ASCENSION S SCOOP FLOWERBED WORK AT THE AZALEA ESTATES ASSISTED LIVING AND RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Transcription

1 ASCENSION S SCOOP Ascension Parish Master Gardener Associa on AUGUST 2018 Newsle er FLOWERBED WORK AT THE AZALEA ESTATES ASSISTED LIVING AND RETIREMENT COMMUNITY A combined group of master gardeners from Ascension Parish Master Gardener Associa on and East Baton Rouge Master Gardener Associa on con nued with their work at Azalea Estates by developing and plan ng two new flowerbeds. These new beds are beside two sidewalks and will offer the residence a des na on loca on to sit and enjoy the flowers. First the grass was sprayed, and then compost was put into the beds. The next steps were to put garden soil onto the beds, plant the flowers, and water them. The final step is to enjoy the fruits of your labors. Now the residence have a couple of flower beds to enjoy. con nued on next page

2 FLOWERBED WORK AT AZALEA ESTATES ASSISTED LIVING AND RETIREMENT COMMUNITY More beds are in the planning, but we are wai ng for some work to be completed at Azalea Estates before we can begin. We are also wai ng on cooler weather. We are planning to conduct some gardening workshops at Azalea Estates for both the residence and master gardeners. Be on the lookout for more informa on. Eddie Vigil has developed a large vegetable garden at Azalea Estates which is used to supply fresh vegetables for the kitchen (see more about Eddie s garden in the June 2018 issue). Some of the master gardeners volunteering at Azalea Estates have indicated an interest in working with Eddie in order to learn his secrets of successful gardening by picking his brain. If we have enough master gardeners interested in volunteering to do this work, we may be able to come up with some type of schedule. ~Richard Babin 2

3 2018 FALL LIBRARY SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS Ferns for the Landscape and Pa o: Dr. Terry Rehn, EBR Master Gardener and re red Cardiologist August 28, 6:30 PM, Gonzales Library, 708 South Irma Boulevard, Gonzales, (225) Over the years there has been an interes ng evolu on of ferns grown and marketed in the area. Dr. Rehn will present successful choices for both the pa o and landscape with an emphasis on the fern varie es that have tolerated our recent flooding and Arc c blasts. To register call the Gonzales Library at (225) Fall/Winter Vegetable Gardening: Butch Drewes, Manager of Clegg's Nursery Sept. 11, 6:30 PM, Galvez Library, Hwy. 42, Prairieville, (225) Fall and Winter weather doesn't mean your vegetable garden has to be empty. In fact, vegetable gardening in the fall/winter season can be more laid back than in warmer months, with less pests, weeds and heat. The key to successful fall and winter gardening is to learn which vegetables varie es are tolerant of the cold and how to plant them. Butch Drewes will discuss how fall and winter vegetable gardening allows you to extend the growing season, so you can enjoy fresh produce year round. To register call the Galvez Library at (225) Great Flowering Shrubs & Roses for the Louisiana Landscape and their Care: Dr. Allen Owings, Hor culturist and Re red LSU Professor Sept. 18, 6:30 PM, Dutchtown Library, Highway 73, Geismar, (225) There is more than the wonderful blooming azaleas for the Louisiana Landscape. Dr. Allen Owings will explore other specimens of flowering shrubs and roses and their care that can serve as major impact for curb appeal to our landscapes. Be er yet, once established, these low maintenance beau es take li le care, are more drought tolerate than annuals or perennials. Many flowering shrubs a ract birds with their berries and provide brilliant fall foliage. To register call the Dutchtown Library at (225) Gardening Ques ons & Answers Fall Plant Swap: Panel of Master Gardeners Oct. 2, 6:30 PM, Gonzales Library, 708 South Irma Boulevard, Gonzales, (225) Do you have a list of gardening ques ons? This is your chance to finally get the answers you need. A panel of Master Gardeners will lead the ques on and answer session on a wide range of gardening topics. A demonstra on on how to u lize the LSU AgCenter website to get answers to your gardening ques ons will be given. Then, you will have an opportunity to par cipate in an old fashioned tradi on a Plant Swap! Bring your labeled plants, cu ngs, bulbs, or seeds to exchange with local gardeners. You will leave with lots of informa on, as well as new plants for your garden. To register call the Gonzales Library at (225) Janis Poche Library Series Team Coordinator 3

