Tuesday, May 01, 2007

May 2007 Blooming Bell Newsletter Online

The May 2007 Blooming Bell is online.


Sunday, April 01, 2007

April 2007 Blooming Bell Newsletter Online

The April 2007 Blooming Bell is online.


Thursday, March 01, 2007

March 2007 Blooming Bell Newsletter Online

The March 2007 Blooming Bell is online.


Thursday, February 01, 2007

February 2007 Blooming Bell Newsletter Online

The February 2007 Blooming Bell is online.


Tuesday, January 09, 2007

January 2007 Blooming Bell Newsletter Online

The January 2007 Blooming Bell is online.


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

December 2006 Blooming Bell Newsletter Online

The December 2006 Blooming Bell is online.


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/.


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