In This Issue:

Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendar

Time to Celebrate: Our 2006 Interns Are Graduating on May 23

MCMGA Field Trips: Still Time to Sign Up

Hilltop Welcomes Volunteers: Here’s a Way to Gain Hours

Wildflower Foray

From the President’s Desk: President Marilyn Brinley

Cheryl’s Garden: Another Way to Gain Hours

Demonstration Garden: Join Fellow Gardeners, Have Fun, and Learn

MG Garden Walk and Picnic: Mark Your Calendar for This Fun Activity

May Calendar: B. Rosie Lerner’s Easy-to-Follow To-Do List for May

Rhubarb Flowers: Are Yours Flowering or Bolting?

Reporting MG Hours: Keep a Record and Send Them In

Johnson County Garden Party: A Fun Day

Dandelion Control: When Is the Best Time

Ground Ivy Control: How to Handle This Pest

Volunteer Opportunities: A Comprehensive List for Collecting Volunteer Hours

2006 Master Gardener Board

 Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendar

Look for in-depth articles in this issue about each of these events.
Tuesday, May 23, 6:30 p.m., Intern Class Graduation and Plant Exchange, Karst Farm Park Commons Area
Thursday, June 8, 3:00 p.m., Visit to Burham Woods
Saturday, June 17, 4:00—7:30 p.m. MG Garden Walk and Picnic

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Time to Celebrate: Our 2006 Interns Are Graduating on May 23
By Nancy White

All Master Gardeners congratulate all of the members of the intern class on successfully completing the course and passing the test. We all can remember how relieved we were when that test was behind us. The annual party to welcome the new interns into our group will be Tuesday., May 23, 6:30, at Karst Farm Park Commons Area.

Karst Farm is located adjacent to the Monroe County Fairgrounds. Take Highway 45 west and turn right at the sign for the Fairgrounds. At the first road turn right at the sign to Karst Farm Park. Go about half mile and turn left into the park at the soccer fields. The Commons is the building and patio on your left.

New interns are invited to bring family members that evening to share the fun as we introduce the new class, share refreshments, and then have a plant exchange. Certified Master Gardeners who are mentoring new interns may want to call them to make sure they know the location. Some suggestions for the plant exchange are (1) bring what you have to share, such as annuals, herbs, seedlings, perennials, veggies, and shrubs, (2) label with plant name and sun/shade needs; (3) bring along a box or plastic bags to carry home your new "babies"; (4) take home some special gems or just enjoy as others adopt your plants. Don't miss this special evening.

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MCMGA Field Trips: Still Time to Sign Up
by Nancy White

The field trips discussed at the March meeting were very popular with our membership. There are still a few spots available for each one, but call soon because we have space limitations. For all of these, we will car pool from a central location. If you signed up at the March general meeting, you are on the list. Contact Nancy White or Ann McEndarfer with questions or to register.

A Visit to Burnam Woods—Thursday, June 8, 3:00 p.m. (free)

An Afternoon in the Garden, Indianapolis White River Gardens and Conservatory—Saturday, August. 5, 9:00 a.m.,  ($5 entry fee to gardens)

Walk the Arboretum-- IU Arboretum on 10th Street., Friday. October 6, 4:00 p.m. (free)

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Hilltop Welcomes Volunteers: Here’s a Way to Gain Hours
By Nancy White

 Hilltop Garden and Nature Center is always anxious to have new volunteers. Many activities are available year-round but especially in the spring and summer months. Recently in the Herald-Times an article highlighted Hilltop and noted a new venture in special gardening for those with limitations. If you are interested in helping out at Hilltop, a short training session is required. Call Stori Snyder, 855-2799, for more information.

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 Wildflower Foray
By Nancy White

 Did you get to the Wildflower Foray? Even with some damp weather, there were so many interesting sessions that is was easy to find one to interest any gardener. On Saturday afternoon, Kay Yatskievych, author of Go Native and a staff member of the Missouri Botanical Garden, led a group through one of the nature preserves owned by IU. This property is close to Lake Monroe and contains bluffs, valleys, streams, and an abundance of wildflowers, which was the focus of the session. Kay, a native Hoosier from Johnson County, was full of outstanding information and anecdotes as she pointed out hidden treasures such as trillium, fire pinks, golden ragwort, wild geranium, waterleaf, and an occasional morel mushroom that delighted and distracted some of us. Kay's book is a must if wildflowers are special to you. If you haven't been able yet to hike with Kay, she promises to come back next year for the Wildflower Foray.

