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The Dirt CCMG E-Newsletter Volume 7 April 2015

CCMG Meeting March 14, 2015

Mark Cain, co-owner of Dripping Springs Garden gave a very interesting program on the organic farm and their involvement with the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market. There may be a possibility of a tour of the garden on a Sunday later this year.

The onetime $200.00 scholarship in memory of Beth Duncan for a graduating Berryville High School student was awarded to Kylee Sigmon. There was only one application.

Work days for various projects were announced. Chairperson for the Junior Master Gardeners is still needed as well as Chair for the Green Forest City Square.

Members with internet access were reminded to sign up for Constant Contact with uaex.edu. Dan Ward showed the Silver Shovel Award which he received at the December meeting. After admiring it at home, it will reside at the Extension Office until the next recipient is selected by the members.

The April meeting will be at Freeman Heights Baptist Church with Lou Ann Nolan presenting a program on . . . Wild Edibles ....Spring in the Ozarks...10 easy plants to identify ...nutritional value ...recipes… where to look... Jerry Swenson will also give information on tapping sugar maples.

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According to the maps at http://www.uaex.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-6062.pdf at least 90% of Carroll County and part of Madison County is in “D” zone for the Mean Date of Last Spring Freeze which is April 10th. (Generally!) However, we are in zone “C” for the Mean Date of First Fall Freeze which is October 30th. This is a rather interesting document and you can download and print for your own reference if you wish.

2010 Master Gardener & Other Events of Interest

APRIL 3 – 4 Mountain View Ozark Folk Center (2 day event) Herbal Field trip and Medicinal Workshop

For information on charge/lodging: www.ozarkfolkcenter.com

APRIL 11 Monthly CCMG Meeting at Freeman Heights Baptist Church, Berryville

13 - Succulents Workshop, Garvan Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs, AR

14-19 Wildflower Week, Petit Jean State Park, Morrilton call 501-727-5441 for more Information

17 Annual Spring Dogwood Tour – asper. Buses leave from the Jasper Square at 9:00a.m. Email newtoncoinfo@ritternet.com for more information 18 - Arkansas County Garden Show, DeWitt, AR 18 - Saline County Plant Sale

18 - River Valley Plant Sale

22 - Deadline to register for County 76 April General Membership Meeting. Email Linda

Soffer if you plan to attend at lfsoffer@gmail.com

24 - Marion County Plant and Bake Sale

25 - Garden Expo, Benton County

25 - Baxter County Plant Sale

25 - Craighead County Plant Sale

25 - Montgomery County Plant Sale

25 - Independence County Master Gardener Plant Sale at the National Guard Armory on

White Drive, Batesville, AR.

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25 - Garland County MG Plant Sale, 8:00 a.m. until noon. The sale will be held at the Transportation Depot.

28 - County 76 General Membership Meeting, Little Rock State Extension Office, 10 a.m.

to 3 p.m. Email Linda Soffer to register for the meeting. lfsoffer@gmail.com

Submitted by Mariellen Griffith

In The Garden http://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/in-the-garden/default.aspx

The above web site has the garden chores of the month and also covers subjects such as: Butterfly Garden Herbs Native Plants Reference Desk Reference Desk Archives

Happy April Birthday!

2nd

Jerry Swenson

10th

Debbie Wall

11th

Richard Knight

23rd

Laurie Kilgore

30th

Terry Dean

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Leadership Conference

PREPARE - NOW - GO Who: Arkansas Master Gardeners (Both New & Seasoned) What: Plant-Nurture-Grow Leadership Conference Where: Red Apple Inn, Heber Springs, on Greers Ferry Lake When: October 19-20, 2015

Why: Prepare to become a more informed Master Gardener

Now is the time to make room reservations (limited rooms on site)

Go with a friend, spouse, or significant other and enjoy Greers Ferry Lake

and the surrounding area. Golf at the Red Apple Inn Golf Course and Shop Heber Springs for pre-holiday bargains (more information later) Arrive early or stay a few extra days!

