1

MMGG GGAAZZEETTTTEE

MISSION: The mission of the association shall be to organize and promote volunteer efforts that

Support Extension programs advancing sound horticultural practices in Nueces County.

Nueces Master Gardeners, Inc. Issue 2 February 2015

,

HHTTTTPP::////NNUUEECCEESS..AAGGRRIILLIIFFEE..OORRGG

MG Officers and Elect 2015

President

Deborah Holliday

(956) 433-7110

El Elect

Debra Martin

(361) 815-1867

Vice President

Alene Burch (361) 334-1021

Elect OPEN

Secretary Linda Lamprecht (361) 215-7738

Elect Beth Spirko

(610) 349-1099

Treasurer/ Bookkeeper

Theresa Stelzig (361) 643-6491

Elect OPEN

Publicity ALL MASTER GARDENERS

Gazette Editor Jenny Mohundro jlmohundro@gmail.com

(361) 816-4646

Ex-Officio Norma Hernandez (361) 816-8206

Members-at-large

DeAnna Baumgartner, Carlos Valdez, Sandra Williams

State Directors

Jenny Mohundro, Betty Rogers

Extension Office

Lisa Martinez

(361) 767-5217

MG Helpline

(361) 767-5250

Plant Mr. Lincoln Rose

Botanical Name Rosa Mr. Lincoln

February Topics

MG Officers President’s Corner Happenings Agent’s Notes Brown Bag Lunch Meeting Dates New MG’s Garden Book Birthdays Note from Betty

Classes Volunteer

Opportunities Got Pictures? MG’s In Action CC Partnerships Home & Garden Rain Barrel Sale New SuperStars Soil Tests Garden

Photography Pruning Roses

Many Rose experts consider this the best red rose ever! Rich glowing urn-shaped buds open their velvety petals to form perfect, high-centered, fully double, 4- to 6-inch flowers comprised of 26 40 petals of a lively red. Boasting a strong melon fragrance, the long-lasting flowers are freely produced on long stems, perfect for cutting and exhibition. 'Mister Lincoln' is a vigorous grower with a long bloom season (early summer to mid-fall) and fine adaptability to adverse weather conditions, including heat. It has an attractive tall, upright habit of dark green, leathery foliage that makes a wonderful backdrop for the blossoms. This hybrid tea reaches an impressive height of 4 to 8 feet with a width of 2 to 3 feet, creating a display like no other. It performs best in medium-moisture, slightly acidic, well-drained loam in full sun. A favorite among discerning

gardeners for generations, it is a splendid addition to any setting and perfect to spotlight in February.

Elect

2

:

Other Happenings

February ‘15

Wed. Feb. 4 *Coastal Bend Cacti & Succulent Society, 7pm, GC, 852-7700 *South Texas Orchid Society, 7pm, GC, 816-1948 *Winter Lecture Series “Animal Rehabilitation at Texas Sealife Center”, 10am, BG, 852-2100 Thurs. Feb. 5 *Orchid Novice Class, 7pm, BG, 854-7624 Fri. & Sat. Feb. 6 & 7 *Gene Blacklock’s “Introduction to Exciting World of Birds”, 6:15-9:15pm, BG, field trip from 7:00am-1pm Sat. Feb. 7, Register by Feb. 3, 852-2100 Sat. Feb. 7 *”Outdoor Living Spaces”, 10am, Airline Gills, 992-9674 *”Water Gardening-Getting Ready for Spring”, BG, 10am, 852-2100 Mondays, Feb. 9, 16 & 23 *Blacklock’s Advanced Bird ID “Grad School”, 6:30-9:15pm, BG, Register by Feb. 6. $200 STBGNC members. 852-2100 Tue. Feb. 10 *Corpus Christi Area Garden Council, 10am, GC, 537-8231 Wed. Feb. 11 *LTG seed packing, 9am, Extension auditorium, 767-5217 *Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, 10am, ACISD Maintenance Dept., 619 N. Live Oak St., Room 14, Rockport, 361-790-0103 *Winter Lecture Series “Peppers, Peppers, Peppers!”, 10am, BG, 852-2100 Fri. Feb. 13 (2-7), Sat. Feb. 14 (10-7) , Sun, Feb. 15 (11-5) *Home & Garden Show, ABC, 767-5217 Sat. Feb. 14 *”Getting Ready for Spring”, 10am, Airline Gills, 992-9674 Tue. Feb. 17 *MG Executive and General Meetings, 10am and 12Noon, Botanical Gardens, *Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardener Association, 10am, 892 Airport Rd., Rockport, 361-790-0103 Wed. Feb. 18 * Winter Lecture Series “Legends & Lore of Texas Wildflowers!”, 10am, BG, 852-2100 Wed. Feb. 19 *Bromeliad Society, 7pm, GC, 658-8650 Fri. Feb. 20 *Coastal Bend Landscape Conference, 8am, Extension & Research Center, 10345 Hwy 44, 767-5217 Sat. Feb. 21 *Rose Society pruning workshop, BG, 10am. FMI: 853-7554 *”Container Gardens”, 10am, Airline Gills, 992-9674 Wed. Feb. 25 *Plumeria Society, 6:30pm, GC, 985-8241 * Winter Lecture Series “Ranch Hand Cooking!”, 10am, BG, 852-2100 Thu. Feb. 26 *Bonsai Society, 7pm, GC, 992-0009 Sat. Feb. 28 *”Tropical Spaces”, 10am, Airline Gills, 992-9674 BG=Botanical Gardens GC=Garden Center (Greely Senior Center) Remember! You get CE credits for the program portion of horticulture-based meetings that you attend which are not Master Gardener Meetings.

Deb Holliday

President 2015

Nueces Master Gardeners, Inc.

JANUARY REVIEW - Whew, we got past our first month

together. Look for the January minutes and review the

2015 Budget. Several members said they like the

explanations and effort to bring income in line with

expenses. Is it perfect? Not even close. However, we

made progress. I welcome your ideas for improvement.

We can discuss your ideas when budget planning

comes around again later this year. "Thank You" to the

NMG's who helped hammer it out.

SEED PACKING - All hands on deck at 9 am February 11

to help DeAnna and the Learning to Grow team prepare

for spring planting at participating schools. Plan to

deliver packages and plants to the schools near you.

Meet in the auditorium at the Extension Office,

Robstown.

HOME & GARDEN SHOW - After a cool start February

promises to bring fair weather. Soon we'll be puttering

in our gardens and the spring Home & Garden Show will

be happening. Volunteering at this event is fun. It's a

great way to share our knowledge with the public. We

meet and get to know other MG's while earning

volunteer hours. We have a talented lineup of speakers

scheduled for hour long presentations on the Garden

stage (earn CE hours), and Miss Jackie is again

supervising "Kids Zone". This year the show is

February 13 - 15. Contact Lisa at the extension office

or email me at dholliday@mygrande.net to volunteer.

FEBRUARY PROGRAM - When we think of Spring, many

of us also think about visiting the Botanical Gardens to

get inspiration or volunteer. We're pleased that Michael

Womack, Executive Director, has invited us to have our

February 17 meeting at the Botanical Gardens. He will

be our speaker, and he'll fill us in on all the new things

going on at the Botanical Gardens. A tour of the

gardens and new Orchid house will follow. Bring a

brown bag lunch. See elsewhere in the Gazette for

more information. See you there! Deb

President’s Corner

3

Jason P. Ott, CEA-Ag/NR Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Nueces County