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 From the President’s Desk: President Marilyn Brinley

Our wonderful presentation at our March 28^th general meeting by Bob Baird on landscape design was not only informative but also insightful. He set forth the concept that our gardens are an extension of our selves and our personalities. That set me to wondering what my own garden would say about me: exuberant, spontaneous, out of control? Perhaps all of those things. I have iron plants that were gifts from our visiting birds. Yet, the eight to ten foot tall plants fit perfectly against our upper-level deck and work well to blend the tall structure into the landscape. I would call that serendipity. Others might say that the unplanned plants were simply weeds. All in all, it comes down to a matter of perspective. 

 Now that our gardens are growing in earnest, we may find ourselves short on time to help in our organization. But this is precisely the time when our knowledge is needed by our friends and neighbors. Many people in our community look to us for information on how to get started and how to continue to grow as a gardener. So perhaps, somehow in our busy season, we can remember to lend some of our knowledge to those around us.

 By doing your part to help others grow, you will find that along with your own garden, you may also grow as a gardener and as a person. And while you are busily working away in your own garden, take a minute as you stretch those tired muscles to ponder what your garden says about you. You just might be surprised.

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Cheryl’s Garden: Another Way to Gain Hours
by Larime Wilson

Spring work has begun at Cheryl's Garden, Karst Farm Park. May will be a rigorous month as we remove embedded barrier cloth, add a substantial amount of compost and put in native plants. May work days are planned every Tuesday (7:00-8:30 PM, except May 23) and Saturday (8:00-10:00 AM). All are welcome!

Cheryl's Garden was established by Monroe County Parks in memory of Cheryl Coverdale, who was an MCMGA member and instructor, WFHB radio personality Rootabegga and Monroe County educator. Our project "Native Plants of Indiana" was planned to pay tribute to Cheryl, maintain an attractive garden focal point for the park, and educate the public regarding native plants. After installing the garden, we will develop signage and educational plans. Ideas and interest in those phases are also welcome.

For more information, contact Larime Wilson, larime@bloomington.in.us, 333-9705.

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Demonstration Garden: Join Fellow Gardeners, Have Fun, and Learn
By Lydia Anderson

 I am looking forward to another productive year at the Demonstration Garden. There is a lot of work to be done, but plants are popping up and the garden already looks pretty. 

What can you do? Opportunities range from helping out with established gardens and general garden maintenance to creating a new demonstration plot. We welcome and encourage new ideas!

 We have planned work sessions on Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to noon. If Saturday morning isn’t convenient for you, please contact me, Lydia Anderson, to make other arrangements. My home phone number is 825-2961 or you can email me at landers@wormsway.com.

 The garden entrance is located at Gate #3 of the fairgrounds across from Bunger Road. Look for the eye catching new sign pointing the way. Don’t forget to bring your tools.

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MG Garden Walk and Picnic: Mark Your Calendar for This Fun Activity
by Mary Hawkins

 The second annual Master Gardener garden walk and picnic is scheduled for June 17 from 4:00 pm until 7:30 pm. We will visit three of our own Master Gardener Members' gardens and enjoy a pitch-in picnic at Nancy and Bob Miller's "Hydrangea Hill Garden." Our tour will start in the serenity of the forested lake view property of Saunie and Dan Olvey. We will proceed to Marilyn and Gary Brinley's garden, which is described by Marilyn as "barely contained chaos." Then onto the Miller's garden to see numerous varieties of hydrangeas and well-designed garden rooms, plus we will enjoy a delicious picnic and fellowship with fellow gardeners.

Opportunities for volunteer hours are ripe for your picking for this event. Please call Nancy Miller (336-7512 ), Marilyn Brinley (824-1318 ) or Saunie Olvey (837-9292 ) if you would like to help prepare their gardens for the tour. The Millers will appreciate help the day of the garden walk to set up and take down for the picnic equipment as well. Or, call Mary Hawkins (824-2139 ) to help stuff and stamp the invitations. We will be preparing the invitations the week of May 8th--12th. All other news and particulars about this fun and beauty-filled event will be arriving with your invitation. Please mark your calendar now though, so you won't miss this event!

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May Calendar: Easy-to-Follow To-Do List for May
By B. Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension Consumer Horticulturalist

HOME (indoor plants and activities)

Many indoor plants can be moved to shady locations outdoors but only after danger of frost is past. Plants will dry out more often outdoors, so keep a close eye on soil moisture. Sinking the pots in soil will help slow down moisture loss.

