Macomb. Master Gardener E-news & MCMGA Newsletter

Transcription

1 June 1, 2017 Macomb Master Gardener E-news & MCMGA Newsletter Contents Volunteer Opportunities... 1 Single/Short Term Opportunities... 2 Ongoing Opportunities... 3 News and Notes Job Opportunities:... Error! Bookmark not defined. Macomb County Master Gardener Association General News and Information MCMGA Educational Classes and Meetings Educational Opportunities MSUE Educational Programs MG Education Share Potpourri Photo Fun There are changes in the project listings! Please call the office and talk to Mary or Karen if you have a problem! Please! If you have any questions or concerns regarding the VMS project listing changes or anything else, please contact Mary or Karen at the MSUE office, If you wish to , be sure to use our direct s as simply replying to messages may actually send your message to the state VMS coordinator and may delay any response. For Mary: mary.gerstenberger@macombgov.org and for Karen: 1

2 The MMGA and MCMGA do not regulate anything on the VMS. Questions and concerns regarding the VMS should come through the local office or the state VMS Coordinator (who usually refers most issues back to our office). Please let us help you! Mary and Karen Volunteer Opportunities Don t wait until November to start logging hours! The MCMGA Education and Hospitality Committees can use help, and other opportunities with MSUE will start becoming available at info booths and events. We will keep you posted here! Single/Short Term Opportunities MG Volunteers for Info Booths are Needed: If you are interested in working a shift at one of these events, call the MSUE office at and ask for Mary or Karen. July 14, 15, & 16 Lavender Festival at Blake s Orchard and Cider Mill on Armada Center Road, (9:00 am 5:00 pm. This is a Smart Gardening Volunteer opportunity as well as general Master Gardener help. Please sign up by June 9 so that credentials can be made up. Crocker House June 24 The Crocker House Museum is looking for garden docents for its Garden Walk scheduled for Saturday, June 24, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Garden docents are stationed at private gardens throughout the local area who are participating in the Garden Walk. There are two shifts; 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. Work one shift and tour the gardens on your off shift. During your shift you need to make sure visitors have an entry badge. You can help by answering any questions visitors may have about the garden. This is a fundraiser for the Crocker House Museum and your help is greatly appreciated. To volunteer please contact Kim Parr at Romeo District Library Garden Walk Help July 8 For many years, the Friends of the Romeo District Library have been fortunate to have Master Gardener volunteers at each garden on our annual Romeo Garden Walk to educate visitors. We hope that MG 2

3 volunteers will be available again this year as in the past. (I should note that in 2016 there was a break in tradition; we had a celebration of gardens and arts at one location only last year and so we did not request volunteers). This year there will be 7 gardens participating. At each venue our own members will take tickets, etc. Master Gardeners' roles would be entirely to answer questions, give horticultural advice, etc. Incidentally, each garden will have an artist painting a garden area and some may have live music. It has been my impression that the master gardeners have enjoyed this assignment in the past. Our event runs from 10 to 4 on July 8. If a master gardener could only manage a 4 hour shift that would be fine, though 6 hours would be better. To volunteer please contact: Carol Sutherland Phone: (586) carolsutherland@gmail.com Armada Fair Judges Seeking Master Gardener(s) willing to judge 4-H entries in the Armada Fair for the following departments: Agriculture, Floriculture, & Horticulture. This person(s) would need to be available on Sunday, August 13 from 8:30 am until no later than 2:00 pm. Judging takes place on the Armada fairgrounds under a tent. Lunch is provided, as well as department entry & judging guidelines. The youth in 4-H are ages 5-8 (Clover Sprouts) and 9-19 (Youth Members), as well as FFA members in high school & college. This is a fun opportunity to interact with the youth in our county while earning volunteer hours for your Master Gardener (re)certification! If interested, please contact Michelle Porter, Advanced Master Gardener & 4-H Superintendent for Agriculture, Floriculture, & Horticulture at or mporter240@gmail.com. Ongoing Opportunities From the Office: We have several long standing projects that are in need of more volunteer help or project leaders. Without additional volunteers, we could see these projects become inactive. Please consider how you can help. Some projects could use help once a week, some twice a month, some are OK whenever you can get there. The following is a list of projects that could use additional committed volunteers: Healing Gardens of Martha T. Berry: located near our offices at Groesbeck and Elizabeth Roads. This project is important to the residents of the hospital. If you ever had a loved one in a care facility, you know the difference a garden can make to their quality of life. Several volunteers have had to move on to other areas and we are in need of new volunteers. TB test and background check are required to volunteer at this hospital facility. Project leader also needed. Shadbush Teaching Gardens: located in River Bends Park in Shelby Township. Dianne Granthen has been the long time Project Coordinator and has done a remarkable job with a wonderful 3

