Scion -March 2020 | BCMG Home

Volume 30, Issue 3 – March 2020

I love March! I love the transition of it. The weather will range from warm temperatures to cold, and back again… multiple times! The winds will blow, at times too much, as if they are blowing out winter and ushering in spring! Our gardens are greening up and soon we can plant those Rodeo tomatoes we have been growing in pots!

And speaking of Rodeo, great job everyone! The Little Buckaroo Tent looked awesome! And we had a great plant sale. Kathann will have the financial update ready to share at our March Monthly Meeting. And don’t forget… record those hours now!

This month we have great events going on including CULTIVATE! and Spring Bloom. The Children’s Vegetable Gardens, Culinary Garden Docent, Speakers Bureau and Hotline teams are in full swing!

We are still in need of some volunteers to step into some positions. Please see the list of opportunities later in this issue. And you don’t have to do it alone, grab a friend and have some fun helping out! If you would like to know more or want to step up, please contact me.

As always, my virtual door is always open! Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, and ideas.

Step up and step out to great gardening opportunities!
Lynn

This is the 10th year for the membership certification pins. Our first pin was a Texas Blue Bonnet. A majority of our membership joined after 2011 and asked that the Blue Bonnet pin be reissued for 2020. So the Maroon Bluebonnet was designed as our 2020 pin. The pins were ordered, but they are manufactured in China, and due to Covid 19, have been delayed. As soon as we get the proofs, we will publish a photo of it.

An updated list of re-certified BCMGs will be published April 1, so get your hours entered into VMS now!

BCMG-Monthly-Meeting-desert-rose

BCMG BOARD MEETING will take place 3 – 5 pm on March 19, 2020 at 3355 Cherry Ridge 78230. If you are interested in placing items on the agenda, email President Lynn Cox ([email protected]) by Friday, the week before the meeting. All members are welcome to observe the meetings; however, in order to accommodate seating, please email Lynn that you will be attending.

February Membership Meeting Announcements

BCMGs have recorded 1,488 volunteer hours. Please make sure you have recorded all your hours – don’t wait!
Spring Merchandise Sale will be March 1-19. You may order online, mail-in form, in the BCMG Office (Tues. & Thurs., 10 am-2 pm) or at the March 19 Monthly Meeting. Pick-up will be at the April meeting. Caps will be available this time around!
Time is running out to make your donation to the Champions fore Charity which benefits the Bexar County Master Gardeners. Contact Barbara Lutz ( [email protected] ) for information.
Over 60 people attended the February Brown Bag Lunch & Learn session on Texas Superstars® for Spring.
Our March Brown Bag will be on Earth-Kind Planting Principles. Bill Swantner, Earth-Kind Specialist will be the presenter. March 14, 12-1 pm.
Our March Monthly Meeting presentation will be on The Desert Rose (Adeniums) by Clara Briseño, Owner of El Huisache Nursery. March 19, 6-8 pm.
CUTIVATE! Registration is now open. March 21, 8 am – 2 pm. It will be held at Trinity University. SAWS has designated CULTIVATE! as a Super Saturday Event where you can earn all 7 WaterSaver Reward points in one day.
Volunteers are needed for the following positions (Contact Lynn Cox ( [email protected] ) if interested):
- Membership Director (Board Position)
- Membership Meeting Hospitality Coordinators
- Plant Sale Coordinators (non-Rodeo)
- Top Tomato Contest Coordinator
- Merchandise Sales Coordinators
- Spring Fling Volunteer Celebration Team
The 2020 BCMG Budget was reviewed.
A motion was made to approve the BCMG By-laws as amended. The motion passed. The By-laws can be viewed on the website.

Your Help is Needed!

Membership Director

This is a Board of Directors position. The BCMG By-laws state that the duties of the Membership Director are:

Maintain a current list of members’ contact information.
Establish written procedures for dissemination of rosters of general membership.
Retain volunteer and continuing education hours as submitted by the members.
Report the progress of each member towards re certification.

What this actually translates to is:

Attend all Board meetings (3-5 pm on the same day as the Monthly Membership Meeting).
Provide regular reporting to BCMG Board of Directors.
Answer general membership questions.
Oversee yearly dues collection.
Oversee the Membership Coordinator as he/she assists with the duties of Membership Director. The Membership Coordinator’s responsibilities include:
- Utilize the VMS system to ensure membership data is accurate and complete.
- Communicate with members to correct any discrepancies.
- Communicates with members in the event volunteer hours are not entered in a timely fashion and/or yearly volunteer hours commitment is not being achieved.
- Generate reports as requested by the Membership Director.

