1-2 Hold on to your seed pods. ladies and gentlemen!!

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1 Hold on to your seed pods ladies and gentlemen!! by Midge Willis Master Gardeners are some of the most talented people I have ever met and we have a brand new, fun way to showcase those talents. This project will involve ALL Master Gardeners from near and far. If you are reading this and you are a member in good standing of a Master Gardener Association in your area, this means you too, 1-2 Hold on to your seed pods 3-4 Cleaning Up My Act 4 Hospitality Team Photo courtesy of P. Allen Smith, so come join the fun as we create a seed wonderland next January. Our plan is to decorate the West Monroe Civic Center for our 9th Annual Seminar next January with a country store/home setting. We are asking the Master Gardeners to Inside the Gardener s Scoop 5 Tulips and Jonquil Jubliee 6-7 Master Gardener Gardens 8 Webinars & Calendar 9 Continued on page 2 9 Statewide Events 10 Spring Fest 11 Hours Gardener s Scoop March 2018 Page 1

2 make centerpiece arrangements from dried seed, dried flowers and seed pods, all natural so that every table has something on it that pertains to seed. Everybody can gather seed, dried seed pods or weird looking mushrooms or whatever you see that you think might look good in an arrangement. Everybody can join in. Even those of us like myself that are not comfortable creating flower arrangements can do something. This will not be a contest and the arrangements will not be judged. We have discontinued the regular Centerpiece Contest. Get those creative juices flowing, start your engine! Times a-wasting! We want to have everything in place to make this possible before December first. The good news is we have 10 months to get ready, the bad news is..well there is no bad news, just fun, seed swapping and a whopping 10 months to get- er-done. The best is yet to come. This is the fun part. Hunt and gather all year as plants come to life in our beautiful state. We have so many things to choose from that we may have to hold some things over for another day. Look for the unusual. Plant something odd, do something different this year. Even if you go out of state or out of the country, keep looking for anything that can be used in this project. Just remember the focus is on seed and seed pods. Do it right. Dry the beauty, save it forever. From time to time we will have something in this newsletter about drying flowers, gathering seed or how to use them or odd things found on the walking trail. You do walk in the woods, don t you? We will have speakers to show us how to gather and dry the seed so that they are all viable. Does anybody have the Love in a Puff seed?? Things to look for are native iris seed or yellow flag seed. Does anyone have an aloe vera plant that blooms? If so, has it ever made a seed pod? If the answer is yes, PLEASE save it for this project since a lot of people like myself have never seen one bloom. Did you know that potatoes make seed? I didn t until I began researching things for this project. If you see something on your Irish potato vine that looks like a tiny tomato, that s the seed pod for that potato plant. Do not eat it because it will make you sick. Sweet potatoes also have seed but the seed of these potato plants will not produce a plant like the one it was taken from. The best way to plant potatoes of any kind is still the old fashioned way, seed potatoes and potato slips. Call me or for reserving a table to decorate. On your mark! Seed are waiting. Educational Opportunity by Kerry Heafner The North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners (Ruston) are hosting lunch hour seminars on the 4th Tuesday of March and April. Liz Allison is sharing gardening according to the lunar cycles in April. Gardener s Scoop March 2018 Page 2

3 Cleaning Up My Act A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place by Rose Lee When spring arrives, many of us will undertake spring cleaning. Whether we choose to take on large-scale projects, such as a new addition or a whole-room remodel, or smaller tasks that can be completed in a few hours or days, we are inclined to find ways to spruce up our environment. In preparation for spring planting, my usual first instinct is to perform clean-up tasks outdoors. However, this year I was determined to create garage storage space for my gardening staples those supplies and tools that are used regularly in the completion of tasks such as pruning and trimming shrubs and trees, feeding and fertilizing plants or spraying for pests and weeds. After searching online and choosing a particular shelving unit that I felt would best fit my needs, I proceeded to a local big box store to make my purchase. Although several days passed before I began my DIY project, surprisingly (as stated on the box), assembly of the shelving unit took less than an hour to complete. While I was able to complete the project on my own, others may require additional assistance to remove the metal pieces and plywood shelves from the box. Once the parts have been removed, the actual assembly can probably be done alone. The addition of discounted drapery panels cut in half and mounted on inexpensive spring tension rods allowed the heavier or less frequently used gardening products to be stored on the bottom shelves and covered from view. In addition to storage, the top shelf will be used as a potting station when I begin spring planting, and fits perfectly with my ultimate goal of constructing and maintaining a mini greenhouse. Final touches of farm-themed accessories help create a neat and attractive work station that motivates me to come outside and get my hands in the dirt. With a reasonable budget to work with, a box cutter and hammer for tools, and a few hours for labor, I was able to create a neat and attractive gardening station/storage shelving unit that looked so good after completion I had to pat myself on the back. An added bonus is the versatility of the unit: with a few quick changes, the surface of the station can easily be transformed into an event-themed bar or buffet serving table. Decluttering a space and creating easy access to regularly used products and tools are two spring cleaning tips that have allowed me to create a place for everything and to keep everything in its place. Continued on page 4 Gardener s Scoop March 2018 Page 3

