Ascension Parish Master Gardener Association FEBRUARY 2014 NEWSLETTER Bi-Monthly Meetings The bi-monthly Ascension Parish Master Gardener Association meetings for 2014 are scheduled on Tuesdays: March 18, May 20, July 15, September 16, November 18 at 9:00 a.m. at the LSU AgCenter office located at Lamar-Dixon. If you have an item for the agenda, please contact Jamie Trisler. Please wear your Master Gardener name tag. Executive Board Meetings The 2014 Executive Board Meetings for the Ascension Parish Master Gardener Association are scheduled on Tuesdays: www.facebook.com/ AscensionMasterGardeners March 11, May 13, July 8, September 9, November 11 at 9:00 a.m., at the LSU AgCenter office at Lamar-Dixon. The board looks forward to serving the association and welcomes suggestions and comments.
Well the novelty of a snow day was quick to wear off once we reached our fourth encounter with the wintery mix! Did Mother Nature forget this is South Louisiana?!? As soon as Papa Noel leaves in his pirogue, we are breaking out the T-shirts and shorts and planning our crawfish boils! With record freezes and a Groundhog who saw his shadow, our citrus trees are going to suffer this year. As Allen Owings recently reported from the Hammond Research Station, We mostly think about citrus trees when cold weather approaches. Satsumas and kumquats are most cold-hardy of the citrus commonly grown in Louisiana. Orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime trees are less cold-hardy. The damage may vary depending on the age, health, site, acclimation and duration of cold temperature to which the tree is exposed. Damage occurs because the tree s circulatory system is frozen and portions of the plant are deprived of nutrients and water. Damage may be mild, appearing as brown spots or patches on the leaves, in which case the tree will recover and grow; Or severe, with both leaves and stems becoming brown. Even in cases where up to 90% of the leaves fall, the tree may still force new buds and produce abundant flowers. However, fruit set may be low or none. If leaf loss is less than 30%, a normal crop of fruit may be expected. In the cases of young trees with substantial stem damage, the entire tree may be lost. So what do you do now??? Absolutely nothing!! There is no need to grab the pruning shears until after the spring growth appears and full damage can be assessed. In fact, pruning may be counterproductive as it may actually stimulate faster bud activity before danger of frost has entirely past. Some experts recommend waiting until May to prune so that fruit is set and you can see where on the tree it is. You can also check to see what part of stem is live by scraping the bark with your fingernail and looking for the green phloem (live) verses a brown or rotted core. Freeze injured citrus will need plenty of water and good fertilizer to restore canopy and foliage growth. One positive to the cold weather, according to Owings, is that chilling hour accumulation is above average this winter. Many fruit trees and some landscape plants require a certain number of chilling hours during the dormant season. Hostas and dormant, semi-evergreen daylilies benefit from having 500-600 hours of chilling during the winter instead of the 300-400 hours south Louisiana normally receives. Through January 7, we have had 450 chilling hours at the Hammond Research Station this winter. Of course, that may be the only bright spot to this cold weather!!! Cold Weather Brings Landscape Troubles..Allen Owings, 1/10/14
... to pay your AMG dues! For $20, you can participate in all of the educational, volunteer and social events offered by the Ascension Parish Master Gardeners.and...you will also receive your discount card that can be used for great savings at many local nurseries!! Make checks payable to Ascension 4H Foundation and in the memo write Master Gardener Dues Mail dues to : Dennis Duszynski (treasurer) 40311 Pelican Point Parkway, Gonzales, LA 70737 Fun Trivia Did you know that the Groundhog is only 37% predict accurate in spring time arrival forecast!!! In fact, the National Climatic Data Center says that The groundhog has shown no talent for predicting the arrival of spring, especially in recent years. "Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream." - Barbara Winkler The planting of the AMG Community Citrus Garden will take place on Saturday, February 15th, 12:30 at Dutchtown Animal Hospital (13604 Eads Rd). Please bring shovels, gloves, etc as we hope to have 20 citrus trees planted by days end!! This is an opportunity to earn Volunteer Hours as well as spread your gardening knowledge and enthusiasm with members of the community.
UPCOMING EVENTS THE REFLECTIONS IN THE GARDEN GARDEN SERIES Burden Conference Center, 4560 Essen Lane, 225 763 3990 Noon 1pm (bring a lunch) $10 for non members, free for Burden Horticulture Society www.burdenhorticulturesociety.com Mar 3 Apr 7 New Super Plants for 2014.Daniel Wells, LSU Horticulturist Bocage Bee All About Honey...Milou Barry and Elizabeth Holloway Feb 13, 20, 27, Mar 13, 20, 27 Garden Design Tips, Ideas and Inspiration, 9am noon, Hilltop Arboretum The program will feature landscape architects Neil Odenwald and Van Cox, who will offer inspiring design tips and ideas to enable those who participate to create their own garden plans and express themselves like a designer. Students will learn to use basic design principles simple drawing techniques for expressing design ideas and photography to build a digital library of garden features which are building blocks for creating a garden plan. They will take garden tours as a source of design inspiration and will learn about native and adapted plants, European and U.S. garden history for inspiration; garden accessories and structures; use of water and sculptures; and a design vocabulary to present their ideas. Program registration fees are $250 for Friends of Hilltop Arboretum members and $285 for non members. Course materials included in student fees include a plant material reference guide, Plants for American Landscapes, by Neil G. Odenwald, Charles F. Fryling and Thomas E. Pope; a design sketchbook; two no. 2 pencils; a No. 314 drawing pencil; and a pink pearl eraser./ On line registration for the program is available by visiting www.lsu.edu/hilltop or by emailing hilltop@tigers.lsu.edu. Phone registrations can be made at 225 767 6916. Feb 19 Citrus Workshop, Hammond Research Station, Hammond, LA For more information contact sbenjamin@agcenter.lsu.edu Feb 22 Down and Dirty Garden Seminar, 9am 3:30pm, Wildwood Resort, Zwolle, LA Speakers on wide range of garden topics, silent auction and plant sale. Lunch served, $30 registration Contact Maribeth Lewing 318 256 2188 or 318 315 1963 Feb 23 Camellia Garden Stroll, 1 4pm, Hammond Research Station, Hammond, LA Stroll through a collection of over 500 Camellia japonicas and sasanquas and as a bonus, there will be a Camellia sale! Contact sbenjamin@agcenter.lsu.edu Mar 8 Spring Garden Day, 9am 3pm, Hammond Research Station, Hammond, LA Tangipahoa Master Gardeners host a day of seminars, sales and swaps, concessions and children s activities, $5 per vehicle, Contact Sandra Benjamin at 985 748 9381
SPRING LIBRARY SERIES! For the spring series the following volunteer opportunities are available. Please email Conchita Richey @ jtrichey@eatel.net if you wish to volunteer. March 11 Galvez Library Three volunteers to provide cookies/brownies March 18 Gonzales Library Three volunteers to provide cookies/brownies March 25 Donaldsonville Library Two volunteers to provide cookies/brownies April 1 Dutchtown Library Three volunteers to provide cookies/brownie April 24 Plant Swap Gonzales Library Three volunteers to provide cookies/brownie Volunteers to help with the plant swap Also, please start planting seeds, dividing perennials, and preparing other landscape items for the exchange. Don t throw anything living away, save it for the plant swap. If you have any questions, contact Conchita Richey or Sheila Billingsley.