The Mason Jar Mason County WSU Master Gardener Newsletter

Transcription

1 The Mason Jar Mason County WSU Master Gardener Newsletter Thru the Garden Gate Workshops series to Begin: Jan. 11 Fruit trees and growing Berries Jan 25 Growing mushrooms Feb. 8 Greenhouses and Season Extenders Feb. 22 Wild Edibles and Landscaping with Native Plants Mar. 15 Composting 7 Soil Building; Container Gardening and Raised Beds Mar. 22 Vegetable Gardening, Growing Tomatoes from Seed Inside this issue: Don Tapio Gardening Article Thru the Garden Gate schedule Starts Jan. 11th Nov. and Dec. General Mtg. 2,3 3 4,5, 7 The Mason Jar Seeds For Thought R. Jeanne Rehwaldt Dec / Jan The Through the Garden Gate workshops have been very well received. We have filled the room each class and the evaluations are very positive. Master Gardeners who attend these workshops can count the time as Continuing Education. If you are on the planning committee, or help with set up and take down you can attend for free. Otherwise you will pay $10 at the door. Please join us for the next workshop on Wild Edibles and Landscaping With Native Plants Saturday, February 22 from 9 am noon... Please watch for your 2014 reapplication form in your box interns do not need to complete this form. We will use this information for planning purposes and to make the 2014 directory.. The plant sale committee has been meeting regularly and have set days at Pioneer greenhouse to divide and pot up plants donated from your yards. Now that the weather has warmed up just a bit, take some time to get out and divide some plants for the sale. Be sure to mark plant name and color of bloom where applicable.. MG Contacts 6 Dec. General Mtg. Minutes Master Gardeners of the Month for Oct., Nov. Calendars: Feb. & March 2014 Feb. General Mtg. Minutes Master Gardener of the Month for Dec. 7,8, , 12 13, 14,15 16 MG Vest Order Form 17 Misc. Information 18 The Garden Store NEW This the Plant Sale! Looking for donations of handcrafted items, gardening books, birdhouses, magazines, gently used garden items, garden art etc. for our Garden Store Please contact Karen King or Michelle Lapp with questions Thank-You!

2 Page 2 The Mason Jar Will My Tree Blow Over? Don Tapio, WSU Extension Regional Specialist, retired Grays Harbor County Extension As the winter storm season is fast approaching, the question is often asked: Just how safe are the trees in our landscapes? Is there a chance they could lose major branches or even blow over? It s not unusual to find an assortment of large trees in residential landscapes throughout our coastal region. Many of these trees are native to the area and undoubtedly not much thought was given to their eventual size when they were planted. As a result, towering seventy-five foot plus Douglas firs, Western red cedars and gigantic big-leaf maples along with other species often dominate the garden landscape. Homeowners are often amazed when trees that appear to be healthy, with plenty of foliage, suffer major damage during a windstorm. More often than not, when a large limb or branch comes crashing down, inside portions of that limb or trunk are usually revealed to be rotten. The internal wood may be soft, dark in color, or completely hollowed out. These symptoms are all caused by wood rot fungus diseases that more than likely infected the tree in previous years through wounds to the trunk. The puzzling part of this is that many trees have no visible symptoms of internal decay problems. Once wind damage has occurred however, the damage becomes very visible. Keep in mind the vascular system of trees is just under the bark, so trees infected with wood rot, can appear fine because water and nutrient exchange continues between the leaves and the roots. However, as wood rot fungi invade the heartwood or center wood of the trunk, trees become structurally weakened. Depending on the tree species and the fungus disease, some trees can live for years with no visible symptoms of internal decay. Once a tree is infected with rot, it is almost impossible to control it and usually the best advice is to remove the tree. An on-going inspection of trees in your landscape will help to prevent potential storm-damage problems. Decaying trees can be prone to failure, but the presence of decay, by itself, does not indicate that the tree is hazardous. Advanced decay (wood that is soft, punky, or crumbly) or a cavity where the wood is missing can create a serious hazard. Often, trees infected with wood rot will produce fungus structures commonly referred to as conks. These are highly visible and often increase in size as the decay progresses. Other symptoms of wood rot include missing bark and discolored areas on a trunk or branch. A tree usually decays from the inside out, eventually forming a cavity, but sound wood is also added to the outside of the tree as it grows. Trees with sound outer wood shells may be relatively safe, but this depends upon the ratio of sound to decayed wood, and other defects that might be present. Evaluating the safety of a decaying tree is usually best left to trained arborists. Some trees are prone to failure due to weak branch unions. These are places where branches are not strongly attached to the tree. A weak union occurs when two or more similarly sized, usually upright branches grow so closely together that bark grows between the branches, inside the union. This in- Continued on page 3

