Over the Garden Gate - Iowa State [email protected]) for volunteering in DeWitt and...
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Over the Garden Gate Monthly Newsletter Clinton County Master Gardeners Editor: Carol Machael, [email protected] ; 563-357-7537 Published on the first Monday of the month except during January and December. 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 before the first Monday of the month. Articles will be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the editor. If you are mailing something to me please use new contact info: 502 Apple Valley Lane, Clinton. Volume 7 Issue 4 May 2016 Water Thirsty Plants Less Create a mini-bog for your plants that like lots of water. You'll save water, time, and plants will be happy! By Veronica Lorson Fowler, The Iowa Gardener Here's a simple way to keep water where your moisture-loving plants like it—right at the roots. When planting, dig out a very large hole that will reach down about as far as you expect the plants' roots to reach. Then lay a big piece of plastic down at the bottom of the hole. You can use leftover plastic liner from a wa- ter garden project, a garbage bag, or any other large piece of plastic. It's okay if you have to lay a few pieces of plastic together--even those will slow the flow of water away from the plants. Cup the plastic so it form a basin and so it almost but not quite will reach the surface of the soil. If it's a single piece of plastic, cut several slashes in it to provide some slow drainage. Fill with good, rich soil (the kind moisture-loving plants like) and plant! IMPORTANT This is the last Over The Garden Gate that will be mailed. If you would like to continue to receive the newsletter, email Peggy at the Extension Office at [email protected] and you will be added to the list. You can also find it on the Clinton County Extension’s website athttp://www.extension.iastate.edu/clinton/ .
Transcript of Over the Garden Gate - Iowa State [email protected]) for volunteering in DeWitt and...
Over the Garden Gate
Monthly Newsletter
Clinton County Master Gardeners
Editor: Carol Machael, [email protected]; 563-357-7537
Published on the first Monday of the month except during January and December.
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 before the first Monday of the month. Articles will be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the
editor. If you are mailing something to me please use new contact info: 502 Apple Valley Lane, Clinton.
Volume 7 Issue 4 May 2016
Water Thirsty Plants Less Create a mini-bog for your plants that like lots of water. You'll save water, time, and plants will be happy!
By Veronica Lorson Fowler, The Iowa Gardener
Here's a simple way to keep water where your moisture-loving plants like it—right at the roots.
When planting, dig out a very large hole that will reach down about as far as you expect the plants' roots to
reach. Then lay a big piece of plastic down at the bottom of the hole. You can use leftover plastic liner from a wa-
ter garden project, a garbage bag, or any other large piece of plastic. It's okay if you have to lay a few pieces of
plastic together--even those will slow the flow of water away from the plants.
Cup the plastic so it form a basin and so it almost but not quite will reach the surface of the soil. If it's a single
piece of plastic, cut several slashes in it to provide some slow drainage.
Fill with good, rich soil (the kind moisture-loving plants like) and plant!
IMPORTANT
This is the last Over The Garden Gate that will be mailed. If you would like to continue to receive the newsletter, email Peggy at the Extension Office at [email protected] and you will be added to the list. You can also find it on the Clinton County Extension’s website athttp://www.extension.iastate.edu/clinton/.
CLINTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
Volume 7 Issue 3 Page 2 April 2016
Advisory Board Mtg-April 19, 2016-9AM Bickelhaupt Arboretum
Roll call - Linda L, Brenda C, Willard L, Deb M, Deb N, Bonnie M, Jerry R, Margo H, Mark S
Approval of Minutes: approved
Financial Report - Mark - $4018.45 balance
Mark's report - Extension office will stop sending printout of newsletter to inactive members. Statewide conference is this afternoon. Emerald Ash bore workshop at extension office on May 3, from 6:30-8PM. DeWitt interested in starting a community garden, would like MGr's to oversee with advice and so-lutions to problems that might come up. When purchasing things with the MG credit cards, be more aware of our tax exempt status to help save funds.
Bickelhaupt Arboretum - Margo- Plant Sale on May 21st, Bus trip to Des Moines on July 16th, cost $55. Will be worth 4 ed. hrs.
Committees/Projects/ Events
OLC-clean up day planned for April 21st. Will be potting up plants for plant sale. Deb. M has been working with Randy Pennock from Paul's to get better prices on plants for pollinators. Will be asking the fair board to possibly put in a couple of hydrants in garden to help with watering situation.
