Sunshine Community Gardens

1 August 2019

www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org

Gardener's Picture page

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Bad Bugs

While the lovely photo shows a beautiful bug, the Harlequin bug is not your friend. Check out this website for more info on this pest and how to treat it organically.

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Faces of Sunshine

Aaron Mason
Relation to Sunshine: TSBVI, Farm-to-Table (Special Education and Horticulture) Teacher

Hi - I am Aaron Mason - I'm the new farm-to-table teacher at TSBVI. It's a new program and I'm new to the school. It's in development, we'll be growing vegetables and herbs in the garden and in the green house, using them in the café on campus, and using both of those places to teach the students job skills for (hopefully) future employment in those areas.

I have a limited amount of gardening experience. I grew up in Northwest Austin and my mom is an avid gardener so I would help her out in the garden. My wife and I own a house in South Austin and we do a small amount of gardening, mostly succulents and flowers. I try to grow food because I love growing food, using food, eating food, cooking food and all that stuff but in a limited capacity I would say. I worked alongside the horticulture teacher at Clifton ISD's Career Development School in planning some stuff, too. I've been around people who have grown food for consumption for a bit.

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Planting Guides for Organic Gardeners

As we live though the dog days of August heat in Austin, we should turn our thoughts toward what seeds we should be starting or sowing now for our fall gardens. Some Useful Local Planting Guides can be found at the following websites:

1. Austin Organic Gardeners - Has a great planting guide listing info about starting and planting specific vegetables and herbs
2. Sunshine Community Garden's Planting Guide
3. Tim Miller's (Millberg Farm) Central Texas Planting Dates 2019 - This guide follows the lunar cycle for recommendations on what and when to plant from July - December 2019. This list can be viewed on the Austin Organic Gardener's website - See # 1, above.

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Upcoming Events at Zilker Botanical Garden

August 1st, 2019

Austin Daylily Society's Monthly Meeting - "So, You Want to Xeriscape?" with Marie Knipfer 7:00pm - 8:30pm

So, you say you want to Xeriscape? But what is that? Xeriscaping is the process of landscaping or gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation. Join the Austin Daylily Society as they come back from Summer break with a presentation on Xeriscaping from Certified Arborist Marie Knipfer M.A. and learn all about it!

For more information, Check out the Austin Daylily Society's website.

May 25th to August 10th - 2019 Woodland Faerie Trail

Explore the abodes of the faeries and gnomes along the Woodland Faerie Trail! Miniature Faerie houses of all sorts are created by families, businesses, clubs and groups around Austin, using whimsical design combined with natural materials to highlight native materials and plants found in Texas. Enjoy them before they're gone!

August 10, 2019 - "Growing Herbs in Texas" Gardening Seminar

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Learn the basics of growing herbs in the Austin area, including soil preparation, watering, growing seasons, when to plant, when to harvest and how to preserve and store your herbs. Master Gardener and past President of the Austin Herb Society, Lucinda Rudin, will provide ideas for growing herbs in a variety of situations, from apartment balconies to raised beds, to incorporating them into your landscape. Together we will get started on a journey to a fascinating group of plants that have been part of mankind's history for thousands of years. There will be an opportunity to visit the beautiful Herb Garden at Zilker at the end of the presentation.

Cost: Free with garden admission

Check out the Travis County Master Gardener's website.

For more info, check out our Facebook event.

August 12, 2019 - Austin Organic Gardener's Monthly Meeting

"Seed Saving" with Jace Furches & Linda Wall - 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Please join the Austin Organic Gardeners' club for our August meeting on Monday, August 12th. The topic will be Seed Saving and we're having a 3 part program starting with Jace Furches from the Austin Central Library discussing their seed library. Next, horticulturist Linda Wall from The Natural Gardener will discuss how to save seeds, and we'll wrap up with a seed swap.

Check out the Austin Organic Gardener's website.

RSVP via Facebook.

September 14, 2019 - "Selection, Planting and Care of Your Trees" Gardening Seminar - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Get ready for tree planting season! There are many types of trees, such as ornamental or fruit trees, understory or large shade trees, deciduous or evergreen trees, that are native to Central Texas and will thrive here. Matching a tree's characteristics and growing requirements with your personal preferences is the first step to successfully adding or replacing trees. Planting the tree in the right season, ideally between October and April here in Central Texas, allows the tree's roots to grow and get established before the heat of the summer is upon us. Trees that will increase the value of your property and bring you enjoyment for many years. Please join Master Gardener Jerry Naiser as he takes you through the steps of selecting, planting and caring for your trees.

Cost: Free with garden admission

Check out the Travis County Master Gardener's website.

For more info, check out our Facebook event.

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