4 group of volunteers. However, Dianne wishes to step down as the Project Coordinator and a new Project Coordinator is very much needed. Octagon House: located on Van Dyke just north of 26 Mile Road. Octagon House is a jewel in Washington Township. We have several dedicated volunteers already working some of the gardens, but more volunteer help would be greatly appreciated. A Project Coordinator is also needed. When you begin looking for volunteer opportunities, please consider helping at one of our established projects. Check the VMS project list (it is not the same as the Interest list) for other worthwhile projects in your area! Possible New Master Gardener Demo Gardens at the Macomb County Family Resource Center in Mt. Clemens and the Max Thompson Family Resource Center in Warren If any Master Gardeners are interested in helping to establish new Master Gardener Demo Gardens at the Family Resource Centers in Mt. Clemens or Warren, please contact Mary at The demo gardens would be used to educate on gardening techniques, Right plant, right place concepts, and answer gardening questions for those using the resource center as well as residents in the area. These demo gardens will only be established if we have enough Master Gardener Volunteers to build and maintain them. These gardens would be a wonderful opportunity to make our Master Gardener program bloom! (We will still have the demo gardens at the office, and help is needed there as well!) New opportunity in Grosse Pointe Park This is a garden in front of the Ewald Library. It's an established garden, just needs spring cleanup and summer maintenance. There are many perennials already in the garden. Spring cleanup has been done this year. I would be happy to meet with the person and show them what I know of the garden. I have been maintaining it for about 8 years. There is a sprinkler system and water available. Thank you, Jolene Shrake

5 APRIL MILLSAP MEMORIAL GARDEN: April Millsap Memorial Garden Workdays: For more info: May 27: Annuals Planting Join us on our workday to plant the annuals in April's Garden. We realize some may be out of town for Memorial Day weekend and cannot attend, but if you can, we hope to see you there! Come on out to the April Millsap Memorial Garden, Armada. We will be adding annual flowers to the garden. Bring your trowels, hats, sunscreen and a smile! Be sure to label all your gear. No experience needed. All ages and abilities welcome! Wear your AMMG t-shirts/hats or your favorite pink t-shirt! Closed toed shoes highly recommended. Morning treats will be provided to fuel your work. Water will be provided. Facebook event: pe%22%3a%22370%22%2c%22action_history%22%3a%22null%22%7d Evangelical Home, Sterling Heights Volunteer Opportunity at the Evangelical Home of Michigan (EHM) Senior Solutions, Shoreline Drive, Sterling Heights: For more than 27 years, master gardeners have maintained three gardens and a wooded nature trail at the Evangelical Home, a not-for-profit residential home located between Hayes Road and Lakeside Mall--just west of Penna's Restaurant. Volunteers select an area in one of the gardens that needs a caretaker (several "plots" are currently available in each of the garden areas) and assume responsibility for maintenance and/or development of the space, keeping it looking good throughout the growing season (watering, weeding, planting, etc.). Volunteers are encouraged to provide plant information to visitors through direct contact and informational signs. We typically have four group work days, this year: June 17 to spruce up for the garden walk, August 12, dead head & weed, and October 14 for the fall clean-up. The Garden Walk is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, June 24 th. Between these scheduled activities, volunteers are free to choose work times that are convenient for them. Currently about 35 volunteer gardeners are involved; the gardens are quite extensive and new volunteers are always welcome. To participate contact Ralph Ash for more information: rash1944@yahoo.com MT. CLEMENS FARMERS MARKET Flower Daze thru to June 3, To volunteer for hands-on gardening maintenance (weeding, 5

6 deadheading, watering, planting, dividing) you only need to come to the Market when it s convenient for you. No signing up. (A great way to earn your volunteer hours). We are here from To help with the Information Booth you must sign up with Marilyn medcowalt@aol.com prior to the date you re requesting. The booth is open from Join us, EARN HOURS and have fun. Work what ever fits your schedule. All help is greatly appreciated. Please bring your tools as we do not provide them. Also bring water, gloves, hat, sunscreen, etc. The Mt. Clemens Farmers Market is located at 141 North River Rd The Market is open Fridays and Saturdays until November 18th. MSUE Demonstration Garden Invites you to volunteer at our gardens Our work schedule is Mondays and/or Thursdays from 11:00-1:00+ Now through October Weather permitting (above 60 degrees and below 90 degrees) Volunteer are encouraged to bring Work gloves, sun hats or caps Sunscreen and water bottle Hand tools with identification and a weed bucket (There are restrooms and a cafe on site for your convenience) Volunteers are needed for Watering the garden Weeding and deadheading perennials 6

