If you have any questions regarding anything in this newsletter, please feel free to call (870) 779-3609 or visit Room 215 in the Miller County Courthouse.

Sincerely,

John L. Turner County Extension Agent - Agriculture

JLT:jds

Hours received after Dec. 31st cannot be put into the On-line Reporting System.

Remember, your volunteer hours are important and we want to count every hour.

Andrea’s Phone #903-832-8111 – Email: at7550@yahoo.com – Address: 16 Dunham Drive

Texarkana, TX 75503

Highlights:

Letter from the President

Coats for Kids

A Newsletter for Red Dirt Master Gardeners

2014

The Extension Office will be closed from

December 24th through January 2nd to celebrate

Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Red Dirt Master Gardener News

Dec. Meeting – Christmas Party – Potluck Dinner – Left/Right Game

Sleigh bells and great Christmas smells for the December Master Gardener meeting. You are invited to bring a guest for our Christmas potluck, presentation of Certified Master Gardener Certificates to the 2013 trainees, installation of 2015 Officers, and the “Mrs. Right/Left” game.

The potluck is finger foods this year. Bring your new favorite sand-wich, or dip & chip, cheeseball/ crackers, etc., & of course – desserts

or sweets. Your old favorite will be fine, too. Leave your diet at home!

It has become a Master Gardener tradition to exchange gifts (not to exceed $10), by participating in the “Mrs. Right/Left game (not very physical – just some arm action). Everyone playing should bring a gift – wrapped or “sacked” to keep the contents a surprise.

We would like to see ALL the Master Gardeners on Thursday, December 11th at the REA; bring a treat and a gift!

ogram for this month is our annual Christmas Party. We will be having a potluck dinner so bring your favorite dish to share. If you like, bring your spouse or a friend. We will be playing the Left/Right game so join in and play by bring-ing a gift ($10.00 limit). Have your spouse or friend bring a gift also so they can join in the fun with us. Your gift may have a garden theme, but it isn’t a requirement.

What: Christmas Party

When: Dec. 11th, 2014 6:00 P.M.

Where: REA Building

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin,

religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal

Opportunity Employer. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (large print, audiotapes, etc.) should notify the county Extension office (or other appropriate office) as soon as possible prior to the activity.

O NM

December 11, 2014

The deadline for your MG Online Reporting of Volunteer Hours is December 31, 2014!

If you are turning your hours in on paper, please turn them in to

and she will enter your hours

into the online reporting system. Please do not wait until the last minute deadline to give them your hours; they need time to place the hours in the system.

The 2014 Master Gardener Officers wish each of you a

very Merry & Holy Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous, &

Healthy New Year!

Martha, Kathy, Georgette & Andrea

Fit a 7-gallon magnolia into a decorative planter, and fill in around the edges with spray-painted magnolia branches and sprigs of seed- ed eucalyptus. Plant the magnolia in the garden after the holidays. Be sure to water you magnolias weekly to keep them looking good all season.

2”

See Santa in the most magical setting around during Santa Nights at Holiday Lights! After seeing Santa, experience the wonderful sights of 4 million brilliant bulbs as

they transform approximately 17 acres into a memorable animated holiday display. Complimentary hot chocolate is available after your tour, and the Chipmunk

Café will be open each night serving up hearty soups, sandwiches, snacks & beverages.

Members Free I $10 Adults I $5 ages 6-12 I Free ages 0-5

550 Arkridge Road, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71913 ● 800-366-4664

Monday-Thursday, Dec. 8-11 and Dec. 15-18 from 6:00-8:00 PM ● Garden Pavilion

9:30-10:30 a.m.

Ground Works: Soil, the Building Block of a Successful Garden

Extension Agent Allen Bates knows a lot about dirt. Let him show you the importance of healthy soil for a great land-scape and how you can get started on creating some of your own. Get the big picture on soil basics like properly preparing your garden, why you should test your soil, and how to read soil test results. You’ll leave ready to get planting.

10:45 - Noon

Growing Right: Prun-ing Techniques for Your Best Trees Ever

Alison Litchy of the AR Forestry Commission tells all the ins and outs of pruning your trees properly. She’ll discuss techniques for producing trees that are strong, healthy and attractive. Listen and learn how, when, and why to prune as she demonstrates simple principles for making sure your tree trimming efforts are a BIG success.

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Gardening by the Moon

Your grandparents probably performed every task on the farm by the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Hear about the principles behind the world’s most famous calendar and how these ancient concepts can help create great gardens in our own time. From planting and harvest to when pruning and weeding work best, there’s a time for everything under the moon!

