A Publication of the Howard County Master Gardeners. February Educating People to Help Themselves

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1 LOOSELEAF HOWARD COUNTY 3300 NORTH RIDGE ROAD, SUITE 240, ELLICOTT CITY, MD HOWARD COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS (410) FAX (410) A Publication of the Howard County Master Gardeners February 2015 From Georgia s Desk We've begun the 2015 UME MG training! A class of twenty four received information and greetings from the Applicant Interview Coordinator, Barb Langridge. Barb has given 20 years of service to the MG program--what a record of dedication! It's been very special to work with Barb these years- surviving weather, schedule and sometimes people issues! The interviews prior to the start of the training inform applicants about the training and programs carried out- very valuable as an introduction to our activities. My thanks to Stephanie Holzman, Kent Phillips and Jim Wilk for their significant work in accomplishing this task! Then come the Mentors-- coordinated by Roy Heath. We are grateful for the invaluable and long term support, guidance and helpfulness of the folks who help their team of three to four trainees learn about all those steps in becoming a MG. One of the major Mentor tasks is to assist their group in determining a presentation topic and then how to proceed in developing that topic to give before the class. As Roy noted in his introduction to the mentors and the team concept, our MG activities in general are executed by teams of MGs working together and this training experience will be a beginning of that positive experience. In many cases, these presentations will become part of our community education program, overseen by Ann Vieth, Public Education Coordinator. The Mentors are Richard Freas, Molly McElwee, Margaret Mauro, Kent Phillips, Carolyn Rimes, Kathy Rosendale and Phyllis Yigdall. Molly wears two hats as she also oversees the training assistant and food hosts- all important people in creating an enjoyable, meaningful training and experience. On February 1 at Miller Library I'm looking forward to honoring our newly certified MGs and those earning recognition of years of service and volunteer hours. Hope you'll join us - you'll get home in time for Super Bowl! Georgia Eacker Master Gardener Coordinator geacker@umd.edu Educating People to Help Themselves The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.

2 February 2015 Looseleaf 1 From Georgia s Desk 3 Continuing Education 4 Whipps Color in the Shade Presentation Pat Greenwald is presenting Color in the Shade on February 4 at the Savage Library at 7 pm. Suzette Holiday, MG, Editor webbrats@hotmail.com Join Us on February 1 Annual Recognition Event 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Miller Branch Library All MGs are invited to attend this annual event. The Class of 2014 will be recognized along with those MGs with more than 100 volunteer hours and the special anniversary MGs. Refreshments will be served. Two adjoining rooms have been reserved so we'll have ample space for the reception. Questions? Contact Karen Palm at palm.karen@gmail.com. See you there! Submit items for the March 2015 Looseleaf by Thursday, February 26 to the editor at webbrats@hotmail.com. Submit items for the Howard County Master Gardener Calendar to Janine Grossman at janinegrossman@gmail.com or Roy Heath at thrents2001@yahoo.com. Compost Committee Meeting Monday, February 9 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm The Compost team will meet at UME to discuss plans for the 2015 demonstrations and special events. Be sure to put it on your calendar! We'll invite the Class of 2015 trainees to attend the meeting to learn about volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Last year our team distributed more than 250 compost bins and helped Howard County residents learn about the benefits of backyard composting and vermicomposting. For more information, contact Janine Grossman by janinegrossman@gmail.com. February 2015 Looseleaf 2 Howard County Master Gardeners

3 Continuing Education Speakers and Topics for 2015 We re excited to kick-off a new year of Continuing Education for Master Gardeners. This year s initial meeting is Tuesday, February 10 at the Extension office from 9:30-11:30 am. Please join our Roundtable Discussion about The Need for Additional Community Gardens in Howard County. All Master Gardeners and guests of Master Gardeners are invited to learn more about this topic. Several community members and members of the Howard County Food Policy Task Force and Howard County Recreation and Parks Department will be present to lead the discussion. This is meant to be a spontaneous group of people who are willing to discuss ideas, determine interest levels, propose solutions, and set plans to investigate options. Your level of participation is your choice informative only, express ideas/concerns, and/or take action we look forward to your attendance! Continuing Education Speakers for 2015 Tuesday, February 10, A Roundtable Discussion on The Need for Additional Community Gardens, various participants Tuesday, March 10, Gardening under Glass, speaker Pat Greenwald, MG Tuesday, April 14, The Humane Backyard, speaker Nancy Lawson Tuesday, May 12 TBD (an evening presentation) Tuesday, June 9, Tour the Green Farmacy Garden, Fulton, MD see a collection of 300 plant species used/ researched for medicinal purposes Tuesday, July 14, Tour Brisco Daylily Garden, Ellicott City, MD see 1100 daylily cultivars during peak bloom; impulse buying allowed Tuesday, August 11, Gardens of Lakes Como and Maggiore, Italy speaker Judy Petersen, MG Tuesday, September 8, Native Plant Nursery at the County Corrections Facility, speaker Lori Lilly, Manager Tuesday, October 13 Tree topic TBD, speaker Wanda McLaughlin, UME Area Educator Residential Landscape Management Tuesday, November 10 A Retrospect Look at What Sets the Baywise Home Tour Landscapes Apart? speaker TBD (The Bay-Wise Committee) Check upcoming Master Gardener newsletters and calendars for more details SUBMITTED BY KARIN DELAITSCH kdlaitsch@gmail.com February 2015 Looseleaf 3 Howard County Master Gardeners

