Roots & Shoots December 2011 / January 2012 December 13 , 2011 @ 6:00pm MGSOC General Society Meeting & Location Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 5631 North Adams Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 Holiday Potluck January 3 , 2012 @ 6:30pm MGSOC General Society Meeting & Location Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 5631 North Adams Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 Speaker : Greening of Detroit representative Education: “What’s Growing in the City? Urban Agriculture in Detroit” A business meeting will take place, prior to the start of our Educational Program. February 7 , 2012 @ 6:30pm MGSOC General Society Meeting & Location Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 5631 North Adams Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 Speaker : Iris Lee Underwood Education: “Growing and Healing with Lavender” A business meeting will take place, prior to the start of our Educational Program. Carol’s Corner By now our outdoor garden work is basically done for the year and it’s time to reflect on the hits and the misses for 2011. The long nights give us time to reflect on this last year and to rest up for the next growing season. I want to thank all of you for all the volunteer work you’ve done this past year! I look forward to running the report on total hours volunteered in Oakland County. (If you are recertifying, your hours are due 12/31.) It’s always an impressive number and made even better for me because I know some of the stories behind the numbers. As you are aware, there will be changes to the Master Gardener Volunteer Program in 2012. I’m not in the decision making loop, so typically I will get a head’s up the day before any mass correspondence is sent to you from the MSUE Administration or the State MG Office. * Starting January 1, we will be treating all education credits as full credit. This will make it much less confusing for me to try to explain to new MG’s and for you to try to decipher. * In an effort to cut costs we will start mailing volunteer confirmation letters bi-monthly instead of monthly. Remember that you can go into the Record Keeping System any time to view your volunteer and education history. We should be able to continue to mail you your name badges shortly after you achieve your basic certification or Advanced Certification. * MGSOOC membership forms will be mailed directly to the MGSOOC Treasurer. The Treasurer will email us names so certification status can be verified. * Please make sure you keep us up to date on any changes you make to your contact information, including your email address. * If you have any concerns about any program changes that are taking place with the MSUE Reorganization, please email them to mg@msu.edu. * Our Fall training class has traditionally been a day time class but in light of no winter class, our 2012 fall class will be an evening class, on Thursdays from August 23-November 15. Not being allowed to hold a winter class (a decision that mystifies me) makes for a large decrease in revenue to Oakland County. Hopefully you will help us to make up some of the revenue loss by attending our Continuing Education Committee classes this winter and spring. We are working on the dates and details and will publish them ASAP. We will be holding the popular Garden Design 1-2-3 series again and well as the Organic Vegetable Growing series, and Herbfest 2012. We are also exploring some new offerings so keep reading the Oakland Gardener and Roots & Shoots for information on upcoming classes. As we quickly move into the holiday season, all of us at the Oakland County MSUE Office wish all of you a wonderful and safe season. May you and all your loved ones receive all that you wish for and stay healthy. The Year at a Glance—MGSOC Meetings for 2011-2012 December 13 Holiday Potluck Note date change. Begins at 6:00 PM. January 3 Greening of Detroit rep. “What’s Growing in the City” February 7 Iris Lee Underwood “Growing and Healing with Lavender” March 6 Scott Bates “Water Gardening” April 10 George Papadelis “New Annuals and Perennials for 2012” Note: Meet at Telly’s in Troy. May 8 Lillian Dean “Better Gardening With Compost” June 5 Brenda Dziedzic “Attract Butterflies to Your Garden” June 16 Garden Tour (save the date) July 3 Janet Macunovich “Never Too Late: Planting in Summer” August 7 Jan Burns “Wonderful Weeds” September 4 Dr. Burt Cregg “Uncommon Conifers” October 2 Sue Grubba “Proper Pruning Techniques” November 6 Ann Cline “Bearded Iris” December 11 Holiday Party Growing and Caring for Orchids Joe Peterson shared his extensive knowledge of orchids at our October meeting. He is past president of the Michigan Orchid Society and an accredited judge of the American Orchid Society. He has been raising orchids for 26 years and says, “To know something about orchids, you have to have killed at least 100.” You have to know the habitat of the orchids you are trying to raise to determine their growing requirements. They grow on every continent except Antarctica in extremely varied conditions from the cloud forests of Peru to hot and humid Thailand to the fens of Michigan. There are 30,000 species and 100,000 hybrids. So good conditions for one variety will kill another. The most popular kind of orchid for indoor growing is Phalaenopsis, a native of Southeast Asia. It flowers in a wide variety of colors in the winter, and the blooms last 3-6 months. Clones are relatively inexpensive and are easy to care for. It likes low to medium light (east window), and a daytime temperature of 70-85 degrees and nighttime temperature of 60-65. It should be watered weekly with ½ strength fertilizer all year long. There are two causes for lack of bloom: day length is too long and/or not enough nighttime temperature drop. One solution is to put the pot outside (in the shade and off the ground) or near an open window in September for two weeks. Overwatering can also be a problem. In nature these orchids grow on trees so the water only briefly stays on the plant. Scale can be a problem, and rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip every three weeks can rid the plants of these pests. Many Paphiopedilums also come from Southeast Asia, but they are also our native lady slipper orchids in Michigan, a protected