Extension Master Gardener Newsletter · Seven EMG’s have been working in the History Center dye garden. We transplanted woad, tansy, rudebeckia and dyer’s chamomile (margarietes)

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EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER – OLMSTED COUNTY www.extension.umn.edu/master-gardener

(507) 328-6214 www.co.olmsted.mn.us/extension/

Olmsted County

A Note from the Leadership Team President, Kay Eberman: Wow! That fall season went by fast – from 50’s to 20’s in just days. If it took you by surprise as it did me, there are probably frost softened green tomatoes in your garden. Just a reminder that vegetable garden clean up is recommended to reduce the number of over-wintering pests. Oh what a lot of work without the fun of harvest anticipation…however, the birds will thank you if you leave some of your seed producing perennials uncut in the perennial garden. Keep in mind our garden exchange table, which is offered every meeting. If you have seeds or bulbs, bird feeders, or any garden item you cannot use, please bring the item to share with others. The program committee is brainstorming ideas for the December 10th meeting with social gathering. We are looking for something fun for all (including the men in our membership). Ideas anyone? Please let Mary Jane McHardy or myself know if you have some thoughts on this meeting. The November 12th EMG Meeting (6:30 p.m. at the History Center) will feature Gail Soens. Presentation: Surprises in the Perennial Garden. Gail will share from her wealth of knowledge of old and new perennials that are fun in the garden. She is a grower at Bailey's Nursery where she is a new plant variety coordinator for trial or test plants that Bailey's gets from around the world. She also grows the bud and bloom hydrangea and rose crops. The Leadership Team is seeking nominations for 2 open positions on the Team. The term is for 3 years, starting in January 2014. The board meets 8-10 times a year for 1 hour prior to the general meeting. Please contact Kay Erwin or myself if you are interested. The bylaws for leadership elections are: ARTICLE 6: ELECTION OF LEADERSHIP TEAM (LT) A. The Chair, with input from the LT, will appoint a nominating committee of members to present a slate of

candidates for Officers and At-large LT members for the following year.

B. All OCMG members, via the newsletter, will be asked to nominate candidates. Members may nominate themselves.

C. Nominations may be given to the Secretary (Kay Erwin) up to ten days before the December members meeting.

D. The slate of officers will be voted on at the December meeting. Candidates need a majority vote of those members in attendance for election.

E. Each member in good standing will have one vote in elections or for any other motion that comes before the general group.

F. The terms of the elected officers will begin and the terms of the present officers will terminate immediately after the vote.

Contents

Special Interest Articles

Article title 1

Article title 2

Article title 3

Article title 4

Individual Highlights

Inside story 2

Inside story 3

Inside story 4

Inside story 5

Extension Master Gardeners

Extension Master

Gardener Newsletter

November 2013

Table of Contents:

Upcoming Projects: Page 2

Project Highlights: Page 3-6

New Projects: Page 5

Reporting Hours: Page 6

Using the Logo: Page 6

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Rochester Alternative Learning Center (RAMS) EMG’s Jessie Crane, Kay Karsell and Mark Davis are working with the Rochester Alternative Learning Center (RAMS) program providing expertise to help with four projects to beautify the grounds around our building. RAMS is applying for several grants to help fund the projects and EMG’s will assist in this process by identifying the needed materials for the following projects: Butterfly Habitat/Garden RAMS is rearing monarchs in their science classroom. EMG’s will help to create a butterfly garden that will support the monarch population. Existing Water Feature This feature was professionally created but was not maintained while the building was vacant. RAMS need advice on replacing the pump, cleaning it out, and replanting natural habitat. They also want to eventually turn it into a goldfish pond. Update: The power lines to the pond may have been severed during renovation to the school. More investigation is needed. If that is the case, getting the water feature going may be a dead issue. Plan B was arrived at which would be to drain the water sitting in the pond, take out the liner and fill it with soil to make that area into the butterfly garden.

Raised Bed Gardens

EMG’s will provide advice about raised bed gardening. They will also help with soil and plant education. Later in the school year, EMG’s will assist in teaching the students about growing food in a raised bed. Natural Sound/Visual Barrier EMG’s will provide education on proper tree selection, planting and care as well as other plants used as sound and visual barriers.

Planting a Heart Healthy Garden A support group of women with heart disease requested a speaker this spring to present on planting a garden for heart health - both from the perspective of having fresh heart healthy fruits and vegetables, but also from the perspective that gardening is a healthy activity as well. EMG’s Sue Butler and Nancy Grubbs will work on this presentation.

Byron Elementary School Butterfly Garden EMG, Kim Baker, is working with Byron Elementary to utilize their school butterfly garden and plants in their curriculum. She will provide advice and assist in teaching experiences at this school project.

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The Channel One Garden has been a busy place this summer! The Garden has donated over 1,500 pounds of produce to Channel One this summer. Some of the EMG’s who have been working at the Channel One Garden are: Susan Bjornsen, Angie Dalenberg, Terry & Joyce Grier, and Renee Schaefer.

