October 4, 2023

Mexican white oaks on the Texas A&M University campus. The native trees were named the newest Texas Superstar plant. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller)

Mexican white oak named Texas Superstar shade tree

By Adam Russell

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Looking for a Texas Superstar-worthy shade tree? The Mexican white oak fits the bill.

Mexican white oak, also known as Coahuila oak, Mexican oak, Monterrey oak, Monterrey white oak or net-leaf white oak, performs as a handsome shade, street or park tree across the state, said Mike Arnold, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research horticulturist and Texas Superstar executive board member, Bryan-College Station.

The tree is a relative newcomer to the Texas nursery trade, but it has proven to be a great addition as a shade tree because it can tolerate hot, dry, windy conditions, he said.

With a unique blend of adaptability and beauty, this shade tree swiftly earned its place as a Texas Superstar plant, captivating both homeowners and landscaping professionals in the field.

Plant explorers found tree populations in Val Verde County in the 1990s, so both Texas and Mexico can claim the Mexican white oak as a native, Arnold said.

Its foliage, marked by an array of variable lobes, casts a canopy of green and hues of blue. In its youthful stages, this oak showcases an upright oval form before maturing into a medium-sized tree that’s perfect for shading streets, parks and gardens.

The tree’s rich, dense canopy is tardily deciduous in colder parts of its range to semi-evergreen in warmer areas, he said. Mexican white oak persists through the harshest of conditions, braving the sweltering Texas heat as well as winter temperature fluctuations.

“The Mexican white oak’s performance during winters of U.S. Department of Agriculture zone 7 and warmer portions of zone 6 have been impressive,” Arnold said. “It is rapidly becoming a welcome addition to the Texas plant palette.”

To be designated a Texas Superstar, a plant must perform well for growers throughout the state. Texas Superstars must also be easy to propagate, ensuring the plants are widely available and reasonably priced.

Mexican white oak has it all

Mexican white oak trees perform best in full sun and soils with good drainage. Trees appear to endure open exposures, even those with reflected heat, minimal irrigation and windy locations. Salinity exposure has not been fully documented, but the trees tolerate a wide range of soil pH and exposure to at least moderate salinity, as long as irrigation is applied via drip rather than overhead.

Typically, trees mature to a height of 35-45 feet but can grow to as much as 60 feet tall on more favorable sites, he said. They provide a well-proportioned canopy around single and double story structures, and with a spread typically two-thirds to equal its height, they offer a perfect blend of shade and aesthetic appeal.

Not only is the Mexican white oak a visual delight, but it’s also a boon for nature, Arnold said. It aids in soil stabilization and offers a bountiful supply of acorns to sustain wildlife populations in the fall.

As a hardy deciduous to semi-evergreen woody perennial, the Mexican white oak flaunts its beauty through the seasons, he added. Planting opportunities vary from fall in warmer regions to early spring and summer in cooler locations.

Despite its relatively recent introduction to the horticultural stage, the Mexican white oak has swiftly gained favor for its steadfastness in the face of environmental challenges, Arnold said. Trees also appear to tolerate humid climates with minimal foliar diseases, something seldom seen in xeric climate plants when moved to higher rainfall regions of the upper Gulf Coast.

Widespread planting of the tree has only occurred over the past two decades, which is a somewhat limited window for a long-lived tree. But its ability to endure environmental fluctuations during that time underscores its potential as a valued landscape addition to the South-Central U.S., notably in Texas.

Arnold said the Mexican white oak’s semi-evergreen nature, canopy shapes and foliar coloration is variable among genotypes, which makes the tree an interesting species for continued trials and breeding potential to improve cultivars.

At this time, relative susceptibility of Mexican white oak to oak wilt has not fully been documented, so Arnold recommends using soils where oak wilt has not been shown to be a problem.

“In a world where landscaping choices are more important than ever, the Mexican white oak stands as a symbol of resilience, adaptability and natural elegance — a true ‘superstar’ in the diverse tapestry of Texas flora,” Arnold said.

Texas Superstar is a registered trademark owned by Texas A&M AgriLife Research. Plants are designated by the Texas Superstar executive board, which is comprised of nine horticulturists from AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

How to prevent lawn disease in the fall

By Valerie Smith

Sod Solutions Content Strategist

Fall is almost here! It’s about the time of year for homeowners to begin noticing irregular patches of brown grass throughout their lawns. It is important to know that while temperatures drop outside, soil conditions also change. This results in a few changes in your grass and creates optimum environments for disease to take over. Read on to learn more about how you can prevent fungus in your lawn this season.