3 The Mason Jar Page 3 grown bark does not have the structural strength of wood and the union is much weaker than one that does not have included bark. The included bark may also act as a wedge and force the branch union to split apart. Trees with a tendency to form upright branches such as maple often produce weak branch unions. When the angle between the two branches is less than 30 degrees, a weak union will almost always develop. In such a case, it is best to prune out the smaller branch while still small. Ideally the crotch angle will be between 45 and 60 degrees. Weak branch unions also form after a tree or branch is topped where the main stem or a large branch is cut at a right angle to the direction of growth leaving a large stub. The stub inevitably decays, providing very poor support for new branches that usually develop along the cut branch. Now is an excellent time to inspect trees in your landscape, especially those that lose their leaves in the fall. They should also routinely be inspected after severe storms. Examine all parts of the tree, including the roots, trunk flare, main stem, branches and branch unions. Be sure to examine all sides of the tree. Use a pair of binoculars to see branches high off the ground. Trees in poor health may have many dead twigs, dead branches or small, offcolor leaves. Trees in good condition will have full crowns, vigorous branches and healthy, full-sized leaves; however, green foliage in the crown does not ensure that a tree is safe. Tree trunks and branches can be quite defective and still support a lush green crown. Evaluating and treating trees as a potential risk of damage should they lose branches or fall over in a windstorm is complicated, requiring professional expertise. Never hesitate if you think a tree might be hazardous to have it evaluated by a professional. Consult your phone book under Arborists or Tree Service. The Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (pnwisa.org) has a listing of professional arborists in our area. Garden Article by Don Tapio, WSU Extension Regional Specialist, retired WSU Master Gardener Community Gardening Workshop Series Jan. 11 Jan. 25 Feb. 8 Feb. 22 Mar. 15 Mar. 22 Growing Fruit Trees and Growing Berries and Small Fruit Growing Mushrooms: Cultivation, simple ways to produce spawn kits, how to design and establish edible and medicinal mushroom gardens Home Greenhouses, building & using hoops and season extenders Wild Edibles and Landscaping with native plants Composting and Soil Building & Container Gardening and Raised Beds Vegetable Gardening & Growing Tomatoes from Seed to Harvest Cost: $10 per workshop Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Where: Memorial Hall, 2nd and Franklin Street, Shelton Pre-register: call , Ext. 689 All proceeds raised go towards supporting the Mason County WSU Master Gardener Community Services

4 Page 4 The Mason Jar MINUTES (November 2013) Mason County WSU Master Gardener General Meeting Agenda for Monday, November 12, 2013 Present: Pat Carpenter, Pres.; Christy Rowe, Vice-Pres.; Lou Schmidt, Pres. Elect; Margie Plebuch, Treasurer; Sybil Jones, Reporter-at-Large; Jan Mutter, Foundation Rep.; Evon Masteller, Secretary; Jeanne Rehwaldt, WSU Coord, Michelle Lapp, AmeriCorp. MG Membership: Nancy Dillon, Bonnie Day, Mary Bigger, Erika Stewart, Dave Shephard, Lisa Henderson, and Mary Jane Robbins, Presenter of Hope Island pruning. Approval of October 2013 minutes - Margie Moved, Bonnie Seconded - so Moved. Officers reports: - Treasurer s report - Margie Amounts were recorded and are in the Secy. File and Treasurer Records. * Bonnie will give Margie the Food Bank Budget (Cat. Pk. Food Bank) which is approx. $1450 to use for grant money applications for seed, water, fertilizer, etc. - Vice president s report & programs - Lou Today s program will be Mary Jane Robbins and Hope Island Orchard pruning. Her position will be relinquished this Jan. to the new officers but before she vacates her position she will reserve the Library room by Nov. 30 th for the next 6 months. - Secretary s report - Evon FYI - having a difficult time with my transmission, thus am having to do a lot of hard copy relay of meeting mins. - Foundation Rep. report - Jan This is an open position, but she will not resign until it is filled. This is a 4 times a year activity of web-n -air internet meetings at Jeanne s office. She also explained the different Conference avenues for revenue and who will be in charge next year with the raffle, silent auction and the Market Place managed more carefully, since money did slip through the cracks. - Coordinator s report - Jeanne Farm Bill is still in limbo. The did release funds for a 5 mos. Coverage with 29% cut for Food Sense, thus there will be no teaching of nutrition classes, working with the kitchen staff only. Handed out the Annual MG County Program Survey to be filled out by committee heads and returned to Jeanne for submission to WSU. (#survey in secy. file) Superintendent for Mason Are Fair Ag, Floral and etc. is open for volunteering. Otherwise, we may not be in the fair next year. MG training on Fri will be propagation and plant sale, Next session will be Weeds - am and Open - pm. Nov. 22 nd - On line (Clinic, hours, etc.), Pioneer Garden and Nutrition with Michelle Lapp, presenting. Committee and project reports - Plant Sale Margie and Mary B. There was a good turn-out for the last meeting. No December meeting, however we will keep working on problem solving from our past experiences. Shelving for perennials was added to and plants were set upon (continued on page 5

