GIG Newsletters
- Nov/Dec 2011
- Sept/Oct 2011
- July/Aug 2011
- May/June 2011
- Mar/Apr 2011
- Jan/Feb 2011
- Nov/Dec 2010
- Sept/Oct 2010
- July/Aug 2010
- May/June 2010
- Mar/Apr 2010
- Jan/Feb 2010
- Nov/Dec 2009
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- July/Aug 2009
- May/June 2009
- Mar/Apr 2009
- Jan/Feb 2009
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- May/June 2008
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- July/Aug 2007
- Sept 2005
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From the Editor: The Brazos County Master Gardeners are setting up a great year of seminars and programs. Gardening 101 will be offered again in 2012 as a once a month series of how-to information, presented by Master Gardeners. Selected programs following the monthly Brazos County Master Gardener business meetings will also be open to the public. Free access to experts speaking on a variety of gardening topics-what a deal. Other opportunities will be available so check the calendar on our website regularly, subscribe to the event notification e-mail that is sent monthly, or see our Facebook for event notices. This is my last issue as editor. The goal was to provide proven gardening information specific to our area and have some fun. My thanks to all the Master Gardeners who were instrumental in reaching that goal and thank you for reading and using the information provided. MiChal Hall, editor for 2012, brings a wealth of talents to the job and I look forward to other Master Gardener challenges. |
Time to take stock and form a plan. If you intend to replant with what couldn't live this summer, just walk up to the cashier and hand her a check. No need to waste time, effort, and precious water next season by planting ill suited selections. Granted, some causalities, as in the animal kingdom, happened to very young, old, or already stressed even though the species was generally suited to the area. The seminar, Successful Gardening in Challenging Climates, hosted by the Brazos County Master Gardeners on February 18th will be a good starting point for understanding what happens to plants in drought conditions and what plants have proven themselves this year. Watch for additional details and registration information.
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From the Editor: The extreme conditions we are enduring should not keep us from looking forward, remaining positive, and appreciating the joys of being a gardener. Last September I watched daily as the buds formed and grew on the Sweet Autumn Clematis, Clematis terniflora, pictured. I was pleasantly surprised to see it burst into bloom on the morning of the fall equinox, what timing. I’m looking forward to enjoying it again, maybe Sept 23rd. |
“This won’t last forever, so remain positive”, has been my mantra for some time now in regards to all things gardening. As the close of this historical summer draws nearer it’s been individual blooms, plants proving they are survivors, and moments of heightened awareness that have kept me optimistic.|
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From the Editor: Pass along plants like the daylily shown here are also taking the beating and staying with me. This came from my husbands grandfathers’ garden in Oklahoma about 30 years ago. Grandpa Al dug them up for me in early summer and tossed them in a burlap sack, where they stayed for about two weeks before I could plant them. There’s two reasons they have been shared by generationspretty but tough. Even now they are alive and well, reminding me of the special person who shared them, and that works for me. |
I will not repeat or bemoan the current weather conditions of which we are all aware. I’m looking at this as a test, weeding out those plants and practices which are not sustainable. Low maintenance is high on most everyone's’ priority list and the tough survivors of this growing season will be the ones I’ll put in the spots vacated by plants requiring coddling.
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From the Editor: The calendar may not say it’s summer, but it is upon us. Articles in this issue were selected to help you through what is shaping up to be a challenging gardening season. |
Although this spring has been extremely windy and dry that hasn’t stopped me from racing through the house at the end of the work day to get out in the garden. It takes about 10 minutes from front door to back and that includes changing clothes and grabbing a beverage. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when after at least an hour in the yard I discovered that my pants were on inside-out. You may be a gardener if…..
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From the Editor: |
This is the time of year you can distinguish the different species of trees by the varia-tions of green in the new leaves. As the leaves be-come mature there is less color difference between the species and they seem to blend into the same green-ness. An awareness of de-tails can enhance enjoyment of the natural wonders around us.|
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From the Editor: There are events already on the schedule for 2011. But check the website calendar regularly for Demonstration Idea Garden demos. These are scheduled closer to the event because of weather and the garden tasks it affects.
