The Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2 are now accepting applications for Master Gardener Certification Training Classes. Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting September 16 through October 28, 2008 from 8:30 am-2: 30 pm at: The Precinct 2 Road Camp 1202 Genoa Red Bluff Houston, TX 77034 Fee: $150.00 Registration deadline: September 9, 2008 or until class is full (281)-855-5600 Visit our website for more information and a downloadable application http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu in addition to attending classes volunteer hours are required for certification.

Nuece County Master Gardeners

Prescott Elementary in Corpus Christi is growing future gardeners, and learning an economic way to conserve water in the gardens.  Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Special Ed classes under the guidance of Ms. Diana Chavez, along with a group of Nueces Master Gardeners led by Janet Tysinger and rainwater harvesting specialist Gail Cargile, have re-established a butterfly garden on their campus.

The students are learning how to gather rainwater in a storage barrel and later to use it to water their gardens.  Prescott is the first CCISD campus with a rainwater harvesting station.

The butterfly garden was put in place in 2004 as a memorial for former student Rey Andrew Rendon, who died in 2003.  The students cleaned up the garden and added the rainwater harvesting station.  Along with Principal Jaime Gonzales, the students dedicated the garden with a ribbon cutting.  Each child was given a gummy worm to eat as Mr. Gonzales cut the ribbon.

These students participate in a “Learn to Grow” program created by the Nueces Master Gardeners four years ago.  Anxious to teach their students something besides the regular academic program, the teachers asked to expand their garden.  It now includes the vegetable garden, an herb garden, and a composting bin.

The students help with all the work from preparing the beds, planting the seeds, pulling weeds, watering, harvesting the crop, and eating the vegetables. 

At the dedication, Mrs. Cargile told the children, “We are so proud of each of you.  You are good team workers and can teach others what you have learned.”
submitted by Marty Barnett, Nueces Master Gardener

The Somervell County Master Gardener Association recently traveled to Clark Gardens Botanical Park on a field trip. Clark Gardens, located outside Weatherford, is a breathtaking 35 acre garden, with over 50 individual gardens. Pathways wind through the lavish gardens, waterfalls, ponds, and lakes. The Master Gardeners toured the gardens, enjoyed a sack lunch and concluded their trip with a successful shopping trip at the Clark Gardens plant shop On

May 12, 2008, the Somervell County Master Gardener Association held a “Native and Adaptive Plant Seminar” at the Citizens Center in Glen Rose, Texas. The speaker, Evaline Woodrey, presented a slide-show and commentary detailing many native plants that flourish in this area. Texas native plants are low maintenance and drought resistant, and are well suited for the Texas climate. The Master Gardeners also had a plant sale of native plants after the seminar.

The Somervell County Master Gardener association will have another Plant Sale at the Plein Air to be held on June 7, 2007. The Plein Air, held by the Somervell History Foundation on the grounds of the historic Barnard’s Mill and Museum complex in Glen Rose, will feature area artists creating original works of art. The Plein Air is open to the public

Lake Granbury Master Gardeners
Several Hood County Master Gardners were honored at the TMGA Conference.

Phyllis Webster	Arnold Blaylock	Brad Bartlett	Doug Richards