Hays County Master Gardeners … · Hays County Master Gardeners This newsletter is packed full of information and things to do. December 2017 President’s Message Your 2018 HCMG

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 Gardeners

This newsletter is packed full of information and things to do.

December 2017

President’s Message

Your 2018 HCMG board took office atour Holiday Luncheon. Here's a little bitabout us:

Phyllis (Philly) Janowski (HCMG 2015) Philly grew up in New Jersey and haslived in 6 states. She and husband Bradhave two children and twogranddaughters. Philly enjoyed anextensive career with FoleysDepartment stores, progressing fromBuyer to Vice President and traveling allover the world. Foleys' closingprompted her to earn a Master’s inEducation. She then taught SpecialEducation and fifth grade.

Matt McKenzie (HCMG2016)Raised in Oakland, California, Mattmoved to Wimberley with his fiancée,Emma Louise and his younger brother.2016 was a pivotal year for Mat. Heand Emma married and Matt became aMaster Gardener! Matt and his familyare transforming their home into asustainable homestead. “It’s a longterm goal but everyday offers uniqueopportunities and challenges."

Mary Conwill ( HCMG 2016) Mary was born and raised in St.Petersburg, Florida. She met husband

Suzanne Love ( HCMG 2012) Suzanneand husband Gordy are from the coldof Buffalo, New York and let careerstake them to warmer weather! Suzanneworked in Health Care Accreditationand accepted a position in Austin withthe benefit of being close to theirdaughter and family. Gordy recentlyretired from UT. The couple has 5grandchildren.

Janet Culver (HCMG 2016) Janet is a retired Nurse Anesthetist andspent 26 years in the medical field. Sheis proud to be a Veteran. Dr. Culver andhusband Chris have four sons and 8grandkids ranging from 2 to 17. She andChris are avid Cyclists, takingnumerous cycling trips throughoutEurope and domestically.

Anne Forish (HCMG 2015)Anne is married to John Holzer. They

George while both were on active dutyin the Army. They have three childrenand a toddler granddaughter. Now inDripping Springs, they previously livedin Lakeway where Mary owned an icecream shop and made all the icecream!

Do you enjoy Facebook?

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

have two daughters. Anne spent hercareer in Dallas as an Accountant. Shejust recently completed the MasterNaturalist Program and learned to knit.

Phyllis (Philly) JanowskiPresident of HCMGA

Officers

President – Phyllis Janowski [email protected] President-Elect – Matt [email protected] Vice President – Mary [email protected]

Recording Secretary - Janet [email protected]

Corresponding Secretary – [email protected]

Treasurer – Anne [email protected]

Upcoming MG General

Meetings

January MeetingWednesday, January 2412:00 – 2:00 p.m.Extension Office, at 200 Stillwater, offHighway 12 Wimberley, TX 78676Jennifer Perez from Austin BotanicalCouncil will speak to us on MedicinalHerbs.**Please note that evening meetings have been

scheduled for those who work. All of the meetings

listed above are CEU eligible.

Get Your Copy Today!Seeds to TableThe Hays County

The 2018 Texas Master GardenerConference will be held in CollegeStation, Wednesday, April 4 toFriday, April 6, 2018. Join us as wecelebrate the 40th Anniversary of theMaster Gardener Program in the stateof Texas and unveil the Earth-Kind®Gardens within The Gardens at TexasA&M University.

Register before December 31 to takeadvantage of the "Early Bird" rate($255). Make your reservation by

Master GardenerCookbook Now $15.00.

For mail order, checkspayable to Hays CountyMaster Gardeners canbe mailed to the Hays

County Extension Office, 200 Stillwater,Wimberley, TX 78676.

following this link.

Master Gardeners LoveSharing!Have you seen Hays County MasterGardener Claudia Oney's informativeblog?http://www.cottonwoodcreekfarm.net

The 2018 Board of Directors: Phyllis (Philly) Janowski, Mary Conwill, Janet Culver, Matt McKinsey, AnneForish, Suzanne Love. Photo by Marilyn McCray

December Meeting – Pot Luck and Celebration

The Hays County Master Gardner Association met for the annual Pot Luck at theOldham-Cummings VFW Post in Wimberley. Outgoing President. Lori Broughtonwelcomed members and their guests. The program included the installation ofofficers for 2018 and awards for outstanding volunteer service. Thanks toeveryone who contributed the festive food.

