ANNOUNCEMENTS
SIGN UP NOW ON VMS:
“GARDENING AT THE ZOO” FIELD TRIP!
We’ll meet in front of the San Antonio Zoo at 9:45am on Tuesday, May 14. No admission fee needed. Owing to space limitations, only the first 75 who register on VMS will be able to participate; no phone reservations. Dress comfortably for the outdoors and wear your badge. 1.5 CEUs. Code: 001
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and BCMG offices will be closed on Friday, April 26.
LAST DAY FOR SUBMISSIONS IS TUESDAY, APRIL 30TH
Applications are being accepted for 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.
Getting Your Garden and Landscape Ready for Spring? Join Molly Keck, Integrated Pest Management Program Specialist, on Wed, May 1 from 6:30-8:30pm at the City of Cibolo City Hall to learn about the Top 20 Insects you’re likely to see in your yard this season! Nonresidents and residents of Cibolo are welcome to attend this free program. Please RSVP by email. 2 CEUs; Code 001.
Special Request from BCMG President, Grace Emery:
All Master Gardeners looking for an educational and fun volunteer opportunities are encouraged to work with Youth Gardens Coordinator, Ruby Zavala, to support her youth programming. We are nearing the last month of school garden activities and you can still help!
Please look at current opportunities (watch for future ones) and visit VMS to sign up! We need you for the continued success of the School Gardens Program.
- 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.
- Locke Hill Elementary needs your help!! Need 2 volunteers on Sat, Apr 27, to help build a garden bed and set up a Native Plant Garden. Sign up online with Locke Hill Elementary, or email Rosanne Atkinson. Also, please sign up on VMS; 1200 – Texas A&M Extension Support – Youth
Mark Your Calendar
Our May Meeting –– Thursday, May 16th from 6-8pm
Dr Barron Rector will provide us with an indoor presentation and an outdoor, hands-on session on “the water cycle.”
(In his own words, “Beware, he likes to talk!”)
Barron Rector, grew up in San Angelo, received a BS degree in Biology/Chemistry, a Masters degree in Biology/Chemistry with emphasis in Plant Taxonomy, and a PhD in Range Science with emphasis in ecology and range animal nutrition. He has been a TAMU System employee since 1973, and is currently Associate Professor and Extension Range Specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in College Station. Dr Rector has been associated with the Texas Master Gardener program since he began training interns in 1999 and he taught at the first Texas Master Naturalist class held in San Antonio in 1997. For Master Gardener intern classes, he has addressed native grasses for landscaping, the water cycle, plant and weed identification, poisonous plants for humans, invasive plant species, weed ecology and management and volunteer training on the Cactus Moth project (Cactoblastis cactorum) and outdoor hands-on activities.
Bexar County Master Gardener (BCMG) Educational Seminars/General Meetings are held in the afternoons (seminars) and evenings (General Meetings) of the third Thursday every other month at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, 78230. For more information contact the BCMG President. 1.5 CEUs; 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: 26, 27, 28
Extra Shifts in April: Self-guided Adult Groups on Wed, 24th, 9am – Noon, and Tue, 30th, 9:30am – 12-30pm
Open Regular Shifts in May: 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10, 11, 12, and 23, 25, 26
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.
- Locke Hill Elementary needs your help!! Need 2 volunteers on Sat, Apr 27, to help build a garden bed and set up a Native Plant Garden. Sign up online with Locke Hill Elementary, or email Rosanne Atkinson. Also, please sign up on VMS; 1200 – Texas A&M Extension Support – Youth
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 one helper in July & in 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:
TONIGHT: Earth-Kind Home Gardening Series – The Importance of Trees, Planting & Maintenance on Wed, Apr 24 from 6:30-8:30pm. Register Online. 2 CEUs; Code 001. Come learn and enjoy how to maximize your garden and landscape with Ross Hosea, City Forester at 3355 Cherry Ridge Suite. 212, 78230.
