ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES & AGENDA

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1 ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES & AGENDA CURRENT CALL CENTER SCHEDULE Upcoming Events June 5: Linn County. Eco Family Virtual Conference: Water. events?programid= June 7: Linn County. Part II. Garden Planting Techniques and Considerations. workshops-gardeners June 22: Linn County. Part III. Garden Maintenance and Pest Management. workshops-gardeners June 25 28: Scott County. Upper Midwest Regional Master Gardener Conference, Quad Cities. iowamg2014/ June 28: Tour of Gardens. Details in this issue and on the website. tourofgardens14 Aug 24: Summer Picnic. Details to come. Sep 27: Fall Plant Sale. Details to come. Nov 10: Awards Banquet. Details to come. From our President, Marv Stoffel This is a very busy and exciting time of year. I m sure everyone has been busy planting and getting their yards and gardens ready for summer. We had a very successful MG Spring Plant Sale on Saturday May 10th. We were blessed with very nice weather and had an excellent variety of plants for sale. Thanks everyone who donated and volunteered for this plant sale. Our next big event will be the popular Tour of Gardens cochaired by Jeanne Ambrosy and Lou Ann Arensdorf. They have been busy planning and organizing for this event. There will be SIX fantastic gardens to view! The Tour will be on Saturday June 28th, held rain or shine. I can t wait to see these gardens. We have many opportunities this year for everyone to get their volunteer and education hours in. Look in this newsletter for all the details of these opportunities. Memorial Day is upon us and unofficially marks the start of summer. So, make sure you stay safe, and have fun this summer. Have a great month everyone! IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION & OUTREACH ~ DUBUQUE COUNTY WEST RIDGE LANE, SUITE 2, DUBUQUE, IA (563) JASON NEISES MG PROGRAM DIRECTOR JNEISES@IASTATE.EDU MARV STOFFEL MG ADVISORY COUNCIL PRESIDENT STOFFEL19@MCHSI.COM KRISTYN KALNES MG NEWSLETTER EDITOR KRISTYNKALNES@GMAIL.COM

