Volume 17, Issue 6, June 2016
JUNE MASTER GARDENER
MONTHLY MEETING
WHEN:
Tuesday,
June 21, 2016
TIME:
3:00-5:00 pm
WHERE: Marble Falls
Church of Christ
711 Broadway,
Marble Falls
PRESENTER: Dr. Karen Clary,
Senior Program Manager,
Plant Conservation Program, LBJ Wildflower
Center
TOPIC: How Plants Shaped the
Lives of Native Americans in Texas
Refreshments will be served
What’s Inside
President’s Corner .................. .....1-2
Meeting Notice........................... .....1
Recipe ......................................... ...2
Plants & Energy ................ ……….. 3
Project Pics & Updates ....... …….. ..4
Gardener to Gardener ............ .....5-6
Bits and Pieces ....................... .…....6
Aphids by W. Brown ................... ....7
Wizzie Wants You to Know ........ .....8
May General Mtng. Minutes .... ...9-10
Thoughts & Prayers ................... ...10
May Financial Report ............ ….....11
June AT Opportunities ............... ...12
Of Interest to Members .............. ...13
President’s Corner by Roxanne Dunegan
The Essence of A
Volunteer
A volunteer is like a rare gem.
When placed in the right setting
and cared for, they will shine and
give pleasure to all who see
them…….unknown
May I never get too busy in my
own affairs that I fail to respond to
the needs of others…..Thomas
Jefferson
D
o you have sayings that you
keep handy? My family has a
magnet clip full of sayings stuck on
the refrigerator for those thoughts
that we want to keep. Many are
from fortune cookies but others
are those my granddaughter read
or heard in school and others my
husband or I pondered for a while.
Wherever they come from, they
are reminders of where we are in
this life. And where I am right now
is trying to find a good balance.
Since retirement, I have realized
that spring and early summer are
filled with opportunities to volunteer and provide outreach to the
community. BUT, also this time of
year is when I want to be home in
the garden, finalizing projects for
the family to enter in the county
fair, going to 4H archery shoots
and finding things for my granddaughter to do this summer. I understand how difficult it is to find
time for everything we want to do.
There are many, many volunteers,
and this includes all of you, who
spend a lot of time in numerous
outreach activities. It is so important that we all continue to volunteer. We all have a lot to contribute. I will confirm that every
one of our approved projects are
outreach activities that impact
hundreds of people. Whether
they are people in need of good,
fresh, free produce, or young kids
who need encouragement to understand the importance of growing and eating healthy foods, and
possibly even develop a love for
gardening. Citizens who can look
at MG beautification projects in
their community and take pride in
living there. We also assist our
local entrepreneurs in providing
them a place to sell their wares.
All of these activities we, as master
gardeners, can say that we have
supported. I hope that makes you
feel good, because it should. If it
was not for the MG organization
(Continued on Page 2)
(President’s Corner continued from Page 1)
Volume 17, Issue 6
Page 2
many of these activities would be struggling to find the people to make things happen. As you know, at every membership meeting, there are project chairs who are recruiting volunteers. In addition, we are now
looking for volunteers to work on committees to make recommendations on how to use our funds. Please
consider adding another hour or two to your week to help these projects continue to provide the services to
the community.
Many of you know that every year the AgriLife Extension Office calculates the number of hours that volunteers contribute. This number has recently been shared with Burnet County Judge Oakley and all of the
County Commissioners. In the year of 2015, volunteers contributed over $1.9 million worth of volunteer
hours. This includes the Master Gardeners and Naturalists, Texas Extension Education Association and 4H
volunteers along with a few others. What a fantastic testament to our love for our communities. Let’s keep
that number growing. Thanks to all for your time and efforts.
Regards,
Roxanne Dunegan
[email protected]
512-756-9396
Pesto Chicken (submitted by Allison Bennett)
For the Pesto
3 c. packed fresh basil leaves
4 cloves garlic
¾ c. grated Parmesan cheese
½ c. olive oil
¼ c. pine nuts (can substitute walnuts)
Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth paste. To
store for future use, put in iced cube trays and freeze. After frozen, store in a freezer zip-lock bag.
Pesto Chicken
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
½ c. prepared basil pesto, divided
4 thin slices prosciutto, or more if needed
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a baking dish.
Spread about 2 T. of pesto per chicken breast over the top of each breast, and wrap each
breast in prosciutto slice to cover the entire breast. Place the wrapped chicken breasts into
