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November 2014 McLennan County Master Gardeners Association

Betty Tawwater, Active and Well-Respected Master Gardener

Betty Tawwater was born

and raised in San Antonio,

where she attended public

schools. Her family later

moved to Dallas. Betty

graduated from Bryan

Adams High School there.

Then she attended Baylor

University, where she

graduated with a

Psychology major and

Biology minor.

Betty liked Waco and stayed right here. That’s where she

met future husband Chris. The couple married in a small

Lake Tahoe chapel. They have a son in Plano and a

daughter in San Antonio, plus four granddaughters, ages 10

to 15.

Following Baylor graduation, Betty worked in social

services for Texas Workforce Commission and Child

Protective Services. She took time out to raise her family,

and then she worked as a rehabilitation/personnel director

for Goodwill Industries. She attended classes in Dallas for

two years and earned a certificate in Rehabilitation

Management. From there Betty went to work at Texas

Workforce Centers, the state agency focused on employer

and job-seeker needs, government employment and

training programs. She worked her way up to manage a

Dallas Workforce Center office.

Following a brief retirement, Betty joined Rosebud-Lott

High School, helping struggling students in a program

called Grand Central Station. She finally did retire about

four years ago.

Betty was fascinated by her grandfather’s garden in San

Antonio and loved watching the plants grow. She

remembers always having fresh vegetables on the table. He

grew beautiful roses and gardenias, which she loved to

smell. Betty has always enjoyed growing vegetables and

flowers in her back yard. She wanted to learn how to get

better results. So she asked her friend and former Baylor

dorm roommate Jeanette Kelly about the Master Gardener

program and joined the 2012 class. Says Betty, “[The]

experience has exceeded my expectations. I’ve learned so

much, met wonderful people and never lack for something

to do.”

Betty loves growing plants for their aesthetic value. She is

interested in Earth-Kind plants and perennials. A keyhole

garden is on her wish list.

Cedar Ridge tops Betty’s list of favorite projects, but she

also enjoys helping at the farmers market and in the

Superstar Bed. She likes to volunteer at all our projects

from time to time.

Her back yard trees have grown so large that she cannot

grow vegetables and showy flowering plants any longer.

Betty had to adopt shade-loving varieties. The poor soil is

improving with addition of compost and mulch. Her biggest

challenges are the hard work of amending the soil, and

dealing with our unpredictable, sometimes extreme climate.

Says Betty, “What makes it rewarding is going outside on

a nice day to enjoy the fruits of your labor. It’s always

rewarding to watch a seed or transplant grow into

something beautiful.”

Plants Betty has found adaptable to her shady area include

turk’s cap, Mexican petunia and columbine. These seem to

do pretty well in the shade. The couple love traveling,

nature walks and hiking. Betty’s favorite pastime is

“watching my granddaughters grow”. She also enjoys

Baylor sports, especially Lady Bears Basketball.

Nov. 12, 2014 Master Gardener

Meeting

Noon meeting at the Arboretum.

Anecdotes of Historical Gardens, Part

Two, Pat Goaley

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From Jeanette Kelly Notes from the President—

Welcome to November!

I want to thank every volunteer for your participation in the very busy month of October for all of our many projects!

November is very important month for our membership as we wind down 2014. It is important for our members to be present at our meeting Nov. 12, to elect new officers, elect new

members at large, and pay dues. We will also have a very entertaining education program.

Sometimes we are so busy that we do not slow down to

appreciate even the smallest things in our lives. My wish for you this month is to slow down, and think about all the things

you are thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Jeanette

TYLER MUNICIPAL ROSE GARDEN

The Tyler Rose Garden is one of the prettiest rose displays

in America. The property was purchased by the City

of Tyler in 1912 for use as a park and

fairgrounds. Thanks to a Works Progress

Administration federal grant during the Great Depression, a

stone picnic pavilion, balcony, stairs and other garden features were constructed. A WPA landscape architect drew the plan for the park and rose garden. A local nurseryman laid out

walkways, planted trees and shrubs. Garden development was on hold during the war years but resumed after the war.

