Congratulations to the 2019 Board of Directors...Congratulations to the 2019 Board of Directors The Hays County Master Gardener Association met on November 14, 2015 and elected the

Whether you’re new to the area or to gardening itself, are seeking the latest scientific information onpest management, 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.

November 2018President’s Message

Holiday Awards Meeting

Our Annual Holiday Awards Meetingand Potluck Dinner is scheduled forWednesday, December 12th, from5:00- 7:00 at the Wimberley VFW, 401Jacob’s Well Road. The main courseof baked ham will be provided. Allmembers are asked to bring a favoriteside dish or dessert toshare. Members’ home-cookedcontributions and special recipes arealways the highlight of the buffet table!(Come as early as 4:30 to help set upthe buffet.)

We will be congratulating the HaysCounty Master Gardener Association“Emeritus” members for their years ofservice. The Club 100 Awards will bepresented to Hays Master Gardenerswho have surpassed 100 hours ormore of volunteer hours during the2018 year. Hours must be earned andlogged in VMS by 12/1 to qualify for anaward.) The HCMGA SpeakersNetwork will be recognized for theiroutstanding contributions promotingAgriLife research, horticulturaleducation and best gardeningpractices.

Phyllis (Philly) JanowskiPresident of HCMGA

The meeting agenda will feature theinauguration of our new elected 2019Hays County Master GardenerAssociation Officers and StateDelegates. Dues will also be collectedby our Treasurer.

Master Gardeners are welcome tobring a “plus one” guest! We hope tosee you there.

Do you enjoy Facebook?

Like our Facebook page, Hays CountyMaster Gardeners Outreach, so youwill see what others are doing tobeautify their world!

Check out our new website:https://txmg.org/hays/

Get Your Copy Today!Seeds to Table The Hays County Master GardenerCookbook Now $10.00.

Officers President – Phyllis Janowski [email protected] President-Elect – Matt [email protected] Vice President – Mary [email protected] Corresponding Secretary – [email protected] Treasurer – Anne [email protected]

Photo: Carol Croft

Mark Your Calendar

2019 TMGA ConferenceApril 25 - 27 (Leadership Seminar,April 24)“Victoria – Nature’s Gateway”Victoria Community Center, 2905 E.North StreetVictoria TX 77901

The website for the conference is “up,”with registration and details. Bookmarkand visit the website frequently to watchfor more details and registration.

International MasterGardener ConferenceJune 17 - 21, 2019International Master GardenerConferenceValley Forge, Pennsylvania

Congratulations to the 2019 Board of Directors

The Hays County Master Gardener Association met on November 14, 2015 andelected the new board of directors.

President Matthew McKenzie, President Elect Patricia Hupp, Vice PresidentMary Conwill, Recording Secretary Helen Aristar-Dry, Corresponding SecretarySuzanne Love, Treasurer Patsy Liao. State Delegates Carol Croft, MarilynMcCray. Alternate Delegates Oona Mekas, Sandy Perkins.

Congratulations to the Fall 2018 Class!by Kathleen Crabill

From the Left Top: Patricia Hupp (Master Gardener) - Ass t. Program Coordinator, Amy McMi l l ian,Angel ica Maldonado-DeLeon, Jaclyn (Reann) Bolen, Laurie Turner and Phyl l i s Janows ki (Mas terGardener) - HCMGA Pres identFrom the Left Bottom: Whitney McShan, Monica Hammond, Gary Pers inger and Kathleen Crabi l lPhoto: Marilyn Love

The Fall 2018 Master Gardener Training Class celebrated the completion of therequired 50 hours of training on Saturday, November 3. Now, we are hard at workon the completion of our 50 volunteer hours and enthusiastically putting intopractice what we’ve learned.

As one of the members of the Fall Class, I discovered many new fascinatinggardening topics that I, and I expect others, will be taking time to research further.We came away from this course with a fresh outlook on gardening and how tohelp plants survive in Hays County while passing on this knowledge to ourcitizens.

Congratulations to the Master Gardener Interns and to Patricia Hupp and theTraining Committee on this successful Master Gardener course.

