September 27, 2023

Backyarding on a budget: 6 money-saving hacks for fall

TurfMutt Foundation

Fall is an opportune time to set up your backyard for year-round success. Work put into landscaping in the fall determines the quality of the space for all your family’s backyarding activities, from family football games at Thanksgiving and Easter egg hunts in the spring, to taking your office to the back patio and meditation in a backyard hammock.

“Work in your yard, and it will work for you. That’s always been our motto, but it’s particularly important to follow this credo in the fall when we can make the most impact in our yards,” says Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation, which encourages people to care for and use the green space around them. “You don’t have to break the bank to create a backyard that will serve many purposes for your family year-round.”

Here are six money-saving hacks for creating the backyard of your dreams from the TurfMutt Foundation:

Clean out flower beds & add mulch. Simply cleaning out your flower beds (use a leaf blower to make quick work of the task) and adding a fresh layer of mulch works wonders. New mulch not only holds weeds at bay, it also helps retain moisture around plants, trees and shrubs.

Prune bushes & trees. Trimming bushes, shrubs, and trees is another inexpensive way to make a big impact in your yard’s aesthetic. Use a chainsaw, trimmer or hedger to remove dead or dying branches and stems. This preserves the health of the main branch and improves the shape of the plant. Pruning also encourages plants to flower later.

Keep grass mowed and weeded. Regular lawn mowing helps your grass stay healthy and strong and improves the overall appearance of your yardscape without spending much money. In the fall, cut your lawn shorter than during the rest of the growing season and continue to mow until your grass goes into hibernation for the winter.

Pick perennials. Perennials — those cold-hardy plant species that will return in the spring — are a smart money choice because you only have to buy them once to enjoy them for years to come.

Plant climate-appropriate species. Native plants — those that occur naturally in your region — are a smart buy any time of the year. They are more likely to thrive in your micro-climate without much maintenance or watering. They are also better for local wildlife and pollinators and help preserve the balance of the natural ecosystem.

Look for deals. Many nurseries and home improvement stores offer end-of-season sales on landscaping essentials from plants to outdoor power equipment (mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, etc.) that make even big backyarding tasks easier.

The coral-colored hardy hibiscus is the latest unique color developed by Dariusz Malinowski, Ph.D., a Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant physiologist and ornamental plant breeder. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Dariusz Malinowski)

Crossing a new frontier in hardy hibiscus breeding

By Kay Ledbetter

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

After the breakthrough achievements of creating blue and maroon flower colors in hardy hibiscus, Texas A&M AgriLife plant physiologist and breeder Dariusz Malinowski, Ph.D., has now developed the first-ever coral-colored hibiscus.

Malinowski, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist, leads the forage and ornamental plant breeding program, focusing on perennial cool-season forage grasses and hardy hibiscus at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Vernon. He is also a professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.

The coral-colored hibiscus is the latest creation from what started as a hobby for Malinowski in 2005 and has grown to the point that Vernon is now considered the Hibiscus Capitol of Texas.

“This new hibiscus hybrid is the latest example of how Dr. Malinowski’s work has put the Texas A&M AgriLife center here in Vernon at the forefront of hibiscus breeding,” said Rick Vierling, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Vernon and director of Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed. “Dr. Malinowski’s releases have generated tremendous excitement worldwide, and we’re glad to have hibiscus breeding as a cornerstone program of the center.”

Urban consumers continuously want new colors and petal shapes, Vierling said. These discoveries are licensed to Texas horticultural companies who then make the new varieties available for purchase. Texas A&M AgriLife, ornamental plant companies and consumers all benefit.

Moving from a hobby to building a hibiscus breeding program

Malinowski began breeding hardy hibiscus with the help of Steve Brown, the former director of Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed, who saw a big potential for commercialization of Malinowski’s hibiscus hybrids. This hobby and passion became a research program at the Texas A&M AgriLife center in 2010.

