I thought we could post any gardening events for Texas here so that anyone doing a search would maybe find events easier.

Victoria: The Victoria Master Gardener training classes will begin August 2 and continue through November 29. Classes are held every Thursday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. except for Thanksgiving week. The cost is $135.00 plus an optional $30.00 for a bus trip to Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens. Topics are botany, propagation, diagnosing plant diseases, use of pesticides, herbs, vegetables, perennials, roses, working with Victoria soils, turf grasses, landscaping horticulture plus other useful topics. Additional information may be obtained by calling the Victoria County Extension Office, (361) 578-4851.

Rockport: The Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardener training classes will begin August 7 and continue through December 4. Most classes are held Tuesdays from 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. except for the week of Thanksgiving. The cost is $175.00, of which $50 is refunded following completion of 50 volunteer hours for Master Gardener certification. Topics are basic botany, propagation, diagnosing plant problems, entomology, home vegetable gardening, attracting birds and butterflies, plant selection, soils and fertility, turf, trees, palms, landscape design and Xeriscape, Earth Kind gardening, composting, plus other useful topics. More information is available by calling the Aransas County Extension Office, (361) 790-0103.

Seguin: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners will be sponsoring training classes August 22 through December 5. Classes will meet every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Texas Cooperative Extension Building, 210 East Live Oak, Seguin. Application deadline is July 31. Enrollment is limited to 30 paid students. For more information and application forms, call the Guadalupe County Extension Office at (830) 379-1972.

Austin: The Fifteenth Annual Texas Bamboo Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 25 and 26 at Zilker Botanical Garden, Austin. Sponsored by the Texas Bamboo Society, the event will celebrate the wonders of bamboo with presentations, demonstrations and education information, including Bamboo 101, a Bamboo Kite Making Workshop led by Greg Kono, and Bamboos of Southeast Asia presented by Harry Simmons. Bamboo plants and crafts will be for sale. For additional information, call (512) 929-9565

San Antonio: The San Antonio Botanical Garden is sponsoring a trip to Italy September 4 through 15, featuring Italy's villas and gardens. Escorted by Bob Brackman, the Director of the Garden, an exceptional itinerary has been designed for lovers of leisurely travel and beautiful homes and gardens. Famous for their gardens, Italians still build on their ancestors' legacy with the creation of exquisite country villas surrounded by terraced, fountain-filled gardens that have become symbolic of Italian style. Experience the rich cultural heritage of Italy. Visit special gardens, famous museums, the important cities of Florence and Rome, plus the Lake District, and the small villages which make Italy so charming, such as Cinque Terre, Santa Margherita and Tuscan villages. Feast on fabulous Italian cuisine and enjoy la dolce vita. Land cost per person sharing is $3550 plus air, which includes a $100 tax deductible donation, most meals and gratuities. For more information, contact Marianne Martz of Fuller Travel at (210) 828-6311

Tyler: The Smith County Master Gardener Association will sponsor its annual Fall Gardening Conference at the Tyler Rose Garden Center, 400 Rose Park Drive, Tyler, on Saturday, September 8, from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. A plant sale and expo will be held at Harvey Hall and Convention Center following the conference, from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Conference speakers are Steven L. Chamblee. chief horticulturalist for Chandler Gardens in Weatherford, and Keith Kridler, cultivator and merchant of daffodil varieties including antique daffodils that are no longer or not commonly produced. Admission to the conference and to the plant sale is free. For additional information, call (903) 590-2980.

Independence: The Herb Association of Texas is hosting its annual conference September 14 and 15 at the Antique Rose Emporium in Independence. "Explore the Senses Through Herbs" is open to the public. Jim Long of Long Creek Herb Farm is the featured speaker. call (830) 257-6732 for details and to have registration material mailed to you.


Rockport: The Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardener Association "Hidden Gardens Tour & Fall Plant Sale" will be held Saturday, September 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Hidden Gardens Tour and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the Fall Plant Sale at Green Acres, 611 East Mimosa Street at Pearl Street, Rockport. Get your tickets and maps at Green Acres for this one-day event in addition to purchasing those much-wanted plants that you can't find anywhere. The maps will lead you to wonderful Hidden Gardens in both Aransas County and San Patricio County. Be sure to take the time to wander through the demonstration gardens at Green Acres, which are continuously being updated and maintained by the Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardener Association. Admission is $10.00. For pre-registration tickets and/or questions contact the Aransas County Texas Cooperative Extension, Rockport, at (361) 790-0103.

Fort Worth, Dallas: Visit America's very best, rarely seen, Private Gardens. The Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program has been opening the gates to America's best private gardens since 1995. The 2007 season features more than 350 gardens across 21 states. Learn about gardens participating in your area through the Open Days Directory, an annual publication listing open gardens with garden descriptions, open dates and hours, and directions. To purchase a Directory or for more information, call (888) 842-2442. The $5 admission fee supports the expansion of the Open Days Program around the country and helps build awareness of the Garden Conservancy's work of preserving exceptional American gardens such Peckerwood Garden in Hempstead. 2007 Texas Open Days: Fort Worth: October 14; Dallas: October 20.

Belton, Temple, Killeen: The Bell County Master Gardener Association will host the Fall Glory garden tour Saturday, October 20, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Gardens in Belton, Temple and Killeen will be showcased. Admission is $5 for adults. For additional information, contact Sue Morgan at (254) 698-8668.

