The Master Gardener volunteers sponsored a spring plant sale and seminar last Saturday at the Rodeo Arena at the County Fairgrounds. Weather conditions on the day of a sale are always a concern. Our bar for ideal weather for the spring plant sale is quite low: no freezing temperatures, no hail, no high winds.
Even so, prior sales have been accompanied by hail, heavy rain, bitter cold and other unfavorable weather conditions. Enthusiastic gardeners are not deterred by weather conditions when it comes to a plant sale. Despite the cool early morning temperatures, several hundred customers were standing in line when the gates to the sale were opened at 9:00 a.m. A total of 1,803 customers attended the plant sale.
Customers came to the sale looking for plants that would brighten landscapes over the coming gardening season. Customers commented on the quality of the fruit trees on hand as well as the quantity. Home tomato growers were able to select from a wide array of tomato varieties as well as different types of tomatoes (such as heirlooms, hybrids, determinate, indeterminate and bush types).
If you were not able to attend this year’s spring plant sale, you will be afforded a second opportunity to purchase spring vegetable transplants as well as citrus and fruit trees at the Discovery Garden from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 21 at the Discovery Garden located in Carbide Park (4102 Main Street) in La Marque. Visit the Master Gardeners’ website (http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/) for additional details or contact the County Extension Office by e-mail (galvcountymgs@gmail.com) or by phone (281-309-5065).
GRAPE PRUNING . . . a hands-on demonstration
Growing grapes has been a long tradition in many home gardens. Gardeners truly enjoy the fresh taste of homegrown grapes; however, the work to maintain grapevines can be a challenge. As with other fruit crops, grapevines need insect and disease control, weeding and fertilizing in addition to proper pruning to assure a bountiful harvest.
Proper pruning of grapevines is essential to maintain plant size and shape. Proper pruning and proper timing of pruning are essential to maintain long-term productivity. If left unattended, grapevines can become unruly, and yields will decline over time due to overproduction of vegetation. Make sure your grapevines are pruned each year to maintain the size and shape of the grapevines, maximize fruit production, and increase the overall fruit quality.
Learning to master the art and science of grapevine pruning takes time and practice. Master Gardener David Cooper will lead a grapevine pruning demonstration. David will share his knowledge and experience with growing and pruning grapes. He will provide a hands-on demonstration on Thursday, February 20, from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at the Discovery Garden located in Carbide Park (4102 Main Street) in La Marque. Participants are encouraged to bring their gardening gloves and pruners. Preregistration is requested by e-mail (e-mail galvcountymgs@gmail.com) or phone (281-309-5065).
Gulf Coast Herb Fair
The Friends of Moody Gardens Eighth Annual Gulf Coast Herb Fair will be conducted in the Moody Gardens Visitor Center from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4. The Herb Fair will feature cooking demonstrations, selected herb education and a variety of vendors, including Galveston County Master Gardeners, showcasing their herbs, books, food items and gifts available for sale.
A Blessing of the Garden will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. The highlight of the Herb Fair will be the luncheon and presentation at12:00 Noon. Featured speakers will be Hannah Gonzales and Sarah Lewis from MOD Coffeehouse. They will provide a presentation entitled “Coffee: From Seed to Cup.”
Proceeds from the Herb Fair and Luncheon benefit Galveston’s school children and seniors. All funds from this event will be used to bring local school children on field trips to the Aquarium and Rainforest Pyramid at Moody Gardens and to provide outreach programs to seniors and preschools throughout the Galveston area.
Admission to the morning events is free and luncheon tickets are available for $35 per person by preregistration or $45 at the door. Reservations must be received by February 26 and include payment made to The Friends of Moody Gardens. Reservations may be mailed to Ellen Perry, 2903 Dominique Dr., Galveston, TX 77551.
