Roots & Shoots August / September 2011 August 2 , 2011 @ 6:30pm MGSOC General Society Meeting & Location Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 5631 North Adams Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI  48304 Speaker : Rick Lazzell, College Instructor and Landscape Architect Education: “Sustainable Home Landscape Practices” A business meeting will take place, prior to the start of our Educational Program. September 6 , 2011 @ 6:30pm MGSOC General Society Meeting & Location Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 5631 North Adams Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI  48304 Speaker : Cheryl English, Advanced Master Gardener Education: , “Spring Beauties-Bulbs for Southeast Michigan” A business meeting will take place, prior to the start of our Educational Program. October 4 , 2011 @ 6:30pm MGSOC General Society Meeting & Location Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 5631 North Adams Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI  48304 Speaker : Joe Peterson, over 20+ experience growing Orchids Education: “Growing and Caring for Orchids” A business meeting will take place, prior to the start of our Educational Program. Carol’s Corner 2011 Fall Master Gardener Training Class Schedule 9:00am-1:00pm Executive Office Building Conference Center, #41 West 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Certified Master Gardener Volunteers are welcome to sit in on any or all of these classes. You can submit 2 hours of full credit education for doing so. Please consider this as it’s a good way to bone up on some subjects you may be weak on or if it’s been a while since you’ve gone through the training program. Make sure to call Linda Smith at 248-858-0887 the day before coming to class to make sure we haven’t had to change the schedule. August 23 Introduction/Native Plants August 30 Plant Science September 6 Soil Science/Composting September 13 Lawn Care September 20 Vegetable Culture September 27 Woody Ornamentals October 4 Flower Culture October 11 Indoor/Container Plants October 18 Household Pests October 25 Backyard Fruit November 1 Water Quality/Invasive Pests November 8 Diagnostics/Plant Health Care November 15 Volunteering The Year at a Glance—MGSOC Meetings for 2011 August 2 Rick Lazzell “Sustainable Home Landscape Practices” August 15 Board Meeting September 6 Cheryl English “Spring Beauties - Bulbs for the Southeast Michigan Garden” October 4 Joe Peterson “Growing and Caring for Orchids” October 17 Board Meeting November 1 Deb Hall “Found Art” November 21 Board Meeting December 13 Holiday Potluck Note date change. The Gardens of Albemarle County What’s in a name? The Gardens of Albemarle County. Do you envision Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep a la The Bridges of Madison County? Well, I am no Paul Newman and Albemarle County is not like Madison County in Iowa, no slight intended to our Iowan friends. Instead you should envision our Presidents as Albemarle County is located in Virginia where more US Presidents have been born than any other state. More precisely Albemarle County is near Charlottesville which is the domicile to Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and the University of Virginia (UVA). Since my wife and I had visited Ash Lawn and Monticello about 36 years ago BC (Before Children), we were interested how things had changed and what we would remember. On a pleasant spring day we pulled up to Ash Lawn Highland, the home of our fifth President, James Monroe. Monroe was a good friend of Jefferson and in 1793 he purchased a thousand acre plot next to Monticello. Over the years he built it up to 3,500 acres but was later forced to sell land to pay off debt. By 1825 Monroe had sold all his property, including the residence. Over the years various owners added to the house (see the different colors in construction). Today the property is a working farm and museum operated by the College of William and Mary. The gardens are very utilitarian as well as ornamental, containing plants that were grown in the early 1800’s. Plants were needed for medicines, dyes, cooking, and scenting. A vegetable garden was essential to feed the Monroes, their guests, and the plantation workforce. Currently the garden yields tomatoes, corn, peas, beans and squash. Since it was still early in the planting season, not much was available for vegetables. Azaleas, peonies, poppies, and irises were in bloom. I can’t recall a lot of changes since we had been here the first time other than more people and school kids (taking educational programs). I think the home and surroundings have been revamped, especially the addition of buildings to suit rental needs. I believe a primary source of income is from rental for such occasions as weddings. Frankly this would be a nice location to tie the knot but I can’t vouch for the price. Overall Ash Lawn was a very nice plantation for its time in history. The tour was conducted by a very able guide and lasted about 45 minutes. See this website for more information http://www.ashlawnhighland.org/ . Next we drove several miles to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, our third President. In addition to being a politician, Jefferson was an architect, designing and constructing the Monticello buildings and the landscape over a 40 year period. He was also a horticultural enthusiast. Frankly much has changed since our first visit. This is a production, similar to what I had observed about Mt. Vernon on another visit. Tours of the building are scheduled for every five minutes and last about 45 minutes. There is a huge Visitor’s Center, Gallery, Museum and Theater. Monticello is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is operated by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. Once our house tour finished, we quickly joined the garden tour. This was more relaxed and very informative. Jefferson was interested in the natural world and created an ornamental farm on his property by “interspersing the articles of husbandry with the attributes of a garden.” Since Jefferson was an architect (building and landscape), he designed gardens, orchards and a series of roundabouts encircling the mansion. By 1808, Jefferson had laid out and planted 20 oval shaped flower beds near the four corners of the house. Jefferson created a winding walk through the flower gardens, not traditional for its time. The range of the flower species planted reflected his interests: Old World florist flowers, local wildflower plants of curiosity, and fruits of botanical exploration. After Jefferson died and the plantation changed owners, the gardens eventually fell into disrepair. The Foundation purchased Monticello in 1923 and has tried to recreate the buildings and the grounds and gardens based on Jefferson’s records. At this time in the garden, we observed some beautiful, pink peonies (I didn’t catch a name although there are wooden plats with names), money plants, fox glove, Canterbury bells, and irises to name a few. Trees were very important to Jefferson and he documented the planting of 160 species. He used the term Mulberry Row to describe a 1000 foot long section of a roundabout that encircled the home planted with mulberry trees. The guide then took us to “The Grove”, a section of about 18 acres on the northwest side of the mansion. Jefferson envisioned an ornamental forest with the undergrowth cleared and the trees thinned. The guide pointed out some stumps that were from the time of Jefferson as well as a living red cedar, known to have been planted by Jefferson. I also noticed some tulip poplars. On the southeast slope of the mountain is Jefferson’s