7 Dividing and splitting perennials (instruction provided) Pruning trees and shrubs Cutting down ornamental grasses Managing compost bins Working in the pollinator garden Pruning and care of roses The Demonstration Gardens have been maintained by dedicated and devoted Master Gardeners for over 20 years. You are invited to participate in this project using the Master Gardener Volunteer Management System VMS or contacting Diane Reynolds (Demo Garden Project Coordinator) For additional information St. Mary School Gardens Master Gardener Help Wanted!!!! Helping at St. Mary School Gardens provides volunteers with the unique opportunity to experience butterflies, hummers, pollinators and the plants they love, ecosystems, and biodiversity, in an outdoor classroom that is planted for all of God's creatures. In these gardens we seek to educate school families and local citizens about the value and beauty of native plants, and the importance of planting for and preserving all the creatures of the earth. Come make a difference in the world at St. Mary School Gardens! Help needed! Spring Project: Experienced Adult(s) needed to install brick garden border between sidewalk and South Gratiot School Gardens, date: TBD (Contact radnewlin@gmail.com) Summer Help: Help Needed with weeding, watering and maintenance of school gardens and trees on Grand Avenue and South Gratiot. Garden spaces include Mrs. Mares Garden, pocket gardens alongside the building and around trees, Awning garden with containers, trees, a Monarch Waystation and Flag Garden. To volunteer, contact Jeanie Newlin at radnewlin@gmail.com. 7

8 St. Peter, St. Hubert and St. Thecla Charity Garden We are looking for volunteers for this seasons charity garden. This garden was started in 2008 to help supply fresh vegetables to the people who are serviced by the local food pantries. We currently service 5 food pantries with healthy vegetables. Currently we are looking for people who are interested in both vegetable gardening and flower gardening. We need to make sure we are attracting pollinators to our vegetables so we are looking to attract both types of gardeners. We are hoping to landscape the areas in front of the garden as well as around our garden. We want to deter deer, woodchucks and bunnies as well as attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Our garden is located at Gratiot, Clinton Twp., MI, behind Kingsborough Castle. Go through the arch and all the way to the back. Our first meeting was on April 10 th at 6 p.m. at Fr. Welch hall located next to St. Peter church in Mt. Clemens on the corner of Pine St. and Market. If you did not make the first meeting please the general manager, Vicki Jastrzebski at stpetercharitygarden@gmail.com and let me know you are a master gardener interested in helping and I will add you to our list. Anton Art Center Even in the depth of Winter we are thinking Spring! We are planning now for a beautiful summer here at Anton Art Center in downtown Mount Clemens, but we are going to need some help. We need a dedicated volunteer, or volunteers to maintain our gardens from about mid May through frost. The volunteer(s) would be responsible for watering, weeding, and care of the gardens. The main contains existing perennials, and shrubs. Other garden spaces around the Art Center contain shrubs / trees, and would only need weeding. Outside water is available, but all other tools would be the volunteer(s)' own. It doesn't look like much now, but with TLC it will soon be brimming with color! If you are interested, or have questions, at:giftshop@theartcenter.org. Please put "Gardens" in the subject line. Tomlinson Arboretum The following events are a 3 part series. It is requested the volunteers attend all 3 events for consistency in surveys and data collection. Pollinators in the Midwest have declined by approximately 90% in the last 100 years. Critical actions to be taken across our landscapes to better support our pollinators include increasing the percent cover and diversity of native plant species and controlling the detrimental invasive plant species that outcompete them. Please join us at the Tomlinson Arboretum Wildflower Prairie in ITC s transmission corridor on Saturday June 3 rd from 10am to noon to gain hands-on experience 1) monitoring pollinator use of these native plantings, 2) identifying invasive plant species and developing control methodologies, and 3) surveying recently reseeded areas for new native prairie seedlings. Practice your pollinator and plant field identification skills, learn about helpful resources for improving these skills, and generate field data that will shape adaptive management practices at this Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certified program site. Please be sure to dress for walking outdoors under various weather conditions (long pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, rain gear, bug spray/sun screen, etc.). 8

