It really isn't hard to create a rain garden, according to advanced master gardener Fran Knorr. “Think of your own garden. Can you do a rain garden? Of course, the answer is yes,” Knorr told a packed audience at the April 7 meeting. Knorr said rain gardens are important because “everyone lives and works on waterfront property” since storm water eventually flows into lakes and rivers. A rain garden is a saucer-shaped depression - “a strategic puddle,” as Knorr put it. The rain garden collects rain water that falls on impervious surfaces like roofs and driveways. Inside the rain garden, plants' deep roots and the compost-enriched soil help filter and absorb some of the rain water. That means what eventually reaches the storm sewer is cleaner and moving more slowly than it would be without the rain garden. Even after a heavy rain, properly constructed rain gardens should be dry within 48 hours. They do not become mosquito pleasure pits. To pick a site for a rain garden, Knorr suggested walking around your yard after a heavy rain. A place where the grass is squishy is a good spot for the rain garden. Some people run gutter extensions into rain gardens or into trenches filled with rocks, like a dry stream bed, to direct water from the roof and gutter into the rain garden. The site should be at least 10 feet from the house so the water won't get into the basement or crawl space and it should be surrounded by a buffer of grass. Gardeners with sloped yards should build the rain garden with a flat bottom to retain water. Since the soil at Fran and Howard Knorr's home in Beverly Hills is clay-loam, they removed the turf, dug down about a foot and mixed in compost (partly homemade, partly obtained from the Southeastern Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority). The compost makes the native soil more absorbent and better draining. It also adds nutrients and is essential for cleansing pollutants from the water, Fran Knorr said. Gardeners with heavy clay soil should make their rain gardens wide and shallow and replace soil in the bottom with a mixture of 60 percent compost to 40 percent sand, she said. She uses organic mulch - again, SOCRRA compost -- around her rain garden plants, which include big bluestem, Joe-pye weed, boneset and turtlehead. Many gardeners select native plants for rain gardens to promote animal and plant diversity. Once established, the rain garden requires weeding and mulching but not too much other maintenance. “It's easy. It's nothing but a flower bed,” said Knorr, a member of the first graduating class of the Michigan School of Gardening. She urged people interested in rain gardening to drive through Lathrup Village, where some residents have constructed rain gardens next to streets. And check out the area next to the city hall parking lot, where there is a big rain garden. For a free information packet about rain gardening, call the Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority, 248-288-5150. According to Lillian Dean, there will be a free, hands-on workshop at 6 p.m. June 3 at the SOCWA office, 3910 W. Webster, Royal Oak, for people interested in learning more about creating a rain garden. Knorr, a member of the SOCWA rain garden action team, encouraged gardeners to create and plant their own rain gardens. They are “an opportunity for home gardeners to help restore the watershed ecology and have an impact. Every little bit that you do helps,” she told the master gardeners. Roots & Shoots appreciates this informative and interesting article submitted by Marty Hair. JUNE/JULY 2004 All About Rain Gardens By Marty Hair, Detroit Free Press garden writer Stepping Stone 2 Speaker Highlights 2-3 Carol's Corner 3 Wild Edible Greens 4 Forget-Me-Nots 5 Moments to Remember 8 Meeting Highlights 9 Organic Gardening 6 Hotlines 7 Home Grown 12 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 JUNE/JULY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Carol's Corner By Carol Lenchek, MSU Extension Program Coordinator & Extension Liaison Well the warm weather is finally here and if you're like me you are spending as much time outside as daylight permits! By now your veggies are planted and you are dreaming of the tomato sandwiches you'll be eating before too long. With the warm weather comes plenty of volunteer opportunities to take advantage of. I hope that many of you took part in a planting day at one of the many PAR gardens in the County. These gardens need your help throughout the summer. In my mind it doesn't get much better than being able to provide fresh produce to area Food Banks to help feed the hungry. We are excited about a new project at Springfield Oaks in Davisburg. A PAR garden has been initiated in collaboration with Oakland County Parks and the 52nd District Court. Look for all kinds of opportunities in the future including a heritage garden around the historic Ellis Barn that is being moved to the property. The Ask a Master Gardener Program (formerly known as Let's Go Gardening) took place during the Saturdays in May. This year there were Master Gardeners at nine stores! Thank you to all who helped make this a success and a special Thank You to Denise Jones for her role as Leader Extraordinaire! Once again the Farmer's Markets are up and running with Master Gardener Volunteers staffing information booths. A special Thank You to Ruth Parulis for her gargantuan efforts to make this large and long running project run so smoothly. Walled Lake Farmer's Market has been added to the list of area markets wanting Master Gardener Volunteers to share their expertise with market goers. If you would like to volunteer at a Farmer's Market this year or you need to make any changes to your volunteer commitment, call Ruth at 248-682-2909. The Fall Master Gardener class will be a daytime class starting on August 17. The class is being filled as you read this. Back by popular demand, the