4 PREPARE FOR THE OCT 2 FALL PLANT SWAP! Now is the me to start preparing your divisions, cu ngs and seeds to be shared with our gardening friends. Fall vegetable and herb plants will be popular, along with fall and winter flowering annuals and perennials. The LSU AgCenter's Louisiana Vegetable Plan ng Guide has lots of great info for inspira on. It can be viewed at the link: cles/connected/louisiana vegetable plan ng guide. Think about what a beginner gardener might need to know about a plant s care when labeling. 4

5 Agent Mariah News LMG Repor ng Website State Master Gardener Update from Dr. Sara Shields: The list of LMG Programs has been updated on the LMG Repor ng Site. Please have all volunteers check their profile and update their informa on, if needed. Inac ve LMG program names will be removed by the end of the year. Class Update Our Ascension Parish Master Gardener Class will start on August 14 th. I am very excited we have 16 par cipants enrolled! The schedule is on the following page. There will be space for those of you wishing to audit some of the classes, remember this will count as educa onal hours. However, space is limited for the field trips. The Hammond Research Sta on field trip will be for new class members only. The Hilltop Arboretum field trip will be open to 10 addi onal master gardeners or call me and I will add you to the list. For September 18 th, I am asking for 4 5 Ascension Master Gardeners to give a short (20 30 minute) presenta on to the new class. Presenta ons can be on any gardening topic not already covered. Examples are house plants, rose care, na ve plants, pollinator gardening, raised beds, tools, etc. If you are interested in giving a presenta on please let me know! You do not have to have a PowerPoint presenta on. Demonstra on Garden Work Day We will have a workday in the vegetable demonstra on garden on the morning of Friday, August 10 beginning at 7:30 am. Please bring your gloves, tools, and water. The new class of master gardeners will be plan ng the beds during their last class on September 25 th! To do: pull remaining summer vegetables, remove empty blueberry containers and coordina ng signs, remove lemon tree stump (can someone bring a saw?) and cap irriga on in that space, remove purple round bed (free to good home). Thanks, Mariah J. Simoneaux LSU AgCenter Associate Extension Agent Agriculture and Natural Resources Ascension Parish (225) Assump on Parish (985)

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7 Ascension Parish Master Gardeners elected new officers at the July Membership Meeting. Pictured are (left to right): Treasurer- Sandy Stewart (2013) Past President-Dana Teepel (2014) President-Eddie Bowman (2015) Vice President-Emily Young (2009) Officers not pictured are: Recording Secretary-Michael Bonfanti (2015) Membership Secretary-Charlotte Melancon (2015) Parliamentarian-Harriet Buckner (2013) Publicity Coordinator-Lynda Williams (2009) Member at Large-Patti Mouton (2014) Member at Large-Sheila Billingsley (2004) Ascension & Assumption Extension Agent-Mariah Simoneaux WELCOME OFFICERS! OAK GROVE PRIMARY SCHOOL GARDEN NEWS Tune in next issue for news about the Greauxing Gardens and Oak Grove School Garden programs. A Greauxing Gardens workshop for the school teachers is tenta vely scheduled for mid-august. Richard Babin Educa on Team Coordinator 7