Garden. It served as a food source for the plantation but also doubled as a laboratory. Jefferson is known to have planted 330 varieties of more than 70 species of vegetables. The garden was about two acres and included 24 growing beds. It was organized by which part of the plant was harvested – roots, leaves or fruits. Today the garden has been recreated and serves as a preservation seed bank of Jefferson era vegetable varieties. You can purchase many of these plant and vegetable seeds in the Gift Shops. We observed many plants such as kale, lettuce, onions, carrots, etc. What I found most interesting is the South Orchard. It is here that Jefferson aspired to grow grapes and make wine but it is one of the few activities in which he apparently failed. Supposedly Virginia soil contained some pests and diseases that eventually would kill off the vines. Scientists have now found a cure (and more pest resistant rootstock) as Virginia is fifth in US wine production (or so we were told). Today Gabriele Rausse, one of the founders of the modern Virginia grape industry, oversees the wine production as well as the restoration of the vineyards. I noticed the vines were leafing out and were well staked. I could envision Jefferson working in the vineyard, enjoying a glass of imported wine, and taking in the views of the mountain overlook from his Garden Pavilion. Please refer to the main website on Monticello http://www.monticello.org/ and http://www.monticello.org/site/house-and-gardens for the house and gardens. Finally we made our way to Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. Earlier I had visited the UVA website http://www.virginia.edu and found some information on gardens. As a number of you may know, UVA was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. He considered it to be one of his greatest achievements. As you may suspect, Jefferson was intimately involved in the design of the buildings and grounds, especially the Rotunda and the Academical Village. This certainly piqued my interest so I ventured to the area on an early Saturday morning, a time to myself as very few college students would be vertical and walking at that time. According to the UVA website, Jefferson envisioned that the college experience should take place within an "Academical Village" where shared learning infused daily life. Accordingly he developed plans for ten Pavilions which served as stately faculty homes with living quarters upstairs and classrooms downstairs and were attached to two rows of student rooms and connected by an inward-facing colonnade. Each Pavilion was identified with a subject to be studied and inhabited by the professor who taught that subject. At the head of the shared lawn would stand the library (the Rotunda), its dome shape inspired by Rome's Pantheon and symbolic of the enlightened human mind. The plans grew to include two more colonnades of student rooms facing outwards and attached to a set of "hotels," where private businessmen served food for the students. I am assuming that over the years some of these Pavilion Gardens disappeared or changed. In 1948 the Garden Club of Virginia offered to restore the Pavilion Gardens surrounding the Academical Village. In any event, I ventured past the Rotunda (which was closed at this time of the morning) and decided to wander around the Pavilions. At first I hesitated as it appeared that I would be wandering in someone’s backyard. In reality some of these buildings or Pavilions are occupied as residences and others serve as offices. Then I noticed an open gate so in I went. Each Pavilion was noticeably different in design and landscape. Suffice it to say that the designs reflect Jefferson’s gardens at Monticello as well as landscape plans obtained from Jefferson’s books. Many of the plants were chosen from those known to Jefferson. All the Pavilion Gardens have walls that were reconstructed from engravings of the Academical Village in the 1820s as well as other sources. I won’t cover all the Pavilions but will provide narrative on several. In Pavilion I there is a symmetrical serpentine walk amidst some small flower beds. There is an example of Jefferson’s attempt to use carved capitals for the Rotunda from Virginia stone. The stone was too difficult to sculpt and wasn’t used. Pavilion Garden VI is perhaps one of the best known due to the presence of the Merton Spire in the center. Frankly I didn’t know what it was but was intrigued to find out. According to the UVA website, the Merton Spire was carved for Oxford’s Merton College Chapel in 1451. It was given to UVA in 1928 to honor Jefferson’s educational ideals. There are also native trees and shrubs reminiscent of the groves at Monticello. Pavilion X is one of the largest gardens and the design of the oval lawn with “elephant ears” was based on the gardens in another Jefferson-era book as well as Jefferson’s ideas for Monticello. There are boxwoods in many of the gardens as well as benches where one can sit and contemplate and just enjoy nature. Overall the Pavilion Gardens are very worthwhile and offer a very unique setting. Here is a website that offers more information http://www.virginia.edu/academicalvillage. You may wish to join a campus tour. After you’re done wandering the gardens and visiting the Rotunda, I would highly recommend grabbing a burger at Boylan Heights on 102 14th St., across from campus (located in The Corner). It is a nondescript campus bar/restaurant where you can order a burger from the menu or build one from an ingredients sheet (sort of like ordering a car). Boylan’s also has a decent selection of amber liquids. Perhaps the best time to visit the gardens of Albemarle County is during the summer when most flowers are awash with color and blooms and the vegetables are close to or ready for harvest. Remember that these gardens are patterned after what was available and grown in the early 1800s. Further the plants served the purpose as a food source as well as medicinal and business purposes so I would not expect flashy and showy displays (as at the MSU Gardens). Nevertheless Albemarle and the neighboring counties are quite beautiful and steeped in early American history and very worthy of a visit. Virginia has much to offer. Native Plants To Attract Wildlife Our own Ruth Vrbensky, who owns a native plant nursery in northern Oakland County, shared her passion for attracting wildlife with native plants for our June program. Wild animals and birds require food, shelter, water, space, diversity, protection and seasonality. Food includes fruit, berries, grain, seeds, nuts, nectar, twigs, forage plants and insects. All living things need water, and many gardeners provide birdbaths and more elaborate water features. Wild creatures need shelter from predators and weather, a place for raising young, nesting, resting and sleeping. Some wildlife species need more space than we might think: a ruffed grouse needs 10 acres, a bluebird requires 2-5 acres, and a leopard frog must have good water quality and 2 acres. A diverse habitat including trees, shrubs, vines, lichens, fungi, etc. is important to maintain many species of wildlife. They need protection from house cats, European starlings and house sparrows and other invasive alien species. They need food and protection throughout the seasons. A native plant is one that has evolved in a particular area over thousands of years. It has adapted to the temperature, rainfall, wind, soil, slope, geology and wildlife of the area. Plant species develop local genotypes that are very specifically adapted to the area, so it wise to buy local genotypes because you can take advantage of the co-evolution. Native plants provide