Now is a good time to take cuttings of houseplants to increase a collection or share with friends. Root cuttings in media, such as vermiculite, perlite or potting soil. Roots grown in water tend to be weak from lack of oxygen and do not adjust well to planting in soil.

Fertilize houseplants according to label directions. Foliage plants require relatively high nitrogen fertilizer; flowering houseplants respond best to fertilizer high in phosphorus.

YARD (lawns, woody ornamentals and fruits)

Prune early spring-flowering trees and shrubs after flowers fade.

Plant balled-and-burlapped or container nursery stock, and water thoroughly.

Remove and destroy overwintering bagworms from landscape trees and shrubs.

Follow a spray schedule to keep home-orchard crops pest free. While trees are in bloom, use fungicide sprays without insecticide to avoid injury to bees. Follow label directions.

Thin fruits of apple trees, if needed, about three weeks after petal fall. Apples should be about 8 inches apart.

Apply fungicides to roses to control diseases such as black spot.

Purdue turf experts recommend that if you are going to fertilize your lawn in May, apply three-fourths to 1 pound N/1000 square foot with a product that contains 50 percent or more slow-release fertilizer. Try to schedule the application prior to a rain or irrigate following application to move the fertilizers off the leaf blade.

GARDEN (flowers, vegetables and small fruits)

Plant frost-tender plants after danger of frost is past for your area. This includes warm-season vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and vine crops, as well as most annual flowers and tender perennials, such as cannas, gladiolus, dahlias, tuberous begonias and caladiums.

Pinch chrysanthemums and annual flower plants to keep them compact and well-branched.

Make successive plantings of beans and sweet corn to extend the season of harvest.

Thin seedlings of early-planted crops, such as carrots, lettuce, spinach and beets, to their proper spacing.

Harvest early plantings of radishes, spinach and lettuce.

Harvest asparagus by cutting or snapping spears at or just below soil level.

Harvest rhubarb by cutting, or grasp the stalk and pull it up and slightly to one side.

Control cucumber beetles, carriers of bacterial wilt, as soon as cucumber plants germinate or are transplanted to prevent disease.

Remove blossoms from newly set strawberry plants to allow better runner formation.

Remove unwanted sucker growth in raspberries when new shoots are about a foot tall. 

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Rhubarb Flowers: Are Yours Flowering or Bolting?
By B. Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension Consumer Horticulturalist

We humans can be so difficult to please. If plants flower when we want them to, we call it blooming. But if plants flowers when we don't want them to, we call it bolting. Flowering is an undesirable trait when growing rhubarb; therefore, bolting describes the event.

Gardeners frequently ask why their rhubarb is bolting. Well, if you think of it from the plant's perspective, it is just a part of the plant's natural life cycle. Flowering is part of the reproductive phase that leads to the production of fruit and seed.

But from the gardener's perspective, the production of flowers, fruit and seed wastes the plant's resources, which could be better spent on producing edible stalks or storing carbohydrates to use for the coming season. And if allowed to mature seed, the resulting seedling offspring are often less desirable than the mother plant, which we paid good money to buy as a named cultivar. In fact, seedling offspring are often more likely to bolt than some of the more modern hybrid cultivars and can be vigorous enough or just numerous enough to take over the planting.

It does appear that some rhubarb plants are more prone to flowering than others. Old-fashioned varieties, such as Victoria and MacDonald, are heavy seed stalk producers. Canada Red and Valentine are less likely to bolt. Plant maturity is also a factor, with more mature plants being more likely to bolt than youngsters. Dividing the crowns every 4-5 years should help rejuvenate the planting. Applying moderate amounts of fertilizer, either a balanced fertilizer, such as 12-12-12, or well-composted manure each spring should also discourage bolting.

Weather no doubt has a role to play as well. Rhubarb is a cool season perennial that can remain productive for 8-15 years, if given proper care. Plant stress, such as temperatures above 90 F, prolonged drought during hot weather, poor nutrition, etc., may also promote bolting.

The bottom line is that rhubarb may bolt for a variety -- and likely a combination -- of several factors. Many gardeners may not know what cultivar they have, and there's not much we can do about the weather. So, if your rhubarb should happen to bolt, remove the flowering stalks, just as soon as they are visible, to which the plant will likely respond by sending up another. If you keep at it, soon the plant will return to the desired priority for foliage production.

Another question that sometimes comes up is whether the flowering makes the leaf stalks poisonous. The answer is no, the leaf stalks remain edible, regardless of whether flower stalks are present. However, the leafy blade portion is always poisonous due to a high level of oxalic acid.

