Our new MSU Extension Program Coordinator has been fascinated by plants for as long as she can remember. “We would drive to visit my grandparents in New York and Florida when I was young,” Carol recalls. “I wanted to know the names of all the roadside plants.” Carol knew by the time she was 16 that she really needed to be out-of-doors. Every weekend as a child, she walked to the Zoo from her home in Huntington Woods. Carol grew her first plants on her dormitory room windowsill while in college . She picked a fern and was amazed by its rapid growth. “I could literally almost watch it grow and was very excited by this.” She went to Europe for six months with her twin sister Enaj and then continued on to India for another eight months. Carol returned to the States, moving to Wisconsin to enter the University of Wisconsin's Horticulture Program where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Plant Science. While in college, she took a class in plant phrenology which very much intrigued her. After graduation, she worked as a houseplants propagator in a greenhouse in St. Paul. Wanting to do more, Carol decided to go to the American Floral Art College in Chicago for an intensive six-week class in floral design. This training led to a job in a high-end flower shop in Minneapolis that carried only exotic flowers. “That job taught me a lot about a variety of tropical plants.” But, home beckoned and Carol returned to Michigan 14 years ago. Hired by a national chain as a horticulturist, she also trained employees for them. Soon after, Carol was hired by the Genesee County Extension to work in the Gypsy Moth Program. When the Genesee County program decided to join the State Cooperative Gypsy Moth Program, Carol was hired to coordinate that program for Oakland County. At the same time, she also worked for the Waste Resource Management Division of Oakland County . “I'm very proud of the North Oakland Household Hazardous Waste Consortium that I helped establish in19 communities.” However, Carol wanted to get back to her horticulture roots. When she heard that this job would be available, she applied for it. Now, she's wearing two hats since she'll also continue to work with the Gypsy Moth Program. Carol is a firm believer in Community Service and in helping the hungry. She hopes that in time, these programs can be expanded. She also believes that it's important to give the public the right information about horticulture. Hence, the importance of MG information booths. “I have a grave concern about the misuse of pesticides,” Carol says. “I don't think people realize how they might be poisoning their families by not correctly using these products” Carol likes to refer to herself as a fresh air nut rather than an outdoors person. December 2003/January 2004 Meet Carol Lenchek By Marilyn Citron Stepping Stones 2 Meeting Highlights 2 Carol's Concepts 3 Herbal Lore 4 Hotlines 5 Tiptoeing Into Spring 6 Board Minutes 9-11 Moments to Remember 11 Organic Gardening 12 Tools of the Trade 16 Inside this issue: Roots & Shoots ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # North Office Building, #26 East 1200 North Telegraph Road Pontiac, MI 48341-0416 248/858-0880 Fax: 248/858-1477 This story can fit 175-225 words. If your newsletter is folded and mailed, this story will appear on the back. So, it's a good idea to make it easy to read at a glance. A question and answer session is a good way to quickly capture the attention of readers. You can either compile questions that you've received since the last edition or you can summarize some generic questions that are frequently asked about your organization. A listing of names and titles of managers in your organization is a good way to give your newsletter a personal touch. If your organization is small, you may want to list the names of all employees. If you have any prices of standard products or services, you can include a listing of those here. You may want to refer your readers to any other forms of communication that you've created for your organization. You can also use this space to remind readers to mark their calendars for a regular event, such as a breakfast meeting for vendors every third Tuesday of the month, or a biannual charity auction. If space is available, this is a good place to insert a clip art image or some other graphic. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2003 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2003 DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Carol's Concepts By Carol Lenchek, MSU Extension Program Coordinator & Extension Liaison I'd like to take a few words to introduce myself and let you know that I'm excited about this new opportunity. I have spent most of my life in Oakland County. I grew up in Huntington Woods and now live and garden in northwest Oakland County. I'm a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and have a Bachelor of Science in Plant Science, with a Horticulture emphasis. Horticulture is my passion as well as my vocation. I have spent the last 20 years working in a variety of jobs in the field, including greenhouse plant propagator, nursery horticulturist, floral designer, and private gardener. I have worked for Oakland County since 1994 coordinating the Gypsy Moth Program, which I will continue to do. I have actually been housed in the MSU Extension office for all but the last few months, so I'm familiar with Extension and the programming we provide. But being familiar with the programming is not the same as coordinating the program and there is a tremendous amount of detail I need to absorb to do the job right. Please be patient with me while I bring myself up to speed on your special project! I look forward to learning about all of the areas where Master Gardeners are making a difference and to pursuing new opportunities for public service. I also look forward to meeting you and working together toward our common goal. Let's work hard and have some fun along the way! DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Meeting Highlights By Jean Gramlich Stepping Stones/From the President By John Humphrey, President MGSOC Candy Cane Christmas Tree Farm - Frank Genovese Frank Genovese from Candy Cane Christmas Tree Farm was our featured speaker in November. Frank graduated in the second Master Gardener program many years ago. He and his wife Cathy started planting Christmas trees in Oxford in 1978. The farm won the Michigan Tree Farm of the Year Award in 2003. Frank and Cathy hand-plant four-year-old trees. These trees are dug up two years after planting, root pruned, and then replanted. This enables them to grow much faster because this procedure concentrates the roots. The trees are then replanted in soil mixed with a root stimulator and myccorhizae. Although the soil has a pH of 7.1 (not ideal for evergreens), micronutrients override the high pH because Frank uses leaves to sheet compost enabling the trees to absorb trace minerals from the subsoil. A drip irrigation system waters each tree for maximum quality and survival. Planting more than 20 diverse varieties of evergreens helps to reduce the number of insects and diseases thus limiting their use of pesticides. Some of the trees are exotic non-invasive species native to climates similar to southeastern Michigan such as Korean fir, corkbark