HOE! HOE! HOE! Grimes County Master Gardeners Newsletter VOLUME 5, ISSUE 7, JULY 2009

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1 Officers, 2009 President: Alvie Vesperman Vice President: Donna Hebert Treasurer: John Milligan Secretary: Julia Cosgrove Committee Chairs Go Texan Beds: Jennifer Corzine & Donna Hebert Ext. Office Beds: Julia Cosgrove & John Milligan Communications: Helen Quinn Children s: Jennifer Corzine & Sandy Robillard 2010 Seminar: Sandy Robillard Fundraising: Julia Cosgrove Admin: Carolyn Guillotte Class: Jennifer Corzine Painting Texas w/wildflowers: Edmond McGee Co-op: Fred Vesperman Texas AgriLife Extension: Rodney Finch : County Agent Barbara Szymczak: Secretary ***************************** Newsletter Editor: Helen Quinn Articles, photos and other Information due by 27 th of each month. Send to: hortiq@embarqmail.com Website: HOE! HOE! HOE! Grimes County Master Gardeners Newsletter VOLUME 5, ISSUE 7, JULY 2009 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current projects New: *compilation of fact sheet of recommended vegetable varieties for Grimes County. Please complete and return the questionnaire to Helen by August 31st, listing the best varieties and days to harvest. *Introduction of fact-photos section on website, starting with insects by Sandra Williams. Ongoing: *Rose beds and landscaping at Go Texan Building, Fairgrounds. *Landscaping at Texas Agri-Life Extension Office. *Painting Texas with Wildflowers

2 Vegetable Planting Guide In this heat??? Yes time to start your Fall plants! 7/15-8/20: Sweet Corn 7/20-8/15: Cucumber 7/15-7/31: Eggplant*** 6/1-8/31 : Romaine Lettuce 7/15-7/31: Melons & Okra, Peppers***, Pumpkins, Tomatoes*** 7/15-8/31: Peas- English*, Edible Pod*, Southern 7/15-8/20: Squash, Summer ** 7/15-8/10 : Squash, Winter ** * Use fiber row cover to reduce heat ** Use fiber row cover to reduce viral Infection. *** Plants How is your garden holding up in this weather? I set a timer on a sprinkler to water twice a week for one hour on my vegetable patch, and after being away three weeks I am happy to see quite a few bell peppers, lots of jalapenos and tomatoes in varying states of ripeness. The cucumbers, Swiss Chard, Strawberries and everything else is crunchy-crispy, and forty shades of brown. And we presume to talk about starting plants for a fall garden???

3 The Wonderful World of Woad - Helen Quinn Natural dyes derived from plants have been around since time began. One of the most important dyestuffs used in Europe was Woad (Isatis tinctoria). Before 1600 the only source of blue dye was Woad. It was grown as a field crop and picked in its first year, then chopped Up into a past by a horse driven mill, then made into balls by hand & Laid out to dry in the sun for about 4 weeks until they became hard Like wood. The dried balls were broken up into a powder, sprinkled With water and allowed to ferment (known as couching). When dry, The couched woad was packed into barrels ready for the dyer, who poured hot water on it, and the water went black. The dyer added bran, yeast or beer together with lime & after 3 days' fermentation The indigo was reduced to its soluble form. The dyer wetted the Cloth and lowered it into the vat. As the cloth was lifted out, it Slowly turned blue as the air oxidized the soluble indigo. Woad (Isatis tinctoria) is native to Turkey and the Middle East, but was grown extensively In Europe until the end of the 16 th century. It will grow quite happily in the U.S., and seed is available from located in Dereham, Norfolk, but can't be shipped east or west (can't remember which) of the Mississippi because it is classified as an Invasive. Woad is primarily used for dying cloth, and produces a beautiful range of blues/indigos. However, in ancient times it was used as a scary cosmetic, as in war-paint for the Celts and Picts.

4 MEETING SCHEDULE 2009 Regular meetings are held on the 2 nd Tuesday of each month At the Go Texan Building, Grimes Co. Fairgrounds, 9.00 am., except as noted below. Two evening meetings held at Members' homes, and two Saturday field trips, enable Members who work to participate. July 14 Go Texan am Speaker Monique Reed Belly Button Botany. Short Business Meeting Aug 11 Go Texan am Speaker Justin Mechell Rain Gardens. Short Business Meeting. Sept 8 Evening Meeting at the Gergeni's country home Oct 13 Logan's Run Tree Farm field trip Nov 10 The speaker will be Barbara Volk-Tunnell, Ag Sci Teacher at Bryan High on Holiday Arrangements Dec? Christmas Party/meeting The star of the show at the June evening meeting at John's.

5 Grimes County Fair Horticulture Judging Rosella Presswood, Sharon Murry and myself judged the horticulture at the Grimes County Fair this year. We had some very impressive veggies to judge, some of which we wanted to take home with us. Sharon stayed behind and purchased some for her personal pleasure. There was only a handful of plants this year which was sad to see. It seems each year the horticulture part of the fair is dwindling, maybe the kids are more interested in showing their animals. Anyway we had a great time judging and hope that next year there will be more interest in this area. Mary Cadro Pictures from the work day at the Fairgrounds Rose beds

6 ON THE CALENDAR JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER Jul 11 Household Hazardous Waste Collection University Services Building (Enter from Hwy 30 East, pass Veteran s Park on the left, first entrance on the left after Veteran s Park.) For info: or Jul 14 GCMG Reg. Meeting am. Go Texan Building. Program: Belly Button Botany, Monique Reed Jul18 Bedias Farmers Market, Civic Center ??? Aug01 2 nd Annual Recycle Extravaganza at Post Oak Mall. Call for more info. Aug01 TMGA Directors Meeting, Forest Sci-Hort Building, TAMU Aug 11 GCMG Reg. Meeting a.m. at Go Texan Building. Program: Rain Gardens, Justin Mechell Aug 15 GCMG Fall Vegetable seminar, details TBA. Aug 18,19,20 Master Composter Training class pm, College Station Conference Center. Aug 22 Master Composter Training class CS Conference Center. Aug Propagation Workshop sponsored by A&MGC may be open to MGs Sep 8 Evening meeting at Gergeni s country home details TBA. This will be potluck. Sep 11 A&M Garden Club meeting Sep Landscape Design School Nominating Committee for 2010 Officers Sandy has some names for a new slate of officers for 2010, to fill positions of President, Secretary and Treasurer. If you, or someone you know, might be interested in serving, please contact Sandy Robillard at : blackthumb@embarqmail.com It would be lovely to have an actual election rather than the usual acceptance by acclamation! I m having a baby (pomegranate, that is) Even with no rain, or maybe because of no rain (it thought it was dying and had to set a fruit) my little Pom egranate tree has a fruit developing, and maybe more to come! Also my last remaining orchid, abandoned under other potted plants, has sent up a selfpreservation shoot, so maybe it will bloom again one of these days.