Photo: Marilyn McCrayOctober Membership Meeting

HCMGs Visit Texas Hill Country Olive Companyby Kathleen Crabill

A large group from the Hays County Master Gardeners Association met inDripping Springs on October 31 at the Texas Hill Country Olive Company to learnmore about the olive oil industry in Texas. Although rain was predicted, we werevery fortunate that it held off that morning, allowing us to enjoy the weather duringthe orchard tour.

The tour was led by owner, John Gambini. He covered the history of how the oliveindustry came to Texas and how his dream of an orchard was brought to fruitionwith trees in the ground by Spring of 2009. He also discussed challenges anorchard faces, including weather and pests. After a question and answer session,we joined him in the olive orchard where he introduced us to three of his orchard’ssix different varieties of olive trees. John discussed the differences in growth andpollination and his plans for a new variety of olive tree. Following the orchard tour,we were led into the Processing Mill where John explained the process for turningolives into healthy olive oil, all within 72 hours.

After the tour, the group wandered their store, tasting different varieties of oliveoils and wine which John is now making. Many of us sat down in their lovely Bistroto enjoy our pre-ordered lunches made with fresh organic ingredients, includingTexas Hill Country Olive Oils.

Junior Master Gardenersby Sara Ryza, Master Gardener

The Dripping Springs 4-H JuniorMaster Gardener group is underwayand the children are enjoying the fun,hands-on learning exercises. Thegroup meets once per month- twice already this school year - with Photo by Sara Ryza

the next meeting planned for Saturday,November 17. The participants learnabout the science of gardening, withchapters that replicate our own TexasMaster Gardener Handbook.

These 4-H members, ranging fromgrades 3 to 5, have learned from thechapters "Plant Growth andDevelopment" and "Soils andWater." While all the activities havebeen fun, they have probably enjoyedmaking mud pies the best. TheNovember meeting will be on "Ecologyand Environmental Horticulture." Twoactivities that we will include are TheFood Chain Gang and Making aNature Mask.

Each meeting ends with 30 minutes ofactual gardening in the vegetablegarden on the property where themeetings are held: New Life LutheranChurch in Dripping Springs. This

organization, on 12 acres, is open tothe community as a place for visitors toexplore the outdoors and welcomesour group enthusiastically.

Produce from the vegetable garden isdonated to the local food pantry. TheJunior Master Gardener students havelearned the importance of watering,thinning and weeding a garden. JuniorMaster Gardener meetings areplanned for each month through May.The children will have the opportunity toearn a Junior Master GardenerCertificate at the end of the year if theyhave completed each chapter of theguidebook.

Contact Sara Ryzaat [email protected] to volunteer inDripping Springs with Junior MasterGardener, or if you are interested instarting a Junior Master Gardenergroup in your area of Hays County.

Some of attendees at the Hill Country Trees Talk by Delbert Bassettin front of the Historic Oak relocated from building site of new City Municipal Offices.photo at Texas Arbor Day Celebration Buda Nov. 3, 2018Photo by CJ Croft

Speakers NetworkHappy First Anniversary Library Liaisons

by Carol J. Croft, Master Gardener, Speakers Network Chairperson

In the Winter of 2017 the Speakers Network launched a new concept by adding a teamof Library Liaisons. The team consists of one coordinator for each library where we

currently deliver the ”In The Garden Series” Speakers Network events. The combinedenergy, experience and ability to plan for and ensure all logistics were in place alongwith the many other tasks of a Liaison is amazing! The Team consists of Laura Daltonfor Wimberley Village Library, Marilyn Love for San Marcos Library, Rhonda Morris forBuda Library, and Connie Wierman for Kyle Library and myself for Dripping SpringsLibrary.

Happy 1stAnniversary Library Liaisons! The Speakers Network Committee wantsto express our appreciation for your dedicated efforts, follow through andpatience with the countless emails and phone calls. "Sincere thanks to all of youfor the collaborative effort!

