Volume 32, Issue #4 – April 2022
BCMG Secretary
I am Ronald “Butch” Lee, BCMG Board Secretary for 2022 and am honored to serve you and the local community.
After retiring from over 29 years in the Air Force and another 12 years as a civil servant, I started to dabble in gardening. During an August 2018 trip to Israel, I was amazed and inspired by how they adapted agricultural techniques to an environment not conducive to farming, to not only feed themselves but also to be a major exporter to Europe.
Upon my return, I applied and became a Bexar County Master Gardener (BCMG), class of 63 intern. Soon after completing training and beginning my journey in the new world of horticulture, we were all impacted by the Pandemic. In-person gardening activities and community outreach events were no longer able to be held.
The last few years of restrictions has driven us all to adapt and develop new ways of sharing and learning horticulture information, while increasing our time spent at home in our yards and gardens. The boom in home gardening worldwide has been one positive impact of the Pandemic.
Now, with the lessening of restrictions and the increased availability of in-person activities, our continued efforts to adapt to the boom, while balancing the use of electronic technology to share information with face-to-face activities, are paramount to the growth of BCMG and increased public outreach.
Nowhere is this balance more evident than the March 2022 online CULTIVATE!, where over 300 individuals registered for each of the seven educational classes given by Master Gardeners. Additionally, the in-person Children’s Vegetable Gardens at San Antonio Botanical Garden and Phil Hardberger Park, supported by BCMGs, are overflowing with young gardeners and families interested in and thirsting for horticulture knowledge and skills. A big THANK YOU to all the Masters Gardeners who have and continue to share their knowledge, time, and skills to adapt and grow BCMG and serve the local gardening community.
April brings new plant growth, and opportunities to interact in-person to become better, more informed gardeners. BCMG will be participating at the Fiesta Flower Show on April 1 & 2, and Earth Day at Woodlawn Park on April 25. Additionally, eight educational opportunities are scheduled and the details can be found, marked in blue, on the Bexar County Master Gardener Events Calendar.
Happy gardening and we hope you are able to join us and other gardeners at some of these events!
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Ronald “Butch” Lee, Secretary, Bexar County Master Gardener Association
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 many of FREE classes and webinars listed in this issue.
Scion Index
- This Month’s Presentation– 15 Bugs for Every Gardener by Molly Keck
- Water Wise Words by Anna Vogler
- Champions Fore Charity
- Superstar Spotlight – Rock Rose
- In the Garden Articles
- Why Gardening With Children Matters! by Judith Warren
- April In The Garden
- Key Limes in San Antonio by Mary Cennamo
- Mountain Laurel, A Cut Flower by Paul Foerster
- Gardening Education Opportunities
- Scholarship Award Application
- MyExtension210
- WOAI 1200 AM – Lawn and Garden Show
- Ask a Master Gardener Hotline
- Can You Help? – Join Amazon Smile
- BCMG Facebook
- BCMG Member News
- Master Gardener of the Spring – Brigid Ormann
BCMG offices are closed to Drop-ins, so you must have an appointment to go in. Call before going over.
Agrilife Extension offices are open for business but will be closed April 8 and April 18.
Hello Fellow Gardeners.
I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the beautiful weather we have had.
Thanks to all of you who attended our educational seminar, CULTIVATE! It was a huge success and we really enjoyed providing this education for our community. If you couldn’t make it to this seminar, check our website for other gardening educational opportunities in the coming months, as well as another CULTIVATE! seminar in September.
You may have already heard that the San Antonio Water System will be releasing a new coupon to their WaterSaver program list. This new coupon is called the Outdoor Living Coupon and it will replace the Patioscape Coupon. Details will be coming later this season. In the meantime, check their GardenStyleSA newsletter for more information on this and all the other coupons and rebates here.
Conservationally yours,
Anna Vogler
Water Conservation Coordinator
Bexar County Master Gardeners continues its participation in the Champions fore Charity fundraiser and the effort to match a $1000 challenge donation. We are half way there!!! We currently have received $500 towards our goal!! We ask for your support to help us meet that challenge AND receive an additional 7% match from the Valero Texas Open.
Did you know that you may be able to make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA to BCMG? Consult your tax or financial advisor for more information on this strategy that may even lower your taxable income.
We appreciate your consideration. Your donations are welcome through April 11th. The link to make donations is on our website at www.bexarmg.org/donate.
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Gardening Education Opportunities
Lawn Basics 101
April 2 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Milberger’s Landscaping & Nursery, 3920 North Loop 1604, San Antonio, TX 78247.