species here. They are suitable for home care. The flowers look very exotic and last 4-6 weeks. They are not cloned, and some varieties are extremely expensive. One species has 2½ to 3 foot curly petals and takes 20 years to bloom; another has 8½ to 12 inch petals and takes only 10 years. Paphiopedilums can be grown in low to medium light, although multi-florals like higher light. Temperature and fertilizer requirements are the same as for phalaenopsis. They are not reliable bloomers. Phragmipediums come from South America and are protected. Care is very similar to the above, but they need watering twice a week because they grow along rivers in their native habitat. Cattleyas come from Central and South America and are often used for corsages. They bloom once a year for 2-3 weeks. They require medium to high light and are usually grown in a greenhouse. They should be watered weekly with a weak fertilizer solution and allowed to dry out completely between waterings. They can be placed outside in the shade in the summer. Dendrobiums are a very diverse species from Southeast Asia. They come from many different kinds of habitats, so their care needs are all different. Many need a winter rest and cool spell to bloom. Individual varieties can researched on the internet. Oncidiums are the familiar dancing ladies that produce fragrant flowers for 3-4 weeks. They are native to Central and South America. They need medium to high light and slightly cooler temperatures and are easy to grow. They need heavy fertilizer in the summer. Cymbidiums originate in Southeast Asia and have large, spectacular flowers. They are easy to grow, and can be grown outside in California and other mild climates. They can be grown in full sun and need frequent watering in the summer, less often in the winter. They need a cold snap (32 degrees) to begin flowering. They grow to bushel basket size in 2 years. Other varieties can be grown in the greenhouse. Vandas from Thailand like full sun and 90 degrees year round. Masdevallias like cool temperatures and high humidity. Bulbophyllums from Indonesia are easy to grow but can smell bad. Lycastes from South America are difficult to grow well because they need cooler conditions. Rainwater is best for orchids, and you should not use softened water. Early morning watering away from the crown is best. Nitrogen in the fertilizer should not be from urea. In general, orchids should be repotted every two years with the exception of Phragmipediums and Paphiopedilums that should have annual repotting. A good bark mix or sphagnum moss can be used. Good drainage is essential. It is important to use the smallest pot possible with room for 1-2 year’s growth because the roots rot in a larger pot. If the plant is mounted on wood to duplicate growing on trees in the forest, orchids need to be watered daily. Mealy bugs and scale can be treated with alcohol on Q-tips. Ground cinnamon can be used on fungus. The Michigan Orchid Society meets on the third Sunday of most months at the First Baptist Church in Birmingham at 2:30 p.m. The American Orchid Society (AOS.org) has culture sheets on its website. —Submitted by Jean Gramlich Found Art Deb Hall gave us her own whimsical interpretation of art for the garden, where to find it and how to use it in the garden. Trash and treasure can be found at flea markets, DPW yards, garage sales, dumpsters and neighbors’ refuse. Discarded items of all sorts can be recycled and reused. Many unusual objects can be used as containers as long as they can hold a growing medium. An old bathtub, poultry feeder, child’s wagon and wooden crates can all be filled with plants. Bicycles with baskets of flowers are charming. A garden can be planted down a wall or in pockets hung on a wall. Different types of pots can be used on stands of varying heights to make an interesting visual picture. Colored wine bottles stuck on sticks make a sculpture; stumps serve as a stand for pots. She showed a picture of a cow in a field fashioned from an oil drum and a milk can with car mirrors for ears. Old garden implements are visually appealing. Summer outdoor art fairs are replete with garden ornaments with old rusty machine parts used to create animals and birds. We can preserve our garden memories by drying and painting some of our flowers: hydrangeas can be lacquered, sedum should be dried upside down, and large alliums are stunning when painted. Red and yellow twig dogwood can lighten a winter bouquet. So as you go about your daily business, be sure to keep an eye out for hidden treasures to enhance your garden. —Submitted by Jean Gramlich 2012 Officer Election At the October 4, 2011 Master Gardener General Meeting, nominations for the 2012 Officer Election were closed in accordance with the Master Gardener Society By-Laws. At that time, only one person for each open position had requested to be on the ballot for the upcoming 2012 Officer Election. The positions that were to be filled were President, Treasurer, and Team Administrator. As only one Society member per position came forth, the 2012 election mailing became unnecessary. Therefore in 2012 and 2013, Wayne Lapinski is your new President and Jean Gramlich will remain Treasurer. Susan Tatus McLarty will remain the Team Administrator for 2012. If anyone has any questions regarding the election, please feel free to contact an officer or they can contact me. Julie Kowalk Membership Team jakowalk@comcast.net The United States Botanic Garden - The National Garden and Bartholdi Park As some of you read this, you may think “Hey, is Oldani losing his mind?” Didn’t we read about this before? There are times when I think I am losing it and, yes, I did write to you about the United States Botanic Garden (USBG). But wait, there is a catch. The article I penned for the April/May 2010 edition of Roots & Shoots did involve the USBG but it pertained to the Conservatory and the Orchid Show which was conducted in March of that year. I know that DC can be toasty and humid but not in March. So while I am in the DC area (July 4th timeframe), I thought that I would wander over to the outdoor gardens and report back. First, it is indeed warm and very humid at this time of year but many of the outdoor plants are in bloom as they have experienced more months of heat and sun compared to us