9 Volunteers are invited to help inventory plant and wildlife species at the Tomlinson Arboretum Wildflower Prairie in ITC s transmission corridor on Saturday August 12 th from 10am to noon. The inventory is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of previous wildlife habitat enhancement work including invasive plant species removal, mowing, and native prairie species seed installations and to inform future management decisions. We will be surveying for native and non-native plants, birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and insects. Practice your wildlife and plant field identification skills, learn about helpful resources for improving these skills, and generate field data to support ITC s and the Tomlinson Arboretum Committee s continuing Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certification efforts. Field equipment such as hand lenses, field guides, and binoculars will be available, but please feel free to bring your own. Please be sure to dress for walking outdoors under various weather conditions (long pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, rain gear, bug spray/sun screen, etc.). Come see the beautiful fall colors and textures of the Tomlinson Arboretum Wildflower Prairie in ITC s transmission corridor on Saturday October 7 th from 10am to noon. A final site inventory is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of invasive plant species control efforts implemented throughout the 2017 growing season to inform yearend and future management decisions. We will be collecting native species seed from the site and redistributing it to areas where low vegetation cover has resulted from invasive species control measures. Gain hands-on experience identifying and mapping invasive plant species common to Macomb County, planning invasive control measures, identifying native prairie plants in their fall condition, and collecting and hand-broadcasting native prairie seed. The data gathered will support ITC s and the Tomlinson Arboretum Committee s continuing Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certification efforts. Field equipment such as hand lenses, field guides, flagging, and seed collection containers will be available for volunteers. Please be sure to dress for walking outdoors under various weather conditions (long pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, rain gear, bug spray/sun screen, etc.). To learn more about ITC s environmental stewardship efforts, please go to Meadow Brook Garden Club Invites Gardeners Meadow Brook Garden Club maintains the gardens on the estate grounds of Meadow Brook Hall located at 350 Estate Drive, Rochester MI on Tuesday mornings. All who are interested in gardening are invited to join in helping to maintain these beautiful gardens, designated as a Proven Winners Signature Garden. Master Gardeners and candidates will earn volunteer hours toward your Master Gardener required hours. Experience is not required since each garden has a captain who will assist the volunteers Gardening Days are every Tuesday morning through October 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 Noon. Gardeners meet in the garden tent for coffee and assignments before going to work in the gardens. Bring hand tools (pruners, trowel, cultivator) and any other gardening items that you normally use. Come and join us and meet fellow gardening enthusiasts. For further information, call or contactmbgcmembers@gmail.com 9

10 News and Notes If you missed the Master Gardener Banquet, you can see photos of the event at: Thanks to Jean Persely for taking the pictures and sharing them on facebook! Master Gardener of the Year 2016: Mary Ann Kettler Green Thumb Recognition Your outstanding volunteer efforts are recognized by your fellow Master Gardeners Anne Crotser, Robert Masta, Jan McGlone Hours pins have arrived If you received an IOU for an hours pin/dangle, they are now in the office. Please call to let us know if you will pick the pin/dangle up or if you would like it mailed to you! 6000 Robert Gongle 4000 Dianne Granthen 3500 Jean Persely 2000 Connie Wallace 1500 Anne Crotser, Marilyn Krol, Master Gardener Lifetime Awards 1000 Ann Britton, Karen Burke, Shirley Moore, Marcia Schwarz, Susan Silver 500 Judith Bilicki, David Colburn, Ginny Crooks, Nancy Davis, Cynthia Falska, Roberta Neece, Sharon Patrick 250 Lifetime Volunteer Hours Ruthann Bajorek, Janice Brinkman, Vicki Jastrzebski, Karen McCuen, Fiona Parker, Jamie Rumminger, Linda Simpson, Judy West 10

11 Join CRWC and MiRainBarrel on June 10th for a rain barrel workshop and backyard BBQ at the CRWC office (1115 W. Avon Rd. Rochester Hills). Learn about the precious Clinton River and what you can do to protect it including the purchase of a new rain barrel for your home! There will be games and activities for all ages, a rain barrel workshop, free food, free tshirts, and rain barrels available for purchase. MiRainBarrel uses rain barrels made from recycled food grade drums (shown in picture). These rain barrels are perfect for all gardeners, you can divert the overflow into a nearby rain garden, or flower bed or hold the water for use during a dryer time. Connect two rain barrels together and have twice the capacity! Pre-order your rain barrel for only $60 (cheaper than retail price) and pick it up at the event. If you're not sure how to install/use your rain barrel, you can learn how at this event as well! To register and pre-order your rain barrel, please visit: For more information, contact CRWC at or abby@crwc.org Butterflies, Hummers, and Kids Welcome Native Plants to School Gardens!!! As St. Mary School continues to strive toward certifying school gardens as a NWF (National Wildlife Federation) School Wildlife Habitat and Pollinator garden, we welcome any native plants to join our gardens. Please let Jeanie Newlin, (radnewlin@gmail.com), know if you are dividing your native plants and have some to share. School children in grades one through seven will be planting on Ecology Day, May 30, and are ready and waiting to add some new plants to school gardens. 11

12 Bouquets / Boutonnieres and Recognition Bouquets to Casey Garza for painting a new sign for the Remembrance Garden and Susan Silver for getting mulch for the garden from Diane Reynolds. Do you know a Master Gardener who has been especially helpful or has jumped right in to do the job? Let us know and we will recognize their efforts with a Bouquet announcement! Silver and Gold Hour June 19 Join us on Monday, June 19, anytime between 7:00 and 8:30pm for a Master Gardener social time. You can bring a snack or dessert to share and have a great time meeting and greeting friends old and new. This is a chance to get to know your fellow Master Gardeners and welcome some of our new trainees. Coffee and soft drinks will be provided by the office. You can let us know if you plan to attend by ing a short note to: master.gardener@macombgov.org Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold! DNR Urban Forestry: A Midsummer Night s Dream Walking Tour - Sponsored by MGIA Date: June 27 Location: Grosse Pointe Shores, MI Details: %20A%20Midsummer%20Night's%20Dream%20Walking%20Tour.pdf Trees & Turf: A Diagnostic Walking Tour - Sponsored by MGIA Date: July 27 Location: Livonia, MI Details: 12

