Master Memos. Our Next Meeting: 10, 2018 REA 6:00. May Red Dirt. Newsletter Orchids at MG Monthly Meeting

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1 Our Next Meeting: Master Memos Red Dirt May 2018 Newsletter Orchids at MG Monthly Meeting Our program for our Red Dirt Master Gardener meeting, on May 10 th, will be presented by Lisa Egner who is the owner and operator of Texas Heritage Gardens in Linden, Texas. Her topic will be Orchids. 10, 2018 REA 6:00 There will be NO BASIC TRAINING COMMITTEE MEETING in MAY. We will resume our meetings in a few months when we begin our Advertising Campaign. If you have questions, get in touch with Teresa Slack. If you have any questions regarding anything in this newsletter, please feel free to call (870) or visit Room 215 in the Miller Co. Courthouse, 400 Laurel. Sincerely, Jennifer Caraway County Extension Agent - Agriculture JWC:jds Companion Planting & Container Gardening By Teresa Slack The Bowie County Master Gardeners/Texas A&M in Texarkana will present a program on Companion Planting and Container Gardening on Mon., May 14 th, 2018, at Texas A&M University, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The class is free and open to the public. The class will take place in the Science and Technology Building, Room 306. The program will be presented by Master Gardeners Jill Rabozzi and Cheryl Turner. Jill will discuss Companion Planting and will show you which vegetables and flowers support or inhibit the growth of other plants and/or which pests they deter. She will discuss how companion plants assist In-School Garden Committee 4-H Project Continued on page 5 The School Garden Committee has been very busy this spring! We have square foot gardens at Trice Elementary and, thanks to Nancy Biggar s donation, we have a key-hole garden at College Hill Middle School. We have 17 third & fourth graders gardening at Trice and a rotation of 5-6 College Hill fifth & sixth graders weekly. We have received several acknowledgements this spring. In February, Red Dirt Master Gardeners were recognized for our Exceptional Volunteerism with 4-H Projects. Theresa Mitzler and Annette Lachowsky represented the Master Gardeners at a wonderful 4-H banquet and accepted a Friend of 4-H certificate. It will be on display at the May meeting. In March, at the Texarkana, Arkansas School District s Jack Hardy Volunteer Reception, we were awarded TWO principal s awards for the school garden projects one from Trice Elementary and one from College Hill Middle School. These too will be on display at the May meeting. We are honored to have the opportunity to share our love for gardening with these students. Pictures of the fun are included on Page 3. Continued on page 3 University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture and County Governments Cooperating The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your County Extension office as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

2 Well maybe Mother Nature has finally figured it out and is going to let us have a spring. Gardens are going in and some put their second garden in after having the cold temperatures kill off their first. In May, you should be planting your vegetable garden, enjoying the sweet taste of strawberries, and getting your arsenal of pest & disease control items ready for your flower (& especially your vegetable) gardens Remember the Horticulture Field Day at the Hope SW Research and Extension Center on May 17 th. Lots of good information and a good lunch also. So call in and put your name on the list Now that the online reporting is back up, get your hours in. Also, set your sights on the Master Gardener Birthday at Moss Mountain on October 13 th for all that get their hours in. If unable to put them online, get with Andrea and she can get them entered for you. Here s hoping each and every one has a great spring and see you Thursday, May 10 th at our meeting. Horticulture Field Day Join us May 17 th at the Southwest Research and Extension Center in Hope. Register now and save $3 off admission cost. Cost is $17 if you pre-register by May 11 th or $20 at the door. Contact Sherri Pote at ext. 100 to pre-register or get your form in our office and mail in. Make checks payable to U of A CES. On the agenda. Enjoy biscuits and jam compliments of Ouachita District FCS agents. The plant doc is in! Sherrie Smith and the mobile Plant Health Clinic will be on site all day to diagnose problem plants. 8:00-8:15 Welcome with Dr. Paul Beck, Interim Center Director, SWREC 8:15-9:00 Tomato Production with John Gavin, CEA-Bradley County James Lamb, President 9:00-9:30 Controlling Squash Bugs & Other Home Garden Pests with Dr. Jackie Lee, Horticulture IPM Specialist Beginning at 9:30, the Ouachita District FCS Agents will begin Good Eats Good Health cooking demos and tastings for those not wanting to proceed to the field. 9:45-10:15 Blackberry Breeding and Variety Development Update with Dr. John Clark, U of A Distinguished Professor Continued on page 4 Volunteer Time By Andrea Thomas The Online Reporting system is back up and working. So it is time to start placing in your hours if you have not already. You know I am watching. We have 32 folks with zero hours. This means you are showing as inactive and we do not want that. Please start placing your hours in. Congratulations to Linda Moilanen; she is now a certified Master Gardener. We already have nine Master Gardeners recertified and one Lifetimer with the required sanctioned hours to keep their years counting. Lifetimes, remember you must place in 10 sanctioned hours each year to keep your years counting. You know you want that 20 year pin; perhaps it is a 25 year pin. To report your hours, go to Yard and Garden, Master Gardener Program, Enter Volunteer Hours and logon. If you have questions on reporting your hours or need a password reset, give me a call at (at7550@yahoo.com) and I will do my best to help. Continued on page 6 2

