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February 2006 |
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February 2006 |
Monroe County Master
Gardener Newsletter
Roots and Shoots
February 2006 Issue, Volume 22, Issue 2
Notice
2006 Master Gardener membership renewal is due in the Extension Office by March
1. Membership renewal blank is included in this issue.
In This Issue
2006 Master Gardener
Board:
Greetings from Our New President, Marilyn Brinley, and Extension Educator, Amy
Thompson
Get to Know Your Fellow Master Gardeners
Important Dates and Events
Member News
Firewitch Dianthus Perennial of the Year
Emerald Ash Borer News and Ways to Avoid Scams
Cincinnati Flower Show Trip Coming in April
MG Favorite Garden Books
Volunteer Opportunities
Pruning Trees and Grapes Advanced Training at Purdue
Bulbs and Mild Winter Weather
Classes for Education Credit
2006 Master Gardener Board
President Marilyn Brinley
Vice Presidents Ann McEndarfer, Nancy White
Secretaries Barbara Cappy, Mary Hawkins
Treasurers Dale Calabrese, Diana Young
Journalists Lydia Anderson, Helen Hollingsworth
State Advisory Board Gino Brancolini, Herman Young
Extension Educator Amy Thompson
Marilyn Brinley Elected President
I would like to introduce myself to those of you who might not know me. My name is Marilyn Brinley and I have just been elected as the President of our fine organization for this year.
I went through the intern class in 2000 and became certified later that year. I became an Advance Master Gardener in 2002. I held the position of treasurer in 2001 and 2002. After a couple of years break, I came back to the board last year as recording secretary.
Since joining Master Gardeners, I have begun writing and to date I have written around 20 articles for our newsletter and plan to write more. I encourage all members who have an affinity for writing to give it a try. I personally would like to see more articles from our own members in the newsletter.
It is also my hope to see more member involvement at our general meetings, and I encourage every member to attend at least one general meeting this year. Our general meetings usually are held on a Tuesday in January, March, May, July, and September, with a holiday party either in November or December. The exact date and place will be announced in the newsletter, and education hours are available for some meetings.
In addition, please remember that all members are welcome to attend the board meetings. The time and place for each meeting will be announced in the newsletter.
Sincerely, Marilyn Brinley
A Message from Our Extension Educator, Amy Thompson
Dear Monroe County MGA members,
Last week we got off to a great start on the 2006 Master Gardener Intern Training class. We have a wonderful group of people involved in the training program; from looking over their applications I know they bring a wide variety of gardening interest and experiences with them to our program. I’m sure that these trainees will be valuable assets to the association upon completion of the training program and volunteer hours. Although I’ve been coordinating the Master Gardener program for the past 3.5 years while working for Purdue Extension in Brown Co. I did not have the privilege of working with a formal Master Gardener association. I’m very excited about working with the MCMGA because of all the opportunities that can be offered to Monroe County’s current and future certified Master Gardeners. I look forward to meeting you and working with you in the future.
Amy
Get to Know Your Fellow Master Gardeners by Lydia Anderson
If you are looking for volunteer hours, consider helping at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden this year. It is a great place to develop friendships with your fellow Master Gardeners, learn from their experience, share ideas, and take home a few extra plants.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the garden, it is located at the Monroe County fair grounds off of Bunger Road. There are several established beds including a shade garden, mixed perennial bed, herb garden, heirloom garden, raised beds, and an ornamental grass demonstration plot plus a number of plots that change from year to year.
Anyone who is interested in having a plot or helping out, please call me at (812) 825-2961 or email me at landers@wormsway.com. I’m looking forward to another fun and interesting garden this year and hope to get an early start. I am also hoping to meet you!
Dates and Events by Mary Jane Hall
Listed below are events of interest to gardeners listed in order of dates. Now is the time to look ahead and plan to participate in educational opportunities or to visit gardens or garden shows.
