Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Grow a Great Herb Garden

Growing Culinary Herbs in Texas
Saturday, November 13, 10am-noon
American Botanical Council
6200 Manor Rd., Austin TX  78723

Herbs are a delight to the senses and an easy way to add beauty to your landscape!  This class will cover the basics of growing both seasonal and perennial culinary herbs in central Texas, and will offer some suggestions for their use.  Class size is limited, so sign up early by emailing your name to rsvpTCMGA@yahoo.com.

This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. www.tcmastergardeners.org.

Monday, October 25, 2010

What do your trees want from you?

Learn exactly what your trees want and need from you.  

Caring for Your Trees
Saturday, October 30
1-3pm

Yarborough Public Library
2200 Hancock Dr.
Austin TX  78756


Join Austin’s City Arborist, Michael Embesi, to learn about the benefits of trees, our urban forest, and why trees are an essential part of our lives.  Learn to select appropriate  trees for your Central Texas landscape, those that are appropriate for our native soils and tough climate.  Understand how to select and care for the right tree, in the proper location, considering size, longevity, and biological needs.  Finally, hear about your opportunities within multiple community programs, including grant opportunities, which promote the urban forest.  

This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County.Have gardening questions?  Call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Want to learn how to install drip irrigation?

Drip Irrigation 101
Saturday, October 2, 2010
9am-12pm

LCRA Redbud Center, Rm. 108
3601 Lake Austin Blvd.,
Austin TX  78703

Keep hearing about the benefits of drip irrigation but don't know where to start?   Dr. Dotty Woodson, specialist in landscape water conservation for Texas AgriLife Extension, will guide you from planning to installation to repairs in this 3-hour drip irrigation intensive.  

This seminar is free and open to the public, BUT RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED.  Email your name and phone number to rsvpTCMGA@yahoo.com  to reserve a spot.   Presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. 

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Upcoming Seminar on Growing a Great Lawn

Knowing how to grow a great lawn can help you save money, water and have a wonderful area to complement your house.  Come learn the best information on the care and feeding of your lawn.  Topics will include choosing the right turf for your site, irrigation, fertilization, proper mowing technique, and disease diagnosis and treatment.  This class is free and does not require reservations.  

Growing a Great Lawn
 Saturday, September 18, 2010
10am-Noon
Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin TX 


This seminar is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas A&M and Travis County AgriLife Extension Service.  For questions,  www.tcmastergardeners.org or call The Travis County Master Gardeners help desk at (512) 854-9600.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Great Plant Talks at Downtown Farmer's Market this Saturday

Come visit the Downtown Austin Farmer's Market at Republic Square this Saturday and hear great talks from the Travis County Master Gardeners on fall vegetable gardening, herb gardening, the best fall bloomers, and how to build a grow box for container gardening. Starting at 9am until noon, all talks are free.  And after the talks, buy some of the very same plant varieties at our plant sale that you heard about in the talk.

Republic Square Farmer's Market
Guadalupe between 4th and 5th Streets
Saturday, September 11, 2010
9am-Noon

See you at the market!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Friend or foe? Know your garden bugs

Ever walked through the garden, admiring your plants and suddenly see...oh my god...what is that?!!  A horde of bugs on your tomato plants.  Are they good or bad?  What should you do? 

How to Manage Garden Insects
Saturday, August 21, 2010
10am-Noon


LCRA Redbud Center, Rm 108N
3601 Lake Austin Blvd.
Austin TX  78703


Insects can be one of the biggest challenges for gardeners.  But you can deal with pests effectively without spraying general insecticides all over your plants.  Wizzie Brown, Texas Agrilife Extension Entomologist, will introduce Integrated Pest Management (IPM), teaching you how to protect your garden without harming the environment or your plants.  Learn to distinguish beneficial insects in your backyard from harmful insects.  Basic IPM strategies will be described that can help manage insect pests throughout the landscape, in vegetable gardens, even in the home. Seating is limited at this seminar due to room restrictions.

This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. www.tcmastergardeners.org

Monday, August 2, 2010

Get ready for fall vegetables!

It may be blazing outside, but cooler weather is just around the corner and now is the time to prepare your vegetable garden for the fall and winter season,  So arm yourself with all the knowledge you need by attending our free seminar. 

