NEWS from the

Spring 2015 THE Plant Sale May1-3

“Building community through gardening education and environmental stewardship.”

The Annual Plant Sale issue is here and we’ve got a lot to tell you about…

CGC Staff and volunteers have been planning for our 2015 event for ...well, just about for a year now! Truthfully, the 2016 event will begin planning the moment our gates open for the Preview Party this May 1st. The Board, staff and volunteers all know the value of good customer service that begins with “listening” and each year we look to make changes and improvements based on comments from our over 2000 weekend guests.

Change IS good! Gardeners know how to appreciate change; we do it 4 times a year, right?

Here are some of the good things happening this year:  The Ricky Nye Trio and Jeff Thomas Catering kick off the Preview Party on Friday night, tickets are $45 in advance.  Milkweed is back! Thanks to the folks at the Cincinnati Nature Center, we’ll have free milkweed seed for Monarchs with the munchies. Milkweed plants will be available again at the Ask the Experts Booth.  The return of coffee was high on the list of many shoppers needing to round out the nearly 1/4 mile of plants for sale. Find a good read from Used Books, coffee and a sweet treat from Baked Goods in the Cottage.  If you have burning questions about tomato growing, check in with Jerry Luebbe at the Veggie Booth; he’ll have about 30 varieties available.  Shade Perennials and Hostas are combined for those who enjoy companion planting.  This year BREADSMITH has put variety into our herbed bread selection with several aromatic selections—try them all!  Looking for something unusual? Check our the Rare Plants section of the Friday night’s Silent Auction. We could go on and on, but the best way to find out what to see is to come and share the experience—see you there!

First-timer at THE Plant Sale? No problem...take the William Howard Taft exit from I-71 and turn right onto Read- ing Road at the White Castle. THE Sale entrance is at Reading and Oak and there are plenty of parking options— just watch for the signs. For more information, call 513-221-0981 or visit www.CivicGardenCenter.org .

IN THIS ISSUE A limited number of carts and

Executive Director’s Message 2 baskets are available during Board President’s Message 3 THE Sale. We recommend Recent Grants and Donations 4-5 VIP Preview Party Hosts 7 bringing your favorite Community Gardens 9 BAGS Classes & Workshops 10—12 Silent Auction 13 BASKET Volunteering 14 WAGON THE Plant Sale Booth List 15 Green Envy Order Form 16 to hold your plant Horticulture Corner 17 selection. Educating Youth 18 Green Learning 19

Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati 2715 Reading Road

Cincinnati, OH 45206 Lobby hours: 9-5 M-F, 9-4 Sat., Closed Sunday Executive Director’s

Admission to the facility and Hoffman Library is free. Message

Phone: 513-221-0981 FAX: 513-221-0961 Vickie Ciotti www.civicgardencenter.org As we prepare for THE Plant Sale each year, my mind goes back to my introduction to this event. I had never been to the Garden CGC Staff Center, let alone the sale. A good friend who loved the place  Vickie Ciotti (x12) nagged me for years to attend. Finally one year I persuaded a Executive Director friend to go with me and we made our way to the Civic Garden [email protected] Center. The experience was nothing like I had imagined. I tried to take in the event and the place and it was next to impossible to ● Terry Houston (x18) absorb it all. It was obvious that many of these people knew one Executive Assistant another and were renewing old friendships. The grounds were [email protected] beautiful and there were many plants I had never seen before. As I looked more closely at the plant booths I noticed several varieties of ● Jan Kivora-Simms (x14) witch hazel. I had been looking everywhere for probably 3 years! Volunteer Coordinator Yes, this place was special. [email protected]

● Mary Dudley (x11) Several years later I experienced my first sale as a staff member. I Youth Education Coordinator remember the meetings leading up to the big weekend. It was fun [email protected] to see the booth chairs share their enthusiasm, and like my first Plant Sale, I saw that they all really enjoyed one another. The thing ● Bennett Dowling, Horticulturist (x26) that really struck me was how this event had a life of its own. How [email protected] could this many people come together and already know what their jobs were and how their role fit perfectly with everyone else? I ● Kylie Johnson (x22) jokingly tell people that if we would ever decide to not have the sale, Green Learning Station Coordinator I think the volunteers would still get together and the weekend would [email protected] happen anyhow. These incredible people come together after months of planning to work harder than I’ve ever seen anyone work. ● Greg Potter (x16) Most practically live at the Garden Center the week of the sale. Community Gardens Coordinator They come early to set up and stay late to inventory their booths or [email protected] otherwise prepare for the next day. They take pride in how well their booth does to raise money for the Garden Center and before the  Tom Paquette (x19) weekend is even over, they’re planning for the next year. Finance Manager [email protected] There is a moment before the sale begins each year when I’m up near the Donated Booth. From that vantage point you can take in ● Mary Lou Schueler (x17) most of the layout. As I watch all the volunteers and the perfectly Bookkeeper displayed plants I am filled with such warmth toward each of them, [email protected] and excitement at what is about to take place. I’m so very grateful

to be a part of this event, and this place.