Spring Social - Deb N- about 28 people attended and good time had by all.
Plant Sales - Willard - Advertising in local papers, add to MG facebook page. Add to local websites. Rain barrel and garden benches will be at DeWitt Garden Treasures Sale. Willard make motion to give up to $250.00 for plant sale advertising and other needs. Deb M. 2nd. Approved by all
Garden Walk - Bonnie M - 6 gardens have been secured. Plans are progressing on brochures with pictures & descriptions of gardens.
MG Day at Fair - Willard - Plans are coming together. Have 2 speakers & looking for 2 more. Container committee all set to go. Photography contest will be new event this year.
Old Business:
MG Room: Willard has sorted some. Will buddle up some old Garden Gate Mag. and sell at plant sale in DeWitt. Other old books will be free for taking.
Festival of Trees at the Museum - will put info in newsletter to see if anyone interested.
OLC Wedding/Event Donation - Letter will be written up and given to prospective users of the OLC gar-dens with rules and suggestion for small donation to help with care of garden.
New Business:
Next meeting May 17 at Extension Office - DeWitt - 9AM
Brenda Council, Secretary
Volume 7 Issue 4 Page 3 May 2016
2016 Master Gardener Calendar
Meetings, Events & Educational Opportunities
May 14 & 15 Plant Sale at Clinton (Lyons Park) & DeWitt (Fairgrounds); Hours to be announced
May 17 Advisory Board Meeting at Extension Office, DeWitt at 9 am
June 21 Advisory Board Meeting at Bickelhaupt Arb, Clinton at 9 am
June 26 Garden Walk, various locations, noon – 4 pm
July 6 Master Gardener Day at the Clinton County Fair, DeWitt
Outdoor Container Contest, Vegetable Contest, 4 workshops TBA
July 19 Advisory Board Meeting at Extension Office, DeWitt at 9 am
August 16 Advisory Board Meeting at Bickelhaupt Arb, Clinton at 9 am
Sept 20 Advisory Board Meeting at Extension Office, DeWitt at 9 am
Sept Fall Picnic (Potluck), location & date to be announced
Former Master Gardener, Bill
Rathje, called and would like
his contact info passed along
for any who might wish to
be in touch.
20802 N. Cave Creek Rd.
GH84 Phoenix AZ 85024-
4475
Master Gardener Photo Contest 2016
1. All photos must be taken by a Master Gardener or family member.
2. All photos must be taken at the Outdoor Living Classroom at the Clinton
County Fairgrounds in 2016.
3. Photos submitted must be sized 5 x 7 and mounted on a 5 x7 stiff board for
purposes of display.
4. All photos must be in color and not altered, except for cropping.
5. Each participant may enter two photos in each category: A. Close-up B.
Landscape C. Complemented - a piece of hardware (bench, trellis, rock, personal
6. All plants and structures are to be respected and not harmed during shooting.
7. Photos will be judged on the following criteria: (see http://www.ehow.com/how_5089126_judge-photograph.html)
A. Power of impact B. Technical execution C. Composition D. Creativity
8. Cash prizes will be awarded to those producing the first, second and third placing photo in each category.
9. Photos will be submitted in the morning of Master Gardener day at the Fair, Wednesday, July 6, 2016, and judged that day.
Volume 7 Issue 4 May 2016
. . . and justice for all
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability,
political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative format
for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
MASTER GARDENERS VOLUNTEER :
Extension Office Plant Partners: Willard Larsen [email protected] 563-249-2476
Eagle Point Nursing Home and Rehabilitation or Community Garden: Willard Larsen
OLC/County Fair: Roger Rittmer [email protected]
Bickelhaupt Arboretum: Margo Hansen [email protected]
Emerald Ash Borer Workshop...get Education
hours!!!
Tuesday, May 3, 2016 6:30-8:00 pm Clinton County Ex-
tension Office 400 East 11th
Street, DeWitt
Join us for this FREE informational meeting to learn more about Emerald
Ash Borer.
Hear from experts from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach,
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa De-
partment of Natural Resources.
RSVP’s appreciated.
For more information call ISU Extension and Outreach Clinton
County at (563) 659-5125.
