THE GRAPEVINE Volume 20, Issue 3 1. The Grapevine

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1 THE GRAPEVINE Volume 20, Issue 3 1 The Grapevine Master Gardeners of Hamilton County, tn March 2013 Volume 20, Issue 3 HELPING TENNESSEE GROW BETTER COMMUNITIES President s Letter - The Shovel by Carol Mathews What tool is more important to the Gardener than the shovel. They come in many sizes to accommodate a number of chores for a wide range of people who use them. The purpose of the shovel is to dig, move and lift a number of objects. I have to admit that I do use other tools in my shed as well as the shovel, however, the one my husband, Clyde, goes for every time, is the shovel. The shovel has become a symbol associated with gardening and gardeners. When you see a shovel your mind just goes on auto pilot with thoughts and ideas of beautiful flowers or healthy vegetables. It symbolizes a way of life. If we were to personalize the shovel with some human characteristics, what would we find? First It is made of heavy sheet metal which makes it strong. It needs to go into difficult places, withstand the elements and make a difference to its surroundings. Second It is dependable and stands ready to help when needed. Third Regardless of its physical condition or how badly it has been used and/or abused, it will still lift or move whatever is put in its body. Fourth It has a definite purpose and no matter how many other tools you have, no other tool can replace or do the same job a shovel was created to do. Is it any wonder why the shovel is the chosen symbol of highest achievement for the Master Gardeners. When a job is well done, a plan is perfected and lives are impacted, in the Search for Excellence, an engraved shovel attesting to that accomplishment has become the symbol and thus the award. MGHC had, until last month 5 shovels hanging in our trophy case. For a number of years, at Winter School, our state MG conference, it has been the practice to recognize the highest achievements for Master Gardener projects throughout the state. Those shovels represent the first and fourth characteristics listed above. We are strong, take on difficult tasks, have a unique purpose and we can be imitated but not replaced. Another shovel was added to the trophy box this year. It well represents the second characteristic. Mike Payne received this shovel for his work on the state level of Master Gardeners. Like the shovel, he is dependable and stands ready to help when needed. MGHC has benefited greatly from his talents and leadership from the beginning of its existence. Thank you Mike. A seventh shovel came into the MGHC family and that one will stay with its recipient, Tommy Jackson. The third characteristic of the shovel fits Tommy very well. His body has taken a beating, and some parts have been chipped away, but the spirit is still strong ready and willing to do any task he is asked to do. Thank you Tommy. IN THIS ISSUE Secretary's Report 2 Natural Landscaping Symposium 2 Winter School Gardening Throughout the Year 4 MGHC CEU/ACT/Events Calendar 4, MG Class Schedule 5 Hotline Question of the Month 6 Rain Barrel Workshop 6 Garden Expo 7 Planting Trees at Nolan Elementary 7 Beginner & Newcomer Gardening 8 March 21 st MGHC Member Meeting Ag Center Social: 6pm Meeting begins: 6:30pm What or who are the shovels in your life? 2013 MGHC Officers: President Carol Mathews Vice President Lisa Clark Secretary Barbara Blankenship Treasurer Peggy Dyer Certification Officer - Gretchen Rominger Communications Dee Clark MGHC Coordinator Tom Stebbins 1 Year Members Sandy Bunting Libby Hickman Freeman Powell 2 Year Members Connie Giles Samantha Pfeiffer Ken Harris Committee Chairpersons: Bonny Oaks Arboretum Jack Townsend Chattanooga Market - Connie Giles Communications - Dee Clark County Fair Donna Adams Events Coordinator Gail Tryon Finance Peggy Dyer Food Bank Garden Tour Jo Lawrence Garden Expo - Sue Henley Historian Joy Wooden Hospitality Lori Ashton Hummingbird & Butterfly Garden Mike Payne Membership Directory Wanda Wilkey Mentor Coordinator Shirley McMasters (Day Class) & Clyde Mathews (Night Class) MGHC Hotline Valerie Hargis Projects Stephanie Payne Speakers Bureau Sue Henley State Advocate Patsy Boles