3 In-School Garden Committee 4-H Project Photos Continued from page 1

4 Horticulture Field Day Continued from Page 2 10:15-10:45 Watermelon Production with Cover Crops with Dr. Amanda McWhirt, Horticulture Crop Production Specialist 10:45-11:15 Tomato Diseases and Pests with Dr. Jackie Lee, Extension Horticulture IPM Specialist 11:15-11:45 Fruit Breeding and Genetics-Peach and Nectarine Variety Development Update with Dr. Margaret Worthington, U of A Assistant Professor 12:00-1:00 LUNCH. Taco bar by Amigo Juan 1:00-2:00 Station Tour with Clay Wingfield, Horticulture Program Technician III, SWREC Red Dirt Master Gardener Minutes April 12, 2018 REA BUILDING James Lamb called the meeting to order at 6:15 pm. Minutes were approved after a motion was made by Janet Lemley and seconded by Pam Rayburn. The treasures report by Glenda Griffin-treasurer- was accepted with a motion by Clyde Davis & a second by Janet Lemley. Membership approved. The plant sale Saturday raised $1846. Committee reports: Basic Training will have a meeting tomorrow at the courthouse at 9 AM. College Hill committee for gardening is working hard. The Genoa school is working on grants for their gardening efforts. James recognized the plant sale committee and 28 members who helped with the sale. Jan Lavender reported that the Grow with Us committee is making plans for speaking engagements at the Talks at the Library, the Sand Flat community center and the senior Collins Center on Texas Boulevard. Also this committee will ask for volunteers to do demonstrations at the Farmers Market this spring and summer. Janet Lemley reported on the Wild Flower committee. Flowers will be planted possibly at I-30 & I-49 interchange, Arkansas Blvd. and also at 71 North and the Red River. Flowers will be planted in fall of 2018 and the master gardeners are giving suggestions and will not be actually planting the flowers. Flowers will be planted by the AR Dept. of Transportation. The courthouse beds will be worked on this Tuesday morning at 8:30 according to Gayle Renfro. Mulch will be spread so bring a rake and gloves. In Old Business, Teresa Slack reported that the Home & Garden Show was successful. James announced that the Bowie County Master Gardeners would have a program at Texas A&M and that two hours of education could be obtained. He would like our members to support this course by the Bowie County MGs. The 30th Master Gardener Birthday will be October 13 th. James asked for a motion to approve $1000 to obtain a charter bus to the gardens at P. Alan Smith. Clyde Davis made a motion and Sharon Etheridge seconded the motion. The membership voted unanimously to approve the money to charter a bus. 13 members are going to attend the state convention in Ft Smith, AR the end of May. Also in New Business, Teresa Slack said that on Saturday, July 14 we will have a tour of local Gardens which will be announced & a cookout at Teresa & Ron Slack's place. No Thursday night meeting will be held in July. Also Saturday, April 14 will be the New Boston master gardener plant sale. Teresa Metzler announced that workers are needed in Doddridge to help with the flowerbeds around the ferries. Paula Warren announced that there will be a cleanup at the fairgrounds and the Sandflat Center, Sat. at 9 AM. The Nevada County plant sale will be Saturday April 14. Jennifer Caraway was recognized for receiving awards as a community extension agent and she also recognized Samantha at the meeting who was our 4H agent for Miller County. Samantha is now the AG/4H agent in Howard County. The meeting was adjourned and then a program by James Lamb was given. It was titled Intro to Bee Keeping. Submitted by Jan Lavender, secretary 4