Become a Master Gardener in 2016
Do you want to take your gardening to the next level? Start your journey to become a Master Gar-
dener in September. Dates have been announced for the upcoming core training here. Classes will be
held on Tuesdays, September 27, 2016 through November 15, 2016, plus four additional local classes
and a Saturday class on campus (October 8 or 22). The training will be hosted in more than two dozen
locations.
Share this information with your family and friends who may be interested in taking the course. Ap-
plications for the fall class are now being accepted.
Still More MG Stuff!!
2 Weeks Until the Plant Sale! - May 14th & 15th
Wanted: a variety of perennials, vegetables, herbs, annuals, & houseplants.
(Plants look the best if potted as long before the sale as possible)
But NO shrubs or woody plants per Iowa State Extension Service regulations
If you know of someone (ie: relatives, neighbors) who have plants they would like to donate, but need help
dividing them, please contract Willard Larsen at 563-249-2476 ([email protected]) for the DeWitt
location or Brenda Council at 815-589-2569 ([email protected]) for the Lyons/Clinton site.
Plants may be dropped off at the DeWitt fairgrounds on Friday, May 15 th between 11:30 am and 4:00 pm. At
the Lyons/Clinton site (Lyons 4 Square Park), plants will be accepted after 5:00 pm, Friday May 13 th or the
morning of the sale, May 14 th.
If you need containers, they are available in various sizes at the Outdoor Learning Classroom, DeWitt Fair-
grounds and Bickelhaupt Arboretum, 340 S. 14th St in Clinton. Please label your plants with identification
cards which can be obtained at the Iowa State Extension Office, 400 E. 11 th St. in DeWitt, the Arboretum, or
at the plant sale site when you drop off your plants.
For the Garden Treasure Sale in conjunction with the plant sale in DeWitt, you may also drop off your treas-
ures between 11:30 am and 4:00 pm, the Friday before the sale. If this is not convenient, please contact
Willard Larsen, chairman of the DeWitt sale to make other arrangements. “Treasures” include gently used
(can also be new), clean & unique decorative pots & planters, garden art, garden tools, or anything relating
to gardening. So as you spring clean your garage or otherwise get ready for spring, please remember the
Garden Treasure Sale!
Volunteers are needed to work the sale:
DeWitt site Lyons/Clinton Site
Setup: Friday, May 13th Friday, May 13th
11:30 am – 4:00 pm after 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Sale: Sat., May 14th Sat. May 14th
8:00 am – 2:00 pm 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday, May 15th Sunday, May 15th
9:00 am – Noon 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cleanup Noon – 1:00 pm 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Please contact Willard (563-249-2476 or email willard-
[email protected]) for volunteering in DeWitt and
Brenda (815-589-2569 or [email protected]) for volunteering in Clinton. Any other questions re-
garding the plant sale should also be directed to them.
Let’s hope for a beautiful weekend with warm temperatures and sunny skies for this sale. It is the
major fundraiser for our organization.
Another Volunteer Opportunity!
Master Gardener Garden Walk – Sunday, June 26th
Hours of the walk are from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Garden locations are the following:
John Lawrence & Ron Coder, 1104 2nd Ave. S. Clinton
Dan & Bonnie Wheeler, 1204 N. 7th St., Clinton
Jim & Roberta Jess, 3106 Roosevelt St., Clinton
Lynn & Barb Traver, 3739 Cragmor Dr., Clinton
Dave & Mary Vogel, 700 N. 4th St., Fulton
Bill & Brenda Council, 818 9th Ave., Fulton
Volunteers will be greeting visitors at a particular location and are asked to work a two hour shift. A
brief meeting for volunteers will be held before the event (TBA).
Please contact Anita Abbott (563-212-2138) to sign up for the garden walk.
Pea-Staking..Not Only for Peas (UW Extension)
Many perennials, especially tall, multi-stemmed ones, benefit from staking. Staking is most effective when the
supports are placed when the plants are still small, long before they begin to flop over. Staking doesn’t have to be
unattractive, and if done correctly, is not intrusive. Properly staked plants have no visible means of support – the
foliage grows up to hide the materials used for support.
Pea-staking is an old method of
using twiggy brush to support
plants. The term originated in
English vegetable gardens
where these natural stakes
were used to hold up pea vines.
It is still commonly used in
Europe.
