Roots & Shoots June / July 2011 June 7 , 2011 @ 6:30pm MGSOC General Society Meeting & Location Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 5631 North Adams Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 Speaker : Ruth Vrbensky, Oakland Wildflower Farm Education: “Native Plants to Attract Wildlife” A business meeting will take place, prior to the start of our Educational Program. July 5 , 2011 @ 6:30pm MGSOC General Society Meeting & Location Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 5631 North Adams Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 Speaker : Janet Macunovich, Garden Writer Education: “50 Favorite Gardens Before / After” A business meeting will take place, prior to the start of our Educational Program. 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. Carol’s Corner The nice weather the last few days seems even sweeter than usual! I hope your gardens are progressing well and you have a great summer! This time of year volunteer opportunities abound. We’re fortunate that there are lot’s of different activities to choose from. There’s really something for everyone. If your knees don’t allow for physical labor there are plenty of farmers markets. The volunteer slots do fill fast, but the season is long and Ruth Parulis does keep cancellation lists in case the volunteer originally scheduled has to cancel and let’s Ruth know in a timely manner. If you want to delve more into the physical act of vegetable gardening there are a number of Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) Gardens that always need help. The beauty of so much of the volunteer opportunities is that you, the volunteer, continue to learn and develop your gardening skills while helping others. By the time you read this the Volunteer Recognition Banquet will be a pleasant memory. 112 of us gathered at White Lake Oaks County Club for a fine meal, plenty of laughs, and lots of door prizes! This is our chance to say thank you for all your hard work. It’s always great for me to see so many of you at on time! Thanks to all of you who came to help congratulate our honorees! Awards were given to volunteers who achieved their Basic Certification, Advanced Certification and the various Hours Pins. Some highlights: Deborah Slusher got her Basic, Advanced and 250 hour one in one year!! 1,000 Hour Pins went to Jean Gramlich, Betsy Keidan, Wayne Lapinski, and Paul Needle 1,500 Hour Pins went to Bethany Brown, Vincenette Morganti, Barbara Near, and John Olsen. 2,000 Hour Pins went to Bonna Cathey, Jan Everson 3,500 Hours Pin went to Siegrid Stern!! Leadership awards were given to Chris Covell for her leadership as President of the MGSOOC, Denise Jones for Ask a Master Gardener Program, Ruth Parulis for the monstrous job if scheduling volunteers at the farmers markets, and to Wayne Lapinski and Beth Brown for their leadership at the training classes as class mentors. The Master Gardener of the Year Award went to someone well known to MGSOOC members……Susan Tatus-McLarty! Many of you might not know that she is involved in many behind the scenes projects as Team Administrator. A job that helps the Society run smoothly. In addition to her leadership, Susan consistently puts in over a hundred volunteer hours a year! As I was getting ready for the banquet, I pulled her file and read through the application she filled out to take the 1998 class, I laughed as I read “I will make my volunteer hours or die trying. I only request that my ashes be scattered in my compost bin”. The Year at a Glance—MGSOC Meetings for 2011 June 7 Ruth Vrbensky “Native Plants to Attract Wildlife” July 5 Janet Macunovich “50 Favorite Gardens, Before and After” 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. Other dates to save Master Gardener Conference June 24-25 Oakland County Fair July 12-17 National Children & Youth Symposium July 21-23 MSU Garden Day August 5 As information on each becomes available it will be posted in the Oakland Gardener MASTER GARDENER MERCHANDISE NEW FOR THE GARDENING SEASON ! TEES CAPS HATS COOLER BAGS MG MUGS - IN FASHION YEAR AROUND - APRONS ZIPPERED HOODIES LONG SLEEVE TEES LANYARDS To order, contact Denise Brown at: denise.brown@cccnetwork.com Spring Blooming Perennials We held our April meeting at Telly’s in Troy where we heard a talk by George Papadelis. George is very enthusiastic about his topic and shows great pictures, but it is very difficult to take notes because he talks a mile a minute and shows the slides for 30 seconds before going on to the next spectacular cultivar! Spring is the best time to buy hellebores, the earliest blooming perennial, because you can then see the blooms that can be gorgeous or mundane. The new Ballerina series of double primroses are propagated by tissue culture, and there are also seed-grown doubles as well. Candelabra primroses bloom in spirals up the stem. Unlike other spring bulbs, it is best to buy snowdrops growing in a pot because the bulbs are all dried up by fall. Tiarella ‘Sugar and Spice’ and ‘Pink Skyrocket’ have beautiful early spring flowers as well as variegated foliage for summer interest. Pulmonaria blooms blue, pink and rose early and lights up shady areas for the rest of the season. Dicentra Spectabilis ‘Valentine’ is very dark red with white. Two spring bloomers that can withstand competition from tree roots are epimedium and Solomon’s seal. George particularly recommended Geranium ‘Jolly Bee’ because it blooms all summer. Some of the newer euphorbias have spectacular foliage. Highlights of some of the new cultivars: Ajuga ‘Pink Lightning’ has variegated leaves Buddleia Lo and Behold ‘Purple Haze’ grows 2-3 feet tall. ‘Miss Molly’ is carmine. Caryopteris ‘Sterling Silver’ adds color Coreopsis ‘Cranberry Ice’ has cut leaf foliage Eupatorium fortunei ‘Pink Frost’ has variegated foliage Hakonechloa – new cultivar with white and green stripes Heucherella ‘Redstone Falls’ has gorgeous leaves and trailing habit Iberis ‘Amethyst’ is purple! Ligularia ‘Dragon’s Wings’ has very serrated leaves Phlox ‘Shockwave’ has gold and green foliage Many new cultivars of echinacea, heuchera, sedum, hosta As always, an article in Roots and Shoots cannot do justice to the pictures! —Submitted by Jean Gramlich Growing Vegetables Organically Long-time Master Gardener Peter Bray spoke at our May meeting on growing vegetables organically. There are three basic principles of vegetable gardening: never tread on your soil, use natural mulches and rotate crops. We should not tread on our soil because vegetable roots grow to amazing depths: mature lettuce roots can go down as much as 6 feet, and beets grow roots up to 10 feet long! Rototilling softens soil to a depth of 4 inches, but the weight of the machine and the operator compact the soil much farther down. If the soil is soft, the roots can reach down to get the nutrients they need thus allowing us to plant closer together. If you plant in blocks not rows, you will get higher yield, and the plants will provide their own mulch and shade. Rain will soak into soft soil and stay where the plants can utilize the water. To avoid walking on the soil, beds should be 4 feet wide with paths in between, thus giving the gardener space to work from either side of the bed. Natural mulches are one way of building organic soil. Commonly used mulches, shredded leaves and straw, can form a permanent cover that gradually decays and adds nutrients to the soil. Mulch prevents rainwater from evaporating and protects the soil from erosion in the case of heavy downpours. Mulch suppresses weed germination and makes it easy to pull out the weeds that do manage to pop up. Mulch keeps the soil cool in summer and protects the soil from UV radiation and provides food for earthworms and microorganisms that break down nutrients into usable form for plants. Another way to build organic soil is to plant cover crops like cereal rye, clover, hairy vetch and buckwheat that are then turned under to provide nutrients for the next crop. Cover crops make the soil very friable, but it is important that the gardener give the cover crop time to fully rot before planting. Compost is also a good way to build organic soil. Most garden and kitchen wastes can be turned into a rich, dark and crumbly addition to our soil. Rotation of crops is an important principle of gardening. Each vegetable has its own nutrient requirements and can deplete the soil over time. Legumes in the rotation build up nitrogen in the soil for the crops that follow. As well, pests attack certain species and multiply when their favorite host is available. The Irish potato famine is a good example of the hazards of not rotating crops (and monoculture since they only grew one variety of potatoes). Observing these three principles will go a long way toward building your garden soil and providing healthful produce. —Submitted by Jean Gramlich World Horticulture Expo - China 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. After the Christmas holiday, my husband and I took our first trip out of Shanghai. We traveled to the cities of Kunming and Dali, which are in southern China. Upon researching the sights and attractions of the cities I was pleasantly surprised to learn that in 1999 Kunming was host to the World Horticulture Expo, and that the Expo site is still open to visitors. First, a little about Kunming. Kunming is the capital of the Yunnan province, which is in the southern part of China. It is known as the “City of Eternal Spring” due to its mild climate. The city is covered with vegetation year round since the winters are short, cool and dry, and the summers are long, warm and humid. From May 1 to October 31,1999, Kunming was home to the World Horticulture Expo. The site is located at the foot of a mountain, on the top of which is the Golden Temple that can be reached by cable car from the northeast end of the park. All together, the site covers nearly 540 acres and has five exhibition halls including a greenhouse. After the exposition closed the property was sold to a private company, which retained a number of the gardens and displays. However, maintenance of the remaining gardens did not appear to be at the same level it might have been twelve years ago. At the entrance of the site we were greeted by the mascot of the exposition, Ling Ling a cartoon Yunnan Golden Monkey. The main avenue of the park is flanked by large beds filled with pansies. The first display is a magnificent ship in full sail that is covered with and