Before Spring Arrives |
New year, new look. We hope that you enjoy the new look and feel of the G.I.G. We will still be bringing you good gardening information and news of our association. Our website is also undergoing renovations and will be available soon. Webmaster, Mike Chandler, and the web-site team has been working diligently to make the site an even better gardening re-source. Watch for the “unveiling”. Until then the current site is there for you to access.
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From the Editor:
Hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season and look forward to gardening with you in the New Year. The Brazos County Master Gardeners are finalizing plans for 2011. Earth-Kind seminars, Gardening 101 programs and on site informal “tour and talks” at the Demonstration Idea Garden are on the agenda. Check the calendar at www.brazosmg.com where details will be posted as soon as they are available. We hope the 2010 GIG was informative and entertaining. |
The welcome rain watered the maroon blue bonnets my Granddaughter and I recently planted in our wildflower “meadow”, and hopefully it was a sign of ending the dry situation we are in again. With the cooler temperatures
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From the Editor:
Mark your calendars for the annual Brazos County Master Gardener Fall Plant Sale on September 25. This will be our 3rd and each one just gets better. |
Fall is just around the corner bringing our second growing season. This is when the effort of hot summer maintenance and dragging hoses pays off with a display of roses, mums, fall asters, and delicious vegetable harvest. I look for that singular really cool morning that seems to be the reminder and promise that cooler weather will come once again.
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From the Guest Editor:
Items planted in spring have not had adequate time to establish their root systems, whereas items planted since the fall can go longer without watering. The hose-dragging, brow-mopping days are at hand despite our hopes for a cool summer in accompaniment with the unusually cold temperatures of winter. The summer is an opportune time to sit in the A/C while planning seed and bulb purchases to plant in the fall. Just think positive- cool weather is not that far in the future… New to our website:
A section on Weeds in Gardening Resources, and the brochure for the Arboretum located at the Demonstration Idea Garden (D.I.G.) can be found under Trees. |
Around this time of year, we begin to understand the truthfulness of the slogan “fall is for planting”. High winds dry plants out quickly, and little to no rainfall becomes common.
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From the Editor:
 Our short season of balmy spring weather is about over and summer temperatures are here. With that, water use will increase. I’ve already seen water running down the street from automatic systems, so make sure you check your irrigation systems and remember that “off” is also a setting. The use of mulch can’t be stressed enough to slow evaporation of soil moisture and moderate soil temperature. Garden smart and enjoy working with nature. |
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From the Editor:
 Welcome spring! After enduring what seemed like endless cold and wet, I finally purchased rubber boots to be able to walk around the yard and keep my feet dry. They are very spiffy with multicolored poke-a-dots, but if this acquisition begins a period of drought I promise to burn them and get my feet wet.Thankfully signs of spring are showing and we all itch to get out there and garden. Review the safety reminders to start the season on a good note and build those safety habits. Container gardening is not just for ornamentals, read the how’s and whys of growing vegetables in containers. The Demonstration Idea Garden (D.I.G.) has been a-buzz with activity so look at what we are doing to enhance this community resource in the What’s Been Happening at the D.I.G. feature. If you’ve ever wanted a natural looking water feature then In the Spotlight will be a dream come true. There’s more to learn in this issue. We are here to help and encourage you to Get It Growing. |
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From the Editor:
Dedication of the arboretum in the Demonstration Idea Garden will take place this spring. Look for articles in this and upcoming issues that will cover each carefully chosen species included in this area of the D.I.G. The arboretum was designed to be a resource for successful trees for your site, so plan on visiting. Get tips on using garden catalogs in the article titled…”Garden Catalogs-Mini Horticulture Guides”. Then find a comfortable chair, a warm drink, and enter the world of possibilities. |
The article, “Success with Roses” can make you a sweetheart for Valentine‟s Day. Blenda‟s Dream is one of the roses discussed so I wanted to brag that my 2009 goal of acquiring a Blenda‟s Dream rose was accomplished. And, I resisted my “drift of one” tendency and planted three. The article has details on it and other proven varieties. After reading, I have my eye on another addition to the garden.