5 The Mason Jar Page 5 them on the SE side of the greenhouse outside. Hypertufas were created to a total now of 60 with them seasoning inside the greenhouse. A good turnout on Sat. with Bonnie Ross and Carol Freytag helping Mary with the mixing and set-up Doris and Tanya with her husband helped out. Timeline for the hypertufa development depends on several factors such as moisture, air, etc. 10 days we remove them from the molds and continue to let them season. We hope to plant the sedums in them in January. Save your sedum plants for this great occasion. - Thru the Garden Gate classes - Bonnie We re pretty organized with the confirmation and schedule of the sessions, but still looking for a mushroom connection. Native Plants will hopefully be Erika Gutman. Once everything is set she will to MG s. Dec. 5 th meeting scheduled at WSU. We want to advertise the first week of December which she and Michelle will work organize. - Catalyst/Community Garden-end of season - Bonnie and Sybil Closed for the winter. Fruit trees moved (10) from the orchard to a fenced area on the north side of the garden. Raised a bed around the sign area and planted native plants. Hoop houses and extenders are ok d for the next year. Garden Tour enhancements, I.e. education, art, etc. for elements of creativity can now be explored further by our volunteers and community. Applications will be available in February for the 2014 season. We could even do demonstration gardens in the orchard such as vertical gardening, et. - Garden Tour - Pat C./Lou Need stamps. Meeting in Jan to finalize our list. Budget sent off and need more advertising money.. We re doing a tree tour and rain garden tour, too. - Pioneer greenhouse and food bank - Michelle Plans on Greenhouse Comm. Mtg. on retrofitting needed. Sat. cleaned out the gar den and winterized the beds. There are still some carrots, cabbage and kale in the beds - keeping. Other items for discussion -Committees need to submit budgets for 2014 to Margie by Nov. 15 th ; question about end of year reports (what are these and who does them). - Nominations for 2014 officers for December 9 th general meeting election, see list below, is submitted, still open is Director-at-Large and Foundation Representative. - Apparel order vote 14 - fleece vest and 5 - Dk. Blue denim shirts. We ll put out an order request and determine quantity sending out on the Mason Jar for a more accurate count. Embroidery card from MJ Robbins for Noel machine Embroidery with the phone number was passed onto Christy Rowe. - Master Gardener for October; Terry Conley and Mary Jane Robbins Dave Shephard announced the Barn Nursery classes list for Dec. 8 th - Conifer Society and later on will be Fruit tree pruning and Berries. Website is www:barnnurseryolympia.com or call for further information. Dates to remember - Nov. 14 th, Thurs. Catalyst planning mtg WSU - Nov. 205h, Weds. Cluster Meeting Chehalis, Court House - Nov. 25 th, Mon. Board Meeting WSU (Continued on Page 7)