Fall Vegetable Gardening
Saturday, August 7, 2010
10am-Noon


Southwest Hills Community Church
7416 W. Hwy 71, Austin TX  78735


Learn the basics of vegetable gardening with an emphasis on varieties that flourish in the fall and winter months. Understand how to get a short season of warm weather vegetables early on.  Then we'll move into cooler weather crops, like broccoli, lettuce, Swiss chard, radishes and spinach. Vegetable gardens don't end in fall, so come learn how to keep yours going year round.

This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. 

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Learn how to take stunning garden photographs

Ever wished you could capture the beauty of a flower on camera as well as it looks in person?  Want to improve your garden photography or just getting started?


Better Photography in the Garden

Saturday, July 24, 2010
10am-Noon
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin TX 


This class will help you capture the beauty of nature with your camera.  Learn tips on capturing plants and insects in the garden to get the most impact.  Discussion will include how lighting, focal length and aperture interact in composing photographs and how to use your camera's programs (landscape, portrait, etc.) effectively.  After the presentation, we'll go out into the Botanical Garden to practice our new skills.  Participants must bring their own camera, and have an understanding of how to work it. All types of cameras are welcome.  

Prerequisite: study the owner's manual on your camera.  Bring your camera for some practical exercises.

This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is co-sponsored by the Docents of Zilker Botanical Garden and the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. 

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Designing Your Landscape seminar

Does your garden need a remodel?  Or do you need a landscape design but don’t know where to start?  

Designing Your Landscape
Saturday, July 10, 10am-noon
Zilker Botanical Garden

In this second landscape design seminar, we will explore the step-by-step process of creating a landscape plan.  We will discuss the creation of drawings from site analysis through concept to a final planting plan.  Learn how to measure your yard and draw a base plan to scale.  This seminar will introduce the tools you need to create the garden you have always wanted.  No need to have attended the first landscape design seminar in order to attend this one.

This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County.  

Monday, July 5, 2010

Extension office damaged in recent rains

On Tuesday, June 29, during a very heavy rainstorm, a section of the roof at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service office in Travis County (1600-B Smith Rd) collapsed under the weight of all the water on the building's flat roof. I have been told that our area received over 3 inches of rain in about an hour.

Luckily, no one was hurt; however, the office was badly damaged in the ensuing flood, and is closed for the foreseeable future. Travis County is looking for alternate office space for Extension, but we are not aware of those arrangements just yet. Our phone and email services are currently unavailable, but we are working to fix those issues. We are hoping to have our calls re-routed to another county facility in the next few days, so you should be able to reach us by phone (512-854-9600) very soon.

Some services will be temporarily interrupted. Most notably our gardening hotline, manned by Master Gardeners. Also, emails to all Extension accounts, including the Master Gardener account, which is available for gardening questions, are currently not accessible. Our IT professionals are working to resolve issues with our servers and get our email accounts back up and running. If you have sent emails to us, those messages should be in our mailboxes waiting and we should be able to retrieve them, once our server is back online. If you have a pressing horticultural question, I would suggest that you contact the Extension offices in Hays or Williamson County. Agents and Master Gardeners in those counties will be happy to assist you until Travis County is once again fully functional.

If you have been trying to reach the Extension office in the last week and have not been able to get anyone, please call back in a few days. I'm hopeful that we will have at least limited ability to communicate in the very near future.

In the meantime, all Extension programs being held at locations other than the Extension office, including all upcoming horticulture presentations by the Travis County Master Gardeners, will continue as planned and on schedule.

If you have an upcoming interview for the 2010 Master Gardener program, please report to the Extension office (1600 Smith Rd) on your scheduled date and time. You will be given directions to an alternate location, across the street, for your interview.


Thank you all for your patience, as we try to get back to normal day-to-day operations. I will send out an update on the status of the office as soon as I know more.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Rainwater Collection- Everything You Need to Know

We may have had a good amount of rain so far this year, but rainwater collection for your garden is always a welcome addition.  Interested in collecting rainwater?  This is THE seminar to attend, showing you every step to building a rainwater collection system AND putting you in contact with vendors who supply the components. 

Rainwater Harvesting
Saturday, June 26, 2010
10am-Noon
 
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Rd.


Come enjoy a free seminar concentrating on capturing rainwater and lowering water usage in your landscape.   In addition, lower your water usage by learning about rain gardens which capture valuable rainwater in your landscape. City of Austin representatives will be available to answer permit and rebate questions.

This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is co-sponsored by the Docents of Zilker Botanical Garden and the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.

