ANNOUNCEMENTS
BCMGS, We Need Your Help!
Only Codes 001 and 002 are used to report your CEUs in VMS!
Unfortunately, members are marking codes 100-1200 (volunteering codes) as CEUs. For example, if you attended CULTIVATE! (thank you!), then report your CEUs as 001. The code 200 is to report volunteer hours for working at CULTIVATE! This is happening with more than CULTIVATE!
Please check your recorded hours to make sure you have selected the correct code, then amend as needed. We want you to get your CEU credits! If you have any questions, please contact our Membership Director Art Vazquez for assistance. Thank you!
Time to Plant Spring Tomato and Watermelon Trials
Help is greatly needed TOMORROW, Thursday, April 4 at the Verstuyft Farms to plant the oldest Extension Tomato Trial in the State, starting at 7:30 am (or when you get there), go to lunch, then hopefully finish by 2:00 pm. Please bring gloves, an extra grubbing hoe or two, hand spade and possibly knee pads, AND any extra helpers too!!! There are light, medium, and heavy levels of work: something for everyone!
The location is the Verstuyft Farms, 14819 Interstate 35 Access Rd, Von Ormy, TX 78073. Directions: Take I-35S, exit Somerset Road before 1604, and go left on the access road that is two ways. Stay on the access road past the first stop. Pass the gas station on the right. Pass the fireworks stand on the right. Verstuyft Farms is next right. Please use this map.
For YOUR April Calendar!
- The next BCMG Board Meeting will take place 3 – 5pm on Thu, Apr 18 at 3355 Cherry Ridge, 78230. If you are interested in placing items on the agenda, email President Grace Emery by Thu, Apr 11. And, all members are welcome to observe the meetings; however, in order to accommodate seating, please email Grace Emery that you will be attending.
- The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and BCMG offices will be closed on Fri, Apr 19 for Good Friday, and Fri, Apr 26, for Battle of the Flowers parade.
The next Beekeeping Basics Program will be held Fri, May 17 from 9am-4pm at Phil Hardberger Park Urban Ecology Classroom. Field Days on Sun, May 19 (8:30-10 or 10:30-12), or Mon, May 20 (3-5pm) – your choice! Learn all the basics of beekeeping: what a hive is, what tools to buy, where to purchase materials, how to get bees, and what to expect that first year beekeeping. The $65 fee includes lunch and tons of resources to get you ready to start beekeeping. Register online.
Bee suits and gloves are provided for the field day. If you have your own suit that you would like to try out, you are welcome to use it, but we do require that you wear a full suit and true beekeeping gloves.
For additional details, please see the registration site or email Molly Keck.
In the April edition of the Texas Master Gardener Association (TMGA) Newsletter, Duddly Hargrove, 2019 TMGA President, provides an excellent summary of the history and purpose of “Cooperative Extension.” You can Sign Up Today for the Monthly TMGA Newsletter on the TMGA Website.
Good Luck with Your Tomatoes and Veggies and our TOP TOMATO CONTEST! Get all the juicy details on our website! June 15th will be here before you know it!
GREAT NEWS! BCMG will be awarding not one (as announced earlier), but TWO Scholarships in Horticultural Studies. All the details and the scholarship application are available on the BCMG website. Applications must be submitted by April 30, 2019.
One Last Reminder for the Texas Community Future’s Forum, THIS Friday, April 5th. Help AgriLife Extension Services mold their programs to enhance community education! Please RSVP NOW.
MANY THANKS for your donations to BCMG’s Birdies for Charity campaign. If you still haven’t made a donation, you can still use the pledge form which you received at the Rodeo meeting or received by mail, or by donating online using our custom link. REMEMBER, we get 107% of donations made! If you have any questions or need pledge forms, please email Barbara Lutz or call 210-699-0663.
If you are planning to attend the tournament at TPC San Antonio, April 1-7, 2019, be sure to stop by a Donation Station located in both the main and VIP entrances and make a donation for Bexar County Master Gardeners receive a chance to win a prize!
★ Ford Ranger Truck – Donors who check in at one of the Donation Stations or make a contribution onsite will be entered into a drawing to win a two-year lease on a 2019 Ford Ranger truck, compliments of Jordan Ford. One entry per day, Thursday-Sunday, so please stop by daily to check-in.
★ $20,000 – The donor who wins the Ford Ranger truck will automatically earn the charity they supported a $20,000 donation in honor of the donor.
★ Fiesta® Medal – Make a donation of $10 or greater and receive a limited edition 2019 Valero Texas Open Fiesta® medal!