Preparing Landscapes for Spring

As we move closer to spring after ample winter rains it is hard not to get excited about what the future may hold for crops but also our gardens and home landscapes as well. With this in mind we have some great programs planned over the next couple of months to help get your home landscape looking its best this spring. First, the City of Corpus Christi has partnered with us once again to offer a FREE soil testing program to residents of Corpus Christi during the month of February. While for some, the benefit of soil testing is reducing their lawn maintenance cost, excessive fertilizer can be a factor in higher insect numbers, more disease pressure, and when coupled with late irrigation or excessive rainfall can adversely impact crop maturity. The environmental impact of excessively used fertilizer is also of concern to area stakeholders, especially in regards to its potential effect on water quality, because the presence of too many nutrients causes the rapid growth of algae and aquatic plants. When these large masses of algae and plants die, the bacteria that decomposes them uses up all of the available dissolved oxygen in the water which can cause large fish kills and other threats to aquatic life. No one adds oil to their crank case without pulling the dip stick first. We shouldn’t add fertilizer either without having some idea of our soil nutrient levels, yet last year less than 0.1% of the Corpus Christi population submitted samples during this soil testing campaign. The second is also a partnership with the City of Corpus Christi to promote the adoption of rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting is simply the process of capturing and storing rainwater for later use. This is a great way for homeowners to start small with rainwater harvesting but still have an impact on the quantity and quality of our water resources. Individuals may choose to harvest rainwater because they recognize the purity of rainwater; they are interested in self-sufficiency; they want to conserve water; or they want to reduce their water bill. Rainwater harvesting is beneficial because it reduces demand on existing water supply, and reduces run-off, erosion, and contamination of surface water. The city will be offering residents the chance to purchase rain barrels at a discounted price of under $50 while supplies last. Those wishing to participate in the program can order your barrel at http://rainbarrelprogram.org/corpuschristi. Purchased barrels will need to be picked up on March 28th. I encourage all of you to take advantage of this program. During the distribution event Extension and Master Gardeners will offer educational programs on water conservation and rainwater harvesting.

On February 20th we will be conducting a Landscaper’s Conference. This year’s program will offer CEUs for pesticide applicators and those that have TNLA certifications. It is also a great CE opportunity for MGs. Tree care issues, rainwater stewardship, insect pest management in the landscape, common tomato growing issues, and pesticide education are all topics that will be addressed during the conference. The participation fee of $40 will be charged to attendees and includes a catered lunch. Seating is limited, so attendees are asked to RSVP to the AgriLife Extension office in Nueces County at 361-767-5217 by February 16

th.

Agent’s Notes

February Luncheon

A Change of Plans

Brown Bag Lunch South Texas Botanical Gardens,

Education Center Room Drinks will be provided by the Food

Committee: John Balcar, Sandra Williams, Sandra Davis,

Carolyn West, Jenny Mohundro

Next MG General Meeting

FFeebbrruuaarryy 1177tthh,, NNoooonn,, aatt South Texas

Botanical Gardens, Education Center Rm.

Speaker: Dr. Michael Womack

PPrrooggrraamm::

EExxpplloorriinngg VVoolluunntteeeerr OOppppoorrttuunniittiieess aatt tthhee

BBoottaanniiccaall GGaarrddeennss

IInncclluuddeess AA TToouurr ooff

TThhee GGaarrddeennss aanndd tthhee NNeeww OOrrcchhiidd HHoouussee

Next MG Executive Meeting

February 17th, 10:00 a.m. at

Botanical Gardens, Education Center Rm. (3

rd Tuesday monthly, except December)

Frank Eicholtz Suzy Murray

The New Full Color Garden Book Corpus Christi Area Garden Council,

Publisher Available at Gills and at Turners

$25 plus tax ($27.06)

Contact Huxley Smith, Betty Whitt or Pat Parr for more information.

Our Newest Certified

Master Gardeners

4

I

Ongoing: Ray High School Greenhouse

Behind Ray H.S., Staples & Texan Trail

Tuesday MG Workday 9:00-11:00

Ongoing: Food Bank Project “Outgrow

Hunger” 826 Krill Dr. (Navigation

then right on Savage Lane to Krill).

Tuesdays 8:00a.m.( Except MG meeting day

then Wednesday) Contact: Mary Lambert

813-7596 or e-mail her at

cwlmel@yahoo.com

Ongoing: Nature Conservatory, Mon., March 10

& March 24, 4:00 & Blucher Park 5:00

until sundown (Behind the Main Library)

Bring gloves, bug spray, plus a bag lunch &

chair if you plan to stay for our Chat &

Chew time.

Contact: Karen Smith 877-9723

Ongoing: Courtyard Maintenance at the

Senior Garden Center, 1st Monday,

9:15 a.m. Contact: Betty Whitt 991-5375

Ongoing: Botanical Gardens,

Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m.