2 JUNE 2014 DBQ Co. Master Gardener Newsletter Page 2 OF 5 MG Advisory Council News Updates to Dubuque County MG Handbook At the May meeting the Advisory Council approved updates to the Dubuque County Master Gardener Policy Handbook with new information about the Presidential succession policy, medical exemptions and a new sustaining status for long-time MGs who can no longer complete their annual volunteer hours. You can download a new copy at edu/dubuque/page/dubuque-county-extension-mastergardener-program, or pick up a printed copy from the MG Call Center the next time you re at the office. Call Center Updates We ve had lots of calls already this spring, and we appreciate all the help from Master Gardeners answering questions. A few things to remember: Don t miss your shift! If you re on the schedule you are responsible for showing up. If you can t do your shift, contact Marv Stoffel. Be sure to document the calls that you make. If you take care of the questions left on the papers be sure to document that you called people back so that we know the questions have been answered. It s also helpful if you document what you told the caller. Please write legibly so we can read your comments. If you don t answer all the questions be sure to leave a note for the next shift. Document any research that you did and leave notes so that we know what follow-up is still needed. Check the voic . Sometimes people call after-hours and leave messages on the phones. There are instructions in the office about how the check the messages. Lastly, check to see if any of the plants in the office, entryway or outside need water. If dry, won t you please water them? :) Next Master Gardener class starts in September Iowa State Extension and Outreach will no longer be holding the winter Master Gardener trainings due to low attendance and difficulty with logistics. The fall training will start in September 2014 and we will be sending out more details soon. If you know people who would be interested please send us their contact information and we ll send an invitation to join the class. Important Disclaimer: Mushroom Edibility Requests The Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic does not make recommendations about the edibility of wild fungi. When consuming wild fungi, there are multiple factors that may contribute to a potential poisoning, most of which are beyond the control of the experts who identify a specimen brought into the Clinic. Some edible and deadly poisonous mushroom species are not only similar in appearance, but may be found growing together. The toxin content in individual mushrooms may vary, and the effect produced by toxins may vary from person to person. There are toxins in most edible species that must be cooked off in order to be safe, and some edible species are very toxic when consumed with alcohol (even within a few days). Fungi that are generally considered edible may cause serious allergic reactions when consumed by some individuals. Additionally, wild fungi often are contaminated with pesticides, pollutants, bacteria, or other decay organisms, which we cannot reliably assess in the Clinic. For these reasons, it is our policy to not recommend edibility of wild fungi. Additional Event Descriptions Tour of Gardens Full details about the 2014 Tour of Gardens including a complete listing of the six featured gardens can be found on the Dubuque County Extension website, edu/dubuque/tourofgardens14. The site also includes an interactive map edit?mid=zxmaiz8xcfqo.k9ksidhkqw60 that shows all the garden locations. You can download flyers and posters from this site, so if you could print some out (or pick them up at the Extension Office) and post them in your neighborhood at gas stations, community centers, churches, grocery stores, etc. we d really appreciate it! We need lots of help from Master Gardeners to work at each of the garden sites and help with event logistics. To volunteer for the Tour of Gardens, please call Jeanne Ambrosy ( ) or Lou Ann Arensdorf ( ). New for 2014! Mini educational workshops: Ca ring for Roses : 10:00am and 1:00pm at Marlyn and Joyce Bausman s garden Sm all Container Vegetable Gardening : 11:00am and 2:00pm at John and Shirley Zurcher s garden Special Invitation: Upper Midwest Master Gardener Conference, June Our Master Gardener colleagues in the Quad Cities have sent a special invitation (downloadable at SITE) detailing the fantastic activities they have planned for the upcoming regional conference, including tours, presentations, nationally-known keynote speakers and a vendor fair. We hope to have a good representation from Dubuque County at the conference. Volunteers are also still needed at the conference. If you re planning to attend the Conference in the Quad Cities

3 JUNE 2014 DBQ Co. Master Gardener Newsletter and would like to help out, please Linda Küffer, hotmail.com. There s still time to register for the conference. Volunteers Needed: Master Gardener Help at Four Mounds Four Mounds (4900 Peru Road), a Dubuque Landmark Site, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area partner. A model of volunteerism and community partnering at its best, Four Mounds is a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve and educate. the schedule for the work would be fairly flexible and could be done based upon the volunteer s availability. These are great opportunities to earn volunteer hours in a beautiful, laid-back environment. They are seeking expertise from Master Gardeners for the following tasks: Rock Garden care & maintenance The White House at Four Mounds has an historic rock garden overlooking the Mississippi. It is planted with a variety of native plants, but it needs some maintenance. Four Mounds will provide tools & supplies. Volunteers are needed to: identify and remove invasive species; cultivate Another Successful Spring Plant Sale! Thank you volunteers & plant-contributors~ Page 3 OF 5 & mulch existing beds; select appropriate native species for new plantings; clean weeds and debris from between existing rocks. Estimated total time for project: 15 hours. K itchen Garden layout & landscaping Four Mounds operates a kitchen garden to provide fruit, vegetables, flowers, and herbs for the bed & breakfast. It is immediately in front of the house, so guidance is needed on layout and landscaping for the garden to make it more appealing. Four Mounds will provide tools & supplies. Volunteers are needed to: 1) help create a plan for succession plantings to ensure fruit and vegetables are available throughout the summer; 2) give general advice about soil, diseases and pests; 3) work on beautifying and landscaping the paths between the beds to make them more attractive; and 4) provide guidance about organic and chemical-free gardening methods. Estimated total time for project: 25 hours. If you re interested in these opportunities please contact Jason at or jneises@iastate.edu and he ll connect you with the supervising staff at Four Mounds.