February 4 – 12: National City Cleveland Home and Garden Show; for info call: 800-600-0307 or www.homeandflower.com
February 16: Horticulture Magazine Symposium, Color Rich Gardens; Indianapolis Museum of Art,
February 24: Woody Plants Symposium, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL; for info call 847-835-6829 0r www.chicagobotanic.org
March 2 – 5: Nashville Lawn& Garden Show; for info call 615-876-7680 or www.nashvillelawnandgardenshow.com
March 4: Madison County Master Gardener Advanced Training; Fairgrounds, Alexandria, IN; 8:30am – 3:30pm; $30, lunch included; registration due: 2/24/06, call: 765-641-9514 or email jorick@purdue.edu ; 6 CE hours; various instructors
March 5 – 12: Philadelphia Flower Show; for info call: 215-988-8899 or www.theflowershow.com
March 11- 19: Chicago Flower and Garden Show; for info call: 312-222-5086 or www.chicagoflower.com
March 20, 27, April 3: IU Lifelong Learning; 450 S. Landmark Av., classroom #, Bloomington; 7 – 8:30pm; $60, call: 812-855-51008; 4.5 CE hours; Anita Bracalente, instructor
May 11,12: American Horticultural Society School, The Art and Science of Color in the Garden, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH; for info call 703-768-3700 x 121 or www.ahs.org
New Master Gardener by Joanna Howe
We welcome Nita Horrar to the rank of Master Gardener. Nita put in numerous hours connected with the Bloomington Garden Walk, helped several relatives and neighbors with landscaping questions/problems, put together a demonstration on flower arranging for a women's group, and helped prepare a newsletter for mailing. Congratulations, and keep on growing!
Member News by Nancy White
Advanced Training a Huge Success
The advanced training session, Trees, All Seasons, All Reasons, was a success, thanks to all of the MCMGA members who planned, organized, and worked on the event for the last several months. If you missed attending on Saturday, February 4, too bad, because the information on trees given by our speakers, Ralph Unversaw and Lee Huss, was enlightening, encouraging, and challenging. We could not have shared this informative day without the following planning members and their committees:
General Chairs—Ann
McEndarfer and Nancy White
Publicity—Chair: Helen Hollingsworth and Larime Wilson
Food—Chair: Marilyn Brinley and Ann Wrenn, Richie Epps, Mary Jane Hall, Gino
Brancolini
Handouts/Folders—Chair: Ann McEndarfer, Mary Hawkins, Dan Nichols, Cheryl Engber
Decorations/Door Prizes—Chair: Nancy White, Judy Hawkins, Diana Young
Set Up—Herman Young
Clean Up—Chair: Jeff Schafer, Barb Cappy, Dale Calabrese, Lydia Anderson
Thanks to our host site, St. Marks Methodist Church, for the use of wonderful Garton Hall and to the Extension Office secretarial staff, Jackie and Kris, who supported our efforts with design, duplicating, and organizational tasks. We are grateful to everyone who joined to help our committees.
We also thank the following for donations of food and door prizes: Lowe’s Home Improvement, Bloomington Hardware, Bloomington Bakehouse, Linnea Good from “Linnea’s Greenhouse”, Abell’s Nursery and Landscaping, and Andy and Amy Hamilton from Musgraves Orchard. Patronize these generous community friends when you can.
Mark These 2006 MCMGA Meeting Dates on Your Calendar
At our recent general meeting, programs for 2006 were discussed, and ideas were shared for speakers and topics of interest. The following plans reflect some of these ideas. Here are dates for 2006 general meetings.
Date & Time Place Program
March 28, 6:30 p.m. First Christian Church Garden Design
May 23, 6:30 p.m. Karst Farm Park Shelter Celebration/Welcome Intern
Class and Plant Exchange
July 18, 6:00 p.m. Monroe Co. Fairgrounds Work Session in Garden
September 26, 6:30 p.m. TBA TBA
November 28, 6:00 p.m. First United Church Holiday Program & Dinner
January 23, 07, 6:30 p.m. Monroe Co. Public Lib. TBA
Wonder Garden
Located next to WonderLab on West 4th Street is Wonder Garden, a professionally designed, beautiful, and relaxing addition to downtown Bloomington. The WonderLab staff seeks our help with developing a yearly maintenance plan and in developing and engaging a volunteer team to provide maintenance and upkeep. Master Gardener volunteers might help in directing volunteer teams. This will be a win-win situation for all, since MG members can gain volunteer hours by providing education and direction to both volunteers and WonderLab staff. Thanks to MG members Elizabeth Brown, Barb Cappy, Cheryl and Mike Engber, Rosemary Dever, and Nancy White, who gave their planning expertise in January.
