What’s Growing On... The latest news from the Marais des Cygnes Extension Master Gardeners SEPTEMBER 2020 | 104 S. Brayman St., Paola, KS 66071 | 913-294-4306 | www.maraisdescygnes.ksu.edu CALENDAR A New Home for the Extension Office September 21 The Paola Extension office will be moving to the Sutherlands Shopping 2021 Garden Tour Planning Meeting, Center on 913 N Pearl (Old KC Rd) in Paola. Our last day at the 104 S 10 am at Wallace Park (see page 2) Brayman location will be January 31, 2021. OCTOBER 13 The MdC Paola staff are very excited to be moving to a location that is 3rd Quarter General Meeting, easier to get to, more visual to the public, and has a bigger parking lot. 6:30pm, Extension Office (details on There is some remodeling that needs page 2). to be done to the location before we The following classes will be on can move in, so we are not looking Zoom. Katelyn will be sending links. to move items just yet. Our storage It is recommended you participate space at the new location will be tight, from home, but both will be avail- PAOLA New Extension Office so I am asking you all to help with able to view at the Paola Office. “cleaning” the EMG office. September 22 We have permission from our new Nancy Chapman presents “Organic landlord to put flower pots/containers Gardening Practices,” 6:30 pm on on the sidewalk in front of the office Zoom. (Details on page 8) and a small garden around the October 27 signage sign near Old KC Rd. There Judy Sharp presents “Drought is no water hook up there, but we can Resistant Perennials,” 6:30 pm on try something new—drought-tolerant Zoom. plants. Advanced Training Online: See We have permission to remove plants from the gardens at the current K-State Garden Hour on Facebook office. So we will be having a “transplant party” before the next Quarterly meeting on October 13. No plants will be removed before this date. Garden workdays are as follows: Details about the event will be sent later. I will keep you all updated on our Courthouse: progress.—Katelyn Barthol Workdays: Wednesdays at 9 am, 8 am on really hot days IMPORTANT NOTES Phyllis Benedict 913-294-4751 [email protected] Extension Office: • The Symposium has been and $100 for Supporters. Work days: Tuesdays at 9 am cancelled for 2021. Tentative plans • FREE POTS! Richard Piezuch, a Sue Burns 816-510-5291 for the 2021 Awards Banquet and former EMG, has lots of pots to give [email protected] Spring Plant Sale are in the works. away—all types and sizes, including Trial Garden: • Tentative dates for the 2021 starter pots. Many have been cleaned Work days vary Garden Tour are September 10-11. and stored in plastic bags. Call him at Call Chet McLaughlin for info The board voted to change the ticket 913-557-6940 to arrange for pickup. 913-963-7187 price to $15 (good for both days). He lives just off Highway 68, near [email protected] Sponsorship levels will change to Hillsdale Lake. $350 for Patrons, $200 for Sponsors, Follow the Marais des Cygnes EMGs on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdcemg 2 N E W S Advisory Board Garden Tour Planning Meeting Come join us Monday, September 21st, 10:00 a.m., at the Wallace Park Chairman — Betsy Hasselquist pavilion for an organizational meeting of the MdC EMG 2021 Fall Garden Vice Chairman — Phyllis Benedict Secretary – Anita Boyett-Voke Tour. It’s exciting to start planning such a positive occasion. Save the date Treasurer – Laraine Crawford for the “A September to Remember” garden tour September 10 and 11, 2021. We have five wonderful prospective gardens. Members at Large Sue Burns We need folks to sign up for various committees/tasks and of course Cathy Stainbrook volunteers at each garden during the tour. We will arrange pre-tour tours Judy Moser for all of the volunteers to experience and learn about the gardens. We will adhere to social distancing guidelines with masks advised. Feel free to Committees bring your own chair. Courthouse Garden Hope to see you September 21! If Phyllis Benedict & Kathy Doherty you are unable to attend and interested Trial Garden in being involved, contact Betsy Shirley New & Chet McLaughlin Hasselquist at [email protected] KSU Extension Office Garden and/or Jan Thompson at jkg.thompson@ Sue Burns & Debbie Kitchell gmail.com. Lakemary Liaison Becky Thorpe Advanced Training Laraine Crawford Awards Banquet Donna Cook & Susan Thompson Symposium Chair(s) Needed Plant Sale Sondra Dela Cruz & Lenora Larson Laraine Crawford’s beautiful Garden Tour 2021 garden will be on the tour. Jan Thompson & Betsy Hasselquist Publicity Judy Moser & Lenora Larson Bring a Shovel—or at Least Yourself... Seeds for Kids ...to the 3rd Quarter General Meeting on October 13, 6:30 pm, at the Kathleen Brady-Francis & Paola Extension Office. Janette