beauty and deep roots that prevent erosion and conserve water. Insects have evolved with the plants and provide food for native birds. The native plants have developed methods of protecting themselves from devastation by insects, so there is no need to use pesticides. Plants provide energy conservation as well. Trees give shade to cool us in the summer, and conifers planted on the north and west sides of a house provide protection from winter winds. Native plants are great kid habitat, places for exploration, adventure and creativity. As with any garden, you have to know your site for a native planting. How much sunlight does the site get daily; what kind of soil do you have; how much rainfall can you expect and is there a need for added water? Ruth listed many plants that are food sources for various species of lepidoptera: oak 500 species, willow 456, and American beech 126! Hummingbirds and butterflies eat nectar from many different sources, and songbirds eat the seeds of coreopsis, echinacea and others. Our beloved monarch caterpillars eat asclepias tuberosa. Many different cultivars of our native plants have been bred by horticulturalists to enhance characteristics valued by gardeners. There is disagreement among experts on whether or not the advantage of long co-evolution is lost after selective breeding. Ruth expressed doubts about the newer cultivars and whether they can support the native wildlife as well as the plants that have evolved with the native species. As an example, Karner blue butterfly larva eat only lupine. Do they eat the newer cultivars? We don’t know. —Submitted by Jean Gramlich Our Favorite Before and Afters: What We Learned “Our Favorite Before-Afters: What We Learned” was Janet Macunovich’s topic for our July meeting. She showed lots of pictures of gardens she helped redesign and tend over the years and told us what she and the owners learned from each transformation. Janet is a wonderful and entertaining speaker, but she clicks through lots of pictures and talks very fast, so I was unable to describe the pictures as she went along. So much of this article will be about the lessons learned. One man took out the lawn in his city front yard and made it into a beautiful perennial garden. (I wonder how the Lawn Police liked that!) The lesson: “Garden for fun but work scientifically.” Some of the pictures showed how entryways could be enhanced by replanting and repainting. “A dooryard is a private place even when it is visible to the public.” “Doors are visual and mental magnets. Choose and place garden features to extend a door’s effect.” They extended a path because “pedestrians should not be asked to share the car’s route.” “You can doodle a pretty path but follow a dog for the simplest, easiest route.” Another lesson learned: “If you can’t shred it, spread it anyway.” From a botanical garden: “Sit on the benches and focus on the same place over time because every day’s view is precious.” Regarding digging horsetail: “If weeding is what’s there to be done there can be real joy in simply giving that your very best effort.” (Spoken like an adult: I didn’t think weeding the 50-foot iris bed was a joy when I was ten.) Much of Janet’s wisdom centers on finding the right plant for the right place, and if something is not thriving, move it or throw it in the compost heap. “Make the soil work and your garden will.” “Most gardeners do more cutting and removing than growing.” “Don’t prop what should stand on its own” (referring to Culver’s root). “Keep what grows, move what doesn’t.” “The right time to do it is when you can. After having moved just about every kind of plant at what’s said to be the ‘wrong’ time, we now apologize and keep going, for most plants are forgiving.” “Our plants shouldn’t bully us.” “Dwarf plants aren’t.” (How many dwarf Alberta spruces have we seen that have obviously overgrown their space?) “Don’t feel guilty when a plant fails.” Janet showed pictures of moving rather large trees, sometimes with the help of several people. Root pruning 12 and 6 months ahead can make this process easier. Take as many roots as you can and water, water, water until the tree is established in the new location. “Never discount a plant’s will to survive.” “Manual pest control is often quicker and cheaper and more effective that any other option.” (Beheading Japanese beetles with a thumbnail or deadheading scissors is very effective.) Re: ash borers: “Nothing is permanent. Diversity can make a difference that will last for generations.” On fences: “Fences grow faster than hedges.” Fences should have gaps between the panels and at the ground to allow free flow of air. The pictures much enhanced all these bits of garden wisdom. Janet’s down-home garden humor and effervescent personality added to a pleasant and informative evening. —Submitted by Jean Gramlich 2011 World Horticulture Expo – Xi’An Ni Hao fellow gardeners! For those of you who do not know me, my name is Laura Duff (class of 2008). In October 2010 my husband’s company transferred us to Shanghai for 2 years. Not wanting to give up being a part of the Master Gardener program I found a way to stay connected, through Roots and Shoots, to my garden-enthusiast pals back home. I hope you enjoy reading about my garden adventures during my stay in the Middle Kingdom. I hope you are not tired of reading about Horticulture Expos yet because there is another one happening right now. It is big. It is full of display gardens. And, yes, there is a mascot. Xi’An (pronounced She-On), the capital of Shaanxi province, is host to this year’s expo. The city is famously known for being the home of the Terracotta Warriors; the army of clay soldiers that was buried with the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty in order to protect him in the afterlife. Xi’An is one of the oldest cities in China. Streets in the city’s center are lined with mature Sycamore trees and divided roads are split by plant filled berms. It is a pleasant city although it is crowded and the streets are congested with traffic. There is a great deal of history in the city, and now there is the great Expo Park. Our day began with rainy weather. We arranged for a taxi to the Expo site, which is outside the city at Guangyun Lake. The site covers 1,032 acres of which 464 acres is water area. British architecture firm Plasma Studio designed the park. After entering the main gate you are greeted by the Expo mascot, a chang’an flower or pomegranate blossom. A pomegranate blossom was chosen to be the mascot because it is the official city flower and pomegranate plants grow profusely throughout the area. We began our trek to the right of the main gate. A modern-style bridge takes visitors into the park. The bridge was built to also act as a trellis, which will eventually be covered with greenery. Running down the middle of the bridge are lupine-filled flower beds. The lupines in turn help to camouflage the hundreds of small lights throughout the bed. After crossing the bridge we were in Flower Valley. Huge beds, all planted with the same plant, created beautiful swaths of color despite the gray sky. The beds were planted with masses of blue delphinium, pink dianthus, yellow, pink and red snapdragons, magenta petunias, purple osteospermum, orange pansies, blue pansies, and the list goes on. Some of the beds were designed with ditches to catch run-off water. These ditches are planted with (what I believe to be) purple loosestrife about ready to bloom. Along the lake, facing a giant sculpture was one of the most interesting display gardens called the Flowing Garden. This garden, designed by students from the University of California Berkeley, incorporates