4 Strolling through the Whipps Garden Even with the cold weather setting in early, work at Whipps continued throughout the month of December. Replacement theater benches and railing were installed by Paul Kozjar and Paul DiCrispino. The theater sign will be replaced later in the spring. This year we will continue with our current projects of maintaining and improving our gardens to create four-season interests throughout. Another Eagle Scout project is being developed to enhance one of our front gardens. Whipps Garden Cemetery has had an outstanding year thanks to all Master Gardeners, Glenelg Country School students, the THRIVE team, Boy Scouts, and many community volunteers who helped from time to time. We could not have completed a successful year without you. Your help, time and donations are certainly appreciated and will continue to make Whipps Garden Cemetery a lovely hidden oasis in Ellicott City. To show our appreciation, the Whipps Board is providing a luncheon at the Miller Library on Thursday, February 19 at 11:30 a.m. following the planning meeting starting at 10 a.m. at the Miller Library. More information will follow soon. Whipps Spring Planning 10 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Followed by Appreciation Luncheon Miller Library Thursday, February 19 Our official year begins with the spring planning/appreciation luncheon on Thursday, February 19 in preparation for the upcoming events. Please bring all your thoughts and ideas and help us plan another exciting year. Daffodil Day is scheduled on Saturday, April 4. It will again include tete-a-tete daffodils, hyacinths, daffodils, hellebores and Virginia bluebells. We will again offer both Easter lilies and hydrangeas. Our Annual Plant Sale will be held again at the First Lutheran Church, corner of Chatham and Frederick Rds. on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. Don t forget Whipps when you start your spring gardening and divide your plants. Donations and these fund-raisers are the only support given to maintain and beautify Whipps Garden Cemetery. If you are interesting in participating with our April Daffodil Day Celebration or the May plant Sale, either with plant donations or the event itself, please contact me at agravelle@verizon.net or (cell) or (home). More information will be forthcoming on the listserv. Everyone is welcome to stroll through the garden at any time. Thanks again for helping and visiting the cemetery during the past year. If you have never visited the cemetery, please do so. A self-paced walking tour is available in the brochure box at the parking pad. Everyone is welcome to stroll through the garden at any time. Thank you and Happy Gardening to All. Aleta Gravelle CALL FOR PLANTS Our annual plant sale will be held on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. We invite you to share any extra garden perennials and small shrubs (no invasives, please) you are dividing with us for the sale. They can be delivered to Whipps Cemetery at 3651 St. John s Lane starting in May. Please have the plants potted up nicely and labeled common and Latin name if you know it. We have large wooden craft sticks available, if needed. It would also be nice to indicate Native" and "Sun" or "Shade". If you have plants and cannot pot them, please call me. We will not refuse them, but will need time to pot them so they get well established before the sale. Aleta Gravelle call or text: (cell) or agravelle@verizon.net. February 2015 Looseleaf 4 Howard County Master Gardeners

5 At the Beginning of Winter by Tom Hennen In the shallows of the river After one o clock in the afternoon Ice still An eighth of an inch thick. Night never disappears completely But moves among the shadows On the bank Like a glimpse of fur. Meanwhile Trees Grass Flies and spiderwebs Appear alone in the flat air. The naked aspens stand like children Waiting to be baptized And the goldenrod too is stripped down To its bare stalk In the cold Even my thoughts Have lost their foliage. rom Looking Into The Weather. Westerheim Press, SUBMITTED BY JUDY PETERSEN, MG ironicjp@verizon.net February 2015 Looseleaf 5 Howard County Master Gardeners