Contact: Jessica Latimer 993-6013 Areas to work:

1. Hummingbird Garden

2. Butterfly Garden (new)

3. Sensory Garden

4. Earth Kind Garden

Check With

Michael,

Carol, Billy or

Brenda for

work tasks.

02-07 Joni McRee Class 17

02-07 Mary Lambert Class 21

02-10 Sandra Davis Class 14

02-18 Donna Stewart Class 25

02-19 Suzy Murray Class 25

02-27 Martha Gonzales Class 22

GOT PICTURES?? I’m looking for photos of MG's in action for the Master Gardener scrapbook. Please email them to me at rsarndt@bellsouth.net Also if you have any newspaper clippings, or any other memorabilia, please mail them to me. Thanks! Scrapbook Chairman, Robin Arndt

A NOTE FROM BETTY ROGERS

We do not deal with "Miles Driven", that is for income tax purposes only. You may include your miles if you wish, but I will not use them. As Timekeeper, I deal only in hours. To receive credit for the time you spend driving to and from volunteer work (not CE credit), you must make a separate entry and count the time as volunteer hours. The category to put it under is "Travel Time". Call or email me if you have any questions.

Time Driven = MG Volunteer Hours Miles Driven = Income Tax Form

Botanical Garden Classes Saturdays 10:00 – Noon

Water Gardening: Getting Ready for Spring

February 7 Denise Housler of Aquaria Services helps people understand

chores and maintenance needed for water gardens before the

busy spring season, and she gives suggestions for beginners

thinking about adding a water feature to their landscape.

Rose Pruning Workshop

February 21 Corpus Christi Rose Society members present a South Texas

rose-growing lecture followed by hands-on pruning and

planting demonstrations.

Gardening For The Birds

February 28 Pat Botkin and Karen Smith, Nueces Master Gardeners and

Audubon Outdoor Club members, share secrets about the best

plants to attract migrating birds plus other tips to bring in

feathered friends to your yard.

LTG Spring Seed Packing

Wednesday, February 11, 9 a.m. AgriLife Auditorium Robstown, TX

5

Intern Recognition Event

MG Gardeners Work and Attend Class At The Botanical Gardens

New 2015 Nueces Master Gardener Officers Presiding

Master Gardener Ronda Dizney and crew work weekly at the Botanical Gardens’ EarthKind bed. Some plants suffered from the cold and had to be dug out, but others, like the strawberries and peas, are looking good. Several MG’s attended Dr. Michael Womack’s “Scent-sational” talk. When his Power Point program failed to work, he took the group into the garden for hands-on experience with the scents in the herb garden where MG Sandra Williams happened to be on hand to share information on medicinal and kitchen uses for the herbs. Working in the Botanical Gardens is a good way to get Volunteer Hours and attending their classes provides interesting information which counts toward Continuing Education (CE) hours.

Deb Holliday, President (standing) Alene Burch, Vice Pres. ( seated in the center) Theresa Stelzig, Treasurer (seated at table to the left) Linda Lamprecht, Secretary (seated to the right)

Learning To Grow Still Building Beds for Schools

New MG, Frank Eicholz, hammers together a planting bed.

Mary Lambert hammers on the Master Gardener plaque to identify it as an MG project.

Learning To Grow Leader, DeAnna Baumgartner frames MG worker, Gary Martin.

6

Corpus Christi five-attraction partnership offers half-price reciprocal admission to their members—

in FEBRUARY only!

Major attractions team up for residents . . .

Five popular Corpus Christi visitor attractions are making it easy for residents to vacation in their own backyards!

Throughout February, members of any one of five local visitor attractions below may enjoy half-price reciprocal admission privileges at the other four! February reciprocal member benefits also include 10 percent off in all five gift shops; and 10 percent off purchase of new memberships to any of these attractions.

Participants should be prepared to show their current membership cards and photo identification at all facilities. Call the participating attractions, or visit their websites for further information.

