VICTORIA – The Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Victoria County Master Gardeners Association will host a symposium, “It’s all about trees – and more,” at 9 a.m. Sept. 24 at a complex of three buildings on Bachelor Drive across from the Victoria Regional Airport Control Tower in Victoria.
The three buildings include the VEG Pavilion, Victoria County 4-H Activity Center and the Foster Field Officer’s Club.
“Although the emphasis will be on selection, growth and care of trees, this fall symposium will offer topics on a wide variety of gardening topics,” said Joe Janak, an AgriLife Extension agent in Victoria County. “It’s an especially timely symposium because it’s important that people know how to restore their trees and gardens after an especially brutal summer drought.”
Ten Texas gardening experts will lead 12 sessions throughout the day, Janak said.
“Heidi Sheesley of Houston will open the program at 9 a.m. with the subject of ‘Totally Tenacious and Texas Tough Plants,’” he said.
Sheesley, who owns TreeSearch Farms in Houston, turned her lifelong love of plants into a commercial venture in 1983, creating a wholesale plant business propagating rare and unusual plants that thrive along the Texas coastal areas, Janak said.
Dr. Jerry Parsons, retired AgriLife Extension horticulturist in San Antonio and the featured luncheon speaker, will announce new advances in his talk, “Old Plants Made New.” He will make two other presentations, including “Recommended Trees for the Victoria Area” and “Fall Gardening: It’s Time to Get Your Fingers Dirty.”
Other speakers and their talks include Ruth Anderson, Victoria County Master Gardener, “Creating Backyard Habitats for Wildlife”; Caroline Boatman, owner, Primavera Interior Landscapes and Primavera Flower Design, Houston, “Turning Your Indoor Spaces Into Green Spaces”; Kathy Chilek, master gardener and rainwater harvesting specialist, “Rainwater Harvesting”; Molly Glesbrecht, Victoria College plant pathologist, “Managing Pests on Your Trees”; Nancy Kramer, master gardener,“Jewels in the Garden: Inviting Butterflies and Hummers”; Michael Potter, AgriLife Extension agent in Nueces County, “Xeriscape and Earth-Kind Gardening”; Lon Smith, grower and development director at Devereux Gardens, Victoria, “Outside Container Gardening”; and Matt Weaver, Texas Forest Service regional urban forester, “Planting, Training and Pruning trees.”
A symposium flyer and brochure may be downloaded at www.vcmga.org, or from the Victoria County AgriLife Extension office at 528 Waco Circle, near the airport, Janak said.
“Admission is $60 per person, which includes lunch, continuing education units, brochures, admission to the plant sale and refreshments,” Janak said. “Interested persons are encouraged to register early to ensure a seat and the luncheon and choice of specific programs.”
Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicators can earn five continuing education units (four integrated pest management and one general) at the symposium. Master Gardeners can also earn five continuing education units.
For more information, contact Janak at 361-575-4581 or email j-janak@tamu.edu.
