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The Garden Thymes

UPCOMMING EVENTS

January 14 6:00 Executive

Committee Meeting, Taylor Coun-

ty Extension Office

January 21 6:15 Social Time,

Education, and January Business

Meeting

There will be workdays at for the

Extension Office Demo Beds,

Meditation Garden, and Swenson

House so please watch your email

for dates and times for these

opportunities.

A message from our president…….Sandy Shaw

Omigosh- it’s

2020 already…how

does it all pass so fast?

I still consider myself a newcomer to Abilene- we moved

here in May of 2015 and my first acquaintance with BCM-

GA was in attending the fall plant sale that year. I was so

impressed, and the MG’s were so ‘smiley’ and friendly and

helpful! Not to mention the plants – they were gorgeous. I

wondered how they did that, getting everything to peak at

one time- they must be really, good gardeners? I was al-

ready a certified MG from New Mexico. Actually, I trained

in Burnet County while living in Llano, then a small number

of us initiated very own Llano Master Gardener Association

in Llano County. That was in 2005-2006, so I was already a

Texas certified MG when we moved to New Mexico in

2012. I signed on for NM training, certified, worked hard

and when we did arrive in Abilene that May, I was thinking,

ho hum, it might be time for a rest!......that is until I visited

the BCMGA Fall Plant Sale.

So, here we are in 2020; we are always busy. BCMGA

does such fine work and with such dedication, most of the

time I am just out of breath trying to keep up. Please con-

sider joining a project or committee that is out of your nor-

mal scope. You will meet a new friend, learn a new tech-

nique and have a good time! I say thank you to Jan, Char-

lotte, Kathy and Gene…those are my leaders, since I came

to Abilene… I will try hard to follow their example (maybe

breathlessly but having fun all the way.)

Big Country Master Gardener

Association Newsletter

Bcmgtx.org

January 2020

2020 Officers

President – Sandy Shaw President Elect – Jackie Sledge Vice President – Sarah Adams Secretary – Terry Shuffield Treasurer – Richard O’Shields Past President – Gene Shelhamer

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2020 Advanced Training Offerings

VEGETABLES – May 5-7

hosted by Bexar County - San Antonio, TX

Save the Dates! (Further information upcoming!)

Vegetables - February 19 - 21

Dallas County - Dallas, TX

Plant Propagation – April 17-18, 2020;

hosted by Tarrant County in Fort Worth, TX

Texas Superstars® – May 26-28, 2020;

hosted by Bexar County in San Antonio, TX

Rainwater Harvesting – September 24-26, 2020;

hosted by Tarrant County in Fort Worth, TX

Greenhouse Management – October 15-17, 2020

Big Country Master Gardener Association Newsletter

Garden Tips by Neil Sperry and Doug Welsh

Pre-emergent weed killers are products that form a barrier across the soil surface to prevent the ger-

mination of annual grassy or broad leafed weed seeds. Timing is critical for these to be effective so

they must be applied before germination. If you can already see the weeds, the pre-emergent won’t

control that round of weeds. If the pre-emergent products are applied at the correct time so they do

their job, you will never see the weeds at all.

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Big Country Master Gardener Association Newsletter

Cowboy Stew

Brown hamburger meat. Transfer to large pot and add remaining ingredients. Cook until potatoes and carrots are done. Serve with hot cornbread.

Air rooting Flapjack Paddle Plant(Kalanchoe thyrsiflora)

1 lb ground beef

2 large onions, chopped

½ c celery, chopped

¼ c bell pepper, chopped

1 clove garlic

1Tbsp or more sugar

8 carrots, sliced

1 can tomatoes

1 16-oz can corn

6 medium potatoes

1 32-oz can Ranch

Style beans

3 cups or more water

Salt and pepper to taste

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Order seed catalogues. It’s so much fun to look through them and see what’s

available and what’s now.

Plant seeds now so you will have spring flower and vegetable transplants for

your yard and garden.

Plant spring bulbs (such a tulips and Dutch hyacinths) early in the month and in well-

prepared beds. Close plantings give the best results.

Plant cool season annuals such as pansies, pinks, snapdragons,

ornamental cabbage and kale.

Plant locally recommended fruit and pecan trees, grapes, and

blackberries from containers or as bare-root plants.

Plant snap peas and onions late in the month.

Plant trees and shrubs – either newly purchased ones plus any trees and

shrubs that need to be relocated to a better space.

Prune crape myrtles, summer-flowering shrubs, and vines.

Prune evergreen shrubs to reshape them and remove damage.

Remove dead or damaged branches from shade trees.

Remove strongly vertical shoots from peaches, plums, and apples.

Remove damaged or dead branches from pears, pecans, figs, and pomegranates.

Feed winter annual color plants, late winter perennial color plants,

greenhouse plants, and house plants with recommended fertilizers or

plant food.

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The Garden Thymes

Feed fescue lawns and temporary ryegrass turf late in the month

to promote early growth.

Use broad leafed weed killer to control clover, dandelions, chick-

weed, and other non-grassy winter weeds

Be prepared with frost cloth to protect plants during extremely cold

weather.