ATTRACTIONS OFFERING HALF-PRICE FEBRUARY RECIPROCAL ADMISSION

South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center 361/852-2100 8545 S. Staples St. www.stxbot.org

Art Museum of South Texas 361/825-3500 1902 N. Shoreline www.artmuseumofsouthtexas.org

Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History 361/826-4667 1900 N. Chaparral www.ccmuseum.com

Texas State Aquarium 361/881-1200 2710 N. Shoreline www.texasstateaquarium.org

USS Lexington Museum on the Bay 361/888-4873 2914 N. Shoreline www.usslexington.com

7

Spring Home & Garden Show

February 13-15, 2015

The Spring Home & Garden Show is upon us again! Thanks to our

dedicated Master Gardeners who stepped up to give presentations on stage and

bring gardening fun to the Kids Zone.

We also have volunteers for packing, set-up, booth-sitting and tear down.

Remember the time slots for which you volunteered. The Home and Garden

Show is the weekend BEFORE our February meeting so mark your personal

calendars and help us make this another successful event for sharing our

gardening knowledge with interested neighbors in Corpus Christi.

Limited to 2 rain barrels per household and based on availability. You will need to supply your Corpus Christi Utility account number at check out. If you do not know your

account number, refer to your city utility bill or call the Customer Call Center at (361) 826-2489.

50-gallon Rain Barrel 100% recycled in Classic Black and manufactured in the USA!

Special Price of $49.50 Normal Retail Price $129.00 each

The Ivy rain barrel comes with everything you need to assemble, collect, and use rain water. Barrels can easily be daisy chained with no added cost- all components included, even a 6' long overflow hose!

Deadline to order is Sunday, March 22, 2015 at 11:00 p.m. Pick up:

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2015 Between:

9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Location:

Water Utilities Building 2726 Holly Road

Corpus Christi, Texas 78415 For more information: http://www.rainbarrelprogram.org/CorpusChristi

Corpus Christi Rain Barrel Sale

For a limited time you can buy rain barrels at a discounted price. Don't miss this great opportunity! Order today and pick up March 28th!

8

COLLEGE STATION – What really got the Texas Superstar board members excited about fall zinnias were some new series, including the marylandica types that form disease-resistant “mounds of color,” lasting until frost when planted in late summer, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Research horticulturist. “These are very colorful plants that we’re promoting for fall use,” said Dr. Brent Pemberton, AgriLife Research ornamental horticulturist and head of the Texas Superstar board, Overton. “They have all the fall colors you like to see: oranges, apricots and yellows.” Texas Superstar plants undergo extensive tests throughout the state by AgriLife Research and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturists, Pemberton said. To be designated a Texas Superstar, a plant must not just be beautiful but also perform well for consumers and growers throughout Texas. Superstars must also be easy to propagate, which should ensure the plants are not only widely available throughout Texas but reasonably priced, as well, he said. Fall zinnias and chrysanthemums have similar attributes and can be used in much the same ways, Pemberton said. But whereas chrysanthemums may only flower for several weeks, and then only if the weather is cool, fall zinnias tolerate Texas heat well and will display color until the first frost, if properly watered and fertilized. Strictly speaking, the “marylandica type” refers to a distinct species, Zinnia marylandica, he noted. Marylandica types include the Profusion and Zahara series, Pemberton said. They bloom prolifically and grow as tall as 12 to 18 inches. Individual flowers are as large as 2.5 inches in diameter .“Mounds of color” refers to the marylandica types, which tend to be more compact or bushier than standard zinnia varieties, he said. This bushy characteristic makes them ideal for mixed borders, beds, cutting gardens, containers and what are known as “cottage gardens,” a rustic style featuring a mixture of ornamental and edible plants. And while standard zinnias can be susceptible to diseases such as powdery mildew, the marylandica types are highly resistant, Pemberton said. Gardeners can pinch off or prune young plants of the standard types to encourage bushy-ness, but this is not required for the newer types, he said. Placing the plants so they get good air circulation or flow will further help prevent fungal leaf diseases. Usually, fall zinnias of all types begin showing up in Texas garden centers in September, he said. They are usually available in 4-inch and larger pots for transplanting to the landscape. “You can also get them in large containers that can be used as patio plants. They’re fun to use in mixed containers with other things for fall, such as ornamental grasses or ornamental peppers such as NuMex Twilight, which was named a Texas Superstar several years ago.” Another nice feature to all the zinnia types is they are big attractions for pollinators, such as butterflies, according to Pemberton.

http://today.agrilife.org/2014/08/22/fall-zinnias-named-texas-superstars/

Fall Zinnias Named Texas Superstars

AgriLife Today – Texas AgricultureNews Robert Burns, 903-312-3199, rd-burns@tamu.edu

Submitted by Intern John Slusarz

9

Drop off the form and soil sample bag at:

RESULTS WILL BE MAILED TO THE ADDRESS PROVIDED ON THE FORM.

