President June McKenzie Vice President Jan Pardee Rising Pres. Jacques Junger Secretary Mary Ann Bryant Treasurer Craig McKenzie Pickens County Master Gardeners 109 Depot Street Jasper, Georgia 30143 Phone: 706-253-8840 Fax: 706-253-8843 uge1227@uga.edu JUNE DATES Tues, 14 Garden Tour At Christine Noguere s Wed, 15 Begin Wed. Farmers Market Sun, 19 Fathers Day Tues, 21 Its Summer! Newsletter Staff Jaci Evans Laura Anderson President s Notes We have finally come to the end of a very busy month. Wednesday, May 4 th, was tomato planting day. There was a good turnout of Master Gardeners and the job went like clockwork. The ground had been tilled the previous day, which really helped. Saturday, May 7th, Sandy Baggett and I spent a fun morning at the Farmers Market. We had terracotta plant pots for the c paint and then plant with a begonia as a gift for their mom Mother s Day. The afternoon of the 10 th saw us planting the butterfly garden at Harmony school in near 90-degree temperatures. We had another good turnout, and Robin Franklin and Frank Halstead provide help and moral support. The butterflies started visiting the site within days of the install. Monday, May 12 th, was spent weeding and planting annuals at the Senior Center. We must have worn out the willing workhorses since turnout was low, but it was worth the effort as the Center looked really nice when we had finished. Turnout was low again on the 16 th for tidy-up at the Kirby Cabin and the Old Jail. We returned later in the week to replenish the plantings and to apply a good layer of wood mulch. Thanks to all who helped on these projects. You have put a smile on many faces and our city a brighter place. On Monday afternoon, the 23 rd, (another near-90-degree day) a number of us, cookies in hand, descended on Dee Boggus home for a cookie exchange and garden tour. We had a great time. and plenty of plants left Dee s garden for new homes in the county. The monthly meeting on June 14 th is a tour of the garden of Christine Noguere. Many of you may know that Christine grows Shitake mushrooms among other things. Her place is a work in progress and she asks that you wear sensible shoes. Christine lives on Yellow Creek Road, and those who live in the east end of the county might prefer to 1
meet there at 10 a.m. Jasper and west Pickens Master Gardeners will please plan to meet at the Depot at 9:30 a.m. and carpool. Christine requests that before we start the tour we sign a Hold Harmless form which I will have with me. This is the time of year when many people are calling or visiting the Depot with gardening questions. It would be great if Larry could have some support. This is a good way to get your hours in when the weather is too hot to work outside. We will be starting work on a fall perennial plant sale this month. More ways to earn hours! - June Photos taken during tour of Dee Boggus garden. Frame Your Floral Treasures Now that your garden is in full bloom, why not preserve samples of those beauties to enjoy year-round? Its fun, its easy, its a craft that even the children can take part in creating a finished pressed flower. And don't stop at flowers! You can press autumn leaves, ferns, herbs, wildflowers; whatever in the garden strikes your fancy. For instructions, go to http://www.preservedgardens.com/how-to-press.htm June through September is the driest season. Be sure garden beds are well-mulched and conditioned with peat, humus and/or vermiculite. Water every plant as it needs it. And weed, weed, weed! 2
In the Garden June Flowers Annuals: pinch back and feed moderately; set new plants; keep sowing hotweather annuals for succession of bloom Perennials: if over-planting, cut out yellowed foliage of spring bulbs; pinch back for more blooms Sedum: cut back halfway when 8 in. tall, making each cut about ¼ in. above leaf joint Jonquils: divide after leaves die Daylilies: fertilizer Tulips: dig up, dry several days, store till fall Chrysanthemums: pinch back continually until early August; feed Iris: cut back bearded iris & divide; keep Japanese iris watered. Begonias: take stem cuttings Gladiolas: plant for late summer Ajuga: check for crown rot Shrubs Roses: fertilize monthly; use fungicide every two weeks; prune ramblers; remove old flowers Hydrangeas: check for aphids all summer; keep soil from getting too alkaline Peonies: feed after bloom Evergreens (deciduous & broadleaf): take cuttings for rooting in sand or vermiculite. Use air-layering method on hard-to-root plants. Azaleas: fertilize after bloom; take cuttings now (root by end of August) Camellias: last chance to feed Broadleaf evergreens: last chance to feed Hollies: feed Trees Deep-water all young trees (less than 2 years) Pines & dogwoods: check for borers Arborvitae, junipers, yews, hemlocks: prune Crepe myrtle: check (and spray if needed) for powdery mildew Lawns Fertilize warm-season grasses Use weed killer when temperature is above 70 degrees. Plant ground covers where grass won't grow Vegetables/Fruits Pull spent plants; re-till soil; plant second crops, water well when needed, Check (and spray if necessary) for insects and fungus l Check (and dust if necessary) for tomato wilt Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries: allow to ripen fully before picking Plan Ahead Order bulbs for fall planting Get flats & seed beds ready for July perennial seed 3
Sauerkraut Recipe At the first Market of the season, Craig was given a recipe for sauerkraut that seemed too easy to be true. He asked if I would make it for him. It was hard to refuse as he was standing there with plastic bags containing 5 cabbages. Not being a canner, there were a few things that he didn t know to ask, so I had to guess about the water level and how tight to screw the lids. We opened the first jars this week and it was, according to my sauerkraut connoisseur husband, excellent! I sliced the cabbage finely in a food processor and packed it very tightly into quart jars. Really pack it down. I filled it up to about an inch from the top. Add 2 tablespoons of canning salt and fill with boiling water to the top of the jar. I didn t screw the lids on tightly as I was afraid that the fermentation would cause the jars to explode if air couldn t escape. Fortunately, I took the precaution of lining the shelf with plastic topped with newspaper as the jars did leak. Some leaked more than others and we did have to live with the smell it wasn t so bad once it finished fermenting and I could get rid of the newspaper. Anyway, it was worth it to see Craig tucking in with relish to my first attempt at making sauerkraut! Kraut is ready after 3 to 4 weeks at temperatures between 70 to 75 degrees. It will keep several months, tightly covered, in the refrigerator. 5/10/11 Master Gardeners, My dad is no longer struggling in this life and I praise God he is with Him. I greatly appreciate the love, prayers and support over the past 8 months. Love to you for the lovely sympathy card and gift certificate from Whispering Springs Nursery in my dad s honor. Love, Pam Please submit information or articles for the July Master Gardeners Newsletter by Saturday, June 25. We would love to have more recipes and helpful hints for gardening. By phone, call 770-735-2626, or email jomamaga@tds.net 4
HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL YOU DADS! 5