Photo by Marilyn McCray

Congratulations Fall 2017 Class!By Marilyn Love, Master Gardener

On November 15, the 16 members of the Fall 2017 Master Gardener Training Classcelebrated the completion of their training hours. Now they are hard at work on thecompletion of their 50 volunteer hours.Two students, Beverly Paterson and Steve Galloway,have already completed their hours and are officially Master Gardeners. Congratulations tothe MG trainees and to Joe Urbach and his committee on the successful MG course!

News from Our Speakers Network for December 2017by

Carol Croft – Project Leader, Speakers Network

The Speakers Network will launch the new Library Liaison concept next year.Committee Members met to review lessons learned, ideas and areas forimprovement and to define roles and responsibilities. Library Liaisons includeConnie Wierman - Kyle, Marilyn Love - San Marcos, Rhonda Morris - Buda,Rosaura Gomez – Wimberley, and Carol Croft - Dripping Springs. The LibraryLiaisons will work with their Library Contact, Patrons and the Community to betterunderstand unique interests and requests, preferred dates and times in order tocustomize and better meet their needs. The initial high attendance numbers in2016 and early 2017 at libraries began to dwindle after topics were repeatedbringing to light a valuable learning point, we need to continue to expand thecurriculum. This will be a primary goal for 2018 and one needed to better respondto all requests from the community.

Thanks to the strong level of interest and support from Membership multiple topicsare now in development that will expand the curriculum. A few include: Bee

Keeping by Deborah Bossley, Composting by Forrest Arnold, Gardening with

Challenges by Marilyn Mc Cray, Gardening with RA by Helen Aristar-Dry,Grafting Fruit Trees by Matt Mackenzie , How to ID and Manage Oak Wilt byJohn Young and Delbert Bassett, Spring Vegetable Gardening by SuzanneLove, and Water Wise Gardening by Lori Broughton. “In The Garden Library Series” and Special Requests for January: (seeVMS Calendar for details)Jan 5th “Attracting Pollinators” with Joe Blanford, Kyle Garden Club

Jan 18th “The Monarch Butterfly” with Diana Black, Dripping Springs LibraryJan 20th “Hays County Master Gardener Program Overview” - Marilyn Love, BudaLibraryJan 25th “Hays County Master Gardener Program Overview” - Marilyn Love, SanMarcos Library

The Water Saving GardenBy Linda Gurasich, Master Gardener

I attended a meeting of Pam Penick’sGarden Spark series of talks. She hoststhese at her house and either presentsher own topic or brings in aspeaker. The one I attended included atour of her yard where she has spentyears experimenting, planting, andcreating. You always pick up so manygreat ideas when you tour. Followingthat, she gave a slide show of othergardens and we received her book,The Water-Saving Garden. There wasone picture in the book that reallyinspired me. My front yard has a lot ofgrass. I never wanted that but it slopesfrom the street down toward the houseand we quickly lost a lot of soil when wegot rain before we had done anyplanting. The landscape architect saidwe needed grass to hold the soil. Thattalk was all I needed to announce, “I’mgoing to tear up the grass and put in acouple of terraced beds!” My husbandloves when I go to a seminar! He knowsthere will be work or money

involved! I took photos before andafter. It looks sparse now as I left roomfor spring planting. But it will fill in and thebutterflies will love it.

Texas Superstar®program Monthly Update Marilyn McCray, Master Gardener

Tycoon Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum ‘Tycoon’

Released in 2001 at the San AntonioLivestock Exposition, Tycoon, a Texas

Superstar®, can produce tomatoes as

large as one pound or heavier ofsuperior quality. Tycoon has a verygood sugar-to-acid ratio, with apleasant flavor. It has superiorresistance to diseases like tomatoyellow leaf curl virus which was a major

Photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLi fe Extens ion

Service

factor in its being chosen as aSuperstar® and tolerates Texas heatwell. Superstars® must also be easy topropagate—which ensures the plantsare not only widely available throughoutTexas, but also reasonably priced.

Consider starting seed 6 to 8 weeksprior to the planting date in early

spring after the danger of frost haspassed and in the summer 80 to 90days prior to the first freeze in the fall.Plant high quality transplants in well-drained soil with full sun for optimumproduction.

