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Bandera County Courier is published weekly by Gail S. Joiner, 1210 Hackberry St., Bandera, TX 78003. Subscription price $26 per year in Bandera County, TX; $36 per year for other Texas counties; $40 per year out of Texas. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Bandera County Courier, P.O. Box 1704, Bandera, TX 78003. Periodicals Postage pending in Bandera, Texas.

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Grass in the Hill Country program Feb. 25 By Janet Csanyi Texas Master Naturalist—Hill Country Chapter Published Feb. 21, 2008 Bill Neiman    Bill Neiman, owner of Native American Seed in Junction and its parent company, Neiman Environments, Inc., will present “The Grass Issue and How it Relates to Land and Water in the Hill Country” at this month’s meeting of the Texas Master Naturalist—Hill Country Chapter in Kerrville. The meeting is Monday, Feb. 25, beginning at 7 pm at Riverside Nature Center, 150 Francisco Lemos Street.     A lifelong environmentalist, Neiman became acutely aware of nature while backpacking with his dad in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico during his early teenage years. He recalls, “sleeping on the ground, listening to the sounds of mountain lions in the night, and being awakened by the hot breath of a bear who wandered through our campsite looking for food.” They collected and ate nuts and berries and caught trout in a freshwater stream “so clean you could drink from it.” These experiences inspired him to help people create similar places close to home.     At 19 he borrowed a shovel, rake, and lawn mower and began advertising “total outdoor care” services in the local garbage collector’s monthly billing statements. Six years later his company was taking on large-scale commercial projects. Through Neiman Environments, Inc., he now specializes in helping large landowners and developers plan and execute environmentally responsible and economically sound restoration projects.     His recent projects include the San Antonio River Project, to restore native grasses, wildflowers, trees, and shrubs in highly visible and publicly accessible areas along both sides of the San Antonio River in San Antonio. He also recently provided ecological consulting services for 340,000 acres in a privately held refuge south of Big Bend National Park in the Sierra Del Carmen area of Coahuila, Mexico, which is the last preserve of black bears, big horn sheep, and mountain lions in North America.     The meeting will be at Riverside Nature Center, 150 Francisco Lemos Street in Kerrville, Monday, Feb. 25, at 7 pm. There is no charge, and the public is invited. For more information contact Warren Ferguson, 830-896-9500 or cwferg@ktc.com.

Plant articles in the on-line edition of the Courier:

Grass in the Hill Country program Feb. 25	Published Feb. 21, 2008
Pruning clinic Feb. 21	Published Feb. 14, 2008
Japanese honeysuckle – it’s everywhere, everywhere	Published Feb. 14, 2008
Deciduous Yaupon – a berry, berry pretty plant	Published Feb. 7, 2008
Carolina horsenettle – do a little sidestep	Published Jan. 31, 2008
Bushy bluestem likes wet feet	Published Jan. 24, 2008
Skeleton Plant – appealing plant with menacing moniker	Published Jan. 17, 2008
Master naturalists to honor icon, Lady Bird Johnson	Published Jan. 17, 2008
Lavender comes to Medina	Published Jan. 17, 2008
Flameleaf sumac — a beautiful ornamental	Published Jan. 10, 2008
Bloodweed ­ Just in time for Halloween	Published Oct. 25, 2007
Greenbrier ­ an entwining kind of vine	Published Oct. 11, 2007
Stalking the 'pop up' Wild Petunia	Published Sept. 27, 2007
In the Wild Sensitive Briar – watch out for claws!	Published Sept. 20, 2007
In the Wild Catalpa -- don't smoke that pod!	Published Sept. 13, 2007
In the Wild ‘Square Bud Daisy’–Hip to be, well, square	Published Aug. 30, 2007
In the Wild Prickly Poppy – no problemo	Published Aug. 23, 2007
In the Wild Engelmann’s Daisy’s Deutsche origin	Published Aug. 2, 2007
In the Wild Sunflowers – summer’s harbinger	Published July 26, 2007
Bumper melons in garden	Published July 26, 2007
Tiny cactus: now you see it, later you might not	Published June 14, 2007
Horticulture programs Jan. 16-17 in Waco	Published Jan. 11, 2007
Medina Rose Garden Club to meet Jan. 10	Published Jan. 4, 2007
Native Plant Society to meet Jan. 13	Published Jan. 4, 2007
Plant articles from 2006	Plant articles from 2005

Pruning clinic Feb. 21 Published Feb. 14, 2008    The Madrona Garden Club will host a pruning clinic in Lakehills Thursday, Feb. 21.     Master Gardener and Master Pruner Tom Harris, Ph.D., will discuss “Pruning trees in the Hill Country” at the home of Gary and Susan Cooper, 176 Deer Oaks Drive, Lakehills, beginning at 2 pm. He will also bring some of his books to sell and will sharpen pruning shears and loppers for $2 each.     Persons who wish to carpool from Bandera, should meet at the Bandera United Methodist Church at 1:30 pm.     Host and hostess are Julie Gibson, Marjorie Sullivan, Mary Young, Mary Moseley and Joy Norton.