Mark Your Calendar for THURSDAY, APRIL 18th from 1-3pm
John Strickland will talk with us about the Greenhouse at the San Antonio Zoo and how he plans for yearlong plantings.
John is the Manager of Horticulture at the San Antonio Zoo. He started his career at the zoo in 1999 and has experience as a Gardener, Greenhouse Technician, Senior Horticulturist, and finally Manager. John worked at several nurseries in his hometown of Abilene, and also ran my own landscape company. He grew up on a 150-acre farm in north Texas and that is source of his love of horticulture.
Bexar County Master Gardener (BCMG) Educational Seminars/General Meetings are held in the evenings of the third Thursday every other month at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, 78230. For more information contact the BCMG President. 1 CEU. BCMG Code: 002.
SIGN-UP for VOLUNTEER EVENTS using the Event Calendar in the VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM – VMS. Find number of volunteers still needed, who has signed up, Project Code and even request an event reminder! REMEMBER: If you volunteer for any event and have a last minute change of plans, please contact the coordinator listed on VMS to let them know!
MGs Who Completed SABOT Culinary Docent Training!
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED: 10am – 1pm on Thursdays/Fridays thru Sundays. VMS has all dates/times for sign-ups! VMS Code 100.
Open Regular Shifts in April: 4, 5, 6 and 11, 12, 13 and 18, 20 and 26, 27
Extra Shifts in April: Self-guided Adult Groups on Mon, 15th, 10 am to 1 pm, Wed, 24th, 9am – Noon, and Tue, 30th, 9:30am – 12-20pm; plus Sat, 20th Noon – 2pm for Viva Botanica
Open Regular Shifts in May: 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9, 10, 11, 12, and 23, 24, 25, 26
Join the CVG Watering Teams!
The Children’s Vegetable Garden Program at Phil Hardberger Park needs MGs to help water the garden on Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays (mornings or evenings) from Now to the first week of June. Please email Kathy Breniman for details and to volunteer.
Seeking two volunteers to serve on the SABOT Children’s Vegetable Garden Water Team: Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Sundays; shift typically starts around 7:30am. Email David Rodriguez if you can help out!
Coming Up for Youth Gardens Program (Sign Up on VMS: Code 1200)
- Youth Garden Activity Prep, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr. on Wednesdays and Thursdays in April from 10am-1pm. Need 2 volunteers each day to help cut out bees and butterflies, put youth activities together and other. Email Ruby Zavala if you are interested, or sign up on VMS.
- Looking for 3 volunteers to take a Pot-A-Plant youth activity to St. Gregory the Great STEM event (700 Dewhurst Rd 78213). Expect to see approx. 100 kids from 11am to 2pm on Sat, Apr 6th. Please arrive at 10:30 to gel set up. Email Ruby Zavala if you are interested, or sign up on VMS.
- Looking for 6 (3 per shift) volunteers to take a Pot-A-Plant youth activity to Nimitz Middle School Earth Day event (5426 Blanco Rd, 78216). Expect to see approx. 500 kids from 9am-3pm on Mon, Apr 22nd. First shift is from 9am to 12pm and second shift is from 12pm-3pm. Email Ruby Zavala if you are interested, or sign up on VMS.
STILL NEED Brown Bag Lunch & Learn (VMS Code 100) Support: Come and help set up, hand out information, and clean up; arrive 30 minutes prior to each session. Need help July & November. Contact President Grace Emery if you have any questions.
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:
THIS MORNING – Spring Gardening To Do List: David Rodriguez will speak at the San Antonio Garden Center meeting TODAY from 10 to 11am, Wed, Apr 3 at 3310 N. New Braunfels, 78209. Coffee at 9:30am. 1 CEU: Code 001
WEBINAR FOR YOU?? Saving Family Lands: Challenges and Opportunities for Working Lands in Texas will be presented by Ken Cearley, Texas Land Trust, TOMORROW, Thu, Apr 4, from Noon to 1pm (CST). Watch this free webinar via this link. 1 CEU: Code 001
Growing Texas Superstar® Plants in Your Landscape: with David Rodriguez on Tue, Apr 9 from 6:30-8:30 pm at Northeast Community Learning Center, 8750 Tesoro Dr., 78217. 2 CEUs: Code 001
Turfgrass 101: with Lou Kellogg on Wed, Apr 10 from 6:30-8:30 pm, part of the Earthkind Home Gardening Series held at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 212, 78230. 2 CEUs: Code 001
Lawn Basics: with Lou Kellogg on Fri, Apr 12 from Noon-1 pm, a Brown Bag Lunch & Learn session held at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 212, 78230. 1 CEU: Code 001
Annual Fruit Tree Grafting Seminar: with Dr Larry Stein on Sat, Apr 13 from 9am – Noon at Fanick’s Garden Center, 1025 Holmgreen Rd. 3 CEUs: Code 001
Learn from Master Gardeners at this 2019 Speakers Bureau Presentation: Xeriscaping with Oliver Smith, hosted by San Antonio OASIS, at 2201 St. Cloud, 78228 on Tue, Apr 16, from 10:30am – Noon. 1.5 CEUs, Code: 001
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE GREAT EARTH-KIND CLASSES!