Membership Meeting Hospitality Coordinators

In recognition of the fact that our Monthly Meetings are open to the public and our membership gathers once a month for fellowship, fun and education, the Board has authorized the formation of a Membership Meeting Hospitality Committee. We are searching for a member (or team of members) to chair this committee. We envision this committee as responsible for:

Coordinating volunteers to meet requirements of the BCMG monthly meeting.
Ensure volunteers are available to welcome, sign-in and distribute meeting material to attendees.
Responsible for meeting room set up and break down according to requirements.
Ensure volunteers bring snacks and set up beverages.
Purchase (reimbursable) items for the end-of-meeting drawing.

Plant Sale Coordinators (non-Rodeo)

In recognition of the fact that BCMG has multiple plant sales that have special needs for coordination we are searching for a member(or team of members) to coordinate these plant sales. We envision this person(s) as responsible for:

Maintaining a list of trained cashiers
Recruit a cashier(s) for the event
Request advanced funds for the event to be prepared for the cashier to pick up and use.
Reserve the iPads for use by the cashier (contact Office Manager ).
Request the event inventory be added to the iPads in time for the event (contact Lynn Cox ( [email protected] ) .

Arrange for the return of all money to the Office Manager or Treasurer by the cashier.

Coordinate the delivery of the plants to the event and the remaining plants back to the Extension Office.
Coordinating plant sale signs

Top Tomato Contest Chair

This committee already exists! It is well-developed and has committed volunteers. We need a chair to organize the pre-event meeting and arrange for extra volunteers as needed through VMS. Needs to be available for the morning of the event, Saturday, May 30^th.

Team/committee members would have Board support as needed. If you have any questions about these opportunities or would like to volunteer, please contact Lynn Cox ( [email protected] ) (all positions) or Michelle Hobbs ( [email protected] ) (Hospitality Committee).

Lynn Cox, President

WISE WATER WORDS

Hello Fellow Master Gardeners,

I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful days we have been having, along with the very cool ones.

As you all know, our spring educational seminar, CULTIVATE!, is quickly approaching on March 21. We have been working hard to coordinate yet another successful event. This will be our 6^th CULTIVATE! since we started the program in September of 2017 and these are the great workshops scheduled:

Succulents	Easy Backyard Composting
The Secret Life of Trees	Ready Set Grow…Your Own Food!
Drip Irrigation: Making Every Drop Count	Texas Superstars for Spring
Planting for Pollinators	Texas! It’s a Whole ‘Nuther Country
Shady Characters in the Garden	Texas Winegrowing

The March event will be held for the first time at Trinity University Coates Student Center. We were filling up the classrooms at the University of the Incarnate Word so we needed to look for larger accommodations. Trinity University offers classrooms that have the potential for many more attendees. Unfortunately, we will not have the space to continue our Expo Hall with other gardening organizations to offer education in their particular topics of expertise. BCMG will have a small room to answer the various gardening questions in between workshops, to promote our programs, and to extend the education that occurs in the workshop sessions on a variety of topics.

We will also offer our attendees a selection of great plants to purchase along with wildflower seeds, and CULTIVATE! t-shirts. The Coates Student Center has an Einstein Brothers Bagel shop on the premises for the convenience of our attendees and volunteers alike.

Our featured presentation, as I mentioned in last month’s Scion, will be San Antonio Botanical Garden’s Horticulturist Andrew Labay on Texas Winegrowing. Andrew has a wealth of knowledge on viticulture and he gives a fantastic presentation.

If you have not already registered for our educational event, you may do so on our website www.bexarmg.org/events-programs/cultivate/. If you are a SAWS customer but have not yet signed up for their WaterSaver Rewards program, visit https://www.gardenstylesanantonio.com/watersaver-rewards/. Our event is a SAWS Super Saturday event, meaning that you can earn all 7 WaterSaver Rewards points by attending our workshops and featured presentation to earn $150 in coupons for use at the local nurseries towards plants, tools and other gardening items. It’s a great program to take advantage of, but you must be signed up prior to the event. I hope to see you at CULTIVATE! on March 21.

Conservationally Yours,
Anna Vogler
Water Conservation Coordinator

Become a Champion and help Bexar County Master Gardeners make a difference. Donate to The Valero Texas Open Champions fore Charity and BCMG receives your donation plus an extra 7% from the Valero Texas Open. Funds raised go to support our programs and to replace or purchase necessary supplies and equipment. Donation flyers will be available at the BCMG office or you can contact Barbara Lutz ( [email protected] ) for one.

You can also find information about Champions fore Charity and donate online to Bexar County Master Gardeners at https://www.valerotexasopen.com/championsforecharity/ and click on Donate Now and check Bexar County Master Gardeners. You can also donate at the Valero Texas Open Golf tournament, April 2 – 5. Donors have the ability and flexibility to pay in advance or to be billed after the tournament.

We truly appreciate the support of the BCMG Champions who have already made their donations in support of our association.

Thanks for your support of our Bexar County Master Gardener Association.

Lunch & Learn: Native Texas Pollinators – Bees, Wasps, and Flies

March 5 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl, San Antonio,TX, 78209.