a system of rills along walkways that catch runoff rainwater and direct it into the lake underneath the wood dock. The dock has open areas for planting flowers, a center flower garden and built-in lighting. Since we were visiting on a rainy day we were able to see the rills in action. Next along our path was the aviary full of brightly colored birds. For a small fee you can learn what it feels like to be a tree and have dozens of little birds swarm around you and sit on your shoulders, arms and hands. The park also has a small zoo that is home to monkeys, mountain goats, white cranes and small pandas. These animals are important in Chinese culture. However, the line to view the critters was about three hours long. Hopefully I’ll get to see these creatures some other time. Another theme garden was located in the Southeast Asia zone of the park. This area has Thai-style buildings and display gardens planted with tropical foliage and flowers such as palm trees, sago palms, rubber plant, and bougainvillea. Bamboo structures dominate the next garden, which is the Chang’An garden. Here the entrance, sculptures, corridors, walkways, and rest areas were built using traditional bamboo construction methods. The Chang’An area also includes a terraced herb garden to display many of the herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. History and ancient traditions of the Shaanxi area were the inspiration for the Ba River Garden. The buildings were designed in the old style but with modern geometric shapes and are clustered near the riverbank similar to villages of the past. Perched on the highest point in the park was the Bonsai Garden. A combination of Japanese and Chinese garden styles, this garden uses the miniature trees in a different way. Along with the traditional potted specimens, larger bonsai pine trees were planted in the ground. The Bonsai Garden has an excellent view of the Chang’An Tower, the largest building in the Expo park. Chang’An Tower is a 7 ½ story glass and steel structure shaped like a pagoda. From the observation deck visitors can have a view of the entire park and the surrounding city. After a break in the Bonsai Garden we walked to European Avenue. I was surprised to see mock Greek ruins and a small replica of the courtyard garden at Alhambra in Spain. European Avenue also paid homage to European style gardens with displays of parterres, fountains, balustrades, white statuary and a garden with a mixture of elements from Villa Lante and Villa Garzoni in Italy. There was also a small version of an English countryside garden. The flower beds here were filled with a combination of daisy, verbena, petunia, pansy, osteospermum, and columbine. Just past European Avenue was the International Display Garden area. We were intrigued by an installation designed by award winning European designer Eelco Hooftman. Hooftman’s garden displays some rare plants native to Tibet including a white trumpet lily (Lilium ragale), and a blood-red poppy (Meconopsis punicea). Another interesting garden in this section was designed by Benedetta Tagliabue, a Spanish landscape architect. This garden was bright, fragrant and made with natural building materials. I was nearing garden-overload when we walked by the Taxus Theme Park. Yews are a national treasure in China. The Taxus Pavilion is complete with an illustrated guide of yew cultivation and its value to mankind. Outside the pavilion is the yew on display in many forms including potted yews, yew balls, yew hedges, a sculpture of a yew made out of potted yews, yew landscapes and yew topiary. After learning about yews, we finally we made it to the National Provincial Gardens area, which contains small gardens that each represent a province of China. This area was perhaps the most crowded with people eager to see their home provinces represented in foliage. Overall, it was nice to see so many people enjoying this beautiful park. By the end of our adventure the sun started to shine and the butterflies started to flit around the flowers. There were a few more things to see, but our feet were finished walking. Feeling that we saw enough, we completed our tour of the 2011 Horticulture Expo. I think I am done with expos for now, but if you are in the neighborhood stop by for the day and enjoy all of the garden goodness before the Expo closes on October 22. —Submitted by Laura Duff Georgian Bay Trip We gathered at the usual place at 5:15 am so that we could get some of the traveling done while we were all too sleepy to care. Our first stop was the little town of Bayfield situated on Lake Huron where we visited a B&B with a lovely small city garden. Highlights of the garden were a small pond with variegated flags and a trellis and patio furniture made of natural wood with bark. The town is quite picturesque with art galleries and boutiques. After lunch we visited Carrick Winery that specializes in grapes for northern climates. Also featured were light hard cider and pear wine. In Grey and Bruce Counties there are a group of private gardens that welcome visitors. The first stop was at a garden named “My Heart Is In It,” planned and executed by the homeowners with over 1000 perennials. The gardens are quite extensive with sunny borders, rock gardens, woodlands, bogs and ponds that looked like a Monet painting. This was the first of many gardens featuring gorgeous poppies in full bloom. Also notable were an Asiatic lily as tall as a person, many daylilies, fern leaf peonies, and a picotee iris of red/purple and white, bear’s britches and a queen of the prairie in full bloom. The next stop was Grange Hollow with 3 acres of English cottage style gardens as well as a vegetable garden with garlic and artichokes. As in many of the other gardens, hollyhocks were a prominent feature. Notable, too, were cut leaf elderberry, borage, fleece flower (persicaria), and a shady arbor with clematis. Tranquility on the Rock featured rock gardens, special trees, a pond with lilies, huge grasses, a large model railroad and an aviary with tropical birds. One grass (the owner called it “corn grass” but he wasn’t sure) is 7-8? tall now and will grow another 6? during the season. When nothing would grow on one spot, the owner scraped away a very thin layer of soil and found beautiful volcanic rocks and made them into a rock garden with different varieties of sedum. Of special note were a trumpet vine on an arbor, a huge hellebore, a tiger-eye sumac, a clump of crocosmia in full bloom and yellow cornflower. The Memory Garden is a private riverside natural setting and has flowers tucked into small spaces. Of special interest were Asiatic lilies, a bell-like clematis and betony. Raspberry lemonade tasted good on a warm day. Morland Place is so overwhelming it is difficult to describe. The original house was a bungalow, but the owners added on a castle-like structure built to look old and then filled (and I mean filled!) it with antique furniture, china and other accoutrements. There is room after room, some large, some quite curiously small, with musical instruments, candlesticks, vases and urns, chairs, settees, etc. The landscape is large European style architectural gardens including hedges and a large maze. The hedges are made up of about 4000 white cedars clipped square and about 10? tall. Everything is large scale. Of note were a mass planting of celosia and hosta, a day lily garden and huge spruces by the house. We stopped at Inglis Falls of the Sydenham River where there are several tiers of waterfalls on the Niagara escarpment. We were reminded again of the geology of the area. Carpe Diem is an extensive property with woodland paths, ponds and garden art. Of