How do I prevent lawn disease in the fall?

There are a few actionable recommendations for preventing lawn disease. Generally, disease loves shady, moist areas in your lawn. Reducing this kind of environment will help significantly.

Reduce Watering

You can start by reducing the amount of moisture in your lawn by changing your watering habits if you are watering too frequently. You will still want to water your lawn to prevent stress—just reduce the amount of time spent doing this. Watering in the mornings is recommended so that the sunlight helps your lawn dry before cooler temperatures occur during nightfall. Water your lawn less frequently and water deeper during the times you schedule for irrigation.

Manage Fallen Leaves

Remove fallen leaves during this time of year as well. Leaves create shady areas in your lawn that encourage disease due to the lack of sunlight.

Loosen Compact Soil

Make sure your soil is absorbing water appropriately. If you have really compact soil where water tends to pool up, consider aerating or raking in a mix of topsoil to help.

Apply Fungicide Preventatively

One of the best recommendations for preventing lawn disease is to make preventive applications of a systemic fungicide. This helps to prevent lawn disease from occurring in the first place.

How do I apply fungicide preventatively?

It is recommended you apply a fungicide at preventative rates around this time as it will help the grass enter colder months in a healthier condition. If you have had a fungus before, you may need multiple applications in affected areas from the past. If spring dead spot was a problem, apply a fungicide at high rates to the problem area(s). Consider mapping those areas because fungicide treatment can be expensive. The use of a spray dye like the one linked below may help you. If you use a granular fungicide variety, water the lawn immediately after application to help with soil absorption.

What is the difference between preventive and curative application rates?

Fungicides can be applied at two rates: preventively or curatively. Preventive rates are less than curative rates. Preventive application rates should be used to prevent lawn disease whereas curative application rates should be used to “cure” an already present disease.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In other words, preventive application rates are significantly less than curative application rates for lawn disease. Since you will apply more fungicide at a curative application rate, you will also spend more money. If you play it safe and apply fungicide at preventive rates, the likelihood of experiencing lawn disease in the first place is less — plus, you apply at smaller application rates and therefore save more money. Your grass will not endure stress or damage as well.

It is always good to go ahead and apply fungicide preventively, so you don’t wind up spending more money.

What are some common lawn diseases in the fall?

As with any lawn disease, the type of fungus you may be experiencing really depends on your climate and location. However, some of the most common lawn diseases we see in the fall are brown patch, take-all root rot (TARR), large patch and dollar spot. See the images below for visual representations of what these diseases look like in lawns.

What are some recommended fungicides for this time of year?

Most bags or bottles of fungicide will instruct you on how much you should be applying, but generally speaking, curative rates are four to five times higher than preventive rates. Active ingredients for fungicides can range from azoxystrobin (Heritage), fluoxastrobin (Fame), triadimefon + trifloxystrobin (Armada 50 WDG), thiophanate-methyl (3336F), myclobutanil (Eagle 20EW) and others.

Lastly, it should be noted that having a healthy lawn that is properly fertilized with the right amount of nutrients will ensure that your grass bounces back from disease or insect pressure quickly. If you currently have an existing lawn disease or suspect one in your lawn, avoid fertilizers rich in nitrogen content as this will serve to feed the lawn disease and promote its growth.

Kindergarten, preschool and Head Start teachers can use the new course as a complement to the Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! curriculum. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

New course for preschool teachers encourages children’s love for gardening

By Paul Schattenberg

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

The Junior Master Gardener program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has added the “Implementing the Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! Curriculum” course to its AgriLife Learn platform as a way to help instructors successfully teach their gardening-based curriculum in the preschool classroom.

“This course will overview this popular school garden, nutrition and physical activity unit specifically developed for students in pre-K through kindergarten,” said Randy Seagraves, AgriLife Extension program specialist and international Junior Master Gardener program curriculum director, Bryan-College Station.

The purpose of the course

Seagraves said as a complement or preview to the Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! curriculum, the teacher-friendly course will prepare those implementing the curriculum to lead its lessons and activities, as well as use the many teacher resources that support it.

“If you are a preschool, Head Start or kindergarten teacher, or any other early childhood educator, you will love this fun, video-based course that will help you become familiar with the program and see this curriculum in action,” he said.

The course costs $18 and can be found at https://JMGkids.us/earlychildhood/course/. It is designed to:

• Empower early childhood teachers to become very familiar with Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! by seeing the curriculum in action in a preschool environment.
• Equip early childhood teachers to effectively implement lessons, activities and dynamic curriculum resources.
• Engage parents and families to be a part of this garden-based program and maximize benefits to students who will carry the lessons home with them.