13 Annual Macomb Demo Garden Plant Exchange The Annual Plant Exchange will be held on Saturday, June 3, from 9:00-Noon in the parking lot of the MSU Extension office at Dunham Rd., Clinton Township, Please know something about the plants you may wish to exchange. No invasive species please! Don t have plants to exchange? Come anyway! There will be Demo Garden plants available for a donation and an orphan table for plants that are free for the taking. Master Gardeners and Master Composters will be available to answer your gardening questions. Yardeners Native Plant Sale SATURDAY- JUNE 10-9:00 am to noon Advanced orders encouraged, MAY 25 is the deadline to place your order for pick up on the day of the sale at the Selinsky- Green Farmhouse Museum behind the St. Clair Shores Library parking lot, located at the corner of 11 Mile and Jefferson. This is your opportunity to introduce or add native plants to your gardens. When we grow native plants in our own yards, we create vital Michigan habitat areas to help ensure the continued existence of both plants and wildlife. Native plants are beautiful and they attract birds, butterflies and bees, all important pollinators. More information on the Yardeners and the plant sale can be found at: Master Gardener Projects Garden Walk The Macomb MSU Extension Horticulture Department (i.e. Mary and Karen) would like to have a garden walk that highlights our Master Gardener Projects around the county. We are looking at the date of Saturday, July 8, 2017, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. If you would like your project to be a part of the walk, please contact Mary at the office, We ask that there be a couple of project volunteers present throughout the time frame, to answer questions about the project. This would be an advertised garden walk, open to the general public. 13

14 Master Gardener Garden Walks We would love to schedule some Master Gardener Garden walks! If you would like to schedule a walk at your yard, just get me the date, time, location (include either nearest crossroads or directions), a short description of the garden and contact information if someone needs help. I will post the information in the MG Enews and on the VMS calendar. Master Gardener Garden Walks are only open to Master Gardeners (although they may bring a friend or two with them). Contact Mary at mary.gerstenberger@macombgov.org Tomlinson Arboretum Walking Tour for Master Gardeners June 10 We will meet at the Clinton Twp. Historical Village just south of the Clinton Macomb Library at Romeo Plank and Canal Roads, on Sat. June 10 at 10 a.m. Dress for the weather, and wear comfortable walking shoes. The restrooms at the Comfort Station will be available both before and after the tour, and the restrooms and bottled water will be available at the half-way point at Canal House. The entire tour should take about 2 hours, and we will walk about 2 miles. Please call the MSUE office at to register your attendance please RSVP by Thursday, June 8. Troy Garden Club Garden Walk July 12 Troy Garden Club hosts 43rd Annual Troy Garden Walk "Garden Gifts" Wednesday, July 12th Rain or Shine View 6 private gardens from 9:30AM - 3PM & 5PM - 8:30PM Activities at Troy Historic Village 9AM - 6PM include arts & crafts boutique, plant sale, fabulous finds and student art exhibit Admission to the Village is FREE on July 12th Advance tickets $10 at Telly's Greenhouse, Uncle Lukes, Auburn Oaks Garden Center and Troy Historic Village. $15 day of walk at Village only. Tickets will be available at English Gardens, Royal Oak location only on July 8th and July 9th from noon- 6PM. Information or Marshall Area Garden Tour July 8-9, 2017 Welcome to My Garden" Tour featuring seven distinctive private gardens in Marshall, Michigan Sat and Sun, July 8 & 9, :00 am to 4:00 pm call for tickets Website for more information: 14

15 We have a limited number of ticket vouchers for the Marshall Area Garden Club Welcome to My Garden tour held on July 8 & 9 from 10 4 PM available at the MSUE office. The voucher can be exchanged for one tour ticket at the Tour Information booth. Shared from Black Cat Pottery: Black Cat Pottery - 9th Annual Spring Garden Tour - Saturday, June 3, 2017, 10:00am-2:00pm, 3903 Grayton St., Detroit, MI Join us for our annual Spring Garden Tour - see traditional garden selections as well as dozens of native plants in a unique urban setting. Garden art and refreshments. Rescheduled! Detroit Garden Center - Elmwood Cemetery History and Tree Tour - Sunday, June 11, 2017, 1:00-3:00pm, 1200 Elmwood St., Detroit, MI Learn about the history and horticulture of one of Detroit's landmarks, Elmwood cemetery. Dress for the weather. (Additional information below.) Ann Arbor Garden Tour - Saturday, June 10, 2017, 10:00am-4:00pm, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 306 N. Division St., Ann Arbor, MI Black Cat Pottery and Notable Greetings products available at the marketplace. Trenton Garden Walk - Saturday, June 17, 2017, 10:00am-4:00pm, Trenton Cultural Center, 2427 West Rd., Trenton, MI Black Cat Pottery and Notable Greetings products available at the marketplace. Crocker House Garden Walk - Saturday, June 24, 2017, 9:00am-4:00pm, Crocker House, 15 Union St., Mt. Clemens, MI Garden Breakfast Talk on "Gardening for Pollinators". Black Cat Pottery and Notable Greetings products available at the marketplace. Call (586) to reserve your seat at the breakfast/presentation. 15