Japanese honeysuckle – it’s everywhere, everywhere Published Feb. 14, 2008 Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    This invasive honeysuckle has become so common in this part of the Hill Country many people think it’s native to the Lone Star State. Make no mistake, however, it isn’t.     In fact, the aggressive Lonicera japonica competes with – and often prevails over – bonafide local flora and even fauna for living room.     On the plus side, however, are the plant’s fragrant flowers and attractive appearance – traits shared with its local cousin, the White honeysuckle.     Contrasting the two species, Japanese honeysuckle flowers emerge from the joints where the leaves and stems meet. White honeysuckle flowers pop from the end of the stem from a modified leaf. Japanese Honeysuckle produces black berries in autumn, each containing two or three oval dark brown seeds. White honeysuckle fruit appears as translucent red berries.     Both honeysuckle varieties climb and twine through branches of surrounding plants.     View contributor Lynn Post is looking for a White honeysuckle to photograph and compare with Japanese honeysuckle. Anyone familiar with an easily accessible White honeysuckle should contact Post at the NRCS office in Bandera.     Japanese honeysuckle is a trailing woody vine that may grow to 30 feet and beyond.     Oppositional, oval-shaped leaves can reach one to two inches long. The leaves may be evergreen to semi-evergreen depending on the severity of the winters in the plant’s habitat. This semi-evergreen tendency enables the honeysuckle to grow both prior to and after dormancy of other deciduous plants.     The trumpet-shaped flowers are creamy white to pink, turning yellow with age. The fragrant blooms poke between the leaves from late April through July and sometimes into October. The incredibly sweet-smelling blossoms attract hummingbirds.     This Japanese native groundcover was introduced in the United States in 1806. After “escaping,” the plant slowly established itself over the eastern US in the early 1900s. Since then, it’s switched into high gear.     Its toleration of a wide variety of soil conditions allows this omnipresent invader to thrive in a wide variety of habitats, including fields, forests and wetlands, as well as areas of natural or human disturbances such as windthrows, insect outbreaks, road building and logging.     By twisting tightly around their stems and trunks, Japanese honeysuckle kills shrubs and young trees by cutting off water flowing through the plant. In addition, dense stretches of the vine cover vegetation, gradually killing plants by blocking sunlight from reaching their leaves. Vigorous root competition also helps this honeysuckle spread and displace neighboring native vegetation.     Its aggressive nature enables the vine to alter seriously or destroy the understory and herbaceous layers of prairies, barrens, glades, flatwoods, savannas, floodplain and upland forests. Additionally, Japanese honeysuckle also may change understory bird populations in forests.     Some organizations recommend that it be destroyed when found on property to reduce the problems incurred by its invasive nature. Several states characterize Japanese honeysuckle as a “noxious weed.”     Successful methods of control depend on the extent of the infestation and available time and labor.     For small patches, manual labor – removing entire vines and root systems by hand – may do the trick. Work when the soil is moist, holding low on the stem to dislodge the entire plant and its roots. Repeated removal may be necessary to prevent reestablishment. Cut and remove twining vines to prevent them from clinging to and killing shrubs and other plants.     For larger areas of Japanese honeysuckle infestation, prescribed burns or a combination of prescribed burns and herbicide spraying might be the best way to eradicate this vine. Repeated fires reduced honeysuckle by as much as 50 percent over a single burn. Repeat prescribed burns every couple of years to ensure honeysuckle stays dormant.     While mowing and grazing limits the length of honeysuckle vines, these methods will increase the number of stems produced.     Japanese honeysuckle propagates by long vegetative runners that develop roots where stem and leaf junctions contact moist soil. Underground stems also help to establish and spread the plant locally, while bird and animal droppings spread seeds over a wide area.     For suitable vine substitutes for Japanese honeysuckle, check with the local chapter of the Texas Native Plant Society or a reputable native plant nursery.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact district personnel for information on Natural Resource Conservation at 830-796-3334.

Deciduous Yaupon – a berry, berry pretty plant Published Feb. 7, 2008 Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    During this time of year, Ilex decidua – aka Deciduous Yaupon, Yaupon, Possumhaw and Deciduous Holly – provides some welcome relief in winter to Texas’ otherwise beige and bleak landscape.     Described as a “small, shrub-like tree,” Deciduous Yaupon can grow to seven or eight feet tall. The native plant’s vermillion berries can be observed growing all over the central Texas Hill Country. This striking plant has both male and female varieties, with the profusions of berries appearing only on female plants.     Small white flowers bloom in the spring – March through May – when the plant’s new leaves arrive.     The eye-catching clusters of bright red-orange berries, attached to grey twiggy stems, appear in fall and winter. Once the leaves drop, the berries really come into their own. The red fruit and stems, which have short dull thorns, look pretty when incorporated into Christmas decorations.     Deciduous Yaupon also plays a significant role in the winter diets of birds and wildlife, particularly opossums, which gives rise to the plant’s moniker, Possumhaw. However, the berries are poisonous to humans.     These perennials are usually found in thickets and bottoms, in forest understorys and timbered areas, along fencerows, and along the edges of streams.     This member of the holly family can also be used as an ornamental in landscaping.     Deciduous Yaupon is drought tolerant and thrives in any soil. Once established, the holly easily survives on annual rainfall, but produces more berries with occasional irrigation. The best time to prune the plant into shape is after the first good freeze when the leaves fall. Another plus for including it in a landscape, Deciduous Yaupon is deer resistant.     Since only female variety of the Deciduous Yaupon bears fruit, purchase a plant in the fall when the berries are out. To ensure subsequent abundant crops, plant dmale variety in close proximity. However, it’s been reported some female plants produce a profusion of fruit without benefit of a nearby a male.     Deciduous Yaupon can be propagated by seed or roots. In addition, varieties are frequently sold in nurseries.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact district personnel for information on Natural Resource Conservation at 830-796-3334.

