ANNOUNCEMENTS
SPECIAL REQUEST FROM THE BCMG PRESIDENT, GRACE EMERY: If you have completed SABOT Docent Training, we really need you to volunteer for the summer schedule! Right now, we still have many open shifts in June on VMS. Please find the dates that fit your calendar and come volunteer!
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED 9:30am-12:30pm on Thursdays thru Sundays in June: 13, 14, 15, 16 and 20, 21, 22, 23 and 28, 29, 30. VMS has all dates/times for sign-ups! Code 100.
Tomato Trials Need Your Help TOMORROW
Two or three hours of your time is needed this Thursday, June 13 beginning at 8am (or whenever you can arrive) to help Dr. Stein at the Verstuyft Farms to do some weeding on the oldest Extension Tomato Trial site in the State. This is the major trial site that helps us select the Rodeo Tomato. And, you may recall BCMG was awarded First Place in the TMGA Texas Search for Excellence Awards Research Category for Tomato Trials at the State Master Gardener State Convention in April this year.
Please bring gloves, an extra grubbing hoe or two for others, hand spade, possibly knee pads and your own water. Any extra help too!!! Verstuyft Farms is located at 14819 Interstate 35 Access Rd, Von Ormy 78073, only 20 minutes away from the Extension office.
Here is a map link to the location. Directions: Take 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; the Farm is the next right.
Watch for requests coming in the next few days/weeks which will be very crucial in helping to successfully end these projects for this season.
MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for JUNE 15TH
Help With this Fun, First Annual BCMG TOP TOMATO CONTEST!
Tasks include tomato entry check-in, hosting the tomato prep station, setting up tomato entries, as well as general set-up and take-down duties. Arrive at Fanick’s Garden Center, 1025 Holmgreen Rd, 78220, no later than 8 am. Water will be provided; bring a snack or lunch if you like. Sign up on VMS; CODE 0100.
And, Celebrate Fanick’s 80th Anniversary, too!!!
Fanicks’ will have a 20% off everything sale with local garden clubs on hand, kids potting table, sweet raffle, and free gift bags with purchase for first 80 customers. Enjoy this great milestone with birthday cupcakes in honor of the late Eddie Fanick Sr. who started Fanick’s Nursery back in 1939. Meet Fanick’s wonderful staff while reminiscing on the days past at this special Saturday. The WOAI Gardening Show will be broadcasting live 7-10am with hosts Bill Rohde and David Rodriguez answering all those San Antonio gardening questions.
DON’T MISS the BROWN BAG – LUNCH & LEARN FOR JUNE: MG Brenda Burell will talk about Harvesting & Storing Your Spring Vegetables on Fri, Jun 14 at Noon in the County Extension Office, Suite 208. 1 CEU, Code 001.
BCMG BOARD MEETING will take place 3 – 5pm on Thu, Jun 20 at 3355 Cherry Ridge 78230. All members are welcome to observe the meetings; however, in order to accommodate seating, please email President Grace Emery that you will be attending.
TOP TOMATO CONTEST
Saturday June 15, 2019
Fanick’s Garden Center, 1025 Holmgreen Rd 78220
Contest Entry: 9 – 11 am
Judging: 11 am – 12 pm
Winners Announced After Judging
Contest Details on the BCMG Website!
Note: Green tomato entries will be accepted!
First 100 participants receive a free, 4-lb bag of Espoma’s Organic Tomato Tone!
And, Enjoy Fanick’s 80th Anniversary Celebration!
FOR ALL OUR GARDENING FRIENDS!
If you have thought about becoming a Master Gardener, apply now 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 (BCMG website)
- Application deadline: NEXT MONDAY, June 17, 2019
- Approved applications must attend a group interview in July
- For more information, visit Bexar County Master Gardeners website or Bexar County AgriLife website.
KUDOS & THANKS TO OUR SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE!!
This year BCMG has awarded scholarships to two outstanding Horticultural Studies students. The committee received eight applications from students enrolled at at Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Sam Houston State University. Two applicants were graduate students. Using a scoring matrix developed by the committee, two students have been selected for the awards. The July Scion will include a full article with photos for this year’s awardees.
