:: bcmga :: Bell County Master Gardeners Association :: May 2007 Blooming Bell Newsletter Online
The May 2007 Blooming Bell is online.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Saturday, December 09, 2006
2007 Events
Get out your 2007 calendars! The Bell County Master Gardeners events for 2007 have been scheduled for the following dates:
- Home & Garden Show - Feb 24 and 25
- Spring Veggie Sale - Mar 17
- Spring Garden Tour - Apr 21
- Spring Plant Sale - Apr 28
- Fall Veggie Sale - Aug 25
- Fall Garden Tour - Oct 20
- Fall Plant Sale - Oct 27
Friday, December 01, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Christmas Party and 10th Anniversary Celebration - Wednesday, December 13th
Bell County Master Gardeners will celebrate their 10th birthday at the annual Christmas party meeting. The event will feature a silent auction, an awards presentation and a catered dinner. The Master Gardeners and their guests will meet at the Bell County Expo at 6 pm, Wednesday, December 13, 2006. Marlene Gillman can be contacted for information at 254-628-7762.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Fall Plant Sale A Success
Debbie and Ward Hughling of
Lake Belton (pictured at right) shopped at the Bell County Master Gardener Greenhouse plant sale.
They and other Bell County residents took advantage of the cool weather and
ideal planting conditions to purchase plants. Master Gardeners were available
for questions, advice and seminars on Oak Wilt Disease and Fire Ants &
Homeowners Pesticide Use.
Master Gardener Specialist Deb Martin explained that the Oak Wilt Disease is a fungus that enters an Oak tree through a root graft or a fresh wound. Most infections occur between April and July when the sap feeding Nitidulid beetle is most active. The tree's attempt to stop the fungus clogs the water carrying vessels in the tree and it dies from drought. Oaks from the White Oak family have more resistance to the disease. Martin explained methods to save uninfected trees by root graft barriers, removal of diseased trees and injections of fungicide into healthy trees. She is one of ten Oak Wilt Specialist in the Master Gardener program in Bell County.
The average fire ant colony contains 100,000 to 500,000 workers and several hundred winged forms and queens. Queens can live 7 years are longer than the workers. Besides the nuisance and stings, billions of dollars are lost in agriculture due to fire ants. Bell County Extension Agent Dirk Aaron explained that a two step program using baits and individual mound treatment is the most effective control. Care must be taken to avoid pesticide run-off into waterways, ponds and sewers. Aaron explained the pros and cons of different products, always stressing the safety of children and pets playing on treated areas. The baits are metabolic inhibitors and can take 3-6 weeks after the ants consume it to show effects. Results are best when neighborhoods apply baits at the same time, usually in the spring and fall when the soil surface temperature is between 70 and 90 degrees. Individual mound treatments can follow for fire ants in high traffic areas are next to foundations. More information on fire ants and Oak Wilt Disease is available at http://bell-tx.tamu.edu/.