Come and learn about the Design of the Phil Hardberger Park Land Bridge with our guest speaker, James Gray, FASLA (a founding partner of Rialto Studio, Inc., a 25-person landscape architectural firm located in San Antonio and Austin) at our August 16th Meeting, from 1-3 pm, at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, 78230. For more information contact the BCMG President; 2 CEUs and Code: 003.
Wurzbach Parkway currently divides Phil Hardberger Park into two separate parcels of land, preventing access between the two sites. The Land Bridge will allow the park to move up and over Wurzbach Parkway, broad enough for the park experience to feel continuous. Its width is calculated to serve both as a vegetated corridor for wildlife and a unique and educational experience for pedestrians.
Are you a 300 for 300 participant or would you like to be?? The Texas Butterfly Ranch has set a target of creating 300 new pollinator garden habitats for San Antonio’s 300th birthday. You can give pollinators a helping hand by signing up to create your own pollinator habitat.
Pollinator Habitat Yard Signs ( 9”x12” and sturdy, weather-proof aluminum) are $25 and will be available at the BCMG meeting on Aug 16. The signs are also available at the Texas Butterfly Ranch online shop.
To honor Malcolm Beck, organic gardening pioneer, writer, speaker, who passed away July 31, 2018, a Memorial Open House and Potluck will be held on Sun, Aug 12, beginning at 10am at Roszell Gardens Event Center (Formerly Antique Rose Emporium), 7561 E. Evans Rd., 78266.
If you can contribute plates, forks, knives, napkins or cups, drop them at the BCMG office tomorrow, Thu, Aug 9, between 10am and 2pm. Family is providing sausage wraps (sausage in a tortilla) and beans plus lemonade and tea. Bring a dish to share and a chair! If you have questions, contact Rob DeRocher who is helping organize the event
Read about Malcolm’s legacy: Dr Jerry Parsons’ post on PLANTanswers, a Texas Legacy Project interview, and an Express News article from 2015.
If you received a SECOND NOTICE regarding your BCMG background check being expired……do not delay completing the form and sending it in. All active Master Gardeners must have a current background check. If you have any questions, please email Lisa Nixon, membership coordinator.
SAVE THE DATE: ? BCMG ? Christmas ? Party ? will be held at the San Antonio Garden Center, Tuesday, December 11th from 1pm to 3pm!
Looking for Creative, Artistic, Imaginative BCMG(s) to make a Scarecrow for the San Antonio Botanical Garden Annual Scarecrow Trail. Visitors will be treated to Scarecrows created by Community organizations and partners and scattered throughout the Garden. The display will highlight creative and fun interpretations of scarecrows and the harvest season. If you are interested, email Barbara Lutz or call: 210-699-0663.
SIGN-UP for VOLUNTEER EVENTS using the Event Calendar in theVOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM – VMS. Find number of volunteers still needed, who has signed up, Project Code and even request an event reminder!
2018 Fall Youth Garden Educator Prep: Need 2 volunteers for morning shift and 2 volunteers for afternoon shift to help bundle seeds, make teacher packets, etc. TOMORROW, Thu, Aug 9th from 9am-Noon (morning shift) or 1:30-4:30pm (afternoon shift) at the AgriLife office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr. Suite 208. Please sign up on VMS or email Ruby Zavala with any questions. Vol Code: 980 f
Learn how you can help with the Children’s Vegetable Gardens @ SABOT ! Orientation is planned for Sat, Aug 25, 10:30am-Noon: sign-up on VMS (1.5 volunteer hours awarded for attending). Email John Mayer for more information.
Share your love of gardening with the gardeners of tomorrow by volunteering at the Children’s Vegetable Garden Program at Phil Hardberger Park (PHP), Tuesdays, 8-11 a.m, Sept. 11-Dec 4. You can also help by volunteering for the watering team. Volunteer orientation will be held Tue, Sep 4, 9:30 – 11:30 am at PHP (two volunteer hours are awarded for attending). For more information, email Kathy Breniman.
Help at Cultivate! on Saturday, September 8th: Details for two shift opportunities for our Earth-Friendly Gardening & Landscaping Exposition and Workshop are posted on VMS. A volunteer meeting will be scheduled the week of 27 Aug to review duties and jobs.
Need 20 volunteers to help with registration, lunch table, refreshment table, sorting plants, etc. for the 2018 Fall Youth Garden Educator Training on Sat, Sep 15, 2018 from 8am-3pm (actual time of event 9-2) ath San Antonio Botanical Gardens, 555 Funston Pl, 78209. Please sign up on VMS or email Ruby Zavala with any questions. Vol Code: 980 f
Monarch Festival at the Pearl Plant Sale has two sign-up shifts on VMS for Sun, Oct 21. Help get plants unloaded, set up BCMG tents & tables, and sell plants in the morning. The afternoon shift has sales, taking down tents & tables, loading unsold plants, and clean-up. If you have any questions, email Jack Downey or call: 210-771-7312.
