne Hollows, Master Gardener
Big plans are in the works at the Jacobs Well Demonstration Garden! TheBoard approved our budget to install a rainwater-based irrigation system andto re-design the existing beds to attract more pollinators. We’re meeting withRainkeepers Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Wimberley for our initialconsultation next week and plan to have the irrigation system up and runningby the end of March.
Along with providing native habitat for bees and birds, we’re taking aim at oureducation goal by adding more and better signage to help the public learnabout Hill Country native plants. With more than 2000 square feet in threebeds, we have a great showcase to work with. Thanks to the plan by ourpresident Connie Wierman, we’ll now be grouping plants by their waterrequirements—natural rainfall, occasional watering, regular watering. Connie’splan also lays out beds by color, height and bloom time to optimize the visualdisplay from spring through late fall.
The smaller bed in the back will feature native grasses, cacti and succulentsand native hardscaping. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll also installseveral shade sails later in the season to protect the young plants from theworst of the summer sun.
Get Involved! If you’re ready to get your hands dirty, we have two plantingdays coming up on Friday, February 28 from 10:00 a.m. until noon, Friday,March 6 from 10:00 a.m. until noon and Friday March 13 from 10:00 a.m. untilnoon. It’s a great way to earn volunteer hours, and we’d love to have you. Thisyear we have the added bonus of our HCMGA training class joining us in mid-March to do the final planting and spring clean-up, thanks to Philly Janowskiand Laurie Turner.
Member SpotlightBobby Knell
By Jacqueline Leo, Master Gardener
Photo: Anne Knell
Bobby Knell is a recent graduate of the 2019 MasterGardener class. He has always had a passion forgardening ever since he was a teenager but didn’thave much of an opportunity to practice his skillsuntil after he retired. During class, he really enjoyedlearning about the importance of quality soil, andgardening techniques, but the class on fruit treesreally struck a chord with him. He learned aboutwhen to buy, how to cut it down, and when to plant.Knell says he is “still keen to learn more.”
When Mr. Knell isn’t busy traveling, you can find him volunteering at Jacob’sGarden as well as the Wimberley Playhouse where he is a co-lead at bothlocations. Mr. Knell is also our new president- elect and is looking forward tolearning on the job. He is also currently building his own greenhouse, or as helikes to call it, the “hot house.” There he plans to grow bonsai trees. He hasbeen interested in bonsai for a long time and has recently taken lessons onhow to rewire the trees and develop the proper soil necessary for success. Hisgoal is to create a forest with around twenty-four trees that are over two feettall. Although he admits that he is not very artistic with the skill of bonsai, heloves the challenge and is constantly learning. His hope is that one day he canpass this skill down to one of his grandchildren.
Texas Superstar®Program Monthly Update
byMarilyn McCray, Master Gardener
Texas Vitex Vitex agnus–castus
Vitex, a Texas Superstar® is knownas Texas Lilac or the Chaste Tree.Native of China and India, itnaturalized throughout the UnitedStates as long ago as1670. Vitex agnus castus belonged tothe official medicinal plants ofantiquity and is mentioned in theworks of Hippocrates.
Vitex is coarse growing and willbecome a small tree quickly; floweringis more spectacular if the plant ispruned heavily after bloom.It is a spectacular butterfly-attractingplant and hummingbirds love it.
For people in the warmer parts of theSouth, the ‘Lilac Chaste Tree’ hasbeen the shrub of choice to mimic themuch beloved lilacs that are restricted
Photo: courtesy of Texas A&MAgriLifeExtensionService
Superstar ® Horticulturists now haveidentified and tested improvedvarieties such as ‘Montrose Purple’,‘LeCompte’ and ‘Shoal Creek’ whichhave 8 to12 inch long spikes. Thesevarieties will all be marketed underthe name, ‘Texas Lilac’ Vitex.
A concern has been raised about the“invasive” nature of vitex. There is aconcern about its weedy nature incertain areas “found in limestoneoutcrops and dry creek bedsthroughout Central Texas.” Theopinion of the Texas Superstar®
to cooler regions. It grows best in fullsun and in a location that drains well—loves the heat, and is so tough thateven the Texas Department ofTransportation plants it on highwaymedians.
The old Vitex had small spikes offlowers that were pale lilac, mauve,off–white or light pink. The bloomswere small and unimpressive. The
Board would caution persons in thesefavorable environments aboutpotential weediness. Vitex can besafely used as an ornamental in allparts of the state that do not fit thisdescription.
More information about other TexasSuperstar® plants and a list ofwholesalers and retailers who stockthem can be foundat http://texassuperstar.com/.