particular interest to me was a potted geranium with velvety maroon leaves and orange flowers called Vancouver Centennial. Tall pink hollyhocks, red and orange poppies, and a rose with huge red decorative thorns are special features. We sat on the grass and ate a delicious lunch. Hillcrest Garden is a secluded acre of English perennial gardens with pergolas, an old barn and century-old home. I loved the double rose that bloomed in bunches, with the color varying from pink to deep rose as well as the pink fairy rose. Of special interest to me was the weeping corkscrew black locust trees outlined against the brick wall of the house. Other unusual trees were the weeping redbud and weeping white cedar. Rainbows and Angels had some lovely touches of waterfalls, pathways and natural structures. Driftwood was used for garden ornaments, and an old well was converted into a water feature with a bucket with holes in the bottom pouring into an old scalding tub. An Angel’s Wings begonia hanging from a tree limb was delightful. The garden had 75 varieties of day lilies, but most of them were not in bloom when we visited. Electric blue allium and sedum that resembled eucalyptus caught my eye. We walked the Owen Sound Peace Labyrinth for contemplation and healing on the grounds of an old church to the strains of a small harp. The town’s children made pictures of peace that were combined into a large mosaic picture at the site. Sunday morning we visited the Saugeen First Nation Church and garden and heard a charming and charismatic traditional storyteller tell amusing and meaningful tales. The garden was quite formal with many annuals. The pond had beautiful pink water lilies in full bloom. Maureen’s Garden Haven had many special trees such as linden, silver frost birch, and weeping purple fountain beech and a tri-colored beech. Of special interest in the mixed border were a lovely clump of asclepias, clematis with bell-like dark rose flowers next to one with satiny white flowers, and a huge mound of blooming yellow corydalis. A little sign read, “Angels help my garden grow.” You can’t take a group of Master Gardeners on a trip without a plant-shopping stop. The Folmer Botanical Gardens and Garden Centre has 30 acres of alpines, grasses, wildflowers, native and ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials and roses among limestone outcroppings, wetlands, meadows and ponds as well as plants and garden ornaments for sale. Since we had to take our purchases over the border, they had to be inspected and certified. Everyone wanted the colorful poppies we had seen, but there were only a few left. People found plenty of purchases to stow under the bus. Our plants were all certified, we each had valid passports, and tired Master Gardeners don’t look like terrorists, so our border crossing was quite uneventful. We arrived back at the county parking lot with lots of good memories, pictures and new knowledge. Many thanks to all the people who worked on the trip, especially Sandie Parrott who spent many hours planning, Kathy Click who brought games to play on the bus and the people who packed the goody bags of food and garden gadgets. —Submitted by Jean Gramlich Her mom grew flowers and her dad grew vegetables, so when this little girl was 8 years old, she wanted to grow pumpkins. Her dad knew they took a lot of space and did not want them in his garden, so he told her to plant them in the driveway, not ever imagining they would really grow for her. However, her "green thumb" soon had the pumpkins so large, her father could not get his car in the driveway; he told her to move them. When she asked " where ?", he told her to move them into the garden, thinking they would not survive the move. Once again, her "green thumb" prevailed and they took over the tomato plants, and even went into the alley up the electric pole. What a surprise for the service man when he went up the pole and discovered pumpkins! Another adventure made her the star of the third grade when she was eight years old. Back then, kids in the third and fourth grades at this school, attended 1/2 day sessions. She went to school in the afternoon, and watched TV in the morning. WXYZ had a children's program called Wixie Wonderland, and that year they asked kids to write, "What Christmas is Like at Your House", and send it in. The winner could pick out any bicycle they wanted, at the bike store. She told her mother what she wanted to do, and being rather busy, mom said, m-m-m-m. She took that for a yes. Then she asked for an envelope and stamp, m-m-m-m, came the answer. Next, she had to ask if she could go around the block to mail it. Once again, m-m-m-m was the answer. Off she went with high hope in her heart. A few weeks later, she got a telephone call. Who would be calling a little girl? Little girls did not receive calls back then. The man explained who he was and that she had won the contest. What a surprise. "Oh, my", said mom all upset, wondering what did she write, what did she say? She and Dad went to the big bike store on Woodward, where she looked and looked all around before she decided on a $400 English Middleweight Racer. They did say, "Any bike she wanted." Dad took the day off work to take her to the TV station for her presentation. All the kids in her class got to watch it on TV. What a big celebrity she was with her friends. She still has that bicycle. Her interest in biology came in the tenth grade, in spite of a very tough new teacher, "Sister Mary Scare Me to Death". All previous classes had been required to spend the summer before sophomore year compiling an insect collection. Sister Mary did not care about insects. She had come to teach the text that contained the latest on the recent discovery of DNA, so they grew mold in a Petri dish. This student became quite interested in her bright yellow Petri dish full of strange shapes. In fact, she was so intrigued and possessive of her "pet" that when it came time to throw the experiment away, she could not bear to part with it. She hid it in the supply room for months; feeding it ground oatmeal to keep it alive. One day Sister Mary announced that there was going to be an inspection of the supply room. "Oh, no! The Petri dish had to go!" She sadly decided that the mica would be flushed down the sink with hot water. When the girl's room was closed and the plumber was brought in to deal with an unusual clog, this student kept quiet and decided to experiment with soil. Her secret has been kept all these years until now. Will you help keep this secret? In high school, she worked as a candy striper at Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital, and in her senior year, she worked as a waitress at a snack shop in Northland. In college, she was a waitress at a restaurant and worked three student assistant positions at once, to complete her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. You may have bought plants from her; you may know her as the lady with the green MG apron; the Soup Lady; or the 2010 Master Gardener of the Year, Susan Tatus McLarty. What a great person this little girl grew up to be! General Motors was fortunate to have Susan work for them for 28 years. Susan worked with other subject matter experts in the automotive industry to create national and international guidelines for the use of electronic data interchange standards. Susan received two Outstanding Achievement Awards while working. After she retired, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Automotive Industry Action Group. When Susan retired on April Fools Day in 2002, she immediately started to dig up the 80' X 150' back yard. She bought the house because of the beautiful huge