fir from China, Serbian spruce and Nikko fir from Japan. The Genoveses try to find trees that are resistant to common pests and diseases. The trees are pruned every year so that they have beautiful symmetry and space to hang ornaments. Fir and spruce can be trimmed at any time of year, but pines should be pruned mid-June to mid-July just at the tips. Except on pine trees, leaders should be trimmed in late July or early August so that the bud underneath will become dominant. There is no need to use a splint. At a side fork or axil with four branches, cut the longest middle branch right back in August or September. The Genoveses sell Christmas trees customers can chop down themselves. They also have trees in pots to enjoy indoors during the holiday season and later transplant them out-of-doors. They also propagate evergreens to sell for transplanting in the spring. Frank as well as other growers are trying to insure that some endangered species survive. The Master Gardener Society hopes to arrange a visit to the farm next spring. We look forward to it! Greetings Everyone! The Holiday's have arrived, and 2004 opportunities are on the horizon. Momentous discoveries will be made that will certainly challenge each and every one of us to capitalize on our own potential. Groundbreaking technology will develop into practical, everyday use applications. Incremental growth over time within our group not only improves our viability, but also increases our visibility. Our goal this year should be to form new alliances, which will in turn stimulate innovative ideas through a collaborative network of talented individuals. I continue to be at your service, as we look ahead building our Society. DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Forget-Me-Nots By xxxxxxxxxxxxx Protect non-hardy roses for the winter after the ground freezes. Soil can be mounded 8-10 inches above the bud union. Plants can also be surrounded with chicken wire filled with leaves/straw, or covered with Styrofoam rose cones. Examine trees and shrubs for the pale brown or tan cottony egg masses of gypsy moths, for bagworm bags, and for the silvery egg masses of tent caterpillars. Scrape them into a container of soapy water. Although top growth stops when air temperature drops to the 40° to 50° F, grass roots remain active as long as soil temperature remain above 35° to 40° F. Late fall fertilizing can help keep lawns green into winter and boost early spring recovery. Plan to apply nitrogen to the lawn after the grass stops growing but before the first snow. Clean up and remove any fallen leaves remaining under trees or shrubs that were affected by disease this year. This helps to reduce inoculums that over- winter on infected leaves. Eliminate the possibility of vole or rabbit damage to ornamental trees and shrubs by encircling them with a protective barrier. Barriers can be made with ¼” hardware cloth or sheet metal, or can be purchased commercially. All barriers should encircle the stem or stems to a height of at least 6 inches. The bottom edge should also encircle any surface roots and extend at least 2 inches below ground level or be banked with at least 2 inches of soil, sand or gravel. Organize, clean, and store garden tools. Winterize the lawn mower by changing the oil, emptying the fuel tank, or filling it and adding a gasoline preservative. Change belts, spark plugs and air filter, if necessary. Store leftover garden chemicals in a cool, secure dry place where they won't freeze or be exposed to high temperatures. Newly planted trees and shrubs should be watered until the ground freezes if the weather has been dry. Evergreens particularly need to go into winter well watered. They will continue to lose moisture from their foliage after frozen soil limits the ability of their roots to take up water to replace it. Enjoy the unique attractiveness of the winter garden. Brilliant berries, stately grasses and unusual seed heads all contribute to the often-ignored beauty of the landscape at this time of year. Allow the quiet of a new fallen snow to sooth your soul. Revel in the brilliant reds of the poinsettia, the breath-taking display of the Christmas Cactus and the pungent, nostalgic aroma of spruces, pines and firs. Take time to appreciate the moment. Hug a loved one! …Good Will Toward Men Many gardeners combine with bird watching and feeding. Planning a garden for winter bird feeding can be both challenging and interesting, not to mention the sheer enjoyment of observing bird antics. In our part of the country, many birds do not migrate. They must depend upon mother nature and planned winter gardens to survive. There are many annuals and perennials that provide winter seeds for our feathered friends. One of the best loved annuals by both gardeners and birds is the zinnia. Zinnias are super easy to grow, and their seeds are as nutritious and popular as sunflower seeds. Zinnias are quick to bloom and hummingbirds as well as butterflies suck nectar from their blooms. The real show begins when the seed heads ripen. A variety of birds such as finches, cardinals, and buntings will visit from late summer through the winter months until the seed heads are bare. Right after the borage of these seed reapers, sparrow and juncos will follow along to clean up the seeds that drop to the ground. So, gardeners...do not be too hasty to totally clean your garden beds. Remember our feathered friends and their winter needs. DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Organic Gardening By Peter Bray Weeds, Part I: Organic Weed Control Weeds are probably the organic gardener's worst problem. Weeds make a living by colonizing bare soil, and the vegetable gardener makes soil bare at least once a year. Furthermore, weeds tend to be more vigorous than vegetables, and - unlike vegetables-- weeds choose where they want to grow. Compared with weeds, insect pests are hardly a problem. Once a gardener stops using insecticides, beneficial insects begin to inhabit the garden and take care of most pest insects. Mulch and Pull The essence of organic weed control is “mulch and pull”. A natural mulch of shredded leaves, straw, or something similar will prevent many species of weeds from germinating. This is the basic organic weed control - prevention, not extermination. Natural mulches, while helping to solve the weed problem, provide many other benefits: preservation of moisture, building soil organic matter, keeping the root zone cool in midsummer, and promoting earthworm populations -- providers of a great number of free garden services. I stress natural, because artificial mulches, while providing some of these benefits, do not by any means provide them all. In addition, plastic mulches will deteriorate and leave small plastic fragments in the soil, which hinder its proper working. Similarly, shredded car tires, while they are nice to look at, put harmful elements into the soil. A variation of natural mulch that I intend to try is to sow an over-winter cover crop of hairy vetch in the early fall, then cut it down in the spring and use the dead growth as a mulch. The roots and nitrogen-fixing nodules they bear will decompose and enrich the soil. Few people like the labor of pulling weeds, so why do it? For one thing, some weeds manage to grow through mulches. Grasses and sedges