surrounded by more pansies. Turning right off the main thoroughfare leads to the Bamboo Forest. A meandering path takes visitors up a hill, and around and through all kinds of bamboo specimens. I could have stayed here for hours listening to the sound the bamboo leaves made when the breeze blew through. The bamboo was thick and tall enough to block out a majority of the sunlight, which made it very cool in this garden. The various specimens represented the variety of shapes and colors found in the bamboo family. I found the Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) to be one of the most interesting looking plants. Past the Bamboo Garden is an interesting Chinese style rock garden. This garden was designed to showcase the plants growing in the rocks as well as to be a miniature representation of the Yunnan landscape with the rocks representing the mountainous terrain of southern China. The rocks are complete with etched Hanzi, or Chinese characters, and a pagoda. Just beyond the rock garden is the Chinese vegetable garden. Since it was winter and I was sorely missing Bowers Farm, I was happy to see kale, greens, squash and herbs growing in the winter sunshine. I did not recognize the gourds, but was able to identify several herbs such as: lemon balm, Corsican mint, thyme, rosemary, lavender and chives. Toward the edge of the vegetable garden was a building containing a display of hydroponics. The hydroponic systems were successfully growing mushrooms, lettuce and other greens. The next specialized gardens were the Penjing (Bonsai) Garden and the Medicinal Herbs Garden. Penjing literally translated means “tray scenery.” Hundreds of creative examples of penjing fill this garden. This penjing garden was designed to have a peaceful feeling and consists of graceful corridors that connect the display areas. Just behind this garden is a small stream, which provided the perfect soundtrack to our stroll through this garden. The Medicinal Herbs Garden was a beautiful area filled with 500 species of medicinal herbs. I was intrigued most by Edgeworthia papyrifera (oriental paperbush) which has very flexible stems, and when it is grown in the traditional fashion the stems are tied into knots. After these themed gardens, the rest of the park leaves a bit to be desired. We went into the greenhouse and were disappointed to find that it was unkempt and the outer areas, which were likely used for displays in 1999, had been turned into a place for merchants to hawk cheap jewelry and other assorted junk. There is a large Banyan Tree in the center of the building, a room with palms and other standard tropical plants, and a nice alpine plant display. Sadly, none of the displays were remarkable. Further on, the park consists of the Domestic Exhibition Gardens. There are 31 gardens with each one representing one of China’s provinces, municipalities or autonomous regions. Some of these are quite nice and are complete with pagodas, ponds, water features and bridges. Others are best described as interesting. We saw people playing cards and mahjongg, and two wedding photo shoots taking place in a few of the larger Chinese regional gardens. Quite nice and interesting also describe the range of gardens included in the 33 International Exhibition Gardens. Originally these gardens were built to demonstrate the terrain, plant life and/or garden style of a country or specific region of a country. For example, the Australia garden represented a landscape typical of a rural area in that country. Unfortunately not all of the gardens and buildings have been tended and maintained as lovingly as they once were. Next, we took the cable car to the top of the mountain where there were some beautiful plants to see along with the Golden Temple and the Bell Tower. First was a hedge of angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia) beautifully blooming in December. The temple is home to a crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) and a camellia (Camellia retuculata) that were both planted in 1602. Leaving the main temple there is a Chinese cork oak tree (Quercus variabilis) that is at least 250 years old. Outside the temple is the Kunming Horticultural Landscape Botanical Garden, which was started in 1983. This park area has a rhododendron and azalea garden, a camellia garden, a magnolia garden, a bamboo garden, a fern garden, a rose garden, a collection of rare plants, display greenhouses and a bell tower that houses a 14 ton bronze bell cast in 1423. If you are disappointed that you missed the 1999 World Horticultural Expo in China, do not worry. The 2011 World Horticultural Expo will be in held in Xi’An, China. The 2011 expo opens April 28th and will last until October 22nd, 2011. If you are interested in learning more, the official expo website is http://www.en.expo2011.cn. And, if you plan a trip, be sure to stop in Shanghai to visit me! —Submitted by Laura Duff Washington, DC, Cherry Blossom Festival One of the activities I put on my “Must See and Do” list was to view the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. I really never took the time or made the effort while I was younger. However, as you may recall, we have twin daughters who have lived or are living in