Those using the curriculum will be introduced to daily lessons with weekly resources. They can select four featured lessons and activities each week to see the curriculum taught in actual preschool classrooms.

Jodi Nerren, AgriLife Extension specialist in early childhood health and safety, Bryan-College Station, said the course can be used to fulfill training requirements from Child Care Regulation of Texas Health and Human Services, providing two clock hours of credit under the topic of Age-Appropriate Curriculum. She said it also aligns with Texas’ Core Competencies for Early Childhood Practitioners and Administrators, 3.2 Curriculum and Standards.

“As with all our online courses for early childhood professionals, those who complete this course will receive a certificate and, for users who meet certain criteria, that certificate will automatically upload to their accounts in the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System Workforce Registry,” she said.

The Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat and Go! curriculum

The curriculum provides rich, interesting lessons, as well as group activities and a host of proven resources crafted around weekly plant themes. It is a four-week curriculum with these specific themes:

• Week 1: Plant Needs and Plant Parts.

• Week 2: Seeds and Roots.

• Week 3: Stems and Leaves.

• Week 4: Flowers and Fruit.

The curriculum was developed specifically for students 4-5 years old. It combines and novel ways to engage parents, schools and the community.

“This is the most age-specific group of children for which we have developed a Junior Master Gardener curriculum,” Seagraves said. “And it can potentially make significant changes in youth perceptions about food and nutrition.”

He said when our youngest students are engaged and active hands-on learners in a school gardening project, they not only grow plants but also grow academically, socially and emotionally.

To learn more about the curriculum offerings of the Junior Master Gardener program, visit https://jmgkids.us/.

OCTOBER

La Marque: “Patio Citrus” presented by Horticulture Agent Stephen Brueggerhoff about growing various citrus in containers on the patio. October 7, Saturday 9-11 a.m. a Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office classroom located inside Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. For additional information and to pre-register: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture or call 281-309-5065.

Online: Green Thumb Gardening Lecture Series: “Trees and Tree Care” by Harris County Master Gardeners with Harris County Community College, Monday, October 9, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Free Virtual Lecture. Register in advance to receive the link: hccs.edu/community-learning-workshops.

Houston & Online: Anita Clevenger will discuss ramblers and Ann Belovich’s amazing collection of over 350 varieties of rare ramblers that were located in the state of Washington. Anita will be joined by Claude Graves, who will share what the American Rose Society and the American Rose Center are doing to replicate and preserve Ann’s collection, as well as, establish a national conservation effort to reintroduce the ramblers into commerce and America’s gardens. This meeting has been approved for one hour of continuing education credit for ARS Consulting Rosarians. CRs are required to register by email to president@houstonrose.org with your GTM Screen name, email address, and rose society name in order to receive credit. This meeting is a hybrid meeting so you can join from home or office using a smart phone, tablet or computer using GoTo Meeting by clicking on the link below on October 12 at 7 p.m. or attending in person at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 1819 Heights Blvd., Houston. https://meet.goto.com/479378477. Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install.

Houston: Ask A Master Gardener with Harris County Master Gardeners, Thursday, October 12, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Friday, October 13, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Saturday, October 14, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The Church of St. John The Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd. Houston. Bring your gardening questions to “Ask A Master Gardener” at the Bulb & Plant Mart.

Houston: Genoa Friendship Garden: Open Garden Day, Monday, October 16, 8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Tour a variety of planting exhibits and meet with Harris County Master Gardeners. Plants will be available for sale in the greenhouse. Genoa Friendship Gardens, 1210 Genoa Red Bluff Road, Houston. Free.

Online: Green Thumb Gardening Lecture Series: “Trees and Tree Care” by Harris County Master Gardeners with Harris County Public Library, Tuesday, October 17, 11:00 a.m.-noon. Free Virtual Lecture. No reservation required. Watch on Facebook at facebook.com/harriscountypl/events

San Antonio: Fall Floral Design School 2023, taught by The Rose Boutique, October 17, Noon-2 p.m., 3310 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio. $40 per class. Must be paid one week in advance, credit cards, checks or cash. Fee includes container, fresh flowers and greenery. Take home a beautiful, finished project. Remember to bring your floral tools, such as scissors & wire cutters. For more information, call 210-824-9981 or email info@sanantoniogardencenter.org.