GARDENING 101 WORKSHOP ● FEBRUARY 13, 2015 ● 9:30-2:00 ● MAGNOLIA ROOM

Members Free I $15 Non-Members I Registration Required

Come be a part of the 2015 Arkansas Flower & Garden Show, to be held February 20th, 21st, and 22nd, 2015, at the Statehouse Convention Center in

downtown Little Rock.

To volunteer, fill out your Volunteer Sign-Up Form and return by January 19th, 2015, to Pulaski County

Extension Office, 2901 W. Roosevelt Rd., Little Rock, AR 72204.

Volunteers are needed for all 3 shifts on all 3 days.

Turn some of those long winded phone calls into workout sessions by standing, squatting, or lifting weights while you talk. Get in some of those 150 minutes of exercise per week recom-mended for Seniors. This is only for those who qualify as Seniors!

Plant small spruce trees in white urns and embellish them with magnolia clippings.

Red and green are traditional Christmas colors and they look fantastic together. Here, several varieties of pine boughs and juniper combine dramatically in a bright red pot with sprays of winterberry & redtwig dogwood. Eucalyptus seeds also painted red, add to the display.

Create a simple look that’s attractive all winter. Pin moss-covered balls on a stake. It’s an easy idea that creates big impact.

A TIME FOR THANKS – the Master Gardener year is almost over, and the best way I know to end a year is to thank each and every one of you for all you have done to complete the projects we undertook this year. The largest – THE 2014 STATE

CONFERENCE – with LOTS of hours, you introduced the Arkan-sas Master Gardeners to Texarkana! As no army can march on an empty stomach, the Master Gardeners didn’t either – thanks to the HOSPITALITY/FOOD

COMMITTEE, and we had the best. OFFICERS, PROGRAM COMMITTEE, our housekeeping committees (FINANCE, AUDITING, NEWSLETTER, THE MENTORING PRO-GRAM, BASIC TRAINING, COMMUNICATIONS/ MEDIA) all played such an important part in making it all work – Thank You!

To the SANCTIONED

COMMITTEES, you were all great! These projects are what the community sees and relates to the

Master Gardener program. Another THANK YOU goes to MILLER COUNTY

COURTHOUSE BEDS, GATEWAY FARMERS

MARKET, BACK TO

NATURE, TALKS AT THE

LIBRARY, NASHVILLE

DEMO GARDEN AND

MARKET, and the OGDEN COMMUNITY

CENTER committees.

Special Master Gardener projects are important and a boost to our image in the community, AND

promoting Extension programs. The RED

RIVER PECAN SHOW &

JUDGING, FOUR STATES

FAIR AGRI EXPO, PECAN

GRAFTWOOD COLLECT-ION and GRAFTING, building PECAN WEEVIL

TRAPS, HORTICULTURE

DEPARTMENT AT THE

FOUR STATES FAIR, and the 4-H FISHING DERBY, all fall into this category. THANK YOU, to all who chaired and worked on these projects.

It’s always nice to be able to help out those we “partner” with during the year; the FOUR

STATES AG LEARNING

CENTER has always been ready and willing to help with Extension and Master Gardener projects. We were able to lend a hand with 4-H DAY

AT THE AG LEARNING

CENTER and FOUR

STATES FAIR KIDS’ DAY.

A really big THANK YOU goes to BILL, for always lending a helping hand and introducing me to Master Gardeners. (He enjoyed Master Gardeners so much – I wanted to be a part of this organization, too.)

And now, congratulations to the newly elected Officers for 2015. May their year be as exciting, fun, and rewarding as 2014!

Take care this holiday season; be careful and remember to enjoy friends and family.

Wishing Everyone A

VERY

As winter approaches, it is time to prepare our gardens for the colder weather. A little winter prep can really pay off when spring arrives. Don’t forget that your garden tools also need a little TLC. Here are some tips on how to keep them in great shape while they await the return of warm, sunny days.

*Remove all dried or caked-on dirt with a wire brush, rinse and dry thoroughly. (Soak

11th – HIS Conference, Holiday Inn City Center, Ft. Smith

11th – Master Gardener Meeting & Christmas Party – Potluck – 6:00 – REA – Left/Right Game

24th-Jan. 2nd – Courthouse Closed

24th – Christmas Eve

25th –

31st – New Year’s Eve

31st – Deadline for Reporting On-Line Volunteer Hours

Materials Needed: 8 amaryllis, 3 bunches natural birch twigs, & large (18-inches high) urn

Choose amaryllis with some buds already open and some still closed to give shape and interest to this design.