FREE SOIL TEST

February 1 – March 6, 2015 Turf, Vegetable Gardens & Landscapes

Sponsored by

City of Corpus Christi Storm Water

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Nueces County

&

Gill Nursery

2810 Airline

Corpus Christi TX

Gill

4441 South Alameda

Corpus Christi TX

Turner’s Gardenland

6503 South Padre Island

Dr.

Corpus Christi TX

Corpus Christi Water Utilities

Bldg.

2716 Holly Road

Corpus Christi TX

Corpus Christi City Hall

1201 Leopard Street

Corpus Christi TX

***Follow the instructions provided with the kit***

Corpus Christi Water

Utilities Bldg.

2716 Holly Road

Corpus Christi TX

Corpus Christi City

Hall

1201 Leopard Street

Corpus Christi TX

Texas A&M AgriLife

Extension Service

710 E. Main, Suite 1

Robstown TX

Pick Up Your Soil Testing Kit At:

10

http://www.uexpress.com/well-dressed-garden/2014/6/1/a-garden-that-just-clicks-photographing

by Marty Ross

Submitted by Nueces MG Sandra Davis

Making a habit of photographing your own garden -- or gardens you

visit -- helps you seize beautiful moments, tell stories and bring your

ideas into focus.

Taking pictures sharpens your eye for details: for the deeply quilted texture of a hosta leaf, the bubbling exuberance of a cluster of

cherry tomatoes or the playful face of a pansy. It helps you to be more aware of the changing patterns of sun and shadow across

your garden. Garden photography also helps you appreciate views and perspectives, and exercises your design sense.

Professional photographers with expensive cameras and bags full of fancy lenses have an edge over enthusiastic amateurs, but great

garden photography really starts with your own eye. You don't need a high-priced camera to capture a great image -- even the pros

often shoot pictures with their phones, with beautiful results.

A picture-perfect day begins at sunrise, when the light is soft. The right light is crucial. Rob Cardillo, a professional photographer

in Ambler, Pennsylvania, who has been photographing gardens and gardeners for more than 20 years for magazines, books and

newspapers, calls light "the magical seasoning" in garden photography. "You can make something out of nothing in great light,"

Cardillo says. "You can make an average garden look stupendous."

In early morning light, colorful gardens are at their best. Your eye can appreciate a garden in the bright light of the midday sun, but

a camera sees things differently; that brilliant light looks harsh through a camera lens, and it washes out the colors. Get up with the

sun, Cardillo suggests, and "exploit great light."

Gardens also glow in the golden hour before sunset. Cardillo's rule of thumb for afternoon photography is, "I don't shoot until my

shadow is longer than I am."

Taking pictures in your own garden is a great way to think about its design and document its development. Walking around with a

camera in your hand allows you to take visual notes rapidly and easily. What better way to catalog your collection of irises, asters

or garden art? Use a camera to capture the colors and character of seasonal combinations of plants in flower beds or in pots, or to

record the story of your vegetable garden through the summer.

Before-and-after pictures of garden projects are also useful. When you're using your camera to document the construction of a

pergola or the process of laying stepping stones, it helps to write down the important steps along the way and to shoot each one

from several angles. The presence of people adds scale to these shots and brings the projects to life. Remember, you'll have many

opportunities to show how your new garden feature looks once it is finished, but you have only one chance to capture the

excitement it as it is being built.

When you visit a botanical garden or go on a garden tour, a camera will help you think about what you see and what you like.

Pathways naturally guide your feet, but let your eye and your lens wander away from the path to catch great views and shoot the

details as you walk through a garden.