Bennett With the prospect of the Extension Office moving, we are proposing that Social Media EMGs attend the October General meeting to help with digging up and Anita Boyett-Voke saving numerous plants that will need new homes. EMGs are welcome to Miami County Fair reap the benefits. Donations appreciated. Chet McLaughlin & Michael Poss Bring your muscle or supervisory, cheerleading, organizational, and Pat Trachsel & Sue Burns conversational skills—and containers to help and take advantage of quality Linn County Fair transplants. Mike Brown New Recruits/Mentors A truly diverse array of plants, including peonies, irises, sedums, Jan Thompson & Betsy Hasselquist coneflower seeds and much more. Lots of lily bulbs from the Court House Gardens will also be available. Newspaper Articles Katelyn Barthol, Extension Agent AGENDA: Work or just enjoy the gardens 6:30-7:30 p.m., then gather in the Extension Office for updates. Although it’s difficult to plan, things are Send news and photos to: happening! Judy Moser, Newsletter Editor The October EMG Board Meeting will be held that day at 5 p.m. at [email protected] the Paola Extension Office. EMGs are always welcome to attend board meetings. We always try to respect social distancing and safety guidelines. 3 FROM THE CHAIR New Normal? Nobody Knows By Betsy Hasselquist, MdC EMG Chair all is approaching. Venture People often yoga classes), less driving, reducing out and appreciate nature resist change, but carbon footprints, increased online and this cooler weather. At changes can be purchases, although who cares what Fleast gardening remains a constant positive. We’re I wear (convenient, but not so great in these times of uncertainties, experiencing for retail stores, both big and small), granting beauty, inspiration, serenity, challenges we online grocery shopping and delivery creativity, productivity and exercise— never dreamed (advantageous for busy working with just a few uncertainties as part of with losses, traumas, anxieties families and elderly folks particularly), of the process. I’m enjoying lots of and increased awareness of social restaurants offering creative options, delicious homegrown tomatoes. I justice… and inequities throughout an increase in outdoor activities… don’t eat much bacon, but relish our country and the world. Who Support our local businesses. that first garden BLT. Have enjoyed could have imagined so many sports Back to school, back to school… growing and eating bok choy this might be cancelled? So many decisions, with each family, year. Time to purchase and start The new “normal”: Adaptations district and university trying to figure planting garlic and flower bulbs are evolving with pros and cons, it out. Our school systems have soon. although some will likely carry on in never dealt with a pandemic before. The new class and mentors various forms: working from home, How does one prepare for the enjoyed a meet-and-greet at Zoom for business and pleasure unknowns? Time will tell how things Lenora’s fabulous gardens. We plan (have connected more often with evolve...but I believe children are to meet at the Court House gardens long distance friends, love my Zoom resilient. My five- and seven-year- September 16 at 9 a.m. Delighted old granddaughters are attending to have nine new garden-lovers this school. Wearing masks doesn’t seem year! Excited to start planning the to be a problem for them. Seems 2021 fall garden tour, engendering they adjust better than we adults. hope. Teachers are our new heroes. What is normal? We are Are you registered to vote? comfortable with what’s usual, I’ve never been a germophobe, but ordinary and customary, but am definitely more aware of potential redefining “normal” has been thrust risks these days when out “in the real upon us and we’re not done yet. world.” Stay healthy. Stay safe. Be Change is actually a constant. kind to yourself and others. ✿ History in the Making he MdC EMG History Project EXTENSION OFFICE by OCT. 7 and then have a committee meeting resumes. Patti Armstrong, and place them in the file cabinet in for implementation. Let Patti know if a founding member, is the office just inside the front door. you’re interested in writing about a Tspearheading these efforts. Our goal Committee members who have special project ([email protected], is to develop a book on the history worked on specific years should or 913-533-4043). Judy will help of our program. Founded in 1996, include your collected information with writing, editing and formatting our 25th anniversary is next year! as well as any completed data forms to make it happen, possibly in “first In order to get back on track, and your name on your work. draft” form, in time for the January banquet (if we are able to have it).