Here are details on the latest, hottest News and upcoming Volunteer & Education Opportunities for your Gardening interests! Use the BCMG Master Calendar to find more information on upcoming Classes and Seminars, Volunteer Opportunities, and Gardening Events.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & NEWS
Change to Daily Office Hours
Effective Mon, Apr 11: The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will begin a new policy of closing during the noon hour, 12:00 noon to 1pm. Items may still be dropped off during the noon hour by utilizing the drop slot on the front door of the office.
The BCMG office will not be closed during that time on Wednesdays and Fridays; normal operating hours (Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 am – 2 pm) will remain in effect.
BCMG Board Meets Next Thursday, April 14th
The monthly meeting of the BCMG Board of Directors will take place 4-6pm on Thu, Apr 14, at 3355 Cherry Ridge Street, San Antonio. If you are interested in placing items on the agenda, email President, Jack Downey by Sat, Apr 9. All members are welcome to observe the meetings; however, in order to accommodate seating, please email the President, Jack Downey, that you will be attending.
How About a Role on the BCMG Leadership Team?
Election for our Board of Directors will take place at the Monthly Meeting on June 16th. Terms of office are for one year and run from July 1 to June 30. Every certified Bexar County Master Gardener is eligible for election to the Board. Self-nominations are encouraged.
The elected positions are: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, At-Large Member, At-Large Member and Membership Director.
Please email Jack Downey if you are interested in serving on the board and the particular position(s) that interest you. A short questionnaire will be forwarded to you. All completed questionnaires will be forwarded to the Nomination Committee.
Brewing at Home — Details on MG Calendar
When: TOMORROW, Thu, Apr 7, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Blue Star Brewing Company, 1414 S Alamo St, 78210
Info: In the spirit of self-reliance, experience how easy it is to create your own craft beer at home. Walk-ins are welcome! 2 CEUs for MGs. Fee: $30 per person which includes a light dinner, educational presentations and some samplings. If you have questions, email Angel Torres. Speakers: Lou Kellogg (Bexar County Master Gardener), David Rodriguez (Extension Horticulturalist), Joey Villareal (Blue Star Brewery Owner), Dan Gomez (SA Cerveceros Master Home Brewer). Don’t miss the AgriLife article on this event.
Reporting Your MG Hours
When using the online Volunteer Management System to record your hours, please remember to “ Select Project” for your volunteer hours and for your CEUs before you save the hours. If you missed that step for any entries, you can go back into “View Your Hours” and add any missing information.
See page 20 of the April Scion Newsletter for a guide to recording your Volunteer Hours and CEUs. And, remember to record your hours as you earn them!
Don’t forget to send in your Birdies for Charity pledge or donation. You can also make a Donation Online. It’s our only fundraiser, tax deductible and 100% comes back to BCMG!
4H Needs Your Help
During April, Bexar County 4-H is collecting used eyeglasses as a Community Service and working with I Care San Antonio, an organization which gives free eye care to low income families, and homeless people. Donate your used eyeglasses and drop them off at the extension office. Please contact Pam Axtel if you have any questions.
Calendar Note!
The Bexar County Master Gardeners and Texas AgriLife Extension Service offices will be closed on Friday, April 22, 2016 to celebrate the Battle of Flowers holiday.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Oldest Extension Tomato Trial in Texas — Details on MG Calendar!
When: TOMORROW, Thu, Apr 7, 7:30am-Noon
Where: Verstuyft Farms, 14819 Interstate 35 Access Rd, Von Ormy, TX 78073
Info: Help is needed to plant the oldest Extension Tomato Trial in the State. Please bring gloves, an extra grubbing hoe or two, hand spade and possibly knee pads. Any extra help too!!! If interested or have questions, email David Rodriguez. Direction details for Verstuyft Farms can be found on the BCMG Calendar.
Second Wave of Trial Tomatoes — Details on MG Calendar!
When: Fri, Apr 8, 7:30am-Noon
Where: Foodbank Urban Farm, 5200 West Old Us Highway 90, San Antonio, TX 78227
Info: Help is needed to plant the second wave of Trial Tomatoes on the backside of the Food Bank, across the street at the Farm, located between Bay Valley Foods and the Animal Care Shelter. Please bring gloves, an extra grubbing hoe or two, hand spade and possibly knee pads. Any extra help too!!! If interested or have questions, email David Rodriguez.
State Watermelon Trial — Details on MG Calendar!