La Marque: “Galveston County Master Gardener – 2nd Annual Fall Festival & Plant Sale” 9 a.m.-1 p.m., October 21. Fun, food, discovery, featuring Discovery Garden Tours and seminars, “Ask a Master Gardener” and Galveston County AgriLife Extension program booths, Master Gardener grown plants, Fall vegetables, herbs, bulbs, and more. Galveston County Master Gardener Discovery Garden inside Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. For additional information https://txmg.org/galveston or call 281-534-3413.

Tyler: For their 25th anniversary, the Smith County Master Gardeners will present well-known speakers and authors Chris Weisinger of The Southern Bulb Company and Greg Grant, Smith County’s Texas A&M AgriLife Extension horticulturist. The lectures begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 21, at Pollard United Methodist Church (3030 New Copeland Road, Tyler). They will be bringing a selection of their own East Texas grown bulbs for the sale to those who attend the conference. Attendees will also have a chance to win fabulous door prizes, including two wonderful, two-night getaway packages, and a “super-sampler” of locally grown bulbs. After the door prizes are awarded, there will be a mini “Run for the Bulbs” when the special bulbs farmed by the speakers are presented for sale; first come; first served. The SCMG webstore (scmg-online.company.site) will open at 7 a.m. on Monday, 9 October, and close at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 18 October. Bulbs featured in the sale are all locally-trialed, hardy, heirloom, and hard-to-find. Quite a few of them rarely available for sale. A small selection of hardy trees and shrubs, along with autographed books by the two speakers, plus the new SCMG 2024 calendar and garden guide will be available for pre-order. Anything ordered from the webstore must be picked up between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday, 21 October, beginning immediately after the conference. During pick-up hours, there will be a plethora of Smith County Master Gardeners to answer gardening questions; “bonus” bulbs, artwork, and T-shirts for sale; children’s activities, and more helping them celebrate their exciting milestone. For more information, visit the Smith County Master Gardener website at https://txmg.org/smith/ or follow them on Facebook. Proceeds from the sale support horticulture education in Smith County, the Tyler Botanical Garden, and scholarships for horticulture students at Texas A&M and Stephen F. Austin State Universities. Smith County Master Gardeners are trained volunteers through the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

La Marque: “Becoming A Master Gardener.” Texas Master Gardeners are experienced volunteers devoted to public education about gardens, lawns, trees, flowers, and fruits. Join Galveston County Master Gardeners for a roundtable seminar October 28 exploring the 2024 TMG training program, and how to apply to become a Texas Master Gardener at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office classroom located inside Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. Pre-register for this seminar and learn more: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture or call 281-309-5065.

La Marque: “Plumeria Care in Winter,” a presentation by Galveston County Master Gardener plumeria expert Loretta Osteen, October 28, 1-3 p.m. at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office classroom located inside Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. For additional information and to pre-register: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture or call 281-309-5065.

McKinney: The 2023 CCMGA Fall Plant Sale, presented by The Collin County Master Gardeners Association, will be held Saturday, October 28, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. or until sold out. This event will be held in the Show Barn at Myers Park & Event Center in McKinney. Proceeds from the sale benefit community outreach programs, horticultural education programs, workshops, and water conservation education throughout Collin County. Fall is the best time for planting in North Texas. Gardeners know they can find the best plants for North Texas gardens at The CCMGA Fall Plant Sale. CCMGA has carefully curated a collection of locally grown drought tolerant plants that are well suited to our climate and will perform well in North Texas gardens. Attendees will find a selection of cool-season annuals along with dozens of varieties of perennials, shrubs, ferns, grasses, groundcovers, succulents, vines, daylilies and annuals that are not typically found at big box stores. CCMGA has worked with our growers to offer increased inventory for the sale. Collin County Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice to help homeowners plant with success. Arrive early for best selection! There is no sales tax, and purchases can be made by cash, check, or credit card. Bringing your own cart or wagon is recommended. With the exception of Service Dogs, No Dogs Allowed. Parking is free. The 2023 CCMGA Fall Plant Sale will be held rain or shine inside the Show Barn at Myers Park located at 7117 County Road 166, McKinney. To learn more visit www.ccmgatx.org.

Monthly Meetings

If you would like your organization's events included in "Monthly Meetings" or would like to make a change to a listed meeting, please contact us at Monthly Meetings. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details. 

FIRST WEEK

Jasper: The Jasper County Master Gardeners meet on the first Monday of each month at St. Michael's Catholic Church from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The evening begins with pot luck social and then guest presentations and/or educational class to conclude. Visit https://jasper.agrilife.org/jasper-master-gardeners/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting; Visit  https://mastergardener.tamu.edu/become/ to become a member.