Entomologist Molly Keck will highlight lesser known native Texas pollinators, the important role they play in maintaining and pollinating the landscape plants, and the challenges these species face. Class includes an identification walk in the garden. Sponsored by SAWS. Registration Online. Fee: $10 with lunch, $5 without lunch ($9/4.50 member) Instructor: Molly Keck, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Program Specialist in Integrated Pest Management and Board Certified Entomologist BCMGs, 1 CEU per presentation hour; Code 001. Find out more »

Spring Break Plant Sale @ SABot

March 7 @ 9:00 am – March 9 @ 5:00 pm, San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl, San Antonio, TX 78209.

Spring is in the Air! Choose from 200 different species including a wide variety of native plants, succulents, grasses and butterfly-friendly plants. Our friendly and knowledgeable volunteers will be onsite to help you find the perfect plants for your garden. PRICING: 4″ pots – $4; 1 gallon pots – $8; Larger pots – $15+. Admission not required to shop! The Plant Sale will take place in front of the Admission Kiosk. Find out more »

Brown Bag Lunch & Learn: Earth-Kind® Planting Principles

March 13 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, Bexar County Master Gardeners, 3355 Cherry Ridge, Ste. 208, San Antonio, TX 78230.

FREE and open to the public! Bring your lunch and join us! Daylight Savings Time is coming to an end, and it’s time to put our gardening hopes and dreams into action. Speaker Bill Swantner, BCMG Advanced Earth-Kind Principles Specialist, will help us think through the right plants, the right soil, and the right location. 1 CEU. Code 001. Find out more »

Spring Bloom

March 14 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, SAWS Headquarters, 2800 US-281, San Antonio, TX 78212.

FREE. What’s your style? Garden style, that is. San Antonio is home to many diverse styles of architecture and landscape design — from cottage, mid-century and traditional to Texas Hill Country and Spanish courtyards. Whatever your design aesthetic, this year’s Spring Bloom event will celebrate them all and help you discover your own unique garden style! Local gardening experts will divulge their secrets to successful landscaping and how to select a style that best suits your home’s terrain and character. Find out more »

Spring Into Summer Vegetables

March 14 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am, Rainbow Gardens, 8516 Bandera Rd, San Antonio, TX 78250.

Spring Into Summer Vegetables with Karen Gardner, BCMG Vegetable Specialist. Seminar is FREE but registration is required. 1.5 BCMG CEUs. Code 001. Find out more »

Earth-Kind® Garden & Landscape Series: Tomatoes – Bragging Rights in Your Neighborhood

March 18 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Bexar County, 3355 Cherry Ridge, Ste. 208, San Antonio, TX 78230.

$15. Earth-Kind® Garden & Landscape Series: Tomatoes – Bragging Right in Your Neighborhood Speaker: David Rodriguez, Horticulturist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, invites you to come learn how to maximize your garden while preserving and protecting the environment. 2 CEU. Code 001. Find out more »

Beekeeping Basics (Register Now)

March 20 @ 9:00 am – 3:30 pm, TAMU Agrilife, 3355 Cherry Ridge, San Antonio, TX 78230.

$65. This Class Fills Up Fast! –– Register Now! If you have ever thought of being a beekeeper or just want to learn what it takes, this in-depth class with a hands on field day is sure to leave you feeling confident and ready to get your own hives! If you have hives coming this spring, this is a great way to get the knowledge you need to start out strong and be a beeKEEPER instead of a beHAVER! 1 CEU per presentation hour. VMS code 001. Find out more »

San Antonio Garden Center’s Annual Plant Sale

March 20 @ 9:00 am – March 21 @ 4:00 pm, San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N New Braunfels Ave., San Antonio, TX 78209.

Come support the San Antonio Garden Center’s Annual Plant Sale! This is an indoor event, so come rain or shine. Be inspired for your spring garden with annuals, perennials, natives, daylilies, succulents, herbs, hanging baskets and much more. Always fun to check out the donated plants and garden related items from our membership. Find out more »

TASTE 360° – freshness meets table (Register by March 13)

March 20 @ 5:15 pm – March 21 @ 6:15 pm, Texas A&M University Campus, 556 John Kimbrough Avenue, College Station, TX 77843.

$100-$210. Want to learn how to grow nutritious food in your own backyard, explore agricultural entrepreneur opportunities, or learn about farm-to-table operations? Then join us for dinner and a conference where AgriLife researchers, extension agents, and program specialists will share their knowledge about various areas of horticulture research, great resources available to the public, and opportunities to grow. Wine and Appetizer Pairings. Find out more »

CULTIVATE! BCMG Educational Seminar

March 21 @ 8:00 am – 2:00 pm, Trinity University Coates Student Center, 1 Trinity Place, San Antonio, 78212.