Carolina horsenettle – do a little sidestep Published Jan. 31, 2008 Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post It looks like a tomato, it's related to a tomato, but don't eat the fruit of Carolina horsenettle, it's toxic. Livestock graze the fruit and flowers of Carolina horsenettle, but at their peril. Many species of birds and small mammals consume the berries with impunity. FLowers Leaves Stems    It looks like a tomato, it's related to a tomato, but don't eat the fruit of Carolina horsenettle, it's toxic.     Livestock graze the fruit and flowers of Carolina horsenettle, but at their peril. Many species of birds and small mammals consume the berries with impunity.     No matter what else it’s called – radical weed, horsenettle, sand brier, Apple of Sodom, ball-nettle, tread-softly, wild tomato, devil's tomato or Solanum carolinense, you might want to steer clear of Carolina horsenettle.     First, the stem is covered with painful spines that penetrate the skin and break off. Normally, that would be sufficient reason to avoid any plant – but wait, there’s more …     Carolina Horsenettle, a close relative of the tomato and potato, also produces fruit, attractive flowers and foliage that are toxic to children and livestock if consumed in sufficient quantities. A member of the nightshade family, Carolina horsenettle contains poisonous glycoalkaloids. Also, drying the plant does not reduce its toxicity.     Children are attracted to Carolina horsenettle’s fruit because it resembles a small tomato. The unripe “tomato” is dark green with light green stripes, but turns yellow and wrinkly as it matures. Each fruit contains around 60 seeds.     Acute toxicity symptoms include gastrointestinal irritation, apathy, drowsiness, salivation, trembling, breathing difficulties, progressive weakness, paralysis and unconsciousness.     Livestock also graze on the fruit or flowers of the Carolina horsenettle at their peril. Symptoms of chronic horsenettle poisoning in cattle include appetite loss, emaciation, rough coat, constipation, and a form of dropsy (ascites). Poisoning may or may not result in death. Sheep and goats seem to be more resistant to poisoning than cattle or horses.     Ironically, many species of birds and small mammals consume the berries with impunity.     Although native to the southeastern United States, this perennial, herbaceous plant has spread widely throughout North America, growing happily in pastures, roadsides, railroad margins, fields, fencerows and in disturbed areas and waste ground, preferring sandy or loamy soils and, oh, yes, in gardens.     The alternating leaves of the Carolina horsenettle are oblong to oval and irregularly lobed. Both surfaces are covered with fine hairs.     Though considered a “weed,” it features an attractive and interesting flower with five petals. The blooms are usually white or purple with yellow centers, but one blue variant resembles the tomato flower. Carolina horsenettle blooms from mid-spring through fall.     Although the plant can grow to about 30 inches, most specimens are typically shorter.     Despite its toxicity, Carolina horsenettle, along with other closely related nightshades have been used medicinally, especially by Native Americans. By placing crushed leaves in sweet milk the Cherokee used it as an insecticide to kill flies. The Cherokee also fried the berries in grease and concocted an ointment to treat mange in dogs. To sooth pain, roots of the Carolina horsenettle were tied around the necks of teething babies.     Despite its folkloric medicinal uses and pretty flowers, Carolina horsenettle has been designated a “noxious weed” in several states.     It spreads by underground rhizomes and by seed. Ridding a garden of this plant pest is difficult because it’s resistant to many herbicides. In fact, herbicides often encourage its propagation by removing competing weeds and allowing horsenettle free rein.     Gardeners, who hand weed, especially despise Carolina horsenettle because of the spiny stems which make it painful to handle the plant. In addition, its deep root also makes the plant difficult to remove.     Horsenettle can be also be problematic in agricultural fields and pastures, especially those that are irrigated in summer. Large infestations of the noxious weed often reduces harvest yields of crops and the carrying capacities of pastures by competing with desirable plants for nutrients and soil moisture.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact district personnel for information on Natural Resource Conservation at 830-796-3334.

Bushy bluestem likes wet feet Published Jan. 24, 2008 Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    Bushy bluestem is the plant for anyone heavily into imagery. After the first frost, the grass turns orange — a color symbolically related to fire. Or, so some say.     The plant's other common names are Bushy Beard Bluestem and Bushy Beardgrass. It's uncommon handle is Andropogon glomeratus.     This grass primarily grows in low moist sites throughout the Hill Country, as well as the rest of the Lone Star State. Bushy bluestem shows a decided preference for "wet feet," and sinks its roots in all manner of soils, from sandy to loamy and even sterile, as long as there's plenty of water.     It's easily recognized by the dense, broom-like inflorescence that occurs on the top parts of the stem. Wikipedia describes an inflorescence as a "group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches." Crossword puzzle enthusiasts, remember inflorescence.     Bushy bluestem, a "persistent, warm-season, perennial," is found from late summer to fall, normally reaching a height of one to two feet.     Its fruit or seed period presents from fall through winter. The showy seed heads consist of a large, cottony tufts evident above the foliage.     Faithful to its love of the damp, bushy bluestem can readily be found in low roadsides, moist pinelands, brackish and freshwater marsh borders, sloughs and wet ditches.     The plant forms colonies, seeding out rapidly with a tendency to become weedy. It can be used successfully to restore wet areas near ponds, dams, ditches, arroyos and stream banks.     The hardy bunchgrass is commonly found from the eastern United States to the Central Plains and south into Texas and Mexico. Bushy bluestem also grows in the West Indies, Yucatan and Central America.     Although it can be used as low quality forage for both cattle and wildlife during the summer, fall, and winter months, the grass is most palatable during the early spring. In addition, prescribed burns in late winter can increase the palatability. However, overgrazing results in its proliferation.     Additionally, bushy bluestem benefits wildlife, providing seeds for birds, white-tailed deer and rabbits. In the spring, the grass also provides cover for birds and fawns.     Because its showy flower plumes turn a purplish- rust to bronze color in late fall and early winter, bushy bluestem makes an outstanding ornamental grass for landscaping. In addition, its colorful characteristics and fluffy seed head makes the plant a standout in floral displays.     Bushy bluestem is often seen in golf courses, around the edges of ponds, stream banks and other wet sites. It also fares well in meadow plantings, and even grows in containers if the soil is kept moist. It looks equally striking as a single plant or massed. Be warned, however, under optimum conditions, this grass reseeds readily and can become invasive.     In garden settings, bushy bluestem likes to be watered regularly, but not over watered. It requires consistently moist soil that is not allowed to dry out between watering. Bushy bluestem tolerates hot climates and coastal conditions as long as constant moisture is sufficient.     Although it doesn't particularly care for heavy shade, it will grow under light shade. In addition, since the grass thrives in poor soil, it doesn't require fertilization — an added plus. Another asset, bushy bluestem has no known pest or insect problems. Propagation is by seed or root division in spring.     Of the two, the best method is dividing and transplanting roots with liberal amounts of soil clinging to the roots into wet soils with a high mineral content in late winter or early spring.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact district personnel for information on Natural Resource Conservation at 830-796-3334.