Master Gardener Continuing Education
Garden Vision 2020Comal Master GardenersNew Braunfels Civic/Convention Center375 S. Castell Avenue, New Braunfels, TX 78130Friday, March 6, 2020, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Check in: 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.. Seminar : 8:30 – 4:00 p.m.Speakers and topics for the seminar include Kathleen Scott, “Creating aHummingbird Hot Spot”; Molly Keck, “Fifteen Bugs Every Gardener ShouldKnow”; Robert (Skip) Richter, “Beautiful Landscapes in a Dry Climate”; andLeslie Bingham, “The History of Gardens.”Fee $60. Covers light breakfast, lunch and snacks. CEU eligible For information and registration: https://comalmg.org/
Online Training Opportunities
Earth-Kind® Training for Master GardenersThis program is designed to provide information on a variety of environmentallyfriendly (Earth-Kind®) practices for use in the home landscape and garden.
Texas Master Gardeners may select on-line modules to obtain up to threehours of re-certification education credits in a calendar year. Each module isworth 1 hour of credit. Master Gardeners are not encouraged to seek re-certification credit for training modules they have completed in previous years.For more information.
Master Gardener Advanced Training
Master Gardeners can obtain advanced training which supports or expandsspecific county educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.Read more about these training opportunities.
Advanced Training – Vegetables Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, San Antonio TX 78230Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday May 5 - 7, 2020https://txmg.org/events/advanced-training-vegetables-3Fee $200 Covers 2 lunches,1 dinner, snacks and other goodies. Forinformation and registration:
Contact Denise (210) 631- 0400 /[email protected]
Things to Do and Learn These events are CEU eligible
San Antonio Botanical Gardens
Texas Native Trails Working WorkshopWednesday, March 4 2020 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Learn about Texas native plants while working in the garden.We will discuss our natives’ growing requirements, characteristics,ethnobotanical and wildscape uses and learn to identify them in a naturalisticsetting. Instructor: Gary Poole, San Antonio Botanical Garden, Conservationand Adult Programs Specialist; Master Naturalist; Native Plant Society ofTexas member
Fee: Free to the public, registration required Click here to register
Native Milkweed PropagationSaturday, March 21, 2020 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Add some plant diversity to your gardens! Join Cleve Powell, native plantpropagator and learn about the appearance, characteristics, growing, andpropagation techniques of milkweeds native to Central Texas. This workshopincludes a lecture and hands-on preparation of seeds. Participants will plantand take-home milkweed seeds prepared for germination and propagation.Sponsored by San Antonio Water System.
Fee: $20 ($18 member)For more information
Zilker Botanical Gardens
Share Your Begonias with The Austin Area Begonia SocietySunday, February 23, 2020 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.The Austin Area Begonia Society wants YOU to come share your begoniaswith all the love them! This month's meeting for the club will consist of a groupbegonia share, where you can interact with other gardeners who show off theirbest and worst begonia babies! Come enjoy a wonderful afternoon full oflearning and new ideas on how to grow these wonderful and diverse plants!
Free with AdmissionFor more informationRSVP
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Gardening for NewcomersSaturday, February 29, 2020 @ 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.New to Texas, or just new to gardening with native plants? Come on down toTexas’ official State Botanical Garden and Arboretum to learn about everythingfrom cacti to coneflowers. A knowledgeable guide will help students identifynative plants suited to their space and goals and share tips for keepinglandscapes healthy.
Cost: $35 Space is limited and registration is required.Click here to register
Natural Gardener
The Natural Gardener offers FREE classes that provide CEU opportunities ona variety of gardening topics almost every Saturday and Tuesday, excludingholidays and their busy spring season. No reservations are necessary; seatingis available on a first come basis.
The upcoming calendar includes:
"Organic Veggie Gardening 201""Organic Veggie Gardening 201"Saturday, February 18 at 10 a.m.
"Planting and Transplanting.”"Planting and Transplanting.”Tuesday, February 25 at 10 a.m. – David Johndrow
Local Farmers Markets
Love local food?Looking for farmers markets in the Hays Countyarea?