LITTLE LAKE EUREKA March 15, 2015

We had a beautiful day for working at Little Lake Eureka. A big thank you to Anita and Michael Rissler, Donna Sartoris, Brenda Webb, and Karen Welch. Boy, did we get a lot of cleaning up done. The overflow was cleaned out, leaves removed, grasses trimmed and divided, shrubs pruned, dead foliage removed, vines cut back, etc. There are poppies, monarda, larkspur, peonies, and penstemon coming up along with the daffodils, iris, and hyacinth. Spring is on its way! Submitted by Linda Rogers

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Jr. MASTER GARDENER March 16, 2015

Twenty fourth and fifth graders showed up for Junior Master Gardeners on Monday, March 16, along with Master Gardeners Kaye DeShields, Sherri Plumlee, Mary Knight, Faye Martin, Jennifer Hudspeth, Sue Davis, and County Extension Agent, Bruce Lee. The teachers, Ms. O’Dell and Mr. Wolfenbarger, brought flower seeds for the kids to plant in seed starter trays that had been donated by Walmart last year. The flowers will provide a beautiful environment in the gardens this summer, and after blooming they’ll provide seeds for the birds to have next winter. It was a beautiful day for working outside so everyone tackled weeding a few beds. Thank you to Sherri Plumlee who has agreed to be the Chair for this project.

Submitted by Sue Davis

FAIR GROUND March 21, 2015

A big thank you goes to a dedicated crew that turned out to clean up at Fair Grounds today; Dan & Merrily Ward, Neta Sue Stamps, Jean Ericksen. Anita Engert, Nancy Plagge and Will & Lavonna Schell Submitted by Will Schell

Dan and Will HARD(ly) at work.

Ladies resting.

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BERRYVILLE LIBRARY March 16, 2016

Picture shows the ladies with all the bagged leaves Submitted by Linda Stuart

BERRYVILLE LIBRARY March 21, 2015

We had a total of 5 people there. We got it cleaned up and now just need to mulch and pre-emerge. Submitted by Linda Stuart

2015 PLANT SALE March 25, 2015

11 Master Gardeners potted up 750 plugs in the Middle School Greenhouse. Plus some weeds in beds and on the floor were pulled. Thanks to all: Deb Thompson, Faye Martin, Karen Welch, Sherri Plumlee, Mary Knight, Anita Rissler, Donna Sartoris, Neta Stamps, Jan Scheel, Loretta Hoeffner and Brenda Webb.

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Loretta took some more photos on her camera, showing how we all worked together for the good of the organization. The weather cooperated, and hopefully the plants will grow really fast in the conditions we have now. 6 weeks to go!

Master Gardeners and County Agents, Below is information about photo submission for the 2016 MG Calendar Contest. Please read closely as submission requirements have changed. To our Arkansas Master Gardeners: We have changed the rules regarding entries for the 2016 MG Calendar. Please read carefully: 1. Only four entries per person (One per season) meaning only one Winter, one Spring, one Summer and one Fall photo may be entered in the Calendar contest. If more than one for a season is sent in, those photos will be disqualified for judging. 2. The name of the .jpeg file must be as follows: a) Your name, b) the two letter representation of your county (FA = Faulkner, PU = Pulaski, etc.), c) the season the pic was taken WI for winter, SP for spring, SU for summer, FA for fall, and d) a brief description of the photo. For example: GlendaBellFAWIsnowscene.jpeg

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* All photos MUST be between 1 mb and 5 mb for the resolution to be high enough for reproducing. * Also, all pictures must have been taken in Arkansas. 3. We are not ready for pictures to be sent in yet, just wanted you all to be looking for that special Kodak moment. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time. Thanks, Glenda Bell 501-258-4951 gkbell08@att.net County 76 Communications Chairperson

2016 STATE CONVERENCE PREPARATION

March 24, 2015

Janet Carson met with committee chairs and other members for a “walk through” and discussion of plans for the 2016 State Convention which will be held at the Best Western Convention Center in Eureka Springs. Much planning and even more work will be needed to pull off a successful meeting. Be prepared to volunteer!

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual

orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and

is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Neta Stamps, Editor