The Travis County Master Gardeners Association and the Travis County AgriLife Extension sponsor free public seminars on gardening topics throughout the year at different locations in the county. Our goal is to help the public learn easy-to-follow tips they can do on their own that will help them get more joy from their gardens, and to learn from research-based Extension and other sources what can go wrong in the garden and what to do about it in environmentally sensitive ways.
Lectures include such common themes as rainwater harvesting, vegetable gardening, lawn care, tree maintenance, native and adapted plants, propagating plants, and much more. Join us for some really great free learning opportunities and bring your questions!
Most of these seminars are free, open to the public and require no reservations (unless otherwise noted)
Planting Spring Vegetables
Saturday, January 14, 2012, 10am-12pm
Zilker Botanical Garden
Master Gardener Patty Leander is a frequent guest on public televisions' Central Texas Gardener and speaker throughout the State of Texas. She will share her immense knowledge of planning and growing your own home vegetable garden. Patty will also address our recent drought conditions and it's long term effects. Plant lists, seed sources and planting schedules will be provided for you to take home. Join us for this informative and visually stimulating presentation.
Parking and seating are limited so please register online to reserve your seat at http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/ and click on "Public Seminar Registration". This seminar is free; Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child or senior.
From Seeds to Transplants
Thursday, January 19, 2012, 10am-12pm
Travis County AgriLife Extension Office
From Seeds to Transplants will help you understand which vegetable plants are good candidates to start from seeds to get a jump start on the growing season. Learn about seeds, growing material, lighting, temperature, air circulation and moisture requirements. The knowledge gained in this seminar will help ensure success for your vegetable garden.
Rose Care and Pruning
Thursday, February 16, 2012, 10am-12pm
Travis County AgriLife Extension Office
Discover the varieties of roses available and care requirements. Learn how to plant a rose, fertilizer requirements, disease identification, general care, and pruning. Bring pruning shears for hands-on lesson.
Raising Backyard Chickens
Saturday, February 18, 2012, 10am-12pm
Zilker Botanical Garden
Master Gardener Joy Williamson brings her expertise to you in the fascinating hobby of raising backyard chickens. She will be sharing her tips on the benefits of this garden activity, how to get started, FAQ on coop construction and how to protect your feathered friends. This seminar is free, but space is limited and reservations are required to ensure a seat is available for you. Sign-up online at http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/ Please note, the Zilker Park entrance fee is $2 per adult and $1 per child or senior.
Planting the Spring Garden
Thursday, March 15, 2012, 10am-12pm
Travis County AgriLife Extension Office
Now is the best time to plant the vegetable garden! Soil preparation, plant varieties which do in the Austin area, and the general basics needed for a thriving garden will be discussed. Part of the session will be outdoors.
Firewise Landscaping
March 24, 2012, 10am-12pm
Austin Fire Department Training Center
4800 J. Shaw Lane, Austin, TX 78744
The wildfires of 2011 underscores the importance of landscaping for fire safety. This informative seminar will help you understand the Wildland Urban Interface, learn how to improve your homes survivability should a wildfire occur and the benefits of early evacuation. Fire professionals from the National Fire Protection Agency, Texas Forestry Service and Texas Agrilife Extension Service will lead you through a series of visual presentations and interactive discussions to arm you with the tools you need to help protect your home and your family from wildfire. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Signup at: http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/ and click on seminar registration. Empty, reserved seats will become open seating at 9:50 am. This seminar is free and open to the public.
6th Annual East Austin Garden Fair: A Passion for Plants
Saturday, April 14, 10am-2pm
Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center
2608 E. Gonzales Street, Austin TX
 Texas AgriLife Extension and the City of Austin are partnering to present the East Austin Garden Fair. This year's theme is "Grow Well - Grow Your Own", offering lots of information on creating your own garden space. Informational and activity booths will be offered for adults and children on various topics such as composting, rainwater harvesting, school gardens, insects and pests, nutrition and exercise to name a few. Information will be available in both English and Spanish. Attendees will be eligible for a free plant. View the poster in English or en Español.