Put urn in position; arrange the birch twigs in a natural spray, with the shorter twigs around the outside and the taller twigs in the middle. Keep the look as informal and natural as possible. Keep any twig off-cuts and add to the sides if needed.

Tuck the amaryllis stems inside the front edge of the urn so that the flower heads rest just above the neck of the container. Arrange a single layer of flowers around the rim. Build up a second tier of blooms in between them to create a double layer of flower heads.

Fill watertight urn with water. Amaryllis displace so much water due to their stems that it is best to do this step last.

Martha Bean

from the Farmers’ Almanac

Traditional lore is that if the seeds are shaped like forks, winter will be mild; if they are shaped like spoons, there will be a lot of snow; and if they are shaped like knives, winter will be bitingly cold.

What does the persimmon lady say about winter 2015?

“Never have seen all spoons before!!! Tell the readers to prep for lots of snow.”

By Farmers’ Almanac Staff – September 2014

…

The Red Dirt Master Gardener regular monthly meeting was called to order at 6:15 p.m., after an enjoyable fellowship, at the REA building, by Martha Bean, president. Jeanne Brent gave the invocation. A quorum was present. Sandra Bell was appointed Acting Secretary.

There being no additions or corrections to the minutes of the October 9th meeting, they were approved as printed. The Treasurer’s report is printed on back of the Agenda. The report will be filed for Audit.

Andrea Thomas, immediate past president, presented a recommendation from the Executive Committee:

“The Executive Committee, at the October 9th meeting asks that $500.00 be set aside for a gift and refreshments for John’s Retirement Celebration – which you did. After doing lots of thinking, checking, and finally talking to John, the Executive Committee would like to propose to you, an additional $500.00 to be totally used for a one time scholarship. The $500.00 that you approved at the October 9th meeting to be used for food – and as a surprise, a bench, similar to the benches at the Farmers Market, in honor of John. It would be placed at the Farmers Market.”

Andrea Thomas moved the recommendation from the Executive Committee be approved as presented. Seconded. Motion unanimously passed by membership.

ON LINE REPORTING: Andrea Thomas, chairperson, asked that ALL hours be reported, even after required hours have been met. It is important to the state for ‘in-kind’ funds. If anyone is uncomfortable entering hours, please send your time sheets to Andrea.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

FARMERS MARKET: Bill Bean reported that the vendors at the Farmers Market have been very happy and pleased with the way the Master Gardeners ran the market this year. It will be open on Saturdays only and Master Gardeners will not be responsible after November 15th.

M. G. COMPUTER/LCD REPORT: (Rita Nichols, Robert High, and Andrea Thomas) recommended that at the present time, we do not purchase this equipment. As long as the Extension office has equipment, it will be available for Master Gardener programs and use.

JOHN TURNER RETIREMENT: Sue Ellen Letterman reported that the refresh-ments for the Retirement Party are being handled within the budgeted amount. She encouraged ALL Master Gardeners to attend.

RED RIVER PECAN SHOW: Robert High, chairperson, announced the event will be Tues., Dec. 2nd, at the REA building, and ask everyone to please be there.

NEW BUSINESS:

ELECTION of OFFICERS: The Nominating Committee (Alice McMillan, Judith White, Agnes Fields, Teresa Slack, and Robert High) presented the following slate to serve as officers for the 2015 year: Teresa Slack, President; Rita Nichols, Vice-President; Kathy Boyles, Secretary; and Robert High, Treasurer. There were no nominations from the floor for any of the offices. Bill Bean moved the slate from the Nominating Committee be accepted as presented. Earl Wilson seconded. The 2015 officers were accepted by acclamation.

VOTE on SANCTIONED PROJECTS: The membership voted on existing projects to keep as ‘Sanctioned Projects’ for the 2015 year, by paper ballot. Additional ‘Sanctioned Projects’ may be added during the year.

SIGN-UP for 2014 PROJECTS: The members were asked to sign-up for the projects they will work on in 2015. Committees will be formed from this information.

Please check the “CALENDAR of EVENTS” on the Agenda, AND THE “Master Memo’s”. The next Master Gardener meeting will be Thursday, December 11th at 6:00 p.m. at the REA building, with installation of officers; presentation of 2013 certificates for Certified Master Gardeners; and Christmas Pot Luck AND the ‘Right/Left’ game. Gifts are NOT TO EXCEED $10.00, if you wish to play. You may bring a guest.

The meeting was adjourned for the program, Dr. Royce Granberry, introduced by Georgia McFaul.

Respectfully Submitted: Sandra Bell, Acting Secretary

RED DIRT MASTER GARDENER MEETING

Minutes for the November 13, 2014 Monthly Meeting