Arlington, VA. We could combine a trip to see our daughter as well as walk among the blossoms. Sounds sublime and very efficient (a real BOGO). It was a great experience but first let me provide some background on the trees and the Festival. In March 1912 Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo presented a gift of about 3,000 Japanese cherry trees to the City of Washington. It was an effort to enhance the close and growing friendship between the two countries. Before this happened, there were some trial runs with trees and plantings but they had to be burned due to insect infestation. The first two trees were planted around the Tidal Basin by First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, the wife of the Japanese ambassador. Over the next eight years, about 1800 more trees (of the Somei-Yoshino variety) were similarly planted around the Tidal Basin. In addition to the location of the Tidal Basin, trees of other cultivars as well as the Yoshinos, were planted in East Potomac Park. Today the Kwanzan and the Fugenzo are the predominate trees in East Potomac Park. There were some celebrations to commemorate the original plantings in the years to follow. In 1935 the first “Cherry Blossom Festival” was held and was soon to become an annual affair. In 1948 the selection of a Cherry Blossom Princess and Queen program was initiated. The Japanese Ambassador gifted the City of Washington with a 300 year old stone lantern, which is lit to open the Festival. Later a pearl crown, used for the Queens’s coronation, was gifted to the City as well as a stone pagoda, symbolizing the friendship between the two nations. In 1965 the Japanese donated 3,800 more Yoshino trees which were formally accepted by Lady Bird Johnson (I vaguely recall this event). Many of these trees were planted near the Washington Monument. From 1986 to 1988, cherry trees were again planted to restore the number of trees that were planted at the time of the original gift. In 1999 about 50 trees of the Usuzumi variety were planted in West Potomac Park. Over the 2002-2006 period, approximately 400 trees that were propagated from the surviving 1912 trees were planted to ensure the genetic heritage of the original donation. More than 700,000 people annually visit DC to attend the Festival. The Festival is coordinated by National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc, a group of civic, business, and governmental organizations. It is now held over a two week period. Activities include the following: Family Day, a Parade, a Pink Tie Party auction and fundraiser, music performances, High Teas, Lantern Walks, and photo workshops. Details on these and other activities can be found on the Festival website http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/ Most important is the webpage that attempts to predict peak bloom time. The average peak bloom date is April 4. Peak Bloom Date is considered the day on which 70% of the blossoms of the Tidal Basin trees are open. As you can imagine, it is difficult to forecast. National Park Service (NPS) horticulturists monitor five stages of bud development to determine the forecast. Per the NPS, the stages are: (1) Green color in buds – Mid to late February/Early March; (2) Flowers visible – Early to Mid March; (3) Extension of florets – 12/17 days to peak bloom; (4) Peduncle elongation – 5/10 days to peak bloom; (5) Puffy white – 4/6 days to peak bloom. The Blooming Period is the period when 20 percent of the blossoms are open until the petals fall and leaves appear. It begins several days before the peak date and can last up to 14 days, dependent on frost, wind and temperature. In 2006 we were fortunate to be visiting DC during the Peak Blooming Period. I believe we were there in time for the Peak Bloom Date, just prior to March 30. It was absolutely gorgeous. The weather was warm and in the 60’s, there was no precipitation, and the crowds were large but not confining. In this regard, we were able to walk around the entire Tidal Basin without being pushed into the Basin by the number of people. I was able to take photos of the trees with and without people as well as frame buildings with the blossoms. To cap the day off, I had a Good Humor, a rite of spring for me when I was a kid. This year the expected Blooming Period was forecasted as March 26 through April 7. This was slightly later than when we visited in 2006. Actually our trip to DC was a week earlier than the Blooming Period Forecast. We arrived in DC on March 18 to 80 degree weather. The next two days it was in the 60’s. Cherry blossoms were everywhere in Arlington. Perhaps, I conjured, we might get somewhat lucky and see some Yoshino blossoms on the Tidal Basin. It was worth a try. On Monday the 21st, we went into town and walked along the East Potomac Park. There were some trees that I would say were in Stage 3, more in Stage 4 and a very few were in Stage 5. They were not as full bloomed as the trees in Arlington. We then walked over to the Tidal Basin. Same story here – a few were out and puffy white but most were stage 4. That didn’t stop me from taking pictures. Nor did it stop a newly wedded couple and their party from taking pictures along the Tidal Basin walkway. I even saw the stone