2 THE GRAPEVINE Volume 20, Issue 3 2 The Secretary's Report by Barbara Blankenship I think everyone was glad to get out and attend our first meeting of the year, since January s was cancelled due to bad weather. We had 76 people sign in at the door and of those we had 16 interns attending. It s always great to see so many new faces I hope you had a chance to introduce yourself to them. Joe Bozick from Outdoor Lighting Perspectives was the speaker and he showed us a lot of innovative ways to show off our gardens and homes with the right lighting. Anyone wanting to buy some nice perennials there is a trip planned for March 16 th to Mouse Creek Nursery. If you haven t heard Ruth Baumgardner is closing up her nursery and is giving everyone a 30% discount on perennials. The Garden Expo is beginning to take shape and we hope everyone will volunteer to help in some way. Freeman Powell is working on the Intern Handbook and will be passing these out at Graduation. This will have a list of the core projects and partnerships with leaders in it. Natural Landscaping Symposium... Getting MORE with LESS Practical information about using native plants in the home landscape to get MORE birds & butterflies, biodiversity, beauty, and a healthy environment... with LESS watering, maintenance, lawn area, and chemicals Saturday, March 9, :00 am - 3:30 pm Chattanooga State, Humanities Auditorium $40 in advance for Wild Ones members; $50 in advance for non-members; $60 at the door for everyone To register, visit our The second annual native plant landscaping symposium presented by the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones is designed for local gardeners and anyone interested in "doing the right thing" in the garden. You don't need to be an expert to attend. In fact, the symposium was created with both casual and experienced gardeners in mind. You will learn about the many benefits of using native plants in a natural landscape, and you can find out how to attract butterflies and other desirable wildlife to your garden. Importantly, after this symposium, you will know how to put what you've learned into practice. You will leave with practical tips and suggestions on plant selection. Symposium speakers include Tim Spira, Leon Bates, Andy Sessions, Lisa Wagner, and Cherie Cordell. There will be time reserved for questions and answers. You'll even be able to choose and purchase from a limited selected of native plants at the event. We know that after you attend this event, you will be inspired to create or enhance your own natural landscape. Thanks to this year's sponsors! Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center Chattanooga Association of Landscape Professionals Master Gardeners of Hamilton County

3 THE GRAPEVINE Volume 20, Issue 3 3 Winter School 2013 What an exciting time we had at Winter School this year. We broke our own record with 24 in attendance. It was a very good year for MGHC. The school itself had the most attendees that it has ever had. Our classes were wonderful as you have already heard through the Yahoo groups message board. Most of the ones going this year were first- timers. As I have heard said, We did know how vast and encompassing the MG were in the state of TN. It has given us a whole new perspective and we are planning to go again next year. When the announcement comes for next year, I hope that we will again have a lot of members to go. We have been each year we have been members and it gets better every year. Besides the educational components, it is fun. Our own Tommy Jackson and Mike Payne were honored with the coveted shovels. Tommy for outstanding volunteerism through difficult circumstances and Mike for his dedication to the MG and the state as a whole for what MG do. But beware, if you do a good job for the state, they promote you to a harder one. He is now in charge of raising money for the UT MG program to guarantee its sustainable growth.