Monday, June 7, 2010

The hot weather may be a perfect time to redesign...

Here we are again in the heat of the summer when being outside in the garden can really take it out of you.  But consider taking on a design project that has you indoors in the hot weather and ready to tackle the project when the cooler air arrives in fall.  Attend the first of our two free seminars on landscape design and get your pencil and paper ready to tackle your design challenge.  

Basic Landscape Design Principles
Saturday, June 19, 10am-noon
Zilker Botanical Garden

Does your garden need a remodel?  Or do you need a landscape design but don’t know where to start?  This seminar is the first in a two-part series to teach how to design your garden.  Attend one or both to explore the basics of landscape design.  The first seminar, Basic Landscape Design Principles, will help get your creative juices flowing by exploring ways to use your space and by looking at various garden styles.   We will learn about basic design principles such as texture, color, and function that will help you to create a pleasing environment.


This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Learn how to diagnose common garden problems- May 29

Just when you think you've done everything right by your plants, one of them starts to go downhill.  One of the biggest challenges for gardeners is correctly diagnosing plant problems and finding effective, safe solutions.  Is your plant dying because of an insect, environmental or disease problem? Join us at this free seminar and develop your garden detective skills!

Become a Garden Detective
Saturday, May 29, 2010
10am-Noon


Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Rd.

Join us to learn the causes of plant problems, the process for diagnosing plant problems, and preventive garden management techniques. This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. For information, see http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Learn about welcoming wildlife into your garden

You may have had an occasional run-in with wildlife in your garden where you feel they are a nuisance.  But countless species of wildlife can enhance your garden and improve your gardening results.  Learn how to attract butterflies, birds, insects, toads, and more by utilizing plants which create food, cover, water, and places to raise young.  A Master Naturalist volunteer will lead the discussion to show you how to take your garden to the next level and welcome these wildlife friends.

How to Create a Wildlife Habitat
Saturday, May 22
9:00-11:00am
Demonstration Garden at AgriLife Extension Office of Travis County, 1600 B Smith Rd, Austin TX 

This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County.  Questions? Call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.

New Texas Superstar: Helenium 'Dakota Gold'

Although Central Texas had a very wet fall and winter this year, the drought should still be on everyone's minds. Water restrictions just went into place for Austin (http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watercon/stage1.htm) and will very likely be a part of our future for many years to come, so we all need to find strategies to conserve water while maintaining attractive landscapes. The key is in knowing and working with both your environment (especially your soil) and your climate (as we learned this year, both heat and cold are issues for us). Once you are aware of these two pieces of information that are unique for your situation, you will be able to choose plants that work for you.

Choosing and finding these plants may be challenging, which is why the AgriLife branches of Texas A&M conduct research and disseminate information on just this topic. One particular research project, the Texas Superstar program, focuses on plants that may have been overlooked and trials them in various areas of the state. Once plants have been shown to perform well in most areas of Texas, they are designated as Texas Superstars. One such plant, with the slightly biased common name of "yellow bitter weed," was recently given the distinguished Texas Superstar designation. And then...it caught the eye of many researchers around the nation.

I thought that you might find this article of interest. It definitely reinforces the need to look at plants through a different lens and see beauty and potential where others may not. So also, a great lesson on life in general.

You may find the article, with photos of this beautiful plant, at:
http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=1905

Monday, May 3, 2010

There's always room for more butterflies, right?

Our upcoming seminar at the demonstration garden at the Travis County Extension office is a great opportunity to learn how to attract more pollinators to your garden. 

Gardening for Butterflies and Hummingbirds
May 7, 1-2:30pm
Demo Garden at Texas AgriLife Extension Office of Travis County
1600-B Smith Rd


This free talk about Gardening for Butterflies & Hummingbirds is appropriate for anyone wanting to incorporate the correct plants into the garden. Learn which plants offer foods sources, host plant, nesting places for the most common butterflies and hummingbirds in this area.


This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Growing Vegetables from Seeds

Why pay for vegetable transplants when you can easily grow them yourself? Seeds are full of life and potential; just give them the right conditions and they will do the rest!

Come join us for an informal and  informative class as we discuss supplies, timing, varieties, seeding how-to, and tips on transplanting to the vegetable garden.

Growing Vegetables from Seeds

Wednesday, April 28, 2010
7-9pm
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin TX  78746

This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. For more details, see http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's h

Monday, April 12, 2010

How can I grow more of the plants I love?

