Over the Garden Gate Monthly Newsletter Clinton County Master Gardeners
Volume 4 Issue 2 March 2013 Editors: Carol Machael, [email protected] Published on the first Monday of the month. To submit an article it must be sent by E-mail as a Microsoft Word attachment to the above e-mail address. To be accepted for publication in the next newsletter, articles must be received 10 days be- fore the first Monday of the month. Articles will be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the editor.
Pussy Willow Pollinators
One of the earliest signs of spring is the appearance of the silky catkins of willows (Salix). While most plants that produce catkins are wind-pollinated, willows instead rely on insects to spread their pollen. They are also one of the earliest sources of food for pollinators in the spring.
Although the flowers of the willow are not showy, willows provide sugary nectar and protein-filled pollen, vital food to pollinators. In return an assortment of bees, flies, wasps, beetles and a few butterflies promote the plant’s genetic diversity and survival.
Remember that pollination is an accidental service performed by animals that visit a flower for another purpose alto- gether – to perch, to set up housekeeping, to browse, or to stalk the browsers. Mining bees and syrphid flies made up the majority of the insects easy to visualize on willow trees, with flies (blow, flesh, and house) next.
Honeybee – an important – and imported – pollinator, honeybees are on the landscape in late winter and early spring. Bees foraging for pollen near wetlands may warm up within the insulated comfort of a skunk cabbage spathe, which may be 30 degrees warmer than the ambient temperature. Honey beekeepers often plant pussy willows on their land to provide and early source of nutrition for their honey bee hives.
CLINTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ADVISORY BOARD
Volume 4 Issue 2 Page 2 March 2013 Master Gardeners’ Advisory Board Meeting
February 19, 2013 DEWITT EXTENSION OFFICE
A cold blistery, icy day!!!!
Since there was not a quorum at the meeting, no official business could be transacted.
Those present were: Deb Neels, Jerry Richter, Willard Larson, Alice Machande.
Willard volunteered to setup the table at the Horticulture in the Heartland Fair on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at the Clinton Community College.
Plans were made for the graduation of the 2013 class. Will contact Linda Lamp for help with this.
On graduation night, Opportunity Sheets will be on hand to have interns sign up to help get their hours. Suggestions were: OLC, plant sale, garden walk, Curtis Mansion, Bickelhaupt Arboretum, Clinton County Fair, Barn Board Quilt, Library design.
It was suggested, we do a MG Barn Board Quilt and any help would be appreciated.
We are trying to get speakers for the Clinton County Fair. Contact members of the Board if you have any ideas. Board Members: Alice Machande – 563-243-8917 Carol Miller – 563-243-4774 Jerry Richter – 563-357-3257 Deb Neels – 563-242-0338 Sandra Hughes – 563-659-9594 Roger Rittmer – 563-659-8074 Brenda Council – 815-589-2569
Next Board Meeting : March 19, 2013 @ Arboretum 9am
See you at the Horticulture in the Heartland on March 3, 2013 with Registration @ 7:30 am
Alice Machande, Co-chair
Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. Lewis Grizzard
It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens,Great Expectations
The real meaning of plant catalog terminology: "A favorite of birds" means to avoid planting near cars, sidewalks, or clotheslines. "Grows more beautiful each year" means "Looks like roadkill for the foreseeable future." "Zone 5 with protection" is a variation on the phrase "Russian roulette." "May require support" means your daughter's engineering degree will finally pay off. "Moisture-loving" plants are ideal for landscaping all your bogs and swamps. "Carefree" refers more to the plant's attitude than to your workload. "Vigorous" is code for "has a Napoleonic compulsion to take over the world." "Grandma's Favorite" -- until she discovered free-flowering, disease-resistant hybrids. s. ~Mark Twain
It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain
My wife's a water sign. I'm an earth sign. Together we make mud. - Rodney Dangerfield
Volume 4 Issue 2 Page 3 March 2013
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!
Help us host the training classes on Tuesday evenings! February 12, 26. March 5,12,19. This is a great opportunity to meet the new class and pick up three educational hours. Please call the extension office at 563-659-5125 to sign up for one or more dates!