4 THE GRAPEVINE Volume 20, Issue 3 4 Gardening throughout the year, a guide for Tennessee Gardeners March Trees and shrubs Cut a few stems of forsythia, flowering quince, pussy willow or fruit trees for forcing inside. Transplant still-dormant deciduous shrubs and trees, plant fruit trees and groundcovers. Prune summer-flowering woody ornamentals like butterfly bush, hibiscus, hydrangea (H. tardiva and Annebelle ) and rose of Sharon. Prune deciduous vines like honeysuckle, trumpet creeper and porcelain berry. Remove invasive vines like Japanese honeysuckle, wisteria and Oriental bittersweet from the landscape. Plant new roses, or move old roses after the 15th. Perennials, Annuals and Bulbs Plan the summer garden. Add mulch to perennial beds before plants emerge to maintain a 3-4 inch layer (avoid newly-seeded areas).. Plant cold-weather annuals; pansies, violas, snapdragons, English daisies, sweet William, gazanias, larkspur and calendulas. Start seeds indoors of perennial herbs and slow-growing, annual flowers like ageratum, verbena and vinca. Fruit, Vegetables and Herbs Remove last year s canes from raspberries and blackberries (except everbearers); continue pruning grapevines and fruit trees. Prepare vegetable garden by adding well-rotted manure, processed manure, peat moss or compost and till in (weather permitting). Start cold-weather vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage) in cold frames. Direct-seed greens (kale, mustard, spinach), lettuce, peas, radishes and onion sets in the garden. Plant, rhubarb, horseradish and asparagus. Miscellaneous Turn the compost pile. Feed the birds. Keep the birdbath free of ice and change water weekly. Look for blooming hellebores, witch hazel, daphne, early daffodils and Japanese Apricot (Prunus mume). CEU Calendar 1st Saturday, noon, 1CEU **NO MEETING** Chattanooga Regional Hosta Society Barn Nursery 1801 East 24th Street Contact Shirley mcwhoop@att.net 2nd Tuesday, 6:30-8pm, 1CEU The Chattanooga Herbies CAFB Conference Room "Coloring Eggs with Natural Dyes". Bring your own eggs for dye baths. All are welcome. Contact Ann or arose56@hamilton.net 2nd Saturday, 2pm, 1CEU The Tennessee Valley Bonsai Society Ag Center Contact Jim or jlgtwo@peoplepc.com 3rd Thursday, 6:00pm, 1CEU MGHC Member Meeting Ag Center Social begins 6pm, Meeting begins 6:30pm March 9, Saturday, 9:30-3:30, CEU (various) 2nd Annual Symposium Chattanooga State Contact Nora nsbernhardt@gmail.com or Saturday, March 9 (9 am - 3:30 pm), 5.5 CEU The Second Annual Symposium: "Natural Landscaping: Getting MORE with Less" at Chattanooga State Humanities Auditorium for more information and to register. Saturday, March 23 (1:30-4:30 pm), 3 CEU "The Magic, Mystery and Genius of Seeds" - Walden Town Hall 1836 Taft Highway, Signal Mountain. The Friends of the Cumberland Trail is hosting a germplasm preservation conference that will feature several experts of seed ecology. We will also talk about the Seeding the Cumberlands Project and the next steps. Included will be a tour of the FCT Nursery. For more information, contact Sally Wencel (slwencel@gmail.com). Monday, April 1 (6:00-7:30 pm), 1.5 CEU TN Wild Ones Native Azaleas and Rhododendrons at the Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center. All are welcome. For more information, contact Sally Wencel (slwencel@gmail.com). ACT Volunteer Hours Mon,Wed&Fri, 9:30-11:30am, 2009 Curtain Pole Rd, contact Katie kbishop51@comcast.net. Tues&Thurs, 9:30-11:30am, Gateway Ave, contact bryantclaire86@gmail.com to sign up. Mon & Wed, 10am- noon, Hot Line, Ag Center, contact Valerie valhargis@epbfi.com for more info. Tuesday, Siren Pool renovations, Chattanooga Arboretum. Contact Dennis Bishop, Arboretum dbishop@chattanature.org or ext Wednesdays, 8-9:30am, Butterfly Garden, Aquarium, contact Julie Wednesday (January- February), Winter Pruning, Chattanooga Arboretum. Contact Dennis Bishop, Arboretum dbishop@chattanature.org or ext. 115.