Keep the camera in your hands. Frame your shots carefully, defining your subject and blocking out distractions. Don't just shoot

randomly: If you spend a minute thinking about the best angle for a shot and then composing it through the lens, the results will be

much more satisfying. Take your time. Wait for people to move out of the way.

On a garden tour, you might try to develop a running photographic theme, shooting different kinds of water features, for example,

or designs for patios, or plant combinations in flowerpots. Of course, with a digital camera, you can keep several themes going at

once and sort the pictures out later.

Cardillo likes to shoot from above, looking down on a scene, and from the low angles, through the greenery -- these are "bird's-

eye" and "worm's-eye" views. From above, you eliminate problems like electrical lines. A worm's-eye view focuses on the

foreground and makes even small plants look "grand and heroic," he says.

A Garden That Just Clicks: Photographing Your Garden

Continued on next page

11

Practice makes perfect, Cardillo says. "Get one camera and use it. Make it second nature." Use the automatic settings while you get to

know your camera, and "then learn how to tweak that," he says. "Figure out how to take everything off automatic, and try manual

focus and exposure." His images in "The Layered Garden," by David Culp, with Adam Levine, unfold the beauty of Culp's own

garden, seen through many seasons and from many angles.

Using a point-and-shoot camera or a phone to take pictures is great practice, too. Shooting with a phone "keeps me on my toes,"

Cardillo says. "It's like I'm doing visual push-ups, keeping my eye active and strengthened by looking for photos everywhere."

Cardillo's favorite garden photography "captures a garden moment," he says. These moments are more than a simple photographic

record of the plants and lines of a garden's design. A great series of pictures is a distillation of your passing experience of the color,

texture and light in a garden: the photographs capture the mood and the magic. It won't always be easy: You may have to get up on a

ladder, lie down in the grass or wander off the beaten path. When the moment comes, grab it: Put down your trowel and pick up your

camera.

Picture Perfect Tips

When you photograph your garden regularly, you're documenting its development and your own changing relationships with plants

and design. Pictures don't just freeze an image; they capture the passage of time. Here are some tips and ideas from Rob Cardillo to

help you get the most out of your garden photographs:

-- Take a walk around a garden before you start shooting. Look at it from different angles. Find the obvious, designed views but also

the unexpected angles.

-- Get an early start. "If you show up at dawn, you just get a magical look," Cardillo says.

-- Practice "the one-eyed squint," Cardillo suggests. Close one eye, and imagine what you're looking at is two dimensional, instead of

three-dimensional. "It helps me put things together in a graphic way, with splashes of color and lines and forms," he says.

-- Get to know your camera. "Cameras today are sophisticated, small and menu-driven, and they have too many little buttons," Cardillo

says. "You really have to read the owner's manual."

-- It's natural to be drawn to close-ups of flowers, but you need overall shots and medium-range vignettes to tell the story of a garden.

Taking overall shots provides the necessary setting for the fine details.

-- Let your view-finder help you garden. If you are constantly working to block a view of the neighbor's rickety fence or a power pole,

it's time to think about how you can use plants or design features to make the scene more beautiful.

-- Include people in your garden photos. People add scale and interest, Cardillo says. You may be more successful with a phone than

with a fancy camera. "There's less technology and equipment between you and your subject," Cardillo says. "You can get a more

genuine expression."

-- Whatever angle you choose, "fill your frame with beautiful things," Cardillo says.

12

13

Tips for Pruning Roses

Pruning rose bushes need not be a difficult or intimidating task. Rose bushes need to be pruned in a special way,

so make pruning more efficient with these seven general tips.

From the book, All About Roses http://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/roses/tips-for-pruning-roses/

How Much of the Rose Bush Should You Prune?

In warm climates, pruning can be done at any of three levels, depending on your purpose. Severe pruning (cut to leave three or four

canes, 6 to 10 inches high) produces fewer but larger blooms. Moderate pruning (five to 12 canes cut to 18 to 24 inches) makes for a

larger bush. And light pruning (less than one-third of the plant is thinned out) increases the number of short-stemmed flowers that will

be produced.