4 JUNE 2014 DBQ Co. Master Gardener Newsletter Page 4 OF 5 From our Friends in Cedar Rapids ~ the Linn County Master Gardeners Workshops for Gardeners Anyone interested in growing food for their family or community is invited to join us for a 3-part training series that will focus on ecofriendly gardening practices and important gardening information related to planning, planting and preparing for the community garden growing season. Each workshop will offer presentations, demonstrations and hands-on activities help participants gain the knowledge and skills to implement sustainable gardening practices this growing season and next. Space is limited, so register early to ensure your spot. Part 1 began last weekend. extension.iastate.edu/linn/news/workshops-gardeners 2. Garden Planting Techniques and Considerations Saturday, June 7, :00 am - Noon This workshop will offer details regarding the processes involved in planting a garden. During this workshop, Linn County Master Gardeners will provide information about: Appropriate planting times for food crops Planting methods Crop rotation Starting seeds for successful germination 3. Garden Maintenance and Pest Management Sunday, June 22, :00 pm - 4:00 pm Participants of this workshop will gain skills and knowledge to sustainably maintain a garden throughout the growing season. Linn County Master Gardeners will cover: Identification and management of pests, diseases and weeds Water stewardship and drought preparation Tips for community garden maintenance Lasagna gardening Eco Family Virtual Conference: Water, June 5 Join eco-conscious, sustainably focused minds across the midwest for this awesomely green virtual conference. The online conference has been designed with families in mind, so that everyone can participate and benefit, including families with young children. The February online conference is on Water. The average US citizen uses over 100 gallons of water daily. Water is an essential and limited resource. Climate change is affecting precipitation patterns around the globe resulting in more frequent and severe drought and flooding events. Examine your personal water usage. Explore strategies to conserve water in the household. Adopt new habits that ensure water quality and conservation. iastate.edu/linn/page/events?programid= Gardening Articles Help Track the Emergence of 17-year Cicadas The periodical cicadas who only emerge once every 17 years will be back this summer! To help scientists track and understand this rare event, a website has been created for citizens to report their observations. If you see/hear the cicadas please report your findings. Lawn Mowing Tips Proper mowing practices play a vital role in helping to maintain a healthy, sustainable home lawn. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach answer questions about lawns and lawn mowing. Caring for Daffodils Home gardeners welcome daffodils as a sign of spring. However, they often have questions about when to plant and how to manage foliage after spring blooming. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists share information about daffodil care. Winter and Root Crown Injury in Fruit Crops winterinjury.html The winter of 2013/14 was cold and abnormally dry across north-central and western Iowa. Dry soil conditions coupled with a lack of snow cover and an extended period of subfreezing temperatures were ripe conditions for root and crown injury in fruit crops, including strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry. Japanese Beetle Control on Trees japanesebeelte.html Many homeowners, tree care companies and landscapers are looking ahead and worrying about defoliation of trees by the Japanese beetle adults again this summer. Native Woodland Wildflowers for the Home Garden wildflowers.html When selecting plants for the shade garden, don t overlook native woodland wildflowers. Woodland wildflowers are attractive additions to home landscapes and are easy to grow when given a favorable site. All About Perennials Perennials can be grown in nearly any garden location sunny, shady, wet, dry, border or background. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulture specialists recommend perennials to meet specifications of many gardeners.

5 JUNE 2014 DBQ Co. Master Gardener Newsletter Page 5 OF 5 ISU Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinic Identifies Mushrooms, Not Safety The Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic can help Iowans identify the mushrooms growing in their backyards and elsewhere, but cannot say whether they re safe to eat. Multiple factors may contribute to wild fungi being potentially poisonous, most of which are beyond the control of the experts who identify the specimens brought into the clinic. Also see Important Disclaimer: Mushroom Edibility Requests, earlier in this newsletter. Selecting Trees & Shrubs Creating a beautiful, functional landscape depends on putting the right plant in the right place. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach discuss considerations when selecting trees and shrubs for shaded, wet and dry areas of the lawn and garden.