Firewitch Dianthus Named 2006 Perennial of the Year by B. Rosie Lerner
The Perennial Plant Association has selected Dianthus gratianopolitanus Firewitch' (Feuerhexe') as its 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year. Also known as a cheddar pink, the perennial dianthus is an excellent choice for use as an edging plant, as a rock garden specimen, to soften retaining walls, and in container gardens.
Firewitch' has hot pink flowers that bloom profusely in mid to late spring, with some repeat bloom in summer and fall if you deadhead faded blooms. As an added bonus, the flowers have a spicy clove-like fragrance. The bluish-gray evergreen foliage forms solid mats, making it an excellent ground cover, even when not in bloom. Plants reach only 3-4 inches tall, though the blooming stems add a few more inches.
Dianthus performs best in full sun, though light shade is helpful in particularly hot locations. The plant is rather adaptable, but well-drained soil is a must. Plants are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Plants are easy to propagate by division or by stem cuttings taken just before or immediately after flowering.
This particular selection of Dianthus was introduced by a German nursery in 1957 as Fererhexe but was mostly unknown in the United States until the late 1980s, when a Connecticut nursery (Sunny Border) took up its cultivation. Commonly sold now as Firewitch in the United States, you can find it in many local garden centers and mail-order catalogs, wherever perennials are sold.
Members of the Perennial Plant Association, generally professional plant growers, select one perennial each year to educate the gardening public and to promote planting of perennial flowers. For more information, visit the association's Web site at http://www.perennialplant.org.
Looking for a Catalog?
Here 'tis! A website to refer to on those long days waiting for spring to happen: Cindi's Catalog of Garden Catalogs at http://www.gardenlist.com/. It was last updated in January, 2005. This is the home gardener's one stop to find all the mail-order gardening catalogs in the US and Canada--over 2000 of them! Check here first to find the company and see its ratings for quality, service, price and breadth of varieties. You will also find links to mail-order companies outside North America, and other gardening-related sites.
Submitted by Richard Cates
Volunteer Hours by Mary Hawkins
With the election of new board members in January 2006, the new person to send your volunteer and education hours to is Mary Hawkins. You can either mail your hours to her attention at the extension office's address or e-mail directly to marywalloon@aol.com. If you have any questions about what counts you may call any of the board members or Mary Hawkins at 824-2139 or 360-0485. Make your time count. Turn in those hours!
2006 TCMGA Gardening Workshops
Tippecanoe County Master Gardeners workshops are presented at the Tippecanoe County Extension Office. Reserve your spot by calling Debbie at 800.853.3286 or Mary Ann at 765.477.8160. Upcoming workshops: Orchids and Roses, Saturday, March 11, 9-noon, and Butterflies in the Garden, 6:30-9 p.m., Thursday, April 6.
Beware of ‘Help’ with Your Emerald Ash Borer Problem
According to news reports, over 10 million trees in Michigan and Ohio have been killed by the emerald ash borer or cut down to avoid or to contain infestations by the insect, a destructive pest infecting ash trees. Earlier, it was believed the emerald ash borer was only in northern Indiana, notably in LaGrange, Steuben, and Noble. In an effort to contain the spread of the insect, Hoosier National Forest (HNF) employees suggested that ash trees be cut down and that no transport of wood from these countries be allowed to other Indiana areas. Now, despite these efforts, news reports indicate that the infestation has accelerated and infected trees are known to be in Hamilton and Hendricks Counties. HBF employees say that the swiftly implemented policies for destruction of trees did not seem to deter the fluorescent green bugs and that homeowners and small forest managers should not destroy the ash trees but to wait to gauge the damage later. Check your ask trees for signs of damage or weakness and be on the lookout for a green bug that eats only ash trees and is very hard to locate until after the damage is done. Pictures of this lethal creature are available on-line at www.emeraldashborer.info.
Purdue’s Words of Wisdom to Avoid Emerald Ash Scams
Warning:
Watch out for deceptive practices! 
Purdue's Emerald Ash Borer website is http://www.entm.purdue.edu/eab/
Cincinnati Flower Show Trip Is April 26
Master Gardeners and Friends are sponsoring a trip to the Cincinnati Flower Show on April 26. Better Homes and Gardens rated this show as the King of all Flower Shows.
