Over the Garden Gate

Transcription

1 Over the Garden Gate Monthly Newsletter Clinton County Master Gardeners Volume 1 Issue 3 Editors: Ralph Stanford and Nora Stanford. Addresses: nora161@mchsi.com Published on the first Monday of the month. To submit an article it must be sent by as a Microsoft Word attachment to the above address. To be accepted for publication in the next newsletter articles must be received 10 days before the first of each month. Introducing Kay Bates My true beginning with actual gardening happened about ten years ago when I didn t know the difference between an annual plant and a perennial plant. I had tried growing some tomatoes and flower in pots, and enjoyed many house plants. Those small beginnings soon grew into a great love for digging in the soil, creating flower beds, and enjoying the view when my plants would grow. I was born in Sterling, IL, and lived in the area until getting married to an Air Force member. That changed many things in life, for 17 years we moved from coast to coast and to West Germany. Finally, we settled in Clinton after he retired. I soon went to work in my new career as a Clinton County Communications Operator. I have been a 911 operator for 18 years, and love every minute of it. I did, however, get divorced ten years ago and that s when once again, things changed. That is when my true desire for gardening started to bloom as you might say. I was able to create the type of yard I had always admired in magazines. I planted trees, one for each grandchild, and created my own little nook in my yard. Then along came Stanley, my current partner in life, also a gardening enthusiast. I moved to the woods and now am learning a whole new aspect of flower and vegetable gardening. Together, we have four children and nine grandchildren. We enjoy spending time with our families, We enjoy sharing our knowledge of the gardens with the grandchildren. I have dreamed of becoming a Master Gardener for almost ten years and am very happy to be afforded this opportunity. Introducing Stanley Bates In 2007 Kay and I were married in a Native American Ceremony at a pre 1840 Rendezvous. I have been setting up a 22ft teepee for pre 1840 living history for over 20 yrs. When Kay and I got together, she fell in love with my interests and we decided this was the way. This year marks my 2nd year of retirement and my 3rd year of marriage. Our Log Home has allowed us to have a much better outlook on life. Continued on page 2

2 Over the Garden Gate Page 2 We both enjoy gardening in our wooded yard of 20,000 sq. ft. with thoughts of the 25 acres of trees around us. We both definitely enjoy the quiet of the woods, the wild life from deer, turkeys, coyotes, and birds of all sizes that visit our yard. I do have a three day a week job on Tues. Wed. and Thurs.at Lectronics Inc. of Clinton, to ensure my being with the public. They seem to enjoy having my years of experience to help them out now and then. I would say that I have accepted a new quality of life here in the woods with Kay. Sitting on our back porch quietly watching the grass and trees grow. I hope this Master Gardener Class will give me the enrichment of knowledge I need to improve our place here on earth, to be able to share what I have learned with others, and teach them something that I find to be quite challenging and interesting. One or two autobiographies of our Master Gardeners will be included each month as long as they keep coming in. If you have not sent your Bio. to us please do so. 100 to 300 words please. The Jackson County Master Gardeners are presenting Adventures in Gardening V, Saturday March 13, 2010 at the Maquoketa Middle School. Cost is $12 if registered beforehand, or $15 at the door. Lunch is included. Choice of turkey, ham or cheese, I believe. Sheryl Dexter For any questions contact Jackson County Extension Office in Maquoketa at Agenda Continued on page 3 From your President I would like to take this space to mention volunteer and education events and opportunities for Master Gardeners. Some of these may be mentioned else where in the news letter. The date of the Master Gardener plant sale has been set for May 15 and 16. Right now with a snow cover, digging plants seems far off. Past experience is that if plants are dug and potted about four weeks before the sale they look best at sale time. If we look at things that way, then less than two months from now we can begin to dig plants. Helping at the plant sale is a great way to get some volunteer hours. If you are in need of education hours you can attend a new member class. These classes meet on Tuesday evenings. Look in this news letter for a listing of the remaining class dates and topics. Last year the Advisory Board voted to sponsor a Garden Walk, Much of this is still in the planning stages. It will be a walk of Master Gardener gardens and will be open to the public. The Education Committee has met and has some great ideas for continuing education events for the membership. The committee is in the process of finalizing the topics and dates. These will be great places to pick up that education hour or two you need, and also get to know other members of the organization better. The Advisory Board voted to have the sunflower as the flower of the year and to sponsor a flower container contest during the county fair. Hope to see many of you at Horticulture in the Heartland, March 6th. Willard