in the North. So here is my first set of recommendations: buy and liberally apply sunscreen, make sure you have bottles of water, wear a wide brim hat, and become familiar with the Metro or subway system. I will write more on all of this later. The USBG is a DC gem, supported by all you taxpayers and has been administered through the Office of the Architect of the Capitol since 1934. It is considered one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America. According to the Visitor’s Guide, “it informs visitors about the importance and often irreplaceable value of plants to the well-being of humankind and to the earth’s ecosystems.” That’s a mouthful but there is much to see and learn. As for its history, our early presidents shared the dream of establishing a national botanic garden and created one on the National Mall in 1820. The USBG has been open to the public and operating for over 200 years (since 1850). It moved to its present site (near the US Capitol) in 1933. I won’t review the different galleries and rooms in the Conservatory as that was accomplished in the earlier article. Nevertheless, if you go in the warmer months to see the outdoor gardens, don’t miss the Conservatory. It is well worth it so allow plenty of time to do both. One of the outdoor gardens is called The National Garden (how apropos) and is adjacent to the Conservatory. If you delve into the USBG website (www.usbg.gov under the Garden tab), you will discover that construction of the National Garden began in the fall of 2001 and was completed five years later. It serves the purpose of living laboratories in a botanical, educational, and environmental setting. It is broken down into a number of areas such as: the Butterfly Garden, The First Ladies Water Garden, the Regional Garden, the Rose Garden, and an outdoor amphitheater. There is also a Lawn Terrace where you can munch on a few snacks, catch some rays, or drink some water. Trails wind through the Gardens and you can enter at several points. I went first to the Rose Garden. There are different varieties and colors of roses so you will be sure find several that you like. It does comprise a big portion of the Garden but the Regional Garden seems larger. I will say that I have seen some better rose exhibits but this is quite good. The Regional Garden is just that: it is divided into various geographic sections of our nation with the respective plants that grow in these regions. I recognized many of our Northern plants, including blueberries (my favorite fruit), and learned about some plants that are not native to our region. As one would suspect, their Mid-Atlantic portion was well represented with bougainvillea, mimosa, and boxwood. I can’t believe the number of bees that were on the Black Titi Cyrilla racemiflora. I guess they were enjoying the nectar from the flowers but you beekeepers would know better. There is a little pond in front of the Amphitheater which is quite nice. The brochure tells the visitor not to miss the “spectacular” view of the Conservatory and the Capitol from the Amphitheater. Was this a Kodak moment? I left my wife in the shaded tables near the Conservatory and walked back to the Amphitheater. Due to the existence of digital cameras, I took several shots. With film, maybe I would have taken one. So it was OK but there are better scenes of the Capitol. I traipsed over to the First Ladies Water Garden. It is billed as a “simple” square, framed by paving. Per the brochure, “it is designed to create a memorable image of the central role that water plays in the well- being of plants, animals, and humankind.” The Garden serves to honor our nation’s First Ladies, many of whom have provided great service to our country. Lastly let’s discuss the Butterfly Garden. This has become a popular feature in many gardens. The USBG also provided a handout on how to create a Butterfly Garden with tips and recommendations for plants and shrubs. I did see some butterflies but I also saw a number of bees. By the shaded tables outside the Conservatory, there were some corn stalks that were measurably larger than those grown in our country. I asked an intern and he informed me the corn was from Africa and Asia. I told him it reminded me of the giant Cuzco corn that I grew one summer in my youth from seeds provided from a popular snack called “Corn Nuts”. Supposedly the kernels came from Peru. Next on the list was a walk across the street to Bartholdi Park. The Park was created in 1932 and named for the sculptor of the 1876 fountain, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. The brochure indicates the Gardens are considered a favorite “secret” place for Washingtonians. It may be but the fountain is currently under construction and probably cuts down on the number of visitors. The USBG uses the Bartholdi as a home demonstration garden and highlights combinations of plants in a variety of styles and themes. My wife saw a littleleaf boxwood compacta that she liked so I need to do some research on that and on a Punica granatum. Their large flower hibiscus were full and beautiful and didn’t have leaves with holes like mine do. This is another research project for me. There was a sign that said to use the Gardens for thoughts on your home landscape. I think one can do this. As I was about to leave, I noticed the fountain was flowing with some streams of water. Upon examination, I spotted a worker with a control box testing the fountain with some management types observing. In any event, I took several pictures before he shut off the water. Oh yes, I almost forgot. The Crepe Myrtle was absolutely stunning in shades of reddish pink and lavender. As for directions to the USBG, I will repeat what I offered before. Obtain a Metro map and look for the USBG as one of the featured sites. You can take either the blue or orange line and exit at either Federal Center SW or Capital South. This time we exited at Capital South and walked past the Capital to the Supreme Court Building (worth the visit) as it was sprinkling. Later we made a stop at the Library of Congress to catch a Civil War exhibit. Afterwards we walked to the USBG (stopped raining) which is located at Independence Avenue and First Street SW. Let me reiterate that unless you are staying near the Capitol, I would ride the Metro (don’t