The Guadalupe Gardener May 2014 Extension Service A monthly publication of the Guadalupe County Master Gardeners in cooperation with the Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension, Guadalupe County May President s Corner LOOKING FORWARD to the summer months of June, July and August, our major volunteer efforts will be to maintain our gardens at the Big Red Barn, the Community Garden, and schools. Of course, the GCMG office will be open most Mondays and we will be preparing for the start of Class 26 in August. Other than our Social, we don t have any special projects planned. BEFORE June comes MAY which is busy with numerous volunteer opportunities. By the time you read this the Ag Festival on May 1 st at the Big Red Barn will probably be history. The Rainbarrels and Drips event at the Guadalupe County Community Garden on Saturday, May 17 th will include presentations on how to conserve water using rain barrels and drip irrigation. Our major effort in May will be assisting our Guadalupe Extension Agents with SIX WA- TER FAIRS. Starting at 6 PM on May 2 nd, Agent Matt Miranda will conduct Water Fair training at the Extension Office. Then from May 5 th through May 30 th there will be six Water Fairs held at schools throughout the county. Over thirty Master Gardeners will be needed throughout May to present seven different classes on the six days. We still need some volunteers to fill all the classes so no one will be overworked. Please help us end the first half by Making A Difference. More about Water Fairs on page 7. And finally, The Buck Stops Here. I want to apologize for the projector problems during our April meeting. Apparently a cable wasn t working. So Sorry. Bob Teweles May 15th - 7 PM Program - John Pape and Kevin McCormick, Pape Pecan Farms of Seguin, will speak about Guadalupe County's Heritage Pecans: Steps to a Successful Harvest. 6:30 pm refreshments 7 pm meeting, Followed by program Followed by volunteer recognition and other drawings. Don t forget your name tag - and plants for the plant exchange. In This Issue Page 2 - April Meeting Program, Future Programs Page 3 - April Meeting, Class 26 Page 4 - Summer Social Page 5-6 - Gutierrez Park Page 6 - Speakers Bureau Page 7 - Water Fairs, KWED Radio Page 8 - Proposed Bylaw/Policy Changes Page 9 - Seguin Earth Day Page 10 - Volunteer Recognition Program, Schertz Volunteer Fair, Christmas/Holiday Social Page 11 - Big Red Barn, Members in Service Page 12-13 - Community Garden Updates Page 13 - Bluebonnets Page 14 - Orchids Page 15-16 - Volunteer Opportunities Page 16 - Gardening Events Page 17-20 - Education-Classes-Seminars Page 21 - May Calendar 1
Association News April Meeting Program Ray Elizondo on Daylilies The guest speaker for the April GCMG meeting was daylily lover Ray Elizondo. Ray has been a daylily gardener for many years and is a member of the San Antonio Daylily Society. Ray presented a slide show and a general information handout on daylilies. Although he had some technical difficulties with the slide show, Ray gave an enthusiastic overview of raising daylilies. He showed many varieties and blooms and donated 3 lilies and cookbooks for door prizes for the evening. In a brief history, he explained daylilies were brought over from the Orient and Europe during the settling of the US. However, today most daylilies are considered Americanized due to hybridizing. All parts of the daylily are edible. He shared a diagram showing the parts of the daylily. In Texas, he encourages buying from nurseries or sites that specialize in daylilies and if by mail use sites from warm climates. He recommends evergreen and semi-evergreen rather than dormant for this area. Planting in the fall is preferred because it gives the lily a longer time to get established before the Texas heat. Another tip: when planting make sure the crown is not more Parts of a Daylily the 1 inch below ground level, and he uses a mound technique when placing the lily in the soil. Ray encourages everyone to attend the 2014 Daylily Show and Sale at the SA Festival of Flowers on Saturday, May 24, at the Alzafar Shrine from 9am to 5pm. If you have questions, you can reach Ray via email at tu1964@satx.rr.com Two other resources: San Antonio Daylily Society http:// sadaylily.com/home.html and American Hemerocallis Society http://www.daylilies.org/. Report submitted by Sandy Foss. Photo by Marvin T Taylor, Parts of a Daylily courtesy Ray Elizondo. FUTURE PROGRAMS June 20th - Summer Social - See page 4. July 17th - Rain Gardens and Storm Water Treatments by Matt Welch, Madrone Landscape Architects, Austin August 21st - Master Gardener Specialists Roundtable Session. 2
April Meeting The April refreshments were provided by: Ellen Laubhan, Sandy Foss, Joyce Briscoe, Betty Hughes and Treva Hicks. Please contact Treva Hicks to sign up for May. Photos by Marvin T Taylor The San Antonio Daylily Society donated 3 daylilies, and 3 cookbooks for giveaways. Karen Wallock, Judy Johnson, and Patty Tyler-White won these. John Lewicki won $20 in the raffle. Karen Wallock won the door prize of a $10 nursery gift certificate. Class #26 The next classes will be held in Seguin at the First Presbyterian Church on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m., and run from August/September through the last class on December 10. Dave Elder and Cindy Waechter are doing the up-front work to get the class off the ground, and are co-chairing the Class 26 committee. They are soliciting volunteers to help with Rotating Coordinators, Evaluations, Text Grading, Class Room Assistant for the day, set up, take down, buying supplies, water and whatever else is needed. 3