Waco: The Texas Gourd Society presents its 12th annual Lone Star Gourd Festival October 27 and 28, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, at the Waco Convention Center, 100 Washington Ave., Waco. Featured will be gourd artists and crafters, demonstrations, seminars and much more. Admission is $5 for adults; children under 12 are free.

Independence: The Antique Rose Emporium at 10,000 FM 50 in Independence will host their 20th Fall Festival of Roses November 2 through 4. Speakers, who will present a variety of garden related topics, include Dave Wittenger, Dave's Garden Web; Stephen Scaniello, Heritage Rose Foundation; and Chris Carley, National Arboretum Horticulturist. All seminars are free to the public. Old Garden roses, including Earthkind and Pioneer Roses, herbs, perennials, and Texas natives will be available for sale. For additional information, call (979) 836-5548.

New Braunfels: Hill Country Orchid Society's "Wurst Orchid Show & Sale" will take place Saturday and Sunday, November 3 and 4, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the New Braunfels Elks Lodge, 353 S. Seguin, New Braunfels. Admission is free. For more information, call (830) 629-2083.

Galveston: Festive sights and sounds will fill Moody Gardens at the sixth annual Festival of Lights November 17 through January 5. This whimsical celebration will kick off the holiday season on November 17, with Santa Claus parachuting in to switch on the lights. Festival of Lights is celebrated Thursday through Sunday November 17 through December 16, and daily beginning December 17. Transforming its lush tropical garden setting into a winter wonderland, Moody Gardens will be adorned with more than a million twinkling lights and dozens of light displays. In addition to experiencing the lights, guests can also strap on a pair of skates and glide across the ice at the Outdoor Ice Rink at Moody Gardens. Indoors, visitors can take pictures with Santa or even gaze upon a giant poinsettia tree. Moody Gardens will feature a variety of holiday-themed films during the Festival of Lights. Three films will be playing at the IMAX 3D theater and two films will be playing at the Ridefilm theater. The Garden Restaurant will feature a delectable holiday buffet, offered from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Group rates of $20 per person are also available for groups of 20 or more, and include admission to Festival of Lights and the holiday buffet. Admission into the Festival of Lights is $5.95, and tickets to additional attractions including the Rainforest Pyramid, holiday IMAX 3D film, holiday Ridefilm, Outdoor Ice Rink and Colonel Paddlewheel Boat, can be purchased for only $4.00 each. For more information, call Moody Gardens at (800) 582-4673

Garland: The Garland Organic Club meets the first Sunday of each month in the little red school house at 1651 Wall St., Garland. All interested gardeners are invited to attend. For more information, call (972) 864-1934 or (800) 864-4445.

Allen: The Allen Garden Club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the little blue-gray house located at 102 N. Allen Dr., Allen.

Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners meet at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin.

Rockport: An herb study group founded in March 2003 meets the second Wednesday of every month at the ACISD Maintenance Department (Formerly Rockport Elementary), 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport at 10 a.m. to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including the historical uses of the herbs and tips for successful propagation and cultivation.

San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels (corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels).

Fort Worth: The Organic Garden Club of Forth Worth meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month except July and December at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens main building. Refreshments are served. For more information, call (817) 274-8460.

Dallas: The Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 6:45 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Fretz Park Recreation Center, located at the corner of Hillcrest and Beltline Road in Dallas. For more information, call (214) 824-2448

Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (except November and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact David at (817) 483-7746.

~~~~Home & Garden Shows~~~~

Houston

26th Annual Houston Home Show

August 17-19 * George R. Brown Conv. Ctr

12th Annual Texas Home & Garden Show

Oct. 26-28 * Reliant Center

Dallas

24th Annual Dallas Home & Garden Show

Sept. 14-16 * Market Hall

Fort Worth

17th Annual Fort Worth Home & Garden Show

Sept. 14-16 * Fort Worth Conv. Ctr.

Austin

11th Annual Texas Home & Garden Show

Sept. 7-9 * Austin Conv. Ctr.

The following 2 articles were found on 2 different websites. Note that the dates are not the same so if you are interested in attending this event, contact someone to see which date is correct. GARDEN ART & PLANT SALE Saturday, September 22, 2007 ANNUAL GARDEN ART AND PLANT SALE Heidi Sheesley, owner of Treesearch Farms, will be the featured speaker at the September 19th Garden Club Meeting. She will provide an overview of the plants that will be featured at the Garden Art and Plant Sale the following Saturday. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 18th, 10:00 AM, at the Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way in Sugar Land. Anyone with an interest in gardening or horticulture is welcome to attend! Sale Date: Saturday, September 22, 2007 8:30 a.m. 1 p.m. Location: 930 Sugar Lakes Drive, Sugar Land, TX Featuring: Natives, Perennials, Hard to Find Plants, Garden Art for Inside & Out,and Seeds from Members' Gardens The Sugar Land Garden Club will hold its annual Garden Art and Plant Sale on Saturday, September 22nd, 2007 from 8:30am to 1:00pm at the Sugar Lakes Club House, 930 Sugar Lakes Drive in Sugar Land. The sale will feature a wide variety of sought after plants supplied by Treesearch farms, plus an array of beautifully handcrafted garden art crafted by local artists, and seeds from members' gardens. Heidi Sheesley of Treesearch Farms will make a presentation at the SLGC meeting on Tuesday September 18th highlighting the plants that will be featured at the sale. Proceeds from the sale support SLGC's community service projects including the Scholarship Fund, support for environmental education, library donations, support for Habitat for Humanity, maintenance of a public butterfly garden, Arbor Day tree planting, and more.