WSU MASTER GARDENERS, MASTER COMPOSTERS, AND MASTER GARDENER FOUNDATION OF THURSTON COUNTY NEWSLETTER The Common Sense Gardener

From the Foundation President by Nancy Mills As the rain mixed with snow and hail falls today, I’m facing writer’s block. Maybe the cold and wet has sunk into my brain, but it seems that every sentence I write gets quickly deleted. Although I’m still on a HIGH after the Awards Luncheon on Tuesday where we had about 50 folks show up to celebrate the accomplishments for the year, I don’t know where to start….

Do I give thanks to everyone again for all the hard work they December 2010/ have completed to help the MG/MC programs and MGFTC accomplish our January 2011 many goals?

Volume 10, Issue 6 Shall I once again thank Cori for her amazing dedication to getting things organized so that we function more efficiently?

Helpful Websites: Maybe I should give my best wishes to Jackie, my successor, who takes the rudder in a little over a month.

Thurston County Extension: It’s just that none of these things feel quite right. Not because they’re not http://county.wsu.edu/Thurston important and accurate, but maybe it’s because after serving as President for 3 years, I’m feeling a little sad. I must confess to having enjoyed being a large part Master Gardener Foundation of of the steering mechanism over the last years. Having come from a job with a lot Thurston County website: of responsibility, I enjoyed jumping right in and feeling useful again. Not www.mgftc.org everything has gone smoothly, for sure, but what I’d like to call my teams and I have always wanted the best possible outcome. It was with this in mind that I Compost Bin Sales: have given my “job” a very high priority in my life. I am truly thankful for all the folks who have worked side-by-side with me through these years, and helped www.compostbinsthurstoncounty. com keep things on track.

Master Gardener State Of course, I’m not going to disappear! I have one year left on the board as advisor. We put this in place so the job of President hopefully wouldn’t look so Program: intimidating. However, instead of drafting agendas, or editing the Policy and http://mastergardener.wsu.edu Procedure Handbook, I plan to spend at least some time in the clinic learning more about answering questions, and in the demonstration gardens pulling WSU Publications: weeds! In fact, the Plant Sale Nursery move will be one of the big things on my http://pubs.wsu.edu plate in the coming year along with Midge as co-chair of the plant sale. Bob will be staying on to help with plant procurement (he seems to LOVE shopping for those bargain plants, and we love it when he does!!). Continued on page 2 The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 2

From the Foundation President cont. by Nancy Mills So what’s the sadness about? Good question! I’m just going to shift my focus a little, and realize that when one thing ends, there are always lots of others vying to fill the void. Maybe I’ll even get some more knitting done for myself this upcoming year!! I look forward to seeing more of you in the gardens and getting to know you better.

Giving Back by Diane Stanger, MGFTC Treasurer The MGFTC exists and operates through the generosity and enthusiasm of its volunteer force who in 2009 logged in over 16,000 hours of service work. This generosity extends to monetary donations from individuals as well, who believe in the foundation’s mission. The MGFTC Scholarship Program Even though the foundation includes $1,000 in its annual budget, some MGFTC members have given scholarship-specific donations to further enhance our scholarship program and to provide more opportunities for applicants who seek an education and career in horticulture. Those of you who attended our Annual Membership meeting in October met Shelena Baker- Endy, the current MGFTC scholarship recipient and heard firsthand how much it meant to her and how this program will help her achieve her educational goals. I attended the SPSCC’s College Foundation’s annual Scholarship Reception on November 15 and personally talked with Shelena about her studies, her family and her goals. It made me very proud to know the MGFTC has made a difference in her quest for an education in horticulture. After listening to her and other scholarship winners, I came away with this message: the current economic realities have created a group of people who must find another career at a later time in life, and at a time when they can least afford the change. The SPSCC’s Scholarship program, of which the MGFTC Scholarship program is a part, provides a means for them to meet this kind of challenge. The Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State (MGFWS) offers two $1,000 scholarships annually known as the Mary Robson and Van Bobbitt Scholarships , which enable students to pursue studies in horticulture and its related fields. The MGFTC will piggy back on these two scholarships by offering a separate $250 scholarship to a Thurston County student who applies for these MGFWS scholarships. For more information on this and the SPSCC scholarship, please visit our website at www.mgftc.org We are a highly respected group of community-minded individuals who value personal pursuits and achievements. I encourage you to reflect on what the Master Gardener program and the MGFTC has meant to you and the Thurston County community. The benefits gained from your generosity by the foundation cannot be overstated. After all, investing in our mission is investing in our community. The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 3 Paying Tribute The MGFTC has a process in place to honor the memory of deceased individuals who have participated in and/or supported the Master Gardener/Master Composter programs in Thurston County. There are several options available to commemorate a person’s contributions, including the placing of objects—brick or bench, for example—in one of the demonstration gardens, or making monetary donations to be used as designated by the donor. The MGFTC is a registered IRS non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation which allows individual donors to report their gifts as a tax deduction. The foundation is also registered as a non-profit charitable organization in the State of Washington and is bound by its requirement for annual financial reporting and registration renewal.

