ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wise Words from the CEA-Horticulture: Any MG who is not going to meet their required volunteer and/or CEU hours for certification, but wants to continue their active MG status for 2020, should contact David Rodriguez early. Please provide him an explanation of your situation, and a summary of the hours you have recorded in VMS for 2019. See the reporting guidelines below at Log Your Hours, or on our website!
Desserts Needed! Our Bexar County Master Gardeners organization is one of the hosts for the San Antonio Garden Center’s Meeting on Wednesday, November 6. As a host club, we are to bring desserts for the attendees. Volunteer Hours (VMS Code 0700) are given for shopping and preparing the dessert. If you will provide a dessert, email Barbara Lutz, or (210) 699-0663.The San Antonio Garden Center (3310 N New Braunfels, 78209) invites you for a plant exchange and social at 9:30 am and the speaker at 10:am: Pilgrimage Through the Missions Speaker, Rebecca Simmons from El Camino de San Antonio Missions. For more information online, or call 210-824-9981.
HERE IS YOUR INVITATION TO THE 2019 BCMG HOLIDAY & MEMBER RECOGNITION PARTY!
Complete Christmas Decorating & Shopping Lists Early with our BCMG Poinsettia Sale!
PLEASE pass along the 2019 Flyer to all your friends and organizations in which you are a member!
2019 Poinsettia Sale: Floral Quality Poinsettias
Locally grown by one of the largest growers in the area!
Place your orders by Dec 2, 2019 and pick up your order on Dec 6, 2019 from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm.
- 6 1/2- inch pots in a variety of colors: Red, White, Variegated, Red Glitter
- 4-inch pots in Red.
- Green foil pot wrapper and tax included for all orders!
Order plants online at : https://www.bexarmg.org/ or print the mail-in form.
BCMG Reporting Guidelines for Volunteer Hours (VHs) and Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Reporting our hours is important for two reasons:
- Annual Certification – BCMGs must volunteer 30 hours (VH), receive 6 hours of continuing education (CEUs), and attend two BCMG monthly meetings.
- Funding – Our hours of service (VHs) are reported by AgriLife Extension Service to the state and all funding organizations with accuracy very important, esp. for funding organizations.
See the details of these clarification points on reporting hours at the Members page of our BCMG Website:
- Report hours as soon as you can
- Travel “time” is not volunteer time
- No double dipping
- Use accurate hours
- Record hours to the nearest 1/2 hour
NOTE: Any MG who is not going to meet their required volunteer and/or CEU hours for certification, but wants to continue their active MG status for 2020, should contact David Rodriguez early. Please provide him an explanation of your situation, and a summary of the hours you have recorded in VMS for 2019.
Calling All Rodeo Construction Workers!
It’s time to get organized! Please email Grace Emery your name, email address and cell phone number. We plan to use emails or text messages to communicate the work agenda for each construction day. Appreciate you volunteering now to be a member of the 2020 Rodeo Construction Team.
PLEASE NOTE: Forklift Certification for Rodeo grounds will be held on December 5th at 6:00 pm. This is not a “teaching class.” This is only for certification. Please email Grace Emery to register or for more information.
Bags, Bags, Bags! Collect for Rodeo Plant Sale! Drop off at the office, or bring to our monthly meetings!
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!
Quick Help for David Rodriguez: Seeking three volunteers to package Crawford Reseeding Lettuce seeds. Quick turnaround….task must be completed by the end of this week, or next week at the latest. Seeds, envelopes, and labels can be picked up at the County Extension Office. Email Denise Perez if interested. VMS Code 1100
MGs Who Have Completed SABOT Culinary Docent Training!
Come enjoy the cooler weather at the Culinary Garden and finish complete your annual volunteer certification hours! Schedule your shifts today! November shifts are 10am to 1pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. VMS has all dates/times for sign-ups! VMS Code 0100.
Be the Master Gardener with all the Answers! Volunteer for a shift on our “Ask a Master Gardener” service: Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 8am. to Noon. Check our website page for more information on this service. And, email Denise Perez or Nicolas Vazquez to volunteer!
Volunteers for Youth Gardening Program
- Nimitz Middle School (5426 Blanco Rd.78216) will be hosting their Science Night on Thu, Nov 8 from 3:40-6pm. Need 2 volunteers to take a pot-a-plant activity. Plants will be planted in recyclable materials like newspaper pots and toilet paper rolls. Email Ruby Zavalawith any questions. Sign up on VMS
- Please start saving your toilet paper rolls! 300 rolls are needed for pot-a-plant with Nimitz Middle School on November 8th. Please leave in Ruby’s office no later than Thu, Nov 7 at the AgriLife office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Drive, Suite 212. Email Ruby Zavalawith any questions.
- Feedback on the New Youth Gardens Task Force has been great! If you have some insights and good ideas on how we can educate and support our Bexar County youth gardens, please be sure to join us! We want to hear your ideas! Email Ruby Zavala if you have any questions.
HELP MOLLY KECK WITH SPANISH-SPEAKING GROUPS
Make presentations on pest management for a Spanish-Speaking group called AVANCE. These are at-risk families taking a family education program, and we provide a presentation on pantry pests to help them reduce wasted food due to insect infestations and ultimately save money. Powerpoint in Spanish, props, and notes are provided.