Weeping Willow tree in the back yard. The seating area and the place she relaxes are under this tree. There she swings under the tree, supposedly taking it easy, but really seeking out what needs to be done next, and jumping up to pull a weed or tend to something else. There is also a fire pit in the area, for a restful evening under the stars. When Susan moved into her home many years ago, the Weeping Willow tree, and violets were all that were there. What a change she has wrought. Since her retirement in 2002, this is where her business, "Hortisense", resides. From her vegetable garden, you can enjoy such produce as asparagus, dill, potatoes, radishes, carrots, assorted peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, Egyptian walking onions, raspberries, kohlrabi, squash, cucumbers, beets, Brussels sprouts, corn, beans, peas, and lettuce. She still grows pumpkins and some of her hybrid pumpkin/squash have been known to grow up the neighbor's trees. It's no wonder a person who couldn't bear to throw out a cultured mold would wind up nursing culled plants to health and then look for ways to find them new homes. Susan used to support the Greenery Booth at the church Fun Fests by bringing carloads of perennials to sell, and doing the same for the Tollgate annual June plant sale. It was advice from Janet Macunovich that prompted her to start selling plants from her yard. The backyard is filled with butterfly bushes, raspberries, red island poppy, caster bean, smoke bush, a strawberry box, rose campion, grasses, a wisteria tree, a cherry tree, sage, flocks, astilbe, hydrangea, dogwood, moon flowers, Nellie Moser Clematis, and many more flowers and bushes. Naturally, all serious gardeners have a compost coffin for grass clippings, leaves, etc. Her dog Kiss, of 1½ years, loves to play in the compost coffin. The front yard is a true garden treasure with sun loving plants unless it is behind a bush or under a tree. The Asiatic Lillies, peonies, mums, knautia, companula, Harry Lauder Walking Stick, Yellow Japanese Tree Peony, and delphinium live with many other flowers. To celebrate her retirement from GM, and the departure of a black walnut tree, Susan planted a Seven Sons Tree (Heptacodium miconioides). It is a great focal point in their front yard. Inside Susan's home, is her grow table, and many beautiful plants in the picture window. A friend introduced Susan to Jack, thinking they might be interested in each other. They went out for dinner and 13 weeks later, they married. It has been 30 years and they still find each other interesting. For some people, it doesn't take long for them to know when they have found the right one to spend the rest of their life with. It's a good match. On their first wedding anniversary, they planted a dwarf yellow Delicious apple tree in the backyard. Susan had read about the Master Gardener classes in Wayne County, but they only had day classes and she was working, so that was a disappointment. Then her friend read that evening MG classes were held in Oakland County. They both signed up immediately. She was so happy, and thought the classes were wonderful. As time went on, she was surprised to find out that she knew more than she thought she did. She made friends with other people and they would all sit in the front row of class, always asking questions. At that time, they had a "Stump the teacher with your question" exercise. She was the only one to stump the teacher. She won a MG mug. Susan received her Basic and Advanced MG certificates in 1998. Most of her volunteer hours were done at Tollgate. She had worked the information booths at the Michigan State Fair, and continues working the booth at garden stores and other events. She is on the MGSOC Board and has been Team Administrator for approximately 6 years. If there is a need anywhere, Susan will find out what it is and get it done. If someone needs help - she is there; need advice- she is there; project support, raising money for MGSOC - she is there. Susan was on the Planning Committee for the wonderful first annual Town & Country Journey Tour. She makes sure that we have soup or salad at our meetings. I could go on and on with the many things she does, but we would run out of room. It is no wonder that she is 2010 Master Gardener of the year. It was no surprise to learn that on March 27, 2011, Susan received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation was established in 2003 to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making in our communities, and, as a way to thank and honor these wonderful Americans. So we can proudly say, Susan Tatus McLarty - Great Master Gardener and Great American! —Submitted by Sylvia Schult ANNOUNCEMENT—MGSOOC Call for Executive Board Candidates The Master Gardener Society of Oakland County has an Election coming up in October. If any Society member is interested in running for one of the following Society Executive Board (SEB) positions, please let me know. I’ll be officially opening nominations at the September 6th general meeting at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church and ending them at the October 4th general meeting. The positions available are detailed below. Anyone interested in running, please contact me and then forward to me a short “bio” about your “gardening self”, so all the MGSOOC members can get to know you. I’ll include your bio when sending out ballots in October. President ~ 2 Year Term To preside over general membership and SEB meetings; to appoint standing team leaders on an annual basis; when necessary and with the approval of the SEB, may remove any team leader; to serve as ex-officio member of all committees; to oversee the execution of these by-laws and policies in order that the purpose, mission and goals of the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County are served. Treasurer ~ 2 Year Term To prepare and present annual budget to SEB; to keep account of money collected for programs, projects, and dues; to disburse all funds as required; to maintain a complete set of records and to prepare and present, monthly and annually, financial reports for the SEB and the general membership meetings; to cooperate fully with the vice-president in the performance of audits; to surrender all books, records, and money to the succeeding treasurer. As an MSUE sponsored group, the treasurer is required to adhere to the financial accountability policy and procedures as established by the state MSUE directors. Team Administrator ~ 1 Year Term To perform duties as assigned by the SEB. Article VIII – Elections Section 1. Written nominations are to be submitted to the Nominations Committee prior to the October general membership meeting. Nominations for elected SEB officers may also be accepted at the October general membership meeting. Section 2. Nominations for elected SEB officers shall be closed at the conclusion of the October general membership meeting. Ballots shall be mailed to all members entitled to vote via US mail, within (5) five days following the October meeting. Ballots must be returned by US Mail or electronic transmission. Ballots must be postmarked or returned by electronic transmission, no later than 20 days after the ballot mailing date. Section 3. Election results shall be announced at the November general membership meeting. Candidates receiving a plurality of votes cast for a particular office shall be elected for a term of (2) two years. Elections will be held annually, with the election of two officers, alternating between president/treasurer and vice president/secretary. The team administrator shall be elected every year. The term for the newly elected officers shall begin