January 2012 New Year’s Resolutions

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Aloha Everyone!

Having just returned from a truly inspirational and relaxing Christmas vacation I am ready to assume the duties as your new President.

I recognize this will be a challenging year…we are in uncharted waters as an organization.   I accepted the nomination for President somewhat reluctantly as I am still working part time and I do not have prior experience as a Board Member of the Association.  So while I proceed through the year I can only ask for your patience and understanding as I try to steer the association in a positive direction.  I feel extremely fortunate to have Ellen Reisinger as the Immediate Past President and mentor to help me.  I promise you I will do everything I can to enhance the reputation of the Association, foster our educational mission, and make it an enjoyable and fun year for the membership.

In return I ask only that you participate fully in the Association in whatever manner best suits your situation.  Not everyone can do the more physically challenging jobs, but there is something for everyone to do to make the Association productive and fun.  First and foremost, I would ask that you attend the monthly meetings on a regular basis.  Open lines of communication are important in any organization but will be critical this year with our transition to the new site.  Secondly, I would ask you to contact me directly if you have any concerns, questions, comments, or complaints about anything that I can help you with.  This is definitely a year to think “outside the box” and everyone’s input is important.

Change is inevitable and often out of our control…..but we CAN choose greatness!  I am looking forward to helping to make this Association as great as it can be.

Jeanna Godfrey

The AgriLife Extension Office has moved and is open for business at 892 Airport Road, just west of the Transfer Station.  From downtown Rockport take Hwy. 35N through Rockport and Fulton, Turn Left on Airport Road, travel 3/10 mile to the second gate on the left.

However, until the paving is done, turn in at the first gate and park in the first parking space on the left, before the transfer station gate, near the Environmental Health Building.  Walk through the sand to our new building.

Enter through the Master Gardener’s office, admire the meeting/classroom, and Ernie’s office.

New Articles for January

January 2011, January Garden Checklist, by Kitty Angell

January 2012, Deer Resistant Plants, by Kitty Angell

January articles From Our Archives

January 2003, Veggies and January Tasks, by Joan Howie

January 20008, Pruning Trees, Marilyn Vaughn

January 2009, Soil Testing Soil Suzanna Scott, Tip, Todd Cutting

January EVENTS

Tuesday, January 17-12 noon-1 pm, Brown Bag Luncheon Program “Garden Planning With Creative Journaling” by Jeanna Godfrey & D.J. Chilcoat, Aransas County Public Library, 701 E. Mimosa Street, Rockport, Texas

COMING IN February

Saturday, February 11 SEMINAR  10:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. “Snakes Alive!!”  by Larry Godfrey, Game Ranch Management and Wildlife Consultant, Texas AgriLife Extension Office, 892 Airport Road, Rockport, Texas

Tuesday, February 21, Brown Bag, Noon to 1:00 P.M. “Ready for Spring–Clip, Cut, Prune”, by Mary Ann Geer, Master Gardener and Stacy Westlake, Lead Ranger, Goose Island State Park

Check out the deer resistant Propagation area.

JANUARY GARDENING TOPIC

‘Tis the time to choose a resolution, or two, or …

A survey of the Internet revealed a lot of gardeners making resolutions for the coming year.   So, after an honest appraisal of your time, energy and resources, choose a couple and move closer to that dream landscape you would love to have.

Plant more wildlife friendly shrubbery and trees, deer resistant, if necessary

Learn more about native species and plant them

Remove invasive, overgrown or no longer pleasing plants — and replace them with natives

Plant some new semi- shade beds

Plant more wildlife friendly shrubbery

Cage newly planted shrubs and trees to discourage deer

Do not buy any more plants until you know where they will perform best in your garden

Plant every plant you buy ASAP

Read the gardening books you have (before buying more)

Schedule regular weeding so plants can look their prettiest

Mark where all the bulbs come up in the spring so you will know where to plant bulbs in the fall

Xeriscape an area with native plants which will require less tending, fertilizing, watering and other maintenance

Resolve to garden more

Cage early enough for leaves to grow and  disguise the wire, so the plant will hold its flowers upright, and so deer will not eat them

Keep your garden journal current  (Better yet, start a garden journal)

Plant flowers for bees and other beneficial insects.

Grow something new from seed

Read at least one garden book every month (A Susan Wittig Albert mystery does not count)

Try at least one natural pest control

Try a new garden technique, like propagating shrubs, tropicals, or perennials from cuttings

Create and enter every plant’s name and culture in your garden list

When buying plants look for pest- and disease-resistant plants

Pick up a soil sample bag at the County Extension office and learn your soils needs

Learn to set plants in the ground at the proper depth

Inspect plants carefully before purchasing to avoid bringing home pests or disease

Spread a few inches of mulch around, not up against, young trees and shrubs to keep lawn mowers from damaging the bark and to assure air flow to discourage crown rot

Check routinely for pests or disease to assure prompt and early treatment

Irrigate new trees and shrubs the first two years to help them establish good root systems

Use a soaker hose or some type of irrigation system for the flower beds and vegetable garden that won’t wet the foliage

Obtain an early diagnosis when the cause of a problem is unclear or needs identification

Encourage beneficial insects and mites by minimizing use of broad- spectrum insecticides

Enroll in a Master Gardener class to learn more about propagating and growing plants

Use the right plant in the right place by learning sun/shade, water and nutrient needs, as well as size, time, shape and color of bloom, and seasonal interest

Be more observant in the garden, watching for nutritional and watering changes, pest and disease problems, and oversize or invasive plans that need pruning or removal

Top dress the garden with aged manure in late winter or early spring to ensure healthy growth

Put important gardening tasks on the calendar now so you remember them at the right time

Turn the compost pile monthly (or start one now)

Work old mulch into the bed, add organic fertilizer around each plant, then top with new mulch

Remember that plants require healthy root systems, and loosen and feed compacted, nutrient deficient soils

Attend Master Gardener Brown Bags on gardening subjects of interest to you

Select plant materials for long term shape and form and how they interact with their neighbors

Replace high maintenance plants with low maintenance ones

Spend time with family in the garden

Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners are volunteers who work with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service to improve gardening skills throughout the community. We share our gardening knowledge through community service and outreach, gardener training and educational programs.

Our Mission: Improving the lives of people, businesses, and communities across Texas and beyond through high-quality, relevant education.