MGFTC 2011 Sponsorships by Diane Stanger, MGFTC Treasurer

2010 MGFTC Sponsorships The MG Foundation wish to thank the following individuals for their generous sponsorship of the MGFTC and its mission to “Enhance and promote the county’s Master Gardener and Master Compost Programs in an atmosphere of camaraderie and teamwork.”

Juana Barton, MGFTC “Donor” Charlotte Dunahugh, MGFTC “Friend” Marion McIntosh, MGFTC “Friend” Mary Williams, MGFTC “Donor”

Special mention is made about the continued generosity of Scott and Paula Nelson who during 2010 donated all proceeds to the MGFTC from the sale of Tool Sharpeners during the spring plant sale and “Horseshoe Flower” plant stakes at our Annual Membership meeting in October. So many other Master Gardeners and Master Composters have donated money to the foundation over the years and still continue to do so. It is through this generosity and faith in the Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston County that we can continue serving our foundation members, the Master Gardener/Master Composter programs and the community at large. THANK YOU ALL!!!

Submitted by Diane Stanger, MGFTC Treasurer The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 4

Cori’s Corner By, Cori Carlton, Program Manager

Wow-what a year!!!! 2010 has been filled with lots of hard work, fun and friendship. To re-cap all that we have accomplished I will be sending our year end report shortly. The report will also highlight our 2011 goals. I look forward to another great year and hope you are too!

Here are some other updates:

2010 Awards– On the following pages you will see the Master Gardeners who were recognized at this years Awards Luncheon. Everyone who is listed will receive a certificate and a token of our appreciation. If you have not received your award(s) please contact Cori to coordinate pick-up arrangements.

New website– WSU has a new website management system. We are in the process of learning this system and inputting information. If you visit our old outdated site it will redirect to the new site. After we are finished loading our main program information into these pages we will begin work on the “Members Only” section of the site. All of our brochures and marketing pieces will be updated with this new information. Please share and bookmark our new site. http://county.wsu.edu/Thurston

New office address– As of January 1, 2011 we will have a new office address. Even though we are not moving our building will have a new address. This is a result of the expanded construction of Harrison/Mud Bay roads. Mud Bay will no longer exist and our new address will be: 5033 Harrison Ave. NW Olympia, WA 98502 All of our brochures and marketing pieces will be updated with this new information. I know this will be extra confusing for our clients especially since we aren’t physically moving. We will have forwarding service for one year but please make sure you update your address book.

Yearly recommitment forms will be emailed to you in January. Since we did most of “state” paperwork last year the form will be much shorter. In the meantime think about what areas of the program you would like to volunteer in. We all have a niche within our group. Have you found yours? If not, try something new and be the change you wish to see in our organization. I hope you are up for an exciting 2011! A billion snaps to you for sharing your time and wonderful talents with our community and one another.

All of us at WSU Extension wish you and your families a joyful holiday with best wishes for health and happiness in the New Year! The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 5 Birthdays for December and January

By filling out your Recommitment form we now have Char Ide, Jan. 11th the pleasure of wishing our fellow Master Gardeners and Master Composters a Happy Birthday. If your Janet Mandel, Jan. 13th birthday is in December or January and you don’t see Ann Armstrong, Jan. 15th your name on the list, or the date is incorrect, please contact Cori so we can update our files. Jim Pedrick, Jan. 17th December: Tom Neitzel, Jan. 18th Tami Edwards, Dec. 3rd Mike Gard, Jan. 20th Glenda Jackson, Dec. 8th Jan Seguin, Jan. 21st Mitch Vorwerk, Dec. 8th Linda Walker, Jan. 23rd Cathy Johnson, Dec. 10th Kay Timmis, Jan. 25th Judy Wilson, Dec. 10th Charlotte Dunahugh, Jan. 28th Linda Bennett, Dec. 11th Kathy Emory, Jan. 29th Terry Travis, Dec. 14th Cathy McFarland, Jan. 31st Angela Skinder, Dec. 16th Dorothy Seabourne-Taylor, Jan. 31st Mary Boston, Dec. 21st

Ray Price, Dec. 21st Charles Beleny, Dec. 24th Wishing you a year full of health, Lynda Bauer, Dec. 26th happiness, and gardening bliss! Kathleen Hansson, Dec. 27th Pam Robert, Dec. 28th Joan Aspaas, Dec. 31st Stephanie Tibbits, Dec. 31st

January: Charlyn Shipley, Jan. 2nd A birthday is just the first day of Carla Delducco, Jan. 3rd another 365-day journey Dawn Lamp-Smith, Jan. 3rd around the sun. Julianne Armstrong, Jan. 9th Pauline Feuling, Jan. 9th Enjoy the trip! Bob Richards, Jan. 11th The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 6 2011 Master Calendar General Foundation Events are blue April “Activities and Events” are green 1st OFM Garden opens for the season st nd Board or Committee meetings in orange 1 & 2 CLP Garden Kickoff st Deadlines are in red 1 OFM garden steering committee meeting 8th-Master Gardener Training Class 9am to 4pm Master Composting in pink 9th Advanced Education Workshops 9am to 1pm

