Thursday, January 29, 2015

Fabulous February Seminars

All about Roses
February 7th , 10 am - noon
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, 78746

Seminar is free
Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child or senior, $3 for non-Austin Residents.
Contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600

Incorporate user friendly roses into your new or existing garden plans! Cher Groody is a master gardener with 30 years’ experience in the use of roses in a landscape. She will teach you methods for proper selection of rose varieties, site prep and maintenance like pruning, pest control and fertilization. This session is excellent for newbies and experienced gardeners and questions are encouraged.  



Dealing with Drought - Landscaping Basics
February 12th, 10 am – noon

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office
1600 B Smith Rd, Austin, 78721


Cost: $10 or $15 for late and on-site registration
Register: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty
Contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600

Learn basic landscape principals and become familiar with the native and adapted plants to incorporate into your garden. Carolyn Williams has been a Master Gardener for over 14 years and a gardener in Central Texas for over 40 years. She hold both Basic and Advanced Landscape Design Certification from ACC. She will share her experience of working with good Texas tough plants to use in your designs.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Growing Fruit Seminar at Zilker Botanical Garden

Growing Fruit in Your Home Garden
January 31st, 10 am-noon
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, 78746


Seminar is free
Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child or senior, $3 for non-Austin Residents.



January is a good time to plant trees so come learn how to grow fruit trees in your home garden. Tree talk includes peaches, plums, pears, figs and apples. Blackberries & grapes will also be discussed.
This seminar will cover the basics including how to plant a tree and which fruit varieties excel in our area. Master Gardener Joe Posern, fruit specialist, has been growing fruit in Austin since 2007 and will share his experience.

Presented by Travis Co Master Gardeners.

For more information contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/local-extension-resources/calendar-2/

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Dealing With Drought in the Landscape Series

Are you prepared for the hot, dry summer months that lie ahead? Now is the time learn about ways to help your landscape and garden perform while conserving, preserving and protecting our water resources.  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Travis County and Travis County Master Gardeners will present a series of monthly seminars called Dealing with Drought in the Landscape starting in February.

The programs will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the AgriLife Extension office in southeast Austin, located at 1600-B Smith Road.  
Cost is $10 per seminar for early registration and $15 per seminar for late or on-site registration.  To register, go to https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty.  For more information, contact Richards at 512-854-9600 or drichards@tamu.edu

February 12 - Landscaping Basics   
Learn basic landscape principals and become familiar with the native and adapted plants to incorporate into your garden. Carolyn Williams has been a Master Gardener for over 14 years and a gardener in Central Texas for over 40 years. She hold both Basic and Advanced Landscape Design Certification from ACC. She will share her experience of working with good Texas tough plants to use in your designs.

March 12 - Using Native Plants in the Landscape 
Native Texas plants bring beauty and function to your garden while being well adapted to handle Texas’ blazing summers, drought, and other weather extremes. In addition to being water-wise, native plants provide great benefits to pollinators and birds. 4-H CAPITAL’s gardening specialist and Texas Master Naturalist Meredith O’Reilly will guide you in choosing the right natives for your yard and your garden goals.

April 9 - Tree Care During Drought 
Many trees are stressed by prolonged periods of hot, dry weather. Selecting trees that use water efficiently is one way to make your landscape more resistant to droughts. Learn about several tree maintenance procedures to increase a tree’s chance during drought such as mulching, proper pruning, limiting fertilization and supplemental irrigation.  Lara Schuman, an ISA Certified Arborist and acting Program Manager at City of Austin Urban Forestry will share her knowledge on caring for trees.

May 14 - Alternative Methods of Gardening 
If you have limited garden space or time yet still have a desire to nurture your green thumb, Master Gardener Pat Mokry will teach you how to raise carefree veggies, herbs and flowers using self-sufficient grow boxes. Then, for some more ‘new’ gardening techniques, Master Gardener Marian Stassney will describe the ancient practices of both keyhole gardening and hugelkultur.

June 11 - Preparing for the Fall Vegetable Garden 
Imagine gardening without sweat dripping from your brow or mosquitos buzzing in your ears or having to water every day. Those are just a few of the many benefits of the cool season vegetable garden. Join us as we discuss vegetable selection, soil preparation and the importance of timing for the fall and winter garden.  Master Gardener Patty Leander is a writer for Texas Gardener magazine and grows vegetables year round in her Oak Hill garden.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Master Gardener Seminars at Austin Home & Garden Show


Travis County Master Gardeners will be offering educational seminars at the 17th Annual Austin Home & Garden Show - Garden Stage on January 17-18, 2015 at various times.

Saturday 1/17/15
 
11:00 am Roses and Rose Care; Holly Plotner
Roses aren’t just for Valentine’s Day – they can bring color and sweet smells to your garden nearly year round. Learn about Earth Kind Roses, a designation indicating high performance, disease and insect resistance, plus the basics of pruning and rose care.
 