Treat plants for scale insects and household pests.

Mulch beds to help with temperature control and weed growth plus help

conserve soil moisture.

Take mowers and other equipment for repairs and servicing before the spring

rush.

Take time to plan for new additions to the landscape. Check out garden magazines and catalogues for ideas.

Get a soil test from Texas A&M Soil Testing Lab. You can get the information from the Extension Office.

Water during dry spells.

Remember to provide water and food for birds and butterflies.

Also, smile and enjoy your yard and gardens.

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January 2020 At McMurry Greenhouse

Many of the plants currently in the greenhouse are available for adoption or you can take a

cutting a propagate a new plant. Contact Molly Lorch if you are interested.

‘Mother of Thousands’

Many people run or laugh

when I ask them about owning

a plant commonly referred to

as ‘Mother of Thousands.’

These photos were taken in

January of one at the McMurry

Greenhouse. I wanted you to

see what it looks like in bloom.

The flower stalks reach over 7

feet high. The plant is properly

named either Kalanchoe dai-

gremontiana or Bryophyllum

daigremontiana. It is a succu-

lent native to Madagascar. The

plant can be grown outdoors in Zone 9, but brought indoors here in Abi-

lene. The ‘Mother of Thousands’ is considered toxic, but the oil is cur-

rently being studied and used to make medicines.

This blooming Kalanchoe probably started is a cutting from Ellen’s garden.

Did you know that a Kalanchoe was one of the first plants to be sent into

space? One was sent to the Soviet Salyut 1 space station in 1971.

Mystery Orchid: because we do not know where it came from. The plant

started blooming last year so we could finally identify it.

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Devil's Backbone or Zigzag Plant or Red Bird- Pedilanthus tithymaloides

Most of the common names refer to the interesting pattern the stems

make as they grow. It is easy to grow and claims to purify the air. If

the plant is given enough light the leaves will get pink or bronze

tones. This plant cannot take temperatures below 50 degrees. The

milky sap may be poisonous to some people. The plant can grow up

to 5 feet tall. Under the right conditions the plant can develop bract-

type flowers that resemble a red bird.

Moses In A Cradle

Moses in the Cradle plants (Tradescantia

spathacea) have many common names such

as Moses-in-a-Boat, Boat Lily, Cradle Lily, Mo-

ses-in-the-Bullrushes, and Oyster plant. About

a year ago these plants started popping up all

over the McMurry Greenhouse. Recently a

visitor came to the greenhouse and said she

had grown these plants for years, but never

saw any the size of the plants at McMurry.

Outside in the ring garden we have Hardy Ice Plants and Ornamental Cabbages.

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Master Gardener and Intern of the 2019 year

At the November business meeting, the general membership in attendance voted on the

Master Gardener and Intern of the 2019 year.

Master Gardener of the Year: Molly Lorch

Intern of the Year: Chris Hill

Thank you awards were also handed out to our

tireless 2019 officers. (not pictured-Misty Howard)

BCMG could not exist without everyone who supports

our organization with all their volunteer hours. Thank

you to everyone for everything you do for the BCMG

organization.

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You Rock Award is an award given to the Association Member who has done something outstanding in the previous month.

The Busy Bee is the member who submitted the most hours the previous month.

Please remember to nominate an individual (even yourself)

for the You Rock Award. The nomination should be for someone

who has done something outstanding during the month.

Please send your nominations to Dorothy Kiser at dkiser44@gmail.com.

.

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A Letter from our 2019 President……

Gene Shelhamer

It has been my privilege to serve as your president of BCMG this past year. I am

grateful for all the projects, some finished and many continuing. I am especially grateful

for the leadership and direction from the Executive Committee, the Committee Chairs,

and the many Master Gardeners and Interns who volunteered so many hours this past

year to make our group successful. I am excited about our new president, Sandy Shaw,

who is an "Energizer Bunny" with lots of vision and wonderful leadership skills carrying us

forward into 2020. This past year you BCMGs excelled in attendance at our business and

educational meetings and well great participation in both plant sales.

Thanks again for letting me be a part. Gene

A Fond Farewell from Cody

I am writing this Resignation Letter to inform you that I have accepted another position with

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. I will be transferring to Lynn County, with a start date of February

3, 2020. Therefore, my last day of employment in Taylor County will be January 31, 2020. I have enjoyed

working with each of you through many different programs and projects. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

in Taylor County is successful because of the way each of you serve others. I have grown in many ways,

as an agent and as a person, in Taylor County because of the Great folks like YOU . You see in life we

may only be somewhere for a season, but what you do in that season and the impact you have on

someone’s life is Priceless. Thank you all for the “Impact” each of you have made in my life.

Your service and leadership to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Big Country Master

Gardeners and the citizens of this area is incredible . God Bless You !!

Your Friend,

Cody

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January 3 Julia Mink

January 9 Jackie Sledge

January 15 Jocelyn Furr

January 19 Karen Wilkins

January 27 Anna Karen Frost

January 27 Ann Taylor

January 29 Linda Fawcett

January 29 Audrey Gillespie

January 30 Richard O’Shields

January 31 Roxanne Klump