10th Activities & Events-Seattle Arboretum Tour & January Plant Sale th 6 Mentor Training 10am to Noon 13th Foundation Board Meeting 10am th 12 -Foundation Board Meeting 10am 22nd-Master Gardener Training Class 9am to 4pm st 21 -Newsletter deadline for February-March Edition May February 3-5th Activities & Events-Northern Oregon Nursery & 4th-Master Gardener Training Class 9am to 4pm Garden Tour 8th CLP garden steering committee meeting 5:30pm 6th Master Gardener Training Class 9am to 4pm 9th-Foundation Board Meeting 10am 6th OFM garden steering committee meeting 11th Master Gardener Training Class 9am to 4pm 11th Foundation Board Meeting 10am 17th Foundation General Membership Mtg 6pm-9pm 20th Master Gardener Training Class 9am to 4pm 23rd-27th Activities & Events-NW Flower & Garden 20th Newsletter deadline for June-July Edition Show 20th Plant Sale Evening Preview (For all those who 25th-Master Gardener Training Class 9am to 4pm help work on the sale) 21st MGFTC Plant Sale March 25th Activities & Events- Kubota Gardens & Highline 1st DW Garden Opening Sea Tac Gardens th 5th OFM Garden Kickoff 27 Master Gardener Training Class 9am to 4pm

9th-Foundation Board Meeting 10am 11th-Master Gardener Training Class 9am to 4pm June rd 12th OFM Garden Back up Kickoff 3 Master Gardener Training Class & Graduation 9am th to 4:30pm 16 Activities & Events-Clark County Greenhouses & rd Pruning Class 3 OFM garden steering committee meeting th 18th Master Composter Kick Off & Potluck Event 4 Activities & Events- Small area/Container Veggie 6pm-8:30pm Class th 25th-Newsletter deadline for April-May Edition 8 Foundation Board Meeting 10am th 25th-Master Gardener Training Class 9am to 4pm 14 CLP garden steering committee meeting 5:30pm th 16 Foundation General Membership Meeting 6pm to 9pm

The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 7

2011 Master Calendar Continued

July 12th Foundation Board Meeting 10am 1st OFM garden steering committee meeting 12th Master Recycler Composter Training Class 6pm 12th Activities & Events- Ed Hume & Seattle Play Gar- 15th Master Recycler Composter Training Class 10am dens/Tilth 19th Master Recycler Composter Training Class 6pm th 13 Foundation Board Meeting 10am 22nd Master Recycler Composter Training Class 10am 21st Master Composter Retrain-Recycling-6pm 26th Master Recycler Composter Training Class 6pm nd 22 newsletter deadline for Aug-Sept Edition 23rd Master Composter Retrain- Field Trip-10am November 28th Master Composter Retrain- Recycling-6pm 1st Foundation Board Retreat 9am to 1pm 30th Master Composter Retrain- Field Trip-10am 2nd Master Recycler Composter Training Class 6pm 5th Garden Committee Planning Retreat 10am to 3pm August 9th Foundation Board Meeting 10am rd th 3 -7 Thurston County Fair 16th Annual Awards Potluck-6pm to 8pm th 5 OFM garden steering committee meeting 18th-newsletter deadline for Dec-Jan Edition th 10 Foundation Board Meeting 10am 30th Foundation Board Budget and Annual Meeting 21st Appreciation Day Picnic 12:30pm Preparation

December September 8th Foundation Annual Meeting & Elections 6pm-9pm 2nd OFM garden steering committee meeting 14th Foundation Board Meeting 10am 10th Activities & Events- Sustainability All Day Work- shop-CE Opportunity 13th CLP garden steering committee meeting 5:30pm th 14 Foundation Board Meeting 10am 16th-newsletter deadline for Oct-Nov Edition 22nd-24th WSU Master Gardener State Conference- Ocean Shores, Washington

October 1st 2012 Intern Applications are now available 5th Master Recycler Composter Training Class 6pm 6th Foundation General Membership Meeting Potluck 6pm to 9pm 7th OFM garden steering committee meeting the Fun! 8th Activities & Events- Putting the Garden to Bed Class The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 8 2010 Award Recipients

Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston Paula Nelson County Sponsored Awards Connie Roth

Fundraising Award Karen Walters Lois Willman Shanna Winters Penny Locke Jackie White Exiting Board Member Service Award Barbara Smith Advocacy Award Bob Findlay Program Sponsored Awards Nancy Mills Emeritus-(E) Service Award Kathryn Baker-1998 Pat Bergford Sharon Brown-2000 Roberta Nott Bill Cather-1983