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From the Editor: The year is winding down but there is still a lot going on in the garden. The fall display of flowers and butterflies make efforts put forth during the hot dry summer worthwhile. Fall vegetable gardens are providing harvest that the pilgrims would envy. It’s always a good idea to mulch garden beds for winter protection and to deter winter and early spring weeds. Don’t forget to prepare container plants for their migration to the greenhouse or indoors. This is a bustling time of year and cooler weather invites outdoor activities so take advantage of the season before it slips away. |
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From the Editor: The expectation of cooler fall weather should inspire preparation for the wonderful second growing season we enjoy in this part of Texas. Your fall vegetable garden can be better than the spring planting, but you need to act now. Get flower beds ready to plant and you‘ll be set for the cooler temps that help establish new plants. Remember-the 2nd annual Brazos County Master Gardeners Fall Plant Sale is September 26th. This is a good time to note what has survived and sometimes even thrived this summer. Consider it a field test for plants that can make future growing seasons more carefree. My own field test included Belinda‘s Dream Earth Kind rose and Lemon grass. Both were planted in late spring but have thrived proving how tough they are. Look on page 19 for a short selection of plants grown by Brazos County Master Gardeners that have done well in the extremes of this summer. |
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From the Editor: Summer weather came early this year and heat and water are on most gardeners’ minds. If you don’t believe that deep infrequent applications of water are better than a little bit every day, try the activity in “Gardening with Kiddos”. Read “Veggin with Elmer” for information on heat beating ways to start your fall garden. “Safety Tips” is a must read to help making gardening incident free. This issue also has articles on plants, always interesting to gardeners, pests, always present in gardens, and more. We want you to garden safely, responsibly, and have fun this summer. |
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From the Editor: I’m proud to share with you the news that the Brazos County Master Gardener Association came home from the Texas Master Gardener State Conference with two awards for the 2008 year. The Our Earth Kind Gardening 101 series received first place for educational programs and GIG received second place in the newsletter category. Congratulations to all the Brazos County Master Gardeners whose goal is to provide research based information to enhance your gardening efforts. |
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From the Editor: My Economics teacher from high school disclosed to me years after graduating, that my Permanent Record noted I was inclined to look out the window and daydream. Each Spring I realize that I still am afflicted by that tendency. Lengthing days and milder weather foster Spring Fever in gardeners, and aren’t we glad for it. Enjoy and make use of this wonderful and fleeting season of the year. The articles in this issue provide practical solutions and can do projects to help you in the garden this spring. |
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From the Editor: New year, new garden designs to implement, new plants to try. This issue is full of ideas to get the creative sap flowing for your 2009 growing experience. Personal gardening resolutions for 2009-mulch, mulch, mulch and employ more Earth-Kind practices, plus I just have to get a Belinda's Dream Earth-Kind rose this year. |
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From the Editor: Fall is a time for new beginnings. To me, even more so than the January flush of resolutions. As a child, new school clothes, supplies, and adventures awaited. As a gardener, Fall is no less exciting because we are fortunate to have this second gardening season each year. Cooling temperatures encourage outdoor endeavors and likewise plant growth and blooms. We hope the articles in this issue, ranging from planting and pruning to dealing with problems that can appear, will help make it your best Fall gardening yet. |
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From the Editor: This issue is dedicated to beating the heat. It's just the beginning of summer and we should all look for ways to garden that don't squander our natural or monetary resources, and we all need to keep cool. The articles in this issue have a variety of methods to beat the summer heat for you and your garden. |