January 1st. Section 4. Only those persons who have indicated their consent to serve if elected or appointed shall be nominated for office or other positions. This is your opportunity to participate in the direction of your society! Thanks! Julie Kowalk Phone : 810-655-2228; E-mail: jakowalk@comcast.net Notes From Nutcase Nursery After a cool, wet spring that took its sweet time leaving, summer certainly is blazing its way through the season. It brings to mind that admonition “Be careful what you wish for.” The gardens grew so dependent upon the steady diet of rain that many of the plants became the “water babies” we so commonly see with a wet spring. Thirty hours without rain and they passed out. Now they’re roasting in the heat. I feel much sympathy for those with clay and I realize that my problem with water is minor compared to those who garden with heavy soil. But, here at Nutcase, the best soil is a sandy loam and the worst is river rock and root-ridden sand. Even the asparagus patch was once a sandbox in earlier times and I still find old silverware, toy soldiers, and little farm animals when I dig. Undesirable spots abound. The beds on the eastside of the house are not only challenged by the direction of the weather but they also have to cope with an overhang which almost completely inhibits rain from reaching the ground. I’ve dumped copious amounts of organic material into them over the years and they go through everything I give them like rabbits through a beet patch. Lately I spend most of my time trying to keep things hydrated, me included. In between moving hoses, trying to get the nooks and crannies around various vegetation watered, I find myself thinking about how nice it would be to have clay. (Watering has been much more tedious since the Dingo ate the soaker hoses out of three beds late last year.) But then I realize that I’ve been out in the heat too long and I mutter a tiny apology to those that have to cope with densest of dirts. I can barely consider it soil. I heard many gardeners lamenting the still-standing water on their properties in late June so I feel a little guilty about complaining. Late summer in a drought doesn’t lend itself to a heavy outdoor workload but that certainly doesn’t make the chores go away, does it? My diary indicates that the weather in the first of half of July is quite consistent in its abundance of heat and lack of hydration. In 2006, the temps for the very middle of July and beyond were expected to be in the high 80s to mid-90s and possibly 100 with high humidity. On the 17th it was 93 degrees. In 2008 the same period was “beautiful for enjoying the outside” but it was “too windy and dry for the gardens.” The second week of July in 2010 we were again cooking in 90+ weather with a 1” downburst of rain between the 4th of July and the 9th. Maybe it’s the evens versus the odds. When my granddaughter was born in July of a very warm odd year, her parents decided to christen her with the middle name of Summer because of it. The next year was even warmer. Very interesting. Yes, it’s highly likely that I have spent too much time in the sun. And even if I haven’t, there are numerous other things that make me crazy. While trying to get the necessary pruning chores accomplished and cutting back the overbloomed, I read a warning from Dave Smitley, MSU, saying not to prune because Japanese beetles are drawn to the scent of the open wounds. Oh, yippee. Maybe I can attract them to the wounded weeds instead. I have actually been enjoying pulling weeds occasionally. That’s not saying that I pull weeds occasionally, I just enjoy it occasionally. There is something about a nice clean bed that can make your heart sing. That is, until you look at it three days later and new weeds have appeared. It’s like making the bed. You just have to do it again tomorrow. I laughed out loud when Janet Macunovich mentioned weed pulling contests at the July MGSOC meeting. We used to have them at Nutcase and they are great games to play especially if you can trick others into playing. Around here, everyone is wise to my invitations so I have to just compete with myself. My main targets here are quackgrass and creeping Charlie. My record pull was an almost nine-foot quackgrass root. Creeping Charlie rarely nets yardage but it is always exciting to peel out even a nine-incher intact. Sometimes it takes very little to impress me. Oppressive heat does not. August may be one of the most boring garden months, with the heat-beaten greenery just wanting to lie down and die. The ancient Greeks, not having air conditioning, languished in the heat as well. While they were reclining and fanning, they noticed some of the local canine population behaving peculiarly. Though the nights were warm, they were not as warm as the days, so there was more outside activity after sunset. Being out after dark more often, they also noticed the presence of a bright light in the heavens. And that’s how the Dog Days of Summer were invented. So named because the incidence of rabies corresponded to the hottest weather periods and the dog star, Sirius, is high in the skies, the Dog Days are upon us. Of course, the Dingo has been celebrating these holidays with appropriate behavior. In the quest for comfort, some of the nursery’s plant material was moved and removed to accommodate the Dingo’s designs. As usual I was not consulted in the operation as neither my design sense nor my opinion is held in high regard. One evening, too many minutes after the imaginary doggie dinner bell chimed, I was finishing up pruning a quince which was still in flower. The Dingo approached me from the opposite side of the shrub and sat down, staring at me with her little, beady, yellow wolf eyes. I chatted with her but kept on clipping. She shifted impatiently from foot to foot and then bit off a small branch with a flower on it, all the while looking me right in the eye. I gave her the old “shame on you” routine, and she bit off another one. When the cherries were ripening, she busied herself with eating those that fell. I worried as to the “outcome” of the pits, until I saw her spit one out. One morning I was standing under the aforementioned tree when the Dingo approached me and sat. This usually signifies the beginning of the quiz show “Guess What I Want.” I bit. “What do you want?” The Dingo jumped straight up in the air from a sit and grabbed a mouthful of cherries right in front of me and promptly ate them. Bad enough I battle the birds for the fruit. One day I apparently spent way too much time in the weeds for the Dingo to tolerate. When she wants to make her point she always make sure she has my attention. She watched me working from the opposite side of the garden for a few minutes. I knew it was close to dinner time but with just a little more effort I could have a sizably clean area. The Dingo calmly hopped the little fences, padded over to the four overwintered kohlrabi I was so proud of, snatched two of them and galloped off. By the time I was able to rescue the plants, only one was still intact. I dug a little hole and replanted it. Of course the next morning it was gone. The Dingo had gas for four days. I get a little more attached to the vegetable garden than I do the others. Unless I spend weeks working on redoing a bed or making a new one, the vegetable garden is the one with the most time invested in it. And energy. And pain. In a research report issued by the Garden Writers Association Foundation, the gang who initiated the Plant A Row for the Hungry program, data indicated that 53% of U. S. households now have gardens. That figure is 15% higher than what was reported in 2009. That’s a pretty significant