six-week series "Landscape Design series with Janet Macunovich will be starting September 15 from 9:00-noon. Look for more information in the near future on this class. Hope to see you at a Master Gardener Volunteer Project in the near future! JUNE/JULY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Stepping Stones/From the President By John Humphrey, President of MGSOC Hello Everyone! I'd like to officially welcome all of our new members by saying Thank You! We all try to provide you with the best educational opportunities available to expand your knowledge. Most of you recently finished your initial Extension training and will be moving on to achieve your Basic MG certification. Many avenues of volunteering are made available, with a wide range of appreciative organizations. Consistency is the key to anything you do. To show up at the beginning is great, when everything is blooming, and there is a feeling of renewal and rebirth. The real challenge is to show up during the “Dog Days Of Summer” when things need to be watered, weeded, mulched, and deadheaded. By using your imagination, you instinctively have the ability to see something from a distance or even close up by picturing the possibilities. Following up with implementation, and showing that you've done your preliminary “homework” and then sitting back and watching the amazing results of your labors, which might just be in a container, a flowerbed, vegetable garden, etc. The Rain Garden on the hill at Bower Farm is developing nicely under the leadership of my sister-in-law Martha Humphrey. After the area was excavated, SOCCRA delivered the compost/sand mix, and native plants were chosen for plantings. Many thanks go out to Marty Hair for her contribution to this issue of Roots & Shoots. She “Pinched Hit” as our guest writer for April's general meeting on Rain Gardens. I will be attending the MG trip to Ohio in June and look forward to sharing it with you in a future article. I hope you all are having a safe summer, making the most of it. Happy Father's Day to all of you Dad's out there. I'll be flying my American flag proudly on Memorial Day and July 4th, remembering the brave Veteran's who have protected the freedoms we all have because of their many past and current sacrifices. JUNE/JULY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Forget-Me-Nots By Linda Hamilton With Flag Day in June and Independence Day in July, I thought I'd look at the patriotic roles gardens and gardeners have had a chance to play. The Victory Gardens of World War II were as much a part of the war efforts at home as Rosie the Riveter. What is a Victory Garden? Personally, I consider my garden a “victory” when the weeds, diseases and insects are minimal and the plants are healthy and gorgeous. But, the Victory Gardens I'm talking about were vegetable gardens planted during the wars to ensure an adequate food supply for civilians and troops. When many of America's farmers went overseas to fight, domestic food production dwindled. This caused shortages and strict rationing of foodstuffs. Victory gardens quickly became an essential part of the civilian war effort. These small gardens supplied low cost and nutritious produce as they helped build morale during those hard times. By growing victory gardens, our grandparents solved food shortages through practicality and common sense. The goal was to produce enough fresh vegetables through the summer for one's immediate family and neighbors. Any excess produce was canned and preserved for the following winter and early spring. From California to Florida, Americans plowed backyards, vacant lots, parks, baseball fields, and schoolyards to set out gardens. Children and adults fertilized, planted, weeded, and watered in order to harvest an abundance of vegetables. Government agencies, private foundations, businesses, schools, and seed companies all worked together to provide land, instruction, and seeds for individuals and communities to grow food. Gardening is Fun at Work In 1941, the Department of Agriculture wanted at least 5 million home gardeners planting and working Victory Gardens. Little did they know this was a modest goal. Nearly 20 million Americans answered the call to plant a Victory Garden by 1943, producing nearly 40% of all U.S. vegetables that were consumed. Here's a great excerpt from The Victory Garden Manual (1943), by James H. Burdett: Contrary to popular belief, it does not cost more to grow your vegetables than to buy them. You can spend a lot of money on a vegetable garden by employing high-priced labor, investing in fancy garden gadgets, and going to extremes in purchasing materials. This will make your garden a luxury, but still a luxury worth the cost. All this, however, is a matter of choice, and is not necessary. To produce the fresh vegetables which are consumed by the average family actually costs much less than it does to purchase them. Your own leisure hours can supply the labor, and you will find it no burden; on the contrary, the hours in your garden will be among the pleasantest of your day. Careful tests have shown that it takes less time to grow vegetables in the home garden than it takes to shop for them . . . . No technical education, no acquired manual skills, and no extreme physical exertion are needed. If you are once persuaded to try it, you will thereafter be extremely grateful. Good luck! Digging for Victory At Eleanor Roosevelt's urging, cabbages, tomatoes, carrots and beans grew on the White House lawn. A 1943 House and Garden magazine gushed, “Many enjoyed, for the first time in their lives, the health that comes from working on the land, the satisfaction of seeing seed grow into plant.” Not everyone was having such a great time. Poet Ogden Nash (1902-1971) displayed some frustration with his patriotic horticulture: Would you like a description of my parsley? I can give it to you in one word - - - gharsley! Do you wonder then, that my arteries harden Whenever I think of my Victory Garden? And, Britain's Prince Charles was quoted in The Observer saying: To get the best results you must talk to your vegetables. JUNE/JULY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Moments to Remember By Sylvia Schult Good Samaritan - Loves People, Art, Wildlife, and Nature! During the six years she was Nature Director of the Girl Scouts, she was known as “Rose, the Bug Lady.” As a survey person for Friends of the Rouge, she was called the “Frog Lady.” She co-illustrated the book, Birds of Southeast Michigan and Dearborn. A Wisteria pod carried in her coat exploded, causing her much pain and bleeding. She went head-to-head with a skunk and won. She has communed with an elephant. These are only a few of the interesting experiences of Rosemarie Attilio.   