6 Page 6 CONTACTS: The Mason Jar Office: 303 N. 4th Ave Shelton, WA Ext. 680 Fax Extension Staff: Robert Simmons Director Ext.690 simmons@wsu.edu R. Jeanne Rehwaldt Master Gardener Coordinator Ext. 688 rehwaldt@wsu.edu Michelle Lapp AmeriCorps Ext. 687 Michelle.lapp@wsu.edu Master Gardener Ext 687 Gardener.master@gmail.com Executive Board : President Pat Carpenter patandlexi@gmail.com President Elect Karen King Isabellaeagle@gmail.com Secretary Mason Jar Editor Christy Rowe christyrowe7@gmail.com Vice President Lisa Henderson Ishand@hotmail.com Treasurer Margie Plebuch quilted2@aol.com Directors at Large Sybil Jones sybiljones@hughes.net Erika Stewart akirgarden@hotmail.com Foundation Representative Janet Mutter Janmut@msn.com Spring is Coming!

7 The Mason Jar Page 7 (November Minutes cont.) - Dec. 5 th Thurs. TTGG planning WSU - Dec. 9 th, Mon. Next General meeting Library; Holiday Treats to share Adjourn: 11:30am Respectfully submitted, Evon Masteller, Secretary 11/16/2013 Program: Mary Jane Robbins: Hope Island Orchard Slate of nominated candidates for 2014 offices: President: Pat Carpenter President elect: Karen King Vice President: Lisa Henderson Secretary: Christy Rowe Treasurer: Margie Plebuch Director-At-Large: Erika Stewart Foundation representative : open (Lou Schmidt will think about it as she enjoys the Board meetings.) Attachment: Annual MG County Program Survey December 2013 Minutes: Mason County WSU Master Gardener General Meeting Minutes for Monday, Dec. 9,2013 Present: Pat Carpenter, Pres., Christy Rowe, Pres. Elect.; Lou Schmidt, Vice Pres.; Margie Plebuch, Treasurer; Evon Masteller, Secretary; Sybil Jones, Representative-at-Large; Jeanne Rehwaldt, WSU Coord.; and Michelle Lapp, AmeriCorp. Master Gardeners Present:, Puja Pecovsky, Nancy Dillon, Bonnie Day, Beatrix Blackerby, Erika Stewart, Karen Shephard, Dave Shephard, Sherry Clemmens, Lisa Henderson and Steve Edmondson. Master Gardener Trainees: Diana Sparby and Mary Lou Borgert. M.G. Honorary Volunteers: Don Jones, Ron Dillon and Collin Orr. Approval of November 2013 meeting minutes - Margie- Motioned, Beatrix - Seconded - they were Approved. Officers reports: - Treasurer s report and Budget approval - Margie Amounts were registered in the meeting notes for the following line items: Master Gardener Savings, Checking, Catalyst Park and Children s Garden. Also the 2014 Budget is in the Sec y. File and was Approved by consensus after Bonnie Motioned and Beatrix Seconded the report. -Vice president s report & programs - Lou Our Library room has been reserved for the next 6 months through June for the second Monday of each month with no substitutes due to holidays. March may be good for a grafting program, e.g., Japanese Maple onto a Vine Maple. However, weather warmth will be a factor. - Secretary s report - Evon Expressed my appreciation for the learning and experience that this position opened up to me with the Master Garden Program in Mason County.

8 Page 8 The Mason Jar - Foundation Rep. report - Jeanne In January Margie will look into 1/3 of where grants are available and can be reported to State Chapters Associations beginning in January. (Sorry Jeanne, this one I got lost on. You were so far away.) - Coordinator s report - Jeanne December 20th Graduation at the Public Works for our new M.G. Trainees.. Presentations in the morning with a Potluch and Certification following. Jeanne will explore more on the following subject on GRuB Program in our area and what their focus will be in building gardens of communities in the immediate future. But FYI: GRuB has a new director, Liza Dobson who is with Kitchen Garden Program with AmeriCorp next year. Her phone number is Would there be anybody mentoring for yard gardens in their own yards/neighborhoods? Edible Garden needs attention, money and volunteers to develop therefore is on hold until further information. Delphina and SNAP will also be explored in conjunction with the schools. This Thursday we will be having a visitor who will be exploring and auditing our activities in Mason County. Then she will be out of the office for the next 2 weeks. Clinic is filled for the rest of the year with most interesting questions coming in, e.g., I.d. a Saw Whet Owl (sp). Committee and project reports: - Plant Sale Margie Hypertufas are unfolded and looking great through Mary s excellent efforts. Last of Jan, first of Feb. plant sedums in them Music - trying to find folks. Chairs can be filled still - please find what you d like to do at the Plant Sale. Native Plants - order filled by Sherry Clemmens. Things are marching on even though meetings are sparse at this time. - Thru the Garden Gate classes - Bonnie People are already signing up. Everything is all organized and prepped. Harstine folks are interested too, again. - Garden Tour - Pat Takes place in July Meeting on Jan. 15 at Pat Carpenters 4:45pm. Still looking for one more in-town garden. Any ideas, anyone? Other items for discussion: - Election of 2014 officers, see list of candidates below. Call for voice vote. See Below. - Apparel order - order today Order sheets were passed around and turned in after talking about and touching the vest that Pat wore as a sample for us. Order Forms must be returned by January 16th. The logo will be embroidered onto the vest for a cost of $9each with the total cost being around $25-$30. - Garden Gate - Steve Edmondson This is his last month on the radio program and Michelle Lapp will be filling in his spot. Stay tune for Michelle in her new gardening voice on KMAS on Garden Gate, Sundays. (This could be the start of something big!)