Date Focus Presenter Location
March 5, 2013 Adobe Connect – Fruits Paul Domoto Extension Office - DeWitt March 12, Adobe Connect - Sustainable Ann Marie VanDerZanden Extension Office - 2013 Landscape Design DeWitt March 19, Adobe Connect - Agricultural Cathy Srohbehn; Paul Do- Extension Office- 2013 Best Practices - Food Safety moto;Angela Shaw DeWitt March 26, Vegetables Patrick O'Malley Arboretum - Clinton 2013 April 2, 2013 Houseplants Margo Hansen Arboretum - Clinton
April 9, 2013 Herbaceous Ornamentals Margo Hansen Arboretum - Clinton
April 16, 2013 Graduation-6PM MG Board Members Extension Office- DeWitt
Snow and Ice Can Damage Trees and Shrubs...by Richard Jauron, ISU Extension, 1994
Heavy amounts of snow and ice on the branches of trees and shrubs can cause considerable damage. Multi- stemmed evergreens, such as junipers and arborvitae, and weak-wooded deciduous trees, such as Siberian elm, green ash, and silver maple, are most susceptible to branch breakage. Improper removal of ice and snow can increase the amount of damage to trees and shrubs.
During the winter months, the most serious damage to trees and shrubs generally occurs during ice storms. Large branches or entire trees can be lost due to the tremendous weight of the ice. When the weight of ice causes a small tree to bend sharply, it may be possible to prop it up to prevent breakage. Don't attempt to remove the ice by beating the branches with a broom or rake. This will only cause greater damage. If the temperature is above freezing, spraying the ice-coated branches with cold water will help melt the ice. Hot or boiling water, however, may actually injure the trees and shrubs. Individuals should stay away from large, ice-laden trees. Nothing can be done to prevent damage to large trees. Individuals, however, can be severely injured or killed if a large tree or branch where to suddenly crash to the ground while underneath it.
Accumulations of heavy, wet snow on evergreens can also cause severe branch breakage. When heavy, wet snow accumu- lates on evergreens, gently shake the snow from the branches or carefully brush off the snow with a broom. When shoveling driveways and sidewalks, don't throw heavy, wet snow or ice onto shrubs or small trees. The weight of the heavy, wet snow and ice can cause considerable damage.
If branch breakage occurs on a tree, prune back the damaged limb to the main branch or trunk. Damaged shrubs may need to be pruned in the spring to restore their attractive, natural shape. A snow and ice covered landscape is a beautiful winter scene. Unfortunately, the weight of the ice and snow can cause considerable damage to woody ornamentals.
Volume 4 Issue 2 Page 4 March 2013 CLINTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS CALENDAR Dates subject to change.
Advisory Board Members to contact: Alice Machande, 563-243-8917; Carol Miller, 563-243-4774; Jerry Richter, 563-357-3257; Brenda Council, 815-589-2569; Deb Neels, 563-242-0338; Sandra Hughes, 563-659-9594; Roger Rittmer, 563-659-8074; Clinton County Extension Office: Jessica, 563-659-5125.
March 12 Program -2 pm - “Dominican Republic”. Presented by Thomas Streveler. The first permanent Euro- pean settlement in the Americas. See it from the excellence of the Eastern shores to the gravesite of Christopher Columbus in Santo Domingo. (MGEd-1)
March 19 Advisory Board Meeting – 9 am Arboretum (MGV -1)
April 13 Saturday at the Arb- 10 am – “Get ready, Get set, Get Gardening!” . Horticulturalist Margo Hansen will offer easy gardening tips to have the best garden ever. (MGEd-1)
April 16 Advisory Board Meeting - 9 am – Dewitt (MGV -1)
April 16 Graduation of Interns – 6 pm (MGV -2)
April 20 ? ECO Tour & Master Gardeners Picnic - Rock Creek , Follets - 2 pm (MGEd - & MGV - )
May 4 Saturday at the Arb – 10 am – “Create a Miniature Garden”. A workshop for you to create your own miniature garden. Supplies and containers included. Donation $25. Pre-registration. Margo Hansen and Master Gardeners. (MGEd – 1)
May 18-19 Plant sale at Clinton & Dewitt (MGV - ?)
May 21 Advisory Board Meeting – 9 am – Arb (MGV - )
June 2 “Conifer Rendezvous” – The Arboretum will host this event. Pre-registration required. Tour Heartland Collection, lunch and then tour four other local conifer gardens. (MGEd – 5).