Plant Propagation        
April 17, 2010
9am-11am
AgriLife Extension Office of Travis County, 1600 B Smith Rd, Austin TX  78721

Learning how to propagate from existing plants is a great way to populate your garden or pass along your favorites to friends.  This seminar covers various propagation methods including cuttings, layering, and division, and help you overcome that fear of starting plants from seeds.  The seminar will be part presentation, part participation so class size is limited to 30 participants.  Please call the Master Gardener Help Desk at (512) 854-9600 to reserve your place.  Participants must also bring scissors and an empty, clear plastic, 2 liter soda bottle with lid for the hands-on project.

This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

It's not always sunny in the garden...

Sometimes you need to find a plant for those shady spots in the garden.  If so, this free seminar is for you!
Cool Plants for the Shade Garden

Friday, April 9, 9-11am
Demonstration Garden at AgriLife Extension Office of Travis County
1600B Smith Rd., Austin TX  78721

Cool Plants for the Shade Garden is a free in-the-garden discussion.  See some of the shade-loving plants growing in the demonstration garden and learn about other perennials and annuals which require limited sun. This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. For information, see http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Small Acreage Horticultural Crops Seminar

Do you have a few acres of land that you've been wondering what to do with?
Are you currently growing vegetables or other food crops on a small acreage plot?
Are you interested in becoming a part of the local food movement?

If the answers to the above questions are yes, then you might be interested in an upcoming Texas AgriLife Extension Service program just for people who have a small amount of land and are considering food production for the local market.

Extension recently organized a series of webinars on producing horticultural crops on small acreage plots. With the continuing interest in local food and backyard “farms,” this information is particularly relevant and timely. Our next program will be held on April 13, 2010 at the Extension office in Travis County. The program will be streamed live in our office and will be shown via an LCD projector. Here are the details:

What: Small Acreage Horticultural Crops seminar
Where: Texas AgriLife Extension Service office, 1600-B Smith Rd, Austin, TX 78721
Date: April 13, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Cost: Free
More information: Daphne Richards, drichards@ag.tamu.edu or 512-854-9600

This series of Extension educational programs will include information on the following topics:
* Requirements for setting up a new horticultural business
* Crop economics
* Marketing strategies
* Sustainable production practices
* and more…

The upcoming seminar on April 13 will focus on vegetable and greenhouse crops.
Our speakers will be Dr. Russ Wallace and Dr. Joe Masabni, Extension Vegetable Specialists, and Dr. Don Wilkerson, Extension Nursery and Floral Crops Specialist.
There will also be a live question/answer session featuring the state's leading horticultural authorities in these areas.

Other horticultural and business strategy topics will be offered in future seminars, which will be announced as more information becomes available.

This program might be of particular interest to you if you have a small plot of land and:
* are looking for ways to use it
*are currently growing some crops on a small plot of land
*want to know more about the business of growing and marketing your crops
*are interested in learning about the variety of crops that may be grown on your plot

The program is limited to 30 participants, so please RSVP by April 12 to Daphne Richards, drichards@ag.tamu.edu or 512-854-9600. The program is open to all residents of Travis and other surrounding counties.

If you know of anyone else that might be interested in participating, please forward this information to them.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

New Design Templates Available from Grow Green

The most challenging part of making a change in your landscape is often the design. You've been thinking about removing more lawn and replacing it with natives, but where do you start? How do you put down on paper the fact that you want one Texas redbud tree, 3 mountain laurels, and a small bed of purple and yellow flowering native perennials? And what do you do about that section that you have absolutely no ideas for?

Well, help is here. The GrowGreen program, a collaborative project between the City of Austin Watershed Protection department and various other community agencies, including Extension, has developed a series of design templates to assist eager, but perhaps design-challenged, gardeners such as yourselves. Here's a little information on the new templates, from Kathy Shay, Water Quality Education Manager with Watershed Protection:

"The new templates are a guide for Austin area homeowners to help them choose a style and plant palette that requires less water and fewer chemicals. Not only are there scaled drawings of nine plant beds, but seven of the nine have demonstration gardens at popular spots around town including Zilker Botanical Garden, Howson Library, and City Hall. The sites provide Austinites a chance to see which plant combinations and styles best fit their needs and tastes. While some of the designs might look ambitious, it is easy to plant small areas as time and funding allow."