4 With the construction of the gardening work station, many frequently used products and supplies previously stored along a side wall in the garage now have an easily accessible place on the top shelf of the storage unit. Larger products are stored on the bottom shelf. Hospitality Teams by Debbie Beauvais Thank you members of Team 1 for providing refreshments at the February MG meeting. If you can help by bringing a food or drink item, setting up refreshments, or clearing the tables after our meeting, please let me know. Contact Debbie Beauvais at or dbeauvais1953@gmail.com. Thank you. Team 2 will host the March meeting. Members of Team 2 are Judy and Ken Grant, Warren Daniel, Steve Walker, Lamar and Lisa Cranston, Bill and Rita Albritton, Steve Thomas, Rebekah Fuller, Ron Hammett, and Ken Kelley. For the April meeting, Team 3 will be our host. Team 3 members are Dawn Jordan, Janet White, Patti Wilder, Buck Bounds, Mary Barnidge, Pattie Fincher, Laura Hardin, Elaine Johnson, Jerry Hunter, Lynn Morris, Cindy Hatten. Thank you all for volunteering! Gardener s Scoop March 2018 Page 4

5 Tulips blooming at Kiroli Park. Lisa Richardson and Laura Hardin pictured, working at the Jonquil Jubilee. Also helping were Ken and Judy Grant and Debbie Beauvais. Gardener s Scoop March 2018 Page 5

6 NELA Master Gardener Gardens Camellias and daffodils from the gardens of Virginia Lee. continued on page 6 Gardener s Scoop March 2018 Page 6

7 Virginia Lee s babies, getting ready for their spring garden. First she starts them inside, then pots them up individually & transfers to the greenhouse until IT IS TIME. Gardener s Scoop March 2018 Page 7

8 Dr. Brooke Edmunds (Extension Master Gardener Faculty in Oregon) is once again hosting free, advanced training webinars for Master Gardeners. Advanced Training Webinars 3/12 at 11am PST Identifying & Managing the Bronze Birch Borer presented by Nicole Sanchez These webinars would be useful as online continuing education opportunities. Visit this link for more information: pring-2018-webinars-master-gardeners/ 4/16 at 11am PST Powdery mildew: Biology & Management in the Garden presented by Dr. Jay Pscheidt Upcoming Activities New Iberia Azalea Trail March 1-April 21 AMC Horticulture Symposium Shreveport El Dorado Dirt Friends Festival Webinar: Identifying & Managing the Bronze Birch Borer 11AM PST MG Meeting 6:30PM Hazardous Waste Event IKE Hamilton LA Redbud Festival Vivian LA Lunch Hour Gardening Seminar Ruston Library 12PM-1PM Newsletter article submission deadline Good Friday ZOO Easter EGGstravaganza LA Purchase Zoo 10AM-1PM MARK YOUR CALENDAR NELA MG Spring Plant Sale is April 6 & 7 REMINDERS Remember to record your hours of training and service on the website regularly. Gardener s Scoop March 2018 Page 8

9 Upcoming Events Throughout Louisiana March 10, New Orleans ROSE SALE New Orleans Botanical Garden Pelican Greenhouse The sale features old garden roses and a great selection of annuals, perennials, natives, succulents, herbs, veggies, and more bring a wagon. 9 a.m.-noon. Arrive early for best selection. Cash, check, and credit accepted. A plant list will be available a few days before the sale at neworleanscitypark.com/events/pelicangreenhouse-plant-sales. For more information, call or plants@nocp.org. Botanic Gardens at Burden. March 16-18, St. Francisville THE ANNUAL AUDUBON PILGRIMAGE West Feliciana Parish Festivities will include tours of historic homes and gardens, antique show and sale, living history demonstrations, night festivities, and cemetery tales. The numerous activities will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday and continue until Sunday at 5 p.m. For tickets and tour information, contact West Feliciana Historical Society by calling or , visit stfrancisville.us, or wfhistsociety@gmail.com March 16-17, Covington NORTHSHORE GARDEN & PLANT SALE St. Tammany Fairgrounds St. Tammany Master Gardeners present our annual Garden & Plant Sale, with 60+ Plant and Garden booths, food trucks, LSU Plant Doctor, Ask the Experts, Table Seminars and Cooking Demos, Gardening related Educational Exhibits, and Children s Activities. St. Tammany Fairgrounds, 1301 N. Florida St, Covington, La Open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Admission $5 (under 18 free, Police, Fire & EMT free). Master Gardener Officers President Lisa Richardson Vice-President Bryan Babb Secretary Virginia Lee Treasurer Helen Hotard Historian (none) Recorder Linda Tubbs Members-At-Large Ken Grant Ken Kelley Joyce Marlette Gardener s Scoop March 2018 Page 9

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11 It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. Charles Dickens, Great Expectations Volunteer Service Hours As of March 6, Volunteer Service Hours 80 Continuing Education Hours This time last year: 293 Volunteer Service Hours 78 Continuing Education Hours Do not forget to record your hours! The next Master Gardener meeting is Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the LSU AgCenter. An educational program of the LSU AgCenter The Louisiana Master Gardener Program is a service and educational activity offered by the LSU AgCenter. The program is designed to recruit and train volunteers to help meet educational needs of home gardeners while providing an enjoyable and worthwhile service experience for volunteers. Contact: LSU AgCenter 704 Cypress Street, West Monroe, LA (318) Gardener s Scoop March 2018 Page 11