It is one of the least obtrusive and most natural staking methods and should be considered for many small to me-
dium-size perennials, such as shorter asters, baby’s breath (Gypsophila), bee balm (Monarda) bush clematis, core-
opsis, campanula, hardy geraniums, phlox and yarrow. This method is also useful for floppy or rambling annuals,
such as sweet peas.
These rustic supports are most often used for plants that don’t grow taller than about 2 feet, but can also be
successfully used for taller plants where the stakes only need to provide support up to about half way up the
plant. This simple, no-cost support method is more natural-looking than bamboo or metal stakes, and requires no
tying. And it also recycles prunings from your own garden.
Smart Lawns for Pollinators (Michigan State University Extension)
Pollinators, especially bees, provide us with valuable services by pollinating plants that contribute to food pro-
duction and beautify our landscape. Disturbingly, there is increasing evidence that many important pollinator
species are in decline. As people develop more and more land, the amount of habitat where bees and other pol-
linators can nest and find flower resources (food) is shrinking. Smart gardeners can make a difference by
taking steps to reduce and minimize the impact of their practices on the decline of bees.
A moderately maintained lawn has great potential to increase food and habitat resources for pollinators. Your
lawn can be an “oasis” of green in an otherwise gray, asphalt-dominated “desert,” providing food and habitat
for hundreds of bee species. Lawns can act as critical stepping stones for these beneficial insects by bridging
gaps between remnants of natural habitat.
Traditional lawn management can be a high maintenance undertaking with multiple chemical inputs of fertilizers
and pesticides along with physical inputs of mowing, weeding, aerating and re-seeding. Traditional lawns that
are aesthetically pleasing to most people create a dense, green carpet with almost nothing to offer pollinators
and other beneficial organisms.
One of the most effective ways to reduce negative impacts on pollinators from lawn management is to increase
the mowing height which promotes healthier roots that can withstand challenges from pests and drought. An-
other is to reduce pesticide and fertilizer inputs.
By choosing suitable plants such as bunch-type turfgrasses, fine and tall fescues or native perennials that
don’t need as many chemicals, you can have a pleasing, welcoming landscape. In addition, using the right plants
in the right place reduces the work for you and has tremendous environmental benefits.
If you want an alternative that still resembles a classic
lawn, you can replace your turf with alternative “lawns”
like white or Dutch micro-clover, which does not grow as
tall as traditional clover, while still providing nectar and
pollen for bees. Or with groundcovers like creeping
thyme, one of the lowest growing thyme varieties that
produces lots of flowers for bees, requires minimal main-
tenance and looks beautiful. Some other groundcovers
include Ajuga ‘Catlin’s Giant’ orPachysandra.
Although dandelions are considered unsightly by some,
they are a
great resource for hungry pollinators! Incorporating these flow-
ering plants will encourage and sustain visiting pollinators while
giving you bursts of color throughout the growing season. Lawn
weeds like clover and dandelion are one of the largest food re-
sources for bees in urban areas. Consider incorporating short
flowering lawn “weeds” such as clover, micro-clover, trefoil, self-
heal/heal all (Prunella), creeping thyme and crocus. Choosing the
right pollinator-friendly plants has the added benefit of crowding
out unwanted weeds, maintaining moisture within the soil and fix-
ing nitrogen to reduce the need for fertilizing.
Iowa State University
Clinton County Extension
400 East 11th Street
DeWitt, Iowa 52742
CEDAR VALLEY IRIS & DAYLILY SOCIETY
Spring Daylily and Perennial Plant Sale
Saturday, May 7, 9-11 a.m.
Discovery Park Gazebo
3300 Cedar St. •Muscatine, Iowa
This is a great chance to pick up some very nice registered hybrid Daylilies and Iris and some Per-
ennials
Contact: Nancy Carlisle at 563-357-0526
More info available at www.cvids.org
Have you been to Vander Veer Park recently?
The Old World Gardens and Fountain, ca 1900, is a display of carpet beds of
the style popular in many European countries, including 19th century Ger-
many are represented at the fountain. The stone fountain is the second foun-
tain built in the park. The first was an iron Victorian fountain that was later
removed. The stone fountain dates back to the 1930s and has been renovated
in recent years. The fountain runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. May through Octo-
ber. The water shoots up at varying heights and colored lights change the
color of the water making for some beautiful nights in Vander Veer Park .