The year-long effort of advertising, then selecting awardees, and making notification of results requires lots of time, effective coordination and use of a fair scoring process. Our Scholarship Committee members Carolyn Martin, Brenda Burell, Jamie Daily, and Jan Craven (Chairperson) have done a stellar job on behalf of the entire BCMG organization!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR for the June BCMG Meeting
Thursday, June 20th from 1-3pm
Mary Irish, Garden Writer-Lecturer-Educator, will present, Plants for Our Changing Climate and The Art of Writing About Them. Details on our website.
Mary Irish is a garden writer, horticultural consultant, lecturer and educator who was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She has worked for over 25 years in the field of horticultural and horticultural communications, specializing in gardens and plants for the greater Southwest.
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 CEU; BCMG Code 002.
NEW CEU OPPORTUNITY
You can now earn one CEU of the minimum six CEUs required for Master Gardener re-certification by listening to at least one archived WOAI 1200 AM Lawn & Garden Show podcast.
All of the Saturday morning episodes are available. You will surely find a topic that meets your knowledge needs!
Or, you can earn one CEU (of the minimum six required CEUs) by listening to a LIVE broadcast of the WOAI 1200 AM Lawn and Garden from 7-10am on a Saturday morning.
VMS CEU Code 001
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:
BROWN BAG – LUNCH & LEARN FOR JUNE: Harvesting & Storing Your Spring Vegetables presented by MG Brenda Burell.Join the lunch group on Fri, Jun 14 at Noon in the County Extension Office, Suite 208. 1 CEU, Code 001.
Earth-Kind Home Gardening Series – Citrus in Your Landscape on Wed, Jun 19 from 6:30-8:30pm. Register Online. 2 CEUs; Code 001. Come learn and enjoy how to maximize your garden and landscape with David Rodriguez at 3355 Cherry Ridge Suite. 212, 78230.
JUNE BCMG Monthly Meeting & Presentation: Learn about Plants for Our Changing Climate and The Art of Writing About Them with our guest speaker, Mary Irish, Garden Writer-Lecturer-Educator on Thu, Jun 20, 1-3pm at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, 78230. 1 CEU; Code 002.
2019 Backyard Basics EXPO: “THE ART OF SELF RELIANCE,” covering a variety of topics with concurrent sessions so you can choose what you want to learn about will be held Thu, Aug 1 at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels, 78209. Registration check-in will begin at 8am and the program will begin promptly at 8:30am and conclude at 12:30pm. Fee: $20; Register Online. VMS CEU 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.
Vegetables – Aug 13-15, 2019, hosted by Bexar County, San Antonio
Save the Date: JMG® – Sep 24-26, hosted by Denton County, Corinth
Greenhouse Management – Oct 17-19, hosted by Tarrant County, Fort Worth
Great Gardening Events on the BCMG March Calendar. Bookmark the Calendar and visit it frequently! Here is a sampling of what is coming up:
- Jun 15 – Seed Collection from Native Plants: Morphology, Timing, Cleaning, Storage and Propagation
- Jun 17 to 23 – National Pollinator Week
- Jun 18 – URBAN WILDLIFE SERIES: Texas Game Species — Managing Private Lands for Wildlife Habitat
- Jun 19 – Whimsical Fairy Gardening, Advanced
GVST Gardening Essentials, Mon, Jun 17, Noon-3pm @ the SA Garden Ceneter, 3310 N. New Braunfels, 78209: Mark Fanick, President of Fanick’s Garden Center, Inc., will speak on “Crepe Myrtles – Old and New–and all other things” and will include a History of Fanicks, as their 80th Anniversary Celebration is 15-16 June. Next, Bill Svelan, of Wild Birds Unlimited, will speak on “Plants that Attract Birds to Your Yard.”
Enjoy Vinyasa and Vino @ SABOT on Sat, Jun 22 from 7 to 8:30pm: This $35 class invites the yogi and wino alike for a night of blissful indulgence. This interactive fifty-minute yoga flow includes wine sampling and a culinary experience prepared by our in-house Chef Dave Terrazas. It is sure to be a unique and memorable evening. Register online.
Two-day (June 27-28, 9am-1pm) Junior Beekeeping Camp at the Clearwater Ranch Apiary (24510 Clearwater Run, Leon Springs area). Kids get to open up real honey bee hives, see the queen, learn about the hive and extract honey to take home. Suits and gloves in smaller sizes for the kids and all the other equipment are available. Flyer Here.
Here is a summertime, low-fat recipe treat from Dinner Tonight: Strawberry Banana Shortcake. You can sign up for their newsletter and get new recipes & tips!