When: Tue, Apr 12, 7:30am-Noon
Where: Foodbank Urban Farm, 5200 West Old Us Highway 90, San Antonio, TX 78227
Info: Help is needed to plant the State Watermelon Trial on the backside of the Food Bank, across the street at the Farm, located between Bay Valley Foods and the Animal Care Shelter. This work party might extend into the afternoon after a lunch break! Please bring gloves, an extra grubbing hoe or two, hand spade and possibly knee pads. Any extra help too!!! If interested or have questions, email David Rodriguez.
NISD Environmental Fair — Details on MG Calendar!
When/Where: Wed, Apr 13 and Thu, Apr 14, 9:30am-2:30pm; 147850 Omicron Dr. 78245
Info: Need at least 2 volunteers to help out. Please contact Ruby Zavala for more information.
Viva Botanical — Details on MG Calendar!
When/Where: Sat, Apr 16, 9am–2:30pm; San Antonio Botanical Gardens, 555 Funston Pl, 78209
Info: Need at least 5 volunteers to help at each booth. Please contact Ruby Zavala for details.
Youth Speakers Bureau Needs Your Help — Details on MG Calendar!
When/Where: Tue, Apr 19, 5pm-6:30pm; Montgomery Elementary, 7047 Montgomery Dr. 78239
Info:1 to 2 volunteers are needed to take this fun activity to the school. Please contact Ruby Zavala to volunteer.
Earth Day Fair @ Ridgewood Park Building — Details on MG Calendar!
When: Wed, Apr 20, 9:30am-1:30pm
Where: 19100 Ridgewood Parkway (Tesoro Building), 78259
Info: Help is needed to man a BCMG Booth and answer gardening questions. Need two volunteers to help. Please email Anna Vogler if you are interested.
UTHSC Earth Day — Details on MG Calendar!
When: Thu, Apr 21, 2016 11am-1pm
Where: 7703 Floyd Curl, San Antonio, TX 78229
Info: Need 2 volunteers to answer questions and share gardening information. Email Barbara Lutz or call 210-699-0663 to volunteer.
Garden Leader Needed
The established Children’s Garden at the Cambridge Elementary School in Alamo Heights is seeking a new Garden Leader (current one is moving out-of-town). The Garden meets 3-4pm on Wednesdays. Contact Jack Downey or Susan Holley (Class 58), current Garden Leader, at (254) 718-6621 if you are interested.
Requests for Speakers Bureau
The Speakers’ Bureau needs your help! Please email Karen Gardner or call 210-571-3903 to volunteer. Thanks!
When: Sat, Apr 9, 10-10:30am
Where: 11000 block of Vance Jackson, 78230
Topic: Water Conservation
When: Mon, Apr 11, 7:20-8pm
Where: 1923 Encino Rio 78259
Topic: Spring Gardening, or Container Gardening, or Herbs
When: Tue, Apr 19, 7:30-8pm
Where: Lion’s Field, 2809 Broadway, 78209
Topic: Xeriscaping, Plants for SA, Wildscaping
When: Wed, Apr 20, 12:15-1:15pm
Where: 211 S. Flores St, 78204
Topic: Cooking with Herbs
When: Sat, Apr 23, 10-11am
Where: 211 S. Flores St, 78204
Topic: Fruit Trees
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Upcoming Classes — See All the Details on MG Calendar!
Thu, Apr 7: Brewing at Home
Thu, Apr 7: What’s New in Plants & Tips on Spring Planting
Sat, Apr 9: Landscape for Life (3 Saturday series: 9, 16 & 23 Apr)
Sat, Apr 9: Soil––Texas Tough Roundtable
Sat, Apr 9: Spring Fever Festival (Boerne)
Mon, Apr 11: No Fear Arrangements
Tue, Apr 12: The Many Uses of Texas Native Plants
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! More Opportunities to Meet New Requirement for 3 CEUs at BCMG Monthly Meetings & Seminars (Total Annual CEUs = 6)
Thu, Apr 21, 1-3:30pm: Ecological Landscaping––BCMG Educational Seminar & General Meeting
Thu, May 26 (date chg from 19th), 6-8:30pm: Earth-Kind Gardening Practices––General Meeting
Rain Barrel Workshop — Details on MG Calendar!
When: Sat, Apr 16, 9am-Noon
Where: Stone Oak Property Owners Offices, 19210 Huebner Rd, 78258
Annual Grafting Seminar — Details on MG Calendar!
When: Sat, Apr 16, 9am to Noon
Where: Fanick’s Garden Center Inc., 1025 Holmgreen Rd, 78220
Ecological Landscaping––BCMG Educational Seminar — Details on MG Calendar!
When: Thu, Apr 21, 1-3:30pm
Where: Texas AgriLife Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., Suite 208, 78230.