June “Garden Walk” TBA (MGEd - )
June 18 Advisory Board Meeting – 9 am - Dewitt (MGV - )
June 29 Saturday at the Arb – 10 am – Leaf cast Birdbath by Master Gardener Deb Monroe. Deb will show you how to create your own cement Bird bath. Workshop materials included $20. Pre-registration required. (MGEd – 1)
July 4 July 4th Parade. Help create float and etc. (MGV- )
July 16 Advisory Board Meeting – 9 am – Arb (MGV- )
July 17-21 Clinton County Fair. July 17, Wednesday, is Master Gardener Day at the Fair. Free admission. Mas- ter Gardeners receive 2 tickets for lunch. Also receive EDUCATION HOURS for classes presented.
July 27 Bus Trip sponsor by Arb - Madison, WI, attend Farmers Market, Flower Factory, Cheese Stop (MGV - 3) (MGV = Master Gardeners Volunteer Hour) (MGEd = Master Gardeners Education Hour)
. . . 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, disabil- ity, 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, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Wash- ington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-702-5964.
Volume 4 Issue 2 March 2013
The Arboretum will be hosting the Conifer Rendezvous on June 2nd. Lots of advance notice, but we want you to save the date! The group will start with lunch at the Arb and then drive to any of four conifer gardens in the area. The gardens are all ones you will want to see! Randy Dykstra in Fulton, Jeff Rathje in McCausland, Dr. James Kelley in Davenport and our very own David and Nan Horst ( fabulous grounds) in Sabula. More about this as the date approaches so you can sign up if you want to fill out a registration and attend the event.
Winter’s a great time to get education hours in! Try something new…
U. of Illinois/Rock Island series: 5:30-6:30 at Extension office, 321 W. 2nd Ave. Milan
March 4: Crop rotation and irrigation March 11: Berries and brambles
April 29 : Herbs May 6: Mulches, composting and winter cover- age crops
March 6: 9 a.m. Windmill Cultural Center, Fulton. “Spring Wildflowers of the Forest” by Bob Motz. His program will focus on wildflowers seen March-May in local woods/forests. He will also include natural history stories focusing on edible/poisonous flowers, uses by pioneers and Na- tive Americans. Free. Refreshments.
March 18: The Art of Gardening, Muscatine Community College, 152 Colorado St. $40 includes lunch; 8:30-3:30
March 28—Bettendorf—Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop. Contact Patrick O’Malley at om- [email protected]
HERE’S HOW MASTER GARDENERS VOLUNTEER :
Extension Office Landscaping: Willard Larsen [email protected] 563-249-2476 Eagle Point Nursing Home and Rehabilitation or Community Garden: Willard Larsen OLC/County Fair: Roger Rittmer [email protected] Bickelhaupt Arboretum: Margo Hansen [email protected] Curtis Mansion: Liz Clements 563-243-3254
Volume 4 Issue 2 Page 6 March 2013
A Winter Shade of Pale
They’re beautiful, refined, long-lasting, frost-resistant and low maintenance. They come back every year, thrive in the shade, and deer hate them. What’s not to like?
Yet they are still relatively unknown in this country. While they look rare hun- dreds of varieties exist. You won’t find them in the big box stores, but you can find them online.
Hellebores are so easy and so pretty, they have a place in nearly every landscape. Their exquisite bowl- or saucer-shape flowers in white (often speckled), pinks, yellows, or maroon remain on the plant for several months, even after the petals have fallen. Mostly evergreen, hellebores' divided leaves rise on sturdy stems and may be serrated (like a knife) along the edges.
Preparing deep beds will provide the extensive root systems plenty of growing room and potentially many decades of healthy growth. Ideally, the soil should receive regular moisture without being waterlogged. However, the plants are surprisingly drought-tolerant once established and can survive in less than opti- mum conditions.
Sometimes referred to as 'Christmas Rose' or 'Lenten Rose', hellebores are the stars of the late winter/early spring garden. Plants generally bloom be- tween December and March in cultivation, though some begin earlier, and oth- ers continue into April and May. The term acaulescent means "without a The majority of hellebores are deep rooted, stout plants. The large leaves may stem" and applies to the vast majority of persist through winter, but not all plants are wintergreen in all climates. Once hellebore plants traditionally grown in gar- established, most hellebores make drought-tolerant plants, particularly if given dens. Leaves and flower stalks some dappled shade in areas of long, hot and/or dry summers. Many species emerge separately from the rhizome grow- grow wild in open meadows with only short grasses to shade the earth around ing underground, and there is (usually) them. Once established, Hellebores are extremely tough and will make a beauti- no apparent stem-like protrusion (see ful 1.5 foot tall clump of dark green evergreen foliage in the shade garden. below)
The foliage is usually shiny and has a stiff, coarse, leathery texture that is shaped like a hand. Although not soft to the touch, Hellebore leaves do provide a nice splash of green in the middle of winter. Some Hellebore leaves have attractive silver veins so that the leaves contribute as much color contrast to the garden as the flowers do.