Skeleton Plant – appealing plant with menacing moniker Published Jan. 17, 2008 Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    Snow on the Mountain has a lovely name for a somewhat intimidating plant, while Skeleton Plant, a pretty perennial, is stuck with a menacing moniker.     This little charmer, a member of the Sunflower family, is also known as Purple Dandelion, Flowering Straw and Milk Pink.     Presumably, the fact that Lygodesmia texana has barely any leaves gives the plant its name. What leaves it does have are so unobtrusive as to make the stems appear bony and twiggy. Additionally, bare stems growing at odd angles suggest a skeletal structure. At first glance, Skeleton Plant resembles a strange grass.     Apparently the plant’s photosynthetic stem requires a minimum of leaves to do its work, and broken stems exude sap which coagulates into a gum. The plant can range in size from 12 to 24-inches in height.     Its sparse gray-green leaves congregate at the base of the plant and are narrow sporting short lobes. The leaves – such as they are – grow from four- to six-inches long.     However, through late summer to fall – April to September and possibly beyond – Skeleton Plant produces a lovely, large lavender, pink or violet flower blossom atop its smooth spindly stalk. The single flowers can grow to two inches in diameter, but alas, are frequently plucked off by grazing and browsing animals. Butterflies and bumblebees use any surviving blooms as a nectar source.     Like magic, this Texas native pops up – seemingly from nowhere – blooms, then disappears for another year. Less than two weeks after blossoming and producing seed, the stems died back completely.     Skeleton Plant needs full sun to thrive, going into a gradual decline if overgrown by taller plants or trees.     Skelton Plant seems to thrive on neglect, so give it minimal water and dry soil conditions. However, it needs “land, lots of land,” so don’t overcrowd it with other plants in a garden. Skeleton plant is native to the western two-thirds of Texas, especially in prairie settings of the South Texas Plains and the Edwards Plateau. It particularly likes well-drained soils that contain large amounts of calcium carbonate, but will adjust happily to most garden settings. The ripened seedpod is reminiscent of a dandelion, which gives the plant one of the common names.     This plant is easily planted from seeds sown directly outdoors in the fall. To collect seeds, allow seedheads to dry on plants, remove and collect seeds.     Little by little, clumps of Skeleton Plant will increase in size each year, as the plant spreads by shoots from it's extensive root system. Large clumps can be divided and reset in the fall.     Skeleton Plant look good in ornamental gardens. Since it’s not invasive, this wildflower can be used effectively in a garden border. An added bonus, of course, Skeleton Plant blooms attractively for months.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact district personnel for information on Natural Resource Conservation at 830-796-3334.

Master naturalists to honor icon, Lady Bird Johnson Published Jan. 17, 2008    Dr. Damon Waitt will be the featured speaker at the January meeting of the Texas Master Naturalist - Hill Country Chapter. His presentation, “A Tribute to Lady Bird,” will recount his personal experiences botanizing with Lady Bird Johnson.     The meeting will be held at 7 pm, Monday, Jan. 28, at Riverside Nature Center, 150 Francisco Lemos Street in Kerrville. The meeting is free and open to the public.     Waitt holds a PhD in botany from the University of Texas and an MS in botany from Louisiana State University. He has been on the faculties of Saint Edward’s University and Southwestern University and has extensive experience developing web-based information resources.     Waitt currently serves as the botanical authority for Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin and is the author of the Wildflower Center’s Native Plant Information Network. In addition, his publications include the electronic version of “Native and Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin and the Texas Hill Country” and the revised edition of “Texas Wildflowers.”     For more information on Waitt’s program contact Warren Ferguson at 830-896-9500 or cwferg@ktc.com.     For more information on the Hill Country Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist, go to www.hillcountrymasternaturalist.org.

Lavender comes to Medina Published Jan. 17, 2008 Dee Tusch, president of the Medina Garden Club, visits with Patience Diaz of Image Farms Lavender of Vanderpool Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the Medina Community Hall — aka Masonic Lodge. Members of the Medina Garden Club look over lavender products. Photos by Clare Barnett    Patience Diaz of Image Farms Lavender in Vanderpool explained the history of lavender and why she chose to grow lavender to the Medina Garden Club at their monthly meeting Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the Medina Community Hall.     Lavender is a huge crop in the Provence region of France, she told the group. Bandera County and the Provence region share the same latitude, hence similar temperatures and moisture conditions. Lavender is adaptable to Hill Country environment and grows naturally here, even in the alkaline caliche soil. It requires full sun but best of all, the deer don't eat it.     The phone number for Image Farms Lavender is 830-966-5105.

Flameleaf sumac — a beautiful ornamental Published Jan. 10, 2008 Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post.    The attractive Flameleaf Sumac might be called the "arm candy" of deciduous plants.     The flashy, showy plant — alternately described as an ornamental tree or shrub — comes into its own in the fall when its crimson-red fruit ripens and its leaves turn bright scarlet, orange and purple.     This appealing deciduous plant sports a variety of names, including Prairie Flameleaf Sumac, Shumac, Prairie Sumac, Texas Sumac, Lance-leaved Sumac, Tree Sumac, Limestone Sumac, Mountain Sumac, Black Sumac and Prairie Shining Sumac, as well as its more formal moniker, Rhus lanceolata.     According to some, Flameleaf Sumac fares best when left in open areas to naturalize.     Without cultivation, it often forms thickets, which a variety of birds and small animals use for cover, nesting and food. When growing untended along roadsides throughout the Hill Country, Flameleaf Sumac generally only reaches a size of four or five feet or less. However, with regular watering and optimum soil, it can quickly become a moderate-sized tree, growing 10-20 feet.     Shrub-like specimens of Flameleaf Sumac pruned in winter form a nice tree. To ensure a more compact grove, less artistically inclined gardeners can even cut this Texas native to the ground regularly. If allowed to remain "shrubby," Flameleaf Sumac will not produce dense shade and can accommodate bedding plants underneath it.     Flameleaf Sumac is commonly found throughout Central Texas, as well as in the West Texas mountain regions and in the Northern Panhandle.     This small tree provides great seasonal looks. Its large flowers are displayed from late spring through the summer, featuring masses of tiny creamy white to greenish yellow flowers that cluster at the end of branches or stalks. The numerous blooms provide nectar for bumblebees, wasps and butterflies. In addition, the blooms dry well.     Before turning an impressive orange, rich red and dark purple in the fall, Flameleaf Sumac's foliage is a dark shiny green and with nine to 21 leaflets sporting "wings" between the leaflets. The smooth-surfaced leaves can be from two to nine inches long.     The plant's most pronounced growth occurs between April and May, and only female plants produce flowers and berries. The fruit ripens during September and October and forms dense clusters, which hang on through the winter.     The red fruit is a small drupe containing a single nutlet. According to Wikipedia, a "drupe" is a fruit which an outer fleshy part surrounds a shell — aka pit or stone — of hardened endocarp with a seed inside." Crossword puzzle enthusiasts take note.     Mature berries serve as a winter food source for migratory birds, songbirds and others such as quail and wild turkey.     Over 20 species of birds feed on the berry-like fruit. Additionally, small mammals such as raccoons and possums munch on the berries, while rabbits enjoy a winter snack of bark and twigs.     Although white-tailed deer also browse on the berries, Flameleaf Sumac is generally considered to be deer-resistant.     The seeds, fruit, bark and leaves of Flameleaf Sumac contain high amounts of tannin, which is used in the leather tanning industry.     Interestingly, Flameleaf Sumac sprouts dramatically after a fire.     After killing the above-ground portions of the plant, fire stimulates root and root collar to sprout. In addition, fire augments germination of the plant by scarifying or cutting or softening the seed wall.     Normally, however, the "fire climax species" declines rapidly three to four years after the blaze.     Flameleaf Sumac grows with abandon in this area's semi-arid climate and limestone gravel soil — even in the soils of the South Texas Plains and Edwards Plateau that contain large amounts of calcium carbonate. The ornamental plant doesn't really have any specific habitat, but thrives almost anywhere, including disturbed areas, open woodlands, fields, along fence rows, in waste places, limestone outcrops, rocky slopes, and prairies and even on steep caliche hillsides.     Flameleaf Sumac does fine in full sun to part shade cover, requiring minimal water. When found on poorly drained soils, however, its growth can be very slow.     Generally though, Flameleaf Sumac is fast-growing and generally pest- and disease-free and drought-tolerant.     Since it often sends out suckers as far away as 20 feet from the parent plant, Flameleaf Sumac should not be planted in shrub border.     Propagation can be quite simple. Although dispersed by animals, the plant's seeds do not produce nearly as many offspring as wandering roots. When specimens produce a lot of shoots, pot the shoots and re-gift them to other gardeners.     A word of caution, however. According to the Native Plant Society of Texas, sumacs are related to cashews, mangoes, poison ivy and poison sumac. Allergic skin reactions can occur in sensitive individuals who come in contact with the plant — particularly the oily surface of the fruit.     Poison sumac, a native of East Texas, has white berries, making it easy to distinguish from the nonpoisonous, red-berried Flameleaf Sumac.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. For information on Natural Resource Conservation, contact district personnel at 830-796-3334.