Radish Healthy Living Fair The Healthy Living Fair is an annual celebration of local and natural foods, health and fitness, nutrition and the environment. Each year the Extension Master Gardeners are invited to participate. Kay Eberman, Leslie Hall and Linda Pagenkopf volunteered for this very successful event, held on June 22. The EMG’s organized a youth hands -on activity – making cement flower paper weights. Many children and adults enjoyed this activity and there were lots of questions about the Extension Master Gardener program. EMG’s working with this project are: Al Dashow, Ann Dashow, Deb Schmidt, Kathy Hoyer, Phyllis Heath, Nuala Gibbons, and Susan Bjornsen.

Hogwarts at the History Center Professor Poppy (aka: EMG Kathy Lohr) gave an enchanted presentation on July 18th to 40 Girl Scout Council Day-Camp group. They scouts (having chosen a Harry Potter's "Hogwarts" theme for the week) adopted the role of Hogwarts' students where they learned of the magical things can happen in a pond setting. They learned about plants (and their use in magical and poisonous potions classes) and the difference between frogs and toads (and the terrible spells cast upon them by mischievous students). They also learned about dragonflies (and their integral role in training "snitches" for "quidditch matches"). It remains a toss-up who was most enchanted, the Hogwart's students or Professor Poppy! Those attending the August EMG meeting also became Hogwart’s students when Professor Poppy showed up to entertain them with her knowledgeable presentation.

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Boys and Girls Club The Boy’s and Girl’s Club (The Place) has moved into their new facility! The EMG’s (Extension Master Gardeners) are excited to start programming with the children on the October 21st. EMG’s will be planting bulbs in the new gardens if the weather is good. Raised bed gardens are also in the plans for next spring along with a butterfly perennial garden in the front of the building. EMG’s who are working with this project are Al Dashow, Ann Dashow, Deb Schmidt, Kathy Hoyer, Phyllis Heath, Nuala Gibbons, and Susan Bjornsen.

Dyeing Fabrics Naturally Seven EMG’s have been working in the History Center dye garden. We transplanted woad, tansy, rudebeckia and dyer’s chamomile (margarietes) from the original dyers garden. The Japanese knotweed returned on its own! We also planted hardy hibiscus and started some dyer’s broom from seed. We selected several annuals to dye with including amaranth, zinnias, bronze fennel, purple basil, cosmos, marigolds and sun flowers.

Considering we were all novices, we had good luck using different parts of the plants to dye cotton, linen, wool and silk. The workshop with Karen Rognsvodog in August was very informative and fun.

The Japanese knotweed was challenging and the Japanese beetles invaded in August. We got great yellows and greens from most of the flowers. We found out it takes a LOT of plant material to dye with, so next year we will expand the garden with our favorite plants. We plan on a presentation to our group in January and will have examples of our results.

Written by: Leslie Hall, Extension Master Gardener

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Quarry Hill Nature Center Quarry Hill Nature Center is a popular destination in northeast Rochester for visitors of all ages because of its beauty and scope of activities. In 2013, EMG’s, Jack Wanger, Al Strom and Sue Bjornsen, were involved in three areas at the Nature Center: the large demonstration butterfly garden, a wildflower exhibit, and the development of a new hummingbird garden. The butterfly garden got a late start, as did everything, but is now a huge success with a multitude of plants that are ideal for the butterfly life cycle. Plant identification tags are being added to the garden to help the visitors. The wildflower exhibit is a series of wood-frame squares that are on the north side of the Nature Center building. This is a wonderful educational exhibit that helps visitors easily identify the many wildflowers that exist in our area. We worked to clean this exhibit up (weeding and adding mulch), and assure the correctness of the plants shown on the large identification sign nearby. The hummingbird garden is a new exhibit. Time was spent working with other volunteers to add soil, planting the various plants, and mulching everything. It looks to be a terrific addition to the park.

Straw Bale Gardening Renee Shaefer, EMG, constructed this straw bale gardening demonstration at her home, one of the fabulous gardens on the EMG “Tour with the Masters” Garden Tour that was held in July 2013.

Are You Considering a New Project or Event? If you are considering a new project or event, please make sure to let Kay Erwin or a Leadership Team member know before you begin. Our by-laws state that new projects should be approved by the Leadership Team. Also, Kay needs to know what you are working on so that information can be relayed to stakeholders through reports and the Yearly Planner. Thank you for all the awesome volunteer efforts!

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Reminder of Year End Reporting Hours I know you have all been busy this summer volunteering to make the lives of Olmsted County residents better through your work with the EMG program. Now is the time to document all those awesome volunteer activities! Entering your hours not only helps you remain an active EMG but also helps funding for state and local offices through the reporting done to stakeholders. Hours must be reported online by December 31, 2013.

Need a refresher on how to enter hours? Go to the link below for a tutorial.

http://www1.extension.umn.edu/garden/master-gardener/volunteers/tutorials-and-training/

Pictured here are Jane Barton and community volunteers working at a memorial located on

Eastwood Golf Course.

EMG’s at Mayowood: Back row, left to right: Jolene Jones, Marilyn Larson, Valinda Wondrasch, Bob Suchomel. Front row, left to right: Pat Espeson, Jane

Yunginger, Judy Auger (not an EMG).

EMG Title in Materials Don’t forget to identify the program in any

articles, teaching materials, flyers, posters, etc. that you create for the EMG program.

Always include the title below:

University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Program, Olmsted County



Documents

Extension Master Gardener Newsletter · Seven EMG’s have been working in the History Center dye garden. We transplanted woad, tansy, rudebeckia and dyer’s chamomile (margarietes)