12:00 pm Drought Resistant Plants; Cheryl Harrison
There are many native and adapted plants that look great in the landscape while surviving on little water. Discover a selection of plants that will thrive in Central Texas.
 
1:00 pm Rainwater Harvesting; Ed Parken
Don’t let valuable rainwater just wash down the gutter when it could be irrigating your garden and landscape. Learn the basics of rainwater harvesting and how to construct your own system.
 
2:00 pm Lawn Care in Times of Drought; Sheryl Williams
Yes, you can have a lawn that looks great under water restrictions. Learn  about turf options and basic lawn care for drought in Central Texas.


Sunday 1/18/15
 
1:00 pm Home Fruit Production; Joe Posern
Discover the basics of back yard fruit production: site selection, soil preparation, variety selection and specific needs of fruit crops in Central Texas. No squirrels allowed!
 
2:00 Backyard Greenhouses; Pat Mokry & Susan Jung
Learn the basics of hobby style greenhouses: selection, site location and how to manage heat, cold, water and pests.

Where: Austin Convention Center,  500 East Cesar Chavez Street,  Austin
Cost:  $8.50; Seniors $6.50; 16 and under Free

Seminar times & features subject to change

For complete details, go to http://www.austinhomeandgardenshow.com/seminar_GardenStage.html

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

2015 Turfgrass Ecology Workshop

When:  February 16-20, 2015,  8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Where: Travis County East Service Center, 6011 Blue Bluff Road, Austin
Cost:    Early Registration through 1/30/15: $450, Standard Registration after 2/13/15:  $495
CEUs:  TDA pesticide credits (amount to be determined)
Register:   https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/Turf
Contact:   Daphne Richards, 512-854-9600,  drichards@ag.tamu.edu

The Turfgrass Ecology and Management Short Course is an intensive 5-day educational opportunity for anyone interested in the fundamentals of turfgrass physiology and management. It is designed for professional turfgrass managers as well as anyone else in the green industry with a desire to learn the basics of how to properly manage turfgrasses with respect to growth, fertility, pest control, water use, water quality, etc. Attendees will be exposed to the fundamentals of proper turfgrass selection, growth and maintenance as well as the latest up-to-date information from a diverse collection of Texas A&M University faculty.

Short Course directed by Dr. Casey Reynolds, Assistant Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist

Specific Topics Include:
– Introductory Turfgrass Physiology
– Turfgrass Species: Identification, Selection, and Establishment
– Turfgrass Management: Mowing, Fertility, and other Cultural Practices
– Turfgrass Water Use and Proper Irrigation Practices
– Soil Physical and Chemical Properties
– Water Quality: Analysis, Interpretation, and Implementation
– Pesticide Labeling and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Regulations
– Turfgrass Pest Management: ID and Control of Weeds, Diseases, and Insects
– Spreader and Sprayer Calibration: Classroom and Hands-on Exercises

Brochure: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/dropinn/materials/material_512.pdf

Registration fee includes the following:
• 5-day workshop
• Learning materials, articles, handouts, notebook, etc.
• Framed continuing education certificate
• TDA pesticide credits (amount to be determined)
• Sprayer calibration reference cards
• On-site refreshments

Tax Deduction
If courses are taken to maintain and improve professional skills, a tax deduction is allowed for education expenses including registration fees, travel expenses, meals, and lodging. (See Treas. Reg. 1162-5 Couglin vs. Commissioner 203 F 2d 307).

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Rescheduled Seminar - Growing Fruit in Your Home Garden

January 10th seminar has been rescheduled for January 31st.

 
Growing Fruit in Your Home Garden  
January 31st, 10 am-noon 
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, 78746
Seminar is free
Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child or senior, $3 for non-Austin Residents.



January is a good time to plant trees so come learn how to grow fruit trees in your home garden. Tree talk includes peaches, plums, pears, figs and apples. Blackberries & grapes will also be discussed.
This seminar will cover the basics including how to plant a tree and which fruit varieties excel in our area. Master Gardener Joe Posern, fruit specialist, has been growing fruit in Austin since 2007 and will share his experience.

Presented by Travis Co Master Gardeners.


 
For more information contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/local-extension-resources/calendar-2/

Monday, January 5, 2015

A wise gardener anticipates June in January

January is a good time to plant trees so come learn about fruit trees for your summer harvest.

Growing Fruit in Your Home Garden
January 10th, 10 am - noon
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, 78746

Seminar is free
Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child or senior, $3 for non-Austin Residents.



Tree talk includes peaches, plums, pears, figs and apples. Blackberries & grapes will also be discussed.
This seminar will cover the basics including how to plant a tree and which fruit varieties excel in our area. Master Gardener Joe Posern, fruit specialist, has been growing fruit in Austin since 2007 and will share his experience.

In partnership with the City of Austin-Office of Sustainability supporting a healthy and just local food system.


Presented by Travis Co Master Gardeners.
 
For more information contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600.