gain in just a year. People are home gardening for many reasons whether it’s economy, food safety, wanting to eat healthier, concern over the environment, or just for the sheer joy of walking out the back door and picking a salad. Recently I have read warnings for seniors saying that as we age we become more susceptible to “tainted” produce. In 2002, strawberries, especially those from Chile, were number one on the list of produce with the most pesticide contaminants. The safest fruits and vegetables are most likely the ones grown by you yourself. Only you know your organics regardless of whether you’ve certified or not. So, yes, I guess I’m a little attached to my veggies and fruits. This year there were no blueberries, and the strawberries have been joined by too many weeds and other plants to gain enough bulk to produce. And to think I weeded that darned strawberry box three times last year! Due to two bouts of the “spring crud,” I’m not even sure whether the blueberries had flowers or not because I missed a lot this year. By now it’s too late to worry it. It’s better to enjoy what is than lament what ain’t. So far the Dingo hasn’t eaten any cole crops except for the kohlrabi mentioned earlier. Last year I failed to bring a single cabbage to maturity because the Dingo has a fondness for flatulence. And since there are no cucumbers yet and those were last year’s absolute favorite crop until the corn ripened, I’m not sure how the crops will fare against the Dingo’s epicurean preferences. I picked some over-done radishes and left the leaves on the lawn to see what would happen. Through the window, Himself and I watched as the Dingo took the bait. She snatched up a small bundle of leaves and took them to her lounging area to taste. I think the very same fuzz on the greens that bothers me a bit when I pick it bothered her enough to decide not to raid the radish patch. She did, however, seem to enjoy the sliced radishes I put in her dish. Right now it’s time to replant lettuce, spinach, arugula, and more lettuce. For overwintering in the coldframe, I plant spinach, butterhead and Romaine lettuces around the beginning of September. These do the best for me in the dark days of winter. They hunker down in the cold and start to reawaken in March, spinach first. The flavor is outstanding and salads are spectacular. My one experiment with overwintering beets didn’t do well but I intend to try that again someday. Carrots are easy to keep in the garden with several inches of shredded leaves piled on to prevent the soil from freezing. The cold temperatures enhance the flavors of many vegetables that are frost tolerant. Broccoli, cabbage and especially Brussels sprouts are much tastier when ripened in cooler temps. And Brussels sprouts’ flavor is particularly enhanced by a frost. Even grapes like a little chill. Practically anything that has a 65 to 75 day maturation can be planted in the middle of the summer, but care must be taken to keep them watered and a little shaded from the heat. When planting transplants like cole crops, water the soil first, then plant and water again. Provide some shade until the plants have shown their intentions of taking. Propped up boards, shingles, even cardboard will provide enough protection from the glaring rays of the sun and careful watering will ease those tiny roots toward maturity. If you are planting delicate leafy vegetables like lettuce, cool the soil before seeding by watering and shading it. All seeds have a favorite temperature in which to sprout and those that are considered early have lower temps than those considered warm. Radish seeds will sprout at 40 degrees. Beans and corn need it hotter. The best candidates for the late summer planting are those that can tolerate a little frost. Don’t put your seeds away yet. Spring hung around, maybe summer will too. I leave you with one last tidbit from the world of news: In Kingston, North Carolina, there’s a utility pole with kudzu vine clinging to it and it’s said to resemble the image of Jesus on the cross. A man who passes by the site daily was interviewed and said his first reaction was to blast it with herbicide. But then he said “I thought, ‘You can’t spray Jesus with Roundup.’” The Master Gardener Society Of Oakland County Project Support Team Announces A Trip To FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS AND SCULPTURE PARK Grand Rapids, Michigan Saturday, October 1st, 2011 The trip coincides with the annual city-wide art exhibition and in addition to their more than 200 permanent masterworks, Meijer Gardens is a venue for this event. The annual celebration of autumn at the Gardens, “Chrysanthemums and More” will also be taking place, this year with a spectacular display of hanging chrysanthemum spheres in the Seasonal Display Greenhouse. Visit the Michigan’s Farm Garden to see the harvest of heirloom vegetables, herbs, maize, gourds and giant pumpkins. The trip will include a guided tram tour of woodlands and wetlands and a private tour of the tropical conservatory, desert garden and Victorian garden. Meijer Gardens does not allow food to be brought in but lunch is available on your own in the Taste of the Gardens café. There will be time to shop for plants, art and gifts in the Meijer Gardens Gift Shop. Tickets are limited and priced at $55. Contact Shelley Lake at lakess@sbcglobal.net or at the next MGSOC meeting. Some Information You Should Know MGSOOC Board Members President: Christine Covell………………...…….(248)852-1890 Vice President: Tom Hershberger………….….(586)573-3954 Secretary: Ruth Vrbensky ……………………….(248)969-6904 Treasurer: Jean Gramlich …………………..….. (810)714-2343 Team Administrator: Susan McLarty ……… (248)673-8092 MSU Extension Oakland County Coordinator Advisor: Carol Lenchek ………………………… (248)858-0900 lenchekc@oakgov.com Team Coordinators Bowers Farm: Wayne Lapinski…………….(248)391-6269 Project Support: Denise Brown ……..….…… (248)640-5977 Hospitality: Mary Golla……………….…..(248) 371-0476 Membership: Julie Kowalk …………………(810)655-2228 Programs: DeeAnn Bauer …………...….(248)828-7385 Door prize Coordinator: Janie Grissom…..(248)887-6096 Trips & Tours: Sandie Parrott ………….….....(248)394-1532 Corresponding Secretary: Margy Truza…… mat4744@aol.com Roots & Shoots Editor: Dick Wanat………...(248)644-5699 Web Site Address: www.mgsoc.org Webmaster: Sheri Trout sheri@oaklandweb.com Web Site Calendar: Peggy Wanat pwanat43@comcast.net Currently Available Opportunities: Communications, Education, Project Support, Volunteer Activities North Office Building, #26 East Carol Lenchek…248-858-0900 1200 N. Telegraph Road Extension Educator~Master Gardener Program Pontiac, MI 48341 Email: lenchekc@oakgov.com Office Hours: M- F 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Linda Smith…248-858-0887 Marie Ruemenapp Horticulture Office Assistant 248-380-9100 or 248-858-0885 Email: smithlin@oakgov.com MSU Extension District Coordinator Email: ruemenap@msu.edu Cathy Morris…248-858-1639 Clerk & Contact for Certification of Volunteer Charlene Molnar…248-858-0902 & Education Hours Horticulture Advisor Email: morrisc@oakgov.com Plant & Pest Hotline Hours of operation vary seasonally Bindu Bhakta…248-858-5198 Extension Educator~Water Quality Robin Danto…248-858-0904 Email: bhaktabi@msu.edu Extension Educator~Food Safety Email: dantor@oakgov.com Saneya Hamler…248-452-9726 Extension Educator~Children, Youth & Family Tom Schneider…248-858-0905 Email: hamlersa@msu.edu Extension Educator~4-H Youth Programs Email: schneidert@oakgov.com Eva Poole…248-858-1993 Extension Educator~Children, Youth & Family Email: ander204@msu.edu ?? ?? ?? ?? - 1 - Michigan State University Extension- Oakland County “Bringing Knowledge to Life”