Rosemarie was born on her grandmother Rosemarie's birthday. An aunt suggested she be named for her grandmother who not only passed on her name but also a love of gardening, wild life, and nature.   Rosemarie's three sisters do not share her great love of nature, making her a little different. But this difference has made her into a wonderful, caring, smiling, and likeable person. Whether for family, friends, or strangers, Rosemary is like the Good Samaritan of the Bible: always willing to help. Family is a big part of her life and she spends a lot of time with her parents and relatives.   Rosemarie developed an interest in gardening while helping her friend Judy with her yard. Then Rosemarie planted a few bushes on the side of her house which ultimately became a 30 by 3 foot garden. Eventually the garden expanded into her front yard. (As gardeners, we all know how hard it is to stop!) Neighbors brought her seeds and cuttings. She also bought severely challenged plants which her love and tender care promoted vigorous growth. Soon she was discovering tools she didn't know existed. A friend suggested she take the Master Gardener program. She mulled this over for a few years before enrolling. “I thought I would never be able to remember everything in the BIG BOOK and be able to pass a test,” Rosemarie said. “I just didn't know enough. However, I absolutely loved the course, studied, and did great on the test.”   Rosemarie spent part of her 40 volunteer hours working at the Detroit Zoo as a garden assistant. Other required hours were earned at Bob McGowan's farm with Plant-A-Row for the Hungry. One very windy day, alone trying to lay down newspaper on the plot, Rosemarie went into the barn for more hay to cover the paper. Although she couldn't find the light switch there was enough light to work by. As she was working, she felt something different, pulled it, and out came one of Bob's old work gloves. She tossed it on the floor and continued getting more hay. Then she felt what she thought was the other glove. She yanked it, looked at it, and realized it was an old mummified opossum.   Once Rosemarie became a full-fledged Master Gardener, she “melted” her charge card from use. One day she bought a Saucer Magnolia tree and 3 huge bushes, and stuffed them into her Saturn. On her way home, she remembered she was to pick up her mother to take her to a baby shower. Poor Mom, there she was all dressed up, scrunched in the car with her head down to her knees because of the tree and bushes, hoping they would not damage her hair and clothing. Isn't this normal driving conditions for a Master Gardener? Rosemarie's father once told her that she spent too much money on flowers and other garden things. She told him it was his fault for naming her Rose; maybe if he had named her Penny, she would be saving money.   One day, Rosemarie was with her friends at the zoo looking at the elephants. The elephants were in the middle of their area throwing hay around. Rosemarie told her friends that one of her greatest desires was to be able to touch an elephant. She was about to leave the area, when an elephant ran toward her, reached up with its trunk, and laid it on Rosemarie's arm. As her friends and others screamed, Rosemarie touched and petted the elephant's trunk. Just as quickly, the elephant ran back to the others. Thought/desire communication between animal and man? What a thrill for Rosemarie!   While in college, Rosemarie had to make the difficult choice between getting a degree in Ornithology or Art. She now does the art design for a printing shop in Detroit. When you visit a bookstore, look for Birds of Southeast Michigan and Dearborn, published by the Cranbrook Institute of Science. Rosemarie was co-illustrator for the book and one of her beautiful illustrations is on the cover. As a student at Michigan State University, Rosemarie spent a lot of time drawing sketches of birds at the Natural History Museum. The Director noticed her drawings and said she spent more time there than the people who worked for him so he might as well hire her to draw the scientific illustrations he needed. One night, Rosemarie and a few other people were on an assignment to study owls. They went to a certain area to whistle for owls and take notes. Soon, the sheriff pulled up and asked them what they were doing out there in the dark. They explained, and the sheriff said, “OK, whistle me up an owl.” Well, under those pressured circumstances there was no way they could whistle; you would have thought they had a mouth full of crackers. Luckily, they were able to produce a letter from the museum director stating they worked at the museum.     Rosemarie is on the Board of the Detroit Audubon Society. Going on field trips is something she really enjoys. She also helped put together an environmental conference for 160 people that ended with a special tour of the new Ford Rouge truck plant that has a special environmental garden on the roof to help reduce energy use in the plant. She is also on the Hospitality Team with the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County. Rosemary belongs to the Michigan Orchid Society and helps out at the shows as a clerk. She is fascinated with orchids and is challenged to keep the 40 to 50 she has alive.   