Guadalupe County Master Gardener Summer Social 2014 Barbecue Potluck Dinner & More! Chicken and brisket, sausage, rolls and peppers are provided Potluck Dishes, Sides and desserts are needed! SAVE THE DATE Friday, June 20, 2014 6:30 pm to 9:00pm At the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Marion TX RSVP by June 6 th Laurie Brunell, Chairperson H (210) 334-0962, C (925) 285-4589 lbrunell2@gmail.com; Carol Calentine (830) 303-3889 ccalentine@ag.tamu.edu; or Cynthia Lyssy C 210-275-3970 4
GUTIERREZ XERISCAPE PARK 3/29/2014 WORKDAY On the last Saturday in March, eleven Steele High School Key Club members and their advisor Denise Leverich, joined Master Gardeners Welta Burris, and Co-Chairs Kim Darrough and John Lewicki in working at Gutierrez Xeriscape Park. They reset the rock border on the Butterfly Garden, expanded the xeriscape garden, mulched around the trees, and weeded the wildflower planting areas. A special thanks to Schertz Parks and Recreation worker Dean Midlick for providing gloves, hats, water and tools. Schertz Parks Manager Chuck Van Zandt and Foreman Mike Trainor had arranged for the pre-delivery of the edgers and mulch. Master Gardener Judy Stanley previously directed the removal of the Lantana and transplanting of the Flame Acanthus from the middle planting area. With Judy s assistance we were able to not only get the Butterfly Garden certified but also recognized as a Monarch Way Station. Thanks also to Master Gardener Joyce Friesenhahn and her husband for donating the large rocks and Master Gardener Mary Bowe for donating the birdbath used in the newly expanded Butterfly Garden. (From left to right) Guadalupe County Master Gardeners Class 25 Welta Burris, Kim Darrough, and John Lewicki, and Steele High School Key Club members Desiree Torres, Jazmin Torres, Christian Silva, Lindsey Keffer, Thomas Avilia, Timothy Kidd, and President Alex Irizzary. Not pictured are Hunter Dentino, Dakota Ainsworth, Bailey Stehn, Angelica Huerta and Advisor Denise Leverich. Timothy Kidd resets the stone border around the central Butterfly Garden. Kim Darrough weeds prior to adding mulch. Master Gardener Welta Burris leads Steele High School Key Club members in pulling weeds from the wildflower area around the Gazebo. Desiree and Jazmin Torres were among those that planted the seeds last November under Welta s supervision. Dakota Ainsworth, Welta Burris and Christian Silva pulling weeds from the wildflowers. (Continued on following page) 5
(Gutierrez - continued from prior page) Byron P. Steele High School Key Club Banner. Bailey Stehn and Angelica Huerta remove weeds from the tree mulch. Desiree and Jazmin Torres join Lindsey Keffer in removing weeds from the wildflowers. ANYONE WILLING TO DONATE XERISCAPE PLANTS TO THE EXPANDED XERISCAPE GARDEN AT GUTIERREZ PARK ARE ASKED TO CONTACT COCHAIRS KIM DARROUGH AT kimdarr70855@yahoo.com OR JOHN LEWICKI AT jamalew@att.net Thomas Avila, Hunter Dentino, and Key Club President Alex Irizarry expand the xeriscape garden. Speakers Bureau Lo-Ra Dick presented a program for the Seguin-Guadalupe County Retired Teachers on Tuesday, April 8. She spoke on Square Foot Gardening and the Junior Master Gardener program. Photos by Marilyn Anderson. 6
May is Water Fair Month! May is going to be Water Fair Month with many opportunities still available. If you still have questions about what goes on at a water fair I would like you to consider attending the Water Fair training to be conducted for you by Matt Miranda, the Guadalupe Extension Agent conducting the fairs. The training will be on Friday evening, May 2 nd, from 6 to 7 PM at the Extension office. Hey! It s not only free, but you will earn CE hours! You may attend the class even if you are not signed up to teach at a Water Fair. The training will present an overview of Water Fair activities and a review of the seven Scripts for the Water Fair classes. Training will not only help you be comfortable with your class, but give you a perspective on how your class subject fits into the Water Conservation program. The seven class subjects are: The Water Cycle Game; Xeriscaping Lesson; Indoor & Outdoor Conservation; Enviroscape Presentation; Rainfall Simulator; and The Edible Aquifer! Mr. Miranda has asked for an RSVP for the class. Please call 830-303-3889. You can also sign up as a Water Fair presenter at this number! I also suggest that before you make a presentation for the first time, you might attend an earlier Water Fair and observe the class you will teach or other classes. Water Fairs are here to stay, so there will be more opportunities in the coming years! The 2014 Water Fair Schedule Weinert Elementary (Downtown Seguin) - May 5 11:30-1:30 four rotations Green Valley Elementary (Cibolo) May 13 9-11:30 Schertz Elementary - May 14 9-11:30am 7 rotations Krueger Elementary (Marion) - May 27 8:45-10:45 four rotations Watts Elementary (Cibolo) - May 29 11:30-1:30 6 rotations Koennecke Elementary (Seguin) - May 30 9-11am four rotations If you have additional questions, please call Bob Teweles at 210-289-9997 or Carol Calentine at 830-303-3889 Submitted by Bob Teweles KWED Radio 1580 Earth Day April 19th the Master Gardener Radio Program on KWED was all about Earth Day. Emcee Ryla Cottingham had guest master gardeners Gene Griffin, Betty Hughes and Marvin T Taylor. Janet Grafe needs speakers for KWED for May. If you can help please contact Janet at janetgrafe@hotmail.com. 7
