Posted 10:31 pm Thursday, January 12, 2012
February Marks Educational Opportunities For Gardeners
Coming this February, several educational opportunities, presented by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, are available for gardeners to enhance their knowledge in a wide range of horticultural topics.
The East Texas Landscape and Garden Conference is Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Tyler Rose Garden Center.
This year's conference brings a variety of subjects that will help homeowners and gardeners cope with drought conditions and water restrictions, plus some fun and interesting topics.
The East Texas Landscape and Garden Conference is Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Tyler Rose Garden Center.
This year's conference brings a variety of subjects that will help homeowners and gardeners cope with drought conditions and water restrictions, plus some fun and interesting topics.
SPEAKERS
Dr. David Reed, Professor of Horticulture at Texas A&M in College Station, will bring to Tyler his extensive experience teaching General Horticulture students how plants grow. His talk is entitled “Learn to Think Like a Plant, Then You can Talk to Them”. Reed talks about plants being “schizophrenic hermits” – they “live alone” and “talk to themselves”, but how gardeners can learn the “language” plants use to grow and function, and how that knowledge helps us grow and take care of them. Reed has received numerous awards from both his peers and students for his excellence in teaching.
Healthy soil is a fundamental requirement for growing healthy plants, and the best way to have a healthy soil is to increase its organic matter content. Organic matter in gardens and landscaped areas helps retain rain and irrigation water, and can mean the difference between healthy and stressed plants.
Compost often referred to as gardener's black gold, and Malcolm Beck has been called by some the Father of Compost in Texas. He has been making and selling compost for decades in the San Antonio area, is the author of “Secret Life of Compost”, and is highly regarding by gardeners and horticulturists.
Beck brings his vast experience of making and using compost to the Conference with his talk “Compost – Good for Your Soil”.
Healthy soil is a fundamental requirement for growing healthy plants, and the best way to have a healthy soil is to increase its organic matter content. Organic matter in gardens and landscaped areas helps retain rain and irrigation water, and can mean the difference between healthy and stressed plants.
Compost often referred to as gardener's black gold, and Malcolm Beck has been called by some the Father of Compost in Texas. He has been making and selling compost for decades in the San Antonio area, is the author of “Secret Life of Compost”, and is highly regarding by gardeners and horticulturists.
Beck brings his vast experience of making and using compost to the Conference with his talk “Compost – Good for Your Soil”.
Carmen Wagner is a bromeliad specialist from Canton who will tell us about her favorite “Air Plants” – Tillandsias. These are unique and easy-to-grow plants that can be used in a wide variety of ways as decorations because they don't need soil to grow. She will discuss several types and how they can be used around the home.
Many areas, including several in East Texas, experienced terrible wildfires last year due to the drought. Wildfire can happen nearly anywhere, and there are steps you can take to help make your surroundings the least susceptible to fire as possible.
Anne Brown and Dee Bishop, both Smith County Master Gardeners, are Firewise Landscape Specialists, trained by the Texas Forest Service and AgriLife Extension to help make your landscape Firewise for the safety of your property.
The afternoon will conclude with a series of topics concerning dealing with drought, which is predicted by the State Meteorologist to continue this summer. While the recent rainfall is a welcome blessing, it could very well turn very dry again. Many municipalities in Texas, including Tyler and others in our area, have implemented mandatory water conservation measures. So, I will be sharing ways that we can make every drop of irrigation water we use count, and help conserve this precious, life-sustaining resource.
Many trees died as a result of last year's drought, and many more suffered severe stress. But, hopefully not all that look dead are actually dead. Daniel Duncum with the Texas Forest Service will help us learn how to answer the important question before hiring a service to remove dead-looking trees: “Are My Trees Dead”?
Finally, we will have a panel of speakers to answer questions from the audience on dealing with the drought and related issues.
Also at the Conference, several gardening-related businesses and organizations will be exhibiting their services and products. A hot chicken tenders lunch is also included in the $35 registration fee (cash or check, registration at the door only).
