Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a fruit research field day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 29 featuring kiwifruit, muscadine grapes, blueberries, figs, feijoas and other fruits.

Speakers will include Dr. David Creech, director of SFA Gardens; and Dr. Tim Hartmann and Dr. Justin Scheiner, both faculty members in Texas A&M University’s Department of Horticultural Sciences.

“While east Texas has suffered through several climate challenges in the last few years, the region has many comparative advantages for the fruit grower,” Creech said. “Low-cost land, easy access to high-quality water sources, big nearby population centers, and more folks interested in growing their own fruit all point to promise in the years ahead.”

The day will start at 9 a.m. with presentations at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building in the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St. There will be a break for attendees to leave for lunch. After the break, participants will then go to the fruit research plots at SFA Gardens around 1 p.m.

The cost of the field day is $15 per person. Register on-site the day of the event or in advance online at sfasu.edu/sfagardens.

For more information, email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

Keith Hansen, a retired extension horticulture agent for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, will present “I Wish I Never Planted That (There), and Other Thoughts after Gardening 30 Years in Tyler.”

Horticulture and gardening have been a hobby in the Hansen family for three generations, starting with Hansen’s grandfather who emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1875, and a subject in “A History of Cleveland and Its Environs.” Hansen’s father was also a hobby gardener with a love of cultivated plants.

Hansen’s career started 50 years ago in retail garden centers as a landscaper and retail sales associate in Austin, where he later helped friends start a new retail nursery. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in horticulture from Texas A&M University, and three years of post-graduate studies in plant physiology from the University of California, Davis.

Before retiring in 2015, Hansen served as an extension horticulture agent in Corpus Christi and Tyler for 29 years. While in Tyler, he helped develop multiple areas within the Tyler Rose Garden, and he oversaw the Master Gardener program.

As an educator and consultant, Hansen learned and taught practical applications for a wide range of horticultural and gardening topics, working with homeowners with no previous gardening experience and master gardeners to retail and wholesale growers. Currently, Hansen consults and helps clients with their landscapes, yards and gardens. He also writes for the Texas Gardener magazine.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the lecture series fund are always appreciated.

Parking is available at the PNPC, 2900 Raguet St., or Raguet Elementary School, 2708 Raguet St.

For more information, email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

By University Marketing Communications

Registration is underway for fall classes in the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music, according to Alba Madrid, Music Prep director.

The fall roster for youth includes private lessons in piano, violin, cello, viola, bass, voice, saxophone and flute. Lessons may be available for other instruments upon request. Group classes will be offered in piano for adults and children, Kindermusik (for students ages 0 to 7), SFA Children’s Chorus, Youth Choir and Strings Project.

Group piano classes include Way Cool Keyboarding 4 Kids (ages 6 through 10) and Way Cool Keyboarding 4 Teens (ages 11 through 14) where students learn chord chart play and traditional note reading. Keyboarding classes begin Sept. 11. Musical Moments at the Piano classes are for adult beginner students and begin Sept. 5.

Kindermusik classes are offered in foundation class (2 years and under), mixed age class (4 years and under) and musicians’ class (4 1/2 to 7 years). Kindermusik is the No. 1 provider of music and movement education for children. Researched-based curriculum boosts brain development and social-emotional growth, while helping young students establish a lifelong love of learning.

The SFA Children’s Chorus for students in second through eighth grade, is a program designed to ignite a love for choral singing and cultivate the talents of aspiring young musicians. Through a series of engaging activities, students will experience the joy of music, develop their vocal skills and forge lasting connections with fellow musicians, according to Madrid.

The Youth Choir, for students in ninth through 12th grades, is a heartwarming and spirited ensemble of talented young voices from throughout the community. The choir nurtures musical growth, fosters friendships and is inclusive in programming and performances.

Strings Project provides practical hands-on training for SFA undergraduate string education majors and gives students the opportunity to learn to play a stringed instrument at a low tuition cost as part of an after-school activity. Instruments taught are violin, viola cello and bass. The project is grant and community funded.

Registration for private and group instruction can be completed online at sfamusicprep.com or by calling (936) 468-1291. Prices range from $75 to $210 per month, depending on frequency, type of lesson and lesson length.

The Music Prep House is located at 3028 Raguet St. Office hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Madrid can also be contacted at: madrida@sfasu.edu or musicprep@sfasu.edu. Parents can also find program information on Facebook and Instagram.