Turf Grass 101 Seminar — Details on MG Calendar!
When: Sat, Apr 23, 10:30am-Noon
Where: Milberger’s Landscape Nursery, 3920 N Loop 1604 E (Bulverde RD exit), 78247
BeeKeeping Basics — Details on MG Calendar!
When: May 20 (Classroom) and May 21 or 22 (Field Day, option of either day)
Where: Classroom––Texas AgriLife Ext Office, Suite 208, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr, 78230; Field Day––May 21 Adkins, or May 22 Leon Springs
2016 Texas MG State Conference
Buds & Bark: Earth-Kind® in the Park
Learn from renowned garden experts May 17-19 (Tue-Thu) at Myers Park and Event Center, McKinney, Texas. You can find information & a registration form on the BCMG website..
MASTER GARDENER SPECIALIST COURSES IN 2016—See All the Details on MG Calendar!
If you are interesting in attending, please email David Rodriguez, Extension Agent-Horticulture, Bexar County.
Rainwater Harvesting Specialist, April 27-29, Dallas County MGs, Dallas (Register by Apr 14)
Composter, June 22-24, Bexar County MGs, San Antonio
Junior Master Gardener-Youth Educator, July 27-29, Bexar County MGs, San Antonio
Earth-Kind, Aug 3-5, Fort Bend MGs, Rosenberg
Texas Superstar, Sep 20-22, Bexar County MGs, San Antonio
Vegetable Specialist, November 9-11, Bexar County MGs, San Antonio
AND, CHECK THIS OUT!
Viva Botanica! Celebration and Plant Sale — Details on MG Calendar!
When: Sat, Apr 16, 10am-2pm
Where: San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place, 78209
Info: This official Fiesta event celebrates the beautiful world of plants with 38 acres to explore. Plant sale features native and adapted plants suited to San Antonio landscapes. Garden entrance fees apply. For more information, visit the SABG website, or call 210-536-1400. Parking is limited while the Garden is preparing eight new acres of gardens. Plan ahead and consider arriving after 12pm to enjoy off-peak times for access.
For Your Calendar: Green Spaces Alliance Events
SicloVerde is a tour of community gardens and a major annual fundraiser for Green Spaces Alliance which will be held on May 7. Participants can choose to walk on the 3k tour, or bike the 3k, the 7-mile, the 11-mile, or the 25-mile routes.
The Workshop Series for 2016 still has the following opportunities:
May 21 – Ollas, Berms, and Swales Work(ing)shop – Olmos Park Terrace CG
June 18 – Get Cultured! Vermiculture and Composting Work(ing)shop – EcoCentro CG
August 27 – How to Start a CG Workshop – EcoCentro CG
September 17 – Herbs Outside of the Box Work(ing)shop – High Country CG
October 8 – How to Attract Pollinators into the Garden Work(ing)shop – Terrell Heights CG
October 22 – HarvestBlitz: National Food Day – St. Therese CG
Proposed November 12 – Low Impact Design Work(ing)shop – Pittman-Sullivan CG
The links are active for more details and registration. All are open to the public and most are free!
Dinner Tonight!
Find the newest Dinner Tonight recipes and enjoy exploring new taste delights.
Spring Children’s Vegetable Garden Underway
Be sure to check out the Spring 2016 Children’s Vegetable Garden Program, the Bexar County Youth Gardens Program Facebook and the Bexar County Youth Gardens Blog for updates and garden tips, too.
In Case You Missed It!
Wildflower Celebration
At Wildseed Farms, 100 Legacy Dr, Fredericksburg, TX 78624 from Sat, Apr 2 thru Sun, Apr 17, 9:30am-6pm daily. Free admission. Phone (830) 990-8080 if you have questions.
Learn about New Texas Superstar Plants for 2016 on the BCMG website and at Texas Superstar online.
2016 All Bugs Good & Bad Webinar Series details for First Friday of each month on the BCMG website Calendar, or at the eXtension website.
Become a Texas Master Gardener Specialist: Learn about training and specialist areas on the BCMG website. Watch the e-Blasts and check the BCMG Calendar for MG Specialist Training opportunities throughout 2016.
CPS Energy tree planting reward through April 30, 2016.
SAWS Residential Irrigation Design Rebate and free WaterSaver Irrigation Consultation.
PLEASE NOTE: The email address associated with this e-Blast is only checked once a week. To volunteer or to sign up for a class, please use contacts provided. Thank you! If you no longer wish to receive e-Blasts from Bexar County Master Gardeners, please send an email to eBlasts@bexarmg.org with “Remove from Distribution List” in the subject line.
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