Gardening

“Getting To Know Us” - Extension Office to hold Open House on December 12

By Dr. William M. Johnson
Galveston County Extension Agent - Horticulture

December 7, 2006

The Galveston County Extension Office will hold its Open House on Tuesday, December 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Master Gardener volunteers will be available to provide tours of the Horticulture Display Gardens.

Photo by William M. Johnson.

You will have the opportunity to meet the County Extension Agents including Julie K. Massey who has program responsibility for Marine Science; Marilyn Simmons who has program responsibility for Family & Consumer Sciences; and Bill Holcombe who has program responsibility for the county 4-H program.

The Master Gardener volunteers will also be available at the County Extension Office to discuss gardening problems and questions. Are you interested in starting a garden but need some guidelines on getting started? Are you concerned about an insect pest or disease problem with one or more of your landscape or garden plants? Then visit the Galveston County Extension Office during our Open House to talk with me or one of the Master Gardeners about your home gardening and landscape problems.

You are also invited to bring samples of insect, disease and other plant pest problems for a free diagnosis. Be sure to include your name and address with each sample. All samples should be enclosed in a plastic or paper bag to avoid drying out.

Another educational program that may be of interest to area gardeners is the Master Gardener Training program. Master Gardener volunteers are recruited and trained through the County Extension Office as well as 50 other Texas counties. Our training program is conducted annually during February and March and involves 14 class sessions over a seven-week period.

You receive a wealth of horticultural information from faculty at A&M as well other teachers. In return you must agree to provide a minimum of 50 volunteer hours toward horticulture-related educational activities for the public including helping to address the myriad of questions from area home gardeners. Master Gardeners extend to their communities the benefits of horticulture research developed at A&M and other universities.

The mission of Texas Cooperative Extension is to help to strengthen Texas families and communities. Our mission and our work are dedicated to improving the quality of people's lives. We're part of a Texas-sized partnership between a great educational institution–The Texas A&M University System–and each Texas County Commissioners Court.

Texas Cooperative Extension is the educational outreach arm of The Texas A&M University System and we’re here to serve you. The staff of the Galveston County Extension Office and our Extension volunteers welcome you to come look us over. So be sure to pencil in a notation on your "Things-To-Do List" to get acquainted with our staff and volunteers at the Galveston County Extension Office and be sure to tour our Horticulture Demonstration Gardens.

Citrus Show on December 14

Whether you are an enthusiastic citrus grower or just interested in viewing an array of locally grown citrus fruit, plan to attend the 2006 Upper Gulf Coast Citrus Show. This’s year’s Citrus Show will be held on Thursday, December 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the Walter Hall Park Pavilion located at 807 Highway 3 in League City.

Area residents are also invited to enter any type of locally grown citrus fruit in the show for judging and display. Each entry must be grown by the exhibitor and should consist of three fruits that are as uniform as possible. Each entry must be bagged and clearly tagged with your name, address and telephone number. Also, indicate the type of fruit. Even if type of fruit is not known, it may be entered and will be identified.

Entries will be accepted at the Galveston County Extension Office at 5115 Highway 3 in Dickinson on Monday, December 11, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Tuesday, December 12, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Rosettes and ribbons will be awarded to the best quality entries. For additional information, contact the Galveston County Extension Office (281-534-3413, ext. 1-2).

"Growing Tomatoes from Seed" Seminar on December 9

Tomatoes are the most widely grown vegetable in the home garden. Be sure to make a notation on your gardening calendar to pre-register for an upcoming program entitled "Growing Your Own Tomatoes From Seed" which will be conducted on Saturday, December 9, 2005, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. This workshop will be presented by Sam Scarcella who is a Certified Master Gardener with considerable experience and expertise in growing tomatoes.

There are several benefits from growing your own transplants from seed. You can select varieties not commonly available at garden centers including heirloom varieties. In addition, you increase the likelihood of having transplants that are disease and insect free.

If you have an interest in growing your tomatoes from seed for the spring gardening season, plan to attend this program. Please be aware that while there is no registration cost to participate in this program, pre-registration is required due to limited seating (by phone at 281-534-3413, ext. 1-2 or by e-mail at GALV3@wt.net).

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

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