You can find the a link to the templates, as well as other helpful information on garden and landscape topics, at www.growgreen.org or find the templates directly at www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/designs.htm

Sunday, March 14, 2010

East Austin Garden Fair March 20th

FOURTH ANNUAL 2010 A PASSION FOR PLANTS: AN EAST AUSTIN GARDEN FAIR

Saturday, March 20, 2010
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Govalle Park, 5200 Bolm Road, just East of Airport Blvd.
Call the Texas AgriLife Extension Service at 854-9600 for more information
 
Govalle Park will once again be the site of A Passion for Plants: An East Austin Garden Fair on the last weekend of Spring Break.  The theme of our fourth annual fair is Gardening the Earth-Kind Way.  This FREE public gardening event will feature hands-on demonstrations of how to dig a garden bed, harvest rain water, grow fruits and vegetables organically, create wildlife food and shelter, start plants from cuttings and seeds, and how to cut back on chemicals that harm our environment and ourselves.  Come for the free advice from our on-site experts to answer all of your gardening questions, for tips on living healthier and happier, and for fun educational activities for kids to get them out in nature in your own back yard!  Visit our booths and get a free plant!  Get ready for Spring with all the free information you need to start your own Earth-Kind garden, whether it’s one plant in a pot or a whole yard full, and then relax with a free massage!
 
Hosted by Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Travis County Master Gardeners Association, the Sustainable Food Center, the Green Corn Project, and the Holistic Education and Health Network.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Time for veggies?

Feeling spring in the air?  Getting the itch to start your warm season vegetables?  We have got you covered with some great education sessions to make sure you get the best garden yet!

Spring Into Action: Starting Your Vegetable Garden Right
Friday, March 12, 9-11am
Demonstration Garden at AgriLife Extension Office of Travis County
1600B Smith Rd., Austin TX  78721


A free, hands-on demonstration, this seminar on soil and the first steps of starting a vegetable garden will increase your vegetable gardening knowledge.  Learn about soil amendments, the correct way to prepare and handle transplants and how to prepare and plant seeds.  This demonstration is free and open to the public. 

Spring Vegetable Gardening
Saturday, March 13,10am-noon
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin TX


Enjoy juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and delectable green beans straight from your garden.  Learn how to plant and maintain a spring vegetable garden from Master Gardener Vegetable Specialist Patty Leander, who will share her expertise on vegetable varieties that perform well in Central Texas, recommended planting times, and composting. This seminar is loaded with basic facts and helpful ideas, useful to both new and experienced vegetable gardeners.  This seminar is free and open to the public.  This is one of our most popular seminars, so please come early to get a seat. 

Both seminars are presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. www.tcmastergardeners.org

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Howdy! And here's a learning opportunity for you.

As some of you might remember from a post quite some time ago, I'm the new Extension horticulture agent for Travis County. Yes, Skip is still around, but he's busy being in charge of the office. I'm glad he's still here; it's great having the former hort. agent around--I have a wealth of information in the office right next door! And that's extremely helpful, seeing as how I moved here recently (well...okay, it has been almost a year now, but it feels just like yesterday) from almost a decade as the hort. agent out west in the beautiful Chihuahuan Desert.

As my long dormant allergies are painfully telling me (shhh, don't tell the boss, but I have a degree in botany from this city's fine institution of higher learning, so I've lived here before), spring is springing back upon us. And with its arrival, you'll no doubt be getting back out into your gardens and landscapes, happy to escape from the uncharacteristically cold, wet winter that we just experienced. I'll be out there too, as soon as my nose will let me, and I'll also be keeping you more informed about horticulture information and goings-on that I think you might find useful. And here's the first one:

Tomato 101 - The Basics of Growing Tomatoes
An online course, whose name is self-explanatory.

As our lives become more and more hectic, many of us are looking for ways to streamline our activities and make the most of every minute of our time. Fortunately or unfortunately, that streamlining often involves electronic rather than face-to-face interactions. While I believe that in-person learning continues to be a vital part of Extension's programming, I recognize that electronic learning opportunities will increase our impact on the community and are becoming a vital part of our program offerings.


Here is a description of the course, which was developed by Extension vegetable specialist Dr. Joe Masabni and his assistant, Patrick Lillard. I would love your feedback, so please feel free to drop me a line after you've completed the course: drichards@ag.tamu.edu

Tomato 101
The best garden is a well planned garden, so while you wait for spring,
get ready for the best tomato harvest by taking the new online course
‘Tomato 101’.