lantern (not far from the new Martin Luther King monument that is planned to open later this year). The lack of people allowed us to leisurely stroll the pathway where we could venture among the trees. We inspected the trees and viewed the gnarled old ones, the newly planted ones, and the older trees with new grafts. Based on what we saw, I think the NPS was accurate with their prediction. The Peak Blooming Period would most likely begin around March 26 with the Peak Day soon thereafter. I wondered why there was a difference in the stages of bloom between the trees in Arlington and those on the Tidal Basin. I don’t have a Horticulture degree but I am guessing that one factor might be the location of the trees (near water) along the Potomac River and the Tidal Basin results in slightly cooler temperatures than those experienced in the heavily concreted, sheltered, urban sections of Arlington. I can also confirm that wind makes a big difference in the length of bloom. As I mentioned earlier, we were well rewarded five years ago. However, what a difference a few hours can make. Overnight (in 2006), DC experienced some strong winds and slight rain, resulting in many of the blooms blowing off the trees onto the pavement. As the saying goes, timing is everything. All in all, a fun time is to be had during the Festival. Next year DC will acknowledge the centennial with a 5 week celebration (March 20 – April 27, 2012). You can do as much or as little as you want. This is actually a good time to visit DC as you miss the large summer crowds and the hot, steamy weather. The tourist attractions are less busy, especially during the weekdays, and the restaurant waits are more tolerable. The prices are still very high, regardless of the season. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about snow and ice, as I now look outside my window and get depressed at the sight and the temperatures. —Submitted by Jim Oldani Someone / Somewhere Love, Compassion and Enthusiasm -- A way of Life! When told she had to put in 40 hours of volunteer work to get her Master Gardener Certificate, “she freaked out”. “How am I ever going to get 40 hours, where will I go to get them?” wondered Ruth Frushour. Not to worry! As she begin volunteering at The Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak Farmer’s Market, Royal Oak Golf Course, taking care of the garden at Troy Athens High School, working the Community Garden at St. Dennis Church in Royal Oak, volunteering at Bowers Farm, and Haven & Care House Shelter in Pontiac, all of the 40 hours Ruth needed came ---- and more, and more followed. The more hours you accumulate, the more opportunities of service you discover, such as helping someone with their garden when they are seriously ill. She does not do it to "just get hours", she does it because she has compassion and really wants to help. At Troy Baker Middle School, Ruth and the students started plants from seeds, later transferring them to bigger pots, and then into the ground. Watching the plants grow into vegetables was something new for most of the students; they had never gardened before. It was a great learning experience for them. With the help of begonia flower donations from Goldner Walsh, the Thursday before Mother’s Day, Ruth was as the Care House in Pontiac and worked with the children teaching them how to plant a flower in a pot for Mother’s Day. The children also planted flowers at the entrance of Care House, and after Memorial Day, they will plant flowers outside. It’s always interesting to discover how people learn about the Master Gardener program. While recovering from suspected cancer surgery, Ruth went to the Farmers Market in Royal Oak and saw the Master Gardener Booth. After asking many questions and reading the handout literature, Ruth decided she wanted to take the Master Gardener course. Her husband, Jeff, drove to the Pontiac office, took in her check and she started the class in January. Ruth loved the “Big Book”; she said "It was so interesting and delightful." Ruth very proudly received her Master Gardener certification in 2004 and her advanced certification a few years later. Through the years, she has had three mentors in the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County who have helped her develop into the great gardener she is today. During this time, Ruth taught Health and Physical Education at Troy Athens High School. She told her students that she was also taking a Master Gardener class and had to study for a test each week. They thought a garden test would be so simple, so she had them take one of her tests. They found out it was not as easy as they thought. Gardening is a good subject for Health Class, and soon they were looking through her workbook and asking all kinds of gardening questions. Teachers have to set a good example, so she knew she had to study hard and pass her tests, because the students wanted to see her test results every week. Ruth would bring plants to her class; if the students could name the plant, they could have it. How clever. She would also take her students on class trips to the Detroit Zoo, show them the garden she was currently working in, and get them to help. In 2006, Ruth went as a chaperone on a student class