9 The Mason Jar Page 9 - Master Gardener for November: The guys (Collin, Don and Ron) Honorary Awards (Certificate and a pen) given to these wonderful spouses of our great Catalyst Park team for the many hours they have put into the Food Bank Garden from building fences, stairs, putting in drip lines, clearing land and just pure sweating. We so appreciate all that they have done for us throughout the history of the garden. Dates to remember: Jan. 6th, Mon. Board Meeting WSU Jan. 9th, Thurs. Plant Sale Memorial Hall Jan. 11th, Sat. TTGG 1st class-fruit and berries Memorial Hall Jan. 13th, Mon. General Meeting Library Jan. 15th, Thurs. Garden Tour meeting Pat Carpenter s Adjourn 11:15am HOLIDAY TREAT TIME: Party proceeds will be split between St s Pantry Back-Pack Program for kids and the M.G. General Fund. Slate of nominated candidates for 2014 offices. Dave Shephard Moved the Slate by Acclamation, Bonnie Seconded. So Approved and thus Moved. President: Pat Carpenter President elect: Karen King Vice President: Lisa Henderson Secretary: Christy Rowe Treasurer: Margie Plebuch Director-At-Large: Erika Stewart Foundation Representative: Jan Mutter Respectfully submitted by Evon Masteller, Secretary Wow! Look at these Gardening Skills! Once every three years there is an international competition in horticulture sculpture, called mosaiculture held in a major city. This year it was in Montreal. This is not a topiary but a living sculpture made out of living plants. Horticulturists from twenty countries around the world submitted plans a year in advance. Steel armitures were created to support the works (some 40 feet high); then they were wrapped in steel meshes, filled with dirt, moss and watering hoses. Then three million plants of different shades of green, brown and tan were grown in greenhouses all over Quebec. In late May, these horticulturists came to Quebec and planted their plants in the Montreal Botanical Gardens and they have been standing for three months now. There were fifty major sculptures along a path that is two miles long. Incredible! Ideas for the Children s Garden? Anyone?