Bloodweed ­ Just in time for Halloween Published Oct. 25, 2007 Bloodweed leaf Bloodweed plant Bloodweed in perspective Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    Given the season, this seemed the perfect native plant to feature just before next week's "All Hallow's Eve."     Bloodweed's name was derived from its red-colored sap ­ but that isn't the scariest thing about this plant. Other common names are Giant Ragweed, or, even better, Blood Ragweed. That's a moniker to give one pause. And, consider this. The huge plant is probably an allergy sufferer's worst nightmare.     The air-pollinated flowers of the Ambrosia trifida var. texana produce a large amount of pollen, which triggers an allergic response in people known as hay fever. Ragweed, both the common and giant varieties, account for most of the hay fever experienced in North America. Ragweed plants pollinate heaviest in the late summer and fall when a single ragweed plant may release a billion grains of pollen in one season.     Symptoms of ragweed allergy include sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes. For most people, this would knock Bloodweed off a list of plants suitable for landscaping. However, gardeners take note, this "common weed" often appears spontaneously in a wildflower garden or a native habitat without official encouragement. Since Bloodweed is an annual, mowing before pollination helps with its eradication. Old-fashioned hand-weeding is also an effective way to rid gardens of offensive Bloodweed.     Usually found in waste places, it prefers a fertile loamy soil, full sun to light shade and moist conditions. Under these circumstances, it can develop into a huge plant ­ 15 or 20 feet tall in one growing season.     Bloodweed's penchant for moist soil makes it problematic in ditches and other areas plagued with occasional water.     Other native habitats include disturbed areas of moist clay prairies, meadows in woodland areas or near rivers, thickets and woodland borders. In more developed areas, Bloodweed occurs in vacant lots, cropland, abandoned fields, poorly drained waste areas, areas along roadsides and railroads and fence rows.     Bloodweed tolerates slightly drier conditions, but the large leaves have a tendency to wilt and wither away during significant drought. Its rough green stems are covered with white hairs and its distinctive leaves of this species aid with identification.     Oppositional leaves, which can reach up to 12-inches long and 8-inches across, usually have serrated margins and are divided into three or five lobes.     Bloodweed's large, tough-coated seeds are eaten by birds, but the plant has limited grazing use due to its bitterness.     However, whitetail deer sometimes browse on the foliage and seed heads when little else is available. The poor digestibility of the seeds may contribute to their distribution by birds and animals.     In the spirit of the Halloween holiday, refer to the website www.supernatural-online.org, which offers, "A sweet-water plant, Bloodweed is often used as a detector for the poison of a weed called krakenweed. If Bloodweed reacts with the poison, it turns blood red, hence the name of the plant. It can be used for casting hoodoo spells, among others. A five-spot filled with Bloodweed makes a powerful charm to ward off enemies."     Anyone have a spare five-spot?     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post. For information on Natural Resource Conservation, contact district personnel at 830-796-3334.