NEWS from the Civic Garden Center Published by Jan Simms Are you or your business Interested in Ad- vertising in our quarterly publication? Contact Jan at [email protected] for a fee schedule. 2

Greetings from the President CGC Board of Directors Thanks to these folks for overseeing the CGC opera- of the Board of Directors tions and for the direction they provide.

James Allen Patrick Polley

Mary Bishop Jared Queen “Every spring is the only spring, a Chris Doan Miguel Rueda perpetual astonishment.” Patrick Edmunds Sarah Schuck

Kara Troquille Gunsch Amber Shidler Ellis Peters, author of this quote is Mary Nippert Pete Singer obviously a gardener, since she Matt O'Connell Susan Sturgeon captures so well the wonder and Mary Bishop splendor of spring. Reflect a Kevin O'Dell moment, doesn’t this quote also describe THE Plant Sale?

For 55 years Civic Garden Center has annually held a plant sale fundraiser, and though the framework may repeat from How You Can Contribute the previous year, every spring brings a unique staging and experience. Our Chairperson, Jared Queen, volunteers, If you would like to make a donation to support any of and staff, are devoting countless hours to making 2015 THE our programs – Community Gardens, Youth Educa- best ever and THE only Plant Sale. tion, Horticulture Education, the Green Learning Sta- tion, the Serenity Garden – or to offer general support I hope our readers will help us make THE Plant Sale 2015 a to the Civic Garden Center, please contact Executive perpetual astonishment. Begin by telling your friends, Assistant,Terry Houston at (513) 221-0981 ext 18. colleagues, and neighbors about our event. What better Donations can be made any number of ways including time to introduce newcomers to Civic Garden Center than automatic monthly credit card deductions, on-line and the weekend of our marquee event. Our grounds are splendidly gorgeous, the variety of plants for sale is stellar, through stock transfer. and there are so many experts staffing our booths that it is impossible not to pick up some gardening tips or advice. Check Out the Whether your friends wish to delight in the festivities of our Friday night garden party, or join the mad Saturday morning Clipboards! rush to grab the newest perennial cultivars or cherished heirloom tomatoes, or leisurely stroll and shop our grounds My Tally is part of our revised on Sunday there is something for everyone! check out process at THE Plant Sale in 2015. Be sure to grab a a clipboard as you enter THE Plant Sale is our major fundraising event for the year, and we’ll explain how it works ! so please tell your gardener friends that every plant they buy will help provide funding for our gardening, educational, and environmental stewardship programs. Yes, a garden is Other tips for “doing” THE Sale… a perpetual astonishment, and you can help make our garden grow, spreading more of this wonder throughout our  Wear comfortable shoes city.  Dress for the weather  Bring a basket, cart or wagon  Don’t forget your camera  Hat or sunglasses  Umbrella for Rain or SUN  Save time to browse Clay Alliance Pottery sale  A little cash is helpful for purchasing Used Books, Bake Sale items, beer and snacks

3 Civic Garden Center Donors Thanks to all who donated. We are grateful, no matter the size or scope of your gift.

HAUCK SOCIETY The following individuals have given major finan- cial gifts to the Civic Garden Center. We thank them and recognize them with year long member- ship in the Hauck Society.

Magnolia Level $10,000+ Judi Graves Miggie Jacobs

John and Betsy LaMacchia 21 Gardens Adopted Through Adopt-a-Garden Program The Oliver Family Foundation

The John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust Adopt-a-Garden provides opportunities for CGC supporters to adopt

1 of our 60 community gardens. Community gardens benefit neigh- Beech Level $5,000+ borhoods by: Marjorie Drackett

Arthur and Maria Motch  Providing residents with access to fresh, nutritious fruits and SHS Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation vegetables that support a healthy lifestyle The Welchwood Foundation, Inc.  Creating a nurturing refuge where no other parks or green spac- The Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation es are available  Cleaning up vacant and blighted lots Oak Level $1,000+ Phyllis Augspurger  Instilling a sense of pride in neighborhood residents Ward and Sarah Bahlman

James & Cindy Briggs View a list of community gardens on the CGC website. Adopt-a- Dottie Brown Garden is available for a tax-deductible contribution of $1,000 and Lewis & Marjorie Daniel Foundation includes the following benefits: Ronald & Barbara DeNamur Charitable Fund

Thomas and Pam Donnelly  Sign recognition in your adopted garden Michele and Charles Dragga  Recognition on Civic Garden Center website Diana Dwight  Recognition on invitation and sponsor board for the 55th annual The Graham Edwin and Sharon Janosik Mitchell THE Plant Sale Preview Party Foundation Cindy Johnson  4 VIP Host Tickets to Preview Party (May 1, 2015) Priscilla Haffner

Huether Family Fund of The Greater Cincinnati The Civic Garden Center thanks the following individuals for Foundation their pledge of support for Adopt-a-Garden: Ron and Jane Koppenhoefer

Terry Lemmerman Lilli & Liam Allen Suki Skidmore & Tim Kane Tom & Donna Anderle William D. Stenger Lewis & Marjorie Daniel Foundation Mary Bishop Betsy Townsend Phillip and Whitney Long Civic Garden Center Dirt Crew Western Nursing Services John Mitchell Friend of The Civic Garden Center (3) Marjorie and Lou Rauh Lucy Conner & Beth Jackson Ridgeway Foundation Jane Garvey & John Lanier Cortney Scheeser Christopher Hassall & Brett Stover Mary Stern Matthew McFee & Jared Queen (2) Margaret and Michael Valentine Judy Mitchell & Fran Kellington Carol and Richard Wilson Mary & Kym Kuenning Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Woodward Kevin & Sarah O’Dell *All Garden Sponsors are also Ohio Against The World Hauck Society members. Kathryn Shahani Note: With the exception of Hauck donors, dona- tions and grants recognized on this page and p.5 For more information, or to sign up for Adopt-a-Garden, please are for gifts received and processed January contact Terry Houston at [email protected] or call through March. Hauck donors reflect gifts made 513-221-0981 in the past 12 months.