The roses were not planted until after the war. First the red

clay soil had to be amended. A backhoe dug out 36 inch wide beds and filled them with topsoil, sand and sludge. This took

time. The Tyler Rose Garden was officially opened in 1952. The initial planting of roses was donated by local nurseries. The idea was creation of a living catalog of the many rose

varieties produced by the Tyler rose industry. That first planting consisted of nearly 3,000 roses.

The brochure lists 18 rose classification codes, ranging from Bourbon to Grandiflora, along with 18 rose color classification codes ranging from apricot and apricot blend to

lavender. The former classifications include China, Polyantha, Damask, Miniature, Rambler, Floribunda, Climbing Tea and

Hybrid Tea, along with many others. The color classifications include pink, red, yellow, mauve, orange shades, white, lavender and many shades in-between.

A leisurely walk through the rose garden quickly gives the visitor a feeling of awe and sensory delight. Some roses are fragrant, while others offer beauty with little or no scent.

Smith County Master Gardeners are active in the Rose Garden. They maintain an IDEA (Innovate, Demonstrate,

Educate and Apply) garden established in 1999 in cooperation with the city. This demonstration garden is used to test under-used varieties for

potential use in East Texas landscapes. SCMG

also maintains a Shade Garden trial

area to identify new or underused plants suitable for

shaded landscape areas.

The David Austin English Rose Garden was established in

2003 and contains roses developed by the famed British rose breeder. It contains 22 varieties and more than 200 roses. The Meditation Garden is a place to relax and contemplate the

beauty of the surroundings. The Camellia Garden was designed by the son of the original landscape architect and was

established in the early 1960s. The Sunshine Garden is a small cottage type garden filled with plants that are mostly in shades of white and yellow. Nearby are two daylily beds. Daylilies do

particularly well in East Texas.

Held each year, the Tyler Rose Festival had its beginning in 1933. The Queen’s Coronation, Rose Show, Queen’s Tea and

Rose Parade are held amidst a backdrop of brilliant roses. The 81st Annual Texas

Rose Festival was held October 16 - 19, 2014. An annual rose

show is held concurrently with the Tyler Rose Festival.

Free to the public, it is open for viewing during the festival.

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Volunteer Opportunities

November 2014

Tuesdays

and

Thursdays

Ask A Master

Gardener

Agrilife

Extension

Office

1:30 - 4:30

Two volunteers

needed each

afternoon to

answer phone

Must contact

Carol Reinking

sscarol.24@gmail.com

Nov. 6,13,

20

JMG at

University

High School 9-

12; 12:20-1:30

Tom Burr, Jeanette

Kelly to volunteer

Nov. 8 Downtown

Waco Farmers’

Market, Set up

at 8:30, Depart

at 1:00,

Pruning

Penny Gifford

Rianna Magee

Nov 12 Trailside

Garden,

Following

MCMG mtg

and program,

weeding &

deadheading

Emily Davidson

James Prause

Nov. 14 Woodway

Elem. Green

Classroom,

8:00-2:45

Marietta Diehl

Lisa Dailey

Nov. 15 Cedar Ridge

Elem. Green

Classroom,

9:00-Spread

gravel in new

garden area;

Tidy up for the

Children’s Day

in the Garden

Nelda Cooper

Sandy Back-Katz

Nov. 21 Cedar Ridge

Elem. Green

Classroom

7:45-3:15 Day

in the Garden

Nelda Cooper

Sandy Back-Katz

October 2014 Speaker’s Report

September 24 - Billy Burchfield spoke about What is a

MG? to the Hillcrest Hospital Wellness Dept. Seven

attended.

September 27 - Jene Hering and Doug Nesmith spoke

about vegetable gardening to the Baylor Community

Garden group. Twelve attended.

October 1 - Jeanette Kelly and Melody Fitzgerald did a

program on Butterflies for the Life-Long Learning Center

at Baylor. Twenty-four people attended.