10 Page 10 The Mason Jar MASTER GARDENERS OF THE MONTH - OCT. AND NOV CONGRATULATIONS! OCTOBER Maryjane Robbins or MJ as she prefers to be called, has been a Master Gardener since 2010 obtaining her certification in Mason County. She a local girl growing up on the Key Penninsula. After doing some traveling and moving she and her husband came back to Mason County three years ago. They currently live on Harstine Island and they are in the process of building a house which includes building a garden and an orchard. She has been volunteering at Jarrell Cove State Park and in the orchard and garden on Hope Island. MJ loves the on hands approach to learning, meeting others who love gardening and plants, and getting new ideas. Prior to becoming a MG she was an elementary school teacher working with grades kindergarten through 4th grade. She and her husband are also outdoor enthusiasts enjoying sailing, biking, hiking and cross-country skiing. MJ s favorite gardening activities are the planting and the harvest the weeding in between? Not so much! Some other favorites in the garden are a good tomato bed, getting chard to overwinter and lots of blueberries! I think blueberry plants are absolutely beautiful with their bright Fall colors. They are one of my favorite foods, they grow well in this climate, are easy to care for and produce every year without much help from me. During the late summer and early Fall, MJ enjoys the harvest and making applesauce, salsa, gathering loads of winter squash, dryine Italian prunes and shelling beans for soups and Mexican dishes. Gardening is part of her family history as both her grandfather and father always had big beautiful vegetable gardens. She grew up wandering the rows picking peas off the vine or raspberries off the bush and eating them right there, warm from the sun. She and her mother canned peaches and beans, froze corn and peas, made sauerkraut and put lots of food by. I was lucky to grow up with fresh food. Terry Conley is a recent Master Gardener earning his certification in Mason County, Class of He moved to our county twenty three years ago from Rhode Island. Terry is married and has three grown children, a Blue Healer named Sparrow and Otis who is a rescue dog. He enrolled in the MG Program to improve his gardening skills and to share what he learns with others. When asked what his favorite type of gardening is he says The edible kind! On of his favorite activities is composting because it is recycling at its best. Terry has helped to improve Catalyst Park because of its connection with the food bank, helps at Pioneer, works the Farmers Market answering questions and sharing literature, helped improve Hope Garden and helped with the pruning of the apple trees on Hope Island. He finds that keeping a journal of the garden every year helps him to learn what worked and what didn t so he can continue to learn and improve. Terry enjoys all the seasons of gardening because they all present different challenges. As far as advice to the newest MGs and Trainees Terry says Don t wait to retire to become a MG. If you can, start now because become a MG has been the best time and money I ve spent. NOVEMBER Congratulations to The Guys - our Honorary Master Gardeners! There are so many projects and jobs that would not get done without the help of these three husbands of very hard working Master Gardeners. From building sheds and fences, bringing in heavy equipment to help move fruit trees, loading up trailers and hauling pumpkins, dirt, bark, plants these guys are always willing to help. Thank-you to Don Jones, Colin Day and Ron Verlinde!

11 February 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Plant Sale Memorial Hall 5 p.m MG General Meeting *change of location Public Works Pioneer Greenhouse planting 10 am Clinic, Sybil Jones, Regina J, Jeannie C. 1 Hypertufa Planting Pioneer Greenhouse, 10 a.m. 7 8 Thru the Garden Gate Workshop 9 Memorial Hall Pioneer Greenhouse planting 10 a.m. 18 Clinic: Tania Kenner, Bonnie Day, Diana S 19 Garden Tour 4:45 Pat Carpenter s home 20 Catalyst 4 p.m. WSU office MG Board WSU, 1 p.m. 21 Going away gathering for Bob the Commissioner s Office Bldg. #1, 3 p.m Thru the Garden Gate Workshop 9 Memorial Hall

12 7 8 Comm.Garden March 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 3 Clinic, Jinx C, Jeannie C 9 10 MG Genl. Mtg. Library Clinic: Diana, Jeanneie 16 Clinic on the 17th Diana S and Jeannie C Clinic: Erika and Pat C Clinic: Jeannine P Plant Sale Mtg. 5 Memorial MG Board Mtg. 1 WSU Orientation, 10 Rooster s AND Pioneer Greenhouse Planting, 10 a.m.

13 Page 13 (ADDENDUM TO THE MASON JAR) Welcome and call to order by Pat Carpenter Called to order 10:18 a.m. In attendance: Christy Rowe, Pat Carpenter, Dave Shephard, Karen King, Michelle Lapp Lou Schmidt, Sherry Clemmens, Bonnie Day, Bonnie Ross, Jeannine Polaski, Carol Freitag, Erika Stewart, Diana Sparby, Jeanne Rehwaldt, Lisa Henderson, Mary Bigger, Margie Plebuch. Approval of January 2013 minutes Motion to approve by Mary Bigger; seconded by Dave Shephard Officers reports Treasurer s report Margie Plebuch $2216 savings; checking $3862.; Children s $190; Catalyst $1210. Thank you to all from Margie - this is the best financial position we ve been in at the beginning of the year because of everyone s hard work etc. Vice president s report & programs Lisa Henderson March Diane from GRUB to talk about mentoring the kitchen garden project Grafting also do in March on vine maples April possible program on vertical gardening / Michelle Lapp A lot of vertical gardening displays were at the F&G Show (Lisa) Show the framed sedum boxes and how to do (Bonnie) May Brinnon * will try to set up for May 19 th - all day field trip Andrew Kinney has invited us to his home to share pruning practices, greenhouse etc. in the spring June Berry farm field trip to Matlock July Hydroponics field trip Secretary s report Christy Rowe Minutes were sent via since the Mason Jar hasn t gone out. The newsletter will go out this week including today s minutes with updated information Foundation Rep. report Jan Mutter Absent; Jan on vacation Coordinator s report Jeanne R. Bob Simmons got a request from a city employee about the David Shelton Pear Orchard by the marina. The trees can t be pruned and saved but do the MGs want to take scions to save the history? Jeanne will see when they are going to be taken down and send out information. Pioneer Greenhouse people need to talk later but Jeanne requested that all group s go through her in the future and she will send out under her name. Committee and project reports Plant Sale 2014 Margie P. and Mary B. Meeting recently well attended. Vendors have been talked to & applications sent out; park reserved; banners and sandwich board ready; Michelle and Karen will be in charge of The Garden Store (handcrafts, books & magazines, lavender wands, wreaths, etc. need donations) Suggestion to display things vertically to show off the items better 61 tufa containers have been planted and 10 unplanted containers to sell; gallon size containers are planted with sedums to use for planting and feel free to use to fill old boots, pots etc