BudaSunday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 308 South Main Street, Buda Mill and GrainCompany, Buda TX 78610http://www.budafarmersmarket.com
Dripping SpringsWednesday 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Ranch Park Events Center, 1042 EventsCenter Drive off Route 12, Dripping Springs TX 78620http://www.cityofdrippingsprings.com/page/fm.home
LockhartSaturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Corner of Market and Main, South of CitySquare, Lockhart TX 78644 512-565-3981https://www.soilmate.com/markets/lockhart-main-street-farmers-market
New BraunfelsSaturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. S. Castell next to Friesenhaus, New BraunfelsTX 78130 830-629-2223Friday 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 2629 E. Common New, Braunfels TX 78130830-534-7908http://www.nbfarmersmarket.com/
San MarcosSaturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Near County Courthouse, San Marcos TX78666 830-534-7908Tuesday 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 312 Hopkins, San Marcos TX 78666sanmarcosfarmersmarket.com
WimberleyWednesday 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. In the Visitors Center Parking Lot, 14100Ranch Road 12, Wimberley TX 78676
http://visitwimberley.com/marketdays/wimFM.shtml
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Coordination Committee – Chairpersonand Assistant or Co-Chairpersons. HCMGA is first and foremost a Volunteer organizationand the Coordinators are needed to manage ourefforts and assist Project Leaders. The Chairpersonposition, though largely administrative, is key and isthe contact for new projects; also screens projects forvalidity & shepherds through approval process; postsprojects in VMS & Newsletter. It’s an ideal role forsomeone who works best from home.
Contact Bobby Knell [email protected].
HCMGA Spring Plant Sale – Project Lead position is open. Spring Plant Salewill be held April 4 in conjunction with the Hill Country Living and RainwaterFestival at Ranch Park in Dripping Springs. Plant propagation, transport, salesassistants, cashiers positions are needed.
** List of approved projects located at https://texas.volunteersystem.org. Signup for individual projects to be included in the project email list and receivenotifications. The Project Leader/Contact is automatically notified when newvolunteers sign on using VMS. Volunteer service must be completed from thelist in VMS to be eligible for hours. BudaBuda Public Library – Patti Stone [email protected] Thursdays 10 – 1p.m. 405 E. Loop St., Building 100 in Buda, Texas 78610
Buda Farmers Market – Barbara Nay [email protected] Sundays 10:00a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 306 South Main Street, Buda Texas 78610
Onion Creek Senior Center Garden – PamelaNelson [email protected] 420 Barton Crossing, Buda, Texas 78610
Dripping SpringsDripping Springs Public Library Information Table – JeriMatzen [email protected] 501 Sportsplex Dr. in Dripping Springs TX78620
Dripping Springs Farmers Market – MikelBorg [email protected] Wednesdays from 2:30 to 6:15. TheTriangle/Corner of RR 12 and 290, Dripping Springs TX 78620
Ranch Park Demonstration Garden – Anne Forish [email protected] 1042Event Center Dr, Dripping Springs TX 78620
Precinct 4 Demonstration Garden – ConnieWierman [email protected] 195 Roger Hanks Pkwy, Dripping Springs, TX78620
KyleKyle Library Table position open – Bobby Knell [email protected]
Kyle Library Butterfly Demonstration Garden – PatriciaPorterfield [email protected]
San MarcosSan Marcos Discovery Center – Melissa Katz [email protected] 430Riverside Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666
Hays Caldwell Women’s Center – Marilyn Love [email protected]
San Marcos Farmers Market information Table – Peggy [email protected] Saturdays 9 – 1 155 E. San Antonio St. in SanMarcos TX 78666
WimberleyHCMGA Jacob’s Well Native Plant & Demonstration Garden HCMGAJacob’s Well – Anne Hollows [email protected] 699 Mt. Sharp Rd.Wimberley, TX, 78676 HCMGA
Jacob’s Well Greenhouse – Ila Gandy [email protected] 699 Mt. Sharp Rd.Wimberley, TX, 78676
Wimberley Public Library Information Table - EvieMartin, [email protected] Thursdays 3 – 6 p.m. 400 Farm-to-Market 2325,Wimberley TX 78676
Need to record your hours in VMS?Hays County Master Gardeners depends on volunteers.Here's a link to log in!
ThanksThanks to all of the contributors to the Newsletter. Special thanks to ConstanceWierman, Bobby Knell, Marilyn Love, Phyllis Janowski, Jacqueline Leo,Kathleen Crabill, Kathie Carlson, Anne Hollows and Rachael V. Peterson fortheir contributions and assistance with the production of this issue.Marilyn McCray, Editor
Newsletter SubmissionsWe are always looking for Hays County Master Gardeners who are interestedin writing or providing photos for our newsletter and we would love to see yourarticles, photographs, book reviews and gardening ideas.
General Guidelines:• Please first email the editor to discuss potential article ideas. • All drafts are due before the 10th of each month.• Email contributions as attachments (preferably in Word with a .doc or .rtfsuffix). Space is limited so the text should be concise. Contact the editor forspecific information.• Please send images as separate attachments with .jpg suffix. A horizontalformat is much more useful. Please make sure that the images are not undercopyright and can be used without restrictions. Don’t forget to includephotographer acknowledgments and captions. Send your submissions, announcements, and questions to: Marilyn McCray,
Hays County Master Gardners | 512.393.2120 | [email protected] | http://txmg.org/hays/