October 6 - Jo VonRosenberg spoke on Water

Conservation to the Villages at Twin Rivers board

members. Seven were in attendance.

October 16 - Barry Vokes spoke to the Urban Garden

Coalition about Water- Wise Gardening. Six people

attended.

October 16 - Jo VonRosenberg spoke on Water

Conservation to the Brown Patch Garden Club. Ten

people attended.

Ocober 16 - Steven Lovecky spoke to the Morning Glory

Garden Club about Cactus & Succulents. Ten were in

attendance.

October 17 - Jo VonRosenberg did her program on Water

Conservation for the Marlin Garden Club. Eighteen

people enjoyed her program.

Nelda Cooper

Speaker's Bureau

New Speakers Needed!

If you are a certified MG and would like to be a speaker or

have questions about becoming a speaker to area

clubs/organizations, please contact Nelda Cooper at 822-

1629, coopernelda53@yahoo.com. We have prepared

programs on the MG laptop that can be checked out from

the Agri-Life Office. Current MG speakers are willing to

act as mentors.

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MCMG Meeting Attendance for

October 8, 2014

Back-Katz, Sandy; Barnett, Mark; Belanger, Bonnie;

Belanger, Dick; Bonner, Grady; Burr, Tom; Carothers, Ila

Jean; Clark, Mark; Cole, Catherine; Cunningham, Jean;

Daniel, David; Davidson, Emily; DeMuynck, Lynn; Diehl,

Marietta; Dillard, Pat; FitzGerald, Eva; Fitzgerald,

Melody; Ford, Kris; Foulks, Xan; Geletzke, Cindy; Goaly,

Patricia; Golubski, Brenda; Hahn, Judy; Haller, Judy;

Harmon, Joan; Henson, Margaret; Hering, Jene; Hughes,

Carolyn; Kelly, Jeanette; Kinder, Missy; Kinnison,

Denise; Krzywonski, Cynthia; Mabry, Cindy; Marlin,

Patricia; Matthews, Sherry; McDaniel, Louie; McLatcher,

Claudia; Milam, Elizabeth; Milnor, Gerry; Moore,

Andrea; Moore, Candace; Moore, Linda; Newton, Kai;

Peterson, Georgia; Plasek, Anne; Powers, Robert;

Reinking, Art; Reinking, Carol; Rich, Jennifer;

Richardson, Sharon; Schaffer, Janet; Schmeltekopf, Judy;

Seale, James; Sefcik, Ann; Segrest, Dawn; Self, Rita;

Serface, Jan; Setser, Della; Tawwater, Betty; Traynor,

Tina; Valentine, Catherine; Vance, Barbara; Vokes,

Barry; vonRosenberg, Jo; Waldrop, Melba; Warriner,

Sonia; Whitehead, Dorothy; Whitehead, MJ; Wood, Carol

McLennan County Master Gardener

Meeting Minutes

October 8, 2014

Minutes of the Meeting:

The meeting was called to order by President Jeanette Kelly

at noon on October 8, 2014. The minutes were approved as

written. Andrea Moore gave the Treasurer’s report and

reminded everyone that dues are due November

12th. Monies for the Christmas Party were also being

collected.

There was a discussion about the Children’s Garden Fair

and volunteers were encouraged to be off the Arboretum

parking lot by 1:30 and park in the Pavilion.

Barbara Vance presented the officer nominations for

2015. They are: President, Janet Schaffer; Vice President,

Sherry Matthews; Treasurer, Andrea Moore; Secretary,

Emily Davidson. Additional nominees may nominated

from the floor in November before the voting.

Barry Vokes gave the criteria for Members at Large. Six

members were nominated. They are Ila Jean Carothers,

Tom Burr, Louie McDaniel, Jene Hering, Marietta Diehl

and Pat Dillard.

A report from the TCGA Conference was presented. Eight

members were in attendance. MCMG won 2nd place award

for the UHS JMG project. Ila Jean read a letter of

congratulations from Donald Kelm. Janet Schaffer gave a

talk about the new Greenway project at Texas A&M.