14 Page 14 Thru the Garden Gate classes Bonnie The workshops are going very well. Thanks go to Michelle for all the PR work she did and that gets the word out and has helped bring people in. Library bookmarks, Jeanne s article, Mason Life, website has helped the success. Next class Wild Edibles and Native Landscaping on Feb. 22 nd Catalyst/Community Garden Bonnie Bonnie has talked to GRUB about putting more garden beds in; she filed out an application and they will decide which gardens they will work at. We should know by the end of Feb. Three beds left available for rent if you know of anyone wanting one Next mtg. for Catalyst is the 20 WSU, 4 p.m. Need to do some weeding, move some berry bushes and general maintenance Seeds have been ordered and received and Territorial also sent a mix of donated seeds Jeanne was contacted by Fred Meyer and they donated bags of seeds to Thurston MGs and the offered us some. Jeanne and Michelle will go over and look through them. Pioneer Greenhouse Michelle Feb a.m. planting at the greenhouse peppers and tomatoes etc. to take home Terry and Tim have finished the doors to the back of the greenhouse The half wall has been put in Mylar blankets (using them as a tent to try and heat the greenhouse to tent the lights) and fans have been ordered. Not heating with propane this year. Next month there will be seeds and trays for people to take home and grow for the Plant Sale. There is soil at the greenhouse to use to start seeds. Watering at Pioneer: as soon as we start seeds, we will need to get a watering schedule going. Need someone every day to water/check. Passed around a sign-up sheet. Need substitutes that can be called if you can t do it on the day you signed up for. You are responsible for finding a sub. Garden Tour Pat Carpenter/Lou Schmidt Perennial plugs (384 plugs) have been received and need to be planted. Need about six people for a work party to plant them. Meeting on Feb. 19 th at Pat s house Fair update Jeanne A Barrel of Fun is the theme; MGs were left out of the process getting input about what the minimum 4-H would need for a fair grounds. Jeanne will contact the Rotary. Other items for discussion Foundation archives Historian position for the Foundation; put in the newsletter to see if anyone is interested in volunteering for this State foundation. Apparel order last call for orders, check list of orders Handed out order forms and an order form will be attached to The Mason Jar We will send out a list of those who have ordered and a Last Call before ordering Membership cards In the past we sold discount cards; info will be on the re-application forms The Edmondson s sent in a $50 donation to buy two cards and felt we should continue with this program.