trip to Germany. While there, she took the students on a garden tour, and also found a garden for the students to work in. Ruth also taught intramural basketball and coached the volleyball team. School sports were an important part of Ruth’s teaching career. Ruth has been a wonderful, understanding and helpful teacher to her students. She still keeps in touch with many of them. Ruth was born in Columbus, Ohio but grew up in Clawson, MI. She has an adopted son from Guatemala, Michael Giovanni, a wonderful daughter-in-law, Norma, and a sweet little grandson named Giovanni, who live in Phoenix, Arizona. Being so far away, it’s so nice to have many photographs. When Michael was 13 years old, he met Jeff. Michael asked Jeff, if he would like to take out his Mom. He did all he could to encourage his Mom to go out with Jeff and eventually marry him. Jeff and Ruth have been married for over 15 years. Jeff is a wonderful husband. He is taking great care of Ruth since she developed foot problems almost a year ago. Ruth has to stay off her feet and keep them up. Here is where gardening gear comes in; she wears her kneepads to get around from room to room without using her feet. Jeff does a lot for her in the garden, in the home, and running to and fro, while the doctors are studying and deciding how to proceed with her foot problem. In the mean time, she gets around with a wheel chair. Keeping Ruth company at home is Mulligan, Guinness, and Mia, three wonderful black rescued cats. “To me spring time means trilliums, daffodils, hydrangeas, and pussy willows. In fall, I love the Sedum and Hardy Mums. Winter Evergreens, Alberta Spruce, and Holly Berry bushes look beautiful covered with snow. Every garden in every season is beautiful”, says Ruth. A few years ago, Ruth visited her Aunt Kathleen in California who had some red wigglers in her compost. She mailed some to Ruth and so her "Worm Farm" was born. Ruth started in the basement and then moved them to her compost in the yard. She now shares them with many friends and relatives who garden and would rather receive worms than chocolate. Ruth and Jeff have a cottage up north and some of the worms now reside in her garden there. Ruth retired from teaching in 2010, but she has filled the time with a great passion for helping children thru the St. Clair Butterfly Foundation. One of her former students, Lisa, and husband, Chip St. Clair, started the foundation. Using the power of the creative arts and music programs, nutrition, gardening, yoga, stress management, and even book clubs provide creative outlets for children and teens whose background vary from abuse to the sudden death of a parent or loved one -- from childhood illness to the struggles of the foster care system. Ruth has been on the Board of Directors since 2005, is in charge of Horticulture Therapy Education, and is the Treasurer. While Ruth was still teaching, she had Lisa and Chip come in and speak to her health class. The Principal of the school was so impressed; he had them speak to the whole school. Many students were helped that day. Ruth’s compassion and love for this program is very strong. As Ruth says, “I love gardening and have learned so much. Little did I know in 2004, how much my Master Gardener training would be used to do my work for the St. Clair Butterfly Foundation to help others heal.” —Submitted by Sylvia Schult Notes From Nutcase Nursery By the time you read this it may be okay to finally stop whining about spring’s arrival. I don’t remember a season being so maligned by so many when, if you look at the hard data, we actually breezed through one of the nastiest winters in years for many parts of the country. Shouldn’t we be grateful and peacefully accept a piddley spring? Michigan’s winter was not bad at all. We weren’t brought to our knees for days by killer snowstorms or flooded off our foundations by runaway snowmelt. We dodged at least six major snowstorms this season and still moaned about the weather. We didn’t have planeloads of passengers trapped for hours at Metro, we didn’t run out of salt for the roads, and we didn’t suffer through numerous power outages from freak ice storms. I really think our local weather prognosticators were actually disappointed and maybe even a little envious at times when other locales were repeatedly beaten by Old Man Winter and we lucked out. No good scary snow stories on the nightly news. And how do we show our appreciation for frolicking mostly unscathed through a Michigan winter? Why we badmouth the heck out of spring. Not even once did I hear anyone, on screen or in-person, mouth that perennial platitude, “April showers bring May flowers.” Last spring we were totally spoiled by the fact that the weather warmed early and stayed warm. It was ideal for those of us who like to tempt fate and put in early crops. But many perennials didn’t know what to do with themselves. Even daylilies bloomed earlier than usual and then became puny, not knowing what to do for the rest of the season. This is how the weather works in Michigan, isn’t it? We joke about it when we’re in better moods, saying things like “You don’t like the weather here? Stick around, it changes every twenty minutes.” And usually there is something to please us right