Christmas Party will be December 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the

Pavilion. It will be catered and the cost is $14 per

person. Deadline for making reservations is November

30th. Members that would like to make table decorations

should contact Della Setser. Holiday Winter is the

theme. There will be an educational slide program of

members’ gardening experiences/yards with a one or two

word description. Members are asked to send two pictures

with a short description to Barbara Vance.

Art Reinking announced that the Brazos Knights Quartet

would be presenting a dinner program on November 8th at

the Crestview Church of Christ. Cost is $25 each.

Educational opportunities were discussed. There was no

educational program.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Sharon Richardson

Secretary

MCMG Hours for 9/26/14 –10/25/14

Volunteer hours 573

Education hours 119

Miles traveled 1330

Contacts 14,504

MCMG members reporting 46

PROJECT HOURS

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(The hours listed below are included in the above details)

Ask a Master Gardener Telephone

Line

13.5

Superstar Bed 3.5

Trailside Gardens 6

Cedar Ridge Green Classroom 65.25

Children’s Garden Fair 2014

188.75

Continuing Education 9

Shade Garden 8

Gardener’s Gathering 1

JMG@UHS 79

McGregor Demonstration Garden 19

MCMG Clerical/Administration 29

Newsletter, publications 6.5

Other volunteer hours 92.5

Speaker’s Bureau 18

United Garden Coalition 2

Waco Farmer’s Market 15.5

Woodway Elementary School 41

Master Gardeners 107 Interns/Trainees 24

Honorary Members 2 Administration 1

Members Attend Specialist Training

Sherry Matthews and Barry Vokes recently completed the

TMG Greenhouse Management specialist training,

sponsored by Victoria County Master Gardener

Association. Thirty-two TMG members attended the

training, consisting of 20 classroom hours. There was

hands-on experience in plant propagation and greenhouse

construction. The many topics covered included building

and maintaining your own hoop house and selecting

appropriate plants. Other topics included potting media,

irrigation, disease and insects. One of the most interesting

sessions was on planning and implementing a successful

plant sale. It was taught by Tom LeRoy, retired

Montgomery County Horticultural Agent. Montgomery

County MGA grossed $40,000 at their most recent plant

sale, and they have two such sales annually. Tom explained

to the rapt audience how they do it.

While the formal training was instructive, Sherry and Barry

also learned from other master gardeners. Many county

TMG associations have greenhouses. They use them to

grow plants for the gardens they maintain and for their plant

sales. One attendee’s county TMG association earned over

$50,000 at their last sale.

Sherry and Barry thank MCMG for the scholarships

provided to help defray the substantial cost of attending this

training. They must each complete 20 hours of approved

volunteer work to earn certification as greenhouse

management specialists. If you are interested in becoming

a specialist, please check with the MCMG Executive

Committee to see if you are eligible for a scholarship. There

are many interesting specialist programs from which to

choose. A scholarship is awarded in advance of the training

and the $200 stipend is paid upon successful completion of

the certificate program.

MCMG Educational Opportunities

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bexar County

is now taking applications for the Texas Master Gardener

Vegetable Specialist Training Tuesday, November 4 –

Thursday, November 6 in San Antonio, Texas.

David Rodriguez –Extension Horticulturist

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Bexar County

210-467-6575, http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/homehort/

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Baylor Life Long Learning:

Robinson Tower, 4th floor, room 455

WED NOV 5

Mysteries of the Life of Water--Jo von Rosenberg

1:30-2:10

2:15-3:00 Rainwater Harvesting--Steven Locecky

WED DEC 3

Christmas is Coming-- Sandra Killough 1:30-2:45

(pots in decorating and other thing for holidays)

Skit--Claudia and Pat-Top 10 Mistakes gardeners

Make 2:45-3:00

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Waco Stake Provident Living and Preparedness Fair

300 Ritchie Road, Hewitt, Texas

A Preparedness Fair will be held at the LDS Church in

Hewitt. The Red Cross, CERT, Hewitt Fire & Rescue, and

an Emergency Medical Helicopter will be present. There

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will be classes and demonstrations on preparing for

emergency situations and provident living, including

classes on wills, composting, outdoor cooking, Disaster

Tool kits, first aid, and gardening. Melody Fitzgerald will

be teaching the Beginning Gardening Class, and another

class will be given on Advanced Gardening. Educational

hours can be received for the Beginning Gardening Class.