particularly will push their way through straw. In addition, you may find wheat or barley growing through straw mulch, from grain the combine missed. When you pull a weed, knock the soil off the roots and put it on the compost pile. A little soil will remain on the roots which is enough to provide all the activator your compost pile needs. Buying compost activators is a waste of money. Be sure to pull weeds before they flower and set seeds. It is the nature of weeds to flower quickly and set lots of seeds; so scout your garden often or weeds will get away from you. Putting weed seeds into the compost pile will, of course, do the weeds' job for them when you come to spread the compost on bare soil. Another situation in which you will need to pull weeds: if you like to wait until the soil warms up in the spring before you apply mulch, then weeds will sprout in the bare soil. Novice gardeners are understandably cautious about pulling weed seedlings because they seem to be indistinguishable from vegetable and flower seedlings. There are a couple of excellent guides to weed seedling identification. One is an M.S.U. website: Common Weed Seedlings of Michigan at www.msue.msu.edu/iac/e1363/e1363.htm. The photographs are excellent, and all our weeds are here (except Galinsoga, which happens to be quite prolific at Bower's Farm.). The other is Weeds of the Northwest by Ova, Neal, and DiTomaso -- quite the best weed identification book going. It devotes two pages to each weed, with pictures of the seedling, flowering plant, its general habit, its seeds, and (sometimes) look-alikes. Hoeing Weeds If you control weeds by mulching then, obviously, you won't be able to use a hoe. Many people keep completely weed-free gardens by hoeing, but they miss the many advantages of mulching. And, I am concerned that a hoe could damage the vegetable roots growing close to the soil surface. For this reason, I recommend that anyone who feels compelled to hoe should use a stirrup hoe - the kind that has a blade consisting of two wires; it only scratches the surface of the soil. There is one way, though, that a gardener might use both hoe and mulch. Prior to planting in the spring, clear the soil and let weeds germinate. Then hoe them with a stirrup hoe. And then mulch. This procedure eliminates the weed seeds close to the soil surface. But don't dig any deeper, because it just brings up more weed seeds. Be aware that there is an almost limitless reservoir of weed seeds in the soil. Solarizing with Clear Plastic You can kill weed seedlings by spreading clear plastic some weeks before planting vegetables. The plastic would act as a greenhouse and the heat would kill weeds as they sprout. I have never tried this. I have a concern that the heat would kill soil microbes and small invertebrates, all of which play an important role in the proper functioning of the soil. In this respect, solarizing is like using herbicides insofar as both kill soil microbes. (More accurately, some herbicides kill some soil microbes.) Changing Soil Chemistry Specific weeds have their own likes and dislikes about the mineral content of the soil they grow in. The reference book for this is Jay L. McCaman's Weeds and Why They Grow. This provides about 40 pages of practical text and 50 pages of tables listing the mineral preferences of about 840 different weeds. Another resource is the classic book on organic weed control: WEEDS - Control Without Poisons by Charles Walters, published by Acres U.S.A. Many of the broad-leafed weeds such as Lamb's quarters and Red-rooted pigweed like low calcium and phosphorus and high potash and magnesium. This is to say that they prefer minerals to be out of balance when compared with the optimal balance of minerals for growing vegetables. An organic gardener will have the soil tested every 3 or 4 years and correct any deficiencies in order to achieve the best balance of minerals - in a word, more fertile soil. Therefore you might reasonably conclude that, as you make your soil more fertile, it would be less prone to support large populations of broad-leafed weeds. It's said that farmers in pre-herbicide times claimed that high fertility is the best weed control. On the other hand, some present day skeptics claim that high fertility just makes for bigger and stronger weeds. Nevertheless, weeds can give you a free if somewhat rudimentary soil test. A familiar example is clover, which thrives in soil low in nitrogen. But the clovers and other leguminous weeds such as Black medic fix nitrogen in the soil. For this reason I tolerate them in my vegetable beds - just so long as they don't get out of hand. Published bimonthly for Oakland County Master Gardeners and Master Gardener Society members DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Tools Of The Trade by Wendy Kelly I know it can be fun to make fun of Martha Stewart. I'm guilty of it myself. She's just so darn perfect. (Except when it comes to insider trading, but that's a story for another day.) But despite my perverse pleasure in Martha-bashing, there's one thing about her I secretly admire. She always has the perfect tool for the job, no matter how obscure or bizarre it may be. Whether she's in the kitchen, the garden, the sewing room, the henhouse, or the custom-designed mudroom with twin dog showers and grooming station, she's got the tool she needs. Whether it's an egg separator, an antique hand-forged spade from colonial Williamsburg, a surgical-grade seam ripper, or a one-handed hairball remover… you name it, she's got it. Once I watched her plant a terrarium and she actually had teeny, tiny long-handled TERRARIUM tools! Naturally, she made them herself using lacquered bamboo skewers she picked up in Japan and some mismatched sterling flatware she couldn't resist at a tag sale in the Hamptons. Sometimes I ponder this when I'm working in my own garden. That's because I NEVER have the right tool. Well actually, I probably do have the right tool, somewhere, but if I take the time to locate it, I'll become distracted by something and never finish the job I started. A wise gardener by the name of Janet Macunovich once said, “The time to do anything in the garden is when you think of it.” Truer words were never spoken. And this very sentiment explains why I've been known to use whatever “tool” (and I use that term loosely) is nearby and has at least a slim chance at accomplishing the goal. For example, I once took the teaspoon out of my teacup and used it to dig up a little piece of bachelor's button for my neighbor. Then, having no suitable container nearby, I had to stick the division in my empty teacup and give it to her. I can't even tell you how many kid's sand shovels have sacrificed themselves in my garden. There always seems to be one within grabbing range, and no matter how many times I snap one of those babies in two, I still don't learn my lesson. And scissors! I go through scissors like a lunatic. I'll take a pair out to cut some leaf lettuce, and before you know it, I've deadheaded every thing in sight, pruned my climbing rose and aerated the lawn. Needless to say, they don't last long at my house. I really wish I could do everything the right way, like Martha does. But hey, at least the job gets done. And that's a good thing. Right? Society Officers President: John P. Humphrey.....