In the Wild Greenbrier ­ an entwining kind of vine Published Oct. 11, 2007 Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    When considering this native plant, one thing to keep in mind is its difficulty to control ­ especially in landscaping. Greenbrier's tendency to twine has led to gardeners deeming it "an invasive and pest plant species." Also, this thorny vine can play havoc with ranchers raising livestock for their wool and mohair.     On the other, however, Greenbrier can also be characterized as an important contributor to the ecosystem. Its evergreen foliage and tubers serve as a good food source for livestock and wildlife.     Additionally, birds and wildlife find Greenbrier's ripened berries quite tasty.     Although the vines' thorny nature provides some protection from grazing, deer and goats have a delicate touch when nibbling these types of plants. In spite of itself, Greenbrier has become an important secondary food for whitetail deer, providing them with good nutrition all winter.     Aka as Common Greenbrier, Bullbrier, Catbrier and Cat Sawbrier ­ as well as by its more formal, Smilax rotundifolia ­ this agile vine scales trees and forms nearly impenetrable thickets. It is found mostly in woods, beside roads and along streams.     Greenbrier's flowers are small and insignificant with male and female flowers appearing on separate plants.     Horticulturists call this phenomenon dioecious ­ a tidbit crossword puzzle fanatics might want to file away for the future. The female plant bears fruit ranging in colors from black, blue or red when ripe. The berries mature from September to November.     Meticulous gardeners often wonder how this difficult-to-control vine seems to appear miraculously in their carefully tended surroundings. Look up. The answer lies in our fine feathered friends' penchant for feasting on Greenbrier berries than passing the seeds willy-nilly as they flit about the sky.     Apparently seeds that survive birds' digestion process can, when passed, remain viable for long periods of time. Get the picture?     With the right conditions ­ which seems to be any condition, except full sunlight ­ the seeds germinate. In short order,     Greenbrier develops an extensive underground tuber-rhizome system and a viney above-ground prickly stem. The tough underground root system, of course, contributes to the plant's well-documented tenacity.     Good luck getting rid of unwanted Greenbrier vines. Gardeners often attempt to prune the heinous interloper. However, like a bad penny, Greenbrier just comes back. If hacking it away fails, Plan B is to physically remove the plant by hand, taking care to dispose of as much of the tuber as possible.     The manual method can also be used to get rid of vines that have insinuated themselves around a prized bush or shrub. Again, however, good luck with that!     According to Mark Czarnota, Ph.D., ornamental weed control specialist at the University of Georgia, Plan C requires a gardener to cut the vine as close to the ground as possible, then immediately paint the cut stem with concentrated glyphosate ­ sold as Round-Upª or other generic trade names ­ using a brush or sponge. Make sure the herbicide doesn't spill onto the other plant. If Greenbrier resurrects itself, sponge on or spray a 5 percent solution of glyphosate when the sprouts are six to eight inches high.     Maybe that will take care of Greenbrier ­ or maybe not.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact district personnel for information on Natural Resource Conservation at 830-796-3334.

Stalking the 'pop up' Wild Petunia Published Sept. 27, 2007 Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    Blooming regularly in the spring and summer, this unassuming, but attractive, little plant possesses a penchant to pop up everywhere.     Although a number of species are included in this genus of plants, the flowers are all similar in shape and reminiscent of the petunia ­ hence, the plant's moniker, Wild Petunia.     The flowers range from lavender and purple to light blue and almost white. Livestock and wildlife find them tasty tidbits.     This native perennial, aka Wild Tobacco, Ruellia and ­ for the more erudite ­ Ruellia sp., grows from one-foot to about three-feet high or more, with occasional branching. The plant's light green stems are covered with white hairs. Two-inch oppositional leaves are lance-shaped with smooth margins and may also include white hairs on both the upper and lower sides.     Wild Petunia is found in much of Texas except for the High Plains and Rolling Plains. It makes itself right at home in mesic to dry black soil prairies, gravelly hill prairies, dry open woodlands, limestone glades, bluffs, sandy cemeteries, sand flats and areas along roadsides and railroads.     Typically found in areas with poor soil and sparse vegetative cover, this plant occurs sporadically in short grass, rather than forming dense colonies. The adaptable Wild Petunia tolerates full or partial sun, moist to dry conditions and practically any kind of soil.     However, under moist conditions with rich soil, this plant cannot compete with taller, more aggressive plants. On the other hand, disease doesn't seem to bother it.     Wild Petunia is definitely drought-tolerant, making it suitable for xeriscaping. Its large and abundant flowers look good bordering flower gardens or in rock gardens.     Wild Petunia can be grown from seed sown directly outdoors in fall. To collect the seed, bag seedheads, allow pods to dry on the plant and break open to collect seeds.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact district personnel for information on Natural Resource Conservation at 830-796-3334.

In the Wild Sensitive Briar – watch out for claws! Published Sept. 20, 2007 Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    In the spring and early summer, Sensitive Briar produces a beautiful magenta-pink to lavender puffball flower on a delicate trailing vine that grows from one- to four-feet feet long. The ball-shaped flowers are said to resemble miniature firework explosions.     However, the plant’s proclivity to arm its vine with hooked prickles destroys its somewhat romantic illusion. For this reason, Sensitive Briar is also known as Cat's Claw because the abundantly barbed stems can be painful to bare skin.     AKA “Bashful Briar,” the plant’s asymmetrical leaves are extremely sensitive to touch, folding into a closed position when disturbed. The leaves alternate on the plant’s stem, appearing as long and slender with leaflets arranged on each side of the leaf stalk, resembling a feather.     This perennial legume makes an all-purpose taste treat for animals and birds. Its foliage is relished by deer, sheep and goats that regularly seek it out. Although the claw-like thorns on the plant’s stem offer it some protection from grazing, the feather-like compound leaves contain a high protein content, making them a target for the delicate grazing ability of livestock and deer.     Sensitive Briar’s seeds are contained within linear ribbed, prickle-covered pods two- to four-inches long. The seedpod resembles a bean, and the seeds make a good meal for all kinds of birds. This plant also attracts bees and butterflies.     Sensitive Briar’s preferred habitat is prairies, roadsides, glades, fields and thin woods. Although it grows best in dry to average soil and full sun, it also can also be found in dry, rocky or sandy soil. As an important indicator of range condition, the plant decreases when overgrazed.     Some deem the drought-tolerant Sensitive Briar suitable for xeriscaping, while others consider it an invasive noxious weed. You be the judge.     The plant self-sows freely, but gardeners who don’t want volunteer seedlings next season are advised to deadhead if they. If propagation is the plan, allow pods to dry on the plant, then break open and collect seeds. When properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored.     Sensitive Briar’s scientific moniker is Schrankia uncinata.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact district personnel for information on Natural Resource Conservation at 830-796-3334.