5 THE GRAPEVINE Volume 20, Issue 3 5 Wednesday, Center for Creative Arts Earth Club meeting. Contact Maya aureliac@gmail.com or First Thursday, 6pm, MGHC Board Mtg, Ag Center, (A) Hours Wednesday & Friday Seeding the Cumberlands nursery workday. Contact Sally Wencel, slwencel@gmail.com to sign up. Saturday, March 16th, 9am Workday planting & mulching at the Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center. Contact Chrystal St ext 101 or cstpierre@chattanature.org Saturday, March 23rd, 9am Food Bank Workday on Native Trail. Contact Mike Payne tnmastergardener@aol.com 2013 Master Gardener Training Schedule Two Classes Monday Nights: 6:00pm to 9:00pm Or Tuesday Mornings: 9:00am to Noon Date Topic Instructor Jan pm Introduction Tom Stebbins and mentors Jan. 8 9-noon Introduction Tom Stebbins and mentors Jan pm Soils Jeff Jarrett Jan noon Soils Jeff Jarrett Jan pm Botany Dennis Bishop Jan noon Botany Dennis Bishop Jan pm Vegetable Gardening Joel Houser Jan noon Vegetable Gardening Joel Houser Feb pm Chemical Use and Safety Herbs Tom Stebbins Ann Bartlett and Chatta Herbie team Feb. 5 9-noon Chemical Use and Safety Wildlife Jerry Lamb Dee Clark Feb pm Native Plants Wildlife Wild Ones Dee Clark Feb noon Native Plants Herbs Wild Ones Ivana Patterson Feb pm Perennials Ruth Baumgardner Feb noon Fruit Kim Frady Feb pm Insects and Diseases Tom Stebbins Feb noon Perennials Ruth Baumgardner March pm Trees and Ornamentals Dennis Bishop March 5 9-noon Trees and Ornamentals John Thomason March pm Fruit Kim Frady March 12 9-noon Insects and Diseases Tom Stebbins March pm Roses ---- Composting Jeff & Cindy Garrett/ Herb Cohn March 19 9-noon Roses ---- Composting Jeff & Cindy Garrett/ Bud Hines March pm Landscape Design Stephanie Payne March 26 9-noon Landscape Design Stephanie Payne April pm Turfgrass Mike Payne April 2 9-noon Turfgrass Mike Payne April pm Meet at Food Bank Master Gardeners and other resource people April 9 9-noon Meet at Food Bank Master Gardeners and other resource people April pm Pruning class- outside John Nessle April 16 9-noon Pruning class- outside John Nessle Apr. 18 6:30pm Graduation at Chester Frost Park Graduates & one guest invited Classes held at The Hamilton County Extension Service Office. Take Hwy 153 to Bonny Oaks exit. Go east to second light, Adamson Circle. Turn right on Adamson Circle. Look for a three story white building on the right. Parking is behind the building. Note: Students can make-up a session from the other time period if needed. Videotapes are also available for making up some sessions. Any MG can sit in on a repeat class or two if they desire. Please contact Tom Stebbins before the class to make sure it hasn t been switched around by weather or other causes.

6 THE GRAPEVINE Volume 20, Issue 3 6 Rain Barrel Workshops by Jeff Jarrett The MGHC is offering four rain barrel workshops to be held at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank on Curtain Pole Road. These "build your own" rain barrel workshops offer the opportunity to construct your own 55-gallon plastic rain barrel that will be ready to hook up to your home's rain gutter system. The following dates and times are scheduled: Sunday, March 24, 2013, 1:30 pm Saturday, April 6, 2013, 1:30 pm Saturday, April 27, 2013, 1:30 pm Saturday, May 11, 2013, 1:30 pm Advance registration is required. Class sizes are limited and spots go quickly so don't delay. The fee is $30 which covers all costs to build one 55-gallon rain barrel. You don't need to bring any tools, but wear old clothes since you will get a little dirty and have a vehicle capable of transporting your rain barrel home with you. For more information and to register, go to the MGHC website at - Call the Hotline by Valerie Hargis, Hotline Chairman It s that time of year where the hot line phone doesn t ring much as very little gardening is going on right now. So I thought I d take this opportunity to write a little something about the master gardener hot line, particularly for the benefit of the new interns. The master gardeners have a workroom on the first floor of the Agricultural Building, near the kitchen area. Most of you newcomers picked up your class materials in this area. The workroom contains a library of books, a supply of UT Publications and a computer with Internet access. These are the resource materials used to answer questions that are received by the UT Extension offices via phone, letter and walk-ins. Especially fun are the walk-ins with either plant in hand or bug(s) in a jar. There is also a supply of DVD s and books in the lending library