RENEW, REFRESH:

Victoria County Master Gardeners will write column for 17th year

July 26, 2019



PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY VICTORIA MASTER GARDENER CHARLA BORCHERS LEON

The new Red Megawatt Begonia has larger blooms than other varieties and is described to glow with color when in full bloom from spring through fall in partial shade and on sturdy stems that hold large, nonstop flowers above the foliage.  They are planted here along with Red and White Caladiums and Dusty Miller in this garden bed around a prominent backyard Live Oak Tree.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER CHARLA BORCHERS LEON

'Blue My Mind' Blue Daze is shown in open bloom in early morning sun planted with Megawatt Begonias and Silver Dusty Miller to complete this patriotic tree bed.  This new Blue Daze variety has larger, brighter blue flowers than other varieties that have smaller, softer blue flowers.  Also called Dwarf Morning Glory, it will spread like ground cover with open blooms each morning that close later in the day.  It can winter over in mild winters in this area. 

New addition to column

New Texas Master Gardener Association logo

• New item to column header
• Product of statewide branding campaign
• Brands Texas Master Gardener Association under umbrella of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
• Published for the first time with this column this week
• Look for it as a new symbol for the column

Fall training class application deadline extended

There may be several spots still available for the 2019 Fall Training Class.

Application and class schedule may be found:

• Online: vcmga.org.
• In person: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 528 Waco Circle, Victoria Regional Airport.
• Questions: Contact Class Coordinator Barbara David at 512-879-8812 or barbaradavid111@yahoo.com.
• Payment not due until Aug. 1.

Have a topic for 'The Dirt'?

Requests and suggestions are welcomed. Contact svlabrecque@hotmail.com with ideas. Include phone number for return call.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER CHARLA BORCHERS LEON

This established White Spider Lily shows five blooms on erect stems with extending foliage 10-12 inches in length.

Events of recent weeks have renewed patriotic spirit in and for the citizens of this country. Observing the 75th anniversary commemoration of D-Day on the beaches and cliffs of Normandy, France, on June 6, parades and fireworks displays in our nation’s capital and across the country July 4, seeing and feeling the celebration of the FIFA Women’s World Cup championship over The Netherlands in Lyon, France, on July 7, and the 50th anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon July 20 were all reasons to instill pride and patriotic confidence in the great country we share with our fellow Americans.

Displays of red, white and blue

There were displays of red, white and blue flags, banners, clothing and headgear throughout the world, not to mention colored smoke in our skies here. And at home, there were also paper goods and accoutrements for food and drink at cookouts, concerts, picnics and backyard barbecues.

For me, there were these highlighted events and displays, and also traditional red, white and blue for this time of year in my landscape with some renewed plants and others that are new.

Patriotic plants

Along with red firecracker fern, red and white pentas, periwinkles (vinca) and Snowflakes hibiscus with red and white blooms as well as variegated green and white foliage, a newly introduced red begonia was planted in my beds around trees this year.

• New red Megawatt begonia

The new Megawatt red begonia provides such color in landscapes that it is said to glow in magnitude. Like other varieties of begonias, this annual thrives in spring through fall in partial shade. It has sturdy stems that hold large, uniformly striking nonstop flowers above the foliage for a show that pops.

This new variety is doing well in my beds in the recent heat and humidity with necessary water on a scheduled every-other-day pattern. It is basically maintenance-free, including no deadheading of blooms that cover a plant averaging 2 feet tall and can spread a little shy of that.

• Established White Spider Lily

Existing, established spider lily plants bloomed profusely this season locally, and mine was way above par.

With an erect stem and extending foliage out 10 to 12 inches, this versatile plant grows in both dry and wet areas with proper drainage. They like to remain where they are planted, so place it in a container if intended to be moved around.

The striking white blooms look like a huge spider with similar-looking crinum lily varieties in yellow and red.

• New 'Blue My Mind' Blue Daze

Along with blue angelonia and traditional blue daze in previous years, a new Blue My Mind blue daze has put larger, brighter blue blooms in my tree beds this year. It also thrives in baskets and containers.

This new variety also referred to as a dwarf morning glory spreads to a ground cover in full sun tolerating heat. I look forward to seeing how it winters over during a mild winter.

Renewal brings new in The Dirt

Earlier this week, another renewal of confidence took place with members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association voting to renew writing this column for the 17th year. With all original and never-repeated material published weekly for the past 16 years, 835 articles have been voluntarily written by members in conjunction with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and published in collaboration with the Victoria Advocate.

• Hours of effort, expertise weekly

Approximately 140 volunteer Master Gardeners have written through the years with a committee of four who plan and schedule the column. With myself as editor in chief since inception, AgriLife Extension staff and professional horticulturist review ensure sound, verifiable and scientifically backed information in each publication that usually is a result of 25 hours or more time.

Look for articles

You will find the column printed on Pages A4 and A5 on Friday mornings where it has been located since early spring of this year. It can also be found online at VictoriaAdvocate.com every week as well as on the Advocate’s Facebook page and Twitter. Go to the Master Gardener website at vcmga.org to see articles for the past 16 years.

Suggest topics

As before, readers are welcomed and encouraged to suggest topics for members to research and write about. Feel free to contact Suzanne LaBrecque at svlabrecque@hotmail.com with ideas.

Column addresses education mission

With education as their mission, the Master Gardeners of Victoria County remain committed to offer educational information on gardening topics now and into the future. We appreciate readership following along with publication collaboration with the Victoria Advocate these many years.

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 VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER CHARLA BORCHERS LEON

Victoria County Master Gardener Association (VCMGA) President, Mike Martignoni, conducted the July general membership meeting earlier this week when VCMGA members voted to renew theh contract to continue writing articles for The Gardeners' Dirt column published weekly by the Victoria Advocate.  Today's publication marks 825 articles in the Home & Garden section throughout theh past 16 years.

There was a nice comment at the Victoria Advocate online site:

Pat Tally Jul 26, 2019 8:57am