Lawn Basics 101: with David Rodriguez on Sat, Apr 27, 10:45am – Noon at the Garden Center, 10682 Bandera Rd, Center, 78750. 1.5 CEUs: Code 001
Earth-Kind Home Gardening Series – 30 Bugs Every Gardener Should Know on Wed, May 8 from 6:30-8:30pm. Register Online. 2 CEUs; Code 001. Come learn and enjoy how to maximize your garden and landscape with Molly Keck at 3355 Cherry Ridge Suite. 212, 78230.
Spring Vegetable and Wheat Field Day: is set for Friday, May 10, 8am-2pm at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center at Uvalde, 1619 Garner Field Rd, 78801. 2 CEUs for Educational Presentations; Code 100. Online registration HERE and details on this FLYER.
BROWN BAG – LUNCH & LEARN FOR MAY: Texas Superstar® Plants for Your Landscape presented by MG Lynn Cox. Join the lunch group on Fri, May 10, at Noon in the County Extension Office, Suite 208. 1 CEU, Code 001.
FREE Bi-County Summer Fruit & Vegetable Workshop: Learn about what summer fruits and vegetables can be planted, low budget fruit & vegetable recipes and demonstrations. Add Wed, May 15, from 10am to Noon at Bexar Co Ext Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge, 78230 to your calendar! RSVP to Frances Moreno-Elizondo at 210-631-0400. 2 CEUs; Code 001.
MAY BCMG Monthly Meeting & Presentation: Hear Dr Barron Rector talk with us about the “Water Cycle.” Mark your calendar for Thu, May 16, 6-8pm at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, 78230. 1 CEU; Code 002.
Beekeeping Basics: 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! $65 fee includes lunch and tons of resources. Register online. For additional details, please see the registration site or email Molly Keck.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE GREAT EARTH-KIND CLASSES!
TRY A LUNCH TIME TREAT!
Learn from Master Gardeners at these 2019 Speakers Bureau Presentations:
- Sat, Apr 27 from 11 am – 1pm: Join MG Bill Swantner at the Benefits of Compost and Mulch educational table during Earth Fiesta. This event will be held at Forest Hills Branch Library 5245 Ingram Rd, 78228. The event is open to the public. 1 CEU per session, Code: 001
- Rain Water Harvesting with MG Lou Kellogg, hosted by San Antonio OASIS, at 2201 St. Cloud, 78228 on Tue, May 7, from 6-7:30pm. 1.5 CEUs, Code: 001
- Succulents & Cacti with MG Marty Ruona, hosted by San Antonio OASIS, at 2201 St. Cloud, 78228 on Tue, May 15 from 1-4pm. 1.5 CEUs, Code: 001
And remember, you can find all the TEXAS MASTER GARDENER
ADVANCED 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.
Earth-Kind® – May 16-18, 2019, hosted by Henderson County, Athens
First Detector – May 20-21, hosted by Williamson County, Georgetown
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
Greenhouse Management – Oct 17-19, hosted by Tarrant County, Fort Worth
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. f you have not registered yet, Early Registration ends on April 14th so be sure to complete it by then! You will still have until May 26th to pay in full. 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 25-27 – 41st Annual SACXS Show & Sale
- Apr 27 – Fiesta 5K or 10K Volksmarch at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
- Apr 27 – Spring 2019 “Bexar Roots” Native Plant Sale
- Apr 27 – Bonsai Workshop
- Apr 27 – Let’s Make a Pollinator Garden
- Apr 27-28 – Fiesta Plant Sale
- May 1 – Consider Growing Texas Natives
Five amazing WaterSaver Yards will be featured in this year’s free WaterSaver Landscape Tour. Get a rare look at landscapes that offer different approaches in design, but share a common goal of saving water in two separate Stone Oak neighborhoods from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Details on the featured homes HERE.
MAY 11 –– Save the Date for Migratory Bird Fest! 9am to 2pm at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with a festival filled with bird-themed games, crafts, nature-based vendors, native plant sale, food trucks, live bird of prey show, and presentations about our feathered friends. Details online!
TOP TOMATO CONTEST! Get all the juicy details on our website! JUNE 15th will be here before you know it!
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.