Kaufman: The Kaufman County Master Gardener Association meets the first Monday of each month (second Monday if the first is a holiday) the First Community Church at 1402 Trinity Drive in Crandall. An educational program begins at 10 a.m., followed by the business meeting. For topic and additional information, visit http://www.kcmga.org/ and check Events. Refreshments will be available. For more information or to ask about accommodations, call 469-376-4520, or email Jackie Robertson at jrobertson@ag.tamu.edu.

Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners meet the first Monday of each month at Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road, Houston. Announcements begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by an educational lecture. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu/lecture-series.

Schulenberg: Schulenburg Garden Club meets the first Tuesday of each month, at 11:30 a.m., September-May, at the Schulenburg First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 110 Upton Ave., Schulenburg.

Corpus Christi: The Coastal Bend Cactus and Succulent Society meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Dr., Corpus Christi. The purpose is to stimulate an interest in cactus and succulent plants by providing a forum to foster and broaden knowledge of the plants. Join the society on Facebook: Coastal Bend Cactus & Succulent Society.

Dallas: Garden Masters, Inc., meet the first Wednesday of each month, Sept.- May, at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd., Dallas, 75230. The club hosts different speakers each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come early and order lunch from the The Cafe, which features a healthy menu, fresh local produce and sustainably produced meats and fish (or call in advance to order 972-338-2233). For more information about Garden Masters Inc, email Marcia Borders at borderlineart1@gmail.com.

Kerrville: Hill Country Master Gardeners meet the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm at Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 Hwy 27. For more information visit www.hillcountrymastergardeners.org.

Midland: The Permian Basin Master Gardeners (Ector/Midland counties) have monthly meetings at noon on the first Wednesday of each month at the West Texas Food Bank, 1601 Westcliff Drive in Midland. For more information call 432-498-4071 or 432-686-4700.

Navasota: The Navasota Garden Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month (September through May) at 10:00 a.m., at the First Baptist Church Family Life Building, 500 E. Holland St., Navasota. If not meeting at the church, a change of meeting notice will be placed on the door of the Family Life Building. Guests are welcome. Members are from Grimes County and surrounding counties.

San Antonio: The San Antonio Garden Center meets on the first Wednesday of each month from September – May at 3310 N. New Braunfels @ Funston, San Antonio. Social and plant sale begins at 9:30 a.m. Program at 10 a.m. Open to the public. For more information visit www.sanantoniogardencenter.org.

Allen: The Allen Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, February through December, at the Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main St., Allen. For more information, visit www.allengardenclub.org.

Atlanta: The Cass County Master Gardeners meet the first Thursday of each month at the Atlanta Memorial Hospital Conference Room, State Highway 77 @ S. Williams St., Atlanta. A business meeting is followed by an educational program. The public is welcome to attend. For additional information, call 903-756-5391 or visit http://cass.agrilife.org. 

Fort Worth: The Native Plant Society of Texas - North Central Chapter meets the first Thursday of each month, excluding January and July, at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7:00 p.m. Guest speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Members, friends, family, guests and the public are welcome. For a list of speakers and topics or more information, visit http://www.txnativeplants.org.

Hempstead: The Waller County Master Gardeners usually meet at 9 a.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Waller County AgriLife Extension Office, 846 6th St., Hempstead. For more information on the meeting schedule, visit http://txmg.org/wallermg or call 979-826-7651.

Gonzales: Gonzales Master Gardeners hold their monthly meeting at noon on the first Thursday of each month at 623 Fair Street, Gonzales. Bring a bag lunch, drinks provided. Contact AgriLife Extension Office at 830-672-8531 or visit http://gonzalesmastergardeners.org for more information.

New Braunfels: The Comal Garden Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Southbank Clubhouse, 222 Southbank Blvd., New Braunfels.

SECOND WEEK

Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month (except December) at the Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; club business begins at 7:00 p.m., followed by a presentation. For more information, visit www.austinorganicgardeners.org.

Jacksonville: The Cherokee County Master Gardeners meet on the second Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at The First Methodist Church, 1031 TX-456 Loop, Jacksonville. For additional information, contact Kim Benton at kim.benton@ag.tamu.edu.

Cedar Park/Leander/Liberty Hill: The Hill Country Bloomers meet the second Tuesday of each month (except December) at 7 p.m. at the Cedar Park Recreation Center, 1435 Main Street, Cedar Park. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to socialize and swap plants and seeds. Meetings feature guest speakers on a variety of topics for the home gardener or landscaper. They host a plant sale in the spring and a garden tour in the late summer/early fall. Throughout the year they contribute time and expertise to local projects. Those with any level of experience are welcome. Non-members are invited to their first meeting at no cost. Membership and speaker info is available at www.hillcountrybloomers.com.