New Location: Trinity University Coates Student Center with parking in the Stadium Parking Lot. Great line-up of speakers and workshops planned! 9 workshops and 1 featured presentation 1 CEU per presentation hour; Code 001 PLUS, a Plant Sale! See all the Details and Register on our CULTIVATE! page. Find out more »

Monarch Fest @ San Antonio Zoo

March 28 @ 8:00 am – March 29 @ 5:00 pm, San Antonio Zoo, 3903 N. St. Mary’s Street, San Antonio, TX 78212.

The San Antonio Zoo is again hosting a two-day festival celebrating all things monarchs, milkweed, and migration! Receive free native milkweed and native nectar plant seeds, participate in fun games and crafts, and learn how you can help end the extinction of the monarch butterfly. Monarch Fest Admission included with single day tickets ($18.41). FREE for Annual Pass holders. Find out more »

iNaturalist Workshop

March 31 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, TAMU Agrilife, 3355 Cherry Ridge, San Antonio, TX 78230.

Have you ever wanted to be part of a Citizen Science Program? Did you know that the nature you notice can make a different to science around the world? We have a way to share what we see in nature through the iNaturalist Program! Join Texas Nature Tracker Biologist, Craig Hensley, as he teaches us how to utilize iNaturalist and why it is so important to the science community. Free Training! Bring a sack lunch! 4 CEUs. VMS code 001. Find out more »

Brown-Bag-Lunch

Cultivate

BCMG is now on YouTube! Watch classes on a computer (or on your smartphone)!

Brand new! You can get 1 CEU per year (of the minimum 6 CEUs required for Master Gardener re-certification) for watching the Bill Swantner’s Channel BCMG Youtube videos! VMS CEU Code 001.

The new March 1, 2020 video: Lynn Cox’s “Texas Superstars®” from the September 2019 CULTIVATE!. Check often for other new videos! Just click HERE.

The San Antonio Botanical Garden (SABOT) has lots of educational programs available to members and non-members. Try out some of their Texas Native Trails and Texas Bird Walking Workshops, and get some exercise while you learn! To see a calendar of all their activities, click here.

2020 Texas Master Gardener Conference – Waco

Please join in for the 2020 Texas Master Gardener Conference, taking place from Tuesday, May 12th through Thursday, May 14th at the Waco Convention Center on the banks of the Brazos River.

On behalf of the McLennan County Master Gardener Association in Waco, Texas, please plan on joining us!
For lodging information, please visit the conference website.

And remember, you can find all the TEXAS MASTER GARDENER ADVANCED TRAINING COURSESoffered at the TMGA website. If you are interested in attending any courses, please email David Rodriguez ([email protected]), Extension Agent-Horticulture, Bexar County. BCMG CEU Code 001.

Some of the offerings in 2020 are:

Plant Propagation – April 17-18, 2020; hosted by Tarrant County in Fort Worth, TX.
Vegetables – May 5-7, 2020; hosted by Bexar County in San Antonio, TX.
Texas Superstars® – May 26-28, 2020; hosted by Bexar County in San Antonio, TX.
Rainwater Harvesting – September 24-26, 2020; hosted by Tarrant County in Fort Worth, TX.
Greenhouse Management – October 15-17, 2020; hosted by Tarrant County in Fort Worth, TX.

This is only a sampling of the events scheduled for March, as there are way too many to list here, and new ones are being added often. Please check the Calendar for a list of all the events! Click here for calendar.

It’s EASY to Volunteer!

To sign up as a volunteer, go to your VMS – Volunteer Management System, log in and click on GENERAL EVENT CALENDAR from the left column.
To record your CEUs or volunteer hours, click on ADD NEW HOURS from the left column.

If you need help learning how to use VMS or have a question, contact Owen Keiser, ( [email protected])

CULINARY DOCENTS, COME ON OUT!
If you have not volunteered recently, please pick a date, or dates, and sign up on VMS today.
– March shifts are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
VMS has all dates/times for sign-ups! VMS Code 0100.
Email Grace Emery ([email protected]) if you have any questions.

Spring Refresher Culinary Docent Training at the San Antonio Botanical Garden on Wednesday, March 11, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. This class is for new and existing Docents. Classroom A in the Ed building next to the Culinary Garden. Rain or shine. Please sign up on VMS – limited to 30 participants. Sign up soon, they go quick!

CHILDREN’S VEGETABLE GARDEN (CVG)

San Antonio Botanical Gardens (SABOT) CVG – Saturday mornings, February 22 – June 6, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Mary Fernandez ([email protected]) or John Mayer ([email protected]) .
Phil Hardberger Park (PHP) CVG – Tuesday mornings, February 25 – June 9, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. If you are interested in volunteering, or joining the water team, contact Kathy Breniman ([email protected]).

To find out more about our CVGs, click here.

To read the CVG Blog, click here.