Gardening: October to December 2005

Announcing The 2006 Galveston County Master Gardener Training

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

December 28, 2005

Gardening: More - Master Gardener Training

Citrus Show A Huge Success With 149 Entries

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

December 21, 2005

The 2005 Upper Gulf Coast Citrus Show was held on December 8 at the Walter Hall Park Pavilion in League City and area citrus growers submitted 149 entries for viewing. A remarkably wide range of citrus represented 13 types of citrus (ranging from grapefruits to kumquats to lemons) and 82 varieties.

Home-grown citrus is of superior quality to supermarket fruits. Many residents grow citrus not only for the fruit but also for the ornamental value trees provide to the landscape. Lastly, many types of citrus are easier to grow than many “traditional” fruit trees.

Gardening: More - Citrus Show

Poinsettia: Vibrant Holiday Plant Has Roots In History And Legend

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

December 12, 2005

Christmas brings with it many legends and traditions. The poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, is a great example of both. This plant is native to Mexico and is part of the family Euphorbiaceae along with plants such as the crown of thorns (E. milii) and pencil cactus (E. tirucalli).

Gardening: More - Poinsettias

Now Is The Ideal Time For Planting Trees & Shrubs

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

December 5, 2005

I wish more gardeners understood that late fall through early winter is a primary planting season in Texas Upper Gulf Coast. Over the years, horticulturists have tried to get the word out that November through January is the ideal time period to plant hardy trees and shrubs in the landscape.

Gardening: More - Planting Trees and Shrubs

Gardeners' December Checklist Includes Citrus Show On Dec. 8

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

November 30, 2005

There is always something to grow and something to harvest in our Gulf Coast gardens–even during the month of December. And, many home citrus growers have been harvesting a respectable crop of citrus including grapefruits, kumquats, and lemons as well a wide variety of other citrus fruits.

Gardening: December Checklist

County Pecan Growers Display Their Successes

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

November 23, 2005

Producing a high-quality pecan crop was a challenge this year. However, many area growers were up to the task based on the quality of the entries in this year's Galveston County Pecan Show. Seven area residents submitted thirty-four pecan entries for competition and display in the County Pecan Show which was held on November 10, 2005 at the Walter Hall Park Pavilion in League City. The entries represented seventeen pecan varieties.

Chemicals, Not Frost, Create Fall Colors

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

November 9, 2005

Each fall a glorious spectrum of colors blankets the hardwood forests of the United States. In Colorado, it's the gold of aspen trees that catches the eye. In New England, it's the brilliant oranges and yellows of the sugar maples. And in the South, it's the deep scarlet of the red oaks, the reddish-orange of sumac and the multi-colors of sweetgum.

Gardening: More Garden Color

County Pecan Show On Thursday, November 10

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

November 2, 2005

It's pecan harvest season! So, who has the best pecans? To find out, attend the 2005 County Pecan Show on Thursday, November 10, at 7:00 p.m. It will be held in the Walter Hall Pavilion which is located at Walter Hall Park, 807 Highway 3, in League City (about two-tenths mile north of the intersection of FM 518 and Highway 3).

Gardening: More Pecan Show

Extension Office To Sponsor Herb Growing Program On October 29

Don’t eliminate without careful evaluation

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

October 26, 2005

Gardening: More - Rosemary

Landscape Trees Damaged By Rita?

Don’t eliminate without careful evaluation

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

October 19, 2005

Hurricane Rita left trees looking like there’s no tomorrow for many of our neighbors in East Texas and Louisiana. While most trees in our area escaped with relatively little damage, there were some instances where trees were blown over and many instances where major limbs were broken or damaged, foliage was shredded or stripped, or the bark had been torn or gouged. The remains of many trees can be seen but at first glance what may look like mortal wounds are not necessarily fatal to a tree.

Trees have an amazing ability to recover from storm damage. The first step is to assess the damage. Before writing off a damaged tree as a "goner," evaluate trees by asking the following questions...See article.

Gardening: More - Tree Q&As

Seminar on Propagating Easy-to-Grow Roses

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

October 12, 2005

A "Propagating Easy-to-Grow Roses" seminar will be given on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005. The seminar will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Galveston County Extension Office located at 5115 Highway 3 in Dickinson.

Master Gardeners Anna Wygrys, Philip Fox, and John Jons, and members of the Master Gardener Propagation Specialists Team will provide the presentation and hands-on demonstrations. The class will cover starting stem cuttings, hybridizing, layering and grafting. All materials for a hands-on learning experience will be provided. Though not required for attendance, participants are requested to bring sharp, crosscut clippers to facilitate making cuttings.

The program is free-of-charge but pre-registration is required (GALV3@wt.net or 281-534-3413, ext. 6) due to space limitations.

Gardening: More - Seminar, Roses and Gardeners’ Q&As

Drive Away Those Hurricane Blues With Great Blossoms

by Alcestis ‘Cooky’ Oberg
Galveston County Master Gardener

October 5, 2005

Area gardeners are reminded that the Ornamental & Perennial Seminar & Sale, sponsored by the Galveston County Master Gardeners, will be conducted on Saturday, Oct. 8.

More than 200 types of perennials, vines, ornamental grasses and flowering shrubs will be available including many hard-to-find varieties. Featured plants will include Mexican Oleander, Cape Honeysuckle, Red Cestrum, Yellow Trumpet Ginger, Dwarf Orange Jasmine, Candy Corn Abutilon, Purple Prince Ginger, and Mellow Yellow Hibiscus, and Blue Skyflower Vine.

The activities will begin on October 8, at 8:00 a.m. when Heidi Sheesley of TreeSearch Farms Nursery will present a slide seminar entitled Perennials & Ornamentals for Gulf Coast Landscapes. She will discuss proven perennials and ornamentals for this area and guidelines for growing them.

The Plant Sale will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. All activities will be conducted at the Wayne Johnson Community Center in Carbide Park at 4102 FM 519 in La Marque.

Gardening: More - Plant Sale

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

Gardening: Extension Activities At The Home & Garden Show On Feb. 26-27 - February 23, 2005 article

Gardening: March Gardening Calendar Includes Seminar On Butterfly Gardening - March 2, 2005 article

Gardening: Gardeners' Q&As From The Galveston Home & Garden Show - March 10, 2005 article

Gardening: Extension Offers Program On "Living To Be 100 . . . A Commonsense Approach." - March 16, 2005 article

Gardening: Program On Plumeria Offered On March 26- March 29, 2005 article

Gardening: Garden Checklist For April Includes Pecan Field Day - April 6, 2005 article

Gardening: Hints On Harvesting Vegetables For Peak Flavor - April 15, 2005 article

Gardening: Fresh Blueberries From Your Home Garden Seminar On Saturday, April 23 - April 22, 2005 article

Gardening: Learn About Weed Control - April 27, 2005 article

Gardening: Home Gardening Chores and
May 14 Home Fruit Growers’ Tour - May 5, 2005 article