Continued 4 Civic Garden Center Donors Thanks to all who donated. We are grateful, no matter the size or scope of your gift.

GRANTS & ENDOWMENTS GENERAL Berea College—Grow Appalachia Anonymous (1) Bruce S. and Caroline C. Taylor Fund James Allen Lucile and Richard Durrell Special Fund II Jan Conversano Besl Lucile and Richard Durrell Special Fund III Bob and Connie Booth The Manteuffel Family Foundation Terrie Cunningham Marjorie Rauh Garden Intern Endowment Marjorie Davis Smale Civic Garden Center Fund Mike and Elizabeth Dirr Jean Donaldson FOUNDATIONS Joyce Draeger John Hauck Foundation Linda Fast Sally Heckscher Margaret and George Henshaw MEMORIAL Ann Ivancic By: In Memory of: Dinny Jergens John Hueber Homes Edward and Nancy Rosenthal Jack Hodell Tom and Pat Kellison Jennifer Adams Mary Raterman Kroger Community Rewards The Dirt Crew Mary Raterman & Lynn Bonnett John and Anne Lawrence Joy Lohrer Mary Ellen Lovett GARDEN CLUBS Marjorie Motch Bonsai Society of Greater Cincinnati Elizabeth Osterburg Clovernook Garden Club Linda and Howard Plevyak Dirt Plotters Garden Club Richard and Vanessa Wayne Family Fund Federated Garden Club Stephan and Helen Rindsberg Garden Club of Ft. Thomas Robert and Karen Ripp Greater Cincinnati Orchid Society Cheryl Rose Junior League Garden Club Nancy Rosenthal Lazy Daisy Garden Club Gwen Roth Midwest Native Plant Society Jack and Joyce Rouse Monfort Heights Garden Club Cortney Scheeser Old Fashioned Garden Club Martha Seaman Shaker Farms Garden Club Karen Sills Rhineland Foundaton IN KIND Susan and Derek van Amerongen George Jonson Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, Inc. Jeanette McCarthy Ashley Weech James and Alison Zimmerman Heather Neesham

Sandy Rhoads Chuck Schramm Debbie and Richard Westheimer Jerome and Cheryl Wigner Lotus Wittkopf

Note: With the exception of Hauck donors, donations and grants recognized on this page are for gifts received and processed January through March. Thanks for helping us GROW!

5

6 Civic Garden Center gratefully acknowledges VIP Hosts for THE Plant Sale THE Plant Sale Honorary Preview Party May 1st Chair Judy Mitchell A FRIEND OF THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTER* (2)

ANN MACDONALD

You may not know this, BETSY TOWNSEND* but I came to know this BILL AND PHYLLIS AUGSPURGER* great organization 40- CHUCK SCHRAMM AND DAN NEWMAN years ago when my CINDY SCHRADER professional career DEBBIE & RICHARD WESTHEIMER branched out into a new DIANA DWIGHT* landscaping service. I had DOUG AND BECKY BARNACLO the pleasure of taking FRED KLAISS AND GAIL MYERS classes that developed a foundation of knowledge to FRIENDS OF THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTER* start my new business. I’ve been in love with JANE GARVEY AND JOHN LANIER* The Civic Garden Center ever since. JUDI GRAVES* JUDY MITCHELL AND FRAN KELLINGTON* The Preview Party for THE Plant Sale is one KAREN SILLS AND PAUL DUPLACE of my favorite events of the year. At this KATHRYN SHAHANI* year’s event you’ll enjoy exciting KEN GUNKEL entertainment from the Ricky Nye Trio, a KEVIN AND SARAH O’DELL* delectable Derby-inspired dinner-by-the-bite from Jeff Thomas, the annual silent auction LILLI AND LIAM ALLEN* and you’ll get first pick of the thousands of LUCY CONNER & BETH JACKSON* plants available for purchase. MARGARET RIEGER MARK AND KYM KUENNING* I hope you’ll join me as a VIP Host or featured MARY BISHOP AND JERRY WILD* sponsor to help Make Our Garden Grow. All MATT MCFEE AND JARED QUEEN* proceeds benefit community, school and NANCY KRUEGER youth gardens plus the Green Learning OHIO AGAINST THE WORLD* Station. PAMELA AND DAVID ZELMAN

Thank you for your very generous support of PATRICIA HINKLEY The Civic Garden Center. I look forward to PATRICK AND KRISSY POLLEY celebrating the 55th anniversary of THE Plant PEG BACH Sale with you! PNC BANK RON AND JANE KOPPENHOEFER*

SUE STURGEON* Sincerely, SUKI SKIDMORE & TIM KANE*

THE CATANZARO FAMILY THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTER DIRT CREW* THE LEMMERMAN FAMILY* TOM AND DONNA ANDERLE* WESTERN NURSING SERVICES* WILLIAM D. STENGER*

*Also Hauck Society donor.