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17 Macomb County Master Gardener Association General News and Information Next Board of Directors meeting: June 5 at 3:00 pm. MCMGA Grant Awards Crocker House Evangelical Home of Sterling Heights Octagon House St. Mary School Scholarship towards Master Gardener College If you would like to attend Master Gardener College, June 23-24, but will have difficulty in in meeting the cost, the MCMGA has one $100 scholarship available. You must be a certified Master Gardener and be able to state financial need. You must be able to register and attend both days of MG College. You can send your request to macombcountymga@yahoo.com by 2:00 p.m. on June 5, The Board will be meeting at 3:00 p.m. Instructions for registering will be given to the MG chosen for the scholarship. Need volunteer hours? Consider running for the Board of Directors or for the Education or Hospitality Committees. the MCMGA if you are interested! Our macombcountymga@yahoo.com 17

18 Kroger Rewards We have GREAT news to share with all of our Community Rewards charities: as of 3/22/2016 we will be suspending the re-enrollment process from the program for this year. This means members will NOT need to re-enroll their Kroger Plus card to continue to earn for the charity they have chosen. If you would like to enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards Program for the MCMGA go to: It s all in the location!! Don t forget that all classes and meetings of the MCMGA in 2017 will be held at the Mt. Clemens Library, 150 Cass Ave., Mt. Clemens. MCMGA Educational Classes and Meetings To register for any of the following events, please macombcountymga@yahoo.com Please remember to bring your membership card to all events. Tuesday, June 13, 2017 Magical Monarchs Join us while Advanced Master Gardener, Jean Persely, explains how our Monarch Butterflies are declining and how we can help them. They are the most recognizable butterflies around, and they need your help! What can You do to help? Learn how to easily create a Monarch habitat in your yard. Want to do more? Learn how to raise and release Monarchs. Each adult will receive a butterfly habitat ($15.00 value) to raise caterpillars in while supplies last!. This allows you to safely raise caterpillars and observe up close the life cycle of butterflies. Tuesday, June 13, 6;30-7:30 P.M. at the Mt. Clemens Library, 150 Cass Avenue. Cost $10.00 per adult for MCMGA members + 1 guest. $15.00 each for all others. KIDS CAN COME FREE WITH PAYING ADULT. One butterfly habitat per family. Wednesday, July 12, 2017 Bats of Michigan, Bat Conservation Organization. Learn about bats in your own back yard. Often misunderstood or overlooked, these bats play a key role in Michigan s environment and economy. During this live animal program you will learn why bats are important to the state, where Michigan bat species are located, and how to identify them. Learn about threats and what we all need to do in order to protect these important creatures. Learning opportunity for all ages. Wednesday, July 12, 6:30-7:30 P.M. Mt. Clemens Library, 150 Cass Ave., Mt. Clemens. $5.00 each for MCMGA members + 2 guests. $10.00 each for all others. MCMGA QUARTERLY MEETING TO FOLLOW. PLEASE ATTEND. 18

19 Thursday, August 17, 2017 Learn How Sustainable Gardening includes a variety of practices used in design, planting and maintenance. Great program by Jan Bills, Owner of Two Women and A Hoe, and author of Late Bloomer. Together we will explore how to use these simple, low maintenance, affordable and practical principles in your gardens. Enjoy interesting, invigorating and fun new approaches to gardening. Thursday, august 17, 2017, 6:30-7:30 P.M. Mt. Clemens Library, 150 Cass Avenue, Mt. Clemens. $5.00 each for MCMGA Members +2 Guests. $10.00 for all others. Thursday, September 21, 2017 Wonders and Simplicity of Garlic. Master Gardeners Bob Ternes and Karen Burke are back again to share their information about Glorious Garlic this time around. Bob is going to let you know the best varieties of garlic to bulbs to plant, how and when to plant and harvest. Explain Scapes and when to best harvest. Karen is going to explain what to do with the scapes, and share some simple and unique ways to use your harvest in cooking, as well as other uses for garlic. It s not just to keep the vampires at bay! Thursday, September 21, 6:30-7:30 P.M. at the Mt. Clemens Library, 150 Cass Avenue, Mt. Clemens. Free to MCMGA members +1 guest. $5.00 each for all others. MCMGA ANNUAL MEETING AND BOD ELECTIONS TO FOLLOW. PLEASE ATEND Wednesday, November 8, 2017 Gardening with Facebook. What? Facebook? Gardening? Yes! Master Gardener Jean Persely is going to demonstrate the many ways that she uses FB, in conjunction with her laptop and smartphone. You will be amazed when Jean shows us, and teaches us how we can use these wonderful tools of technology to make our lives easier and more efficient. A must for project coordinators in any organization venue, and great for the volunteers to keep informed and contribute with technology to their projects too. Wednesday, November 8, 6:30-8:30 P.M. at the Mt. Clemens Library, 150 Cass Avenue, Mt. Clemens. Free to MCMGA members +1 guest. $5.00 each to all others. Please bring your laptop or tablet, and smartphone. Education hours: January 11, Essential Oils..1 hr. February 15, Invasive Species...1 hr. March 30, Flowering Vines 1 hr. April 11, Orchids 1 hr. May 15, Lavender...1 hr. 19