- Mon, Nov 4, 11:15am-1:30pm: Two locations, about 10 minutes from one another. 11:15am-12:15pm at 1103 S San Jacinto St, 78207 and 12:30-1:30pm @ 934 Flanders Ave, 78211.
- Wed, Nov 6, 12:30-1:30pm @ 934 Flanders Ave, 78211
If interested, please email Molly Keck.
Kids, Kows and More Agriculture Expo: Help with youth activity booths focused on gardening, agriculture, natural resources and livestock Wed & Thu, Nov 20 & 21, 8:30am to Noon. Breakfast/Lunch provided. Location for this Agriculture Literacy program : 3201 E Houston St, 78219 (in the new cattle barns). Email your questions to Natalie Cervantes. Sign up on VMS (Code 1200).
The Hardberger Park Children’s Vegetable Garden serves homeschooled children ages 7-14. Volunteers are needed to educate children and parents on good garden practices and to assist with program set-up and garden maintenance. Fall Session runs Tuesdays, Now thru Dec 10, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Please email Kathy Breniman if you are interested in volunteering on Tuesdays, or if you would like to join the watering team.
Or, volunteer on Saturdays at the Children’s Vegetable Garden Program (CVGP) at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. or helping the Fall watering team on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Sunday. If either works for you, email David Rodriguez.
Join David Rodriguez for this FREE Seminar. More information online,
BCMG November Meeting
Thursday, November 21st from 6-8pm
Come and Hear Jay White, owner and publisher of Texas Gardener Magazine, present Pest Free Organically. Jay will discuss the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) triangle and practical, science-based organic control measures that will allow you to grow incredible edibles and ornamentals without relying on “the sides” (pesticides, herbicides and fungicides). An avid hobby gardener, he has earned a B.S. and M.S. in Agriculture. Details on our website.
Election for the Board of Directors for the coming year will also take place at our November Meeting. The Nominating Committee has submitted the following slate for the election of the 2020 BCMG Board of Directors:
President: Lynn Cox
Vice President: Muriel Lanford
Secretary: Angie Kirby
Treasurer: Kathann ElAmin
Membership: Chris McKnight
Members-at-Large: Michelle Hobbs and Art Vasquez
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.
BCMG BOARD MEETING will take place 3 -5 pm on Thu, Nov 21 at 3355 Cherry Ridge 78230.. If you are interested in placing items on the agenda, email President Grace Emery by Fri, Nov 15. All members are welcome to observe the meetings; however, in order to accommodate seating, please email President Grace Emery that you will be attending.
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:
Japanese Landscaping: Watersaving Lessons from Kumamoto En will be presented by MG Stephanie Jones on Thu, Oct 31 from 10-11:30am at SABot, 555 Funston Pl, 78209. CEU Code 001; 1.5 CEUs
Lawn & landscape To-Do List for Winter with David Rodriguez is set for 10:30am to Noon on Sat, Nov 2 at Milbergers, 3920 North Loop 1604, 78247.CEU Code 001; 1.5 CEUs
BROWN BAG – LUNCH & LEARN FOR November: Fall is for Planting Trees will be presented by MG Paul Bauml, who is also Tree Care Specialist.Join the lunch group on Friday, Nov 8 at Noon in the County Extension Office, Suite 208. 1 CEU, Code 001
NOVEMBER BCMG Monthly Meeting & Educational Seminar: Meet Jay White and learn all about being Pest Free Organically on Thu, Nov 21, 6-8pm at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, 78230. 1 CEU per hr presentation; Code 002
15 Bugs Every Gardener Should Know will be presented by Molly Keck on Thu, Nov 21 from 7-8pm at Guadalupe County MG Meeting, 210 East Live Oak, Seguin 78155. CEU Code 001; 1 CEU
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
Watch for 2020 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.
Get Out Your 2020 Calendar: The Texas Master Gardener Assn Conference will be hosted by the McLennan County Master Gardener Association May 12-14, 2020 at the Waco Convention Center. Conference hotels are already filling up! Check out the planned Speakers, Tours, Workshops & Breakout Sessions by viewing the slide presentation from the August TMGA Director’s Meeting.
Great Gardening Events on the BCMG Calendar. Bookmark the Calendar and visit it frequently! Here is a sampling of what is coming up:
- Nov 1 & 2: Fall 2019 South Central District Rose Show & Convention – “Roses of the Wild West”
- Nov 2: Arbor Day for SA
- Nov 2: Holiday Succulent Arrangements
- Nov 5: Central Texas Savannas: Fire, Grazing, and Invasive Species
- Nov 6: Pilgrimage Through the Missions
- Nov 6: Whimsical Fairy Gardening, Advanced
- Nov 6: The Bee Orchids
SABot Scarecrow Trail Exhibit: Now thru Nov 10 from 9am to 5pm. Scattered throughout the Botanical Garden, visitors will be treated to Scarecrows created by community organizations and partners.
David Rogers’ Big Bugs, larger-than-life sculptures, at the San Antonio Botanical Garden NOW thru December 8th.
Tickets on Sale Wine Down at the Garden, Sat, Nov. 16, 2019 | 6 – 10 p.m. (Details Here). Both events at SABot, 555 Funston, 78209.
