Volume 31, Issue #06 – June 2021
BCMG President
As June begins, I see so many changes happening! Some of the changes are moving us back to the “old normal.” For example, our COVID infection rate is down in Bexar County and events like Fiesta, after having to be canceled last year and postponed this year, will be happening shortly!
Some of our changes reflect a “new normal.” Our Texas Master Gardener Conference, which was canceled last year, was held virtually this year for the first time, allowing people to attend from all over the state, many who may not have been able to attend due to travel costs. This was so successful that the conference committee is looking into the possibility of having more virtual conferences in coming years. This may become a new “normal.”
As I look at my garden, I also see changes there, both “back to normal” changes as well as “new normals.” After the freeze in February, all I saw was devastation. Now I see that most of my garden survived and is even thriving! It is “back to normal.” But it is also entering a “new normal.” I transplanted some Pride of Barbados volunteers to new locations. I have added some frogfruit that will spread and knit areas of my garden together while providing new sources of nectar for the butterflies. Other new additions have been purple coneflower, Texas Gold esperanza, and black foot daisy.
Gardening can help us remember that, while change can be hard both physically and mentally, changes can bring about new things, ideas, situations, and possibilities. Change can be good. Change is a “normal” part of life.
Take time to enjoy the changes that are happening all around you!
Happy gardening!
Lynn
Scion Index – Click and Go!
You can now print or download Member Articles to your computer. Just click the Blue Button beneath the article you wish to save, and a pdf version of the article will pop up on your screen. From there, you can print or download using the indicators at the top right of your screen.
Please check out the dozens of FREE classes and webinars listed in this issue.
- This Month’s Presentation– Texas Wine Industry
- Water Wise Words by Anna Vogler
- Superstar Spotlight – Vitex
- June In The Garden by Bill Swantner
- Growing Ginger, Turmeric and Taro by Karen Gardner
- Trippin On The Wildside by Bill Swantner
- Bay Laurel Tree by Mary Cennamo
- Gardening Webinar Series
- Extension Service Tomato Trials
- Molly’s Entomology Blog
- WOAI 1200 AM – Lawn and Garden Show
- Ask a Master Gardener Hotline
- Can You Help – Join Amazon Smile?
- BCMG Facebook
- Member News – Master Gardener of the Summer -Jennifer Sienna by Ann Marie Caldwell
BCMG offices are open at 25%. Offices are closed to the public, you must have an appointment to go in. Call before going over. Offices will be closed for Memorial Day May 31, 2021.
All monthly meetings and classes for 2021 will be on-line webinars held on Zoom, until further notice.
And they are all FREE.
Monthly meeting presentations are always free and open to the public
The first time you use Zoom, allow a few minutes extra to get set up. Zoom can be used free on home PCs, Macs and on smartphones.
Pre-Registration on Zoom is required for each webinar. (Equivalent to the “Sign-in sheet”). Register weeks ahead of time or even just a few minutes before the webinar and the link will be sent to you in email .
June-in-the-garden-by-Bill-Swantner-2
Ginger-turmeric-and-taro-3-by-Karen-Gardner
Trippin-on-the-wildside-by-Bill-Swantner-2
Bay-Laurel-Tree-2021-2-by-Mary-Cennamo
Gardening Education Opportunities
Register for the FREE webinars below by clicking on the link. You will receive an email with link to join the webinar.
June 15th, 2021 12 noon – 1 pm – Garden / Landscape Live Q & A Chat
By David Rodriguez, Bexar County Extension Agent. This is a great opportunity to Listen Live and “chat in” your gardening or landscape questions and to learn about other people’s issues and concerns at the same time! Join Webinar Here
Extension-Service-Tomato-Trials
Want to know about all those hairy caterpillars you see outside? Check out Molly’s Blog, where she tells us all the latest on controlling our pest and bug problems! Click here
Aquaponics for Beginners course now available online
Mosquito populations booming after rains
Plant a pollinator garden to supply immediate food in response to freeze setback
Back to the Basics series on Beef Cattle Production
Early spring lawn to-do list a little different this year
Basics of raised garden beds
How To Plant Shade Trees in Texas
Frequently check the BCMG Calendar, as that is where all the new, upcoming programs will be posted. Click Here
Past webinars are posted on YouTube for your viewing (or reviewing) pleasure! Check often for new postings! Click here for the list.
- April Live Q&A Webinar
- Things To Do” In The Landscape and Garden in April /May
- What’s Making Holes in my Lawn?!
- Spring Lawn Management
- Growing a Home Fruit Orchard with David Rodriguez
- Gardening and Landscape Q&A Chat with David Rodriguez
- Fly Management
- Pantry Pests
- Dragonflies of Texas
- Arachnids of Texas
- Where Do Insects Go When It Rains? by Molly Keck
- 12 Months of Vegetable Gardening by David Rodriguez
- Pests of Tomatoes by Molly Keck
- 12 Months of Pollen and Nectar Producing Plants for Pollinators
- Turf Grass Basics: Surviving Summer and the Rest of the Year
- Vegetable Garden Basics
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fblive/https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fblive/
Just a few of them are:
- Fall Blooming Flowers and Biennials Planted in Fall
- Growing Muscadine Grapes in Texas
- Toys (tools) For Gardening
- Compost versus Mulch
- Planting Strawberries
- Harvesting Pecans
- Raised Garden Beds, Location, Soil Mixtures and more!
- Home Fruit Production – Tips for Success!
- Small fruits for the backyard
- Floral Designs from your backyard – Growing, Cutting, Using your flowers and shrubs!
- How to Prune Your Trees
- Indoor Gardening
Get the full list of FREE classes here
- Landscape Water Conservation
- Low-Volume Irrigation
- Irrigation System Auditing
- Safe Use and Handling of Pesticides
- Safe Use and Handling of Fertilizers
- Composting
- Designing an Earth–Kind® Landscape
- Landscaping for Energy Conservation
- Creating Native Habitat
- Earth–Kind® Roses
- Integrated Pest Management
Call in to Live Radio on Saturday mornings, with your gardening questions for David.
Call in: 210-737-1200 or 1-800-383-9624 on Saturdays from 7 am to 10pm
Or just listen to the show, and learn from everyone else’s questions!
WOAI 1200 AM – Lawn and Garden Show
Host: David Rodriguez, Bexar County AgriLife Extension Horticulturist.
Past shows are archived here, for easy listening on your computer, tablet or phone, anytime! Listen on your phone while you drive!
Ask a Master Gardener
Master Gardeners are available to help you with your gardening questions. We provide unbiased, research-based, locally relevant gardening information. Free service. You can reach us:
By phone: 210-631-0400 (Ask to speak to a Master Gardener)
Mon-Fri 9 am – Noon, 1-4 pm (Closed on county holidays)
Even during Covid-19 precautions, the phones and the Hotline are being operated from home telephones; hotline calls are being directed by AgriLife Extension receptionist Nick Vasquez.
