Thursday, May 18, 2017

Saturday Summer Seminars at Zilker Botanical Garden


Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, 78746
10 am – 12 noon


June 10-Wild in the City: Living with Austin’s Urban Wildlife
Got critters? Meredith O’Reilly will lead a discussion of common wildlife species seen in Austin’s urban landscape and offer practical tips for humans to co-exist with wildlife while protecting home and garden. Meredith is the gardening specialist for 4-H CAPITAL and a Texas Master Naturalist.

 


July 8-The 6 D’s of Container Gardening Success
Whether you want winter color or summer vegetables, you can grow it in containers. The session covers the major considerations and decisions that lead to gardening success – from design and soil to irrigation and sunlight. Participants will come away with a list of recommended plants and resources suitable for Central Texas. Travis County Master Gardener Kirk Walden is a hands-on experiential gardener.


August 5-Wise Rainwater Control for Central Texas
(Rain gardens, Rainwater Collection, Dry Creeks and Wetlands)

Drought one month, floods the next. Yes, you must be gardening in Central Texas! Can a homeowner control excess run-off from spilling into streets, storm drains and prized succulent gardens? What are some questions that may need to be considered before deciding to invest in any or all of the common options for water control? Join seasoned Travis County Master Gardeners Marian Stasney and Pat Mokry for a discussion on the practical aspects of taming excess rainwater, including functionality, location, construction and maintenance.

Seminars are free and open to the public. No RSVP is required.
Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child (ages 3-12) or seniors (age 62 & over), $3 for non-Austin Residents. Cash or check accepted.

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

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Information Sessions for 2017 Master Gardener Training Program-Travis County

 
Date change for Information Session 2
 
Are you interested in becoming a Travis County Master Gardener?  If so, it’s time to apply!
In order to receive an application, you must attend one of our information sessions. Seating at each session is limited, so please arrive early to secure a seat.  All information sessions will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office, 1600-B Smith Rd, Austin, TX 78721
 
  • MG Information Session 1, Monday, June 5, 2017, 6:00 to 7:00 PM
  • MG Information Session 2, Friday, June 9, 2017, 12:00 to 1:00 PM
 
If you are unable to attend one of these sessions offered, you will need to wait until the 2018 information sessions are offered, and thus you will not be able to apply for the 2017 program.  No exceptions will be made.
 
At the information session, we will cover the details of the program, and answer any questions that you may have.  You will receive a program application at your information session.  Applications are not available elsewhere.  No exceptions will be made.
 
After applications are received and reviewed, 40 applicants will be chosen for interviews.  A maximum of 20 applicants will be accepted into the program.  The fee for the 2017 Master Gardener program in Travis County is $250, payable upon acceptance into the program.
 
The course will meet every Tuesday, from 8 AM to 5 PM, from Sept 5 through Oct 24 with the final exam held on Oct 31, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office, 1600-B Smith Rd, Austin, TX  78721.
 
If you are accepted into the training program, complete the classroom training, and pass the final exam at the end of the course, you will be required to complete a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer service by October 31 of the following year (2018 in this case).  Your volunteer hours will be spent on various Extension-approved projects, which will be explained to you during the program.
 
A criminal background check is required of all Extension volunteers, including Master Gardeners.  Therefore, as a matter of policy, criminal background checks will be run on all persons accepted into the Master Gardener training program.
 
The Master Gardener Program is conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service a maximum of once per year in Travis County, but not necessarily held every year.  The limited number of spaces in the program will be filled based on assessment of the applications and personal interviews.
 
For more information, visit http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/master-gardener-training/ or call 512-854-9600.