Bell County Master Gardener Association

Bell County Master Gardener Association Bell County Master Gardeners are trained volunteer educators with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, dedicated to sharing research-based horticulture knowledge.

We serve Bell County through public education, sustainable practices, and hands-on outreach. We offer monthly seminars on a variety of horticulture topics on the third Thursday of each month (excluding December).

What’s in Bloom?Looking for a tough, native Texas perennial that is also highly deer resistant? Datura wrightii, commonl...
06/10/2026

What’s in Bloom?
Looking for a tough, native Texas perennial that is also highly deer resistant? Datura wrightii, commonly known as Angel trumpet or Jimsonweed, may be an excellent choice. This hardy plant typically grows about 3 feet tall and can spread up to 10 feet wide, making it a great option for filling a large space. Datura wrightii produces striking white, trumpet-shaped flowers that open at night and remain open until midmorning. It begins blooming in May and continues throughout the summer.
Valuable to wildlife, Datura wrightii serves as a larval host for the Carolina sphinx moth, and its flowers attract bees. The fruit is a light green, prickly, round capsule. It is a low-maintenance plant that spreads readily by seed and thrives in full sun, even in extreme heat. It requires little water, though occasional supplemental watering can help it grow larger and bloom more abundantly.

Caution ⚠️
All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested, and the foliage may cause skin irritation in some people.
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=dawr2

Happening Tonight!Interested in houseplants but not sure where to start—or wondering how to help your current plants thr...
06/03/2026

Happening Tonight!

Interested in houseplants but not sure where to start—or wondering how to help your current plants thrive? Join us tonight for Houseplants Made Easy with Master Gardener Ashley Burnley!

Learn practical tips for choosing the right houseplants, watering, soil, troubleshooting common problems, and easy propagation techniques to help your plants thrive.

✨ Bonus: Attendees will go home with houseplant cuttings to propagate, and we’ll have door prizes!

📅 Tonight – Wednesday, June 3
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 SMART Museum – Nolanville
408 N 10th Street, Nolanville

Whether you're a beginner or already growing a collection, there’s something for everyone!

👉 Click here to register: https://forms.gle/WFrfryxQqyEYnAMXA

UPDATE: This seminar has been cancelled.Unfortunately, we need to cancel our upcoming Gardening in Harmony with Nature s...
06/02/2026

UPDATE: This seminar has been cancelled.

Unfortunately, we need to cancel our upcoming Gardening in Harmony with Nature seminar scheduled for Tuesday, June 9 at H-E-B Copperas Cove.

We appreciate everyone who expressed interest, and we are especially grateful to H-E-B Copperas Cove for their willingness to partner with us to help provide educational gardening opportunities for the community.

Thank you for your understanding, and we encourage you to follow our page for future Bell County Master Gardener educational programs and seminars.

Few plants can match gomphrena for nonstop summer color in a Central Texas garden! These heat-loving flowers thrive in f...
06/01/2026

Few plants can match gomphrena for nonstop summer color in a Central Texas garden! These heat-loving flowers thrive in full sun, tolerate dry conditions once established, and provide valuable nectar for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
Gomphrena’s cheerful globe-shaped blooms make excellent cut flowers and can even be dried to enjoy indoors long after the growing season ends. Available in shades of pink, purple, red, orange, and white, they add vibrant color to garden beds, containers, and pollinator gardens.
Do you grow gomphrena in your garden? We’d love to see your photos in the comments! 🐝🦋🌿

Thinking about adding more houseplants to your home—or wondering how to keep the ones you already have thriving? Join u...
05/27/2026

Thinking about adding more houseplants to your home—or wondering how to keep the ones you already have thriving?
Join us for Houseplants Made Easy, presented by Master Gardener Ashley Burnley!

Learn how to choose the right houseplants and care for them with confidence. This seminar will cover practical skills like:

🪴 Choosing the right plants
💧 Watering & soil basics
🔍 Troubleshooting common problems
🌱 Easy propagation techniques

Whether you’re just getting started or already growing a collection, you’ll leave with practical tips to help your houseplants thrive.