The Cincinnati Flower Show is known for brilliant single genus displays and extraordinary show gardens. This is an opportunity to see garden ideas for every space and for first-rate shopping for gardeners. Look for fresh design ideas and over-the-top tablescapes. This is the only North American flower show endorsed by the Royal Society of Great Britain.
A Star of America coach will provide the transportation. The cost of the trip is $46, which includes a snack, a bottle of water, transportation and admission ticket. Lunch is on your own. There is a café at the flower show and a fast food pit shop will also be available.
Sign up by March 22 at Monroe County Parks & Recreation by phone (349-2800) or in person. Monroe County Parks & Recreation is open between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Mastercard/Visa, checks, and cash are accepted.
MG Favorite Garden Books by Marilyn Brinley
Our Master Gardener January general meeting included a review of favorite garden books. I thought that it truly was a shame that such a wonderful event had such a small audience. With that in mind, I have decided that we could certainly share our favorite gardening books through our monthly newsletter.
I would like to continue this series of book recommendations and with that in mind, I invite all members to email me (mlbrinley@aol.com) a list of favorite gardening books. Please include the title, author, a short description of the book and why you like it so much. Also, please include your name with the list. I look forward to hearing from you.
My favorite gardening books (in no particular order):
The Encyclopedia of North American Wild Flowers by Joan Barker
This book lists over 400 species and boasts beautiful photography. I like that the flowers are listed by habitat and then subdivided by flower color.
The Ultimate Gardening Book by Carole McGlynn
This book is filled with many ideas and gardening tips. The ideas range from planting ideas to hardscape and decorating ideas and the mind is tantalized with all of the possibilities. Now if I only had the time and the energy...
Botanica by R. G. Turner Jr. (Barnes and Noble Books)
This is an encyclopedia with over 10,000 entries of trees, shrubs, groundcovers, vines, perennials and annuals. I find this to be an excellent resource and also enjoyable to peruse.
Orchid Growing for Wimps by Ellen Zachos
Just as promised, an easy guide to orchid care. While an easy read for the beginner, this book still has much value among my many orchid books.
Gardening in America by Odgen Tanner
This is an interesting history and overview of the gardening regions of America. Beautiful photography and insightful writing highlight this delightful book.
Herbs by Roger Phillips and Nicky Foy
A listing of various herbs and their many uses. While I do have flashier books on herbs, this was my first and it offers many old and obscure (but potentially dangerous) uses of many common herbs.
Botanica’s Roses
This is an encyclopedic listing of many roses. There is also a nice section of the history of roses in the front. The book boasts a forward by David Austin who is a leading breeder of shrub roses in the modern day. Roses: what can I say?
Mary Jane Hall’s favorite books:
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants,
Michael A. Dirr
A textbook, so informative and occasionally humorous, that you can't put it
down! 1187 pages, pen and ink illustrations. If you love trees and shrubs, there
is no better reference book.
Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs, Michael A. Dirr
What this book lacks in humor, it makes up for with fabulous color photos. Very
informative and a mere 493 pages. A great reference book and pretty enough for
display on a coffee table!
Swimming with Frogs, Life in the Brown Count Hills, Ruth Ann Ingraham
Utterly charming account of Southern Indiana flora and fauna in this memoir
written by one of the founders of the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower
Society. So well described that her lovely photos are almost unnecessary. A
great winter read!
Volunteer Opportunities Compiled by Nancy White
Location Time Jobs Contact
Hilltop Garden
& Nature Center year around various Marcia Figueiredo, 855-2799
Templeton School spring/fall teaching Nancy White, 824-4426
MG Demo Garden seasonal various Lydia Anderson, 825-2961
T. C. Steele SHS seasonal various Steve Doty, 988-2785
Cheryl’s Garden seasonal various Larime Wilson, 399-9705
Flatwoods Park
Butterfly Garden seasonal various Cathy Meyer
MCMGA Hort Hotline year around inquiries Amy Thompson, 349-2575
MCMGA Newsletter year around writing, Helen Hollingsworth, 332-7313
stapling, labeling
MCMGA Web Site year around various Barb Hays, 332-4032
MG Programs year around plan programs Ann McEndarfer, 334-1801
Nancy White, 824-4426
Middle Way House seasonal various Clara Wilson, 333-7404
Wylie House year around various Sherry Brunoehler, 855-6224
Bloomington
Hospitality House year around educate seniors Rene Thompson, 353-3000
Mother Hubbard’s
Cupboard year around education Libby Yarnell, 355-6843
Clear Creek School sping-fall education Charlie Hawk, 824-7969
Pruning Fruit Trees and Grapes Advanced Training at Purdue
Purdue University is presenting Purdue Fruit Tree and Grape Pruning and Spring Management Workshop on Saturday, March 11, 2006, 9:00 a.m. to noon, EST, at the Purdue Meigs Horticulture Facility, 9101 S. 100 E, Lafayette, IN, 47909 (765-538-3297).
