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Gardening


Extension Activities At The Home & Garden Show On Feb. 26-27

by William M. Johnson
February 23, 2005

Gardening: Home and Garden Show imsgeThe Master Gardener volunteers of the Galveston County Extension Office will be available at the Galveston Home and Show during February 26-27. Educational programs for the public will be provided including a program on "Cooking with Herbs" to be presented by Catharine Conlon-Townsend, a Texas Master Gardener and coauthor of Spade to Spoon....Gardeners’ gateway to gourmet cooking. Photo credit: William M. Johnson

Be sure to pencil in a notation on your "Weekend Things-To-Do List" to attend the upcoming 17th Annual Galveston Home and Garden Show at its new location–the Galveston Island Convention Center at San Luis (56th & Seawall Boulevard). The show will be held on Saturday, February 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday, February 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This year’s show will feature more than 150 exhibitors representing home, garden and leisure businesses. In addition, door prizes will be given away throughout each of the show days. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children. The Galveston Home and Garden Show benefits the Animal Shelter and Adoption Center (ASAC) of Galveston Island, Inc.

The Galveston County Extension Office staff and Master Gardener volunteers are pleased to support this event and will conduct a number of educational programs for the public. A presentation entitled "Cooking with Herbs" will be provided by Catharine Conlon-Townsend, a Certified Texas Master Gardener and Galveston resident.

I and the Master Gardener volunteers can attest to two noteworthy talents of Cathy–she is an accomplished herb gardener and an amazing practitioner of the art of gastronomic delights, i.e., her cooking skills are marvelous. Cathy will discuss delightful ways of utilizing herbs in everyday food preparations as well as use of homemade pestos, vinegars, oils, and other herbal preparations. She is a coauthor of our Master Gardener cookbook entitled Spade to Spoon....Gardeners’ gateway to gourmet cooking (no copies are currently available as the first press run has sold out).

Her presentation will be conducted on Sunday, February 27, at 2:00 p.m. If you already use herbs that are fresh from the garden or from the local grocery store or if your taste buds delight in the unique flavor and presentation provided by herbs, then take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your skills on cooking with herbs!

Are you interested in starting a garden but need some guidelines on getting started? Then visit the Galveston County Extension Office booths (#419 & #421) to talk with me or one of the Master Gardeners about your home gardening and landscape problems. Master Gardeners are members of our local community who provide valuable assistance in conducting a variety of educational programs on gardening and other horticulture-related topics. To be certified as a Master Gardener, a person must complete a prescribed course of intensive training in horticulture.

Are you concerned about an insect pest or disease problem with one or more your landscape or garden plants? Well, you are also invited to bring samples of insect, disease and other plant pest problems to the County Extension booth for a free diagnosis. Be sure to include your name and address with each sample. All samples must be securely enclosed in a plastic or paper bag with your name, address and a telephone contact number.

As you can surmise, the staff of the Galveston County Extension Office and many of our Master Gardener volunteers will be very busy this weekend. We're part of Texas Cooperative Extension which forms a Texas-sized partnership between a great educational institution—The Texas A&M University System—and each Texas County Commissioners Court.

From State Extension Specialists with statewide responsibilities, to District Extension Specialists, to County Extension Agents and Extension volunteers located within each county, Texas Cooperative Extension personnel have the knowledge and research-based information it takes to successfully nurture things. Those "things" start with food and fiber products, but also include families, youth, economics, businesses, communities, and leaders. From Anderson County to Zavala County and the 252 other counties, including Galveston County, Texas Cooperative Extension continues to build upon a near-century tradition of excellence in serving adults and youth throughout the state.

So come on out to the Galveston Home & Garden Show this weekend and be sure to drop by our booth and attend our presentation on "Cooking with Herbs."

March 5 Seminar on "A Garden for Butterflies"

What do butterflies eat? Do butterflies need to drink? When do butterflies sleep? What is this caterpillar eating all my butterfly weed plant?