Rosemarie's best moment was when she got to meet scientist and conservationist Diane Fossi. She also met Jane Goodall two years ago at the Detroit Science Center. Her friend Judy bought tickets for the program, though not for the autograph session. On their way back from the ladies room, they got lost and accidentally wound up where Jane Goodall was signing autographs. Being the honest persons they are, Rosemarie and Judy left without speaking to Ms. Goodall. On the way out, they stopped to look at the space capsule. Ms. Goodall came through that way and upon seeing people there, stopped to talk with them and signed their books. Honesty pays!   With all the adventures Rosemary has it would be fun to be a little bug and travel around with her, but then she might put us under a microscope to study. Maybe we can be a movie camera and record all of her exciting “moments to remember”. JUNE/JULY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # 2004 Northeast Regional Master Gardener Conference Plan to attend the Northeast Regional Master Gardener Conference this fall in Baltimore, Maryland. This year's conference focuses on environmental issues and practices in horticulture, diagnosing plant and pest problems, and backyard and community food gardening. Keynote speakers will present valuable information on “The Livable Landscape - Envisioning a New Wilderness: Ecological Design for the Home Landscape” as well as “Passalongs and Other Tough Plants: Tried and True, Old and New Survivors for 21st Century Gardens. “ From October 5th through October 9th, choose from more than 90 tours and workshops, shop at the Master Gardener Marketplace, sample Maryland wines at the Wine & Cheese party, browse and buy books at the Master Gardener bookstore, visit the area's exquisite gardens, and participate in pre- and post-conference tours. The conference is being held at the Holiday Inn Select, Timonium (410-252-7373). Registration opened in March, 2004. Check for more information on the web at mastergardener@umd.edu (click on 2004 conference) or by US mail (HGIC, 12005 Homewood Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042). You can also receive information by sending an e-mail to: rmhessey@umd.edu This is one conference you won't want to miss. Rub shoulders, share information, and network with gardeners from other northeastern states as well as the Midwest. Meeting Highlights By Jean Gramlich May Meeting - Daylilies Nikki Schmith, president of the Southern Michigan Hemerocallis Society, spoke at our May meeting. She grows 400 varieties of daylilies. Her enthusiasm for these plants inspired me to seek out more of them for my garden. She showed many slides of her gorgeous and varied daylilies which highlighted her description of them. They varied in color and form, some with “chicken fat” ruffles with edges that appeared to be metallic. Hemerocallis (which means “beautiful for a day”) is a separate genus. Each flower has six segments, including three petals and three sepals. Colors vary on the edge, the eye zone, and the throat. Hybrid daylilies bloom from the last week in June through September. Peak time is the second and third weeks of July. These perennials grow in every state and on every continent except Antarctica. There are 50,000 registered varieties, ranging cost from $3 to $3000 each. Recently, one new variety brought $6501 at auction! Nikki listed approximate prices for all the varieties we saw. Cultivating daylilies is quite easy. For best results, they need 4-8 hours of sun a day. Daylilies will grow in the shade, although they will not multiply as quickly or flower as freely. They are happy in average soil with normal drainage and water supply. Never plant daylilies under black walnut, maple or river birch trees. While planting 12 inches apart is recommended, Nikki says that she has limited space so plants them closer together. Daylilies are often sold in a double fan connected at the crown; this configuration helps them to grow taller and produce more flowers. Nikki uses Milorganite, a pellet sewer sludge for fertilizer. Although dividing daylilies can be done at any time, it is best done in the spring or fall. Don't hesitate to divide a clump with a shovel or any other tool that works! Once you have a manageable piece, cut it with a knife and wiggle it apart with your hands. Cut off ½ to ¾ of the foliage and plant the crown at ground level. Daylilies are subject to thrip and earwig damage, crown rot, and rust. If you see rust in your daylilies, cut the foliage down to 2 inches from the ground and burn the leaves (do not compost). Rust does not over-winter in Michigan. Cross-pollinating different varieties of daylilies is quite simple. Early in the day just after the pollen dries, put it on the pistil and wait for a seed pod to form. When the pod is dry, place it in the refrigerator until February and then plant the seeds from the pod in small pots. Transfer the plants into your garden in the spring. Seed to flower takes about 2-3 years in Michigan. Nikki showed us a slide of all the many different flowers she has gotten from a single cross. When hybridizing, remember to keep records! Southern Michigan Hererocallis Society has a website at www.daylilyclub.com. The group will hold a plant sale at the Congregational Church of Birmingham beginning at 9 a.m. on June 5, 2004 JUNE/JULY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Organic Gardening By Peter Bray Published bimonthly for Oakland County Master Gardeners and Master Gardener Society members JUNE/JULY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Hotlines By Charlene Molnar !!*#!**###!??