Master Gardeners of Blanco County

Transcription

1 Seedlings~ Master Gardeners of Blanco County April Meeting: Blanco State Park Walk & Talk Picnic" Tuesday April 10, :30-7:00 pm Refreshments: Karen Casey, Kathy Edquist, Cindy Stomberg, Carol Rankin Blanco State Park s Interpretive Ranger Mary Alice will do a walking presentation of the park including plant life in the park and park history. She will show us and talk about the new planting project(s) that are planned for the park. It will be helpful for all those interested to meet at the Blanco Square in front of the vacant Sunset restaurant. We can then carpool with the MG members who have park passes to enter the park. there are at least 4 MGs that have park passes. Anyone else that cannot carpool and cannot pay the park entrance fee will be added to a special event waiver form. It would be preferable not to add more than 5 people to this waiver form if possible. All carpoolers will meet in front of Sunset restaurant 4:15pm. Once inside the park we will be meeting at the Pavilion. Turn right where roads end past check-in building Turn left onto bridge, cross over Blanco river Follow road uphill and to the right, Pavilion is just past swing play area on right Pulled pork sandwiches will be served with sides, drinks and dessert. Please RSVP for this event so we can plan accordingly. cindy.stomberg@gmail.com FYI Our May Master Gardener Meeting will take place at the home of MG Ron Bourland. Ron s Casa is located in Blanco on the Blanco River. I understand Ron has an outstanding/elaborate garden and water system that he would like to share with our group. We look forward to spending the afternoon at Ron s ranch. More details to come!

2 Arts & Crafts Event presented by Carol DiQuilio & Kathy Edquist Making Seed Paper and Gourd Art was presented Tuesday, March 27 from12 Noon 3:00pm at the Community Center at The Landing, just outside of Blanco. About 18 ladies attended. Kathy demonstrates the tools and procedure. Carol points to the finished product (which we scrambled to buy!) D Anne and Georgia are in the background. Kathy making the mix with Henrietta, Joan, & Mary Joyce Henrietta, Joan and Leona with Carol cutting holes with her dremel.

3 March was abloom with native color-- Redbud Mountain Laurel Buttercup Bluebonnet Register for the State Convention NOW Registration is now open for the 2012 TMGA Conference. The Bexar County Master Gardeners are looking forward to seeing you at the state conference this year in San Antonio. We have an outstanding group of speakers, hands on sessions and tours lined up for you. The conference will be held at the Norris Conference Center which is conveniently located at Wonderland of the Americas Mall, Interstate 10 and Loop 410. There are many hotels and motels within a 5 mile radius. (Taken from State ) You can get more information and register at: or