If you have asked these questions, then you can get the answers to these and other questions by attending an upcoming program on Saturday, March 5, entitled "A Garden for Butterflies." The presentation will be held from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the County Extension Office located at 5115 Highway 3 in Dickinson.

The presentation will be provided by Anna Wygrys, a longtime Certified Master Gardener and resident of Santa Fe. She coauthored The Butterflies of Galveston County—What Every Gardener Needs to Know, a comprehensive, 36-page color publication that contains essential information about the 83 species of butterflies of Galveston County and the plants that nurture them.

Commonly occurring butterflies and their life cycles, and plants that attract butterflies and how to grow them will be discussed. Small backyard butterfly gardens are simple and fun to establish. To learn how to get started or to enhance your existing skill level, take advantage this informative program on "A garden for Butterflies."

The presentation is sponsored by the Galveston County Master Gardener Association as a public service to our county residents. The program is free-of-charge but pre-registration is requested due to space limitations (GALV3@wt.net or 281-534-3413, ext. 6).

Dr. Johnson is a horticulturist with the Galveston County
Extension Office of Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University. Visit his web site at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.htm


Gardening: Scale insects and pampas grass - July 17, 2004 article

Gardening: Bananas - August 1, 2004 article

Gardening: August Gardening Calendar - August 16, 2004 article

Gardening: Trio Of Extension Programs Includes Pear Tasting, Master Naturalist Class & Rose Seminar - August 20, 2004 article

Gardening: Prepare Now For Fall Gardens - August 26, 2004 article

Gardening: September’s Garden Calendar Includes Fall Pecan Field Day - September 2, 2004 article

Gardening: Ornamental Grasses - September 8, 2004 article

Gardening: Don't Let Landscape Become A High-Maintenance Nightmare - September 22, 2004 article

Gardening: Oct. 10 Plant Sale & Seminar To Feature Butterfly Gardening - Butterflies Bring Color, Motion to Garden - October 2, 2004 article

Gardening: Plant It And They Will Come: Getting the Butterflies of Galveston County to Grace Your Yard - October 2, 2004 article

Gardening: Rose Propagation & Seasonal Decorating Workshops To Be Held - October 13, 2004 article

Gardening: Extension Office To Sponsor Open House On October 29, Seasonal Decorations and Onion and Garlic Workshops - October 20, 2004 article

Gardening: Extension Office To Sponsor Open House On October 29 and County Pecan Show - October 27, 2004 article

Gardening: November Is Pansy Time - November 6, 2004 article

Gardening: County Pecan Growers Display Their Successes - November 11, 2004 article

Gardening: Gardeners' Questions On Fall Crops - November 17, 2004 article

Gardening: Gardeners’ Q&As For November - November 28, 2004 article

Gardening: Gardeners' December Checklist Includes Citrus Show On Dec. 9 - December 3, 2004 article

Gardening: Citrus Show A Huge Success With 185 Entries - December 19, 2004 article

Gardening: Trees and Shrubs - December 23, 2004 article

Gardening: Cold Weather Impact - January 4, 2005 article

Gardening: Gardeners' Checklist For January Includes Several Educational Programs - January 7, 2005 article

Gardening:Announcing the 2005 Galveston County Master Gardener Training - January 13, 2005 article

Gardening:Peach & Plum Growers' Workshop To Be Held Saturday, January 29 - January 19, 2005 article

Gardening: Gardening for Texas Wildlife - January 28, 2005 article

Gardening: Wide Variety of Citrus to Be Available at February 5 Fruit Tree Sale and Home Citrus Production - January 31, 2005 article

Gardening: Fruit Trees Of The Gods Featured In February 5 Master Gardener Plant Sale - February 2, 2005 article

Gardening: "If I Were A Tomato, I Would Want To Be Grown In Texas . . . Galveston County, That Is!" Workshop to be held February 12 - February 9, 2005 article

Gardening: February Is Rose Pruning Time...Attend Rose Care Seminar to Learn How - February 16, 2005 article

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