**!!! (Translation: Four letter word heard spewing from the mouths of many irate Oakland County residents). If you are one of the many homeowners whose lawns were ravaged by these voracious eating machines you likely have a new four letter word in your cuss vocabulary.......GRUB!! Whether your lush lawn has turned into patches of bare ground, or skunks and moles have been tearing up your turf looking for tasty “Land Shrimp,” you probably are ready to mount an all out attack on these pests. An understanding of their biology and life cycle will aid in your choice of a battle plan. Grubs are the larval form of beetles. In Michigan there are three species of grubs that cause damage. The true white grub is the larval form of the May/June beetle. These grubs have long life cycles, up to two to three years, and thus are found in higher numbers in undisturbed areas. Annual white grubs, however, are the more likely cause of damage in lawns. This category includes the larval form of the Japanese beetle and the European chafer. Symptoms White grubs eat grass roots and other plants, causing discolored dying grass, thin turf, and even death of the plant material. If you have these symptoms, first determine if the problem is due to grubs. To see if grubs are present, cut a 12-inch square patch of turf from the affected area. Peel it back and examine the root zone of the sod as well as the top inches of soil for white inch-long C-shaped worms with brown heads. Actively growing, irrigated lawns can tolerate up to 20 grubs per square foot. Non-irrigated lawns will show damage with 5-10 grubs per square foot. Japanese beetles show an affinity for irrigated turf, whereas the European chafer prefers dry, non-irrigated lawns. May/June bugs don't have a preference. Life Cycle May/June bugs complete their life cycle in one to three years. If you find grubs in midsummer, this species is the culprit. Annual white grubs (Japanese beetles and European chafers) have a one-year life cycle. Adult beetles emerge from the soil in the middle of June to early July. They lay their eggs in mid-July to August, two to four inches below the soil surface. Eggs hatch about 10 days later and begin feeding. They go through several molts before over-wintering just below frozen soil. Those that survive the winter return to the surface and resume feeding as soon as the ground thaws. By mid- to late-May all the grubs move down to a depth of two to ten inches to pupate, remaining as pupae for about two weeks before emerging as adults. Management Frequent irrigation is often all that is necessary to save a lawn. However, timing is everything when intervention is warranted when it comes to controlling grubs. Your choice of product determines the window of opportunity for treatment. A preventative treatment containing the chemical imidaloprid has selective activity on the insects' nervous system and is highly effective against young newly hatched grubs. It kills grubs by both contact and ingestion. This product has a residual activity from two to three months. Application of imidaloprid in southeast Michigan is recommended in late June to early July. Curative treatments such as carbaryl (Sevin) and trichlorfon (Dylox) are best applied from August 15 to October 30 or March 15 to May 15. Regardless of your choice of insecticide, adequate irrigation is essential to move the product into the root zone. Natural Control There are many natural predators of white grubs. Unfortunately they are unreliable when it comes to preventing damage. A bacterium that causes “milky spore disease” attacks the grubs of Japanese beetles and kills them. Since the European chafer is the culprit in the majority of the grub problems in this area, this would not be an effective weapon. Beneficial nematodes (microscopic worms) are also promoted as a natural control. If the source is reputable and the supply guaranteed viable then this could be the tool that will reduce grub populations but not necessarily provide long-term control. You may have to wait three to five years to see any results. Unfortunately, some of our four-legged furry neighbors have excellent memories and visit our yards in spring and fall in search of a free meal. However, once they discover that their preferred appetizer is gone they will look elsewhere for their favorite feast. Armed with this information the war on grubs this season should result in smiling faces and not soapy mouths next spring!! For additional questions or further information please contact us at: Yard and Garden Hotline M.S.U. Extension Oakland County 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Dept 416 Pontiac, Michigan 48341-0416 (248) 858-0902 JUNE/JULY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # JUNE/JULY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # HOME GROWN 226 By Gretchen Voyle, Livingston MSUE Horticulture Agent I keep seeing those black and rust colored fuzzy caterpillars known as Wooly Bears. I know that they will predict how cold the winter is by how much of one of those colors they have. How does this work? It doesn't. You can find this information on the same page with hoop snakes that grab their tails and roll down a hill and earwigs that crawl into your ears. The book is called, How Ignorant We Used to be Before Science. The color combo has nothing to do with being clairvoyant enough to predict the winter. The caterpillar is really the larval form of the Isabella Tiger Moth. The adult moth is a small, nondescript tan with a few little spots on the wings. The larvae start life as tiny caterpillars that hatch in mid-summer. They feed on grasses and weeds like plantain. When they first hatch, they are completely rust-colored. As they grow, black bands begin appearing on both ends of their bodies. With each growth stage or instar, the black gets wider. So much for the weather stuff. The amount of color present depends upon when you see them. They feed on