20 Educational Opportunities Master Gardener Banquet Educational Program 1 hour credit listed under the project: Community: Quality of Life MSUE Educational Programs Please be sure to register in advance for any class you plan on attending!! Just call the office at ! Master Gardener Class Current Master Gardeners may audit classes at $5.00 per class audited. Master Gardener Trainees who need to make up a missed class, contact Karen or Mary to register. Due to the large size of this Spring class, you must register in advance to guarantee a chair will be available! Schedule of classes: 6/5 Diagnostics for MGs 6/12 Volunteering / Composting Change the Date!! The date for the Smart Gardening Conference has been changed to Saturday, September 9, 2017! You Are Invited to the 2017 Master Gardener College Mark Your Calendars for June 23 and 24! We are looking forward to partnering with you for two days of building and growing, FROM THE GROUND UP! Location: MSU University Complex (home to the MSU Henry Center, MSU University Club and Candlewood Suites), 3535 Forest Rd, Lansing, MI The entire event will take place at one location, featuring easy access to lodging, FREE Parking and lots of meeting spaces. 20

21 Program: Friday features afternoon hands-on workshops filled with critical need-to-know information! The workshops will be followed by a delicious dinner, award presentation and an MMGA meeting in the evening. Plus we are working on a surprise! Saturday: Features hot horticulture topics and information you do not want to miss for Plus you will earn educational credits for attending. Keynote: Janet Draper, Smithsonian Horticulturist, plant geek extraordinaire with chlorophyll flowing through her veins, has awesome experiences to share working on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Her plant knowledge is second to none! Lectures: Topics you asked for given by experts from all across Michigan. Workshops New this year for Saturday and they promise to be sell-outs. Shopping: We are putting together an enhanced Garden Marketplace, sure to please any gardener! What a way to reward yourself for getting your gardening underway! Plus shopping will be available both days this year. For more information Visit the Master Gardener College website and come back often. Updates are happening all the time as plans are confirmed! If you have ideas or suggestions for topics, marketplace vendors or potential sponsors please share them with us to help make the program what you want to experience. Please send them to Betsy Braid at braidbet@msu.edu. Remember, a great garden begins in the dead of winter and we are all working to grow one FROM THE GROUND UP! REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS June 11, Bee Palooza (June 2017) Sunday, June 18, pm - 4 pm. This program is free and open to the public. MSU will host its annual Bee Palooza at the MSU Horticulture Demonstration Gardens. This is a free event for the entire family that will include exhibits on bees, plants and pollinators. The bumble bee exhibit will include a live observation colony. At the honey bee observation hive, Michigan bee keepers will be on hand to talk about what it takes to keep honey bees. Information will be available for planting gardens to support pollinators and how to build a native bee hotel. There will be even more exhibits and fun activities for kids and adults, including face painting. Location: MSU Horticulture Gardens, 1066 Bogue St, East Lansing, MI Program details and registration Link] For more information: Phone: jkwilson@msu.edu[ ] 21