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Raised Beds Bicycles

Decorative Pots Garden Edging

Birdbaths, Feeders Yard Art, Sculptures & Birdhouses & Statues

Contact Us To Arrange A Time For Us To Pickup & Store Your Used Tools & Treas- ures. All Donations Needed By April 25, 2015.

Cindy Schrader, Cell: 513-321-1505, Email: [email protected] or Karen Sills, Cell: 513-321-3021, Email: [email protected]

Sales of All Used Tools & Treasures Directly Benefit Civic Garden Center Of Greater Cincin- nati. All Donations Are Tax-Deductible.

8 Community Gardens

Why do we call it THE Plant Sale? by Greg Potter, Community Gardens Coordinator

Here are a few of the reasons…

 It has been going on for over 50 years! It is the longest running plant sale in the Cincinnati area.  We set out over 200 tables for the plants and we still have to sit some on the ground. That is over 7000 linear feet of plants!  There are over 800 varieties of plants. 38 varieties of tomatoes alone! Thyme comes in second with 28 varieties and then Coleus with 22 varieties.  If you walk through all of it you will travel close to half a mile! Wear your walking shoes and be prepared to be amazed.  We have the assistance of over 400 amazing volunteers. They do everything from unloading trucks to helping the kids have fun. We couldn’t do it without them.  There is over 600 years of experience among the Plant Booth Chairs hosting the sale. They know the plants you like. They are a wealth of information and customer service is job one!

So why do we call it THE Plant Sale? How could we call it anything else?

Join us for the spectacle, the information and the chance to get your gardening projects going in the right direction. Just a footnote. How do we make all of this happen? We plan for the next The Plant Sale the day after this one is over. OK. We actually take two days off and then start. We are tired!!!

To our Community Garden Coordinators and gardeners:

I hope you’ve had a chance to pick up your seeds to get the 2015 season well underway. The following are companies that filled our seed bank this year with their generous donations toward the Civic Garden Center’s Community Gardens Program:

Ace Hardware of Hyde Park (local) Johnny’s Seeds Seeds of Change Baker Creek Seeds Nature and Nurture Southern Exposure Botanical Interest Old’s Seeds Territorial Seed Company Fedco Peaceful Valley Garden’s Alive Pipkins (local)

Please consider supporting the folks that help support us. Thanks.

Not sure what to plant? The Hoffman Library has books on growing every We can help! vegetable imaginable... The Horticulture Helpline is staffed Open 9-4 Monday through Saturday on Monday, Wednesday and Friday A whole new crop of books has arrived just in mornings with time for planning! Master Gardener volunteers who are just itching to answer your questions… Stop in to discover how to become a Hoffman Library Patron Call 513-221-TREE

9 Classes and Workshops

Horticulture Education for the Beginner to the Expert—Register for all classes with Terry Houston at the CGC, 513-221-0981 x18, or register online at www.civicgardencenter.org. Classes designated by “MGV” are eligible for Master Gardener Volunteer learning credit hours.

Edible Ornamentals Tuesday, April 14, 6:00-8:00 pm Instructor: Sue Trusty, Horticulturist Cost: $10 (free for CGC volunteers) Today's gardeners want more than an attractive landscape - they want it to fulfill multiple functions. What better way to tap into this trend than to include plants that please the eye, the nose, and the taste buds? Sue will offer a variety of options for adding edible trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants to your plant palette.

Family Class: Natural Egg Dying Saturday, April 18, 10:30 am-noon Class size is limited. Registration is required. Instructor: Mary Dudley, Youth Education Coordinator Cost: $5 per participant Welcome the spring season with a fun twist on dying eggs! We will use natural materials to make earthy hues on eggs and design a little nest to carry them home.

Gardening With Deer MGV Wednesday, April 22, 6:00-8:00 pm Instructor: Michelle Andersen, Flourish Landscape and Interior Design Cost: $10 (free for CGC volunteers) In this educational look at gardening WITH deer, participants will learn the ins and outs of how to peacefully garden without repellants, and love the deer again. Get ready to learn more about the behavior of our region’s most beautiful garden pest and put that new understanding to work towards designing landscapes that deer won’t eat. Specific atten- tion will be given to deer proof ornamental plant selections and strategies for keeping deer out of vegetable gardens.

Family Class: Teas & Tonics Saturday, May 16, 10:30-noon Class size is limited. Registration is required. Instructor: Mary Dudley, Youth Education Coordinator Cost: $5 per participant Tea has a rich, ancient culture that comes from both western and eastern traditions. Learn how to grow, create and serve tea during this fun program.

Fabulous Containers: Edible and Ornamental MGV Tuesday, May 19, 6:00-8:00 pm Instructors: Bennett O. Dowling, CGC Horticulturist Cost: $10 (free for CGC volunteers) Are you interested in gardening but lack a yard? There are plenty of plants you can grow in containers… on a roof, bal- cony, stoop or even indoors. Learn the basics of keeping container plantings healthy and fresh throughout the seasons. We will dive into how to design both ornamental and edible containers for visual, olfactory and taste appeal.

