Holy Cow! Trying to garden this year is already stranger than usual, even for us. This morning it was 38.7 degrees here on our place at Oatmeal. Let’s see, it was high 90’s just a few days ago, so what in the world is going on. So many gardeners have already had to replant due to the late freezes, which took out the peaches in many areas (mine included).

The Farmers Almanac and the gentleman in Gillespie County missed the prediction of a wet April. Unfortunately our true weather guru Bob Rose was correct. I really like Bob, however, I sure wish that he was wrong and we did have a wet April. If ever there was a time for water conservation, now is certainly the time. My creek (Oatmeal Creek) is down over 24" in just the last few weeks. It is time to bring on the prayers that West Texas did in the drought of the fifties. I remember when the drought broke and as in everything else in Texas it was from one extreme to the other.

Here is an interesting opportunity. There will be a lecture on "Climate Change, Biodiversity and Texas" by Dr. Wendy Gordon of Texas Parks and Wildlife. The Highland Lakes Native Plant Society is sponsoring the program at 1pm Saturday May 21

Bee Education

Well if you ever wanted to know about bees and harvesting honey this is your chance. It is so good that the Master Naturalist approved this course for the last two years for advanced training. The class will be given on two Saturdays (June 4 and June 11) at 9-12 noon. The first class will be held at the Burnet Library on the square in Burnet. Participants will be given a certificate of Beekeeping. For all the information please contact Mary and Mike Goff at memagoff@zeecom.com.

Mosquitoes Solutions

I try to write about this simple way to cure the mosquito problem every year for new comers to the area and this year I had added a couple of new ones. This is an easy solution with Lemon Joy liquid soap available, water and a white ceramic dish as your weapons. Place the dish in an area away from where you are going to be enjoying the yard, deck, porch etc. Fill the dish with water, add a few drops (be generous) of Lemon Joy, swish the water around and make it soapy and then stand back. The little flying devils are attracted to it to drink and are they are dead within 15 feet of the dish. WARNING: Do not place the dish anywhere near where you are going to be. Another solution is to take a sheet of "Bounce" and drape it out of a pants or shirt pocket so that it is exposed, or you can pin it on your shirt or blouse and it will keep the mosquitoes off of you. Another solution is to use "Listerine" and spray the surface of your deck flooring and railings. Hope these solutions are as helpful to you as it was to Patty and me.

May duties

It is still time to plant seeds of sunflowers, zinnias, morning glory, marigolds, periwinkles, and gourds. Continue to feed every four to six weeks with Organic Rose Food those roses that are providing you with those awesome colors and fragrance. Now we can plant my wife Patty’s favorite set of plants, caladiums, petunias, impatiens and begonias in well prepared shady or partly shaded areas.

When your veggies start producing remember to harvest the veggies when they are small and tender. If you let them grow big then they are not as flavorful and are tougher. When we are harvesting the big veggies (such as squash the size of our arm) in our gardens it is an indication that we are not in our gardens daily.

Farmers Market

Yea, Praise God, the Farmers Markets are back in business full strength. As I said above, this year has been tough on the gardening group that plants early. The markets have everything from Yard Eggs, to Pesto, to really interesting and tasty veggies. Then there are the baked goods and sometimes fresh from the Texas fish and shrimp. Maybe someone will bring in fresh frog legs sometime. The Burnet Farmers Market is each Saturday 9-12 on the west side of the Square in Burnet. Follow the signs on the highways 29 and 281. Check with your locals in your area of the Hill Country where and when they met.

Till Next Month!

Keep your souls and your soles in your garden!

Remember the True Master Gardener: Jesus said, "I am the vine; my Father is the Gardener." John 15:1

Have questions or comments? Contact Bill Luedecke at The Luedecke Group Realtors, P.O. Box 1632, Bertram, TX. 78605 (no Post Office in Oatmeal) or email bill@texasland.net. For additional gardening web sites, go to his web site; www.TexasLand.Net and click on links.

st at the Marble Falls Library.