The Green Thumb. Newsletter for Polk County Master Gardeners

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1 If you have any ques ons/sugges ons regarding anything in this ar cle you can me at or call me at The Green Thumb Newsletter for Polk County Master Gardeners Iowa State University Extension & Outreach--Polk County 1625 Adventureland Drive, Ste A Altoona, Iowa Phone Down the Garden Path "Garden: One of a vast number of free outdoor restaurants operated by charity-minded amateurs in an effort to provide healthful, balanced meals for insects, birds and animals." -- Henry Beard and Roy McKie, Gardener's Dictionary I was looking through some quotes about gardens for inspiration for this month's article, when I chanced upon the above. Just about everyone I talk to these days, myself included, complain about the ravages of deer and rabbits, and even some bugs, all of whom destroy so much of our hard work in the garden. As more and more of their natural habitat is being diminished, greater numbers of our furry friends are finding themselves foraging for food in urban areas. Gardeners spend lots of time and money looking for, and buying, coveted plants. They then put in the hard work of choosing the perfect site and planting, only to have them disappear, sometimes overnight! And have you ever noticed that the plants you wouldn't mind getting rid of are never the ones the critters seem to consider delicacies? It's getting close to that time when we will all be outside again working in our gardens, at least we will if it ever stops raining! I can foresee frustration setting in very soon since the tender new shoots of spring are particularly appealing gourmet items. So I am hoping by sharing this quote we can all try to put things into perspective and rather than getting upset, take pride in providing free al fresco meals to the needy in our Michelin four star restaurant gardens. Why do I think this will be cold comfort when you lose the next expensive, sought after plant! But definitely "food" for thought, especially as there is not much most of us can do to change the situation. I am personally going to try to embrace it with a sense of humor as I sit on my patio with a glass of wine and take pleasure in watching my "customers" enjoying a gourmet feast.

2 Isabella Hurless-Banks, Steering Committee Chair "Hot Pepper Fish" Plant Sale 2017 We are only 5-6 weeks away from our 2017 Plant Sale, and while we are making great progress, there is still much to do if we are to build on and exceed our 2016 success. For that to happen we need the help and support of each and every one of you. Not only to come to the sale to purchase plants and garden items but also to donate as many garden related items as possible, give of your time as a Plant Sale volunteer, and of course pass the word to all your friends and family to come and shop till they drop. To those who have already volunteered and/or made donations, thanks so much. VOLUNTEERS We still have lots of great spots left for all of our Plant Sale shifts. Here's how you can sign up: 1. Click this link to see which spots are available 2. Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like. 3. Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password. Note: Your is not shared with anyone. There are 4 shifts available over the sale weekend: Day Date Shift One Shift Two Friday May 5th 4:30 to 7:15 N/A Saturday May 6th 7:30 to Noon 11:45 to 4:15

3 Sunday May 7th 11:30 to 4:15 N/A Friday, May 5, -- 4:30 to 7:15 Saturday, May 6: --7:30 am to noon AND/OR 11:45 to 4:15 pm Sunday, May 7 from 11:30am to 4:15pm. NOTE: If you are signed up as a helper for any of the Plant Sale shifts and are interested in working as a checker (prior experience not necessary but helpful/training will be provided) please contact Isabella Hurless-Banks at imhurless@aol.com Volunteers should wear a white shirt to be readily identifiable to our customers. An MG shirt would be great if you have one, but any plain white shirt is fine. DONATIONS The donations that you make to the sale are pure profit so the more you donate, the more money we will make. Donations can be anything garden related such as perennials, houseplants, planters, garden art etc. If you have donations where you will need assistance just let us know and we will try to get you some help. This could be things like digging up and dividing perennials or picking up large donations. If you have any questions about donations, please contact Isabella Hurless-Banks at imhurless@aol.com or call If you are donating house plants please contact Isabella or Jen before doing so. This way we can make sure we don't have too many of one kind. This is definitely an area where less is more. Also, we have a supply of decorative planters and baskets which are available if anyone wants to use them for their houseplants. Let Isabella know if this is something you are interested in. NOTE: The Plant Sale Committee has plant markers which are to be used with all perennial donations. These will be available from any of the plant sale co-chairs as well as at the Greenhouse and the Extension Office. By using these tags with a fine point permanent marker we can ensure that they hold up under the wet and humid conditions at the greenhouse. Tags will have approximately an inch marked off at the top and this area needs to remain blank and is for use by the Plant Sale only. There will still be plenty of space for you to identify your donations: Plant name, color, height and light conditions are all useful information to include. Do NOT price your donations. We can also help out if you need pots for your perennial donations. Again, just let us know. CARDBOARD FLATS AND NON-PERISHABLE DONATIONS From now un l sale me we s ll need everyone to be collec ng as many cardboard flats as they can. Flats and non-perishable dona ons can now be dropped off at the Greenhouse on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 9:00 am to noon. We have a fairly limited space for non-perishables so if what you have is par cularly large please contact Isabella before delivering it. HELP SPREAD THE WORD! NOTE: We have made one BIG change this year. The sale will be open to the general public on Friday night so be sure to spread the word!