drive). The Metro is clean and safe, especially during the day. Avoid the rush hours (travel after 9:00 AM and before 3:00 PM) if you want a seat or you will stand. I also think the rates are reduced during these hours. Stay on the right side of the escalator going in and out of the Metro. The left is for those who are in a hurry and want to walk up or down the escalator. Locals can get surly. The USBG is definitely worth the visit any time of the year but especially in the summer when everything is in bloom. Just be prepared for the heat and tourists. Factor in that the heat and humidity will wear you down, especially with all the walking. Hats and umbrellas for shade are a good bet. Use sunscreen to ward off the rays. Early September might be an opportune time to visit. Be sure to check the USBG website for the Calendar of Events. The National Garden summer hours are from 10 AM to 7 PM. Bartholdi Park hours are from dawn to dusk. Have fun in DC. —Submitted by Jim Oldani MASTER GARDENER MERCHANDISE HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR YOUR FAVORITE GARDENER! TEES HATS LANYARDS MUGS SHORT SLEEVE CAPS - $10 $5 $5 CHESTNUT BROWN, WIDE BRIM VIOLET, STONE BLUE, FOLD & GO - $8 AZALEA PINK $15/$17 SWEATSHIRTS APRONS LONG SLEEVE HOODED & ZIPPERED 30” ONE SIZE FITS MOST DARK GREEN $17/$19 DARK GREEN $38 $20 SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE, XL XL, AND 2XL COOLER BAGS – INSULATED, FRONT POCKET 6 PACK SIZE – DARK GREEN $4 NEW FALL MERCHANDISE BY PRE-ORDER ONLY STONEWASHED DENIM SHIRTS BUTTON-DOWN COLLAR ADJUSTABLE CUFFS PATCH POCKET BACK PLEAT MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SIZES XS – XL $40 2XL $42 3XL $42 MASTER GARDENER GREEN ZIPPERED JACKETS NYLON SHELL SWEATSHIRT FABRIC BODY & HOOD LINING DRAWCORD HOOD LOCKER LOOP SLASH POCKETS ELASTIC CUFFS INTERIOR POCKET XS – XL $48 2XL $50 3XL $52 To order, contact Denise Brown at: denise.brown@cccnetwork.com Trees In Profusion When he moved into his home in Bloomfield Hills 17 years ago, he planted many, many trees. They ranged in height from 24" to 5'. Today, the beautiful Locusts, the tall Dawn Redwood, Crabapple, Ginkgo, River Birch, Weeping Cherry, Redbud, Quincy Cherry, Rain Tree (with yellow flowers in the spring), Bradford Pear, and many other trees, to numerous to name, stand tall and handsome. The Hemlock, transplanted four times before finding the perfect spot to grow, is doing well. In the fall, the Canadian Cherry's beautiful leaves of green turn red, the Crabapple trees have lost their leaves and are begging for the birds to come and eat the berries, and the Bald Cypress needles turn beige and fall into beautiful mulch on the ground. The bushes of Magnolia, Butterfly, and Smoke are lazily awaiting the winter snow to dress them in pretty white. Who is the master planter of all these trees he loves? None other than Marvin Copley! His beautiful home has a perfect setting next to a pond. For many years, two beautiful swans claimed this pond as their home. Now the Canadian Geese visit regularly. Their dog Rambo does a good job of chasing them away when he is outside. Marvin has many potted plants to take in for the winter. His Rose Trees and Knock-Out Roses are among the heaviest to be moved into the garage. During the summer, Marvin enjoys the zinnias and sun drop flowers. His marigolds are a favorite because they give a good showing, are hardy, and last a long time into the fall season. Marvin grew up in central Detroit, in the area of West Grand Boulevard and Grand River, a neighbor- hood of diverse nationalities, closeness, and friendliness. At that time, you walked to school, walked to your friend's house, walked to the grocery store, and walked to church. In was a great neighborhood in which to grow up. As a child, he remembers ice skating and canoeing at Belle Isle, while the music played for everyone to hear. During his college days, he would go to Belle Isle to study and watch the ships pass by. Marvin attended Wayne State University and received his Masters Degree in Education. During his 42 years as a teacher, he taught elementary and high school grades in Detroit. At present, he is a substitute teacher in the Bloomfield and Birmingham schools for K-12, and Special Needs children. After retirement, he took a Real Estate course, but then decided he didn't want to work so hard anymore, so he didn't pursue it. During World War II, Marvin was in the Air Force. He was trained as a Radio/Gunner, in B-17 and B-29 aircraft. He said being in the Air Force was a good experience. He met a lot of people and made many friends. During the Korean War, he was in the Air Force Reserves and stationed at Mitchell Field, Long Island, New York. Through a blind date set up by his cousin, Marvin met his wife Nellie. About 2 years later, they got married. They now celebrate 47 years of marriage. During this time, they have vacationed throughout the United States and Canada, and fondly remember Toronto and Montreal. Sports have been a part of Marvin's life, and he enjoyed golf, downhill and cross county skiing, and canoeing. He was the Water Safety Instructor at Hilltop Camp at Walloon Lake in northern Michigan. He remembers putting up the decks and floats in the freezing water in early May. Br-r-r-r-r-r! Many years ago, Marvin and Nellie had a home on two acres. Fond of gardening, they bought and planted 20-40 tomato plants. They looked good for a little while, and then they all died. Why? Marvin was not yet a Master Gardener and did not know the roots of the nearby Black Walnut trees produce juglone; a killer to tomatoes. Marvin also had a Canadian Cherry tree he was wondering about. One day while at the Summit Place Mall in Pontiac, he came across a Master Gardener Information booth. There sat the perfect person to answer his questions, Denise Jones. She said she would look up all the information about the Canadian Cherry tree and send it to his home. He was so impressed with Denise and her work that he decided to look into becoming a Master Gardener. Marvin took the course and became a Master Gardener in 1995. Marvin's first required 40 hours were obtained at Frank's Nursery, answering questions, and introducing people to the many plants. He also manned MG Booths at various locations. He now enjoys helping Wayne Lapinski at Bowers