There are a number of species of rhubarb relatives, which are grown as ornamentals, especially in Europe. So if you happen to find rhubarb flowers attractive, you can let them bloom, but cut the stalks as soon as they fade, to prevent seed from maturing.

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Reporting MG Hours: Keep a Record and Send Them In

Remember to keep a record of your volunteer hours and report them regularly. You may send your hours to Master Gardener Hours, Monroe County Master Gardener Association, Inc., 119 W. 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47404 or to Mary Hawkins, 4084 Gran Haven Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401. Contact Mary (824-2139) with questions concerning eligibility. Send the following information along with your volunteer and training hours.

Name ___________________________________________ Class Year____________

Address_______________________________________________________________

Telephone__________________________ Email ______________________________

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Johnson County Garden Party: A Fun Day

 It’s time for a Garden Celebration sponsored by the Johnson County Garden Club and the Purdue Master Gardener Program of Johnson County, to be held on Saturday, May 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Scott Hall, Johnson County Fairgrounds, Franklin, Indiana.  Admission is $2 per person or a non-perishable food item for the Inter-Church Food Pantry.  Each garden seminar program is approved for Master Gardener advanced education hours.

 Garden seminar schedule:
9:30 a.m.--Great Prairie Plants for the Garden—Sue Nord Pieffer, Indianapolis Museum of Art Greenhouse
10:30 a.m.— Bouquet to Beautiful—Artful Arranging of Cut Flowers from Garden or Store--Carolyn Clark Kurek, American Institute of Floral Designers
11:30 a.m.— Working Trees--Lindsey Purcell--IndyParks & Indiana Arborist Association
12:30 p.m.— Attracting Birds & Butterflies--Sharon Parish--National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward & Master Gardener
1:30 p.m.--Dick Crum--“Dr. Dirt” Host of WIBC’s--Down to Earth Show

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Spring Dandelion Control Still Not as Effective as Fall Control
By Zac Reicher, Purdue Extension Specialist

 The annual bloom of dandelions is already here in southern and central Indiana. This marks the beginning of the second most effective period for controlling broadleaf weeds. The optimum time to control dandelions and other broadleaf weeds is in the fall and the second most effective time is in late spring, at or shortly after the flush of flowers. Herbicides containing the traditional active ingredients 2,4-D, MCPP and dicamba are effective for control of dandelions and other broadleaf weeds. However, newer active ingredients like carfentrazone, triclopyr, fluroxpyr, and sulfentrazone can increase the speed of burn down,, spectrum of weeds controlled, and overall effectiveness depending on the product used. If only a few dandelions are present in the turf, consider spot-applying a herbicide rather than treating the whole lawn. It’s ineffective to use more herbicides than what is necessary on turf. Be extremely careful when applying any herbicides near ornamentals because they can be easily damaged by these herbicides. For more information, refer to AY-9 “Broadleaf Weed Control".

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Attempting Ground Ivy Control
By Zac Reicher, Purdue Extension Specialist

 Ground ivy remains one of our toughest weeds to control. Following is our recommendation for maximizing control, based on experience and seven years of research:

1. Mow at 3” or higher.
2. Remove as much of the shade as possible.
3. Increase fertilizer up to 4.0 lbs N/1000ft2/yr fertilizing primarily in the fall
4. Make a late September application of two or more of the following active ingredients at their high label rate: 2,4-D, Triclopyr (Turflon), Fluroxpyr (Spotlight), Carfentrazone (Speedzone, Powerzone, Quicksilver)
Consider including isoxaben (Gallery) in this application
5. Make a second application in late October using different active ingredients than in September and Gallery shouldn’t be needed.
6. Make a third application after flowering in spring, using a different active than the October application for sure. Also consider Gallery in this application.
7. If you start the program in the spring, it likely will not be nearly effective as fall applications. Start with the first application following flowering, a second application one month later, and then wait until September and October to make additional applications.
8. Depending on your results, you should be able to reduce the number of applications in future years, needing only the late September and/or late October application.

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Volunteer Opportunities: A Comprehensive List of Ways to Collect Volunteer Hours
Compiled by Nancy White

State Advisory Committee Representatives:
    Gino Brancolini: 336-1680  brancol@indiana.edu
    Herman Young:  339-0040  hoyoung@indiana.edu

Extension Educator:
    Amy Thompson: 349-2575  afthompson@purdue.edu

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