15 Master Gardener for January: Bonnie Day-Orr Certificate and Grog; work on TTGG workshops MG of the Year 2013 Lou Schmidt Certificate and Gift card to REI Dates to remember Feb. 15 th Sat. Potting plant divisions at greenhouse 10 Pioneer Feb. 17 th Mon. Pioneer Greenhouse-plant toms and 10 a.m. Feb. 19 th Weds. Garden Tour meeting 4:45 pm at Pat s house Feb. 20 th Thurs. Catalyst Garden Committee mtg. 4 WSU Feb. 21 & 22 Native plant sale at Conservation office-order by 2/17 online Feb. 21 st Friday Bob Simmons farewell at County Commissioners office, Bldg. 3pm Feb. 22 nd Sat. TTGG Class-Native Plants Memorial Hall Feb. 22 nd Sat. Lewis County Gardening for Everybody workshops available Feb. 27 th Thurs. Board Meeting-new day 10 WSU Mar. 6 th Thurs. Plant Sale Meeting 5 Memorial Hall Mar. 8 th Sat. Community Garden Orientation 10 Catalyst?? Mar. 8 th Sat. Pioneer Greenhouse planting 10 Pioneer Mar. 10 th Mon. Next General Meeting 10:15 Library Adjourn Motion to adjourn at 11:32 pa by Dave Shephard; seconded by Sherry Clemmens Program: Garden Sanctuaries Jeannine Polaski Respectively submitted by Christy Rowe, Secretary December Master Gardener of the Month - Jinx Cromwell Virginia (Jinx) Cromwell is truly one quiet and behind the scenes hard working style of volunteer. She graduated from the 2011 class and has kept busy volunteering at the WSU Clinic, being a mentor to trainees, working at the community garden in Allyn, helping with the plant sale and many other areas. Originally from New Orleans, she and her husband moved to Maryland where her husband was stationed when he was in the service. A job later moved them to the Seattle area where they had a home in Bellevue for 52 years. During this time she and her husband bought a legal stationary store which they had for 25 years. Jinx then went to work for a friend in the blue print business for 10 years. She decided then that she wanted to pursue a degree in landscape architecture which she earned from the UW. Being a lifelong learner, Jinx continues her education by taking online classes through the Timberland Library system. Page 15 The type of gardening she prefers to do is growing perennials mainly the ones that have red and orange colors in the fall. She also does vegetable gardening growing tomatoes, potatoes and squash in pots in addition to growing the Allyn community garden. She enjoys something most people don t weeding. Her yard is filled with heathers that grow at different times of the year. One of Jinx s favorite plants is sarococca because of its wonderful smell. Another favorite is passion vine. Her suggestion is to buy small plants because it really doesn t take that long for them to grow. Between Jinx and her son they have an extensive library of gardening books. One of her favorites is Hillier s Manual of Trees and Shrubs and her favorite is The American Horticulture A-Z Encylopedia of garden Plants. She also advises to all to look to the web for information and learn all they can about plants. Universities across the country have lots of information and advice. Her advice for trainees and newer Master Gardeners is to volunteer for clinic and do your volunteer hours. Congratulations Jinx you are an inspiration!

16 Page 16 The Mason Jar UPCOMING EVENTS: Annual Plant Sale May 9 & 10, 2014 Wallace Kneeland Park Volunteers are working on this now planting seeds and plugs, dividing plants from our yards, making handcrafted items for The Garden Store and much more! Come and get involved in our fundraiser and invite your family and friends! Chairs: Marjie Plebuch and Mary Bigger GARDEN TOUR - SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2014 All Gardens are in the Downtown Shelton area Volunteers will be needed the day of tour at each of the gardens Chairs: Pat Carpenter and Lou Schmidt Congratulations 2013 Master Gardeners of the Month January Michelle Lapp March Karen King May Erika Stewart July Nancy Dillon September Sybil Jones February Don Acheson April Lou and Willi Schmidt June Mary Bigger and Evon Masteller August Jan Mutter October Terry Conley and MJ Robbins November The Guys - Don Jones, Colin Day and Ron Verlinde December Virginia (Jinx) Cromwell Master Gardener of the Year Lou Schmidt

17 Page 18 Order Form for Fleece Vest with Master Gardener Logo Name: Phone #: Quantity: Size: (see size chart below) Color: Iron gray Blossom pink Cost: $35 x = Due on delivery Not sure about tax ( for sizes > than XL slightly higher price) Product Description Port Authority brand Value fleece vest 13.5 oz. polyester fleece Iron Gray (medium gray) or Blossom Pink (bright pink) Zip front pockets Interior pockets Toggle cord on hem 3 colored embroidered logo on left chest Women s or men s sizes (note: this is different than our original order form) Body measurement: Measure chest under arms around fullest part of the chest. Women s sizes XS S M L XL 2XL 3XL Size 2 4/6 8/10 12/14 16/18 20/22 24/26 Bust in Length Men s sizes XS S M L XL 2XL 3XL Chest Length 27 in