“I think working with Steve Brown was the best experience a plant breeder could have,” Malinowski said. “Combining passion, knowledge and persistent pursuit in reaching for the impossible with business experience in the ornamental plant industry and commercialization was the core of the success of our hibiscus breeding program.”

Making a name with the blues

A decade later, Malinowski is well known in the ornamental plant industry thanks to his extraordinary ability to create “out of this world” novel flower colors in hardy hibiscus. His first “bluish” flowered hibiscus, Blue Angel, was released in 2012, only two years into the life of the hibiscus breeding program.

“Blue Angel was not perfect, but it had an outstanding trait that resulted in over 30 experimental hibiscus lines with blue flowers currently explored in our breeding program,” he said, adding that every season he selects new hybrids to improve the blue color and plant growth habit to meet industry standards.

“My ultimate goal is to create a sky-blue flower on a plant with dark foliage,” Malinowski said. “Combining these two traits in one plant has been very difficult. For instance, a recently created blue-flowering hibiscus hybrid with attractive, darker foliage consists of over 60 parental ancestors originating from four hibiscus species, and more parents are still being hybridized with this plant.”

Two bluish-flowering cultivars, Blue Brulee and Cordon Bleu, were commercialized by J. Berry Nursery of Grand Saline in 2018.

“We have made tremendous improvement in the expression of the blue pigment and plant growth habit since the release of Blue Brulee and Cordon Bleu,” Malinowski said. “When I first mentioned my dream of creating a blue-flowering hibiscus to Steve Brown, he just laughed. But I knew he had high hopes for me and believed I could do that.”

Although Malinowski introduced many novel colors since the release of Blue Angel winter-hardy hibiscus, including magenta, silver, maroon, purple, “blue metallic,” and dual and multicolored flowers, the next frontier was to create orange- and yellow-blooming hibiscus hybrids.

Tackling the elusive oranges

“I knew that creating orange and yellow pigments in hardy hibiscus flowers would be much more difficult than the blue pigment because there were no candidate parents with even remotely promising flower colors,” Malinowski said.

He decided to focus on the orange color first, and that was the beginning of the coral color.

 “Among our 20,000-plus experimental plants, I noticed a couple of plants with distinctive hues of red, shifting into coral tones,” Malinowski said.

After a few hybridization cycles, he developed a hybrid with pinkish-coral hues. That was the beginning of his new dream, just like Blue Angel a decade before.

“The flower color of that hybrid was quite unstable, depending on temperature, soil quality and solar radiation intensity,” Malinowski said.

Using a “gene stacking” method, Malinowski said he spent a couple more years hybridizing parental plants expressing similar flower colors and exposing seeds to electromagnetic radiation to finally discover one plant with the illusive, dark coral flower color.

The coral-flowering hybrid will be further bred for improved plant growth characteristics and dark foliage. Eventually, it will also become the start of a breeding program to create an orange-flowering hibiscus.

The last frontier — yellow

The last frontier in Malinowski’s research plan is to develop yellow-flowering hardy hibiscus.

“This may be the most challenging goal, as yellow pigment does not occur in this and related species of rose mallows,” he said.

Malinowski said there are two hardy hibiscus cultivars on the market with a light, creamy flower color, Old Yella and New Old Yella, but they are not the true yellow he is looking for.

“I have been hybridizing a couple of our early hybrids expressing creamy flower colors similar to that of Old Yella and New Old Yella, and we are on the right track,” said Malinowski. “The yellow pigment is already quite pronounced in opening flower buds of the new hybrid, but as the flower opens, the yellow color quickly fades to creamy.”

He said he’s seen color instability with the early blue- and coral-flowering hybrids before and is confident further breeding could stabilize the yellow pigment.

Malinowski said his program owes a big thanks to Vernon High School for hosting his breeding program in its greenhouses over the past year after his were destroyed. The school’s generosity allowed him to continue making strides such as this new coral-colored flower and the potential yellow flowers.

What affects how well soil holds water?