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9 August 11 & September 8, Saturdays, Plant Sale, New Orleans City Park Pelican Greenhouse. Come shop a wide variety of plants from 9 am until noon, including annuals, perennials, roses, gingers, edibles, succulents, and native plants. Free admission. FMI , plants@nocp.org, neworleanscitypark.com/events/pelican-greenhouse-plant-sales. August 25, Saturday, Flower Pressing Class, New Orleans Botanical Garden, 10:30 am- Noon. Have you ever wanted to press fresh flowers to use in craft projects? Now is your chance! We will talk about which flowers are great of pressing, you will make a flower press and decorate it along with gathering flowers from the garden to press in your new flower press. Instruction and materials included in this class. Class is $20, September 25, Tuesday, Native Plants for the Baton Rouge Urban Landscape, Hilltop Arboretum. 6:30-8 pm. Help provide much needed habitat for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife by learning about native plants for your yard. Presented by Helen Peebles, president of the Capital Area Native Plant Society. $5 members/$10 non-members September 29, Saturday, Folsom Fall Garden Fest, Midway Church Park, Highway 25, Folsom, 830 am-230 pm. Local growers from Folsom and Amite areas will have wholesale plants and equipment for sale. Concessions, children s activities. Free admission. September 30, Sunday, PlantFest Teaser 2018, Hilltop Arboretum, 12:30-4:00 pm Neil Odenwald, PhD. talks about his Top 25 Garden Plants. Followed by a walk about through the Hodge Podge Nursery, give-aways, plants for sale. $10 members/$15 nonmembers. Fall Garden Day Trip Cajun Prairie, Butterflies and Blooms September 12, Wednesday, Depart 7am / Return 8pm All Inclusive Trip Pricing! Member $145/Non members $180 Register at hilltop@lsu.edu or call We will begin the journey to Pitkin, Louisiana, in Vernon Parish for a morning visit with Dr. Charles Allen and his wife Susan at Allen Acres Natural Area. The Allen s have spent years developing gardens specifically designed to attract butterflies, moths, bees, and birds for pollination, photography, and study. Our second stop of the morning will be for lunch and dessert at Cecil s Cajun Kitchen in DeRidder, Louisiana, and then back on the bus for a short drive to Almost Eden Nursery. The nursery specializes in beautiful, unusual and hard to find plants including a large variety of native plants. Their stock encompasses over 1000 varieties/species, spanning 100 different plant families for the home and garden. Our last stop of the day before heading back to Baton Rouge will be Eunice, Louisiana, to visit the ten-acre restored Cajun Prairie. Dr. Allen will guide our tour of these prairie gardens. 9

10 2018 APMG MEETINGS BOARD MEETINGS (volunteer hours) LSU AgCenter Ascension Office at Lamar Dixon Expo Center at 9AM. Mee ngs are usually held on the second Tuesday of odd numbered months. The board welcomes sugges ons and comments. September 11 November 13 MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS (volunteer hours) LSU AgCenter Ascension Office at Lamar Dixon Expo Center at 9AM. Mee ngs are usually held on the third Tuesday of odd numbered months. Please remember to wear your membership nametag. September 18 November 20 THE REFLECTIONS IN THE GARDEN SERIES (Education Hours) Burden Conference Center, 4560 Essen Lane, Noon-1PM, $10 nonmembers, , August 6 Ornamental Edibles for Fall, Johnny Naylor September 10 Stunning, Show Stopping Tropicals, Tyler Carr October 1 The Courtyards and Gardens of A. Hayes Town, Leslie Gladney, Blanche Town Gladney AscensionMasterGardeners Ascension Parish Master Gardener Program 9039 St. Landry Road Bldg. C Gonzales, LA (225) SUMMER/FALL MASTER GARDENER CLASS SCHEDULE ON PAGE 6 POLLINATION CELEBRATION WHEN? Saturday, September 15th WHERE? Hammond Research Station; Old Covington Hwy, Hammond, LA WHAT TIME? Gates open at 8:15, event begins at 9am. The event ends at 3pm COST? $5 a car includes parking WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Everyone! Kids and Adults; family friendly event! WHAT WILL BE THERE? Guest speakers, Audubon Bug Mobile, make & take projects, kid activities, hand-made crafts, garden tours, scavenger hunts, honey tasting, hummingbird banding, food & FUN! WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? Visit pollinationcelebration@gmail.com or the Tangipahoa Master Gardener facebook page 10