ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hearty Welcome to Owen Keiser!
The BCMG CommTeam welcomes MG Owen Keiser as the new Website Content Manager for the BCMG Website!
Our Team also includes: Ann Vargas, Calendar Manager; Regina Maspero, Facebook Group Administrator; Vicki Jamvold, VMS Volunteer Administrator & Publicity Volunteer; Liz Campanella, Media/Public Affairs Coordinator; Tera Marshall, Scion Editor; Lynn Cox, Website Online Forms & WooCommerce Manager; and Ann Marie Pease, Leaflet Editor & MailChimp Manager.
We have a group email address: [email protected] This is a handy way to contact all of us with information that you might want to share with members and Friends of BCMG. And it helps us have consistent information across all platforms. If you are chairing an event, please use the CommTeam Request form found in the File Cabinet on the Members page of the BCMG website.
CULINARY DOCENTS, Please Volunteer Now:
If have not yet volunteered this summer, please pick a date, or dates, and sign up on VMS today. There are morning and evening shifts available. We have many empty slots! Please come and use your training, and at the same time strengthen our partnership with the San Antonio Botanical Garden. And, have some FUN, too!! Email Grace Emery or VP Lynn Cox if you have any questions.
Join the Texas A&M AgriLife Team for the Annual Backyard Basics EXPO, Thu, Aug 1, 8am-12:30pm. Topics, location and details HERE. CEU Code 001 (1 CEU per presentation hour) Register at http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/BexarCounty
Hope to see you there!
The 2019 Fall Children’s Vegetable Garden Orientation will be held at the San Antonio Botanical Garden on Sat, Aug 17 @ 10:45am. If you have a passion for gardening and wish to help educate youth, this orientation is for you! CEU Code 001; 1.5 CEUs
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Chair/Co-Chairs for the 2020 Rodeo Needed
This position reports to Ruby Zavala & David Rodriguez and involves periodic updates to the BCMG Board of Directors. The time commitment is August 2019-January 2020 for monthly meetings with San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Inc. (S.A.L.E.) at their location on AT&T Center Parkway, and meetings, as needed, with Ruby and David. By the February 2020 Rodeo, we should have a well-oiled machine.
– Direct all phases of the Rodeo from preplanning which starts in August to final post-Rodeo meeting at SALE in March.
– Coordinate existing committee chairs for Volunteer Coordination, Construction, Hospitality, Landscape Design, Plant Sales, Transportation, School Tours, Tree Give-Away, Watering, and Kids Activities.
This may seem formidable, but the existing chairs are experienced and excellent! We need a Chair/Co-Chairs to provide direction and coordination for this major and long event in a most efficient way.
Please email President Grace Emery (or call: 210-875-6919) if you are interested in volunteering as Rodeo Chair or Co-Chair.
Looking for a “Partner”
This might be a perfect fit! Indoor job, your timetable: you’ll need basic computer skills and good internet service.
Help organize and co-edit Weekly Leaflet & manage MailChimp (our email service). Happy to provide One-on-One training and mentoring. Detailed guide for the current Leaflet process available on BCMG website: Members navigation tab > File Cabinet > Misc. Documents. Facilitate communications within our organization and bring fresh ideas to the Leaflet!
If you would like more information, or to volunteer, email VP Lynn Cox or Manager/Editor Ann Marie Pease.
Find Some Time on Your Calendar –– Still Need Volunteers!
Harvesting Hops @ SABOT CVG (VMS Code: 1100)
If you are available a couple of hours a week to help finish harvesting hops in two long beds (really shaded on one side most of the day) over the next weeks, please email David Rodriguez for instructions. Work anytime (Garden opens at 7am) and just be sure you have instructions to open back gate and tool sheds. CVG MAP
Summer Maintenance for CVGP @ SABOT (BCMG Code: 1200)
Volunteer a couple of hours a week, or so, to keep the Children’s Vegetable Garden Program beds weeded throughout the summer, and do miscellaneous chores around the garden. Also, need help with organizing the three tool sheds and the large shed for the CVG. Please email David Rodriguez if interested and for instructions on access to the garden (opens at 7am) back gate and tool sheds. CVG MAP
Mark Your Calendar: August BCMG Meeting
Thursday, August 15th from 1-3pm
Our Guest Speaker, Gregg Eckhardt, SAWS Senior Analyst, will trace San Antonio’s path toward diversification and sustainability in water resource management. Details on our website.