3 Over the Garden Gate Page 3 Jackson County Adventure in Gardening V Agenda 8:30 to 9:00 Registration 1:00 to 1:45 Mini-Session A. Wendy Scott What s New in Annuals & Perennials B. Wendy McCartt Broom Corn Keynote Address: Becki Lynch Landscaping with Ornamental Grasses 1:45 to 2:00 Break 10:00 to 10:15 Break 2:00 to 3:00 Keynote Address: Roxie & Dallas DeShane Gourd opedia-volume II Seed Sunshine Surprises! 10:15 to 11:00 Mini-Session A. Rose Knoebel Raised Bed Gardening B. Shannon Peterson Emerald Ash Bore 3:00 to 3:30 Question & Answer Panel 11:00 to 11:15 Break 11:15 to 12:00 Mini-Session A.Judy Tonderum & Barbara Strathhman Garlic & Onions B. Mitch Gravert Iowa s Edible Mushrooms Maquoketa Middle School is located east of the 400 block of South Main Street. Please use the Judson Street entrance on the South end of the building. 12:00 to 1:00 Lunch Break You can help publicize DOUBLE YOUR GREEN by printing the poster on page 6 and putting it in public view, Master Gardener Plant Sale May 15 th & 16 th Lyons Square Park, during the Lyons Craft Fair We need lots of plants of different kinds. Please divide and repot at least one month in advance if possible. Spring Equinox at the Arboretum The Arboretum will host a Spring Equinox Celebration at 5:30 pm, Saturday, March 20 on the grounds of the outdoor museum, 340 S 14th Street, Clinton. The celebration is free. Each guest will be given a branch for forcing. Forsythia, Serviceberry and Magnolia, al of which are early blooming Arboretum plants. Meet at the Gathering Place, just west of the parking lot. The banner Earth Awakens will herald the first day of Spring. The theme of this year s Vernal Equinox will be Spring is Hope. At this time of economic challenge in our country, the Reflection Committee of the Arboretum feels that we need to recognize the hope in days to come during the celebration. This celebration is appropriate to all ages. Dress for spending a half hour outside. An electric cart will be provided for those who need assistance. If the weather is severe, the observance will be held inside. The Bickelhaupt Arboretum is located at 340 S.14 ST. Questions:

4 Over the Garden Gate Page 4 NEW MEETING DAY The Master Gardener Advisory Board Meetings will be held the 3 rd Tuesday of each month and will alternate between the Extension Office in DeWitt and the Bickelhaupt Arboretum in Clinton. Meetings will begin at 9:00 a.m. All Master Gardeners may attend the meetings. March 16 Extension April 20 Arboretum May 18 Extension June 15 Arboretum July 20 Extension August 17 Arboretum September 21 Extension October 19 Arboretum November 16 Extension December Annual holiday party Date Topic Site Instructor March 2 Landscape Extension Ann Marie VanDerZanden ISU March 9 Vegetables Arboretum Margo Hansen March 16 Herbaceous Ornamentals Notes from Willard Larson EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES Members may gain education hours by attending the new member classes. Each class meets for three hours. The classes begin at 6:30 and are done at 9:30. Classes remaining for this year are: Arboretum Roger and Jan Rittmer March 23 House Plants Arboretum Margo Hansen March 30 IPM and Pesticides Extension Joe Weston UPCOMING EVENTS April 5, Double your Green for beginning vegetable gardeners at Extension office taught by Roger and Jan Rittmer Master Gardener Sponsored Garden Walk May 15 & 16: MG Plant Sale: In Clinton it will be held at the Lyons Craft Fair MASTER GARDENER ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 17, 2010 The February 17, 2010 meeting of the Master Gardener Advisory Board was called to order at 9:05 A.M. at the Bickelhaupt Arboretum. Continued on Next Page