See all the Details for Classes in the Bexar County area on the MG Calendar! Classes listed below may be of special interest to you:
FIRST CLASS TODAY! David Rodriguez will give away a 55-gallon Rain Barrel as a door prize at the first Home Gardening Series session, Rainwater Harvesting & Drip Irrigation (Surviving the Drought), on Today, Wed, Aug 8th, 6:30—8:30pm.
Home Gardening Series will be held at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208 78230, on Wednesdays (dates & topics below), 6:30—8:30pm. Learn how to make your landscape look better and save water, all while having fun! Presented by David Rodriguez, County Extension Agent—Horticulture and BCMG Specialists.
Aug 8: Rainwater Harvesting & Drip Irrigation (Surviving the Drought)
Aug 22: Fall Vegetable Gardening (Focus on Warm Weather Vegetables)
Sep 12: Home Fruit and Citrus
Sep 26: Lawn Care Basics
Oct 10: Fall Vegetable Gardening (Focus on Cool Weather Vegetables)
Oct 24: Composting & It’s Benefits
Cost is $30 for the series, or $10 per session. Register online. For more information, email Denise Perez or call: (210) 631-0400.
BCMG August Meeting & Seminar! Hear our guest speaker, James Gray, FASLA (a founding partner of Rialto Studio, Inc., a 25-person landscape architectural firm located in San Antonio and Austin) talk about the Design of the Phil Hardberger Park Land Bridge with at our August 16th Meeting, from 1-3 pm, at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, 78230.
If you would enjoy sharing the horticultural and educational aspects of the Culinary Garden, then be sure to register for Culinary Garden Docent Training Parts I & II will be be held Tue, Aug 21 AND Thu, Aug 23 from 9am to Noon each day at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. MGs will be awarded 6 CEUs. This training is required for participation in our new BCMG Volunteer Opportunity as a SABOT Culinary Garden Docent. Shifts will be 10 am to 1 pm daily at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
Edibles in Your Landscape will be presented by David Rodriguez on Sat, Aug 18, 10:45am – 12:30pm, at Blue Star Brewing Company & Restaurant, 1414 S. Alamo Street, Ste. 105, 78210. For more information, contact Denise @ 210-631-0400. BCMG—2 CEUs; Code: 001
Culinary Garden Docent Training Parts I & II will be be held Tue, Aug 21 AND Thu, Aug 23 from 9am to Noon each day. MGs will be awarded 8 CEUs. Docent shifts will be 10 am to 1 pm daily at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. If you would enjoy sharing the horticultural and educational aspects of the Culinary Garden, then be sure to register online .
Fall is for Planting! will be presented by David Rodriguez on Sat, Sep 29, 10:30am – Noon, at Rainbow Gardens, 8516 Bandera Rd, 78250. For more information, contact Denise @ 210-631-0400. BCMG—1.5 CEUs; Code: 001
Texas Fruit Conference returns Mon-Tue, Oct 15-16, for its 7th educational program for Texas fruit growers at the City of New Braunfels Civic Convention Center, 375 S. Castell Avenue, New Braunfels. Early-Bird registration is $65/per person by Sep 15th. Details will be available online.
And remember, you can find all the TEXAS MASTER GARDENER SPECIALIST COURSES offered in 2018 at the TMGA website. If you are interested in attending any courses, please email David Rodriguez, Extension Agent-Horticulture, Bexar County. BCMG CEU Code: 001.
Just Announced: Master Gardener Specialist – Greenhouse Management class will be hosted by Tarrant County MGs in Fort Worth from October 18th to 20th. You can find the details, application and class agenda online. If interested, email David Rodriguez AND, Texas Superstar Plant Specialist Training will be hosted by Smith County from 18-20 Sep in Tyler. [Note: San Antonio will probably host his course in 2019 or 2020.] Composter training will take place Dec 5-7, and will be hosted by Fort Bend County in Rosenberg, TX
Do you have an interest in learning and playing an active part in conservation? Then, you may find the Fall 2018 Texas Master Naturalist Training course very interesting and a lot of fun. Alamo Area Chapter is accepting applications until Aug 9th. The class begins on Sep 9th and will be held on Thursday afternoons (12:30-4:30pm) for 10 consecutive weeks. Fee = $200; apply online: https://txmn.org/alamo/class/ . For information, email Jeanette Geiman.
303 Pearl Parkway (Lab Building). Fees: $30 individual; $50 for two members of household. Register online.
If You Are a Landowner, Mark Your October Calendar: The Bennett Trust Land Stewardship will host a Conference, Empowering Women – New Stewardship Traditions, at The Inn on Barons Creek, Fredericksburg, TX from October 1-2, 2018. Details and registration online.
SAWS Customers: WaterSaver Landscape and Patioscape Coupons return Aug. 15! Check out all conservation programs and rebates online.