around the corner. Why whine? The weather is a major factor in a gardener’s life and the fact that we have no control over it is what makes gardening the great experiment it is. Even if we understand that la Niña is the periodic weather system that creates havoc with the jetstream, we can’t change its effects. We live in a very unique place. No other state is surrounded by so much fresh water. Michigan’s fruit industry relies on the Great Lakes to moderate our climate. Our beets love their soil. We show people where we live by pointing to spots on the back of our left hand, or the palm of our right. We are Michigan gardeners and we are tough and wise. The more we garden, the more we learn. The better we learn, the better we garden. And the better we teach. What’s weird for me this year is that I feel like I am almost starting from scratch. In fact, I’ve been kicking around the idea of just closing the nursery and opening up as Dingoland. It would be much less stressful. While spring took its sweet time getting here, I found myself not really wanting the snow to melt for fear of what Dingoland would look like when it did. My fears were not unfounded by any means. The Dingo loves the outdoors, regardless of weather, and she is also very creative when it comes to entertaining herself. Why it was necessary to dig down through the roots of the cherry tree is unknown. Perhaps voles were involved. The last of the low voltage lighting bit the dust, including most of the formerly underground cable. On the bright side, I found five four-watt light bulbs when I was cleaning up. I was afraid she had eaten them. Apparently only the little halogen bulbs in the solar lights are edible. And you really have to question the entertainment value in pulling out the same rose bush twice. Thorns be damned, although that might explain the little white dots all over her red nose. I thought maybe they were reverse freckles. Seriously, animals get skin cancer too, especially the fair-skinned ones and those with thin coats, same as humans. I might as well insert my usual summer admonitions here and get it over with: If you haven’t updated your tetanus vaccination, and you spend time in the soil, you should seriously consider doing so; Wash your gloves regularly and wear them; Disinfect your tools to avoid spreading disease; But I can think of a few more not so usual. Master Gardeners don’t let friends wantonly use pesticides, and the term pesticide covers a lot of territory. I was rather shocked the other day at some information I read in what I thought was a fairly sane publication. At the end of an article were some “words of wisdom” regarding dealing with pests, and pesticides were listed before what we call an organic approach, like using a blast of water to knock down aphids for example. Years ago I might have been impressed that that approach was mentioned at all, but not in today’s world. My opinion of that publication dropped as fast and as far as my opinion of the Donald did. Be aware that applying any kind of pesticide for hire, which includes fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, requires a license from the Michigan Department of Agriculture. This includes even the application of household vinegar used as an herbicide. Something to be on the lookout for in your neighborhoods is unlicensed or unmarked applicators. If you notice someone walking a property spraying or spreading and they have a vehicle with no markings, that’s a violation and it should be reported to the MDA. Get the vehicle’s license number and report it to the Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division at 1-800-292-3939. My very favorite applicator story comes compliments of a well-known lawn care company. About six years ago I was working at a site where the owner contracted with them for “whatever was needed.” She told me she had the grass sprayed and the trees sprayed and she just paid the bill. Little ninety-year old widows make me worry so I told her I would find out exactly what she was paying for and see if we could come up with a better idea. I don’t particularly care to work in a toxic environment either. One day I happened to be there when the truck arrived. I questioned the young man as to what he was spraying and he told me he didn’t really know because he was new. I told him to stop. I didn’t ask to see his license but I told him that there would be no further spraying until he could tell me what chemicals he was using. The next day I was back on site and so was he. He told me that he went back to the office and spoke with one of the older guys and that he was spraying the dogwood for anthrax. “How very interesting” I said. “Cows get anthrax, sheep get anthrax, people get anthrax. Dogwoods get anthracnose.” I told him we wouldn’t be needing his services any longer.” The little pest came back the next day when I wasn’t there and sprayed again. We called and informed them that we would not pay the bill and they haven’t stopped by since. When the same well-known lawn care company visited me, I thought the guy had a death wish. I asked him if he had noticed my Master Gardener banner on the fence. He told me I had crabgrass. I said I knew. He gave me the spiel. I asked him why his company