Presented by David Rodriguez, Horticulturist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Find out more »
Let’s Talk about Fruit and Citrus Trees! – $10
April 6 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Rainbow Gardens, 8516 Bandera Rd., San Antonio, TX 78250.
Presented by Lou Kellogg, Bexar County Master Gardener. – $10. Find out more »
Earth-Kind Garden and Landscape Series: Growing Herbs – $20
April 6 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Bexar County, 3355 Cherry Ridge, Ste. 208, San Antonio, TX 78230.
Presented by David Rodriguez and Certified Master Gardeners. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service invites you to come learn how to maximize your garden while preserving and protecting the environment. The general public, landscape professionals, and Master Gardeners will all benefit from this six-part series. Fee: $20 per session. Session 4 – Growing Herbs. Find out more »
Home Grown Lecture Series 2022 Online – Starting Plants from Cuttings – Free
April 7 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Free Online Monthly Seminar Presented by Paul Winski, County Extension Agent-Commercial Horticulture. Find out more »
Annual Grafting Seminar – Free
April 9 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Fanick’s Garden Center, 1025 Holmgreen Road, San Antonio, TX 78220.
Annual Grafting Seminar Presented by Dr. Larry Stein, Extension Horticulturist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Hosted by Fanick’s Garden Center. Dr. Stein will show you how and why fruit, nut and citrus trees are grafted in this FREE seminar. You will learn all the different grafting techniques like inlay, four flap, cleft, approach grafts, and some of the budding techniques like chip budding. Find out more »
Pollinator Gardening – Free
April 13 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place, San Antonio, TX 78209..
Presented by Marybeth Parsons, Bexar County Master Gardener. Bees, butterflies, wasps, and hummingbirds are some of our most important pollinators. Loss of habitat, pesticide use, and more have caused stress to their populations. Join Marybeth as she shares tips on how you, as a home gardener, can make a difference for these special pollinators. Master Gardeners will be available at the end of the workshop to answer your gardening questions. Find out more »
Low-Water Usage Perennials – $10
April 13 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Rainbow Gardens, 8516 Bandera Rd., San Antonio, TX 78250.
Low-Water Usage Perennials with Lynn Cox, Bexar County Master Gardener. $10. Hosted by Rainbow Gardens. Find out more »
Lawn Maintenance 101 – Free
April 16 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
The Garden Center Nursery, 10682 Bandera Rd., San Antonio, TX 78250.
Presented by David Rodriguez, Horticulturist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Hosted by The Garden Center Nursery.. Having a great looking lawn is more than just mowing it once in a while. Join David for this free seminar and learn when and how to fertilize, when to water, and other best practices for keeping your lawn healthy and thriving year-round. Find out more »
Earth-Kind Garden and Landscape Series: Growing Fruits and Citrus – $20
April 20 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Bexar County, 3355 Cherry Ridge, Ste. 208, San Antonio, TX 78230.
Presented by David Rodriguez and Certified Master Gardeners. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service invites you to come learn how to maximize your garden while preserving and protecting the environment. The general public, landscape professionals, and Master Gardeners will all benefit from this six-part series. Fee: $20 per session. Session 5 – Growing Fruits and Citrus. Find out more »
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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.
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 the AgriLife Extension receptionist.
What is AmazonSmile?
An easy, convenient way for you to support BCMG every time you shop, at no cost to you.
Available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones.
Amazon smile has the same prices, selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com
How to Sign Up
Simply go to smile.amazon.com on your web browser or activate AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app on your iOS or Android phone within the Settings or Programs & Features menu
On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you will be prompted to select a charitable organization to receive donations from your future eligible AmazonSmile purchases.
Use the Search feature to Select: Bexar County Master Gardeners
That’s it! AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Bexar County Master Gardeners.
On your web browser, you can add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start shopping with AmazonSmile.
Use your existing Amazon user name and password to sign on to Amazon Smile. No need to create another Amazon account.
Note: Amazon will remember your selected charity. You do not have to select BCMG each time you purchase from smile.amazon.com We are grateful for all you do and all you give to Bexar County Master Gardeners
This year, the Bexar County Master Gardener Board selected the beautiful Moy Grande Hibiscus to be on our service recognition pin. This Texas Superstar was developed right here in San Antonio by Ying Doon Moy, a research and development horticulturist at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. It is the largest, open-face hibiscus flower in the world.
To earn the service recognition pin, a Bexar County Master Gardener must complete at least 30 volunteer hours, 6 Continuing Education Units and attend 2 BCMG monthly meetings in 2022. The service recognition pins will be distributed at the “in-person” BCMG monthly meetings. Contact Susan Noonan at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Congratulations to the first two Bexar County Master Gardeners to achieve certification in 2022: Matt Mathews and Bill Swantner!
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