This course teaches all aspects of growing tomatoes in a home garden,
at your own pace and in your own home.

The course covers:
●Garden and soil preparation
●Plant selection and training
●Fertilization
●Irrigation
●Weed, disease and insect control
●General care

A short quiz at the end of each section lets you review what you
learned before moving on, and the completion of the course generates
a certificate for you.

So get out from the rain, take a seat by your computer and dream about
those summer tomatoes while you go through Tomato 101.

Available at: http://www-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/

Creating a free use account is required to participate.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

It's Time for Roses

Everything's Coming up Roses

Saturday, February 27, 2010
9:30-11:30am
Demonstration Garden at AgriLife Extension Office of Travis County
1600 B Smith Rd, Austin TX 78721

Roses aren't just for Valentine's Day - they can bring color and sweet smells to your garden year round!  Come attend this free seminar on selecting, planting and caring for roses in your garden.  Following the presentation portion of the seminar, a hands-on demonstration of pruning roses in the Extension Demonstration Garden will take place.  We will discuss site selection, soil amendments, and bed preparations plus showcase a number of Earth Kind Roses worthy of consideration in your garden.  Earth Kind is a designation given to select roses by the Texas A&M Agriculture program, indicating the variety has been through rigorous testing and found to possess a high level of landscape performance and outstanding disease and insect tolerance/resistance.  If you would like to participate in pruning, please bring pruning shears and garden gloves.

This seminar is free and open to the public.  Space is limited so please call the Travis County Master Gardener's desk at (512) 854-9600 to reserve a spot.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. http://www.tcmastergardeners.org.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Potatoes Fresh From the Garden

You walk outside on a clear morning, reach you hand down into the soil and feel around until you find what you've been looking for.  Potatoes, fresh from the garden.  They'll taste delicious with dinner tonight.

Growing Your Own Potatoes
Saturday, Feb 13, 9-11am
Texas AgriLife Extension Office of Travis County
1600-B Smith Rd, Austin TX  78721


Grow your own potatoes?  Yes, you can! Potato planting time is upon us, so join us at the Texas Agrilife Extension office of Travis County in the demonstration garden for a detailed look at how to grow your own crop of potatoes.   This hands-on demonstration includes planting potatoes in the ground and in baskets, recommended varieties, and tips for success. 

This demonstration is free, open to the public and requires no reservations.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. For information, see www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Learn to Garden Successfully in Central Texas

Gardeners who move to Central Texas are often mystified by our gardening seasons, environment and successful plant selections.  New to gardening in Central Texas or looking to refresh your knowledge of the basics to successful gardening here?  This seminar is for you!

Central Texas Gardening 101
Saturday, January 30, 2010
10am-noon
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin TX, 78746


Austin offers a unique mixture of weather, soil, and environment and the rules of gardening here are likely different from other areas you might have gardened before.  This seminar is great for those establishing new roots in our area and trying to figure out how to encourage their plants to do the same or for those who need a refresher on the gardening basics of our area. 

Join Daphne Richards, Horticulture Agent at the Texas Agrilife Extension Service for Travis County, to cover what you need to know to be a successful central Texas gardener.  Included in the discussion will be our seasonal growing calendar, how to work with challenging soils, maintenance schedules for pruning and planting, tips on giving your plants the best start in your garden, and more. 

This seminar is free, open to the public and requires no reservations.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. For information, see http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Get Growing & Keep Going Conference for Educators

Get Growing & Keep Going (GGKG), a symposium that will provide teachers, administrators and parents with the tools to integrate gardens and nature areas into the school environment, will take place February 6th, 2010 from 8am-4pm at Gonzalo Garza Independence High School (located at 1600 Chicon St., Austin Texas, 78702). The symposium is themed "Greening Our Schools", and features keynote speaker Kevin Coyle, National Wildlife Federation Vice President of Education. Field experts will lead a variety of sectionals on topics including rainwater harvesting, vermiculture, double digging, schoolyard habitats, entomology, environmental stewardship, fundraising, and building a garden community. Teachers will receive seven continuing education credits (through Texas AgriLife Extension Service) for participating in this event.

Registration costs $25 before January 15th and $30 until January 29th. For more information, contact Lisa Anhaiser with Texas AgriLife Extension Service at LAAnhaiser@ag.tamu.edu or call 512-854-9600. To register for the Get Growing & Keep Going symposium, visit: http://online.nwf.org/GGKG.