Honorary Master Gardener Debra Freelove-2000 Bret Cartwright Norman Gallacci-1985 Brandon Cartwright John Geppert-1994 Trevor Cartwright Mike McGee-1993 Brittany Cartwright Barbara Nickum-1998 Mack Armstrong Aline Pinkard-1990 Peter White Dave Ouelette Years of Service Awards 25 year pin Dorsay Fischer Awards-MG’s that volunteered 1982 – Mary Boston a minimum of 7years and 1000 hours 1983 – Bill Cather-E Lynda Bauer 1985 – Norm Gallacci-E Linda Bennett Ron Casebier 20 year pin Bob Findlay 1988 – April Scharer Cathy Johnson 1989 – Chuck King-E Bill Longnecker 1990 – Aline Pinkard-E The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 9 Years of Service Awards 5 year pin 15 year pin 2001 – Zoe Champagne 1992 – Judy Smith-E 2001 – Chris Lair 1993 – Mike Gard 2001 – Kris Mansfield 1993 – Mike McGee-E 2001 – Tami Shaughnessy 1993 – Mary Snyder 2001 – Karen Walters 1994 – Joyce Butlin-E 2002 – Kerry Norem 1994 – Phil Butlin-E 2003 – Connie Barclay 1994 – John Geppert-E 2003 – Lynda Bauer 2003 – Bob Findlay 10 year pin 2003 – Cathy Johnson 1996 – Tam Crocker-E 2003 – Bobbie Liberty 1996 – Curt Rosler-E 2003 – Bill Longnecker 1997 – Kathy McDowell-E 2003 – Kathleen McKinney 1997 – Terry Travis-E 2003 – Gloria Mitchell 1997 – Jim Wilson 2003 – Paula Nelson 1997 – Judy Wilson 2003 – Roberta Nott 1998 – Kathryn Baker-E 2003 – Lisa Randlette 1998 – Catherine Eddington 2003 – Frankie Rasmussen 1998 – Barbara Nickum-E 2003 – Dorothy Seabourne-Taylor 1999—Elizabeth Bachman-E 2003 – Evelyn Stewart 1999 – Sammie Preble 2003 – Joan Stiggelbout 1999 – Ray Price 2003 – Mary Vanderhoof 2000 – Sandy Atkinson 2004 – Linda Bennett 2000 – Sharon Brown-E 2004 – Cindy Hoover 2000 – Ron Casebier 2004 – Janet Mandel 2000 – Carla Delducco 2004 – Marion McIntosh 2000 – Debra Freelove-E 2004 – Connie Roth 2000 – Charlotte Hunter 2004 – Jan Seguin 2000 – Charlie Keck 2004 – Pam Thayer 2000 – Marcia Killam-Nunn 2004 – Lois Willman 2000—Phyllis Sturges 2004 – Shanna Winters The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 10 Years of Service Awards Barb Robles 5 year pin Beth Rodman 2005 – Marylou Clemens Terrence Schulte 2005 – Kathryn Ekar Angela Skinder 2005--Winona Furgison Evelyn Wagner 2005 – Glenda Jackson Terri Waldron 2005 – Diana Larsen-Mills Jackie White 2005 – Pat Lazar Donna Whitehead 2005 – Nancy Mills 2005 – Deborah Welt 2010 Intern Awards First to Complete the Final Exam- Newly Certified MG’s- Bryn Kildow Jimmy Aotaki Highest Score on the Final Exam- 98.7% Debbie Ayers Jeanne Kinney Bret Beardslee Angela Skinder Karen Brown Evelyn Wagner Mary Cullen Barb Robles Bruce Hargrave Warren Dunahugh Linda Harris Terrence Schulte

Donna Hawley Char Ide First to complete their internship and turn in Bryan Ketola their timecard-Judy Lundgren

Jeanne Kinney Highest number of hours done in their Dawn Lamp-Smith internship- 120.25, Jeanne Kinney Judy Lundgren 2nd Highest number of hours done in their Pam Marker internship-119.25 Bryan Ketola Candace Messinger rd Bob Obedzinski 3 highest number of hours done in their internship- 88 Debbie Ayers

John Perez Jeannine Pia Grimiest Timecards- Bob Obedzinski and Joan Reitzwood Dawn Lamp-Smith

Pam Robert Tech Savvy Award- Lauren Langley The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 11 Service Awards Karen Walters Shanna Winters

Foundation Board- Nancy Mills President Composting Toni Ghazal Vice President Shanna Winters Diane Stanger-Treasurer Compost Bin Sales Barbara Smith-Secretary Bill Longnecker

Julianne Armstrong- Member At Large Bill Longnecker- State Representative Timecards Jackie White-President Elect Pat Lazar

Garden Committees- Website Kathy and Roy Emory

Olympia Farmers Market Garden Sandy Atkinson Busy Bee Mary Boston Pauline Feuling Catherine Eddington Kathleen Hansson Linda Lufkin Lois Willman Kris Mansfield

Somebody’s Got To Do It Closed Loop Park CLP-Bobbie Liberty & Janet Mandel Tam Crocker DW-Linda Bennett & Joan Reitzwood Linda Harris OFM- Catherine Eddington Bobbie Liberty Composting-Diane Stanger Mary Snyder Helping Hand Diane Stanger

Cathy Johnson DirtWorks Sammie Preble Linda Bennett Mary Williams Cindy Cartwright Great Advisor Amy Corrigan Tam Crocker

Brenda Curtis Kathy Ekar Silver Trowel Bob Findlay Cindy Cartwright Paula Nelson The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 12 What to Do in Your Garden in December and January

Visit http://gardening.wsu.edu for more helpful tips. DECEMBER Garden essentials:

• Prune evergreens for holiday decorations. Don't leave pruning stubs! Finish planting bulbs. • Force pots of paperwhite narcissus. • Continue transplanting.