………........248-542-8213 Vice President: John Grant..… ………….......248-852-3758 Secretary: Ruth Vrbensky...… ………............248-969-6904 Treasurer: Julie Bird...……… …...................248-358-3277 Team Administrator: Sherry D. Jones……….248-442-9866 MSU Extension Liaison Carol Lenchek....…..……………….................248-858-0900 e-mail...………….………….......lenchekc@co.oakland.mi.us Team Leaders Bowers Farm: John Grant…………..………..248-852-3758 Deeann Bauer...........…………..........248-828-7385 John Humphrey..........…………. ......248-542-8213 Martha Humphrey e-mail……………….…...babylon6@ameritech.net Education /Volunteer Committee: Linda Rose........………….................248-642-4543 Fund Raising: Terry Ohrstrom...…............248-544-8658 Hospitality: Sylvia Schult...........…….........248-585-7656 Membership:Tom Hershberger....……........248-435-3954 MGSOOC Newsletter: Marilyn Citron.......…........……........248-645-5515 e-mail...………………............MCWrites@aol.com Nomination Committee: Tom Hershberger.......………..............248-435-3954 Programs:John Humphrey.…….......…........248-542-8213 Trips & Tours: Sandie Parrott.....……........248-394-1532 Website Administrator: Sheri Trout..…..248-328-0557 e-mail................................sheri@oaklandweb.com Volunteer Opportunity Contacts Oakland County Farmer's Market Info Booth Royal Oak Farmer's Market Info Booth Rochester Farmer's Market Info Booth Farmington Farmer's Market Info Booth (April 1st through September 30th) Ruth Parulis…........…………………...............248-682-2909 e-mail…….…………...ruthpreston2909@msm.com Bowers Farm Manager: Mark Seeley.......248-341-6475 e-mail.......………….........mseeley@bloomfield.org Let's Go Gardening: Denise Jones..….....586-944-8543 Continuing Education Committee for Oakland County: Jody Roeder.........………................248-642-7375 Tollgate Gardens: Rene Cottrell................248-398-2562 e-mail..........................................tyrenee@aol.com Calendar General meetings held on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Bowers Farm, 1219 East Square Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 from April through October. From November through March, General Meetings held at MSU Extension Office, lower conference room, 1200 North Telegraph Road Pontiac, MI 48341 Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. December 3, 2003: General Meeting - 6:30 PM, Education: Holiday Potluck at Bowers Farm December 31, 2003: Society membership applications and dues deadline January 1, 2004: Deadline for Roots & Shoots, including calendar from Secretary and program schedule for February through April January, 2004: Classes for new Master Gardeners begin January 7, 2004:General Meeting-6:30 PM, Education: Jane Suhail, “Growing Glorious Houseplants & Tropicals” January 20, 2004: Board Meeting-7:00 PM at Extension Office 1st floor conference room (This is a Tuesday) January, 2004: Directories to be mailed out February 1, 2004: Calendar submissions to Secretary for March through May February 4, 2004: General Meeting-6:30 PM, Education: to be announced Master Gardener Society MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION - OAKLAND COUNTY Bringing Knowledge To Life ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 North Office Building, #26 East 1200 North Telegraph Road Pontiac, MI 48341-0416 248/858-0880 Fax: 248/858-1477 Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Lois M. Thieleke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248/858-0885 Interim County Extension Director E-mail: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . thieleke@msue.msu.edu Carol Lenchek... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .248/858-0900 Extension Program Coordinator E-mail: ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...lenchekc@co.oakland.mi.us Cathy Morris . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248/858-1639 Clerk & Contact for Certification Volunteer & Education hours E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . morrisc@co.oakland.mi.us Yard and Garden Hotline…………….…….248/858-0902 Charlene Molnar, Horticulture Advisor Hours of operation vary with seasonal needs. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. MSUE-Oakland County Office Contacts Food Safety Hotline Sylvia Treitman 248/858-0904 4-H Youth Programs Tom Schneider 248/858-0889 Michigan State University Master Gardener Program Mary McLellan, State Coordinator 517/353-3774 Building Strong Families Dawn Koger 248/858-0897 Youth and Community Development Christy Hicks-Bowman 248/858-0889 Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program Matt Dykstra 248/858-5198 Roots & Shoots is a joint publication of M.S.U. Extension - Oakland County and MGSOC. Deadlines for submitting information or articles to Roots & Shoots are: Submission Deadline Issue Dates January 1 February/March Issue March 1 April/May Issue May 1 June/July Issue July 1 August/September Issue September 1 October/November Issue November 1 December/January Issue The Oakland Gardener only accepts submissions via e-mail. E-mail needs to include a description of request, contact person's name, phone number and e-mail address. This info will be “cut and pasted” into this online newsletter. Map to Bowers Farm DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Herbal Lore By Diane Opria Wild Edible Greens There is a world of tasty, free-for-the-picking leaf vegetables to be found in the fields, in vacant lots, and even shooting up among your own garden crops! After years of gardening and hoeing out all those intruders that I called weeds, articles began to appear that made me mindful of the usefulness of some of those greens. If you go back to the 70's and 80's, you may remember the first, small, issues of Organic Gardening. Or how about The Mother Earth News. Periodicals like these offered information about the plants that helped sustain life in the early days of this country. In the next few issues of Roots & Shoots, I would like to share some knowledge of "what's out there". You may think the December/January issue of Roots & Shoots would be a hard time to start such an article. Actually, though, you may have a wild green outside your door, right now, just waiting to be tasted. Depending on the weather (which my crystal ball is not showing right now), we can begin to look for Winter Cress now. This remarkable plant is available during the cold, "nothing growing" season. Winter Cress, not Water Cress Winter Cress (barbarea vulgaris) is named after St Barbara's day which occurs on December 4th. This potherb, also called “upland cress” because it grows in dry land locations such as fields, can be gathered even during this twilight time of the year. Scurvy grass is another name for Winter Cress because of its high concentration of vitamin C. The sailing ships used this potherb to help prevent scurvy, and so the name came to be. Winter Cress should not be confused with Water Cress (nasturtium officinale) which grows in streams. Growing Habits The dark green, smooth and somewhat crispy leaves grow in a rosette or layered whorl, on warm winter days. It has no stem, and grows close to the ground. Each Winter Cress leaf has a basal lobe that is accompanied by two to eight pairs of "earlike" side lobes. The first fresh clumps that are sweetened by