In the Wild Catalpa -- don't smoke that pod! Published Sept. 13, 2007 The bean pods Various insects are amenable to the leaves on the tree. Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post Showy white flowers with interior yellow and purple spots bloom in the spring    Although catalpa is more commonly found in the eastern part of Texas, this large fast-growing tree also makes an occasional appearance in the Hill Country.     The origins of "catalpa" may stem from a mispronunciation of 'Catawba,' the name of a Native American tribe in whose territory botanists initially discovered and recorded the tree.     Aka Fishbait tree and Catalpa speciosa, the tree is not particularly long-lived, but its handsome spreading branches offer good shade. In Bandera County, some catalpas have been reported with trunks as large as reach three-feet in diameter.     Reaching 40- to 70-feet high, the tree produces large heart-shaped leaves up to the six- to eight-inches across. When crushed, the leaves apparently emit an offensive odor.     However, in the spring, the catalpa sports showy white flowers with yellow and purple spots on the interiors.     It also makes an curious pencil-like seed or bean pod, which can be up to 15-inches long. The pods often remain on the tree through the winter.     As a aside, as a "yewt" in West Virginia, along with other compatriots in crime, I recall attempting to "smoke" the pods -- mainly 'cause someone said you could. Take my advice, you can't, and even if you could, you wouldn't want to. Of course, that was a different place and a much different time. But, back to the catalpa tree.     According to lore, catalpa produces timber with the reputation of being able to lie for a century on wet ground without rotting.     As another characteristic, the tree attracts Sphinx moths. After the moths' eggs hatch, the resultant caterpillars make an excellent fish bait -- hence the moniker "Fish Bait Tree." Other insects seem amenable to languishing around the tree as well.     Catalpa favors sun to partial shade, and a range of soil types, but prefers deeper soil that's moist and well-drained.     Although it can tolerate hot, dry sites, it might not be a good choice for xeriscaping since many consider catalpa a weedy -- or in Yankee parlance, "trash" – tree.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post. For information on Natural Resource Conservation, contact district personnel at 830-796-3334.

‘Square Bud Daisy’– Hip to be, well, square Published Aug. 30, 2007 Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    It can never be said that Square Bud Daisy doesn’t live up to his name.     This distinctive plant – aka Nerveray Daisy and Tetragonotheca texana – can be easily identified by examining the buds or the bracts of the flowers. True to the plant’s name, the bud is a four-sided square. The opposite clasping leaves have the flower stalk arising from the base of the leaf.     Although not as common as some plants, this sprawling herbaceous perennial can be found in the Edwards Plateau, and, in fact, prefers areas around the Hill Country. Square Bud Daisy thrives in full sun to partial shade in dry, calcareous soil with little vegetation. Calcareous soil contains calcium carbonate, calcium or limestone, and is relatively alkaline.     Not surprisingly, the plant is drought tolerant, making it excellent in xeriscaping.     Square Bud Daisy grows approximately 24 inches high and its bright yellow flowers sport sparse-looking “rays” that measure an inch and a half in diameter. It blooms from late spring into early fall.     The Texas native can be grown by sowing seeds directly on the ground in the fall. Seeds can be obtained by allowing seedheads to dry on plants, removing them and collecting seeds. For easier collection of the ripened seeds, it’s a good idea to bag the seedheads. Square Bud Daisy is utilized by both livestock and wildlife.

In the Wild Prickly Poppy – no problemo Published Aug. 23, 2007 Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    Portions of its parts are poisonous, but the sum total of the prickly poppy seldom poses a problem. Try saying that 10 times!     Make no mistake. Alkaloids contained within this plant, coupled with its spiny and prickly nature, discourage animals from grazing on it – even during droughts. This species’ moniker is especially fitting since virtually every part of the plant, including flower buds, is prickly.   Also known as the Mexican poppy and Mexican thistle, as well as by its scientific name, Argemone albiflora, prickly poppy is common throughout the West. In fact, areas with an abundance can indicate overgrazing. Even so, the effect can be charming.     The stout, prickly-stemmed (what else?) “annual to perennial” grows two- to five-feet tall. Bees delight in the plant’s showy blooms, which can be pink or red, but are more commonly white with a yellow center. The flowers can measure up to five inches in diameter. The plant’s leaves are equally formidable. Growing up to eight inches long, the lobed, spiny leaves resemble thistles.     Despite its impregnable countenance, this fast-growing plant is also quite ornamental.     Prickly poppy, a native of Mexico, grows in dry rocky areas to 6,000 feet in chaparral, on the north slope of the Transverse Range and in desert mountains, blooming from June to August. The plants, which prefer sandy soils, can also be found along roads and fence lines.     Prickly poppy is easily grown from scattered seed.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact district personnel for information on Natural Resource Conservation at 830-796-3334.

In the Wild Engelmann’s Daisy’s Deutsche origin Published Aug. 2, 2007     Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    Engelmann’s Daisy, aka Cutleaf Daisy, also goes by its more formal moniker, Engelmannia peristenia, in honor of German-American George Engelmann, who initially cataloged the perky native flower.     A botanist and physician, Engelmann systematically researched and classified new plant species in western North America and northern Mexico from 1836 until his death in 1884.     The sprightly yellow blooms of Engelmann’s Daisy linger for a long time – from spring through much of the summer. The plant’s bright saffron flowers look particularly fetching against it’s greenish-blue, deeply lobed leaves. Plants can grow to two feet or even higher.     This sun-loving and showy plant is found throughout much of Texas, particularly along the highways. Livestock and wildlife find the plant highly palatable, which contributes to its high-grazing quotient.     Attractive to bees, butterflies and birds, this perennial can be easily propagated by allowing the seedheads to dry on the plants then collecting seeds. For best results, plant seeds in the fall and make sure they maintain good contact with the soil by lightly raking the soil into loose topsoil. Also, allow seeds to completely mature before mowing plants for reseeding.     Supplemental watering may be required in unusually dry winters and springs. Watering can extend the flowering period.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact district personnel for information on Natural Resource Conservation at 830-796-3334.

In the Wild Sunflowers – summer’s harbinger Published July 26, 2007 One flower among the midst of many sunflower leaves. A sunflower leaf up close. A sunflower up close. Sunflower plants can grow tall. Photos are courtesy of Lynn J. Post    Nothing says summer more than the array of sunflowers lining fences on winding farm market roads throughout the Hill Country. This year’s rain and sunshine produced a bumper crop.     Also known as Helianthus annus, the cheerful annual or wild sunflower, a member of the aster family, sports a stout, hairy stalk and bountiful yellow flowers growing from two- to five-inches across. An average plant bears from one to 10 large flowers. The equally as massive alternating leaves can measure eight-inches long and six-inches across, which accounts for their decidedly drooping demeanor. The plant’s name stems from the flowers’ habit of following the sun’s path throughout the day.     Growing from two- to a towering 10-feet tall, the annual sunflower resembles the cultivated variety found in many gardens. One of the best things about the plant is its extraordinarily long blooming season – from March to October. Although the plant has limited value for grazing, its seeds can be utilized by wildlife for food.     In fact, animals’ penchant for feasting on the tasty seeds account for much of the plants’ propagation. Seeds are also dispersed when the tall plants topple over after the Hill Country’s first frost. Seeds falling on the ground will regrow following spring.     Sunflower’s preference is for full sun and moist to slightly dry conditions. Lower leaves shrivel and drop during extended periods of hot dry weather. The annual sunflower thrives in fertile loamy soil, as well as in soil with a high clay or gravel content.     “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do,” Helen Keller. Nothing says summer has returned to the Hill County more than sunflower sightings.     This information is courtesy of the Bandera Soil & Water Conservation District. Contact district personnel for information on Natural Resource Conservation at 830-796-3334.

