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Learn with the masters second Monday of month, January - August
January 11, 2019
By Helen Boatman - Victoria County Master Gardener
Edited by Charla Borchers Leon
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY BRYNN LEE/VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER
Sixty to 100 attendees from as many as seven counties attend each of the Lunch and Learn with the Masters programs offered free to the public at noon on the second Monday from January to August. Shown here are attendees registering for a session last year with Victoria county Extension Agent Matt Bochat, center. His "What's This?" program is one of the more highly-attended sessions with information on all kinds of things in nature about which he has had inquiries in the county. Consider his fouth presentation this year Feb. 11.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY CHARLIE NEUMEYER/VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER
Want some good information on how to improve your turf and make it happy? This time of year, turfgrass can be infested with weeds, like this henbit, that can quickly invade a landscape. It is one of the most common weeds that occur this time of the year, and while butterflies and bees are attracted to this plant, it can overtake your lawn very rapidly. Master Gardener Charlie Neumeyer will share information on types of turfgrass as well as weeds and bugs that challenge your lawn Monday.
February 11 will be "What's This?" presented by Matt Bochat, VCMGA Advisor and Victoria County Agent.
August 12 will be "Gardens of the World" presented by Pat Plowman, Victoria County Master Gardener
WHEN: Monday
Noon to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Dr. Pattie Dodson Health Center
2805 North Navarro St.
PRICE: Free Admission
Bring Your Lunch and Drink
“Turf Grass Selection & Management: Making Your Lawn Happy”
Presented by Victoria County Master Gardener Charlie Neumeyer
2nd Monday, January-August
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY KATHY CHILEK/VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER
Master Gardener Kathy Chilek will share information on wildflowers in Texas, including various ones that are not necessarily considered the norm like Woolly Globe Mallow, Forked Blue Curls, Celestials, Spiderwort and Coral Bean, show here. Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea), also known as Red Cardinal or Cardinal Spear, is native to pasturelands and blooms in early spring on bare stems. Mark your calendar to come look at and learn more about wild things March 11.
Happy new year, everyone. Here’s to another year of successful gardening.
The Victoria County Master Gardener Association (VCMGA) is offering horticultural classes through our Lunch and Learn with the Masters program. The free classes are the second Monday of the month, January through August, at the Dr. Pattie Dodson Public Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St. Since the program time is noon to 1 p.m., guests are invited to bring their own lunch and drink, if desired. Remember, all of the programs are free.
While most of our speakers are certified Master Gardeners and collectively represent 75 years in our organization, one speaker is our own AgriLife Extension Agent Matt Bochat.
We begn our program this year Monday with Turf Grass Selection and Management: “Making Your Lawn Happy,” presented by Master Gardener Charlie Neumeyer. Charlie has a lot of experience with grasses since he has lived in several areas of Texas and has considerable knowledge on different soil types and conditions. His expertise is invaluable.
Feb. 11, Matt Bochat, AgriLife Extension Agent, will present his program, “What’s This? Volume IV.” At each of the past three years’ presentations, Matt has shown pictures of various things, i.e. bugs, leaves, etc., that have crossed his desk. Audiences were challenged to identify the varied details in the pictures. He’s here again to challenge the audience with individuals’ knowledge of his latest collection and/or learn about something they may have seen in their own gardening experiences. Plan to come early and get a good seat for this one.
Spring is right around the corner, and so we welcome the Texas wildflower program, “In Search of the Wild Things,” that Master Gardener Kathy Chilek will be presenting March 11. Texas is blessed with so many beautiful wildflowers – yes, there are many more besides our state flower, the bluebonnet. Kathy will help you identify the wonderful array of flowers found in our area and around our state.
April 8, we will have two speakers, Master Gardener Vegetable Specialist Sandi Coleman and Master Gardener Vegetable Specialist intern Helen Collins. Their program will be “Origins of Vegetables We Eat.” Sandi and Helen have done extensive research on where some of our more common vegetables were first grown. Sounds like a very interesting presentation to attend.
Have you ever come across something in your garage, storage shed or in a secluded nook in your yard and asked yourself, “How can I reuse this?” May 13, Master Gardener Jean Knowles just may have the answer in her presentation, “Container Gardening: Using Plants in Found Objects.” She will be able to show which plants complement each other in the most unusual and unlikely containers for plants.
We’ll be hearing from Master Gardener Helen Collins again June 10 when she presents her program, “Propagation of Plants, the Easy Way.” Helen will demonstrate basic ways to get new plants using everyday objects you probably already have at your home.
Is there anyone alive who doesn’t love fresh eggs? There may be a few; however, this writer doesn’t know any. July 8, Master Gardener James Mallett will present “Backyard Chickens – Fresh Eggs Every Day.”
James has raised chickens for a number of years and will be able to share the ins and outs of having eggs in your backyard. He will also be sharing information of the gardening benefits from the nutrient addition and insect control that chickens provide.
Our final presentation will be Aug. 12 when Master Gardener Pat Plowman presents “Gardens of the World.” Pat has been able to travel to numerous countries and has visited a number of wonderful gardens. No doubt her presentation will show some unusual plants and also those that are grown in our area. This will also provide an opportunity to see some garden designs you may find appropriate for your landscape.
See you on the second Monday of the month, January through August.
We hope to see you at each presentation; however, we know there are time and schedule constraints. Hopefully, you will be able to come to as many as possible. Remember, the time is noon to 1 p.m., at the Dr. Pattie Dodson Public Health Center, and all of the programs are free and open to the public. See you soon.
The Gardeners’ Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at VictoriaAdvocate.com.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY JAMES MALLETT/VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER
Having raised chickens for a number of years, Master Gardener James Mallett will describe the pros and cons of having chickens and eggs in your own backyard at the Lunch and Learn with the Masters session July 8. Along with the benefit of fresh eggs daily from backyard chickens, information will be presented on gardening benefits from additional nutrients as well as insect control that chickens provide in a backyard setting.
ph: 361-935-1556
nancyk