Inside the Gardener s Scoop

Transcription

1 January 2014 Taiwan Cherry An Underused Hero That Thrives with Little Care in Our Area Second of a series on Hero plants for Northeast Louisiana Gardens With so little blooming in January, coming upon a Taiwan cherry tree in full bloom in the dead of winter can be quite breathtaking, as well as unexpected and so very welcome, especially when you re starving for spring to arrive. Its vibrant, reddish-pink, one-inch flowers that cover the tree by the thousands in January are a deeper rose color than the later blooming redbud. This flowering cherry is not to be confused with the Okame hybrid that blooms several months later, and it has much lighter pink flowers. Taiwan Cherry continues on page 4 Inside the Gardener s Scoop Taiwan Cherry... 1, 4 Meeting Minutes Gardening Seminar... 5 Schedule of Activities Board Members... 7 Gardener s Scoop January 2014 Page 1

2 NELA Master Gardener Association Meeting Minutes for December 10, 2013 President Debbie Beauvais called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Program Debbie began by thanking everyone for coming, bringing food, and donating an item for the silent auction. Before breaking to enjoy our feast, some business matters had to be discussed. New Business All were advised of the spring, 2013, seeds donated by Lowe s. They are also a sponsor for our gardening seminar in January and a door-prize donor. Their donation will be a gas grill! Debbie recognized David Torres, Store Manager of Lowe s, who joined our meeting. Debbie mentioned receiving an regarding a Regional Master Gardener Seminar in October, 2014, that will be held in Baton Rouge. Debbie described the Get It Growing calendars as having beautiful color photos of plants and monthly gardening information of what to plant now, and things to be done in the garden. They make a great tool for yourself or a gift. Debbie asked who would be interested in purchasing a calendar. Several raised their hands. Therefore, a case will be ordered for members to purchase and for sale at the January seminar. arrangements. Several raised their hands, so the contest will be held. Andrea Griggs distributed information and registration forms to all interested. Cathy McGuire is keeping a spreadsheet of meeting attendance in the hope that it will help all in reporting hours. Debbie reminded all to report their hours and that they could lump together volunteer hours and also educational hours. Our Recorder then gave more details on entering hours on the LSU website, and offered her assistance to any that would call her. She said hours reported by Dec. 15 will be shown in the next newsletter, and urged all to record your hours before December 31st ended. This is an indicator to LSU of our activity in the community and helps to justify funds needed for continuation of the MG program. Steve Hotard reminded all of help needed at the Master Gardener booth at Ag Expo in January. You can sign up for sessions at the January MG meeting. Entry to the Expo is free for volunteers with your MG name tag. Steve next introduced Mavis Finger who joined our meeting. Mavis is a sweet potation specialist and is working at the Sweet Potato Research Station. She welcomed our questions. Old Business Treasurer s Report Jack Battaglia gave a report on the Bulb Sale. We ve done well, especially for our first bulb sale, and still have the opportunity to sell more bulbs at the January seminar. Members interested in purchasing bulbs for themselves should check with Christy Francis. We still need to sell cookbooks. They will be available at the seminar, and all were reminded that they would make nice Christmas gifts. In the past a floral arrangement contest has been held in connection with the January gardening seminar. Debbie asked who would be interested in entering this. The arrangements should be at the West Monroe Convention Center by 4:30 PM on Friday, Jan. 17, for judging. Gayle Brooks, Master Gardener and licensed florist, would be asked to judge the Meeting Minutes continue on page 3 Gardener s Scoop January 2014 Page 2

3 Meeting Minutes continued from page 2 Bylaws Review Debbie said revisions to the MG Handbook and bylaws just need to be reviewed by Board members, and this will be done via . Hopefully these could be approved before the end of Gardening Seminar Committee members reported on their progress. Speakers are confirmed; publicity has been secured via all media with posters and yard signs to be placed in various places after Christmas; flyer is ready for distribution with extra copies for all to take and distribute; vendors have committed; door prizes have been promised; one sponsor is secured and more are being asked. Everyone was asked to help with getting small items donated with a business s name on it to go in the free goodie bags given to all registrants. 300 bags have been donated by the Monroe/West Monroe Convention and Tourist Bureau. Also, all were asked to find places that would allow us to post a sign or place a yard sign. Yard signs must be picked up after the seminar for reuse next year, so be sure to give Laura Hardin the business name and address where they are placed. Adjournment Debbie then adjourned to allow all time to enjoy the good food, visit with each other, and finish bidding on the silent auction items. Later, Rita Albritton announced that the bidding was closed. After most had eaten or filled a plate, Debbie and Rita called out the top bidder for each item. All were asked to pay Jack Battaglia for their purchases. Proceeds go to the MG Association fund. Announcements Hospitality Team 2 will host the January Master Gardener meeting. Those members are: Rita Albritton, Leader Steve Thomas Warren Daniel Bill Albritton John McGraw Steve Walker Jennifer Ates Helen Hotard Hospitality Thank you to all who helped prepare and clear the refreshment tables, and also to all who participated in this year s auction and celebration. Next MG Meeting January 14 Program by Kerry Heafner Kerry will speak about the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms). NELA MG Board Members Board Officers President Debbie Beauvais Vice President Kerry Heafner Secretary Lilly Matthews Treasurer Steve Thomas Recorder Helen Hotard Historian Patti Kintzing Board Members at Large Elaine Johnson Christy Francis Casey Stevens Gardener s Scoop January 2014 Page 3