Farm, carries in the books and items for sale for the Project Support Team at the MG meetings, and helps with the setup for the evening. Marvin checks the tests and helps with other things that need to be done at the MGV training classes. Like most people, there are certain things we enjoy doing most in our garden. For Marvin it was his interest in planting a variety of trees, and cutting the grass. He would get out the weed whip, and edger and go to it. The one tool, if you can call it a tool, he liked best was his Sears Lawn Tractor. Sharpening and replacing the blades, greasing and oiling different parts, cleaning it, and keeping it in tip-top shape took a lot of time, but he enjoyed doing it. Many pleasant hours were spent with his tractor in the 31 years he had it. It was like an old friend. The tractor now lives and works on a farm in Alabama. And so, many things change in our lifetime, but the love of trees is still in Marvin's heart. He can see the trees he used to bend over to tend when they were little, now tall in the sky, bending and swaying, giving him shade and pleasure, as if saying, "Thank you Marvin for your love and care." —Submitted by Sylvia Schult Visit to a Shanghai Plant Market Many of my friends back home often ask me how I’m getting along without a garden. In October, my husband and I marked our one-year anniversary living in an apartment in Shanghai. This means that I haven’t dug any holes in the ground, rearranged a garden, or been able to enjoy home-grown veggies for more than a year. So, the answer to my friends is this: I really miss gardening. Even though we have a great view of Shanghai’s largest park from our 13th floor balcony, there is no replacement for digging in the dirt. I miss grass, hummingbirds, worms, Bowers Farm, mulch, and learning about gardening with friends. I even miss pulling weeds! The next question many friends have asked is, “Can you buy plants in Shanghai like you can in the U.S.?” And the answer to that is, “I can buy plants, but it is a very different experience.” There are no charming local nurseries and the one home improvement chain of stores doesn’t have a garden section. But there are three large plant markets in Shanghai. We happen to live just a short bike ride away from the Pudong plant market. It is called Green Garden and, like most things here, is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Green Garden is a three-floor, warehouse-type building with the first floor split down the middle by a driveway. On the first floor one half of the building has about 30 vendors selling all types and sizes of potted plants, gardening supplies, pots, and fountains. The other half of the first floor is shared by a cut- flower market and a home electronics store. (Yes, you read that correctly, a home electronics store.) The second floor is a menagerie of shops selling artificial flowers, home décor, paintings and custom-made frames, tea, and furniture. Around the second floor you usually see at least one game of mah-jong or Chinese checkers being played by older folks furiously chain-smoking. The third floor, quite randomly, has one large store that sells baby items. The entrance to the plant market isn’t pretty, and neither is the interior, which is mostly due to all of the dust and cigarette smoke lingering in the air. But, the amount of plant material is impressive. The first time I walked in, I had no idea where to even start. Each vendor has their plants arranged around their areas, which are sometimes backed by a wall or divided by display stands. Some of them run together. A few stalls have a variety of seasonal annuals and perennials along with indoor and outdoor plants ranging from tall money trees to tiny cacti. In the far corner of the first row of vendors is one seller who sells nothing but water features of every shape and size. If you need pots, there are a few shops selling just that. There are two vendors who sell gardening supplies including fertilizer and soil. The rest is all plants. A few stalls sell only specialty items such as Bonsai, hydroponically grown plants, and orchids. There is even a little dumpling and coffee café just beside the escalator. One of my favorites is the orchid shop. I visit it often as orchids cost about $3 - $8 depending on the size of the plant, how many you want, and how good a customer you are. Almost everything is already potted and ready for you to take home. Or, since this is Shanghai, it can be delivered to you for about $3- $5. As for familiar plants, I’ve found geraniums, hydrangeas, pansies, petunias, sweet potato vine, roses, begonias, marigolds, vinca, ivy, lavender, poinsettia and portulaca. About the only plants I haven’t been able to find here are coneflowers, rudbeckia, grasses, daylilies and the other common herbaceous perennials we grow in zone 5. On one of my first trips to the plant market I purchased one of my favorite plants, a bird of paradise. As with everything here, there are no price tags and you have to negotiate. I chose a healthy looking plant, already potted and started haggling in my best broken Chinese. The end result was a beautiful 6-foot tall plant delivered to my apartment by a man on a scooter that very same day for about $36. My least favorite part of the market is the back row of shops selling fish, and small animals. It smells bad, it’s filthy and the animals are not well cared for. There are turtles, rabbits, birds, snakes, guinea pigs, and sometimes kittens and chipmunks. I avoid it at all costs as it is just too sad for me. The cut-flower side of the building has about 20 vendors who sell flowers and flower arrangements. This market is set up with three rows of individual, three-sided stalls. Rows one and two have nice displays showcasing their flower arrangements and cut flowers for sale. The last row is more of the wholesale row which lacks organized displays, but always has buckets full of Asian lilies, gerber daisies, carnations and chrysanthemums. You often have to step over piles of stem and leaf debris that has been trimmed off the flowers and left in the middle of the walkways. However, there is something to suit every taste at this market from elegant, single-stem orchids to cheery, yellow sunflowers to blue-dyed roses dipped in silver glitter. Designs can be self-made or they can be custom ordered and delivered to you. Over the summer I had hoped to try growing some veggies on the apartment balcony. However, growing vegetables isn’t really a popular thing for city folks here. Only one market vendor had veggie starts for sale. I was able to get a pepper, eggplant, and strawberry plant along with an assortment of herbs. I tried planting some tomato seeds, but as it turned out, the 13th floor isn’t really the best place for a vegetable garden. Sadly, the veggies did not survive, but the herbs have done surprisingly well. I was lucky to find rosemary, mint, basil and thyme. While I wasn’t able to give away zucchini from my backyard this year, I was able to share some fresh herbs with my friends and that helped make it feel a little bit more like home. —Submitted by Laura Duff Master Gardener Society of Oakland County's December Potluck This years Holiday Potluck Meeting will be held December 13th, 2011. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the festivities will begin at 6:00pm. The event will be held at the Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, in the front hall. The address is 5631 North Adams Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI. This meeting will have entertainment, singing holiday carols and the tables will be laden with delicious food. All guests must bring a dish to be shared. The society will provide turkey, ham, and beverages. This year we will be holding a can food drive (or any non-perishable food) for the Gleaners food bank and a gift drive for the Haven Shelter. Haven is a non-profit agency that supports families of domestic violence. Families are eligible to go 'shopping' to select gifts for each member of their household. Gift ideas include: Badly needed teen gifts - gift cards to Kohl's, Old Navy or Blockbuster, clothing, games, electronics, teen stocking stuffers - nail polish, jewelry or key chains. Other items include: Gift cards - Kroger, Sam's Club, Meijer, Target, CVS, Rite-Aid Craft kits, jewelry/bead kits, art supplies (stickers, paints, modeling clay), picture frames, photo albums, candles. Other items needed include home goods such as blankets, pillows, sheets, towels, pots & pans. Or gifts of warmth such as winter coats, shoes & boots, sweat suits and pajamas. Those who desire may also bring a generic $10.00 gift to exchange. Participation is voluntary. Hope to see you there! Christine Covell MGSOC President Phone: 248-568-7089 Email: president@mgsoc.org San Antonio Botanical Gardens (SABOT) We chose to visit SABOT during Fiesta San Antonio when a number of special events were scheduled. The event at SABOT was called Viva Botanica. There were parades of decorated wagons and strollers led by a drum corps. Also a special dance was created for Viva Botanica called The Botanical Shuffle. Music and a plant sale were also part of the festivities. Opened in 1980, SABOT is 38 acres of spectacular, well maintained gardens, sculptures, architecture, and whimsy. Case in point: the chair-y tree, a dead tree decorated with chairs. This seems to be a version of “when nature gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Like other gardens we have seen in Texas, swiss chard was used as an accent plant. Unlike the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which tries to be “natural”, they water the plants here which yields a lovely rich healthy look to all the plantings. Since they water, there was much more than the usual Texas natives. We could recognize salvia, sweet william, poppies, iris, delphinium, roses, coleus, geraniums, to name only a few. Of course examples of local flora were also in abundance such as the “horse crippler”—a low, tough-spined cactus that apparently is very bad for horses—and a number of pomegranate trees. The Lucile Halsell Conservatory displayed tropical specimens such as fern, staghorn fern, several types of palm including fan palm, orchids, and numerous other plants from around the world. Looking at the burlap palm (below, right) one imagines early homo sapiens getting the idea for weaving fabric. Within the conservatory building were gardens devoted to various foods like olives and tea. There was a spice garden including a fragrant allspice bush. Also here were black pepper plants and a tapioca plant. The buildings were very interesting. Other than the conservatory type enclosures, there were a several small cottages with different garden examples such as seen in the photo of the Spanish dry garden. We enjoyed a lovely lunch in the restored Daniel Sullivan Carriage House from 1896. This building also houses the gift shop and serves as the entry point to the gardens. This place is a must-see for anyone visiting San Antonio. We were dazzled by all that was contained here. —Submitted by Dick Wanat Notes From Nutcase Nursery Sadly, summer evaporated into frost and fall is quickly escaping. The atmosphere takes back moisture and what’s left simply crystallizes. Plants are disappearing leaf by leaf, left and right. The Dingo has been helping with fall clean up. She’s also beginning to answer to “Get Out of There!!” and “Who did this???” It has always been fascinating to see what’s hiding underneath the fading foliage --- dear red-handled garden tools, I thank you so very much. But with the Dingo around it’s a regular adventure. She stole the lock from the shed and it took me five days to find it. I can deal with the fascinating just fine; it’s the ridiculous and horrifying I can’t stand. The thrill of discovery can’t always be pleasant; I understand this concept especially well since the Dingo moved in. But I am reasonably sure that some of the neighbors have heard some seriously pottymouth eurekas lately. While I thought that only two corners of the garage had been eaten, I found that I was sadly mistaken. Repairs to the garage will best be put off until all the chippies are dead, an asteroid crashes into the backyard, or the Dingo’s teeth fall out. Three of four corners have been chewed to smithereens. Good thing I didn’t go with that hexagonal garage concept I dreamed about. Too bad I didn’t plant my little boxwoods closer to the corners. Of course they would probably have been toast as well. She is not the least bit afraid to prune. Alas, we have reached the season of judgment. Almost every