freezing temps, make a tender, mild-flavored salad or an addition to your regular salad. As spring approaches, a flower stalk starts to appear, making the leaves bitter. This stalk can reach two feet high, producing bright, lemon colored flowers. At this point it may be very recognizable, as one of the attractive spring blooms that grab our attention as we drive along the streets. Just before this stage of growth is the last chance to harvest. As the buds appear on the soon-to-bloom stalk, pick and boil for five minutes, and enjoy like "wild broccoli". Each year we experience a slightly different season from the previous. More or less sun or rain. These factors influence the availability of these Wild Edible Greens. But before you dig up and discard it, first take a strainer and paring knife to the garden, then prepare for planting. It's fun and maybe healthy, and what a topic for conversation. Since this plant has the ability to store contaminates, it is best not to harvest where known pesticides or herbicides have been used. DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Tiptoeing into Spring: Tulips and other spring beauties By Constance Calhoun, Advanced Master Gardener As I write this, the first fall nights are beginning to chill my bones. I dug around my closets for my kid's winter coats and gloves (a major accomplishment for me)-and my four year old son and I planted spring bulbs. This year we planted anemones, alliums, galanthus and uvularia, just to try something new. I hunted on the internet for more information about the history and cultivation of tulips and some of their more unusual cousins in the bulb family. And I found a fascinating web site filled with information about all kinds of bulbs, the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center, www.bulb.com. Tulips have a rich history, but I confess I have planted daffodils and other bulbs more often in my gardens. The tulip has seemed beautiful but finicky and fickle, fading quickly, and dying out or disappearing. In my research, I found that this is part of the nature of the plant, unless species or botanical types which are naturalizing varieties are selected to be grown. It is a common misconception that tulips and other bulb flowers are native to the Netherlands, where millions of bulbs are cultivated each year. But the beautiful bulbs we admire each spring traveled considerable time and distance to reach today's gardens. Almost no bulbous plants are native to Holland-most came from the high mountains of Central Asia. Tulips originated near modern day Islamabad, close to the border of Russia and China, eventually spreading to Turkey. Tulips call mountains, not Michigan, "home." In their natural habitat, they are found growing at very high elevations in the mountains, which means that they are often covered with a thick layer of snow during the winter period. This offers good protection from the severe cold. In quite a few of these wild species the inner side of the skin that covers the bulb is covered with a thick hairy layer that provides extra protection. Summers are hot and dry in these mountains. It is somewhat odd that the Dutch became known for growing tulips when their country is mostly situated below sea-level and experiences winters that are very damp and cool. The Dutch have created systems that provide winter soil drainage. In the sandy coastal bulb growing regions, flower bulb fields are ringed by drainage ditches that draw surplus water quickly. The Dutch cultivation of tulips began, in the 1600s, in very small private plots. Cultivation took place mainly in the area between the North Sea and Amsterdam. People living in this area have soil available to them that is lying behind the Dutch dunes, consisting of coarse-grained sandy soil. Dutch tulip history begins in 1593 when botanist Carolus Clusius, who had worked in Prague and Vienna with medicinal herbs, came to Leiden in Holland to become head botanist of the first botanical garden in Western Europe, at the University of Leiden. He planted the first known tulips in Holland-- tulips that were given to him by a man named De Busbecq. De Busbecq was the ambassador to the court of Sultan Suleiman in Constantinople, Turkey, the seat of the Ottoman Empire. While there, De Busbecq collected tulips and was the first Westerner to mention them in writings. Clusius looked at tulip bulbs from a scientific perspective. He was very protective of them and refused to give bulbs away or to sell them. Some covetous bulb buyers made an illicit visit to the garden - and stole part of Clusius' collection-- the start of the Dutch tulip industry. As a result of the theft, the Dutch love for tulips has become felt worldwide. Soon, the tulip was a unique item that only the very rich could afford. So rare and so beautiful were they that the wealthy sought to have them. Tulips became a status symbol-and a buying mania began. By 1624 the mania had progressed to such a height that one tulip, the white and maroon "Rembrandt-type" tulip 'Semper Augustus', commanded a price as high as 3,000 guilders per bulb - with only 12 bulbs available for sale. This was the equivalent of $1,500 U.S. today. This sum could buy at the time: two loads of wheat, , four loads of rye, four large oxen, five pigs, 12 sheep, two barrels of wine, four barrels of beer, two barrels of butter, a thousand pounds of cheese, one complete bed, one suit of clothes, one silver tankard and a sizeable wagon to haul it all away. Just a short time later, a similar bulb fetched 4,500 guilders ($2,250 U.S.), plus a horse and carriage. This period is often compared to the modern day Stock Market Craze worldwide of the 1920s. Buying and selling tulips became not just a hobby for the very rich, but an activity for the status seeking middle class as well. The most expensive flowers were the “Rembrandt-type” with distinctive broken stripes of color, each one unique in its patterns. Solid-colored tulips were not fashionable. Now we know that the original "broken stripe" tulips were infected with a catastrophic virus, and such bulbs are not allowed in cultivation today. Instead, genetically-stable, flamed "look-a-likes" (hybrids that duplicate the famous bi-color, broken stripe look) are now available. The famous flamed (virused) tulips that came to be known as "Rembrandt tulips" were not a favored subject of Rembrandt, who rarely painted flowers. Rather, the name of Rembrandt was applied for its historical timeframe, the first half of the seventeenth century, when the artists who become known as the Dutch Masters --artists including Rembrandt, Frans Halls, and Breughel-- were most prolific. The Puritans in the government were opposed the tulip collecting and speculation. Some tulips that were traded never even existed. Tulip sellers could only supply actual bulbs during the period from July through November, when bulbs were out of the ground. The rest of the year, except for the flowering period, the plant was below the soil surface. The Dutch called this "windhandel," meaning "wind trading." The tulip obsession reached its peak from 1634 to 1637. In 1637 the tulip market crashed, when a gathering of bulb merchants could not get the usual inflated prices for the bulbs. People who were extremely “rich” were reduced to poverty within two months time. The