10am to 2pm, Saturday November 15, 2014.

Master Gardener Christmas Party

Tuesday December 9th

Social Hour: 6:30

Dinner 7:00

Spouses or Significant Others are welcome.

Dinner will be catered by TCP Catering at a cost of $14.00

per person including gratuity. Meal will consist of:

Rosemary crusted Pork Loin (Carving station) and

Chicken Cordon Bleu

3 sides (TBD)

Salad/Dinner Rolls

Carrot Cake, Pecan Pie and Sugar Free Peach Cobbler

Tea and coffee

Caterer will set up, serve and clean up.

Reservations are required.

Deadline for reservations is November 30th.

Checks to be made out to MCMG and sent to Andrea

Moore.

We are also requesting volunteers to make centerpieces for

the tables. If you would like to get some volunteer hours

in, please contact Sonia Warriner at 732-0811

Children's Garden Fair

The Children’s Garden Fair was a big success as usual.

Many of our Master Gardeners put in long hours to make

sure it was a success.

Things got creative at the scarecrow contest. Below is the

First Place Entry:

First Place in contest and First Place for Innovation Scarecrow by MCMG Ralph Calhoun

Photograph by Mark Barnett

Everyone knows

that anybody who is

anybody must wear

a fashionable hat

for the Children’s

Garden Fair. Très

chic.

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The 2015 Master

Gardener

Conference will

be in Belton this

coming year on

the 16th to 18th

of April at the

Bell County Expo

Center.

Tour #1 $40 Historic Village of Salado — Tour of Public Gardens, Sculpture Garden & 1859 Chapel Tour #2 $40 “Our Gardens”- Garden Tours by Bus w/stop at Czech Museum & Bakery Tour #3 $40 Fort Hood Tours — See First Calvary

Museum, Horse Platoon, Motor Pool & Lunch on Post Tour #4 $65 Trails to Rails - Visit Railroad Museum, Ride Amtrak & Dine at Historic Mansion in McGregor Workshop #1 $35 Vermicomposting - Instructions for beginning composting with worms Workshop #2 $35 Basic Floral Design – Principles and applications in flower arrangements Workshop #3 $35 Bee Hive Construction — Instructions for building a hive w/kit to take home Workshop #4 $35 Leaf Casting — Casting and painting your yard art Workshop #5 $35 Edible Plants — Walking tour w/instructor to identify local plants at Miller Springs Park Workshop #6 $35 Plants & Birds — Bus tour

with speaker to 3 sites on Ft. Hood including BLORA

Early Registration (1 Oct. – 31 Dec.) $125

Regular Registration (1 Jan. – 28 Feb.) $150

Late Registration (1 Mar. – 1 Apr.) $175

On-Site Registration (16 Apr.) $200

One Day Only Thursday $ 60

One Day Only Friday Only $120

Banquet is an Additional Cost for each person $35

Optional Friday Breakfast $10

Conference Shirt $25

Work Shops $35

Tours $40

Amtrack Tour $65

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Master Gardeners About Town

McLennan County Master Gardeners Association Officers 2014

President-Jeanette Kelly Vice President-Janet Schaffer Secretary-Sharon Richardson

Treasurer-Andrea Moore

AgriLife Sponsor – Shane McLellan, County Agent

Our website: www.mclennanmastergardeners.org

Educational programs of Texas AgriLife Extension Service serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level,

race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U. S Department of

Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

Master Gardeners and children alike have fun at the Children’s Garden Fair.

Posing with the award for the JMG@UHS project received at

the TMGC in Midland/Odessa.