Proposed Bylaws and Policy and Procedures Manual Changes The GCMG Board of Directors recommended changes to the Bylaws and Policies and Procedures Manual (PPM) during the April membership business meeting. These changes are necessary to address issues that have come up during the year and will be voted on during the May membership meeting. Following is a synopsis of the proposed changes. Bylaws Article 5 Section 4 Changes from A quorum shall consist of six (6) voting members of the Board of Directors to A quorum shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of the filled Board of Directors voting members. PPM Chapter 6, Certification Standards Section A.1. Adds requirement to complete and sign the annual Texas Master Gardener Volunteer Agreement as part of the certification requirement Section A.2.iv. Adds requirement to complete and sign the annual Texas Master Gardener Volunteer Agreement Section A.2.v. Adds requirement that applications for criminal background checks are due by November 30th of the year preceding the year in which the current background check expires. Section A.2.vi. Adds requirement that dues will not be accepted until the minimum number of recertification hours, the annual Texas Master Gardener Volunteer Agreement, and the application for the criminal background check, if due, have been turned in to the Treasurer. PPM Chapter 7, Volunteer Service and Continuing Education Hours Section B.13. Changes from The Board president will establish a committee to annually review ongoing projects to determine if.. to The Board will annually review in November ongoing projects to determine if.. PPM Chapter 8, Criminal Background Checks Clarifies the location of the Youth Protection Standards Handbook on the web Adds requirement to turn in applications for criminal background checks by November 30th of the year preceding the year in which the current background check expires and that it must be turned in before the Treasurer will accept dues PPM Chapter 9, Dues Section A.2. Adds requirement the Treasurer shall not accept dues until the minimum hours for recertification, the annual Texas Master Gardener Volunteer Agreement and the application for criminal background check, if due, have been submitted. Section A.4. Clarifies the Treasurer instead of the Secretary will notify members who have not paid dues by December 10 th. PPM Chapter 10, Meetings Section B.3. Clarifies a quorum for Board of Directors Meetings shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of the filled Board s voting members. 8
April Volunteer Recognition Program To date, 45 Master Gardeners have participated in the 2014 Volunteer Recognition Program. Of special note, 4 members have been eligible for the drawing all 4 months in 2014; Joyce Briscoe, Joyce Friesenhahn, John Lewicki, and Elaine McIntyre. Well done! 30 Master Gardeners participated in the April Volunteer Recognition Program Drawing. Congratulations to Cynthia Lyssy, our April Volunteer Recognition Program Drawing recipient. Cynthia can tell you it pays to volunteer as she was also our January Winner. As our April Volunteer, Cynthia won a $20 gift certificate to Schulz Nursery. In addition, four other names were drawn for entry into the yearend grand prize drawing for a $150 gift certificate. They were Elizabeth Hughes, Karen Wallock, Janice Knobles, and Mary Styblo. Thanks to all our volunteers for your hard work and effort. To qualify for the Monthly Volunteer Recognition Program drawing, certified GCMG Master Gardeners must report a minimum of 5 volunteer and continuing education hours earned during the month to the Hours Coordinator by the last calendar day of the month. Hours earned for attendance at the monthly GCMG Membership Meeting are not included in the minimum 5 hours, except those earned for meeting setup. Board members do not participate in the Volunteer Recognition Program. Don t forget to earn and report your hours by 31 May 2014 to be eligible for the June Membership Drawing. SCHERTZ VOLUNTEER FAIR On Thursday, April 10 th from 5 to 7 PM, Bob Davis and John Lewicki represented Guadalupe County Master Gardeners at the annual Schertz Volunteer Fair. There were 21 non-profit organizations that had tables with information about their programs. More than 50 potential volunteers showed up at the fair. Many stopped at the Master Gardeners table to ask questions and learn about our programs. One mother, who home schools her children, asked about bringing her children to the Guadalupe County Community Garden. She became very interested after hearing that, in the past 3 years, the gardens have donated over 5 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables to the local food banks. The Randolph Area Christian Assistance Program (RACAP) had a table across from ours and came over and thanked us for all the food that we have donated to them. Two ladies inquired about our next Master Gardeners Class and one 15 year old student indicated she wanted to visit the Community Garden on Saturday and bring her mother. Report and photo submitted by John Lewicki. MG Christmas/Holiday Social Big Red Barn Thursday December 18, 2014 Save the Date. 9