Presentations are as follows:
Grapes and Brambles by Paul Howard, Department of Agriculture
Fruit Trees by Burk Thompson, Department of Forestry
Learn the proper procedures for pruning and training fruit trees and grapes. Purdue Horticulture staff will also discuss management practices for the backyard fruit tree and grape grower. Three hours of credit are available for Advanced Master Gardeners.
RSVP to your county’s cooperative extension office by March 9, 2006. Please dress appropriately for the weather.
Mild Weather Pushes Up the Bulbs by B. Rosie Lerner
It's not unusual for Indiana weather to have trouble deciding what season it is. Recent warm spells have had many gardeners wondering what to do about bulbs -- and, perhaps, a few other plants that are poking their foliage through the soil.
As I write this article, temperatures started out in the 50s and are expected to drop to the upper 20s by tonight! Just what should gardeners do about daffodils, dianthus and daylilies poking out of the ground?
The good news is that no action is really required. Although we're more used to seeing this happen later in winter during a February warm spell, this certainly isn't the first time that it has happened in January. The plants will survive just fine, though they may look a little worse for wear.
The longer the mild weather stays around, the more potential there is for damage when the weather returns to normal winter. Foliage that has popped up will be killed back, but the bulbs and storage roots of other perennials should remain undamaged underground. As the plants completely push out in spring, the damaged foliage will appear brown, giving plants a raggedy appearance. But the plants themselves should be fine.
I wouldn't expect flower buds to be affected much at this early stage of development. But, of course, there is plenty more winter and opportunity for more fluctuating temperatures yet to come. There isn't much we can do about the weather but sit back and wait to see what Mother Nature has in store for us!
New at the US Botanic Garden!
Designed by Roger Hangarter, Indiana University biology professor, “sLowlife” is in its debut exhibit through March 26, 2006, at the US Botanic Garden. The show blends art and science using computers and photography. Hangartner said, ”The goal was to create an experience that would be aesthetically interesting and enjoyable while being scientifically accurate and educational.” It challenges the visitor to rethink plants as active life forms. The exhibit moves next to the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Reprised from: The American Gardener, the magazine of the American Horticultural Society.
Free Organic Gardening Classes at Worms Way by Agnieszka Traynor
Learn how to tend your garden organically from start to finish and more at Worm’s Way, 7850 N State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404, (812) 876-6425.
FREE classes are held on the second Saturday of every month at 11:00 a.m. in the Worm’s Way greenhouse. No sign up necessary.
February 11 Seed Starting and Garden Maintenance Calendar
March 11 Organic Lawn Care
April 8 Hydroponic Gardening, Indoors and Out
May 13 Pond Building and Maintenance
June 10 Organic Pest Control
Purdue Offers Three Online Gardening Programs
Purdue is offering three online interactive self-paced gardening programs to those who have a valid email account and access to the Internet.
If you have questions about any of these three programs, contact Peggy Sellers at 765-494-4713.
New at Morton Arboretum by Mary Jane Hall
If you are planning a visit to or through the Chicago metro area, stop by the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Their newly opened one acre maze garden is a wonder at any time of the year. Distinctively different than most labyrinths, this one offers four surprise garden rooms cleverly concealed in its design. In addition, if you happen by on different occasions, you might find yourself traveling in a new direction since the maze is designed to be changed periodically using a system of gates.
Log onto www.mortonarb.org or call 630-968-0074
Reprised from The American Gardener, the magazine of the American Horticultural Society
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