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Bell County Master Gardener Association

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Bell County Master Gardener Association

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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).

11/03/2026

We're wrapping up our 2027 Gardening Education Survey, and there's just ONE WEEK LEFT to share your input!

The Bell County Master Gardeners are planning next year's seminars and other educational programming, and we want to know what YOU would like to learn.

Want to grow better vegetables?
Interested in native plants and pollinator gardens?
Need help with trees, landscaping, or those stubborn Central Texas soils?
Tired of sharing your garden with the deer?

We also want to know where you'd like to attend programs, what days and times work best for you, and whether you prefer in-person or virtual learning.

Whether you're brand new to gardening or have been digging in Bell County soil for decades, we'd love to hear from you!

The survey closes November 10! It takes just 5–7 minutes to complete.

Scan the QR code in the graphic or take the survey here:
https://forms.gle/BofCai7dYvVhKsud6

And please share this with your gardening friends and neighbors. The more voices we hear from across Bell County, the better!

11/03/2026

🤍 Plant Spotlight: White Mistflower!
A Texas native that brings beauty and pollinators to the fall garden! White mistflower produces clouds of delicate white blooms that provide valuable late-season nectar for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
Drought tolerant once established, can take part shade, and easy to grow, it’s a wonderful addition to pollinator gardens and landscapes with filtered or full sunlight.
Consider adding this beautiful native to your landscape!

11/02/2026

November is here, though Central Texas appears to be easing into the whole “fall” thing.

With warm afternoons and cooler nights in the forecast, there’s still plenty to do in the garden. Our November Garden Guide covers vegetables and herbs to plant, flowers for cool-season color, and a good opportunity to get trees, shrubs, and perennials established before next summer.

Keep checking soil moisture, especially around new plantings, and use these comfortable days to get things done. You might also locate your frost covers now, preferably before a future forecast sends you searching the garage after dark.

Save this guide for the month ahead! What’s on your November planting list?

10/26/2026

What's in Bloom? Fall Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) is a beautiful Texas native perennial that brings a burst of purple to the landscape when many other plants are winding down for the season.
Blooming from September through November, Fall Aster produces an abundance of nectar-rich flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
It typically grows to about 1 foot tall, although it can reach up to 3 feet, making this hardy perennial an excellent groundcover or a great addition to the front of a garden bed.
Fall Aster thrives in full sun but can tolerate some shade. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and adapts well to our Central Texas growing conditions. It is also cold hardy to USDA Zone 4, making it a reliable choice for our winters.
After the first hard freeze, the upper growth will die back, but small, tidy rosettes of foliage often emerge near the base by early winter. Cutting back the dead stems will reveal attractive green rosettes, acting as winter groundcover.

Looking for beautiful fall color while supporting local pollinators? Fall Aster is a wonderful addition to your Texas landscape! 💜

10/21/2026

Schedule change: The October 22 seminar, “Propagation: Division, Root Cuttings & Bulb Chipping,” has been cancelled. There will be no Thursday night seminar this month.

Please join us November 19 at 6:00 PM when Master Gardener Gary Slanga will discuss growing fruits, nuts, and berries at home, including options for limited space and common growing challenges.

📍 Bell County Extension Office
1605 North Main Street, Belton

Our social media pages are the best place to find the most current information about upcoming seminars, events, and schedule changes. Be sure to follow us to stay up to date!

Please help us spread the word about the cancellation so we can save folks an unnecessary trip!

10/20/2026

Something good is growing!

Save the date for the 2027 Spring Garden Forum: From Soil to Table, coming March 6, 2027, to the Cultural Activities Center (CAC) in Temple. We’re putting together a day of fresh ideas and garden inspiration, and we can’t wait to share more!

And for our 2026 forum attendees, here’s a little reminder: If you haven’t used your $25 gift certificate generously donated by Grizzly's Hidden Falls Nursery & Landscaping , fall is a lovely time to put it to use. Think perennials, a landscape refresh, or a little something special for your garden.

Certificates expire March 5, 2027. Thank you, Grizzly’s, for helping our attendees keep growing!

Mark your calendars, use those certificates, and stay tuned for more forum news.

10/20/2026

Plant Spotlight: Rock Penstemon
Looking for a beautiful, water-wise addition to your Central Texas landscape? Meet rock penstemon (Penstemon baccharifolius)!
🌿 Why we love it:
🌺 Tubular red flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators.
☀️ Thrives in full sun to partial shade.
🪨 Prefers well-drained soil and is an excellent choice for rocky, limestone landscapes.
💧 Drought tolerant once established.
🌱 Its compact, evergreen foliage provides year-round interest.
Gardening tip: Good drainage is essential! Even drought-tolerant plants need regular watering while establishing their root systems.

Have you grown rock penstemon in your landscape? Share your experience in the comments!

10/14/2026

Looking for a fall blooming vine that has spectacular wow factor? Meet Queen’s Wreath, Antigonon leptopus. Also known as Coral vine, this native to Mexico is often found in Southern heirloom gardens. A fast growing, sun loving perennial that can tolerate some shade, Queen’s Wreath will quickly spread to 20 feet wide and can reach heights twice as tall with support. Because of this enthusiastic behavior, it is best not to plant Queen’s Wreath in landscapes adjacent to natural areas. In our Central Texas area, it will often freeze back in winter but will quickly return in spring. Leaves are large, heart shaped, and light green. A stunning display of blooms will begin in late summer and continue through the fall. These are normally rosy pink but light pink and white varieties may also be found. This plant is highly drought tolerant and is a favorite of bees and butterflies. It also makes a great passalong plant to share with friends and neighbors.

🌸 Interested in seeing this plant in person? You will find a great examples of it at the Belton Extension Center, 1605 N Main St, Belton. Join our Master Gardeners to see this beautiful plant and other great examples of water-wise plantings that work well in our challenging climate during a walking tour/lecture October 17th, Saturday 9am-11am. In the Killeen area? You will find Queen’s Wreath growing on the grounds outside the Killeen Municipal Court Community Garden behind the Killeen Civic Center, 1814-1848 Michele Dr, Killeen.

10/12/2026

A beautiful yard doesn’t have to be a thirsty one!

Join Bell County Master Gardeners Cynthia Beck, Charlotte Nunnery, and Betty Nejtek on Saturday, October 17, from 9 AM–12 PM for a morning of practical ideas for a water-wise landscape.

We’ll start indoors with a presentation on native plants, low-water turf, and ways to use less water while still making room for lawn and flowering perennials. Then we’ll head outside for a guided walk through the landscape to see some of those ideas in practice.

📍 Bell County Master Gardeners Learning Center
1605 N Main St, Belton

No registration needed, and you don’t need to bring anything. Just come ready to learn and take a stroll with us!

10/11/2026

💙 Want bluebonnets blooming next spring? Now is the time to sow seeds! 🌱
Fall is a great time to plant bluebonnets in Central Texas. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil, scatter seeds, and press them gently into the soil for good seed-to-soil contact. Pro tip…sow right before rain is forecasted to let nature do the watering.

🌼 A little work this fall means a beautiful display of Texas blue next spring!

Follow the Bell County Master Gardener Association for more seasonal gardening tips and educational programs.

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

http://txmg.org/bell/, https://txmg.org/bell/kmccg-blog/

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