4 Taiwan Cherry continued from page 1 Prunus campanulata grows well in our Southern zones of 7-9, and should be used in our landscapes more often. It s a small deciduous tree that grows 15 to 20 feet tall, and has a similar width. These Januaryblooming showstoppers prefer to grow in full sun, but can tolerate some shade and love our acid soils. Its showiness makes it perfect as a specimen tree in the garden landscape, so be sure to plant it where it can be fully seen and enjoyed. Don t be surprised if strangers driving past stop to gawk, take photos, or even enthusiastically ask you, What is it? In addition to its profusion of bell-shaped blossoms which provide the very first blooms and color of the year, other favorable features are its small, (1/4 to 3/8 ) brownish-red fruit that birds especially love, and its attractive, textured bark that s fully exposed in winter. The tree itself has one to two-inch-long leaves that appear after it flowers, and exhibits a densely branched habit with a rounded mass of slender, gracefully spreading branches. January and February are good times to plant your Taiwan cherry, but container-grown plants can be planted anytime. Tip cuttings may also be taken in spring and early summer for rooting. This plant can be grown from seeds as well, and your newly seeded tree should bloom by the third year. The Taiwan flowering cherry has no major problems with pests, suckers minimally, and requires little to no pruning. Plant one (or several) and enjoy its yearround grace and spectacular blossoming as it heralds each approaching spring. (Thanks to Master Gardener Jim Brooks for the photos of his lovely Taiwan cherry trees in bloom.) Gardener s Scoop January 2014 Page 4

5 Gardening Seminar Fourth Annual Event Features Strong Supporting Speakers Mark your calendars for January 18, the day of our Gardening Seminar! In addition to Melinda Myers (featured in last month s Gardener s Scoop), the following local experts will speak. Pre-register now to reserve your place or register at the door. To pre-register, print and return the registration form below or stop by the LSU AgCenter. James (Jimmy) Dean Member of the Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society, Jimmy began a hobby of building nesting boxes when he retired 21 years ago. Now recognized as one of our local experts on bluebirds and their habitat, he has been instrumental in educating adults and children on the value of these beautiful birds. At the height of his career, Jimmy erected and monitored 1,148 houses in a 25-mile by 6-mile swath of land. I had 285 this year and that s probably what I ll maintain from now on, Mr. Dean said. I m 76 years old and it s time to slow down a little bit. Jimmy makes his nesting boxes available for a nominal fee resulting in thousands of bluebird nesting pairs in our region. Jeff Landry Growing up in Luling, La., Jeff developed a love for gardening and farming from his parents and grandparents. After nearly 20 years of work for engineering firms, Jeff, his wife and their four sons established Landry Vineyards in 1999 in Folsom, La. The first grapevines planted were two acres of a white European American hybrid grape, Blanc Du Bois, with plans for 2003 expansion including a red grape, Cynthia/Norton. Landry Vineyards was licensed as a Louisiana Native Winery in Soon after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Landrys used the storm as an opportunity to relocate to higher ground. They now reside in the beautiful hill country of West Monroe, La. on a 20-acre site including a new winery, vineyard, and beautiful tasting room. Robert Rickett Retired physics professor from ULM, Robert has pursued his interest in natural photography with a special focus on wildlife. He has produced a number of science programs on wildlife that have been used by our local schools, civic groups, garden clubs and television. One of the most popular of these programs is about hummingbirds. Robert has recently written an article about hummingbirds in the local magazine, Tres Bella. With his photography and study of hummingbirds, Robert has become a local expert on how to attract ruby-throated hummingbirds to our southern gardens. Gardener s Scoop January 2014 Page 5

6 January 2014 Activities Sun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat MG Meeting 6:30 pm Gardening Seminar 8:00 am Newsletter article submission deadline Reminders Don t Forget! We need small potted plants and small seed packages for the January seminar giveaway table. We need your donated plants for a successful spring plant sale. Please prepare several pots of each plant you raise from seeds or cuttings. Gardener s Scoop January 2014 Page 6

7 From the Editor by Tom Floyd As I begin my second year as editor of our newsletter, I wish to thank everyone who has contributed by sending in stories and photos. It is your content that makes this publication possible! And more is needed, of course. As an incentive, you can (and should!) report the volunteer hours you spend preparing your stories or taking your pictures, including travel time and mileage. So, please, submit your stories, articles, and pictures that come from your gardening experiences. Share your successes as well as frustrations. We re all learners here! Have a favorite plant in the garden or landscape? Great, take a picture of it and submit it, along with an explanation of what makes it special. With your continuing contributions, we can all look forward to monthly newsletters that showcase what fellow Master Gardeners are doing! Volunteer Service Hours As of December 15, Volunteer Service Hours 335 Continuing Education Hours This time last year: 1710 Volunteer Service Hours 255 Continuing Education Hours Do not forget to record your hours! The next MG meeting is Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 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) Board Members From left, Christy Francis, Member at Large; Steve Thomas,Treasurer; Elaine Johnson, Member at Large; Debbie Beauvais, President; Kerry Heafner, Vice President; Patti Kintzing, Historian. Not shown: Helen Hotard, Recorder, and Lilly Mathews, Secretary. Gardener s Scoop January 2014 Page 7