tulip and the daffodil are the symbols of spring in the United States. But other spring bulbs such as galanthus, fritillaria, and anemone are great additions to your garden and are not to be overlooked. The Netherlands Bulb Information web site has information on all of these and more. My personal favorite is galanthus, “snowdrops,” the first spring flower, so tiny and white that it is almost invisible in clumps of ice still melting in the woods. Snowdrops bloom in February to signal the coming end of winter. So, green thumbs and summer lovers-keep your eyes peeled for snowdrops and tulips-it won't be long, I hope! DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Master Gardener Society of Oakland County Highlights of Board Meeting - August 18, 2003 Meeting called to order: 7:12 p.m. In Attendance: J. Bird, R. Vrbensky, J. Humphrey, Sherry Jones, Martha Ferguson, S. Schult, T. Ohrstrom, Linda Rose, DeeAnn Bauer, Tom Hershberger and S. Parrott Quorum present. Motion: R. Vrbensky moved to approve the minutes of May 19, 2003 board meeting as presented. J. Bird seconded. Approved. Treasurer Report: May 19, 2003-August 18, 2003 On file with secretary Motion: J. Bird moved to accept treasurer's report as presented. S. Jones second. Approved. J. Bird presented a detailed year to date summary of team expenditures (Jan 1, 2003-Aug 7, 2003) Team Administrator: T. Ohrstrom resigned as fund raising team leader effective Dec 31, 2003. Replacements are being sought. Team Reports Bowers: DeeAnn Bauer issued a Thank you to all the gardeners who gave time to make Bower's good great. Fund Raising: Terry Ohrstrom reported. Detailed report submitted to secretary. The permission statement from Mary McClellan to use MSUE logo and produce a banner as approved in previous Board meetings was read. Hospitality: S. Schult reported. Sylvia has slides on CD of both conferences and is ready to present to Society. Nominations: T. Hershberger reported that he is waiting to hear from incumbents for President and Treasurer as to whether they will seek re-election. Programs: J. Humphrey reported. If a cancellation arises, the Society will conduct an Open Forum of garden questions. Roots & Shoots: Martha Ferguson reported. She presented a reporting schedule for dates to Secretary and newsletter editor. Trips & Tours: S. Parrott submitted report Motion: J. Bird moved to have Sandie Parrott put together a garden trip to Ohio in 2004. J. Humphrey second. Approved Website: Web hosting was paid for. Coordinator Report: Martha Ferguson reported. She asked that more email information on the Society be sent to her for weekly email publishing. Old Business: Motion: J. Bird motioned to move the Nov-Mar Master Gardener Society general meetings to the MSUE-Oakland County building's basement classroom. If Pontiac schools are closed due to emergency/weather etc, the general meeting will be cancelled. The April-October general meetings will continue to be held at Bower's Farm. If Bloomfield schools are closed due to emergency/weather, etc. then the general meeting shall be cancelled. This statement shall run continuously in all Roots & Shoots newsletters and on the website in the calendar section. Sherry Jones seconded. Approved. Motion: J. Bird moved to adjourn the meeting. R. Vrbensky Seconded. Approved. Meeting Adjourned: 9:23 p.m. For detailed meeting minutes and to view reports submitted, please contact Secretary, Ruth Vrbensky at 248-969-6904. Master Gardener Society of Oakland County Board Meeting - August 27, 2003 Meeting called to order: 7:25 p.m. In Attendance: J. Bird, R. Vrbensky, J. Humphrey, J. Grant, Sherry Jones, S. Schult, Quorum present. Reviewed Sylvia's information regarding Martha Ferguson's Farewell Banquet. Sylvia was given preliminary permission to book the MSU Management Center for Sept 14, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. Volunteers were assigned tasks. Formal motions to be made at September 3, 2003 Board meeting immediately following the general meeting. Motion: J. Bird moved to adjourn the meeting. R. Vrbensky Seconded. Approved. Meeting Adjourned: 8:15 p.m. Master Gardener Society of Oakland County Board Meeting - September 3, 2003 Meeting called to order: 8:55 p.m. In Attendance: J. Bird, R. Vrbensky, J. Humphrey, J. Grant, Sherry Jones, S. Schult, Martha Humphrey, Terry Ohrstrom, Martha Ferguson, Linda Rose, Tom Hershberger, Bill Wallace, DeeAnn Bauer Quorum present. The winter move was discussed in light of Martha Ferguson leaving her position as Master Gardener Coordinator. Martha agreed to check with Lois Thielke to assign a county employee to open building for our general meetings. Judy Freed will reserve calendar dates for the Society. Martha Ferguson will send courtesy copies of emails to Ruth Vrbensky. Terry Ohrstrom asked the date of Volunteer day/night for Master Gardener classes. Tues, November 25, 2003 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Winter classes to be scheduled in next 2 weeks. There will not be a plant exchange at the September 27, 2003 Open Barn at Bower's Farm Tom Hershberger stated the member application form is ready for printing. Martha agreed to send all Board members Lois Thielke's contact information. Martha Ferguson was excused from meeting. Farewell for Martha Ferguson: John Humphrey has speakers lined up. Janet Macunovich is the emcee Julia from Goldner-Walsh will supply the table decorations at no charge. Doors open at 12:00 p.m. to decorate. Cash bar is 1:30 - 2:30 and dinner is at 2:00 pm. Julie Bird will purchase a corsage, Ruth Vrbensky to get gifts and cake, Susan Tatus-McCarty will prepare a song. Sherry Jones to purchase disposable cameras for tables and have film developed. Tom Hershberger to purchase 2 dozen green and white balloons Motion: Julie Bird motioned to have the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County sponsor the farewell banquet for Martha Ferguson. The Society agrees to pay $500.00 to open the MSU Management Center's banquet hall on Sunday Sept 14, 2003. Sherry Jones Second. Approved Motion: Ruth Vrbensky motioned to have the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County pay for the cost of food above the $12/person for those attending the dinner. The Master Gardener Society of Oakland County will pay for the dinners for the speakers, Judy Freed and her spouse/guest, Martha Ferguson and her spouse. Julie Bird second. Motion amended to include Martha Ferguson and her spouse's drinks in the costs to be paid for. Julie Bird second. Approved. Motion: Julie motioned to have the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County pay for miscellaneous expenses associated with the Farewell Banquet for Martha Ferguson. Sherry Jones second. Approved Motion: Ruth Vrbensky motioned to adjourn the meeting. John Grant second Approved. Meeting Adjourned: 9:45 p.m. Hotlines From the M.S.U. Extension Oakland County Hotline Staff, Charlene and Maryann October Meeting-Information Exchange Our October meeting was an educational exchange of information between members. Here are some of the comments we shared: “My favorite mum” grows 3 to 4 feet across and needs no pinching! Oakleaf hydrangeas need winter protection. In the spring, some wood that appears dead may actually be alive. Hostas can be protected from slugs by putting pine