Veggies year-round:

• Mulch paths with wood chips to keep feet drier. • Ask for a cold frame to extend your gardening season! • Be grateful for the blessing of harvests.

Lawn care:

• Do winter fertilization if you didn't complete this task in late November. • Rake leaves and litter off lawn.

JANUARY Garden essentials:

• Yank vigorous winter weeds. • Prune trees and shrubs, removing diseased or storm-damaged wood. • Lightly water and fertilize indoor plants. • Remember that plants contribute essential oxygen, reduce problem noise, feed and shelter wildlife, cool and shade urban spaces, and reduce human stress.

Veggies year-round:

• Puget Sound area gardeners can eat produce fresh from the garden nearly year-round. Draw your food garden master plan, rotating crop locations from last year. Crops planted in succession will keep harvests coming.

Lawn care:

• Sharpen mower blades and tune up mower. • Don't walk on soggy or frozen grass. • Healthy lawns compete with moss, which infests shady, compacted or stressed turf. Lime won't eliminate moss.

The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 13 Photos from the Foundation Annual Membership Meeting

Upcoming MGFTC Activities & Events

DECEMBER 28, Tuesday, 3:30-10:00 p.m.—BELLEVUE BOTANICAL GARDEN LIGHTS. Join us for the enormously popular Garden d’Lights festival, which features over ½ million lights and transforms the Bellevue Botanical Garden into a blossoming winter wonderland. A new tortoise will join the list of over 30 “critters,” including Charlotte in her web and Willie the Slug. You won’t want to miss the “Aquarium in Lights” in the Visitor Center, with the pulsing jellyfish and the incredible octopus, or the gorgeous pond and border display on the main lawn. The new route throughout the garden will be enhanced with a flowing river in lights and two waterfalls. This year will be an exciting adventure for all ages. With previous attendance topping 10,000 on the busiest nights, the Bellevue Botanical Garden now requires advance reservations. The event will now be a safer, more pleasant experience for all. Space is limited so reserve your spot by December 10. If there are more people than the van can accommodate, carpooling will be arranged. Gas money will be collected the day of the event if we take private cars. Fee: $20 for Foundation members; $25 for non-members. Fee covers the garden admission. Contact Jackie White at [email protected] or 360-866-8521 for reservations.

The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 14 Sustainable Gardening Handbook Trivia Quiz-Part Three

Give your best guess to the following questions and send them by Friday, January 21st to: Mail: WSU Extension Office Email: [email protected] or Attn: Master Gardener Trivia 5033 Harrison Ave. NW Olympia, WA 98502

Please include your name with your answers. Of those who answered them correctly one winner will receive a $20 gift certificate to The Barn Nursery. Happy Guessing!

Take a guess or you can find the answers in your Sustainable Gardening Handbook. 1) The method used to produce larger blooms on a single plant is called A. deadheading B. disbudding C. root pruning D. managed fertilization 2) The part of the vascular system that separates the xylem and the phloem is the: A. meristem B. cambium C. epidermis D. cuticle 3) The first step to growing ornamentals in containers successfully is: A. good potting material B. sufficient nitrogen C. six hours of sunlight D. adding a layer of gravel to the bottom of the pot 4) An easy vegetable to save seeds from is the: A. tomato B. cucumber C. carrot D. onion 5) Which of the following is not required for a successful strawberry crop? A. well-drained soil B. fertilizing weekly C. weed control D. bed renovation The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 15 2011 WSU Master Gardener Class Training Information

Spread the word…. The new 2011 application is available online at www.mgftc.org.

Applicants accepted into the Master Gardener Training Program attend seventeen weeks of classes either in person or by using the on-line training program. For 2011, class will be held once a week on Friday’s beginning on February 4, 2011 and finish on June 3, 2011. Half of the weeks trainees will be doing their assignments at home on their own time. The other half of the time they will be meeting in a classroom to hear a presenter speak on a subject or to do a hands-on activity/lesson. They will be expected to take bi-weekly on-line quizzes and a final exam at the end of class. When we meet as a group class will begin at 9am and go until 4pm.

Training Materials: All training materials are included in the $275 class fee. This includes your on-line class registration fee, Master Gardener Handbook, and other publications/ handouts. This fee also covers all room rental fees, speaker fees, transportation fees, and lesson supplies. You will also receive a name tag that we ask you to wear at all times during training and other Master Gardener functions.

Application Information: Applicants will be asked to fill out an application and bring it with them to one of three mini-orientation sessions in January The orientation will explain what it means to be a Master Gardener and the time commitment involved. After attending an orientation they can decide if they want to turn in their application or not.

Orientation sessions will be on: • January 5th from 4pm to 5:30pm • January 19th from 4pm to 5:30pm • January 26th from 4pm to 5:30pm

Once we review their applications we will contact those who best fit our program needs and interests. Since a good portion of the class will be on-line, having computer access will be a determining factor if they will be part of the 2011 class.

Applications are due to the office by Friday, January 28, 2010 or until the class is filled. Space is limited to 50 students. The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 16 2011 Mentors Needed I will be posting the mentor job description, in the Friday Flash, for those who may be interested in becoming a mentor for the 2011 class. Mentors are an essential part to the new class training.