“When a Speaker arrives to present for Speakers Network it’s so nice when theLibrary Liaison is on site to welcome and help us. The Liaisons have an importantrole and are always helpful and upbeat. They assist the Speakers with room andequipment set-up, greet participants, and take care of all the logistics, sign-insheet and feedback evaluations.”

Jacob's Well Updateby Ruth Daunt

Next group workday is Saturday, November 17beginning 8:30 a.m. All Volunteers are welcome towork in the garden any day from 9-5 for weedingadding compost, laying newspaper and mulch. Therewill be additional group workdays scheduled afterThanksgiving.

Only one of the three garden beds is complete withthe weeding/newspaper/mulching process leavingtwo more beds to be completed. We would love tohave a big group to work together and finish thisprocedure! Contact [email protected]

Patty Liles and Ruth DauntPhoto by Phyllis Janowski

HCMGA Members SpotlightAmy McMillan- HCMGA Volunteer Project Coordinatorby Phyllis Janowski

Photo: Sally Dickson

Amy McMillan is joining the Volunteer CoordinationCommittee as Project Coordinator. Amy, a recentgraduate of the Texas Master Gardener Program, grewup tending a “salsa” garden in her Houston backyard.Moving to the Austin area presented an opportunity tolearn more about native plants and gardening in Central

Texas. In addition to gardening, she enjoys quilting and visiting historiccourthouses in Texas.

As Project Coordinator, Amy will be the point-person for initiation of new volunteerprojects. She will be evaluating on-going projects for compliance with our TexasMaster Gardener objectives of promoting AgriLife horticultural education andbranding. She will also manage our marketing/branding materials and

informational handouts.

Amy is uniquely qualified to take on the role of Project Coordinator having spentmany years recruiting and coordinating volunteers for outreach events at theUniversity of Texas. Amy earned a dual B.A. (History, Physical Anthropology),from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. (Global Business), fromSt.Edwards University. She began working at UT over 20 years ago as anundergrad and now manages a team to oversee the business processes of 25departments and centers.

Texas Superstar®Program Monthly Update by Marilyn McCray, Master Gardener

Dwarf Cherry Surprise BHN 968 Solanum lycopersicum BHN 968

Judged four times sweeter than anycomparable cherry tomato in a seriesof taste tests performed by the SanAntonio Master Gardeners andAgriLife Extension, the Solanumlycopersicum BHN 968 commonlyknown as the Dwarf Cherry SurpriseBHN 968 was named a TexasSuperstar® in 2013.

Originally developed in Florida, theDwarf Cherry Surprise was developedas a greenhouse tomato and acommercial field tomato. It hasbecome a favorite variety for homegardeners, one of the easiest to growand produces an abundant yield ofcherry tomatoes. The fruit is one half tothree quarter inches in diameter.

Seed can be start 6 to 8 weeks prior tothe planting date in early spring afterthe danger of frost has past. Insummer, planting should be 80 to 90days before the first fall freeze. Plant infull sun for best results.

Photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife ExtensionService

Because of the tomato bush’s topheaviness, particularly when it has afruit load, be sure to stake theplants.Tomato cages should be largeenough, from 4- to 5-feet tall, with a 16-to 20-inch diameter.

More information about other TexasSuperstar® plants and a list ofwholesalers and retailers who stockthem can be foundat http://texassuperstar.com/.

Master Gardener Continuing Education

Master Gardener Advanced TrainingSpecialist Training has changed to Advanced Training where Master Gardenerscan obtain advanced training which supports or expands specific countyeducational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Read more aboutthe changes.

Advanced Training - VegetablesTexas A&M AgriLife Dallas County Extension Satellite Office715 Rowlett Road - Garland TX 75040

Wednesday February 13,Thursday February 14 and Friday February 15,2019The “Advanced Master Gardener – Vegetables” program is designed to provideadvanced training and resources to Master Gardeners and certify them to be apart of a state corps of Vegetable volunteers and educators.For more information, contact Steve Hudkins, Extension Horticulturist, 214-904-3050. [email protected] Registration fee of $235.00 per person includes 2 lunches, 1 dinner, snacks,drinks, 3 free vegetable books, required materials and supplies.