4 Be sure to follow us on Facebook! Go to: and like us. "Hidden Dragon Zinnia" Also print and display the Plant Sale poster for family, friends and co-workers to see. To access and print a copy of the 2017 Plant Sale Flyer, CLICK HERE If you have any ques ons/sugges ons regarding anything in this ar cle you can me at imhurless@aol.com or call me at Plant Sale Co-chairs: Isabella Hurless-Banks: imhurless@aol.com ; OR Jen Firzlaff: skiier13@mchsi.com Thanks, Cheryl Fridl and Jean Schustek, Greenhouse co-chairs. Greenhouse The greenhouse will be winding down the seed sowing on April 1st but much help is still needed to transplant seeds sown the last three weeks of March and watering all plants through the month of April. We look forward to seeing you all at the Greenhouse! Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at 9:00 AM! Program Committee Join us for Fellowship and a Preview of Polk County Master Gardener 2017 Projects Tuesday, April 25th 6:30 to 8:30 PM

5 2017 Plant Sale: Preview the Exciting New Plants! Bus Trips: Get Ready to Explore! Art in the Garden: Hear about our first art fair fundraiser! "Frizzy Lemonberry Pansy" What's New at Demo, Discovery, & Enabling? All Iowa Master Gardener Art Show Farmers' Market Details for April Program Meeting No supper will be prepared this month but feel free to bring a snack to share! Two Hours of Education Time! Free and Open to the Public --invite your friends! Since we're NOT cook'n this month, reservations are NOT needed--just arrive by 6:30 and enjoy! 2017 Farmers' Market Polk County Master Gardeners' Information Booth at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market The PCMG Booth will be open for business on the third Saturday of each month, May through September. This year, our third Saturday dates are: While we always answer (or try to answer) general gardening questions from Market patrons, we also feature one or more special gardening topics at each appearance. Topics from prior years include things like Roses, Water Gardens, Hydrangeas, Butterflies, Pets in the Garden, Container Gardening, May 20, June 17, July 15, July 16, August 19 and September 16. We staff the booth in two multi-person shifts each Saturday: 6:45-9:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m

6 Ornamental Grasses, Dahlias, Pollinators, and Canning, to name a few. So, you are never answering questions alone. If you have a special gardening plant or passion that would make a good feature topic, please let one of us know. We're always looking for new ideas and would love to host you at the Booth as a featured expert. Please use our SignUp.com page to signup! Here are three easy steps to do this: 1. Go to our page: 2. Enter your ad 3. dress (you will NOT need to register an account on SignUp.com) 4. Sign up! Choose your spots and SignUp.com will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Co-chairs: Matt Doré -- matt.dore@drake.edu Sherri Soich -- sherrisoich@gmail.com Randy Campbell -- campbellrd@mchsi.com Enabling Garden Our Feature Event each Spring is the Arbor Day Celebration! Saturday, April 29th 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Enabling Garden John Griffiths, Wright Outdoor Services, will be our feature speaker presenting on the all topics related to trees. He loves your questions so come prepared with your tree and outdoor questions. Our committee members are working with several key vendors and local groups to pull together a fun and educational session for all ages!

