Gardening Seminar on March 7: Drought to Deluge, Creating the Resilient Central Texas Garden

Lake Travis during drought and deluge. Photo courtesy of KXAN.

Date/Time: March 7, 2020  / 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where:  Austin Area Garden Center at Zilker Botanical Garden,  2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin 78746
Admissions: (credit card, cash or check):

• Children (Ages 2 & Under) - Free
• Youth (Ages 3-17) Austin Resident  $3.00, Non Austin Resident $4.00
• Adults (Ages 18 - 61) Austin Resident $6.00,Non Austin Resident $8.00

Parking: Parking in the lot is very limited. Overflow parking can be found on Stratford Drive.

Gardening in Austin is tough. Texas meteorologist Isaac Monroe Cline reportedly said back in 1927 that “Texas is a land of perennial drought, broken by the occasional devastating flood.” The extremes of temperature and moisture coupled with the diverse geology of the region means that conventional gardening advice often doesn't apply.

Travis County Master Gardeners Sheryl Williams and Kirk Walden will discuss how to cope with weather patterns and how to work with the soil and gardening site you have. Additional topics include hydrozones, which are garden areas that have specific moisture requirements because of the plantings or natural factors, irrigation best practices and suggestions for a maintenance calendar.  This seminar will include a short walking tour of Zilker Botanical Garden to discuss its geology and water.

About the speakers: Sheryl Williams grew up on a farm and holds a degree in Agricultural Education from Oregon State University.  She is a Compost Specialist and has experience with food production, rainwater harvesting, permiculture, and growing native plants. Kirk Walden is a hands-on experiential gardener.  When he moved to Austin his home had virtually no landscaping, mostly just limestone and cedars.  His determination to beautify it led to an avocation as a serious gardener.