needles around the crown. Yamato cucumbers don't get bitter and are still good in October. Worm bin can be emptied into the garden now. Dry shade fern varieties that stay green till snow: lady, Christmas, blackwood, Japanese painted fern. Ferns should be transplanted in the spring. Pulmonaria looks nice with ferns, and creeping jenny can be used as a ground cover with them. Montreal Botanical Garden is spectacular. (Continued from page #) (Continued from page #) (Continued on page #) Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle All The Way! It's time to help jingle the bells at our annual MGSOOC Holiday Potluck. Come and join us for fun, laughter and merriment. You may bring your spouse or a friend. If you have any questions, please call Sylvia Schult 586.992.0944. WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003 TIME: 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 -- 9:30 p.m. WHERE: Bower's Farm SUPPLIED: Ham, turkey, soda pop, coffee, paper plates, plastic ware, and napkins PLEASE BRING A dish to pass (main dish, vegetable, salad, veggie tray, appetizer, dessert), whatever your choice. A wrapped gift worth no more than $10 for the gift exchange Wear your holiday clothes Your singing voice Your holiday spirit and smiles Deck the halls with balls of holly, Fa - la - la - la -la - la - la lla - la ! ?? Thanks to your efforts, Forgotten Harvest's Plant A Row for the Hungry campaign grew to record levels for the 2003 growing season! We collected over 17,500 pounds of homegrown fruits and veggies from individual and community gardeners in metro Detroit (and we're still accepting donations of late harvests)! PLUS you Master Gardeners logged countless hours of volunteer time in our two community gardens and our information booth at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. Thanks again, and watch here for exciting news about the 2004 season. Forgotten Harvest, 248/350-FOOD (3663) Speaker Highlights Jane Suhail will speak about “Growing Glorious Houseplants and Tropicals” at our General Meeting on Wednesday January 7th. Jane, a Horticulturist and Chief Trainer at Planterra Tropical Greenhouse, has a B.A. degree in Horticulture from Oakland University. She extended what was meant to be a four-year internship at Cranbrook's greenhouse to seven years, cultivating tropicals and some annuals that are offered at Cranbrook's annual plant sale. It was during this time that Jane developed her interest and expertise in orchids. Since then, Jane has taught classes in the Master Gardener program and at the Michigan School of Gardening. She has also shared her gardening knowledge on TV and radio segments as well as served as the “plant person” for three years on Channel 7's Kelly & Co. Please join me in saying WELCOME to Carol Lenchek, our new Oakland County Master Gardener Coordinator. I am pleased to have Carol join the Michigan State University Extension team. She will bring and offer a lot of garden knowledge and expertise to the program. I am sure many of you know her and have attended some of her classes. Change is difficult but please bear with us as we make this transition. Lois M. Thieleke County Extension Director. MSU Extension - Oakland County A Personal Note from the President I'd like to take this opportunity to say Congratulations to Julie Bird and to Sherry Jones. Julie has been re-elected to the position of Treasurer and Sherry will be returning as our Team Administrator. Both of these highly motivated individuals have been valuable partners in building your Society. I, too, at this time, would like to thank the members of the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County for your continue confidence by reelecting me to the position of your President. Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul. (Luther Burbank) Gardeners help bring peace to this world by making the world we live in beautiful. Let us hope that this year peace embraces everyone on earth. That we find pleasure in simple things. That we feel joy as we work the soil. That we can laugh at the weeds and smile at nodding flowers. Happy Holidays & Happy New Year Save Your Pennies… ...for the 2004 trip to the "Gardens of Ohio". More information will be coming soon. There will not be a regular mailing this year. Instead, all information will be available on the Internet or in Roots & Shoots. Also, start saving for our 2005 tour to England! It will be something you won't want to miss! Sandie Parrott (Continued from page #) (Continued on page #) Volunteer Opportunity I need a volunteer Master Gardener to help me create an Eagle Project for my Boy Scout Troup. I am considering doing minor planting of flowers and small shrubs in an enclosed courtyard (a trapezoid about 15' by 30' by 50') at a local middle school. This project will require a few hours of planning. I have a sketch and photos of the courtyard. I would like to develop a workable plan in time to plant in the spring. I need help deciding which plants I should use in my plan. I will only need help in the planning stages of my project; I am required to organize the project and carry it out. I would really appreciate some educated input. My phone number is (248) 643-4947. Please let me know what I need to do to get started. Thanks. Sincerely, Jim Flanagan Educational Opportunity From ForMar Arboretum: Back by popular demand is our "Do-it Yourself Landscape Design" class, presented by Brad Meehle. This is a four week program. The sessions will meet on December 1st, 9th, 15th, and 22nd. This program is limited to 12 participants and the cost is $35.00 per person. Registration opens immediately and advanced payment is required. For additional information, please contact your Horticultural Staff at (810) 789-8568. (Continued from page #) (Continued on page #) Compared with weeds, insect pests are hardly a problem. Master Gardener Society of Oakland County Highlights of Board Meeting - October 20, 2003 DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Meeting called to order: 7:05 p.m. Minutes of Board meetings Aug 18, 2003, Sept 3, 2003 and highlights of 8/18 and 9/2 were reviewed. September 3 minutes were dated Aug 27 - date corrected on minutes Motion: J. Bird moved to approve the minutes of Aug 18, 2003, Sept 3, 2003 and highlights of 8/18 and 9/2 board meetings as corrected. R. Vrbensky seconded. Approved. Treasurer Report: August 19, 2003- October 20, 2003 Report on file. Also reviewed the Treasurer's summary and Team Leader budget template with included worksheet. Motion: J. Bird moved to accept treasurer's report as presented. R. Vrbensky second. Approved. Team Administrator: S. Jones stated that Beverly Moss has volunteered to put a scrapbook together of pictures and mementos from Martha's farewell event. Motion: Sherry moved to approve expenditures for materials and other expenses to put together scrapbook not to exceed $100.00. J. Bird seconded. Approved Team Reports Bowers: In 2004 special projects will be designed so volunteers do not have to commit to the whole year, only certain projects. These projects will carry an educational purpose/theme in keeping with the nature of the facility. Lillian Dean from SOCWA has reviewed the area and noted a site that would benefit from a rain garden. Martha is working with Mark Seeley to obtain approval