Choosing Plants for the Permaculture Garden MGV Thursday, June 4, 6:00-8:00 pm Instructor: Amy Stross, Chief Home Officer at TenthAcreFarm.com & John Hemmerle, Owner + Designer of Our Land Organics, LLC Cost: $10 (free for CGC volunteers) In permaculture, plants are chosen for their usefulness and their ability to perform multiple functions. For example, cre- ate an edible privacy hedge, or under-plant your fruit trees with herbs that increase their productivity and reduce their susceptibility to pests. Discover the plant selections that can help you create a productive, low-maintenance, and eco- logically-friendly garden.

10 Classes—continued

Garden Basics: Keeping your garden looking great all summer MGV Monday, June 8, 6:00-8:00 pm Instructor: Bennett O. Dowling, CGC Horticulturist Cost: $10 (free for CGC Volunteers) The work you do in the garden all summer not only contributes to its beauty, but also can be pivotal in ensuring the health of your plants. This class covers watering and water conservation measures, pruning, feeding, common pest and disease is- sues, and other seasonally appropriate topics.

Introduction to the Living Building Challenge 3.0 Friday, June 12, 2015, 11:30 am-1:00 pm Instructor: David Hart, LEED AP BD+C, Tremco, Inc. Cost: $20 (includes lunch) Credits: Approved for 1 AIA LU and 1 GBCI CE Credit Join us for an introduction to one of the newest green building rating systems, the Living Building Challenge (LBC). The LBC is a building certification program, advocacy tool and philosophy that defines the most advanced measure of sustaina- bility in the built environment possible today. This course will discuss the origins, values, and intents of the LBC rating sys- tem, and dissect the criteria and imperatives, as well as the certification process. We will also compare it to other green building rating systems, including USGBC's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED). Taught by an experi- enced live instructor, this engaging presentation concludes with an in-depth look at real-life examples and case studies.

Get the Most from your Tomato Plants MGV Tuesday, June 16, 6:00-8:00 pm Instructor: Jerry Luebbe, President - Cincinnati Heirloom Open Pollinated Tomato Associate Growers (CHOPTAG) Cost: $10 (free for CGC volunteers) Help your tomato plants not just survive but thrive throughout the growing season. Learn how to prevent or deal with com- mon pests, diseases and other pitfalls of tomato cultivation to maximize your plants’ yield and the flavor of their fruit.

Family Class: Flower Friends Saturday, June 20, 10:30 am – noon Class size is limited. Registration is required. Instructor: Mary Dudley, Youth Education Coordinator Cost: $5 per participant We love to eat straight from the garden in the summer, and so do some of our favorite insects. Munch your way through the garden and discover what bugs help our garden grow.

Summer Sprouts Nature Camp (ages 5-15) Tuesday, July 7, 2015, 3:00-5:00pm Instructor: Mary Dudley, CGC Youth Education Coordinator Fee: FREE Campers will explore different aspects of nature while learning how to care for plants and grow healthy food! Weekly les- sons incorporate a variety of activities to help students practice their literacy, math, science and social skills. We use the garden to teach students about good habits and enjoy a healthy snack each week.

Summer Sprouts Nature Camp (ages 5-15) Tuesday, July 14, 2015, 3:00-5:00pm Instructor: Mary Dudley, CGC Youth Education Coordinator Fee: FREE Campers will explore different aspects of nature while learning how to care for plants and grow healthy food! Weekly les- sons incorporate a variety of activities to help students practice their literacy, math, science and social skills. We use the garden to teach students about good habits and enjoy a healthy snack each week.

Junior Gardeners Family Class: Solar Cooking (ages 5-15) Saturday, July 18, 2015, 10:30-noon Class size is limited. Advance registration is appreciated but not required. Instructor: Mary Dudley, CGC Youth Education Coordinator Fee: $5 per participant Have you ever tasted sunshine? Join us for a fun filled day of solar oven construction and experimental cooking using ener- gy from the sun.

11 Classes—continued

Baby Greens Family Class: Sunny Days (ages birth-4) Tuesday, July 21, 2015, 10:00-11:00 am Class size is limited. Advance registration is appreciated but not required. Instructor: Mary Dudley, CGC Youth Education Coordinator Fee: $5 per participant Together we will explore the sunshine and find some plants soaking up those warm rays.

Summer Sprouts Nature Camp (ages 5-15) Tuesday, July 21, 2015, 3:00-5:00pm Instructor: Mary Dudley, CGC Youth Education Coordinator Fee: FREE Campers will explore different aspects of nature while learning how to care for plants and grow healthy food! Weekly lessons incorporate a variety of activities to help students practice their literacy, math, science and social skills. We use the garden to teach students about good habits and enjoy a healthy snack each week.