Advanced Training - Tree CareTexas A&M AgriLife Dallas County Extension Satellite Office715 Rowlett Road - Garland TX 75040Wednesday March 13, Thursday March 14, Friday March 15, 2019This training is designed to teach Master Gardener volunteers about landscapetrees and troubleshooting common tree problems so they can serve countyresidents and extend the outreach of Extension programming into the community.The training is designed to go above and beyond what you learned in the MasterGardener training course. Highly-qualified instructors will provide advancedtraining in the classroom as well as outdoor demonstrations of tree carepractices. For more information, contact Steve Hudkins, Extension Horticulturist, 214-904-3050. [email protected] of $175 per person. This fee covers all instruction, educationalmaterials, two meals, and refreshments.

Online Training Opportunities

2018 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series- FREE!Please join in for the 2018 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series. We willdiscuss troublesome insects such as invasive ants, landscape pests, and housedwellers as well as the 8-legged ones too (arachnids). Not all insects are bad,though, learn the differences in identification and how to welcome pollinators toyour area!.Webinars will be on the first Friday of each month at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Log inand Click on the title for more information.

The 2018 Webinars are brought to you by the Ant Pests and Urban IPMeXtensionCommunities of Practice; and by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System,the University of Georgia Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and ClemsonCooperative Extension.Series Coordinator: Dani Carroll, Auburn University. Marketing: Amanda Tedrow,University of Georgia Extension. Webinar Text Chat Moderators: TimDavis, University of Georgia Extension, and Vicky Bertagnolli-Heller,Clemson Cooperative Extension.

Earth-Kind® Training for Master GardenersTexas Master Gardeners may select on-line modules to obtain up to three hoursof re-certification education credits in a calendar year. Each module is worth 1hour of credit. Master Gardeners are not encouraged to seek re-certificationcredit for training modules they have completed in previous years.

Go to http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/training for more information.

Things to Do and Learn

San Antonio Botanical Gardens

Celebrate Plants – Fantastic Flora!Saturday November 17, 2018 - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.We’re celebrating the Lucile Halsell Conservatory’s glass houses and focusing onwhat we do best – grow and showcase plants! Learn about the Conservatory’s plantcollections, buy a unique plant to take home, attend a terrarium workshop, join ascavenger hunt, learn about endangered plants and more. Included with generaladmission.

Holidays in BloomNovember 23 – December 31, 2018 - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Visit the Garden with family and friends this holiday season and enjoy magicaldisplays through the end of the year. Garlands, red ribbons and other holidaydecorations welcome guests making the Garden a perfect setting for familyphotographs. Escape to nature with a stroll around the East Texas Lake and see thebeauty of the changing seasons. Included with general admission. Members enjoy thisexhibit for free.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Guided Garden Tour Wednesdays through Sundays, Through December 30 2018, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00a.m.Tour our gardens and trails with a knowledgeable volunteer docent and learnabout native plants and the history and architecture of the Center. Each of ourdocents bring their own special knowledge and interests to the tour, and siteschange throughout the seasons. Free with admission to the gardens.For more information

Foraging for Native Edibles Saturday November 17, 2018, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Fruits and flowers everywhere, but not a bite to eat? Learn foraging skills and discoverthe native plants that are safe for your plate, such as prickly pear and Texaspersimmon, on this identifying and harvesting tour with an expert. $25 perperson. Click here to register

Texas Arboretum TourSaturdays December 2 and December 16, 2018, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.Get your steps in while exploring the wonders of native trees (plus shrubs, grasses,flowers and more) in our Texas Arboretum, one of the most shaded trails at theWildflower Center. Walks will focus on native flora and Texas history, and you'll likelysee feathered friends along the way. Free with admission. Click here to register

Local Farmers Markets

Love local food?Looking for farmers markets in the Hays County area?