garden article you read mentions doing the old “what worked and what didn’t” exercise. Kind of a horticultural good cop, bad cop, only you have to play both roles. If you kept notes all season it’s time to check that garden diary for “issues.” You will never be without things to do in the fall, unless you are so organized we could not be friends, and it’s a good system to assist you in prioritizing the tasks. It’s nice to keep notes but the end of the season has a way of pressing you into acting on the jobs with the most pressing deadlines, like bringing in the last of the crops and the tender bulbs and tubers before they freeze, draining the rain barrels, battening down the coldframes, planting whatever bulbs happened to accidentally appear in my shopping cart, and digging in the leftover potted plants. Putting away the hoses, a very necessary job, can only be done on a sunny, warmish day because they get churlish and won’t coil in the cold. With each season we learn how to better the routine yet we always end up playing “Beat the Clock.” Attempting to face the inevitable winter, I got pathetically melancholy cutting down the hosta leaves that were turning amazing shades of apricot, orange and gold this year, and downright depressed lopping something that was still robust and green. Pay me now or pay me later. It didn’t help my mood that while doing so I also discovered the damage to the garage. I was almost in tears clipping the thermopsis but perfectly at ease with whacking phlox, butterfly weed, peonies and lilies. I realized that the newest plants make me the most nervous and that’s only because I just know the older ones better. Experience is a great teacher and a master gardener never stops learning. The laboratories available are almost endless and accessible the year around - - - indoor, orchard, annual and perennial, vegetable and fruit, grasses and natives, and every subclass within, as diverse as Master Gardener Volunteers themselves. All Master Gardener Volunteers feed the hungry --- the hungry for knowledge, for beauty, for food. Some teach, some till. Some hoe and weed, some plant and feed. And we all grow while doing so. We are some of Michigan’s greatest natural resources and a precious commodity. We bloom where we are planted when we use our horticultural knowledge and experience to help the people of our communities enrich their lives through gardening. One of the greatest products of the Master Gardeners’ outreach is food. Plant-A-Row gardens contribute thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables and fruit to programs that feed the hungry. Many MGs contribute right from their own backyards. We even coax our neighbors into gardening by offering them fresh veggies over the fence. The more we grow, the more confident we become. The more we grow, the more we realize that growing food isn’t just about eating fresh. It’s also about learning how to keep it. Years back I had some really good luck with my cucumber crop. But how many cukes can you actually consume in a season? I made sliced cucumbers several nights for salad. I made sliced cucumbers for funeral luncheons at church. I made refrigerator cukes and pickles in various shapes and solutions. The cukes kept right on making more. So I decided that making relish would be a good, maybe even great, idea. I looked at recipes upon recipes and finally got it all together. I had onions, red and green peppers, the necessary spices and, of course, the requisite cucurbits. I had my jars, lids, rings, jar lifter, canning kettle, knives and cutting board. I chopped vegetables for four hours and hadn’t even begun the fight. The next food processor sale --- I was there with a fistful of dollars and bells on! If I only used that thing for nothing more than preparing a batch of relish, it has been well worth it. I even built a little shrine for all of its various blades. Canning or freezing are the best alternatives to composting unless you share your abundance another way. Our parents and grandparents canned food all the time. As the generations continued, canning fell by the wayside. When you can head to the grocery store and buy a bag of frozen vegetables for a dollar, why would you want to grow, clean, blanch, chill and pack? Because you know where it came from and it tastes better. I actually have not purchased tomato sauce, pickles, jam or relish in a very, very long time. What fruits and vegetables we don’t eat fresh are frozen for the future. When I was a child I used to make dill pickles with my mom. As I got older I found that some of my friends canned, having learned in their grandmother’s or aunt’s kitchens. For me, it’s easier to learn how to do things when you can participate in the process rather than just read through it. Hands on learning sticks with me better than theoretical. I learned a lot in my own kitchen too. Alone. It was frightening at times but I lived to tell the tales. I learned not to answer the phone in the middle of a batch of jam. I learned to hang newspapers with refrigerator magnets from my stove hood to cut down on clean up. When fruit starts its “rolling boil” stage you need to cordon off the area, spray yourself with cooking spray, and break off a piece of aloe to have handy for emergency medical treatment. I learned to make ice before deciding to freeze broccoli, corn, or peas. I learned to have a kettle with boiling water ready when needed to cover the jars in the canner instead of having to wait for more to boil. The more I practice, the easier it gets. I learned to inspect my canning jars, scrub them down, sterilize and hold them in very hot water and assemble the proper lids and rings before I ever touched the stove. Take making pickled beets, for instance. First, I like to let them stay in the soil for as long as possible because canning is a job best saved for days when the weather precludes working outside. When the day finally comes, which is usually really, really close to a damaging hard freeze, I prepare the house first. I turn off the humidifier because the amount of moisture generated by this activity is amazing. Do not schedule any home improvements for the kitchen. Tasks you can refrain from are washing the insides of your windows because the steam will likely cause unsightly drip marks. Also, do not clean