4 April Plant Identification by Texas Master Gardener Intern Chris DeBremaecker Low maintenance, tough, slightly less common salvias which thrive where I live. Scientific name: Salvia ballotiflora Benth. Common name: Blue Shrub Sage Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family) Square stems characteristic of the mint family. It is a very hardy plant dropping its leaves during the 2011 drought which reappeared after minimal rain. Loved by hummers and small yellow butterflies. Scientific name: Salvia regla Cav. Common Name: Mountain sage Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family) The showy, bright-red, tubular flowers of this ornamental attract hummingbirds. This plant is disease and insect-free, drought tolerant, and adaptable to a variety of sites. When blooming and backlit from the sun, the bush appears to glow. Perennial and deciduous Habit: Highly branched woody shrub 3-6 ft. Leaves: opposite, serrated margins, hairy above and below. Aromatic. Bloom Notes: Small white, blue, purple in clusters usually May through July Native Habitat: Rocky, sandy, or gravelly soils on brushy slopes, thickets and chaparral from Edwards Plateau south to the coast of Texas. Water Use: Low Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade (not picky) Soil Moisture: Dry, good drainage Heat and Cold Tolerant: yes Soil Description: Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Calcareous Comments: Blue shrub sage is somewhat of a woody plant which benefits from being cut back in late winter to produce bushy plants in the spring. The leaves smell great and the nectar feeds adult butterflies. Use Ornamental: Aromatic, showy accent shrub. Use Wildlife: Nectar-bees, Nectar-insects, Cover, Fruit-rodents Use Food: Reportedly used for flavoring meats and other foods. Conspicuous Flowers: yes Fragrant Flowers: yes Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds Nectar Source: yes Deer resistance:somewhat, ( very at my place) LOVE THIS PLANT! Perennial and deciduous Habit: A much branched shrub 3-6 ft. Leaves: Glossy, heart shaped, aromatic Bloom Notes: Very showy crimson tubular flowers usually late September-October Native Habitat: Native to the rocky wooded slopes of the Chisos Mountains and adapted to the rolling and high plains area. Water Use: Low Light Requirement: Part Shade, Shade (likes afternoon shade) Soil Moisture: Dry Soil ph: Circumneutral (ph ) Heat and Cold Tolerant: yes Soil Description: Prefers well-drained rocky soils, but very adaptable to other sites in cultivation. Sounds like Blanco Co.! Comments: Hummingbird favorite. Disease and insect free, drought tolerant, and adaptable to a variety of sites. No need to fertilize. Periodic pruning encourages new growth and blooms, which occur on new wood. Plant where blooms are backlit by the sun! Awesome! Use Ornamental: Showy, Long-blooming, Blooms ornamental Use Wildlife: Nectar-hummingbirds Conspicuous Flowers: yes, yes, yes Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds Nectar Source: yes Deer Resistance: Minimal (good at my place) LOVE THIS PLANT! Source: National Wildflower Research Center Plants Database accessed 3/21/12 & 3/26/12

5 March Meeting Notes The March meeting featured Mary Ann Vega explaining how we can coexist with wildlife: how to get rid of unwanted critters and how to rescue those who are in trouble. Ms. Vega, who is with Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Kendalia, also provided us with handouts and other information. It was a very informative meeting. Carol Dequilo donated a gourd birdhouse for inspiration for the Crafts day. Here Ms. Vega is pictured with Pat Clewell, a frequent visitor who is awaiting the new intern class next year. Meeting Minutes Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. The Methodist Church, Johnson City Present: Please see sign-in sheet President Betty Mucha started the meeting early with a request for suggestions for fundraisers for the Master Gardener Group. The group present decided to have the next Blanco County Texas Master Gardener fundraiser on Saturday, April 28, 2012, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the City of Johnson City Park. A sign-up sheet was then passed around the room for volunteers to help with the booth. Potted plants, seeds, gardening crafts will be sold. Two more interns have passed to full membership: Ron Bourland and Olivia Ross Cindy Stomberg announced an Arts and Crafts session that will be held on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, Noon to 3 p.m. at The Landing, check your for directions. Please bring a snack to share. Kathy Edquist will be teaching the art of seed paper and Carol DiQuilio will be crafting gourds for bird houses. Cindy Stomberg told the group that the next meeting will be at the Blanco State Park in the outdoor pavilion. The meeting will start at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday,

6 April10, There is an admission to enter the park ($4), but check with others in the group that may have a park pass to enter with them. Jim Meadows and Diana Blackburn attended the state level directors meeting for Texas Master Gardeners. Jim told the group about the discussions held during the session. Jim Meadows reminded the group to register if you plan on attending the state convention in San Antonio this year. The State Directors plan to hold the next state convention in the Valley during next September. Old Business: No old business was presented. However, Jim Meadows requested a volunteer to please help with the Agri-Life Office on Thursdays during his absence, March 29- April 17, New Business: No new business was presented. The group adjourned for refreshments, cookies and fruit turnovers, crudités tray with dips and crackers with cheese, and tea, coffee. Cindy Stomberg then announced the guest speaker, Mary-Ann Vega, Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in Kendalia, Texas, speaking on the topic Gardening with Wildlife Seminar. Minutes prepared by: Georgia Carroll-Warren Support our 2012 Sponsors! Blanco, TX BLANCO GARDENS For all your Garden & Landscaping Needs 500 Main NATURAL LOOK LANDSCAPES Planting and Over-Site Care by Loris Perkins, Sole Proprietor /

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