The Soil Science Society of America

Since the beginning of agriculture, people have recognized that a sufficient water supply is essential for crop production. The capacity of soil to store and supply water for plant growth is a fundamental agroecosystem service. It also is a soil health indicator. The Soil Science Society of America’s (SSSA) August 1 Soils Matter blog looks at two questions surrounding soil water holding capacity.

Xi Zhang at Louisiana State University — Agricultural Center explains that there are two questions to consider when looking at soil water holding capacity:

(1) What is the capacity of a soil to store water and have it available for plant growth? (2) Are all soils the same in this capacity or do they behave differently?

When water, either rainfall or irrigation, touches the soil surface, part of the water is lost through surface runoff, and part is lost by evaporation. The remaining water enters the soil profile via infiltration and becomes soil water.

Soil is a mixture of mineral particles, organic matter, and pore space. Depending on the size, number, and continuity of the pores, soil water is retained in or moves downward through the soil and recharges groundwater through the pore space.

From the perspective of plant growth, soil water can be classified into three types: (1) excess water or gravitational water, (2) available water, and (3) unavailable water. When all the pores are filled with water, the soil is water-saturated and at its maximum capacity to hold water. This situation usually occurs for a very short period when water is being added. Water will soon drain out of large pores mainly under the gravitational force.

To read the study and the entire blog, visit: https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2023/08/01/what-affects-how-well-soil-holds-water/

SEPTEMBER

Corinth: Fall Into Gardening Event presented by Denton County Master Gardeners & Beulah Acres, Saturday, September 30, 8:15-2:00 p.m., at Global Spheres Center in Corinth. Learn from Master Gardener experts how to plan and grow the garden of your dreams. Steve Huddleston is the Keynote Speaker and there will be presentations, demonstrations and information booths to help you grow! $14 adults, $8 children, includes a box lunch. Sign up at dcmga.com.

Hempstead: The John Fairey Garden Conservation Foundation (formerly Peckerwood), 20559 F.M. 359, Hempstead, host an Open Day Saturday for the fall season 2023 on September 30, October 21, November 18 and December 16. Docent-led tours at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., cost is $15 for non-members and free to members of our garden and reciprocal program for The American Horticulture Society. For more information, visit www.jfgarden.org.

La Marque: “T-bud Grafting” presentation by Galveston County Master Gardener Hazel Lampton with hands-on workshop, includes methods used on peach, plum, pear, apple, others. Limited to 20 pre-registered participants. Saturday, September 30, 9-11:30 a.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://txmg.org/galveston or call 281-309-5065 or call 281-786-6834.

Lufkin: The Angelina County Master Gardeners with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are holding their Annual Fall Native Plant Sale on September 30. The sale will be at the green house in the Angelina County Farmers Market, 2107 S. Medford Dr., Lufkin, beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing until sold out. They will have a large selection of plants, including trees, bulbs, shrubs, perennials and so much more. Cash and checks only. Any questions, call the Extension Office at 936-634-6414.

OCTOBER

Austin: Valerie Bugh, entomologist, photographer and author will present “Pollination and Pollinators” October 3 at 10:00 a.m. at Zilker Botanical Garden auditorium, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin. Bugh is a local naturalist specializing in the arthropods of the Austin area, with interests in taxonomy and photography. She runs the Fauna Project at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, leads insect/wildflower discovery walks, teaches entomology and plant classes, provides insect/spider identifications, gives talks to local organizations, and is the author of pocket guides to “Butterflies of Central Texas,” “Spiders of Texas” and “Unusual Insects of Texas.” For more information, visit http://www.austinbug.com/index.html. Event is free and open to the public; tell the gate you are attending Austin Herb Society meeting. Check-in & snacks table starts 9:30 a.m. Event info at austinherbsociety.org.

Houston: First Tuesdays: Master Gardener Lecture Series by Harris County Master Gardeners, Tuesday, October 3, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.,1414 Wirt Road, Houston. Free. https://hcmga.tamu.edu/lecture-series/.

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: 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.