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!

Wednesday, May 21st - Free Seminar: Creating a Tropical Paradise, 7 - 9 pm
Garden Center at Zilker Botanical Garden

• Crave the tropical look for your yard or interior of your home? Want to know more about the tropical plant cultivation? Gain knowledge at free seminar to accomplish your goal. Speakers are from the Master Gardener organization and Natural Gardener Nursery.
• Perennial Tropical Plans for Central Texas covers many of the tropical plants that can tolerate/thrive in the local growing conditions. Plant this selection once and enjoy the look for a long time.
• Tropical Plants for the Interior discusses the conditions preferred by the plants to remain healthy. Many varieties that favor interior living are included. Time will be spent on problems and pest that are common to interior tropical plants.
• How to Grow Ferns to create a lush look. Discover the varieties of ferns and conditions necessary for successful growing ferns in our local area.
• Integrating Tropicals with Natives for a Tropical Look discusses using tropical plants as annuals as well as in pots along with perennials to create that tropical feel.
• Bring samples of diseased, bug eaten, sick plants to the Plant Clinic. Experts will diagnose the problem and offer possible remedies.
• The seminar is sponsored by the Travis County Master Gardener Association in partnership with the Texas AgriLife Extension. For more information call 512-854-9600 and ask for the Master Gardener’s desk.

Saturday, June 7th, 10 am - noon
Free Seminar: Basics of Building a Pond
Zilker Botanical Garden

Always dreamed of a little pond in your yard? Learn how you can personally make your dream come true. This free seminar is a step by step lesson on the basics of building a pond yourself. Related pond topics are incorporated in the seminar.

• Be trained with visuals on Small Pond Construction. Determine the supplies and equipment needed for the job. Learn how easy it is to do it a by yourself.
• Gather information about Pond Plants. Find out which plants do well in a small pond and the growing requirements. Examples of a number of varieties will be illustrated.
• Which fish is ideal for the small pond? Study the choices. Hear about the care essentials to grow healthy fish.
• Other Things You Need to Know provides instruction on general pond maintenance. Enhance the night time ascetics of the pond with information on pond lighting. Raccoons, birds and other critters love ponds. Understand methods to help prevent unwanted guest.
• Bring samples of diseased, bug eaten, sick plants to the Plant Clinic. Experts will diagnose the problem and offer possible remedies.
• Austin Parks Department charges a $3 fee for parking.

Saturday, July 12, 10 am - noon
Free Seminar: "What is Wrong with this Plant?",
Zilker Botanical Garden

• The biggest challenge for gardeners is correctly diagnosing plant problems and prescribing effective, safe solutions. The purpose of this seminar is to help the gardener understand the causes of plant problems; the process for diagnosing plant problems; and general management techniques and strategies to employ to help plants overcome problems. The first step is to understand who or what is the culprit: insect, disease or environmental factor.
• A Plant Clinic will be open during the entire seminar in an adjoining room. Bring samples in a plastic bag of your diseased or bug eaten plants to the Plant Clinic. Get expert guidance on possible solutions to restoring the plant’s health.

Saturday, September 6, 10 am - Noon
Using Water Wisely
West Rural Community Center 8656 Hwy. 71 W., Building A

Rain, free but at times a scarce commodity! This free seminar concentrates on capturing rainwater and landscaping with plants requiring little water.

• Confine rainwater and save it for your own use! Gain the knowledge necessary to build a rainwater harvesting system. All the basics are covered to build a non potable water harvesting system.
• Not ready for a full blown rainwater harvesting system? Think small. A demonstration will show how to make a simple, inexpensive rain barrel collection system.
• Lower your water usage by utilizing native and adapted landscape plants that look great and need a minimal amount of water to thrive. This method of gardening is called xeriscaping. If desired, a green, lush looking landscape can be achieved.
• Bring samples of diseased, bug eaten, sick plants to the Plant Clinic. Experts will diagnose the problem and offer possible remedies.

This free seminar is presented by the Travis Country Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer arm of the Texas A&M and Travis County AgriLife Extension Service. Seminar is free. No reservations taken. For more information call 512-854-9600 and ask for the Master Gardeners desk.

More details to come on these seminars:

Wednesday, September 17, 7-9 pm
Fall Vegetable Gardening
Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd.

Wednesday, October 22, 7-9 pm
Plant Photography
Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd.

Saturday, November 15, 10 am - noon
Preparing for Winter and Spring Bulbs
Sunset Valley City Hall, 3206 Jones Rd.