the stove or backsplashes. Do not wash the floor. In fact, let the kitchen become as close to toxic as possible because if you clean beforehand you may decide to never, ever preserve anything again, except your own sanity. When things are quite ripe, harvest your beets gently. Don’t be disappointed if many of the roots with gorgeous, beautifully colored leaf tops don’t have charmingly shaped bottoms. Not every seed is destined to become something great. But, one of the great things about beets is that you can eat the leaves too. But I am digressing as usual. And probably preaching to the choir, except for those readers who have never “done beets.” Anyway, before taking the beets to the kitchen, especially if you won’t be using the greens, take them and your scissors directly to the compost bin and cut the tops off, leaving two inches of stem. Do not irritate the roots. Do not touch anything unnecessarily. Head to the nearest washing station and scrub away at the little purple or golden jewels. The next step is simply boiling them but I promise you, you will speckle practically everything within a 12 to 15 foot radius with colorful dots by the time you get them in the pot. You might consider wearing surgical gloves but I also promise your natural skin tone will return eventually. I grow Detroit Dark Red beets and the first thing I notice when the beets hit the water is the odor of dirt, like the smell of dusty cement when the rain first hits it. I don’t know if all beets produce that scent when cooking but don’t let it bother you. Simmer the beets until tender with the lid on the pot. Once cooked, cool them down by bathing them in ice water so that you can peel and pare them. Actually it’s easier to pare then peel them. This is a fun part because the skins slip off quite easily. Cut off the tops and roots neatly and slice or dice the beets. Make sure not to throw away the water they were cooked in. You will need it for the recipe and the liquid is useful for other projects, which I will fill you in on later. You should have the canner pot full of water and slightly boiling by now and your lids and rings should be heating in water as well. So now you have dyed almost everything in sight but there will be time to deal with all that while the jars are processing in the canner. The recipe I use calls for vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, a little salt and of course the beet liquid. Cook the brine for a few minutes, add onion slices, which of course you prepared earlier, and the beets and cook a little more. Keep simmering the beets and onions while carefully filling the hot jars, one at a time. Of course you would have already gotten out the canning funnel and jar lifter before you ever reached this point. One wouldn’t perform surgery without a properly stocked operating room and this is no different. After the first jar is filled, wiped, sealed and ringed, set it to the side until the rest are finished. Hopefully you remembered to run a spatula around the inside to get rid of as many air pockets as possible before you wiped, sealed and ringed. Balance the jar rack on the rim of the canner and use the jar lifter to gently set the jars inside of the rack. Make sure you use the jar lifter on the shoulder of the jars and not on the rings; it can break the seal you so painstakingly seek. Once everything is loaded, and by now you might wish you were too, lower the rack carefully and wait for the water to boil again. This is the point at which you will most likely need the water you heated earlier. Do not be fooled into thinking that the bubbles coming out of the jars are signs that the water is boiling. It’s nothing but a prank to be pulled on the unsuspecting novice preservationist. Start counting your time when the water is really boiling per the recipe instructions. When the timer goes off, remove the lid from the kettle, protecting your hands with oven mitts or pot holders. Raise the rack gently so as not to jostle the jars. Jar jostling voids the warranty for all the work you just put in. Using the jar lifter again, grasp the shoulder of each jar in the same pattern that is used when tightening the lugnuts on your vehicle’s wheels. Do not put any pressure on the rings or that surgical seal can be broken. Gently place the jars on several thicknesses of newspaper or a thick towel away from drafts and then sit down in close proximity to await the sweet sound of the pop that indicates your lids are sealed. Your work here is almost done. Admire your handiwork briefly. Briefly because the longer you wait to clean up all of the red dots, the longer it may take to eradicate them. Don’t forget to wipe down the sides and front of the refrigerator, the stove, stove hood, backsplashes and most of the cabinets. Also the countertops, canisters, and most likely the window sill over the sink. And of course the floor; the floor gets it coming and going. Leave the jars to cool overnight and recheck for seals in the morning. If misfortune should befall you and a jar fails to seal, put it in the fridge and eat it within a few weeks. And now for the disclaimer. The MSUE Food Safety Department may not approve of some of the things I have told you, which is why I have not included the details of the recipe. Your best defense against self-inflicted food poisoning, or worse, is to keep up with the latest canning recommendations. If you have any questions about how to keep the bounty of the season, contact MSUE-Oakland County Food Safety at 248.858.0904. The only dumb question is the one not asked. As a final note, I promised earlier to tell you reasons to save the water you boiled your precious beets in. Waste not, want not. You can add vinegar to the water and keep it refrigerated and use it later for coloring eggs. Or you can do what I did and dye your favorite faded garden clothes a richer shade of aubergine. For now, relish a little downtime. Talk nice to the houseplants. Enjoy those catalogs and garden books. Nutcase Nursery wishes you a most Happy Holiday and a bloom-filled New Year! Some Information You Should Know MGSOOC Board Members President: Wayne Lapinski………………..…….(248)391-6269 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: Beth Brown………………………(248)681-8512 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”