grasses but they don't eat your lawn. So don't pancake them into oblivion. They have one shortcoming: if you play with them and drop them down your clothes you could get a skin rash from the fuzz which are called setae . And, by the way, there is no How Ignorant We Used to be Before Science book, but I'm thinking of writing one. What did I clean up in my perennial garden last fall? I have peonies that had spots on the leaves and grasses, hostas, and lavender, just to mention a few. I am so confused because everybody told me something different. Here it is, as simple as possible. If the plant has a fungal disease, like the leaf spots on the peony, cut off the leaves and stems now and destroy them. Don't toss them in the compost pile because it won't get hot enough. Bury or burn the stuff because this is the material that will get the fungus going next season. Sanitation is important for controlling fungal problems. Leave all the other plants alone. The tops will hold snow in the garden. This protects against bitterly cold temperatures. Hosta leaves collapse like cheap umbrellas over the crowns of the plants. This insulates and protects the growing points that are under the soil. By pruning lavender in the fall, you are encouraging it not to go into dormancy. Any woody plant that is pruned in fall thinks that it has been damaged and attempts to stay out of dormancy to repair itself. Some of these plants die because they don't shut down at the right time. Wait until the first sunny days of March. Go a-hacking then. The severe weather is past. Be careful about the hostas. You may want to keep the old leaves in place for awhile. If the leaves emerge and we have a frost, the growing points or bullets will freeze. Your hosta leaves will look like frozen lettuce leaves. Here are the simple rules: diseased = destroy and healthy = leave alone. 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: position open Hospitality: Sylvia Schult...........…….........586-992-0944 Membership:Tom Hershberger....……........248-435-3954 MGSOOC Newsletter: Marilyn Citron.......…........……........248-645-5515 e-mail...…………..............mcwrites@sbcglobal.net 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 Ask a Master Gardener...Helping People Grow: 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 are 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 June 1, 2004: Roots & Shoots mailing June 1, 2004: Calendar submissions for Jul/Aug/Sept/Oct due to Secretary June 1, 2004: Calendar published for newsletter and website June 2, 2004 General Meeting: 6:30 PM at Bowers Farm. Brother Rick Samyn will speak about “Urban Farming” June 21-23, 2004: Master Gardener Summer Conference at MSU in Lansing July 1, 2004: Calendar submissions for Sept/Oct/Nov due to Secretary July 1, 2004: Calendar published for newsletter and website July 7, 2004 General Meeting: 6:30 PM at Bowers Farm. Judy Cornellier will speak about “A Pressing Issue Recalling Summer Past” MASTER GARDENER SOCIETY MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION - OAKLAND COUNTY Bringing Knowledge To Life ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # JUNE/JULY 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 JUNE/JULY 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Wild Edible Greens By Diane Opria Lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album) So you planted three rows of spinach. Maybe it didn't come up or you planted it too early or the seeds were too old. Or maybe, the rabbits had a great time when the leaves were just at the perfect stage. Whatever may have happened, don't worry. Soon Lamb's quarters will be ready. There are few better tasting wild potherbs. Lamb's quarters is from the spinach and beet family, explaining why it is so flavorful. I wanted to introduce this green with a tasty sounding name that may entice you to give it a try. Across the country, this green is known by different names. In some places it is called Goosefoot, in others Wild Spinach or Pigweed. That moniker seems to imply that it is fit only for pigs. Au contraire. It's just that pigs know a good thing when they see it! It is a very recognizable plant. The foliage is bluish-green with jagged diamond-shaped, powdery-feeling leaves that are white on the undersides. It grows in sunny locations from mid-April to September. Once you recognize it, you will see it everywhere. Last year, after enlarging a flower bed, I used a wood chip mulch to define the edge. Well, to my surprise, Lamb's quarters popped up around the whole bed. The seeds must have been in the mulch. Young tender plants, under one foot high, are tastiest. Lamb's quarters requires a little longer cooking than spinach, but doesn't require parboiling. Since the texture holds up well, you can process it for canning. But, canning is quite time consuming so by blanching it you can freeze it for future use. The greens are nutritionally high in calcium, vitamins A and C. Lamb's quarters can also be boiled and served with butter or added to a quiche or used in the following delicious-sounding recipe. Lamb's quarters aren't just for pigs anymore! Website Review for Holistic Agriculture Library A website review is something like a book review. As a matter of fact, I've never heard of such a thing, although I doubt it's original. The Australian website, www.soilandhealth.org, contains a holistic agriculture library, among other things. There are about 50 titles; all are classics, most are out of print. Many are in the public domain, and the website provides cautions about what you can and cannot download in view of copyright laws. The librarian, who should be applauded, wants to make these books available to the public. Here are just a few: Albrecht, William A. “Loss Of Soil Organic Matter”, in Soils And Man, 1938. Balfour, Lady Eve. The Living Soil, 1948. Darwin, Charles. The Formation Of Vegetable Mould Through