Think about what it meant for you to have a mentor through your initial training process. What did you enjoy about your mentor and what would you have had them do differently?

Mentors are asked to participate in an orientation session so that we are all on the same page. This training will be done on January 6, 2011 from 10am to Noon.

You will have an opportunity to make a difference in the life of an intern and have lots of fun doing so. If you are interested please contact Cori.

Don’t Forget to Record Your Service Hours On-line

From State Program Leader, Tonie Fitzgerald: Volunteers are an important part of the WSU Extension’s program delivery. Because the State of Washington stipulates that WSU’s volunteers must be covered by workers’ compensation insurance, WSU must provide an accurate accounting of the time volunteers are engaged in volunteer activities for the University. It is not appropriate for us to estimate hours. Actual hours must be reported for each volunteer on a monthly basis. Thank you for your service and cooperation in this matter. Tonie Fitzgerald WSU Master Gardener State Program Leader

There is a is a link to the database on the state Master Gardener homepage at http://mastergardener.wsu.edu/ Or go directly to the page at http://mastergardener.wsu.edu/volunteerhourdatabase.html

The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 17 Closed Loop Park in Review 2010

After the last shovels, trowels and wheelbarrows were rinsed off and the garden shed locked up, the 2010 gardening season at Closed Loop Park ended on a high note on Saturday, Oct 31. A quick walk around the garden gave testimony to the dedication of not only the CLP steering committee but also of the many volunteers, both veterans and interns, who gave their time and energy to keeping the weeds at bay, the trees, shrubs, plants and grasses trimmed, and the garden beds mulched.

We, the committee, are excited about the exposure of our garden to the public that the long awaited off-leash dog park will bring. Even though Closed Loop Park is a rather large garden—nearly 2 acres—the garden as we know it will not change much because of the dog park, and it will certainly not be reduced. In fact, we’ve extended the upper hedgerow berm along the paved walk way as a shield against the fenced dog park that will be planted with native shrubs and trees to continue the theme. We’ve also added a couple small beds; one which is currently planted with donated and purchased blueberry shrubs from Briggs Nursery and soon to be planted with an ornamental crab apple tree. A much smaller bed may be planted with some sort of columnar conifer for a striking visual effect.

Sometime after the first of 2011, the recycle and hazardous waste areas will be relocated and in its place will be the off-leash dog park parking area. This parking area will lead directly to the dog park entrance and will by-pass its current entrance through the lower paved path of CLP. Further out in the future, and currently under construction, is a large park and ride that will be situated across the road from CLP and the dog park. To this end, we hope many more Thurston County residents will become familiar with the Master Gardener and Master Composter Programs and the other MG Demonstration gardens.

We, the steering committee, want to offer heart-felt thanks (and loud snaps) to the many volunteers who gave precious time along with their backs, knees, hands and suggestions in order to keep Closed Loop Park looking impressive. We’ve set some goals for 2011 that we feel will both enhance the garden and promote the Master Gardener/Master Composter programs. We look forward to seeing many of you returning to CLP next year.

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!!

The CLP Steering Committee

Submitted by Diane Stanger, CLP Garden Committee

The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 18 Northwest Flower & Garden Show-February 2011

You may have had the opportunity in the past to visit the Northwest Flower & Garden Show or maybe will attend it for the first time this February, but have you ever wondered about the show’s beginnings and what it takes to put the show on each year? The Northwest Flower & Garden Show will have over 20 display gardens over 6 acres of space, 300 exhibitors, 120 seminars, and more. The legacy that has lasted for 22 years and counting started with the great idea of Duane & Alice Kelley in 1987, a lot of hard work & creativity, and numerous mountains of sawdust.

After attending the Philadelphia and New England flower shows in 1987, Duane Kelley brought up the idea of having a flower show in Seattle to his wife Alice. Alice was confident in Duane’s abilities as he was a very capable businessman, and could surely turn the notion of a Seattle flower show into a reality. Although there was not a 150 year history of gardening that is behind the flower shows of the East Coast and England, in 1989 the Pacific Northwest, and still is, a hotbed for horticulture, rife with opportunity and education, which lead to the garden show’s successful debut in 1989.

How does one prepare for an enormous event such as the Northwest Flower and Garden Show? Planning for this event, which costs well over a million dollars, begins nine months before the show opens. Aside from organization, it begins with making mountains of sawdust for the garden displays. 1,200 cubic yards of sawdust and mulch, that is about 150 dump truck loads, and 280,000 pounds of rocks, are needed for the show, to be exact. Over 300 theatrical lighting instruments hang above the gardens. Judges draw from all over the world and are well-respected by gardeners. Organization of the many garden designers and creators, students, vendors, and workers, is key to the event’s and is fun, stressful, and rewarding in the end. Of course with such huge events, there are bound to be some bumps along the road. This means that all involved with the show must be creative and ready for anything. Some of these problems that organizers of past shows experienced ranged from those with prominent areas for display dropping out of the show with little time to prepare for a new display, escaped white peacocks, and a leaking waterfall display that flooded the parking garage.