A listing of retailers who participate canbe found athttp://texassuperstar.com/retailers/.

Master Gardner Continuing Education

Specialist Training- Vegetable Specialist Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service/Dallas County 10056 Marsh Lane, Dallas, TX 75229 Wednesday, February 14, – Friday 16, 2018 The Vegetable Specialist program is designed to train and certify MasterGardeners to become part of a state corps of volunteer experts and educators. Fee: $235 Covers one dinner (Wednesday Night), two lunches, snacks, drinks,equipment, jump drive and resource materials distributed duringcourse. Deadline: January 26, 2018 For more information and registration: Steve Hudkins: ([email protected]) - 214-904-3050

Specialist Training - Plant Health and Diagnostics EducatorGonzales Master GardenersPace Building, 623 N Fair Street, Gonzales, TX 78629Thursday – Friday, February 8 – 9, 2018The Plant Health & Diagnostics Education Specialist course is designed to provideMaster Gardener Specialist candidates with a science-based understanding intoissues of plant health and management strategies. Fee: $185 For more information, call the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension-Gonzales CountyOffice or Master Gardener Gail Johnson (830) 491-1996. Click here to Register

Landscape Design Course VI, Series XXVGeorge Bush Presidential Library and Museum1218 Haines Drive, College Station Texas 77840Monday, February 26 – Tuesday, February 12, 2018Monday 8:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday 8::30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.The School is open to anyone wishing to add to their knowledge of LandscapeDesign.Fee: $135 if paid by January 1, 2018. After January 1 to February $145.Covers instruction and two lunches. Reference book additional $40.For more information and registration:Michele Wehrheim, Registrar:[email protected]

Online Training Opportunities

2017 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series- FREE!Please join in for the 2017 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series. In this

webinar, Dr. Derrick Mathias, Assistant Professor, Auburn University will discussmedically important mosquitoes and mosquito-borne viruses endemic to andthreatening the Southeast. Learn about mosquito ecology, virus transmission, signsand symptoms of mosquito borne illnesses and how to assess your risk ofinfection. Moderated by Ellen Huckabay and Lucy Edwards, Regional ExtensionAgents, Alabama Extension. Click here to login as a guest and participate in thelive event.

Webinars will be on the first Friday of each month at 2 p.m. Eastern time. The 2017Webinars are brought to you by the Ant Pests and Urban IPMeXtensionCommunities of Practice; and by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, theUniversity of Georgia Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and ClemsonCooperative 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 1 hourof credit. Master Gardeners are not encouraged to seek re-certification credit fortraining modules they have completed in previous years.

Go to http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/training for more information. Themodules available online are:• Landscape Water Conservation• Low Volume Irrigation• Irrigation System Auditing• Safe Use and Handling of Pesticides in the Landscape• Safe Use and Handling of Fertilizers in the Landscape• Reducing Landscape Wastes – Composting• Designing an Earth-Kind® Landscape• Landscaping for Energy Conservation• Creating Native Habitat• Earth-Kind® Roses• Integrated Pest Management• Pest Management for Crape Myrtles

Things to Do and Learn

San Antonio Botanical Gardens

Holidays in BloomDecember 2017Included with general admission. Members enjoy this exhibit forfree. Garlands, red ribbons and other holiday decorations

welcome guests making the Garden a perfect setting for family photographs. Visitthe Garden with family and friends this holiday season and enjoy magical displaysthrough the end of the year.

Bird WalksSaturday, December 16, 2017 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.Take a walk with a birding docent and discover how many different featheredfriends you can spot at the Garden. Meet at 9:00 am in the Carriage House for awalk that starts at 9:15 am with a birding docent. Walk is free to members or withpaid admission but registration is required.

Family Adventure Garden – Coming Spring 2018Saturday, March 3, 2018Experience 15 fun spaces that encourage unstructured play and exploration. Runup and roll down Tumble Hill, find your way through the kid-friendly Muhly Maze,and trek through Thunder Ridge where a clap of thunder starts a water playadventure in the Greehy Family Foundation No Name Creek. Parents andcaregivers will find plenty of places within the Family Adventure Garden for resting,picnicking, and socializing with friends. (Stroller parking, bathrooms, and water refillstations included.)