TRY A LUNCH TIME TREAT!
And remember, you can find all the TEXAS MASTER GARDENER ADVANCED (formerly Specialist) COURSES offered 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.
Plant Propagation – Apr 12-13, Hosted by Tarrant County, Fort Worth
First Detector #1 – May 2-3, hosted by Ellis County, Waxahachie
First Detector #1 – May 20-21, hosted by Williamson County, Georgetown
Earth-Kind® – May 16-18, 2019, hosted by Henderson County, Athens
Turfgrass – May 23-24, 2019, hosted by Montgomery County, Conroe
Tree Care – Jun. 12-14, 2019, hosted by Kerr County, Kerrville
Vegetables – Aug. 13-15, 2019, hosted by Bexar County, San Antonio
2019 State & International Conferences
2019 TGMA Conference will be held April 25-27, 2019 and is being hosted by Victoria County Master Gardener Association. Great speakers, plenty of good food, wonderful tours and garden-crafty workshops are planned for you! Leadership training (Topics = Mentoring, Fundraising and Technology) will be held on April 24th. Visit the Conference website for tons of information!
The 17th biennial conference for the international master gardener community, Penn’s Woods: Digging into Our Roots, will be held June 17-21, 2019 at the Valley Forge Casino Resort, Valley Forge, PA. A conference update has just been received. You can use online registration and also subscribe to the IMGC newsletter for conference updates.
Great Gardening Events on the BCMG March Calendar. Bookmark the Calendar and visit it frequently! Here is a sampling of what is coming up:
- Apr 3 – Distressed Plant Forum
- Apr 3 – Hill Country Native Plant Working Workshop (FREE)
- Apr 4 – Soil Care and Softening for a Productive Garden
- Apr 4 – Whimsical Fairy Gardening
- Apr 5 – 2019 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series: Snakes – Identification and Environmental Importance
- Apr 6 – GVST Watersaver Landscape Design School
- Apr 9 – Butterfly Identification Walking Workshop
- Apr 10 – Growing Orchids (with Luis Vasquez at 1pm, Leon Valley Library, 6425 Evers Road
Purple Martins: Their Role and Requirements in San Antonio Ecosystems will be presented by John Henry, retired educator and purple martin house manager at San Antonio Botanical Gardens (SABOT) for 15 years. Learn about habits, habitat requirements, role in our ecosystems, and how to attract them to your yard. Class will include a tour of SABOT birdhouses. Sponsored by San Antonio Water System and held at SABOT on Sat, Apr 6, 10 am to 11:30 am; Fee: ($9-$12), or free with membership or general admission. Registration required.
SAWS Customers, learn all about how saving you water and money are goals of the SAWS’ WaterSaver programs and especially the WaterSaver Rewards program.
Join the AgriLife Staff on April 16, 2019 from 8am to Noon for the 2019 South Texas Agriculture Symposium at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208. Please find details and RSVP information on this flyer.
Applications are now being accepted for the TWO BCMG 2019-2020 Scholarships in Horticultural Studies. These scholarships provide financial support to undergraduates or graduate students at Texas colleges or universities who are pursuing degrees in Horticultural Sciences, Landscape Design, Turfgrass Management, or any affiliated “Green Industry” area. All the details and the scholarship application are available on the BCMG website. Applications must be submitted by April 30, 2019.
FOR ALL OUR GARDENING FRIENDS!
If you have thought about becoming a Master Gardener, start planning for Master Gardener Intern Training Class 63.
- Class 63 starts August 21, 2019; classes meet every Wednesday from Noon – 4 pm for 13 weeks
- Cost: $260 payable in full on the 1st day of class
- Application available online early May (BCMG website)
- Application deadline: June 17, 2019
- Approved applications must attend a group interview (Group Interviews in July)
- For more information visit Bexar County Master Gardeners website or Bexar County AgriLife website.