They may be purchased through the following sites:
Northwest Garden Nursery: Ernie and Marietta O'Byrne are regarded by many as produc- ing some of the best hybrids in North America. Their nursery is located in Eugene, Ore- gon. www.northwestgardennursery.com
Pine Knot Farms: Dick and Judith Tyler grow many hellebores, including Ashwood plants. Judith is co-author of a very good hellebore book published by Timber Press, Hellebores: A Comprehensive Guide. www.pineknotfarms.com
Plant Delights: Tony Avent and company sponsor hellebore days each spring and have a large offering of hellebores in their popular annual catalog. Tony has also created an informative web page devoted to hellebores. http://www.helleborehelleborehellebore.com
Volume 4 Issue 2 March 2013 Bill Gustafson’s “Picture This”
In Sept. 2010, I was contacted by Tom Foster of the Clinton County Historical Society about assisting them in a major project. They were planning to sponsor a display which features the exact look of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington, DC, only on a smaller scale. The Master Gardeners designed and set up two landscaped areas on either end of the display. So started the relationship of the two service and educational organizations.
Did you always want to design a major landscape?
Here’s your chance!
Clinton County Master Gardeners are being asked to assist in the development of the landscaping surrounding the center and the grounds. This is a great opportunity for MG’s to get in on the ground floor—a master design plan of the entire grounds as well as smaller areas is needed. After a plan is approved, funds will be provided for supplies and plantings.
The St. Irenaeus Society and the Clinton County Historical Society will provide the labor to assist the Master Gardeners. Early photo of St. Irenaeus Church, now called St. Irenaeus Cul- Some design work has already begun. Interested? Call the tural Center. 2311 N. 2nd St. Clinton. Extension office.
This building was decommissioned as a church in 2008 and sold to the St. Irenaeus Society June 30, 2010. In September, 2010, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Persons wanted to join with the Clinton County Historical So- ciety or the St. Ireenaeus Society may do so by contacting the Clinton County Historical Society. 242-1201.
What To Do in the Garden in March
In the first half of the month: • Start seeds indoors of slower-growing annuals that you should start 10-12 weeks before the last average frost date. These include snapdragons, annual salvias, and impatiens. In the second half of the month: • Once you can easily work the soil outside, plant directly in the ground seeds of fast-germinating cool- season vegetables, such as radishes, spinaches, and lettuces. • Divide any perennials that are an inch or so high and don't bloom in very early spring. • The last week of March or first week of April, start seeds indoors of an- nuals that you should start 6-8 weeks before the last average frost date. These include marigolds, globe amaranth, sweet alyssum, and flowering tobacco.
Start to prune most deciduous trees and shrubs now, while they’re dor- mant.
• Stock up! Work off your spring fever to buy now pots, potting soil, seeds and seed-starting supplies, tools, soil amendments, fertilizers, etc. You’ll save trips to the garden center during the spring rush. And get out there and clean up and organize your garage or shed, wash up pots, etc. so you’re ready at the starting gate.
• How’s your mower? If you didn’t get it tuned up last fall and the blade sharpened, do it yourself now or take it in before the spring rush.
• Same for any shears or other sharp cutting or slicing objects, including spades and hoes.
What’s Growing In Iowa Roadsides?
Native roadsides, like the pictured right-of-way, provide year-round services. The prairie grasses used in these plantings remain upright through most of the winter, trapping blowing snow and helping keep the roadway clear. The presence of this standing vegetation can also improve drivers' visibility by reducing the winter glare caused by a too-white landscape.
Iowa, the state that has lost the largest percentage of its prairie heritage, has pioneered the use of Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management. There are now 49,180 acres of roadway that has been re-vegetated with native grasses and wildflowers, increasing by 400 acres per year. This is funded by a small percentage of both road use taxes and DNR fees.
This plan provides low-maintenance weed and erosion control, reduces surface runoff and erosion by improving infiltra- tion, reduces snow drifting and winter glare, ensures sustainability by increasing species diversity enhances wildlife habi- tat, beautifies the landscape by providing ever-changing color and texture throughout the year, preserves our natural
heritage.
52742 Iowa DeWitt,
Street 11th East 400
Extension County Clinton
University State Iowa