for checkout. Traditionally, the hot line is staffed on Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon. The activities calendar indicates that the hot line is active on Wednesdays as well but currently there are no volunteers for Wednesday. Actually, any day of the week is fine as long as there are volunteers. The hot line can get really busy during peak gardening months so about three master gardeners are needed to cover the load. Working the hot line is a great way to learn about all kinds of gardening, plants, trees, shrubs, grasses, insects and more, plus it s a lot of fun. We use the Internet and our book library to find answers but many times we already know the answer because we ve learned through attendance at master gardener classes, functions and continuing education. Many times we tell our caller that we ll have to research their problem and get back to them. We are not expected to have all the answers immediately at hand. We also have access to a microscope to help diagnosis plant problems and I find that using the microscope is particularly fascinating. I read the spring edition of Herb Quarterly recently and in one of their articles it mentions calling your local extension office because some offices have a volunteer staff of master gardeners who will answer your questions. They cite a website at USDA.gov to find your local extension. This article just might prompt additional phone calls as many times callers tell me that they didn t know we existed until they heard it from someone else or read it somewhere. Both callers and visitors tell us how much we are appreciated. Come visit us on a Monday between 10 a.m. and noon to see what we do. If the hot line is a project for which you d like to volunteer, we ll train you and I guarantee you ll get hooked. If you have any questions about the hot line, give me a call at home, , or stop by to see us.

7 THE GRAPEVINE Volume 20, Issue 3 7 Garden Expo - April 20-21, 2013 Camp Jordan by Sue Henley April 20 and 21 Mark your calendars now. Master Your Garden Garden Expo is just around the corner. Can you believe, there will be only one more members meeting and one more newsletter left to get information out about the expo. I was so excited Thursday evening at the meeting to see the large number of hands raised when I asked who had signed up to work at the garden expo. If you haven t signed up yet, what are you waiting for? We need you! This is a project that will take all of us to make it a success. The plans are coming together very nicely now. I have a great group of committee chairmen and they are working very hard to make this expo very special. We have a good variety of vendors and Tom Stebbins has put together excellent topics and speakers for the classes that will be offered during the 2- day event. Of course, we are still recruiting vendors; so don t hesitate to mention the expo to the lawn and garden related businesses that you do business with. They may not have the manpower to staff a booth for the weekend, but they may be willing to donate a door prize for the drawings throughout the weekend event. So don t be shy. All businesses that sponsor our expo or donate door prizes will be listed in our program handouts during the expo. and I may be a little bit prejudiced, but I think they are awesome. By the way, I want to thank those of you who took posters to pass out; it is so important that the public learn of our expo. Again, please don t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to sign up to work the expo. Sue Henley Garden Expo Chairman Have you seen the posters? They will be out in the garden related businesses and high traffic areas by the first of March, Planting Trees at Nolan Elementary by Sara Stanley

8 THE GRAPEVINE Volume 20, Issue 3 8 HELPING TENNESSEE GROW BETTER COMMUNITIES Master Gardeners of Hamilton County, TN 6183 Adamson Circle Chattanooga, TN th Annual Beginner & Newcomer Gardening Class This class is limited to 50 people at a cost of $50 per person for all 4 classes. The schedule is as follows: March 5 March 12 March 19 Soils & Fertilization/Turfgrasses Bud Hines & Mike Payne Landscape Design & Edible Landscape Stephanie Payne & Carol Mathews Attracting Wildlife / Trees & Shrubs Dee Clark & Lisa Lemzala The above classes are held Ag Center March 26** Perennials & Annuals, Wildflowers Stephanie Payne & Jane Mauldin ** held at Garden Gallery Greenhouse on Gold Point Circle North 6:30 9 pm The $50 price includes: notebooks, door prizes, refreshments and questions answered by UT trained personnel. Call to reserve your spot.