5 Over the Garden Gate Page 5 Attending were: Willard Larsen, Sheryl Dexter, Dick McLane, Brenda Council, Deb Monroe. Absent: Sandy Hughes, Jack Pringle. Guests: Liz Clements, Roger Rittmer, Phyllis Henry, Al Rathje, Francie Hill, and Mark Schroeder. January s Minutes: Motion by Dick M., 2nded by Brenda to approve. Financial Report: Mark Schroeder reported there was a balance of $4, Motion to approve report by Brenda C., 2nded by Dick M. Reports: OLC: Roger Rittmer reported that the C-W FFA has volunteered to grow out plugs of ornamental grasses dug from the OLC. These would be sold at the Plant Sale. Signage for OLC will be started soon. Suggestions for the fair included a container contest, Wednesday be designated MG Day, and MG s should wear matching shirts. Education: Deb Monroe reported that members of the Education Committee met on Wednesday, February 10. They are making plans for monthly continuing education events. Hort in the Heartland: Willard reported that there has been a lot of publicity for the seminar to be held on Sat., March 6 th, at Clinton Community College. Plant Partners: Will start around the 1 st of May. Discussion was held on how to involve more Master Gardeners in this program. Bickelhaupt: Francie reported that the Bickelhaupt is being very supportive of the Hort in the Heartland. Plans are also underway for the 2010 No Child Left Inside programs that will include Clinton schools 1 st and 4 th graders. Publicity: Jack Pringle has agreed to chair, and Bill Gustafson will be contacted on being on this committee. Clinton County Garden Walk: Kathy Sander is Chairman of this committee. Other members are Norma McDonnell and Nora Stanford. Plans are being made for a county-wide tour of 4 or 5 MG s gardens this summer. It will be open to the public, and will be a fundraiser, possibly for scholarships. Social: Members of this committee are Phyllis Henry, Joe Weston, Linda Lamp, Leanne Larsen, and Brenda Council. Newsletter: Ralph and Nora Stanford are editors of the monthly newsletter. New Member Class: Mark Schroeder reported that there are 11 in the class. Two or three are going to attend Hort in the Heartland. It was decided that reps of various committees would come and talk to the class in order to promote MG projects. Old Business: Roger Rittmer requested $50. to be used to make a MG History scrapbook. Deb Monroe motioned to accept this request. Brenda Council seconded. Approved. A discussion was held on how to get more interns involved in Plant Partners. It was decided that a run through would be presented during the IPM class. Seven area groups are combining their efforts to present another Enviro Kids program this summer. Each group is to present a 3- hour program on Saturdays. Mark Schroeder shared that the MG mailing list is for the sole use of the Extension Office. New Business: The 2010 MG Plant Sale will be held on May 15 and 16. Willard and Leanne Larson will chair the DeWitt location at the Commercial Bldg. at the fairgrounds. Kathy Sander will chair the Clinton location at the Lyons Craft Show. MG s are encouraged to dig their plants by mid-april, so that they have plenty of time to acclimate and fill out. The 3 rd Tuesday of the month at 9:00 was set as the new day for the Advisory Board meetings. These will again alternate between the Arboretum and the Extension Office, with the December meeting being the annual Christmas party. The first Sunday in December was agreed upon for the Christmas Party. Buzzy s in Welton will be contacted as to date availability. A motion was made by Sheryl D., 2nded by Deb M. to nominate the Sunflower as the 2010 Flower of the Year. Motion approved. A motion was made by Deb M., 2nded by Brenda C. to have the MG s sponsor the outdoor container contest at the fair. Motion approved. The next meeting will be held on March 16 th, 9:00 A.M., at the Extension Office. Dick M. moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:25. Respectfully submitted, Sheryl Dexter Secretary... and justice for all The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative format for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14 th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC or call

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