for this cooperative relationship. The memorial bench has arrived and is being installed. New compost bins have been built. Fund Raising: Terry Ohrstrom reported. She is working on a schedule of items to sell at each Master Gardener meeting. She also would like to include an ordering cycle. Hospitality: Reviewed S.Schult's report. It outlined expenses incurred to date. Motion: J. Bird moved to have a holiday potluck at the Dec 3 general meeting. Details and budget to be determined at the Nov 17 Board Meeting. R. Vrbensky seconded. Approved. John Humphrey to contact Mark Seeley about needing extra room for the potluck. Ruth Vrbensky to put a notice in the weekly Oakland Gardener and to Sheri Trout for the website. Membership: T. Hershberger reported that member renewal applications are ready for printing. Team descriptions are on the reverse side. Nominations: T. Hershberger reported that 180 ballots were mailed and 57 to date were received. Programs: J. Humphrey reported 2 speakers for 2004 Jane Suhail (Sool) - January - Growing glorious plants Gabe Tiberio - May - Tomatoes Marilyn Citron is to send biographies to Oakland Gardener weekly list and to Sheri Trout to post on the website Trips & Tours: report stated that an article was submitted to the weekly Oakland Gardener and the Roots & Shoots on upcoming trips. Coordinator Report: Lois Thieleke, Extension Director stated that the Horticulture agent position has been posted to MSUE internally. She also introduced Carol Lenchek as the new Master Gardener Coordinator. She will continue her duties as the county gypsy moth coordinator as well. Carol has a degree in horticulture, is a 9-year employee of Oakland County and loves gardening. She stated she is excited about her new position. Old Business: Motion: S. Jones moved to have the December meeting/potluck at Bower's Farm. J. Bird seconded. Approved. New Business: Janie Grissom was appointed Gift Coordinator for door prizes at general meetings. Her budget will be part of the Hospitality budget. Janie was told to meet with Sylvia Schult to establish the budget for door prizes. John offered to look into rental costs of a laptop pc and projector unit to be used at general meetings for presenters. The idea of purchasing this equipment was discussed, but decided that it would not be prudent. Reviewed the 2004 calendar and made additions and corrections Motion: J. Bird moved to adjourn the meeting. S. Jones Seconded. Approved. Meeting Adjourned: 9:30 p.m. Moments to Remember By Sylvia Schult Compassion + Gardening + Sounds = Happiness How would you like to teach a seed-starting class to preschoolers? How would you like to see the wonder in their eyes as they watch, day after day, the seeds they planted grow and grow and then grow into a flower? How would you like to teach them that compassion and gardening go together? How would you like to see their faces as they realize that something they planted and helped to grow could be given to shut-ins to make them happy? This is something that Ruth Vrbensky had the privilege of experiencing, when she gave her son's preschool class a lesson in how to plant seeds. One-hundred-and-twenty preschool children got to do all the above. What a great lesson to teach the future generation. Ruth has been interested in growing things for many years. When she took an herb class, her instructor mentioned the Master Gardener Program and how great it was. One of her friends took the class and told Ruth how much she enjoyed it. The more she learned about MG's, the more she wanted to take the class. Ruth received her MG Certificate in 1999 and her Advanced MG Certification in 2000. It's been a busy time for her since then. While her mother and mother-in-law watched her one-year-old baby, she worked for her first 40 volunteer hours in the MG office in Pontiac. What a great way to learn how the program operates. In January 2000, she attended her first meeting of The Master Gardener Society of Oakland County. At this meeting, she found out that the secretary of the society had moved and the Society needed a secretary. She volunteered for the position she now holds and is in her second term. During this time, Ruth has worked on various committees such as chairing the committee to revamp and put the society by-laws in order, helping to kick off the fund-raising committee, working on the 501C3 status for the Society, and serving on the committee for the Bowers farm clean-up. In 2002, Ruth was on the Oakland County Conservation District Board of Directors and was appointed as replacement director. She also taught a 2 ½ hour session on native plants in the MG class. It seems there is no end to her volunteer efforts. Ruth has worked at the native plant table at Earth Fest in Lake Orion, hosted a table for the North Oakland chapter of Wild Ones, hosted a Wild Ones table at the Silverdome, worked at the Home and Garden show information table at the Silverdome, and participated in Bloomfest by working in the merchandise booth. With all of Ruth's accomplishments, it's no wonder that she was given the Master Gardener of the Year Award in May of this year, along with John Humphrey. Yes, it's fun for Ruth to work on all of these different projects with people, but she is most proud of what she has passed on to her six year old son, Michael; the appreciation of nature. It's great to see him find a caterpillar, run to the book to identify it, and discover the kind of a butterfly it will become. What joy it is to watch Michael as he identifies a bird. Someday six- month-old Katherine will be able to join them in enjoying plants and nature. Ruth and her husband Richard are in the process of converting a 33 x 100 ft septic field into a short grass prairie. Once Richard took her outside to stand quietly in the new prairie. As they stood there, they could hear the sound of insects and small creatures. Then they walked over to the grassy area and listened to the silence. Back they went once again to the prairie with its symphony of nature sounds. How wonderful! Ruth is most proud of what she has passed on to her six year old son, Michael; the appreciation of nature. Winter Gardening for the Birds By Carol Mc Cormick Many gardeners combine with bird watching and feeding. Planning a garden for winter bird feeding can be both challenging and interesting, not to mention the sheer enjoyment of observing bird antics. In our part of the country, many birds do not migrate. They must depend upon mother nature and planned winter gardens to survive. There are many annuals and perennials that provide winter seeds for our feathered friends. One of the best loved annuals by both gardeners and birds is the zinnia. Zinnias are super easy to grow, and their seeds are as nutritious and popular as sunflower seeds. Zinnias are quick to bloom and hummingbirds as well as butterflies suck nectar from their blooms. The real show begins when the seed heads ripen. A variety of birds such as finches, cardinals, and buntings will visit from late summer through the winter months until the seed heads are bare. Right after the borage of these seed reapers, sparrow and juncos will follow along to clean up the seeds that drop to the ground. So, gardeners...do not be too hasty to totally clean your garden beds. Remember our feathered friends and their winter needs.