The day's agenda is available on my EastTexasGardening.tamu.edu web site, and we also have a Facebook page: facebook.com/ETGardenConference with frequent updates, posts and reminders.
Many areas, including several in East Texas, experienced terrible wildfires last year due to the drought. Wildfire can happen nearly anywhere, and there are steps you can take to help make your surroundings the least susceptible to fire as possible.
Anne Brown and Dee Bishop, both Smith County Master Gardeners, are Firewise Landscape Specialists, trained by the Texas Forest Service and AgriLife Extension to help make your landscape Firewise for the safety of your property.
The afternoon will conclude with a series of topics concerning dealing with drought, which is predicted by the State Meteorologist to continue this summer. While the recent rainfall is a welcome blessing, it could very well turn very dry again. Many municipalities in Texas, including Tyler and others in our area, have implemented mandatory water conservation measures. So, I will be sharing ways that we can make every drop of irrigation water we use count, and help conserve this precious, life-sustaining resource.
Many trees died as a result of last year's drought, and many more suffered severe stress. But, hopefully not all that look dead are actually dead. Daniel Duncum with the Texas Forest Service will help us learn how to answer the important question before hiring a service to remove dead-looking trees: “Are My Trees Dead”?
Finally, we will have a panel of speakers to answer questions from the audience on dealing with the drought and related issues.
Also at the Conference, several gardening-related businesses and organizations will be exhibiting their services and products. A hot chicken tenders lunch is also included in the $35 registration fee (cash or check, registration at the door only).
The day's agenda is available on my EastTexasGardening.tamu.edu web site, and we also have a Facebook page: facebook.com/ETGardenConference with frequent updates, posts and reminders.
TURFGRASS CONFERENCE
Other educational events in February include the East Texas Turfgrass Conference at the AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton on Thursday, Feb. 2. Topics included in this program include “Turfgrass Drought Recovery”, “Irrigation Efficiency in Times of Drought”, programs on disease, weed and insect management, and “IPM and its Role in Local School Districts”. Registration is $30 at the door and includes lunch. The full agenda is also posted on my web site.
WINE-GRAPE GROWING
If you are considering starting a vineyard, take advantage of the Prospective Wine-Grape Grower Workshop at the Los Pinos Vineyards in Pittsburg on Feb. 7. This workshop, conducted by AgriLife Viticulture Specialists, educates farmers, entrepreneurs or any other individual considering planting a commercial vineyard of what is generally involved in that sort of enterprise.
The day-long program consists of a series of presentations providing an overview of the unique requirements and risks associated with establishing and operating a commercial vineyard in Texas. The workshop begins with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by presentations and instruction from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Topics include vineyard economics, necessary viticulture expertise, vineyard site considerations, risk factors and vineyard labor requirements.
To register, go to the Texas AgriLife Extension Conference Services website at agriliferegister.tamu.edu and enter the word “wine' in the keyword field. Registration is $150 per individual or $250 per couple, and lunch is included.
The day-long program consists of a series of presentations providing an overview of the unique requirements and risks associated with establishing and operating a commercial vineyard in Texas. The workshop begins with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by presentations and instruction from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Topics include vineyard economics, necessary viticulture expertise, vineyard site considerations, risk factors and vineyard labor requirements.
To register, go to the Texas AgriLife Extension Conference Services website at agriliferegister.tamu.edu and enter the word “wine' in the keyword field. Registration is $150 per individual or $250 per couple, and lunch is included.
FRUIT, VEGETABLE CONFERENCE
Finally, the East Texas Fruit & Vegetable Conference will be held Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the Tyler Rose Garden Center. I'll provide more details on this event later, and you can also see the agenda in the Programs section of my website.
Keith Hansen is Smith County Horticulturist with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. His web page is http://EastTexasGardening.tamu.edu.His Blog is http://agrilife.org/etg.
Keith Hansen is Smith County Horticulturist with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. His web page is http://EastTexasGardening.tamu.edu.His Blog is http://agrilife.org/etg.