Gregg Eckhardt is an environmental scientist with 30 years of experience in environmental modeling and analysis, water resource planning and development, state and federal permitting, and water treatment. He is known as The Nerd King of South Texas Water History. As Senior Analyst for the San Antonio Water System, he is involved in the planning, operations, and management of the city’s water supply and wastewater.
PLANT SALE: To Be Determined
Plant Sale proceeds support our Scholarship Fund!
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.
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!
CULINARY DOCENT VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED 9am-Noon on Fridays thru Sundays throughout July and August.
SUMMER NIGHTS at SABOT are underway and docent volunteers are needed for the 5:30-8:30pm shifts on Thursday nights through August 15th. Also, docents can schedule a shift for Dog Days on Sat, Aug 3 and Sun, Aug 4 from Noon to 2pm, or for the Big Bug Exhibit, Sat, Aug 31 from Noon to 2pm.
VMS has all dates/times for sign-ups! VMS Code 100.
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:
JULY BCMG Monthly Meeting & Presentation: Joseph Johnson will give us An Introduction to the ‘New Gardens”, the Leach Teaching Gardens, at TAMU. Mark your calendar for Thu, July 18, 6-8pm 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
2019 All Bugs Good and Bad Webinar Series: GMOs and Their Effect on Insect Populations on Fri, Aug 2, 1-2pm; 1 CEU, Code 001. Details on the link & login on the BCMG Calendar.
Join MG Lynn Cox for Superstar Landscapes With Texas Superstar® Plants on Sat, Aug 3 from 10-11am at Rainbow Gardens, 2585 Thousand Oaks, 78232. Learn more about these incredible plants and how to use them in your landscape. More information Here or at the Rainbow Gardens website. 1 CEU, Code 001
MGs, REGISTER by August 6th!! MG Advanced Training – Vegetables will be held in San Antonio at 3355 Cherry Ridge, 78230 from Aug 13-15 (Tue-Thu). See the Flyer here and details are on the BCMG website.
BROWN BAG – LUNCH & LEARN FOR August: Lawns and Landscapes Surviving the Summer Heat presented by MG and Irrigation Efficiency Specialist Anna Vogler.Join the lunch group on Fri, Aug 9 at Noon in the County Extension Office, Suite 208. 1 CEU, Code 001
AUGUST BCMG Monthly Meeting & Presentation: Hear Greg Eckhardt, Senior Analyst with San Antonio Water System talk with us about “The History of Water in San Antonio.” Mark your calendar for Thu, Aug 15, 1-3pm at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, 78230. 1 CEU; Code 002
2019 Fall Children’s Vegetable Garden Orientation: Held at the San Antonio Botanical Garden on Sat, Aug 17 @ 10:45am. CEU Code 001; 1.5 CEUs
Fall Is For Planting with David Rodriguez is set for 11am to 12:30pm on Sat, Aug 24 at Rainbow Gardens, 2585 Thousand Oaks, 78232 and same time on Sat, Aug 31 at Rainbow Gardens, 8516 Bandera Rd, 78250.CEU Code 001; 1.5 CEUs
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. Or, earn one CEU (of 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. You can only record one CEU per year using the radio broadcast option! 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 Calendar. Bookmark the Calendar and visit it frequently! Here is a sampling of what is coming up:
- Jul 25 – Create an English Style Border with Texas Flair
- Jul 27- Biology and Ecology of Native Texas Bees
- Jul 27 – Everything Tomato
- Jul 27 – Soil – The Root of Tree Healthcare
- Aug 3 – Pond Education Seminar: Koi Care Expertise
Mark Your Calendar for Sat, Sep 7, 8am-1pm and our fun, educational event @ University of The Incarnate Word, Dr. Burton E. Grossman International Conference Center (ICC), 847 E. Hildebrand, 78212.
SHARE WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS: Registration is NOW OPEN for the Fall 2019 Children’s Vegetable Garden Program at SABOT. Program will include sixteen Saturdays from Sep 7 to Dec 14.
Lady Bird Day is Sat, July 27, 8am-5pm. Each year on Lady Bird Day, the Wildflower Center (4801 La Crosse Ave. Austin, TX 78739) honors its namesake and founder and all that she did for our nation’s treasured environment. Free admission. Take a guided tour, get centered with community yoga, watch Mrs. Johnson’s home videos, and enjoy Lady Bird story times.
Registration for the Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP) Level 1 (Sat, Sep 5) and Level 2 (Sat, Sep 21) day-long classes that teach best practices for native plant landscaping (including wildlife habitat gardening) opens July 31st! Native Landscape for Birds will also be offered Sat, Nov 16. Register early. Hosted by the Native Plant Society of Texas, San Antonio Chapter.