Despite the setbacks that are bound to happen with these large events, the Northwest Flower and Garden Show with its fantastic gardens and displays, well-known judges, a varied plethora seminars (many of them free), and more, has made it one of the most anticipated events for gardeners in the Pacific Northwest. The event will be held a little later than usual this year, from February 23rd - 27th at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. Visitors can see rain gardens, green roofs, orchids, Japanese gardens, a children’s area, vendors, seminars, and much more. For more information and for tickets, please visit the Northwest Flower and Garden Show website: http://www.gardenshow.com/ A Foundation sponsored “Activities & Events” trip up to the garden show is being planned. Watch for details in an upcoming “Friday Flash”. The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 19

2010 Northwest Flower & Garden Show

Spotlight Volunteer: Linda Lufkin Class of 2007

Where did you grow up? I grew up in a very small town in North Central Washington called Winthrop.

Family or Pets? I have a husband, Larry, and two grown children, Doug and Angela. I also have two Labs named Danny Boy and Teddy Bear.

Hobbies? I like gardening (of course), yoga, going to the movies, traveling to new places, and revisiting favorites.

My favorite part of being a Master Gardener? My favorite part of being a Master Gardener is the opportunity to work and learn with people who love gardening as much as I do! As my daughter said to me when I began the Master Gardener Program a few years ago, "Mother, you have found your people".

Other Comments: I'm so glad the Master Gardener Program exists. Thank You!

The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 20

Master Gardener Award Ceremony Photos

Around 50 folks braved the crazy weather and came to the Master Gardener Award Ceremony on November 16th. They enjoyed great food while celebrating this years achievements! Congratulations and thank you for all of your hard work and dedication! The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 21

Master Gardener Award Ceremony Photos (cont’d.)

The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 22 AmeriCorps Member Update-Rachel Mockler

Greetings! It has been nearly two months since I’ve begun my AmeriCorps term with the Master Gardener / Master Composter program, and I’m so happy to be part of what you’ve been doing.

I have added a few components to get the word out about what’s going on with the Master Gardener and Master Composter programs. These components are the WSU Thurston County Master Gardener Program blog and Facebook page which can be found at http://wsumgtc.wordpress.com and http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/WSU-Master-Gardener-Program-of-Thurston- County/166590283353541, respectively. With these social media outlets, I will announce upcoming Master Gardner/Master Composter events, noting accomplishments, and posting gardening articles.

I am looking forward to beginning training in the Master Gardener Program after the holidays as well as assisting new interns going through the program. That’s all I have for now regarding updates on the MG/MC program. It’s been great getting to know all of you at Master Gardener Foundation potlucks and meetings, clinics, and gardens! I hope you all have very happy, safe, and warm holidays! Enjoy! Answers to Sustainable Gardening Handbook Trivia Quiz-Part Two Thank you to everyone who entered the trivia quiz that was in the October/November issue of our newsletter. Everyone who submitted their answers was entered into the drawing. The winner is Jeannine Pia who happened to get all the answers correct. She will receive a $20 gift card to Target. Here are the answers: 1) Thatch is primarily composed of: B. Grass stems and roots

2) Non-selective herbicides are: A. Used where all vegetation is to be eliminated.

3) Adding organic matter in the soil improves: D. All of the above. ( water-holding capacity, soil structure, and slow release nitrogen)

4) Non-toxic pest control methods: D. Can be used in combination with each other.

5) An important consideration in choosing trees for a home orchard is: D. All of the above. ( disease resistance, rootstock collection, and pollination requirements)

Hope you had fun and learned something too! The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 23 MGFTC December Sale & 2011 Plant Sale News

We would like everyone to know that WE ARE IN ACQUISITION MODE, even with the daunting prospect of a move. We still need to have about 5000 pots by early April, 2011 - that's an intake of about 100 pots per week. All that we ask is that you confer with us before you dig, as we have learned a few things about selection, timing and marketing of plant donations and can advise you and even come out and help you with the dig itself. Please contact Bob Findlay, Nancy Mills, Midge Price for questions & donations. Email: [email protected]

These smiling gardeners are happy to accept your plants!!

EVERGREEN TREE SALE

Purchase live evergreen trees (table-top to 5 feet) from the Master Gardener Foundation Plant Sale stock for your holiday or to take advantage of winter planting.

Who: All Master Gardeners, Master Composters, Foundation Members and your family and friends are cordially invited.

Where: Plant sale area at DirtWorks in Yauger Park (End of Alta Drive off Capital Mall Blvd.)

th When: Tuesday, December 14 from 10am to 1pm

th Saturday, December 18 from 10am to 1pm

Payment: Cash or Check only, sorry no credit cards at this sale.

We wish to focus this sale on evergreen trees, with a large inventory of Korean Fir (Great Plant Pick), Austrian Pine, Smaragd Arborvitae (GPP) for sale. There are also other plants you could probably convince us to let go of, so please plan to stop by!

