By Jackie Sledge
Big Country Master Gardener Association
Many of us have a word for the year, and we concentrate on it for the entire year. It helps us focus our energy and gives us a sense of purpose. For me personally, it helps ground me, and also helps me prioritize what I have to do. I remember using a jar, rocks, small stones, and sand to illustrate that concept when I was still working. If I put the large rocks (priorities) in the jar first, then the small stones and sand filled in around them if there was space. If I put the small stones and sand in first, there was no room for the large rocks, and the important things didn’t get done. I would be frustrated and exhausted. This analogy can be used with my gardening, and I have spent a lot of time doing the small tasks (small stones and sand) and never gotten around to doing the big tasks (big rocks) in my landscape. I’m working on doing better this year, and my word for 2025 is “Development” to help keep me on track.
The Big Country Master Gardener Association doesn’t have a word for the year, but we do have a theme for 2025 – The Year of the Garden. We want to concentrate on learning new gardening skills every month this year, and we are inviting you to join us as we learn through our Library Programs held every month and our Saturday Seminars conducted from February through August.
Let’s look at the month-by-month plans we have for 2025:
January
Library Program – Recliner Gardening. Planning landscape changes and additions for the year.
February
Library Program – Trees. Guidance on selecting trees, planting trees, and caring for trees in our landscapes.
Saturday Seminar – Free Plants. Propagating plants, foraging for plants, and getting passalong plants. Watch for information about registration. This is the only Saturday Seminar that requires registration to attend and a charge for attending.
March
Library Program – Plants and Weeds. How to identify plants and weeds, how to care for plants, and how to reduce or eliminate weeds.
Saturday Seminar – Making Your Bed. Includes soil preparation, composting, mulching, and fertilizing – everything to get your gardens ready for spring.
April
Library Program – Container Gardening. Selecting containers and plants as well as caring for them.
Saturday Seminar – Wet Your Bed. Includes rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation which will make gardening tasks easier.
May
Library Program – Practical Drip Irrigation. Installing drip irrigation in gardens and in pots.
Saturday Seminar – Herb Gardens. Selecting, planting, and growing herbs plus drying herbs for future use.
June
Library Program – Preserving Your Harvest. Canning, freezing, drying, and dehydrating plants and produce.
Saturday Seminar – Butterfly and Pollinator Gardens. Selecting plants and designing gardens that attract butterflies and other pollinators.
July
Library Program – Tropicals. Growing tropical plants in West Texas.
Saturday Seminar – Bulb and Cutting Gardens. Selecting bulbs and plants for gardens plus plants for cut flowers.
August
Library Program – Fruit Trees. Selecting, planting, and growing fruit trees in the Big Country.
Saturday Seminar – Victory Gardens. Planning and planting gardens for food security and sustainable living. This is similar to World War Victory Gardens.
September
Library Program – Overwintering Your Plants. Preparing your plants, greenhouses, shade houses, and sunrooms for housing plants during cold weather.
October
Library Program – Growing Veggies Indoors. Selecting vegetable varieties and growing them indoors to provide fresh vegetables during the winter months.
November
Library Program – House Plants. Selecting plants that grow well indoors and how to plant and tend container gardens.
December
Library Program – Hardscapes. Designing walkways, pathways, edging for beds, and other structures that fit into the landscape design.
There are two Library Programs every month. One is at 6:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the South Library Branch in the Mall of Abilene, and the second one is at 10:00 a.m. on the second Friday of the month in the Main Library at 202 Cedar in Downtown Abilene. The same program is presented at both locations.
The Saturday Seminars from March through August are held in the Conference Room at the Taylor County Extension Office, 1982 Lytle Way. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the program begins at 9:00 a.m.
It’s not too late for you to pick a word for 2025. Some words you might consider are Awareness, Creativity, Cultivate, Dedication, Endeavor, Growth, Learning, Possibility, Renewal, Wonderment, and sooo many more. You remember my word is Development, and my goal is to become aware of the small ways I’m changing and allow myself to learn as I go. This can be for me personally, but it can also be for my landscape. I plan on taking advantage of the learning opportunities from BCMGA to help with “Development” in my landscape. I invite you to attend our programs to help with yours.
If you have any questions about gardening or any of these programs, call the Taylor County Extension Office at 325-672-6048 or email us at mgardeners@yahoo.com. We hope you visit bcmgtx.org for information on all Big Country Master Gardener events, like us on BCMGA Facebook, and check out training presentations on BCMGA YouTube. We are here to help you.