5 Companion Planting & Container Gardening Continued from Page 1 in the growth of others by attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, or providing nutrients, shade, or support. Cheryl Turner will present Container Gardening. Less labor-intensive than tending to a yard, potted plants let you cultivate your creativity and amplify your green thumb minus all the weeding. There s almost no restriction on what to use as a planter. She will show how containers can be designed for shade, small spaces and more. Janet Carson Farewell Tour: Propagation Workshop Garvan Woodland Gardens JUNE 18 th 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Magnolia Room Yes, it s true. Our good friend Janet Carson is retiring from service to the University and the state of Arkansas at the end of the year. So, join Janet and friends for this summer hands-on workshop at Garvan Gardens. Participants will learn about various plant propagation methods, such as dividing, layering, softwood cuttings, etc. Industry professionals will provide assistance as students try their hand at various propagation techniques. Students will leave with propagated plants from the Gardens. Lunch from the Chipmunk Café is included in the workshop ticket. Registration and refreshments begin at 9:00. $55 Members I $70 Non-Members I Lunch Included I Reservations are required and seating is limited I Register Online or call Calendar of Events 10 th MG Monthly Meeting REA 6PM 11 th Garvan Woodland Gardens National Public Gardens Day 9:00-3:00 Tours included free with regular admission fees 13 th 14 th Companion Planting & Container Gardening 6-8 PM TX A&M Texarkana 17 th Horticulture Field Day at SWREC 25 th Information Due to Janet for Newsletter jsmallwood@uaex.edu 28 th 31 st June 2 nd AR MG State Conference in Ft. Smith, AR If you are still interested in attending the 2018 Master Gardener State Conference in Fort Smith this month, there may still be an opportunity. A Master Gardener registered to attend but due to a family commitment, she is unable to attend and would like to offer her registration for sale. It includes two half-day tours with meals for a total cost of $ If you are interested, contact Martha at (903) (cell). Submitted by Rita Nichols TIDBIT for Repelling Groundhogs! Plant basil, chives, lemon balm, lavender, mint, sage, thyme, rosemary, and oregano in your garden to help deter these critters.

6 Continued from Page 2 Sanctioned Hours Attend the Basic Training Meeting. Volunteer Time The Plant Sale. The Plant Sale is sanctioned. Potting, labeling, plant sale setup and clean up, placing out plant sale signs, working the plant sale. This is also one time you can count travel time, placing and picking up plant signs, bringing plants to the plant sale, transporting, loading and unloading plants and/or items for the plant sale. All this time may be counted. The Texarkana Highway Sign Food or dessert for the monthly meeting meal. This goes under Hospitality/Social. You get to count the time it took to prepare the dish and time you were in the store picking up items to make the dish. You cannot count travel time to the store or time spent visiting while in the store. Did you come early and help set up for the meal? You also count that time. Non-Sanctioned Hours Education Travel Time The Monthly Meeting. You get 1 hour for the business part of the meeting, even if it ran shorter. Articles or photos submitted for the newsletter. The Monthly Meeting Program. The monthly meeting program will count as 1 hour of education. Seminars and/or workshops on gardening. The MG Monday Zoom Meetings. Watch it live or watch the tape or read the pdf Touring Public Gardens (such as Garvan Gardens, Dallas Arboretum, Rose Garden in Shreveport or Tyler, etc.). Report this under Garden Tours. It must be a public garden. A private or individual s garden does not count. Reading Horticulture Magazines or Books or Watching a Horticulture Program on TV and/or Internet. You can report 1 hour each month for each of these activities. The Mole and Gopher Training The rule is that you cannot count travel time but there are exceptions. Should you be transporting items for a project, you may count the time loading, unloading and moving/transporting the items. Examples include hauling compost or mulch for the Courthouse flowerbeds or Downtown Garden. Items for displays as at the Agri Expo, Home and Garden Show, Horticulture Department at the Fair. Count the time under the project you are doing it for. Only the time spent transporting the items count. Bringing or transporting your personal gloves, hoe, shovel, pruners, etc. to a project does not count. Happy Mothers Day to All! MG s 30 th Birthday Event 6