7 As always, this is a free event to all. Please join us at the Garden! Our work nights are Tuesday nights starting around 5:00 PM, weather permitting. Plan ahead and come join the fun, working and socializing in the garden. Date Day of the Week Gathering Time Purpose April 15th Saturday 12:00 PM Spring Clean-up April 22nd Saturday 12:00 PM Spring Clean-up April 25th Tuesday 5:00 PM 1st Work night of the season April 29th Saturday 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Arbor Day Celebration * * If the weather is poor, we will move the celebration to the Polk Co. Extension Office. Watch Facebook for updates. Please connect with us on our website and Like us on our Facebook page where new photo's, current and upcoming activities are listed: Link to Enabling Garden webpage: Link to Enabling Garden Facebookpage: Thank you to everyone who has volunteered! We appreciate your time! Enabling Garden Co-Chairs: Sandie Hamilton Paula Winslow Christine Barker, Sharon Schoonoer Children Participating at 2016 Arbor Day Celebration Demonstration Garden Ahh, Spring has Arrived Daffodils, Squill, Lenten Rose and other early spring flowers beckon us into our gardens between the rains. Our Thanks to Interns & Volunteers for Pruning! Significant progress in tree and shrub pruning was made in early March with the assistance of our interns and a

8 few MG volunteers. If you have an interest in learning more about pruning and serving as an apprentice (coaching others) in 2018, please contact Nancy (Ike) or one of the co-chairs. Don Doxon: Making Progress on Stump Removal! Pre-season Project Work Delayed due to Rain Weather has not accommodated many of our pre-season project work days. Tilling has been delayed for another week due to the rain. The stump grinding project has been completed and some progress made on installing the deer barrier and grape vine supports. Demo garden will be converting our grape supports to a Geneva Double Curtain support system which is better suited to the age and size of our vines and the fruit they produce. We will watch the forecasts and may pick another day or two to continue on these special projects. Watch for announcements via This 'n That. Annual Spring Work Schedule Officially Begins Soon! The dwarf fruit trees and yellow raspberries we ordered should be heading our way soon! They will be planted upon arrival. Spring Clean up is scheduled for Saturday, April 22nd. Please join us on that day when we will remove winter debris and early season weeds, clean out the birdbath bubbler fountain, etc. We look forward to meeting you in the garden. Thank you for volunteering! Co-Chairs: Ruth Doxon, Sandie Sydnes Discovery Garden Even though the temperature does not reflect it, Spring has finally arrived, and along with it tasks to be completed before we can plant the gardens. Important dates for the Discovery Garden are: Saturday, April 15th, pond clean up with Dean Brand, beginning at 8:30 Saturday, April 29th, plant pick up,at the Greenhouse, with Cheree Tilton, 8:30 to 11:30. Garden cleanup will be in early May, weather permitting, of course. "Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil" Reginald Heber

9 We had a great turnout for our Spring planning meeting on March 15th,everyone seems ready and eager to get started on another season at the Garden. Photo courtesy of Co-Chair Dean Brand Spring Dinner and Planning Meeting Co-Chairs: Dean Brand drbrand@mediacombb.net tel: Jean Roe ljroe@q.com tel: Patrick Schmitt schmittpatrickj@gmail.com tel: Cheree Tilton tiltoncm@gmail.com tel: Like us on Facebook: View our website: Art in the Garden is beginning to take shape! Art in the Garden 2017 The Polk County Master Gardeners' Art Fair & Sale Saturday, August 5th At Demonstration Garden We have some great artist vendors lined up - so far they include metal art, ceramics, jewelry, felting, and photography. And we are going to have some fun demonstrations and activities: making flower bombs, hammered flower art, and wine bottle gardens. Our Facebook page will feature accepted artists beginning next month, and we will add event information as things get set - so keep an eye on it, and be sure to share with all your Facebook friends! CLICK HERE to link to our page. We still have room for more vendors, so if you know of anyone who makes gardeninspired art, send them our way! And of course, if you want to be a part of this event in any way, contact Mary Howell-Williams, Nancy Dunbar, or Katherine Howsare.... thank you to those who have already volunteered to help! Questions? Contact Co-Chairs and Committee Members:

10 Mary Howell-Williams Katherine Howsare Nancy Dunbar All-Iowa Master Gardener Art Show Call for Artists for 2017 All-Iowa Master Gardener's Art Show Be part of the sixth annual Master Gardener's Art Show! Entering the show is open to all Iowa Master Gardeners. To read more about entering the show, CLICK HERE. Art Show Reception at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Thursday, September 21, :00-7:00 p.m. CLICK HERE TO OPEN APPLICATION FORM Chair: Patricia Reeves Office Hours for Ike You will see me at project meetings from time to time and gatherings, but you can find me in the office: Phone: by Monday 9:00 to 4:00 Wednesday 9:00 to 4:00 Thursday 1:00 to 3:00 -

11 Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.