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.