Bumper melons in garden Published July 26, 2007    Cliff and Adeline Herbst's garden is producing a bumper crop for 2007, including an outstanding 14-pound cantaloupe. In addition to their one-acre garden, where all manner of produce thrives, Cliff also grows Hybrid Sudan on 20 acres of their property off FM 470. As of late July, the hay is over seven feet tall. The Herbsts credit this spring and summer's heavy rains for the remarkable crop yields this year.     "We had a late frost after the melons were already sprouting, so Cliff thought we'd lost them," said Adeline,"but they decided to come back."     The green-thumbed pair purchased their land in 1963 and moved to the Hill Country permanently in 1979.

Tiny cactus: now you see it, later you might not Contributed Published June 14, 2007 The Tobusch fishhook cactus blooms from late January through late March. Habitat for the cactus is in woodlands, scrublands, and grasslands in the Edwards Plateau. The plant may not be as rare as once believed. Landowners who find these cactus should share details with the NRCS field office. Photos courtesy of Lynn J. Post The Tobusch fishhook cactus can be beneficial to native pollinators. The cactus has a feature which resembles a fishhook. How big is the cactus? About the size of a dime.    Hey! Watch where you’re stepping!     An endangered species of cactus calls Bandera County its home, according to officials with the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife.     The teeny, tiny Tobusch Fishhook Cactus, which also goes by the more formal monikers, Sclerocactus brevihamatus ssp.tobuschiii or Ancistrocactus tobuschii, can be found in seven other counties of the Edwards Plateau, too – Edwards, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Real, Uvalde and Val Verde.     The stem of the Tobusch fishhook cactus usually presents as a solitary, dark green, low-growing cylindrical cactus. However, stressed plants may sport an array of colors, including purple, red or orange.     Maybe you see ‘em …     Mature flowering plants are only one- to two-inches in diameter , but can, on rare occasions, spread to four inches. In addition, this Lilliputian cactus usually emerges only an inch or two from the ground. During droughts, it may actually shrink below the soil. So, when tramping about the Hill Country side, be careful where you plant your Justins.     The plant is normally single-stemmed, but when damaged, may produce multiple stems covered with spines approximately a half-inch long. The sometimes red-tipped yellow spines turn gray as the plant ages.     Why fishhook?     There are three to five central spines and seven to nine radial spines per group, and the upper two central spines form an erect “V.” Most important, however, is the approximately inch and a half long hooked central spine, which gives the Tobusch fishhook cactus its name.     Flowering habitat     The flowering process, which begins in mid-January, reaches full flower – so to speak – in February and ends by late March. Colors range from a brilliant to creamy yellow. Additionally, the one- to one-and-a-half-inch blooms may be yellowish-green when opening, but eventually turn golden-yellow.     The approximately inch-long egg-shaped fruits are green with a rosy pink tinge and have two to six scales.     The Tobusch fishhook cactus thrives in patchy openings scattered in woodlands, scrublands and grasslands in the Edwards Plateau. The miniscule cactus can be found in very shallow gravelly soil over fractured massive limestone in openings within live oak and juniper woodlands. It also occurs in pinyon pine and oak woodlands in the western part of the Edwards Plateau.     Spare the wee sticker     Conservation practices benefiting the Tobusch fishhook cactus include brush management that includes removing individual brush species by hand or with selective mechanical methods, such as an excavator or skid steer; prescribed grazing; and prescribed burns during cool season prior to the cacti bloomin’. However, be sure not to overdo, prescribed burns should be performed only once every five years.     Non-beneficial conservation practices include those harmful to nearly every natural element of the Hill Country, such as using a dozer for mechanical brush management and overgrazing.     Agencies are currently reviewing the status of the Tobusch fishhook cactus. Landowners who wish to share information about this plant occurring on their land should contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service at 254-742-9800 or www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov. NRCS can provide technical assistance, and in some cases, financial assistance as well.     Our wee friend, the Tobusch fishhook cactus, is still an endangered plant species and as such, deserves our protection. Besides, they’re beneficial to native pollinators – that’s bees to you and me – and cute to boot. So, watch where your steppin’.

Horticulture programs Jan. 16-17 in Waco Published Jan. 11, 2007    The 45th Annual Blackland Income Growth Conference Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16-17, at the Waco Convention Center in Waco will offer two horticulture sessions.     Billy Kniffin, Menard County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources will speak Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. Kniffin's topic will be "Rainwater Harvesting for the Homeowner."     Dr. Paul Baumann, Professor at Texas A&M and Extension Weed Specialist, will speak on "Controlling Weeds in Lawns, Flower Beds and Vegetable Gardens" at 10:30 a.m.     The Blackland Income Growth Conference is held annually in Waco and is open to the public.  The registration fee is $12 and the fee entitles attendees to hear both speakers at the Horticulture Session as well as attend the barbeque luncheon at noon.      This year's special speaker at the luncheon will be Bryan Hale.  Hale is a noted speaker throughout South Texas for his concerns for flag and country, Texas pride and Cajun humor.      The BIG Conference is sponsored by the Texas Cooperative Extension and the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.  Registration begins Saturday at 8 a.m.

Medina Rose Garden Club to meet Jan. 10 Published Jan. 4, 2007    The Medina Rose Garden Club will meet at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, in Sandra Vannatter's home in Medina.     Tom Harris, owner and editor of The Country Gardener of Boerne will present, "Pruning Trees and Shrubs."

Native Plant Society to meet Jan. 13 Published Jan. 4, 2007    The Bandera County Native Plant Society of Texas will meet at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Medina Community Library.     Brian and Shirley Loflin, photographer/authors of the new book on grasses, will present, "Native Grasses of the Hill Country."     Contact Susan Tracy at 589-7124 for more information.