📅 Wednesday, June 3
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 SMART Museum – Nolanville
408 N 10th Street, Nolanville

👉 Click here to register: https://forms.gle/WFrfryxQqyEYnAMXA

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is more than just a beautiful bloom, t’s a pollinator powerhouse! These long-bloo...
05/26/2026

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is more than just a beautiful bloom, t’s a pollinator powerhouse!
These long-blooming perennials add color and texture to the garden while providing nectar for bees and butterflies throughout the growing season. Once the blooms fade, consider leaving the seed heads in place. Goldfinches and other birds may stop by for a snack!
For Central Texas gardeners, purple coneflower performs best in full sun and well-drained soil and becomes fairly drought tolerant once established.
Beautiful gardens can also be hardworking ecosystems and purple coneflower does both.
Do you grow coneflowers in your Bell County garden? Share your photos below! ⬇️

This is the time of year when you may come across a hidden fawn tucked quietly in the garden. If you do, the best thing ...
05/22/2026

This is the time of year when you may come across a hidden fawn tucked quietly in the garden. If you do, the best thing you can do is nothing at all. Keep pets away and leave the fawn where it is.
Wildlife parenting looks very different from human parenting. It is completely normal for a doe to leave her newborn fawn alone for hours at a time while she grazes nearby. This is a natural defense strategy designed to keep the baby safe from predators. The doe will return periodically throughout the day to nurse the fawn and clean away waste to help reduce scents that could attract danger.
If you find a fawn near a roadway or business where it may be at risk, contact a game warden so it can be safely relocated. Otherwise, trust that its mother is close by and will return when it is safe.

🐝May 20 is World Bee Day! Bees may be small, but their impact is enormous. From pollinating fruits and vegetables to sup...
05/20/2026

🐝May 20 is World Bee Day!
Bees may be small, but their impact is enormous. From pollinating fruits and vegetables to supporting native plants and wildlife, bees are essential partners in the garden.
🌻This week, consider adding pollinator-friendly plants, reducing pesticide use, and creating small habitat spaces that help bees thrive. Even one container of blooms can make a difference!

What’s blooming in your garden right now that the bees seem to love most?

References:
https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/assets/insects-pests-diseases/bees-beneficial-insects/
https://travis-tx.tamu.edu/about-2/horticulture/ornamental-plants/annual-and-perennial-flowers-for-austin/best-bee-friendly-plants-for-austin/
https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2021/09/01/benefits-of-pollinator-attracting-companion-plants/
https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/resources/management-guides/managing-insect-and-mite-p[…]otecting-bees-and-other-pollinators-from-insecticides/


Texas A&M AgriLife Extension provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless of race, color, s*x, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, s*xual orientation, or gender identity

Want more plants without spending more money? Join us for Propagation: Stem Cuttings with Dave Slaughter and learn how t...
05/18/2026

Want more plants without spending more money? Join us for Propagation: Stem Cuttings with Dave Slaughter and learn how to turn your existing plants into brand-new ones using simple, practical techniques.

We’ll cover the basics of plant propagation, demonstrate the process, and then you’ll get to try it yourself during a hands-on softwood cutting activity to help build your confidence at home.

📅 Thursday, May 21
🕕 6:00–7:30 PM
📍 Master Gardener Learning Center
1605 N. Main Street, Belton, TX

⚠️ We still have a few spots open, but registration is required and space is limited so we can guarantee supplies for the hands-on portion. If you’ve been thinking about attending, now’s the time to sign up!

🔗 Register here: https://form.jotform.com/261198324488063

Please note: If you are unable to complete registration, the class has likely filled.

Looks can be deceiving…This is a Giant Swallowtail caterpillar, sometimes called an “orange dog,” and its bird-dropping ...
05/14/2026

Looks can be deceiving…
This is a Giant Swallowtail caterpillar, sometimes called an “orange dog,” and its bird-dropping appearance is actually camouflage designed to help predators overlook it. They commonly feed on citrus plants and can blend in surprisingly well at this stage.
But when camouflage isn’t enough, they have another line of defense. Those bright orange “horns” are called osmeteria, which is a hidden organ that pops out when the caterpillar feels threatened, releasing a strong scent meant to deter predators.

Address

1605 North Main, Ste 105
Belton, TX
76513

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 12pm
1pm - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+12549335304

Website

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