didn’t have an organic program and he told they did but he doesn’t talk about it because it costs more than the chemical program and most people aren’t interested. If he’s no longer with us, I had nothing to do with it. Gardening is supposed to teach us patience but it doesn’t always turn out that way for me. I live in an area that provides its own water. Essentially, whatever we put into the ground we can wind up drinking. I get a little upset when someone tells me they poured gasoline down a chipmunk hole. That’s worth a hefty fine not including a remediation bill. I talk to people about over- enthusiastic mulching their trees. One neighbor actually cut out two six-inch major root sections from the leeward side of a maple because they were too bumpy to run the lawnmower over them. He spent weeks on his stomach with various saws and other tools. When I finally realized what he was doing I tried to talk him out of it. Besides the fact that grass is never going to grow in that spot so it wouldn’t need to be mowed, I warned him that leeward roots are the ones that develop to brace the tree against prevailing winds. I showed him other trees with the same configuration of roots. He got the concept but shrugged his shoulders when I told him if we have straightline winds like the ones that took out dozens of trees here three years ago, that tree will likely fall right on his house. He wouldn’t listen to me concerning EAB either and lost a family heirloom ash. The mission of the Master Gardener Society is to assist, enable, and encourage its members to use their horticultural knowledge and experience to help the people of their communities enrich their lives through gardening and good gardening practices. One of the Society’s goals is to sponsor workshops, seminars, information booths, and other appropriate events that educate as many of our neighbors as possible. Wouldn’t it be a great idea for Oakland County’s Master Gardeners to put on conference like some other counties do? With increased emphasis on eating local, water conservation, environmental pollution, recycling, backyard composting and such, there are so many areas where we as Master Gardeners can contribute in an educational forum. The trouble is, you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him do the backstroke. This is also why you should never pray for patience. My patience is tested enough around the Nursery. I prefer to sell plants under very specific conditions. I open regularly in conjunction with recent rain. Most of the plants we sell are bare-root. Digging well-hydrated plants makes for a more successful transition to its new site. Sometimes I pot certain specimens however. In the spring when things need to be straightened up, there happen to be only two choices: you can either hang out in a pot or the compost pile. At the end of the season the remaining pots have to be dug into the back end of the garden for safekeeping. Those that had labels sticking out no longer have labels. Actually most of the pots no longer even had rims which made it a little more difficult finding them and freeing them from the soil so we could rototill and set in the early crops. Who am I kidding? Set in the early crops? Before it rained for hours on end, I managed to get some potatoes in. For years, Himself and I would argue about the potato crop, but the topic was usually when to dig them. He decided he would be the digger because of his heritage, which was fine with me, but the digger always complained that the planter and hiller didn’t mark where things were and when the vines die, the digger doesn’t know where to dig. So, one year the planter also planted little bamboo stakes with each tuber. I was told that it was possibly the smartest thing I had ever done. The Dingo agreed and has been entertaining herself with my sticks since the day after I planted this year’s taters. You may recall that last year, I kept the Dingo in the yard and the plants in the dog kennel, which generated a lot of questions from visitors. This year I had hoped that we would be further ahead in our social development to perhaps give up eating pots and plants, but obviously I was delusional. I spent a whole day potting on tomato plants and set them up in a little greenhouse until they got religion. Then to avoid temptation, I set them up in coldframes to continue their spiritual journey to sale specimens. When I broke for dinner, two or three pots were left to put away. By the time I sat down to dinner I was informed by the resident tattletale that there was a black pot in the middle of the yard. Sure enough, the Dingo captured a Big Boy tomato and dumped the dirt and ate the plant, saving the pot for dessert. My first impulse was to get on my hands and knees and scoop up what I could of my special potting mix. Instead I did my impression of Cruella DeVille with my inspirational “WHO DID THIS?” dance. The head hung for 27 seconds. I have much more to share but the editor has his limits. Just a few more thoughts, though. Be on the lookout for tomato hornworms, don’t forget to resow for fall crops starting about the middle of July, and set up a rain barrel. Now get to work. Break time is over. 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”