Attract Pollinators with Native Plants MGV Saturday, July 25, 10:00 am-noon Instructor: Solomon Gamboa, Pioneer Landscapes, LLC Cost: $10 (free to CGC Volunteers) Learn how to bring more pollinators into your garden using native plants, which thrive in our region. Take home lists of plants that specifically attract honey bees, native bees, native butterflies and hummingbirds. Design principles will focus on large landscape beds and prairie plots. The class will start at the CGC and include a trip to a local pollinator hotbed, so dress to be outdoors.

Summer Sprouts Nature Camp (ages 5-15) Tuesday, July 28, 2015, 3:00-5:00pm Instructor: Mary Dudley, CGC Youth Education Coordinator Fee: FREE Campers will explore different aspects of nature while learning how to care for plants and grow healthy food! Weekly lessons incorporate a variety of activities to help students practice their literacy, math, science and social skills. We use the garden to teach students about good habits and enjoy a healthy snack each week.

Please register early for classes. This helps ensure that we plan and prepare appropriately to minimize waste of materials and to maximize staff and volunteer time.

For more information about the Cincinnati Wild Ones please email Chris McCullough, President, at [email protected] or visit any of their monthly programs, field trips or yard tours. They are free, informative, and open to anyone with an interest in learning more about native plants in natural landscapes.

May1, 2, & 3: THE Plant Sale at Civic Garden Center; Visit Wild Ones booth selling 4 species of milkweed, milkweed kits, and milkweed seed balls. Visit http://www.civicgardencenter.org for more details. (Directions above)

May 17th (Sunday) 2:00-4:00pm: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden EcOhio Farm and Wetland Tour the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s recently restored 30-acre wetlands on a 600-acre property it acquired through donation from the Boyer family. This site is now home to hundreds of species of wildlife including over 200 spe- cies of native plants and 125 species of birds. Guides from the Zoo will discuss the relationship between native plants and wildlife in a functioning ecosystem. Address: 2210 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason, OH, 45040

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LET THE FUN BEGIN...

The Preview Party Silent Auction is ready for your bids!

THE Plant Sale is all about raising funds to support the Civic Garden Center mis- sion while having a lot of fun with friends old and new. At the Preview Party, the Silent Auction, fueled by the gener- ous and creative donations of goods and services by more than 100 businesses and individuals is a key part of both the fun and the fundraising. You can shop and bid on a wide and eclectic selection of gifts from a CGC staff catered dinner to a ‘gotta have it’ plant, a gift card to your (new) favorite garden center or massage therapist or landscape designer, and much, much more! All proceeds from the Silent Auction go directly to fund CGC programs.

No need to wait for all this fun, you can begin shopping and bidding NOW, online at www.biddingforgood.com . Search for the Civic Garden Center Silent Auction to see what’s on offer and put in your bids. The online portion opened April 6, and closes April 29 at 10 PM. The fun them moves live for final bidding at the Preview Party on Fri- day, May 1. The highest bid, whether it was made online or at the Preview Party, will ‘win’ each item.

These are just some of the items on this year’s Silent Auction:

TWO ALL-EVENT PASSES FOR THE CCO’S SUMMERMUSIK FESTIVAL. You won't have to miss any of the elev- en Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra’s musical events happening from August 15 to September 3, 2015 in the first ever Summermusik Festival. Enjoy four CCO evening concerts in the SCPA Corbett Theater, plus Chamber Crawl events at four local taverns, and three Sunday Afternoon Musik gatherings around town.

DINNER FOR 10 CATERED AT CGC BY THE CGC STAFF. It’s well known that gardeners are great cooks, so just imagine what a crew of folks who live and breathe gardening all year long will offer you and nine of your guests at this special dinner, complete with adult beverages! Pair that with the tranquil setting at CGC and look forward to an even- ing that’s just magical.

ONE WEEK OF LUXURIOUS LIVING IN DESTIN, FLORIDA. Escape to the sugar white sands beach of Destin, Flor- ida for a full week of heaven on Earth. Located in the heart of Destin, Jade East Towers Condominium is near restau- rants, golf, fishing, shopping, and nightlife activities. Accommodations include three king bed/bath suites and a pull out sleeper sofa in the living room. This 14th floor condominium offers stunning views of the gulf. Amenities include tennis courts, an exercise facility, designated parking, heated pool, hot tub, and more.

CGC’S OWN DIRT CREW FOR A DAY. The Civic Garden Center grounds are lovingly planted and maintained by the renowned volunteers in the CGC Dirt Crew. Bid to have them come to your own home to give your garden a big boost with their energy and expertise! They will prune, weed, edge, plant, or mulch to your instruction; but no heavy lifting. At total of 30 hours of love for your home landscape can be yours.

Be sure to visit Locating Utilities: Call Before You Dig – to locate The Lobby Gift Shop utilities when working on landscaping projects, here are Public Utilities Protection toll free numbers: for seeds, tools and gifts for your Ohio: 800-362-2764 favorite Kentucky: 800-752-6007 gardener Indiana: 800-382-5544

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Volunteering

The High Bar by Jan Simms, Volunteer Coordinator

Our thanks go out to all of those volunteers who have tirelessly planned for the success of this year’s event; they keep the bar set pretty high for us mere mortal staff members!

We are still looking to fill many positions for each of the three days of the Sale. In addition there is a need for set up “muscle” the week before. If you would like to become a Plant Sale Volunteer please contact Jan at [email protected] (unless otherwise noted) with your availability.