prepared baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is no longer pink, the juices run clear, and the prosciutto is lightly crisp, about 25 minutes.
Volume 17, Issue 6
Page 3
Plants and Energy
A Review of Beth Mortenson’s Green Thumb Presentation at Lakeshore Library on
“The Wonders of Propagation”
by Ray Buchanan, Master Gardener
As you Master Gardeners know (in its most simple version), the energy carried by the sun’s rays interacts with chlorophyll in the leaves of plants to begin a chemical reaction (photosynthesis) leading to
growth. The mix involves carbon dioxide from the air and nitrogen from the water carried up from the
roots and produces glucose (sugar) that travels throughout the plant to mix with nutrients and minerals
from the soil. The results are more stems and more leaves and more growth as well as oxygen released
into the air. (See Steven Vogel, The Life of a Leaf, University of Chicago Press)
But the focus of Beth’s talk was answers to the question: What happens to the plant when it just starts
growing but is not developed enough to have either those stems and leaves with chemical labs in them
nor the roots to capture water to be pulled up? What happens before the sun can exercise its energy
transfer to initiate the growth process? No leaves and no roots and, therefore, no growth and no
plant!! Correct?? Wrong!! The growing process must start somehow or those leaves and roots would
never appear.
So, what happens? Who does it (provides the energy source) at the earliest and most critical stage in
the life of a plant before the sun initiated chemical process can get started? Well, it’s the seeds, of
course!!
Like our stem cells, the plant’s seeds contain the codes and blueprints for the “turn this on” and “turn
that off” and “begin to build this” and “begin to build that” process. The seeds contain all that energy,
all those nutrients, all that ability to draw carbon dioxide from the air (all they need externally is water);
and it is all packed in a concentrated mass in that little seed. It must grow the plant and sustain it for a
considerable time. So, the seed is packed like a high-powered storage battery or nuclear reactor, a supercharged source of all that the plant needs to reach the stage when the sun and the leaves and the
roots take over.
So, Beth emphasized, when you grow the very first tender young sprouts from seeds, those shoots are
PACKED with the high-powered growth nutrients delivered by the seeds: including Vitamin C, Vitamin
A, and protein. Therefore, they are not only very tasty, but they are highly nutritious. And each participant at the Library session received a plastic sandwich box with a layer of perlite in the bottom. Each
spread a layer of peas over the nutrition and disease neutral bedding, sprayed water over it, and took
home a garden ready to produce a highly nutritious snack or salad. And each understood something
really interesting about the early stage of plant growth before photosynthesis begins and what role
seeds play in that stage. (See also: Thor Hanson, The Triumph of Seeds: How Grains, Nuts, Kernels,
Pulses, & Pips Conquered the Plant Kingdom and Shaped Human History, Basic Books) Highly interesting and much fun, as is usual with Beth, counting this demonstration and the others she presented
that day! Many thanks, Beth!!
Volume 17, Issue 6
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Project Pics and Updates
Scholarship Recipient Selected
Scholarship Committee members Lavona Fry,
Patsy Salinas, and Ray Buchanan are pleased to announce their selection for the 2016 HLMGA scholarship.
Elizabeth Lane, a graduating senior of Marble Falls HS , will be attending Texas Tech University in the Fall.
Her major: Landscape Design. Congratulations to Elizabeth and thanks to the selection committee.
Photos contributed by Lavona Fry
Oaks Garden in Bloom
Master Gardeners Warren Dold
and Lavona Fry spend a day in the
Oaks Garden trimming up the Wax
Myrtle and enjoy the beauty
Spring rains have brought. Lovely!
Photos contributed by Lavona Fry
Volume 17, Issue 6
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Gardener to Gardener
Shared Wisdom for Growing
By Lyn Mefford, Master Gardener
Since retiring and moving to the Texas Hill Country, I’ve been a pretty traditional gardener. I have a vegetable garden and enjoy growing heirloom tomatoes; I have an herb garden and can usually be counted on to have fresh basil
for pesto or mint for Mojitos during the summer; and I have assorted pots and planters with seasonal color that I
work hard to keep alive during the Texas summers. But my newest experiment in gardening came as a result of one
of our 2014 Master Gardener Associates’ projects.
On the lucky occasion that Sheryl Yantis came to speak with our class about “landscape design”, we were challenged
to put her lesson into practice by designing a children’s garden for the Bluebonnet Pre-school at the Methodist
Church where we attended our classes. This garden-in-waiting was clearly in need of some help. The best things it