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24 Yardeners of St. Clair Shores THE YARDENERS OF ST. CLAIR SHORES WHAT S GROWING IN 2017 All Presentations are free and will be held at the St. Clair Shores Library located at the corner of 11 Mile & Jefferson YARDENERS NATIVE PLANT SALE SATURDAY- JUNE 10-9:00 am to noon Advanced orders encouraged, MAY 25 is the deadline to place your order for pick up on the day of the sale at the Selinsky- Green Farmhouse Museum behind the St. Clair Shores Library parking lot, located at the corner of 11 Mile and Jefferson. This is your opportunity to introduce or add native plants to your gardens. When we grow native plants in our own yards, we create vital Michigan habitat areas to help ensure the continued existence of both plants and wildlife. Native plants are beautiful and they attract birds, butterflies and bees, all important pollinators. YARDENERS 24 th ANNUAL GARDEN TOUR SATURDAY AUGUST 5 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Registration starts at 9:00 am at the Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum located behind the St. Clair Shores Library at the corner of 11 Mile and Jefferson.The cost is $5.00 for adults, children under 12 are free. You will view some of the lovliest yards in St. Clair Shores and get gardening ideas for your gardens from the homeowners. Yardeners and Master Gardeners will also be available to answer questions. Take a few moments to tour the Museum and gardens,and visit our vendors YARDENERS FALL PLANT EXCHANGE SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23-9:00 am to 11:00 am The plant exchange will be held in the in the parking lot of the St. Clair Shores Library located at the corner of 11 Mile and Jefferson. Load up your vehicles with your extra plants and divisions. Bag, tag and drag your offerings to trade or give away to other gardeners. No $$ is involved, come with your plants and enjoy our tailgate garden party. Please label all of your plants. MONDAY OCTOBER 16-7pm WHAT IS LURKING IN MY GARDEN Presentation by MICHELLE SERREYN Michelle is a Master Gardener and Yardener. Pretty as they are some plants can be harmful to our health or just plain irritating. Ever wonder what poison ivy looks like, how it works, or how to get rid of it? What about stinging nettles? Or that rash you got in the garden that you just can t figure out? Learn to identify some of these sneaky invaders and what you might be able to do about them. The Yardeners of St. Clair Shores is a non-profit group dedicated to achieving beneficial environmental results by teaching and practicing earth friendly gardening. This includes the use of Native Plants, wildlife habitat landscaping,composting and Integrated Pest Management minimizing the use of harmful chemicals. The funds we raise go back into the community through donations, educational programs and planting projects. For more information please contact Laurel Fowler at (586) Everyone is welcome to attend Yardener meetings. There are no fees or dues to pay nor is membership required. The scheduled meeting dates are May 15, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, and November 13, at 7:00 pm. All meetings are held at the St.Clair Shores Library at the corner of 11 Mile and Jefferson. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK Yardeners of St. Clair Shores 24

25 Friendly Gardener Location: Riverwood Community Church (Directions below) 2017 Calendar: JUNE 8: Topic pending & plant exchange (make sure all plants are labeled) SEPTEMBER 14: (Date subject to change) Fall & Winter Gardening by Mary Gerstenberger Tool Sharping by Jon Lindner Pruners $1, Ax/Hatchet $2, Shovel $3, Lawn Mower Blade $5. Plant exchange (make sure all plants are labeled) Tomato sampling-members may bring in their tomatoes for members to taste. OCT. 12: Dahlias by Keith Berven Directions to Riverwood Community Church: Clinton River Road, Sterling Heights, MI Located on west side of Clinton River Road, south of 19 mile *** Next (north) to Farmstead Park For more info contact or Meadow Brook Garden Club 2017 Speaker Schedule June 27 Open house for potential new members August 10 MBGC 25 th Anniversary Celebration; all garden club members are invited September 22 Dennis Groh; Rhododendrons and Azaleas October 27 Bert Cregg; The Cold Truth About Winter Injury November 10 Holiday Luncheon, member event 25

26 Black Cat Pottery Jun 3-9th Annual Spring Garden Tour Aug 19-7th Annual Summer Garden Tour Oct 7-2nd Annual Fiber Event Dec 2-8th Annual Holiday Open House All tours, workshops and other programs held at 3903 Grayton St., Detroit, MI unless otherwise noted. MG Education Share Master Gardeners, if you watched a video, webinar or other online class that you feel other Master Gardeners might enjoy, please send us a link and a short description and we will share it here. Potpourri This is a place to share upcoming events, great shopping places, food recipes, etc., that you think would be of interest to other Master Gardeners. the information to mary.gerstenberger@macombgov.org and please put MG Enews in the subject line. ART! Macomb ART! Macomb 2017 Friday, June 2, :00pm - 7:00pm Saturday, June 3, :00am - 7:00pm Sunday, June 4, :00am - 5:00pm 26

27 Located in Downtown Mount Clemens on Macomb Place Not the same old Mount Clemens Art Fair! New this year, ART! Macomb encourages everyone in Macomb County and beyond to celebrate art and artists! Join us during the first weekend in June for special free family activities, performances, food trucks and more! We are proud to partner again with the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority, and with new partners OneMacomb and Make Macomb Your Home! Parking is FREE after 6pm on Friday, and all weekend long. We expect dozens of artists for a wide array of hand-crafted goods available for purchase. Join us in walkable downtown Mount Clemens for this can't-miss arts experience! Photo Fun Have any pictures you would like to share? them to me at: mary.gerstenberger@macombgov.org At the Tomlinson Arboretum Golden Alexanders blooming in May in the Wildflower Prairie Native columbine blooming in the wildflower prairie 27

28 Killdeer nesting in our oak pod with 4 spotted eggs nicely camouflaged. Submitted by Loretta Macklem 28