Times when help is needed… Week of 4/20-4/30 Diggers are needed for the Donated Plants Booth; 4/28-4/30 potters are needed. For both of these positions, please contact Terry Lemmerman at 513-821-7846.

Wednesday, 4/29 set up 8-5 Thursday, 4/30 set up and truck unloading Friday, 5/1 Daytime 9-5; Evening 5-10 (Preview Party) Saturday, 5/2 9-5 Customer Service Sunday, 5/3 10-4 Customer Service and Tear Down (1-4)

Plant Sale Volunteers who work a minimum of two 4-hour shifts enjoy the same benefits as year-round volunteers which include borrowing privileges at the Hoffman Library, discounts on classes, invitation to the annual banquet and more.

2015 Plant Sale Booth Chairs (Standing left to right) Muriel Mac- Arthur, Sue Gillespie, Terry Hou- ston, Jared Queen, Cindy Schrad- er, Debbie Lutkenhoff, Jennie Gei- ger, Felicia Hueber, Virginia John- son, Paul Koloszar, Patty Cotting- ham, Karen Sills, Sue Sturgeon, Sandy Holt, DeDe Greenberg, Mary Bishop, Judi Graves, Jerry Luebbe, Vickie Ciotti (Seated) Mary Henkener, Bennett Dowling, Terry Lemmerman, Sue Rolfes.

Bzak Landscaping Civic Garden Center – OSU Extension 513-831-0907 www.bzak.com Horticulture Helpline  Landscape Design & Installation 513-221-TREE(8733) [email protected]  Garden Center

Leave questions anytime. Talk to a volunteer M, W, F 10-2  Landscape Materials: mulch, topsoil, compost, gravel, and more

14 Spend the day with us on Saturday and Come Back for “The Pot I Forgot” Sunday!

Plant Booths (along the driveways) Awesome Annuals & Tropicals City Gardens Donated Plants Herbs Hostas & Shade Perennials Necessary Natives Rare & Unusual Plants Conifers and Bonsai plants Sun Perennials Climbers, Clematis & Roses Fruits & Vegetables

Gardening Information (next to Roses, Climbers & Clematis) Ask a Master Gardener

Garden/Outdoor Items (Next to Veggies) Green Flea (formerly Used Treasures)

The Cottage Shop Area Bake Sale Bread by BREADSMITH – while it lasts! Second Thyme Around Books & Magazines Coffee

Vendors (along the driveways) Hamilton Co. Soil & Water Mill Branch Soaps Simple Gifts Design Ten Thousand Villages Ursula Roma Metalworks Wild Ones: milkweed plants & habitat support for Monarch butterflies

Circle Patio in the Park** Beer Garden Children’s activities:

Scavenger Hunts, coloring pages, making paper pots, planting pea seeds, looking at worms

Inside Action (in the CGC building) CGC Lobby Gift Shop Clay Alliance Pottery Show & Sale Restrooms

** Saturday and Sunday, May 2 & 3 only

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ORDER NOW! $6.50 DISCOUNT ENDS 4/24 $6

$6.50 $6.50 $6 $6

Green Envy Soil Amendment has been triple processed with composted food, peat, pine fines and sand to improve its capacity to support plant life. Green Envy Soil Amendment improves the texture and drainage of the soil, making it more conducive to plant health.

+ Sales Tax

Pick up Tuesday, 4/28—Thursday, 4/30 9am-4pm. 16 Horticulture Corner

What to Expect in 2015 by Bennett Dowling, Horticulturist

The Plant Sale is my favorite time of year The Wild Ones organization hopes to repeat the great suc- at the Civic Garden Center. When I first cess of its Monarch Relief booth offering multiple varieties volunteered at the sale in 2006, I could of milkweed to feed those winged, multi-national explorers. never have anticipated that six years later it would be a key component of my job as a horticulturist. As usual the Herbs booth, another plant sale original, has over 200 herb varieties to choose from; both culinary and Cara Hague, a dedicated employee of the organization for medicinal. The Fruits and Vegetables booth will offer a the past ten years, left this year in order to tend to her family large selection of the best tomato, pepper and eggplant va- instead of the gardens, and I inherited the major undertak- rieties, both heirloom and new, as well as perennial and ing of sourcing and ordering all the plants for our sale. All woody fruiting plants. 800 plus varieties of them! To me, personally, it seems like a much better option than watching children, and I love The Rare and Unusual Plants booth is wonderful for if shopping, so we all win! you’re feeling like you want to be a little bad, the rebel on the block with that plant no one else has. And if you’re feel- I know we say this every year, but the diversity that will be ing rebellious, don’t let walls contain you; soften them with offered shoppers this year is truly impressive. Fantastic beautiful vines from our Climbers and Roses booth. The standbys as well as new introductions bring great color and Awesome Annuals booth greets you near the entrance of texture to the Shade and Sun Perennials booths while the the Sale with a riot of colors and textures for sun and shade. Hosta booth, one of the original draws of the first plant sale, will offer a fascinating selection of these garden standards Lastly, take advantage of the generosity of Cincinnati gar- that are by no means standard at all. deners by perusing the great plant selection at the Donated Plants booth and the impressive array of used garden tools, The City Gardens booth highlights different ways, both edgy ornaments and furniture in the Green Flea. and enchanting, to garden in tight spaces, while the Neces- sary Natives booth will cater to your own piece of land, It’s a wide world out there, let our booths inspire you and whether tight urban wilderness or prairie and woodland res- nourish your year with color, texture and fragrance! toration.