Pruning Tools for Rose Bushes Invest in a pair of high-quality pruning shears with both blades curved. (Those with a flat "anvil" on one blade tend to crush stems, not

cut them.) This is one tool where price really does make a difference. Select a manufacturer with a proven track record, and buy the best

that you can afford. Some pruning shears have a special hand grip designed for left-handed people. Others have swivel handles that are

easier on your wrists, and there are models with removable blades for storage. Smaller versions (costing about $20) are available for

pruning miniature roses. Next, you'll need a pruning saw to remove large woody canes. It will give you a clean cut without damage to

the bud union. The third tool you need is a pair of lopping shears. Loppers are pruners with long (12- to 18-inch) handles. They will

provide you with leverage for the thicker canes. Finally, buy a good strong pair of leather gauntlet gloves or hand gloves that are

puncture proof. Now, you're ready to start pruning.

Why Prune Roses? By fall, miniature roses have grown tall and leggy. Colder evenings produce ill-formed, mottled blossoms and yellowing foliage that

often starts to fall off. Rose hips, which can interrupt the next blooming cycle, may result if spent blossoms are not removed. Pruning

removes diseased and dead stems and canes and reduces the overall size of the plant. The first spring bloom demonstrates how pruning

results in an annual process of renewal.

Rose Pruning Principles

In general, you will be pruning just before the plant breaks dormancy after spring's final frost. This will be mid-

February in South Texas around Valentine’s Day.

If it's old roses you are tending, prune them after blooming. They bear flowers on last year's wood. Cut away the

dead wood first -- it will help you "see" the shape of the plant without distraction. It's a good idea to visit a public

rose garden and find specimens of roses you are growing.

1. Always prune dead wood back to healthy tissue. You will recognize the living tissue by its green

bark and white pith core.

2. After you make each cut, cover it with a drop of white glue to ensure quick recovery, as well as

provide protection against cane borers.

3. Prune to ensure the center of the bush is open for maximum air circulation.

4. Remove all growth on the main canes that is not capable of sustaining a reasonably thick stem on its

own.

5. If suckers -- growths from the root structure that sprout from below the bud union -- are present,

remove them as close to the main root cane as possible.

6. Remove woody old canes; saw them off as close to the bud union as you can get.

7. After you have completed pruning your rose bush, remove any remaining foliage from the canes

and clean up debris from around the bush. Discard all foliage (do not use it in the compost heap).

Continued on next page

A hybrid tea before and

afterpruning.

14

How to Prune Roses

4. Use this same pruning technique when cutting stems for display and when removing spent blooms. Remember to sharpen your

pruning tools periodically -- either do it yourself or have someone do it who's specially trained.

5. Wipe metal surfaces after each use with a soft, lightly oiled rag to prevent rust. Store tools in a dry area.

1. Make your pruning cuts at a 45-degree angle, about 1/4 inch above a leaf axle with a dormant

eye.

2. Choose an eye on the outside of the cane and slope the cut down and away on the opposite side.

This allows excess natural sap to rise and seal the cut without interfering with the developing eye.

Pruning to an outward-facing bud also promotes outward growth, opens up the plant to air circulation,

creates more pleasing shapes, resists disease, and prevents the canes from becoming a tangle. Cuts

closer to the eye than 1/4 inch may damage it. Cuts higher than that will leave a visible stubble -- a

haven for both pests and disease.

3. If the rose bush has foliage present, the location for your cut is easy to spot. Where there is no

foliage to guide you, find the dormant eye by locating where the foliage was once connected. The eye

is normally visible as a slight swelling above the surface of the cane.

The sap will rise from the rose cane and run down the opposite side of the leaf when cut correctly.

15

Jason P. Ott, CEA- Ag/NR Editor: Jenny Mohundro Disclaimer - the information herein is for informational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Master Gardeners is implied. Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating ******************************************************** Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid, service, or accommodation in order to participate in any Extension event are encouraged to contact their County Extension Office at 361-767-5217 at least one week in advance of the program in order for proper arrangements to be made.

************** In the event of a name, address or phone number change please contact the office at: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 710 E. Main, Suite 1, Attn: Horticulture