BudaSaturday 9:00 a.m. – Noon (March – October) 121 N. MainStreet, Buda TX 78610http://www.budafarmersmarket.com

Tuesday 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 767 Main at Gray Gardens,Buda TX 78610

Dripping SpringsWednesday 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Highway 290 & RR 12,Dripping Springs TX 78620http://www.cityofdrippingsprings.com/default.aspx?name=fm.home

HeadwatersSaturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 708 Headwaters Blvd,

Dripping Springs TX 78620https://liveheadwaters.com/headwaters-weekly-farmers-market/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-marketNew BraunfelsSaturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. S. Castell next to Friesenhaus, New Braunfels TX78130 830-629-2223Friday 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 2629 E. Common New, Braunfels TX 78130830-534-7908

San MarcosSaturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Near County Courthouse, San Marcos TX 78666830-534-7908Tuesday 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 Parking Lot adjacent to the CommunityThrift Shop Ranch Road 12, Wimberley TX 78676

Volunteer Opportunities

General Meeting FoodCommittee – Chairpersonneeded. Contact Suzanne

Love [email protected] (Preparation of refreshments for General Meetingearns hours)

BudaBuda Farmers Market Table – Need a Project Lead, contact Amy McMillan512-925-4063.Sundays 10 a.m. -2 p.m.308 South Main St. at Buda Mill & Grain Co., Buda, Texas 78610

Buda Public Library – Marilyn Davis [email protected] Thursdays 3-6 p.m.405 E. Loop St., Building 100 in Buda, Texas78610

Dripping SpringsDripping Springs Farmers Market Information Booth – Helen [email protected], Sue Zinn [email protected] 3-6 p.m.160 E. Mercer Street, Dripping Springs TX 78620

Dripping Springs Public Library Information Table – JeriMatzen [email protected] Thursdays 3-6 p.m. on the porch.501 Sportsplex Dr. in Dripping Springs TX 78620

Ranch Park Garden – Anne Forish [email protected] Event Center Dr, Dripping Springs TX 78620

Precinct 4 Garden – Connie Wierman [email protected] Roger Hanks Pkwy, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

KyleKyle Library Butterfly/Pollinator Gardener – RupaliPawar [email protected] Scott St, Kyle, TX 78640

Public Library Information Table, Kyle Library Gardens – RupaliPawar [email protected] Scott St, Kyle, TX 78640

San MarcosSan Marcos Discovery Center – Melissa Katz [email protected] Riverside Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666

San Marcos Farmers Market information Table – SueLove [email protected] Saturdays 9 a.m. -1p.m.155 E. San Antonio St. in San Marcos TX 78666

San Marcos Alamo Neighborhood Community Garden1224 Alamo St, San Marcos TX 78666 – June Tidwell [email protected]

Hays Caldwell Women’s Center – Marilyn Love [email protected]

WimberleyHCMGA Extension Office Precinct 3– BillPerkins [email protected] 200 Stillwater Drive, Wimberley, TX 78676

HCMGA Jacob’s Well Native Plant & Demonstration Garden – RuthDaunt [email protected] Mt. Sharp Rd. Wimberley, TX, 78676

Wimberley Public Library Information Table 400 FM2325, Wimberley TX78676 – Sandy Perkins [email protected] 3-6 p.m.400 Farm-to-Market 2325, Wimberley TX 78676

Wimberley Playhouse – Nick Bradshaw [email protected] Old Kyle Rd, Wimberley, TX 78676

These are on-going projects with a regular need for Volunteers. Contact the

project leader at the email listed to be scheduled. Please visit the project list athttps://texas.volunteersystem.org to sign up for these projects and/or to review thecomplete list of volunteer opportunities available.

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 PhyllisJanowski, Carol Croft, Kathy Mixon, Sara Ryza, Roy Thornton, Matt McKenzie,Ruth Daunt and Kathleen Crabill for their contributions and help with theproduction of this issue.Marilyn McCray, Editor

Newsletter SubmissionsWe are always looking for Hays County Master Gardeners who are interested inwriting 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 .rtf suffix).Space is limited so the text should be concise. Contact the editor for specificinformation.• 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,[email protected].

Hays County Master Gardners | 512.393.2120 | [email protected] | http://txmg.org/hays/