All proceeds go to supporting the WSU Master Gardener and Master Composter Programs! The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 24 Pleasures of the January Garden

Mary Robson, Retired Area Extension Agent Pleasures abound in the January garden. Breathing deeply in the fresh, moist air of this mild winter is one of them. Walk slowly through the landscape and watch how raindrops define and decorate bare branches. Structures and colors of tree branches and bark stand out on gray days. A Japanese maple in my front garden, still wound with white lights for the holidays, looks magical with twinkling lights and raindrops. Mild winter days give us perfect weather for pruning deciduous shrubs and trees. Do not cut heavily into any of the spring blooming plants such as forsythia now, because pruning will reduce the quantity of eventual bloom. Spring shrubs are generally pruned during or after their bloom.

But if temperatures continue above freezing, cut a few branches of winter-blooming cherry (Prunus autumnalis), forsythia, and viburnum ( V. bodnantense 'Dawn') for flowers indoors. Immerse the stems in tepid water and let them stand overnight before arranging the branches. In January, there's pleasure in watching one cherry blossom unfold. Summer gardens toss abundant flowers at us, but scarcity in winter gives time for close observation of a few cherished blooms.

Wander through a nursery finding new winter bloomers to add to the garden. One of my favorites is Daphne odora 'Marginata', an early February bloomer with soft pink scented flowers that combine the fragrances of citrus and jasmine. This daphne thrives in part shade and requires no extra summer irrigation.

If the soil in your garden isn't saturated and soppy, January's a fine month to transplant. Wet, saturated ground can't be used for planting, cultivating, or digging. What until it drains a bit. If you can work the ground, use some time for moving deciduous shrubs and trees. Winter installation gives them time to become established before growth begins.

Plants in containers can be added to the garden almost any time. For more information on planting and transplanting, WSU EB 1505 has helpful information and photos of the best way to install plants from containers, including techniques for clipping roots to prevent constriction once the plant begins to grow.

Proper planting technique can mean the difference between life and death for a plant. Sometimes poor growth on trees and shrubs results from roots that grew in circles at the bot- tom of containers. If these are planted just as they grew in the container, the plant can actually choke from root problems.

One example we've seen brought into our offices is a dead pine; all of 12 years old and dead. The roots were so contorted that the plant still fit into a one-gallon can, (cont’d on next page) The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 6

Page 25 Pleasures of the January Garden cont. exactly as it was when planted. Plants are tough and can survive a lot of difficulties, but kinked roots can kill. "Tease" out circling roots and trim off the worst ones, allowing the plant to produce new healthy roots.

Many native plants look terrific in the winter garden. Mahonias, particularly some of the cultivated types such as Mahonia aquifolium 'Arthur Menzies' are showy when in early season yellow flower, but also have splendid evergreen foliage year-round.

Give the fruit garden some attention. Early warmth during December swelled buds on many fruit trees, and it's especially necessary to look at the peach trees. If the peach has been suffering from peach leaf curl, treatment is needed right now. Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease that deforms the leaves as they open and can severely restrict the fruit production. The fungus lives during winter on and under the scales of the leaf buds, and grows as the leaves open. Fungicides to manage peach leaf curl must be timed to get on the buds before they begin to open. Fungicides suggested by Washington State University for peach leaf curl include lime sulfur and fixed copper, such as Microcop (with a spreader-sticker like Sta-Stuk-M). Apply the selected fungicide 3 times, applications 3 weeks apart. Read the label. If treatment is started too late, after the buds expand, it's ineffective.

If fruit trees have summer insect infestations such as scale (turtle-like bumps on the branches and twigs), or aphids (sucking insects that attack leaves), consider using a dormant spray. The word "dormant" refers to the tree's situation, when it's not actively producing blooms and leaves. (WSU specialists suggest a superior-type horticultural oil plus lime sulfur.) Aphids live through the winter as eggs tucked into bark, and the oil smothers those eggs, reducing the number that hatch for spring. Check and follow the label exactly when using any pesticide.

Dormant sprays do not work for control of diseases such as apple scab, or brown rot on stone fruit. Check our Tree Fruit section for more information on fruit tree disease control.

If the weather is so unappealing that it repels your gardening work, start a garden journal. Looseleaf notebooks can hold notes on weather, planting dates, seeds tried, and crops or bouquets harvested. I use lined paper that looks fine smeared with mud or torn by wind! My mother's garden journals, which I inherited at her death, bring her close to me even now, because her daily activities and comments carry her personality. If you keep a journal, you may please a future generation! The Common Sense Gardener WSU Thurston County Extension 5033 Harrison Ave. NW Olympia, WA 98502

All WSU Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, sex, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin: physical, mental or sensory disability; martial status, sexual orientation, and status as a Vietnam-era or disabled veteran. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension Office.

Volunteer Snapshot-December/January

Master Gardeners and Master Composters have many talents to share with the public and with each other. One of those talents is photography! Whether it’s a hobby or a profession, you all have fabulous garden photos to share. If you would like to have one of your photo’s highlighted in one of the upcoming newsletters please send a print or file to the office or by email at [email protected].

If you want submit a short caption with your photo to describe the image.

If you submit a print please make sure you have your name on back of the photo and state if you would like it returned or not.

Thanks & enjoy! Photo submitted by: Mary Williams

A bumblebee enjoying the sedums at Closed Loop Park.