Glen Rose: The Glen Rose Garden Club meets at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month (September through May) at the Somervell County Community Center in Glen Rose. For additional information, email stringer030@yahoo.com.

Glen Rose: The Prairie Rose Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Somerville County Citizen Center, 209 SW Barnard St., Glen Rose. For additional information, email prairierose.npsot@gmail.com. 

Harrison County: The Harrison County Master Gardeners meet on the second Tuesday of each month in the Harrison County Annex building, 102 W Houston St. (south side of the square), Marshall. Meetings are held in the 2nd floor AgriLife Extension meeting room. For more information, call 903-935-8413, or email wannagrow2@gmail.com. 

Seguin/Marion: The Guadalupe Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the second Tuesday of the month except for July, August, and December. The Chapter alternates meetings. Seguin, First Presbyterian Church, January, March, May, September and November. Marion, St. John Lutheran Church, February, April, June and October. Meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Program at 7:00 p.m., Visitors are always welcome. For more information, visit https://npsot.org/chapters/guadalupe.

Quitman: The Quitman Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Quitman Library on E Goode Street, Quitman. It is a diverse group that welcomes all visitors. For more information, e-mail quitmangardenclub@gmail.com.

Denton: The Denton County Master Gardener Association meets from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings are open to the public. For complete details, visit http://dcmga.com/.

Humble: The Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, hosts a Lunch Bunch the second Wednesday of each month from noon until 2 p.m. Take a sack lunch or order a box lunch from Starbucks when you call 281-443-8731 to reserve your spot. Master Gardeners and Masters Naturalists may earn CEU credits by attending.

Jacksboro: The Jacksboro Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month (except June, July and August) at the Concerned Citizens Center, 400 East Pine Street, Jacksboro. For more information, call Melinda at 940-567-6218.

Longview: The Gregg County Master Gardeners Association's Learn at Lunch program meet the second Wednesday of each month. The business meeting begins at 11:30 a.m., with the program at noon, at the AgriLife Extension Office, 405 E. Marshall Ave., Longview. The program is presented for horticultural education and is free to the public. For further information call 903-236-8429, visit www.txmg.org/gregg, or like us on Facebook at Gregg County Master Gardeners. 

Rockport: The Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the

second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. at 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport, to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation. Sometimes they take field trips and have cooking demonstrations in different locations. For more information, contact Linda 361-729-6037, Ruth 361-729-8923 or Cindy 979-562-2153 or visit www.rockportherbs.org and http://rockportherbies.blogspot.com.

Woodway: The McLennan County Master Gardeners meeting is held on the second Wednesday of each each month at noon at the Central Presbyterian Church, 9191 Woodway Dr., Woodway. For more information, call 254-757-5180.

Beaumont: The Jefferson County Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. (social) 7:00 (meeting) the second Thursday of each month except in July in the AgriLife Extension auditorium, 1225 Pearl 2nd floor (downtown Beaumont next to the Court House). For more information contact: 409-835-8461 or txmg.org/jcmg.

Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street. Georgetown. For additional information, contract Kathy Henderson at kshend@verizon.net or visit http://www.npsot.org/wp/wilco.

Orange: The Orange County Master Gardeners Association holds their monthly meeting on the second Thursday of each month. A short program is presented. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the new Orange County Expo Center on Hwy 1442 in Orangefield. Enter the building in the front entrance, first door on the right, Texas AgriLife offices. Pot luck supper at 6 p.m. Visit http://txmg.org/orange for more information.

Pasadena: The Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month at The Genoa Friendship Garden Educational Building at 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Pasadena. The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.

San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels (corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels). For more information on programs, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org.

San Marcos: The Spring Lake Garden Club meets the second Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m., September-May, at McCoy's Building Supply Headquarters, 1350 IH-35, San Marcos. Contact Terri Boyd (512) 395-66644 x6134.

Smithville: The Smithville Community Gardens meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Smithville Recreation Center. 

Angleton: The Brazoria County Master Gardeners meet at 11 a.m. on the second Friday of each month at the Brazoria County Extension Office, 21017 County Road 171, Angleton. There is a general business meeting followed by a brief educational program each month. For further information call 979-864-1558, ext.110.

College Station: The A&M Garden Club meets on the second Friday of each month during the school year at 9:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 2201 Rio Grande Blvd., College Station. Expert speakers, plant sharing, and federated club projects help members learn about gardening in the Brazos Valley, floral design, conservation, and more. For more information, visit http://www.amgardenclub.com/.