Soil Testing The Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation Dis- trict (SWCD) offers soil fertility testing through Michi- gan State University. The test results provide a soil amendment recipe to ensure that you get the most out of your plant investment.

Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District 22 Triangle Park Drive Sharonville, OH 45246 513-772-7645 Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm

Civic Garden Center – OSU Extension Horticulture Helpline Remember to 513-221-TREE(8733) bring your wagon [email protected] to THE Sale! Leave questions anytime. Talk to a volunteer M, W, F 10-2

17 Youth Education

A Breath of Spring by Mary Dudley, Youth Education Coordinator

Magic fills the air as spring brings bulbs to life in the youth gardens. Bird songs and the glurp of boots slogging through the mud create the chorus of warm weather adventures.

A child’s imagination takes off as they search for tiny foot- prints in the mud and build fairy homes among the flowers. Starting seeds and planning for the coming growing season lets me relish the feeling of soil under my nails. Soon we will welcome school groups for Compost Kids field trips and planting lessons.

The school garden community is growing and teachers are scheduling consultations and attending workshops to pre- pare for the coming season. Partnerships are budding be- tween the Civic Garden Center and botanical educators in the greater Cincinnati area! Master Composter classes are Mary trains the 2015 Class of Compost Kids Facilitators. underway which will develop a new source of innovation for the region to move forward with sustainable projects. 10% Discounts for 2015

This spring, take advantage of the season by spending time The following businesses provide a 10% discount to exploring mud puddles and leaf piles with the young people Civic Garden Center donors. A donation now will get you a discount in your life. During THE Plant Sale we will have opportuni- card for next season. Thank you to these businesses for their ties for families to plant seeds, decorate pots, and build spe- participation in this program. Adopt-A-Plant Greenhouses cial places for the fairies in your yard. We’ll see you there! Allison Landscape & Water Gardens Ammon Wholesale Nursery Visit Mary Dudley for lots of Aquatic & Garden Décor B.C. Nursery/Chris Daeger fun kids activities on the Burger Farm & Garden Center Bzak Landscaping, Inc. Circle Patio Cincinnati Pine, Inc. Delhi Flower & Garden Center Saturday and Sunday during Flower Framers of Cincinnati Florence Nursery & Landscaping THE Plant Sale. Gears Florist & Garden Centers Greenfield Plant Farm H.J. Benken Floral Home & Garden If you’re interested in volunteering to help children learn Lakeview Garden Center about the amazing world of plants, please contact Mary Holscher Hackman Garden Center Farm Your Yard/Kreidler Design Dudley, Youth Education Coordinator at Marvin’s Organic Gardens [email protected]. Meyer Aquascapes Minges Greenhouse & Garden Center Natures Corner Greenhouses Park + Vine Raymond Landscape Nursery Interested in becoming Renck’s Landscape & Garden Center a Master Gardener? Peters Nursery—Garden Store Renaissance Garden Ornament Contact Julie Crook at [email protected] TLC Landscaping & Garden Center Martha Wassermann Landscape or at 513-946-8998 for information. Design LLC White Oak Garden Center Worm’s Way

18 Green Learning Station

Green Learning Station Continues to Grow

by Kylie Johnson, Green Learning Station Coordinator

When you’re going through checkout this year during THE Plant Sale, you’ll notice we have a newly finished floor in the Green Learning Station, complete with logo! Slowly but surely we are transforming this multi-use space into a fully functioning environmental classroom. If all goes according to plan, by THE Plant Sale you’ll also see eco-friendly soundproofing on the ceiling and walls. At the end of May we will have our new one-of-a-kind water cycle model, and by the end of the year, we will have a brand new digital display. It’s an exciting year of growth! The Green Learning Team was the first group to see the new floor, as they conducted green roof experiments in the GLS with researchers from UC during our March session. The teens will be working with mentors to build three compost bins on June 6th for local community gardens. It will be a challenging and rewarding learning experience. If you’re interested in lending skills in carpentry to our installation efforts, please contact Kylie.

Kylie and members of the Green Learning Team

If you know a teen in the Greater Cincinnati area who is passionate about the environment and wants to explore its connections to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, send them to www.greenlearningstation.org/ greenlearningteam.aspx to find out how to apply for next school year’s Green Learning Team.

Bonsai Society of Greater Cincinnati The BSGC meets every month on the 3rd Thursday. For more information visit www.cincinnatibonsai.com.

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DIRECTIONS: From I-71, take the William Howard Taft exit and turn right onto Reading Road. Turn left at the next light, onto Oak Street and the next left for CGC Parking in front of the Green Learning Station.

Hours: Mon-Sat 9-4Hours: Mon-Sat 9-4

Visit our Gift Shop for unique gifts that gardeners will appreciate! ~ Gift Certificates Available

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facebook.com/civicgarden

youtube.com/gardenerterry

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