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From the Editor: Having just returned from the Texas State Master Gardener Conference hosted by Montgomery County, I feel rejuvenated. The conference theme was “Sow Much Knowledge, Sow Little Thyme”. The evidence of this was apparent in the range of speakers and topics, and I’m still digesting the information obtained. We have a wealth of facts and expertise available to us and I have a renewed commitment to provide timely articles focused on successful, responsible gardening in Brazos County. |
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From the Editor: The focus of this issue is recycling and we are “talking trash”. There are articles and examples of using things that would be thrown away. Instead of going to the landfill they can have a second life improving or beautifying our gardens. |
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From the Editor: In this new year, filled with new resolutions, new plans and plants, I hope our newsletter will be a part of your gardening life. We continue with our series of locally native plants to use in your home landscape. This installment is flowering plant and perennials. The author of the weekly Garden Line column and Brazos County Master Gardener shares some of his tips for successful gardening. Getting ready to fertilize your lawn? Be sure and read the article on page 7 & 8, note highlighted sections 3 & 8. New in this issue is a section spotlighting a planting or feature in a Brazos County Master Gardeners yard. |
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From the Editor: I’m very excited about this issue of the newsletter. We have the first in a series of articles, with plant lists, of locally native plants to use in your home landscape. Herbal Highlights makes its debut, and will be views and comments from the Master Gardener who grows herbs here. Want to know the favorite veggies of the long time author of the weekly Garden Line column? It’s here. Going into Fall and the swiftly approaching holiday season is covered by two articles that will help you get there. There is so much more, I know you will find information you can use, because, I’m proud to say, the majority of this issue is written by Brazos County Master Gardeners. |
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From the Editor: I have a new hat. A duty of the Brazos County Master Gardener Association Media Chairman is Editor of the BCMG Newsletter. Being new to the job, the first order of business was to find the appropriate hat. The search was on for a fedora. A Perry White, Clark Kent type of hat with the Press pass stuck jauntily in the band. I found the hat, affixed a “Garden Press” tag, wore it to the next BCMG meeting, and we’re off. I would like to thank our previous editor Laura Biddle for the great job she has done. Laura invested many hours bringing us timely and useful information and I have benefited from each issue. In looking to the future, I hope to include articles written by Brazos County Master Gardeners with research and fact based information, a view of up coming BCMG events, recap of what we’ve been doing, and some things just for fun. We will be trying, keeping or discarding, different ideas and features. |
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MEXICAN PLUM
Prunus mexicana
(PROO-nus meks-sih-KAY-nuh)
Big Tree Plum, Inch Plum
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Description | This small, native tree is an excellent four-seasonal ornamental |
| Plant habit | Small to medium sized tree |
| Landscape use | Plant as a specimen or in a naturalized border or grove |
| Average mature size | 20-25’ tall x 15-20’ wide |
| Growth rate |
Moderate to fast Difficult to transplant from the wild; purchase a nursery-grown specimen |
| Sun exposure |
Sun to part sun/shade Prefers dappled, understory light conditions |
| Soil requirements | Tolerates most soil conditions |
| Water requirements | Tolerates any well-drained soil; relatively drought tolerant |
| Heat tolerance | Moderate |
| Foliage |
Deciduous, dark green leaves Yellow-orange fall color |
| Flowers |
Small, 1” wide, white flowers last seven to 10 days Fragrant and attractive to butterflies |
| Blooming period | Spring |
| Fruit characteristics |
Red or purple drupes develop in summer, tart tasting Attractive to birds and wildlife (raccoons, ringtails, opossums and foxes) |
| Bark | Exfoliating; provides winter interest |
| Pests and disease | Relatively free of pests and blight |
| Other |
Does not typically produce suckers Thorns on newer branches can be a nuisance Hog Plum (P. regularas) is more adapted to alkaline soils Native Americans and early settlers harvested the fruit for winter made plum jelly and preserves. |
“This is the star of our native plums. Our smaller plums form thickets, but Mexican plum is wellbehaved
- a tree to enjoy and treasure for years.”
- Sally and Andy Wasowski, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region.