The Action Of Worms And Observations On Their Habits, 1881. Dale, Tom and Veron, Gill Carter. Topsoil And Civilization, 1955. Fukuoka, M. One Straw Revolution, 1978. Howard, Sir Albert. “An Agricultural Testament”, 1943 Rodale, J.I. The Organic Front, 1948. A couple of things are evident from this list. One is that they all deal with agriculture. But you will find that the organic principles and most of the organic practices that they discuss are fully relevant to organic gardening. Another is that they mostly pre-date the upsurge in interest in organic farming and gardening that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. Indeed many of them provided the inspiration and guidance for many who set out on the organic path in those years. Sir Albert Howard's writings inspired J.I. Rodale to start Organic Farming and Gardening magazine, which survives today with a modified title and format. Lady Eve Balfour provided the phrase “Healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy people” that J.I. Rodale adopted in the 1950s -- and still resonates today. William Albrecht and Dale and Carter, among others, alerted us to the loss of organic matter in the soil and its vital importance. This is a serious problem that conventional agriculture and governments have still not addressed effectively and have mostly failed to acknowledge. While we are talking about websites, another that should appeal to any gardener is the Garden Web Forums at http://forums,gardenweb.com/forums/. This has over 200 forums, only one of which is Organic Gardening, as it happens. People start a thread by seeking advice or making an observation. The answers are often spirited, informational, sometimes contradictory, but seldom boring. I suggest you give it a try, whatever your gardening interest. The same setup also handles Hortiplex, an excellent plant database at http://hortiplex,gardenweb.com/plants Starting Seeds Organically Indoors   Make Paper Pots (Hands on activity) Strip of newspaper and glass bottle (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle) is all that's needed Transplant plant into pot; this avoids root shock Best alternative to paper pots are peat pots; but, they are expensive and remove peat from where it is most needed - i.e. where it is! Upgrade to larger paper pots or yogurt pots (perforate bottom) as plants grow Make Potting Soil Mix (Hands on activity) Compost and garden soil - equal parts or up to 2 parts compost /1 part garden soil Add a smidgen of soft rock phosphate (a rock powder) for added phosphorus Also add some perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, fertilizer, or soil-less mixtures Think of nature: seed falls onto leaf litter, then onto layer of pure compost. They set roots into a rich compost/soil mixture. (The wisdom of 250 million years of plant/soil co-evolution is far superior to anything sold by gardening centers.) Compost prevents “damping off” - it certainly doesn't cause it. Fungi in well-made compost suppress the fungus that causes damping off. A cheap fan also helps.   Watering (Equipment demonstration) Problem: soil in potting mix tends to pack down when watered. Solution: water from the pot's bottom. Use rainwater. City water contains chlorine in order to kill bacteria; bacteria are an essential component of soil. Place paper pots in reused “carry-out” trays so that all pots touch, keeping the tray's bottom moist. Use an alternative: Gardeners Supply “A.P.S.” unit ($9.95), takes 22 tomatoes in starter paper pots. Light Sunlight, even a clear south window, is usually inadequate. Instead of costly “gardening” tubes, use plain household florescent tubes, 1 “cool”, 1 “warm”, or 2 of each. Replace every year (any kind of tube). Place tubes ½ inch above tip of plant for maximum light intensity. Achieve this by suspending light unit from basement beam by chains.   Hardening Off, Fertilizer, and Heat Lengthy hardening off outside before transplanting is essential; goal is sturdy, stocky plants. First 2 days, protect plants from direct sun and wind. Bring pots in at night unless minimum temperature exceeds lowest growth temperature for that plant. Feed, when needed, with half strength fish or seaweed emulsion. Seed-starting heating pads are available for hot-weather plants like eggplant and peppers. Very expensive but a good Christmas present. Speaker Highlights - June Brother Richard J. Samyn, OFM Capuchin, will speak to us about Urban Farming at our June meeting. To Brother Rick, a Master Gardener, growing food is less about planting and harvesting and more about teaching kids to eat better as well as sharing with them the human food relationship to Creation. Samyn began the Earth Works Urban Farm project to address the nutritional needs of Detroit's poor. In partnership with the Gleaners Community Food Bank and the Greening of Detroit, Samyn created a three-quarter-acre farming project on Detroit's east side. Earth Work's goal is to create awareness of the need for sustainable food systems within our communities and to promote healthier eating habits for youth. Much of the produce grown at Earth Works is distributed through the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Project FRESH program in Detroit and Wayne County as well as to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. Following high school graduation, Samyn spent four years in the Navy and nine in the Coast Guard, working as a ship's mechanic. He also worked in law enforcement for the Coast Guard, investigating illegal drug activity. Samyn joined the Capuchins in Detroit in August of 1988. He received his Bachelor of Social Work from Marygrove College in 1995. Brother Rick was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by Marygrove College to celebrate his competence, commitment, and compassion. Speaker Highlights - July Judy Cornellier will present “A Pressing Issue Recalling summer Past” at