Houston: The Spring Branch African Violet Club meets the second Saturday of each month,January through November, at 10:00 a.m. at the Copperfield Baptist Church, 8350 Highway 6 North, Houston. Call Karla at 281-748-8417 prior to attending to confirm meeting date and time.

Dallas: The Rainbow Garden Club of North Texas meets the second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Meetings are held at member's homes and garden centers around the area. For more information, visit www.RainbowGardenClub.com.

THIRD WEEK

Arlington: The Arlington Men's Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the third Monday of each month (except December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact Lance Jepson at LJepson@aol.com.

Cleburne: The Johnson County Master Gardeners meet on the third Monday of each month at Johnson. County Agricultural Office, 109 W. Chambers, Cleburne. Meeting times are at 6 p.m. An educational program precedes the business meeting.

New Braunfels: The Comal Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. the third Monday of each month (except April and December,) at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. An educational program precedes the business meeting. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, call 830-620-3440 or visit comalmg.org. 

Texarkana: The Four Corners Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Southwest Center, 3222 W. 7th St. (U.S. 67), Texarkana. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Belinda McCoy at 903-424-7724 or blackmtngardens@yahoo.com.

Abilene: The Master Gardeners meet the third Tuesday of each month at the Taylor County Extension Office, 1982 Lytle Way, Abilene. For more information, contact Big Country Master Gardeners Association at mgardeners@yahoo.com.

Alvarado: The Alvarado Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month during the months of September through May (excluding December). The meeting time is 1 p.m. and the locations vary for each meeting. The club hosts a different and exciting speaker each month that focuses on enriching the lives of all gardeners. Meetings are free and include a light lunch. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, please contact 817-680-4291. 

Corpus Christi: The Nueces Master Gardeners meet at noon the third Tuesday of each month, except December, at Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Dr., Corpus Christi. An educational program precedes the business meeting. For further information call 361 767-5217.

New Braunfels: The Lindheimer Chapter (Comal County) of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the third Tuesday of each month at  6:30 pm at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. Meetings include an informative speaker and a Plant of the Month presentation. Meetings are free and visitors are welcome. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/w/lindheimer.  Note: there will be no meeting in June or December.

Rockport: Monthly meetings of the Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners are held at 10 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Texas AgriLife Extension Service - Aransas County Office, 892 Airport Rd., Rockport. For additional information, e-mail aransas-tx@tamu.edu or call 361-790-0103.

Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September through November and January through April at 10 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land. The club hosts a different speaker each month. For more information, visit www.sugarlandgardenclub.org.

Denton: The Denton Organic Society, a group devoted to sharing information and educating the public regarding organic principles, meets the third Wednesday of each month (except July, August and December) at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Avenue. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are preceded by a social at 6:30. For more information, call 940-382-8551.

Glen Rose: The Somervell County Master Gardeners meet at 10 a.m., the third Wednesday of each month at the Somervell County AgriLife Extension office, 1405 Texas Drive, Glen Rose. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call 254-897-2809 or visit www.somervellmastergardeners.org.

Granbury: The Lake Granbury Master Gardeners meet at 1 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Hood County Annex 1, 1410 West Pearl Street, Granbury. The public is invited to attend. There is an educational program each month preceding the business meeting. For information on topics call 817-579-3280 or visit http://www.hoodcountymastergardeners.org/.

Waco: The McLennan County Master Gardeners host Lunch with the Masters on the third Wednesday of each month at noon at MCC’s Emergency Services Education Center (ESEC), 7601 Steinbeck Bend Dr., Waco. These educational programs are free and open to the public. Attendees bring their own lunch. For more information, call 254-757-5180.

Brownwood: Brownwood Garden Club meets the third Thursday of each month, 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. The club meetings are at Southside Baptist Church, 1219 Indian Creek Road, with refreshments and a speaker presentation. Visitors are welcome. For more information, email boeblingen@centex.net or call 817-454-8175.

Hallettsville: The Hallettsville Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month from September through May, at the Hallettsville Garden and Cultural Center, 107 Fink Street, Hallettsville. Each month, the club hosts speakers that provide informative programs on a wide range of gardening subjects, and refreshments are provided by member hostesses afterwards. Visitors are welcome! Please email Sharon Harrigan at sharonspetals@gmail.com for more information.

Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston Chapter meets at 6:45 pm on the third Thursday of each month at the Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway, Houston. For more information about meeting presentations and native plants, visit https://npsot.org/wp/houston/. 

Mineola: The Fannie Marchman Garden Club meets at the Mineola Civic Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month from September through May. For additional information, find them on Facebook or email FannieMarchmanGardenClub@gmail.com.