had going for it were a chain-link fence—ugly but functional—and teachers who really wanted their 3-5 year olds
to have an outdoor gardening space. They wanted flexibility, safely, functionality, butterflies, fountains, and birds.
And, of course, plants! All this in less than 500 square feet.
In my search for something that could transform such a small space into an inviting, flexible garden, I came across
the idea of “vertical gardens”. By using these pocket gardens, one could camouflage the unattractive fence, enhance
the flexible nature of the whole garden by being able to move the pocket gardens in or out at will, and each vertical
garden could be planted with different plants—everything from herbs to lettuces to succulents to annuals could be
planted in these small gardens. Even better, the pocket gardens are constructed of recycled materials. These minigardens became a centerpiece of my children’s garden design. I have no idea what ever happened with the children’s
garden but I began looking for places in my own landscape that could be enhanced by gardening vertically.
This Spring I bought four 7-pocket gardens to place on the back walkway of our home. While the walkway itself
gets pretty intense afternoon sun, the inside of the stone posts that support the roof of the walkway receive only
indirect sunlight. My husband and I designed a way to hang the vertical gardens from the posts and I went to work
on deciding what plants would inhabit the pockets of each
garden. I decided that I wanted a variety of plants and
wanted the planters to be different to create interest. The
principles I thought would be important would be:
 In each 7-pocket planter, the plants should
require about the same amount of light, nutrients and water.
 Plants in the planter would have different colors and textures.
 “Drape-y” plants would be included to enhance the vertical nature of the planter.
By applying these principles, I have a planter that includes succulents; one that features
fern and fern-like plants; one that incorporates Caladiums with a plant rescued from a long-ago hanging basket;
(Gardener to Gardeer continued on Page 6)
(Gardener to Gardener continued from Page 5)
Volume 17, Issue 6
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and one with variegated ivy and an interesting artillery fern.
My “go vertical” interest has seen me fabricate a vertical herb garden close
to my kitchen out of tin buckets, a chain and a re-claimed piece of baseboard. Stay tuned, I have photos of one created out of 2- liter cola bottles, steel rails, threaded rods and
wingnuts. Nothing can stop me now!
The “Gardener to Gardener” featured articles are a new opportunity for our own members to
share their expertise and gardening ideas. To contribute, please contact Lyn Mefford at
[email protected] OR 512-756-2059. Each month will offer a different gardening perspective.
BITS & PIECES
Helpful Hints, AHAs and Fun Things About Gardening
Mosquito Yard Spray by Leslie Johnston, M aster Gardener
With rain puddles, especially in dense vegetation, I like & use this spray for mosquitoes.
Ingredients are: Big bottle of blue cheap mouthwash, 3 cups of Epsom salt, and 3 stale 12 oz.
cheap beer.
Mix ingredients until salt is dissolved. Spray anywhere you sit outside or nuisance areas with
mosquitoes. Spray does not seem to harm plants or flowers. Mosquitoes seem to be gone from
sprayed area for 60+ days. Mosquitoes seem to hate it. Nice mint smell.
Would You Believe? by Diane Land, M aster Gardener
On April 14 Robert sprayed a deer repellent on some red yucca that were in bloom in our back
yard. That night the porch area held only a whiff of repellent smell for us but by the next afternoon for 2-3 hours there were 4 buzzards dive-bombing our garden. They were swooping maybe 6 feet above the surface of the pool. The poor things were so frustrated not being able to
find the DEAD ANIMAL. What a nose!
Volume 17, Issue 6
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Aphids
by Wizzie Brown, Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service Program Specialist
A
phids feed on a wide variety of plants in Texas. They have high reproductive capabilities so their populations can grow to large numbers quickly.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that come in a variety of colors. Some have wings while others may not,
but all have cornicles, or “tailpipes” that come off the tip of the abdomen.
Aphids have piercing-sucking mouthparts which they use
to pierce plant tissue and suck out the juices. Damage
often appears as yellowing or curling of foliage. Aphids
also secrete a sweet, sticky substance called honeydew.
Honeydew often appears on the plant as a shiny spots or
sometimes the honeydew may have sooty mold growing
on it. Sooty mold is a black fungus that can block sunlight from reaching the plant leading to a decrease of
photosynthesis.
A hint that you may have aphids is that you see ants trailing on the plant. Many species of ants will tend
aphids for the honeydew.
Some ideas for managing aphids are as follows:

Encourage natural enemies such as parasitoids (that create aphid mummies), ladybugs, lacewing
larvae & syrphid fly larvae; know what these creatures look like so you don’t kill them

Use high pressure water sprays to dislodge aphids from the plant

Less toxic pesticides include active ingredients such as insecticidal soap, azadirachtin (neem), horticultural oils or d-limonene

Other pesticides to manage aphids may include active ingredients such as permethrin, acephate
(non-food items only), carbaryl or imidacloprid
For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Program
Specialist at 512.854.9600. Check out my blog at www.urban-ipm.blogspot.com
The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding
that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service or the Texas A&M AgriLife Research is implied.
Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status.
Volume 17, Issue 6
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Wizzie Wants You to Know . . .
Our favorite “Bug Lady” Wizzie Brown sent along these announcements of bug-related training opportunities some of you
might be interested in:
September 26 – September 29, 2016 Master Volunteer Entomology
Specialist Training – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Bexar
County Office & Hardberger Park, San Antonio, TX
Get immersed in the wonderful world of insects this week, and come out feeling like a true entomologist.
Meet others like you, who have a passion for bugs! Topics will include: Ento 101, Integrated Pest Management, Beneficials, Urban Pests, Veggie Pests, Landscape & Ornamental Pests, Invasives, Pollinators and
much more!
Hosted by Molly Keck, Extension Program Specialist, and the Bexar County Master Gardeners.

Registration fee of $295.00 includes collecting kit with lots of goodies; lectures; Extension bulletins; 3
lunches, 1 dinner, snacks & drinks

Transportation and lodging is on your own

Course is limited to 30 applicants; deadline is August 8, 2016
Contact Molly Keck at [email protected] or 210/631-0400 with any questions.
Saturday June 18th
Lone Star Convention & Expo Center
9055 Airport Road, Conroe, TX 77303
Building the Future of Beekeeping Through Education
Register at texasbeekeepers.org
$50 per person, $90 per couple, $25 for age 15 and under
(Includes Lunch)
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Continued Thoughts and Prayers . . .
For Master Gardener, Dan Nutter as he recovers from heart surgery and
for Honorary Master Gardener, Brandon Struss as he recovers at home
from a recent hospital stay. We look forward to seeing you both very
soon!
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APPROVED MASTER GARDENER ADVANCED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR JUNE 2016
From the MG Membership Committee
Linda Wall, Natural Gardener Horticulturalist, “Organic Veggie Gardening 101”, Thursday, June
2, 10:00 am, at The Natural Gardener, 8648 Old Bee Caves Road, Austin
Molly Pikarsky, “Succulent Bowl Building”, Saturday, June 11, 10:00 am-12:00 noon (2 hr
credit), learn how to make beautiful and easy to care for succulent arrangements, at Backbone Valley Nursery, 4201 FM 1980, Marble Falls
Staff, “Texas Tough Roundtable Discussion: Xero Turf”, Saturday, June 11, 9:30-11:00 am
(1.5 hr credit), at San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston, San Antonio, Fee = $15,
registration required:
https://22076.blackbaudhosting.com/22076/EdB—-Texas-Tough-Roundtable-Xero-Turf
Emily Han, author of Wild Drinks & Cocktails, “Garden to Class Workshop”, Saturday, June 18,
10:00 am-12:00 noon (2 hr Credit), learn how to make delicious and creative beverages
using healthful herbs, flowers, and fruits from your backyard and farmers’ market,” at San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston, San Antonio, Fee = $30, Registration Required:
https://22076.blackbaudhosting.com/22076/ED---Garden-to-Glass-Workshop
Monica Maeckle, “Monarch Butterfly: Pollinator Poster Child”, Saturday, June 25, 10:00-11:00
am, at San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston, San Antonio, Fee = $15, Registration Required:
https://22076.blackbaudhosting.com/22076/Monarch-Butterfly-Pollinator-Poster-Child
Volume 17, Issue 6
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Of Interest to Members . . .
Plant donations needed for the County Fair
Many of us are currently busy starting cuttings or repotting some of our favorite plants. If you have
more "babies" and "children" than you can find homes for, please consider donating them to the
Burnet County Area Fair. This year, for the first time, we are having a Country Store that will feature handmade, home-grown items donated by local residents and Fair supporters. There will be
all manner of baked goods, jams and jellies, potholders, kitchen towels, arts and crafts, wearable
art, and the like. We welcome plants and veggies from your garden and assure you they will find a
good home! All proceeds from the Country Store will benefit the Fair. We will appreciate whatever
you can contribute.
Please bring your "children" to the Burnet Community Center, 401 East Jackson Street in Burnet,
between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, or between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on
Thursday, June 9 (same hours as registration). If you have any questions, please call Kay Lee at
512-964-3021 or e-mail her at [email protected] Thanks!
Virtual Garden Visit
Stewart Lilley shares his beautiful garden and knowledge of growing sustainably and
creatively.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcrBpDhiOJs
Record those volunteer hours
Don’t forget to record your volunteer hours for our meetings and your attendance at
approved advanced training events. Every hour counts!
Mark your 2017 calendar
The 2017 TMGA Conference is scheduled for April 27-May 1, 2017 in Galveston.