out July 7th meeting. Judy, an Advanced Master Gardener and a part-time employee at Telly's Greenhouse, will share her excitement of pressing flowers as she talks about her personal history of flowers. She'll tell us why pressed flowers help us rediscover beauty in the midst of winter. Judy is a charter member of the Troy Garden Club, serving as president four times, and a member of the Woman's National Farm and Garden Association for 31 years. She is also a longtime member of the Herb Society of America and was chairman of the herb garden at Cranbrook Public Gardens for seven years. In 2002 and 2003, Judy lectured at the Master Gardener Conference at Michigan State University. As a former adult education teacher for the Troy School District for 30 years, she offered classes in Herbs, Basket Weaving, Christmas Greens, among others. “Gardening is my lifelong love and sharing is the next best thing to do,” says Cornellier. “That is why I love to lecture.” Society members also will have an opportunity to make an optional bookmark. This is merely the corner of an envelope cut in a square. One side is decorated with flowers, covered with laminating paper, and trimmed with scissors. Voila, you've made a two-sided corner that slips over the page's edge in a book. The flowers keep their color forever, protected by the darkness of the closed book. There is a small fee for materials. Volunteer Opportunities Farmer's Market Information Ruth Parulis maintains the master schedule for all the market booths. She handles scheduling changes, cancellations, and requests for additional shifts. You can e-mail her at ruthpreston2909@msn.com or phone her at 248-682-2909. Each market has a table and chairs as well as a set of resource books containing MSU bulleting arranged by topic and by plant material. If someone requests copies of the bulletins, give them the hotline phone number to request the ones they want. Remember to wear your name badge, dress for the weather, and approach people to ask if you can answer their questions. Markets staffed by MG volunteers include: Oakland County-Pontiac Farmers Market - shifts are Tue, Thur & Sat from 8am to noon Royal Oak Farmer's Market - shifts are on Saturday from 8 am to noon Rochester Farmers Market - shifts are on Saturday from 8 am to noon Farmington Farmers Market - shifts are on Saturday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Walled Lake Farmers Market - shifts are Wednesday from 8 am to noon Birmingham Farmers Market - shifts are Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm. Most markets run from May through September. (Continued on page #) (Continued from page #) (Continued on page #) (Continued from page #) Lamb's Quarters Under A Crust Boil 1 quart of tender Lamb's quarters leaves and drain. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl combine: 1 cup Bisquick 1/4 cup milk 2 eggs 1/4 cup finely chopped onion Beat this mixture 20 times and spread into a shallow buttered casserole dish. Mix together: boiled lamb's quarters, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated 4 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, cubed 1 12 oz. carton creamed cottage cheese ½ tsp. salt 2 eggs.  Spread this mixture over the batter in the casserole and bake 30 minutes at 375 degrees.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy. (Continued on page #) (Continued from page #) A Rooftop's Living Garden Submitted by Denise Weaver, Emission Compliance, Truck, Ford Motor Company Of all the innovations resulting from the revitalization of the Ford Rouge Center, nothing has attracted more interest than the living roof growing on top of the new Dearborn Truck Plant final assembly building. At 454,000 square feet, it will be the largest living roof in the world, effectively turning the roof into a 10.4-acre garden. The living roof's primary function is to collect and filter rainfall as part of a natural storm water management system. Working together, the living roof, porous pavement, underground storage basins, natural treatment wetlands and vegetated swales significantly reduce the amount of storm water flowing into the Rouge River, while also improving water quality. Planted with sedum, a drought-resistant perennial groundcover also called stonecrop, the living roof helps reduce the urban "heat effect" created by acres of tarred and paved surfaces. It also insulates the building, reducing heating and cooling costs up to 5 percent. The sedum traps air-borne dust and dirt, absorbs carbon dioxide, and creates oxygen, all of which help improve air quality. The living roof also creates a habitat for birds, butterflies and insects. Sedum on the living roof is planted in a thin, four-layer, mat-like system instead of loose soil. Even when soaked with water, this innovative vegetation blanket weighs less than 15 pounds per square foot. Tours of the Ford Rouge Factory Tour opened May 3rd. Visitors will be able to see the living roof from an 80-foot observation deck atop the Visitor Center. For more information about the roof, go to: http://www.thehenryford.org/rouge/livingroof.asp Master Gardener Discount Submitted by Julia Janiak Goldner Walsh Nursery is continuing its program to honor Master Gardeners. Every second Tuesday of the month, May to December, Master Gardeners will receive 15% off any merchandise bought at Goldner Walsh Nursery. This offer includes all full- priced merchandise, including tropical houseplants, perennials, annuals, nursery, chemicals and hard-goods, pottery, bulbs, iron-ware, concrete and fine giftware. The offer does not include Flower Shop, landscape design nor installation or deliveries. Sale merchandise doesn't qualify for the 15% discount. You must present your official Master Gardener badge at the point of purchase to be eligible. For more information and directions, call 248.332.6430. (Continued on page #) (Continued from page #)