Ft. Worth: The North Texas Daylily Society is affiliated with the American Daylily Society and is located in AHS Region 6. Club meetings are held in the Camellia Room located inside the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, on the third Thursday of each month (excluding June and July). Throughout the year NTDS hosts guest speakers, special interest programs, an annual daylily show, an annual daylily sale, and social activities and outings. For more information visit, their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/northtexasdaylilysociety.

San Antonio: The Bexar County Master Gardeners (BCMG) meet on the third Thursday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., Suite 208, San Antonio. During the months of Jan., March, May, July, Sep. and Nov., an evening meeting with presentation is held 6:00-8:00 p.m. During the intervening months (Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct.), afternoon educational seminars/general meetings are held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Check http://www.bexarmg.org/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting.

Seguin: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month, at the AgriLife Building, 210 East Live Oak, Seguin. After a brief social hour, the meeting and guest speaker begins at 7 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 830-303-3889 or visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.

Fort Worth: The Greater Fort Worth Herb Society meetings are held the third Saturday of each month at Texas Garden Club Inc, 3111 Old Garden Club Rd., Fort Worth (located next to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden), 10:00 a.m. to noon, September through June. For more information, email herbalhen@yahoo.com.

FOURTH WEEK

New Braunfels: The New Braunfels Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the fourth Monday of each month except July and December. Meetings are held at the New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E. Common St, New Braunfels. Meetings are “hybrid” with in-person and Zoom available. They start at 5:45 PM. with a meet and greet time, followed by a short business meeting at 6:15 PM. Programs begin at 6:30 PM. Native plant and seed exchanges are held monthly. Expert speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information about Zoom or to join, visit https://npsot.org/wp/newbraunfels/.

Brackenridge Park: The Native Plant Society San Antonio Chapter meets every fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Lions Field Adult and Senior Center, 2809 Broadway at E. Mulberry, Brackenridge Park, except August and December. Social and seed/plant exchange at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bea at 210-999-7292 or visit www.npsot.org/sanantonio.

Bryan: The Brazos County Master Gardeners, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, meet the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Brazos County Extension Office, 4153 County Park Ct., Bryan. There is a public gardening program at each meeting and pertinent information may be found at brazosmg.com or 979-823-0129.

Edna: The Jackson County Master Gardeners present their "Come Grown With Us" seminars on the fourth Tuesday of each month, January through October, beginning at 7 p.m. at 411 N. Wells, Edna. The seminars are free, open to the public and offer 2 CEU hours to Master Gardeners or others requiring them. For additional information, contact the Jackson County Extension Office at 361-782-3312.

Linden: The Caddo Wildflower Chapter of Native Plants Society meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the senior citizens building at 507 S Kaufman St. in Linden at 6:30. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Karen Tromza at khtromza@yahoo.com.

San Antonio: The Native Plant Society of Texas San Antonio Chapter meets the fourth Tuesday of each month, except August, November and December, at the Gathering Hall at The Urban Ecology Center at Phil Hardberger Park and via Zoom. Social and plant/seed exchange at 6:30 p.m., program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/sanantonio or email npsot.sanantonio@gmail.com.

Houston: The Houston Native Prairie Association meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month (except November and December) at the Houston Red Cross Building, 2700 Southwest Freeway, Houston. Refreshments served at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact hnpat@prairies.org.

Austin: The Garden Club of Austin meets at Zilker Botanical Gardens auditorium, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month. 7:00-7:30 p.m. Refreshments and Social, followed by a presentation at 7:30 p.m. Free. For additional information, visit http://thegardenclubofaustin.org/.

Leander: The Leander Garden Club meets on the fourth Thursday of each month (except June, July and August) at 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Room of the Leander Presbyterian Church, 101 N. West St., Leander, unless there is a special event planned. Following a program and short business meeting, there is a pot-luck luncheon. To confirm the meeting place and time, please call President Kathleen Tully at 512-422-8580 or email LeanderGardenClub@gmail.com.

Dallas: The Dallas County Master Gardeners meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. For location and program information, visit http://www.dallascountymastergardeners.org/ or contact The Helpdesk, M-F, 8 to 4:30 214-904-3053.

Denton: The Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets the fourth Thursday of each month to share information about native plants. Excellent programs are heard each month, January-September. Social time begins at 6:30, program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit https://npsot.org/chapters/trinity-forks/.

Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (except November and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact David at 817-483-7746.

Dallas: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month (except November and December) at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas. For more information, visit www.gdogc.org.