Zilker Botanical Gardens

No December Events

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Winter, Wonder, Land Saturday, December 16, 2017 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.Discover how life goes on outdoors when the days grow colder and shorter. Learnabout lifecycles, take a hike to observe flora and fauna in the gardens and naturalareas, and create a winter bouquet to celebrate the season! $40 per person.Click here to register

Winter Care for Native Plants Saturday, January 6, 2018 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Whether you’re interested in converting yards into climate-adapted native planthabitats or you’re already maintaining a native landscape, this workshop willintroduce tips and tricks for keeping Texas plants healthy through the winter.$15.00 per adult, $10.00 per child | Members receive 10% off registration.Click here to register

Tree Pruning Workshop Saturday, January 20, 2018 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.For every tree there’s a tool and for every tool there’s a technique! Trees give usso much — learn how to keep them healthy and happy with proper pruningtechnique from landscaping expert Colleen Dieter. $30 per personClick here to register

Local Farmers Markets

Love local food?

Looking for farmers markets in the Hays Countyarea?

BudaSaturday 9:00 a.m. – Noon (March – October) 121 N. Main Streethttp://www.budafarmersmarket.com

Dripping SpringsWednesday 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Hwy 290 & RR 12http://www.cityofdrippingsprings.com/default.aspx?name=fm.homeLockhart

Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. South of City Square 512-565-3981

New BraunfelsSaturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. S. Castell next to Friesenhaus 830-629-2223Fri 3 – 6 2629 E. Common 830-534-7908

San MarcosTuesday 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 104 C.M. Allen Parkway 830-534-7908 2 Thursday in April 11a.m. – 3 p.m. Texas State Quadhttp://ediblesanmarcos.wordpress.com Saturday 9 a.m. –1 p.m. Near County Courthouse 830-534-7908

SeguinWednesday 9:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. 510 Fleming Street

WimberleyWednesday 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. 14050 Ranch Road12 http://visitwimberley.com/marketdaysSaturday 9:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.14050 Ranch Road 12 Look up Ranch Road 12Farmers’ Market on Facebook

Volunteer Opportunities*

AustinLadybird Johnson Wildflower Center (see website forapplication: http://www.wildflower.org)Manchaca Methodist Church Community Garden (FM

1626 & Manchaca) – Delbert Bassett 512-858-

4923

BudaOnion Creek Senior Center – Pamala Nelson [email protected]

Dripping SpringsGiving Garden/DS Presbyterian Church – Laura Payne –[email protected] & George Attie [email protected] Springs Farmers Market Information Table - Philly Janowski –[email protected] Public Library Information Table – George Attie [email protected] Park (Milkweed Plantings) – Anne Forish [email protected] Rooster Springs Elementary – Jen Sims [email protected] Dogs – Janice WycoffTomato Roundup – Diana Black

KylePublic Library Information Table – Christine Greve [email protected]

San MarcosAlamo Community Garden – June Tidwell [email protected] Neighborhood Garden – Elaine Johnson [email protected] Women’s Ctr – Marilyn Love [email protected] County Extension Gardens – Carole Peterson [email protected] County Food Bank Landscaping Project – Valerie [email protected], Gretta Walhovd [email protected],[email protected]

Hays County Food Bank property’s gardens – Caryn Clark [email protected] County Junior Master Gardeners in local schools – Kelly Giesler,[email protected]. Mark's Episcopal Church, 3039 Ranch Road 12 – June [email protected] Marcos Discovery Center – Melissa Katz at [email protected]

West Cave PreserveWest Cave Preserve Butterfly Garden – Linda Gurasich 480-570-7814

Wimberley

Master Gardener Greenhouse – Philly Janowski [email protected]

Wimberley Trade Days – Philly Janowski [email protected] Ann Theater – Shirley Hunt [email protected] Library – Jo Hackett [email protected]

*Please visit the projects list at https://texas.volunteersystem.org for the mostcurrent list of volunteer opportunities.

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, Lori Broughton, Carol Croft, and Mario Garza for their help with theproduction of this issue.Marilyn McCray and Kathy Mixon

Newsletter SubmissionsWe are always looking for Hays County Master Gardeners who are interested inwriting for our newsletter and we would love to see your articles, 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.• Please send images as separate attachments .jpg suffix). Don’t forget to include photographer acknowledgments and captions. Send your submissions, announcements, and questions to: Marilyn McCray,[email protected] or Kathy Mixon, [email protected].

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