Cultivate Your Backyard Birds
Saturday, April 14, 2012, 10am-12pm
Hampton Branch Library
5125 Convict Hill Rd. Austin TX 78749
Who is that perched on your birdbath? Jane Tillman, Master Naturalist, Chairperson of the Travis Audubon urban habitat committee and a National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward Host, will help you get acquainted with common backyard birds and visitors. Basic bird identification will be covered along with ways to make your yard/greenbelt more attractive to these feathered creatures.
Space is limited at this location and reservations are required to ensure a seat is available for you. Sign-up online at: http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/ Please note that any empty reserved seats will become open seating at 9:50 am.
How to Construct Compost Bins
Thursday, April 19, 2012, 10am-12pm
Travis County AgriLife Extension Office
Learn how to build a simple wire enclosure and a three bin compost station. Go away with building plans and the knowledge to complete your project.
Preparing Your Landscape for Summer
Thursday, May 17, 2012, 10am-12pm
Travis County AgriLife Extension Office
There are numerous things you can do yourself to ensure healthier, bushier, plants with an increased blooms. Learn when to fertilize which plants, which plants to pinch back and other tips from a pro.
Small Space Gardening
Saturday, May 19, 2012, 10am-12pm
Austin Community College South Campus
1820 W. Stassney Lane, Rm 1130
Austin TX 78745
Space challenged? Do you have more plants (or ideas) than garden to put them in? Make the most of your garden when every square inch counts. This seminar is full of inspiring ideas to help you do so much more with the area you have and make better use of the entire garden. You'll learn how to design in layers, borrow your neighbor's landscape and use color, containers and creativity to add punch to small spaces. This free class doesn't require a reservation but if you want to ensure a seat, sign up online at: http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/ Please note that any empty reserved seats are open seating at 9:50 am.
How Rid Your Garden of Pesky Insects
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 10am-12pm
Travis County AgriLife Extension Office
Help your gardening by knowing more about the insects which live there. First, hear more about friend and foe in the insect world, and then learn the less toxic and usually less expensive methods to control harmful insects. You'll leave armed with insect identification literature to help improve your gardening.
Garden Photography
Saturday, June 30, 2012, 10am-12pm
Zilker Botanical Garden
A retired expert in the field of biotechnology, Bruce Leander concentrates now on his love of fine art nature photography - macro and landscape. His work with the Wildflower Center has produced a series of stunning plant studies which highlights the fine work being done there. He will share with us the tools and methods he recommends to get started in this fascinating aspect of horticulture. This free class doesn't require a reservation but if you want to ensure a seat, sign up online at http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/ Please note that any empty reserved seats are open seating at 9:50 am.
Identifying Good and Bad Bugs
Saturday, July 14, 2012, 10am-12pm
Zilker Botanical Garden
Wizzie Brown, integrated pest management specialist for AgriLife Extension in Texas, will lecture about how to manage pests in your yard through IPM. IPM is an environmentally responsible and minimal use of chemicals that may also kill beneficial insects, harm pets or possibly enter the water table. She will teach how to identify good bugs vs. bag bugs and the thoughtful, careful use of pesticides for control in our gardens and landscapes. This free class doesn't require a reservation but if you want to ensure a seat, sign up online at: http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture/ Please note that any empty reserved seats are open seating at 9:50 am.
How to Plan and Install Home Drip Irrigation
Thursday, July 19, 2012, 10am-12pm
Travis County AgriLife Extension Office
Conserve water and reduce water stress to potted plants, landscaping or vegetable garden by using a drip irrigation system. Learn about the two most common drip systems available and how to utilize one or the other or combination of the systems. Discover how to test the water pressure to determine the length of the run. Gain knowledge by watching how the pieces are assembled. Take away the knowledge necessary to create your own system.
Planting the Fall Vegetable Garden
Thursday, August 16, 2012, 10am-12pm
Travis County AgriLife Extension Office
In spite of the warm temperatures, it is time to prepare for the fall vegetable garden. Discover which warm season vegetables can be replanted now and which vegetables thrive in our mild winter temperatures. Learn the basics of soil preparation, how to plant seeds and transplants. Learn the varieties recommended for this area and the ideal times for planting. Novice and experienced gardeners will learn valuable information.
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