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Art Explosion Image Library

The Garden Fence Monthly Newsletter – May 2016

Harford County Master Gardeners

I attended the Tomato Grafting class held in April at the University of Maryland Extension Office in Howard County. Instructor Denise Sharp, who co-owns Sharp’s at Waterford Farm, showed us the steps to join a desired tomato cultivar (scion) to a disease-resistant rootstock. Grafted plants will produce higher-yielding tomatoes that are resistant to many of the common, damaging root diseases. The class provided us with a hands-on experience learning to merge rootstocks to tomato cultivar scions (heirloom tomatoes Brandywine, Cherokee Purple and Green Zebra). The experience was interesting and fun – I came home with ten tomatoes that I grafted myself. Denise suggested that tomato grafting can be a community resource, especially for community gardens, where one who knows grafting procedures can teach others how to graft. This will produce disease-resistant tomatoes that might be useful for community garden work! Our busy spring has continued through April. Master Gardeners helped with two field trips at Eden Mill. Several Master Gardeners attended lectures and a library book discussion on Dr. Douglas Tallamy’s book “Bringing Nature Home.” In this book, Dr. Tallamy, a Professor at the University of Delaware, shows how individual gardeners can have an impact on birds and other wildlife populations by planting native trees. Oaks, cherries and willows house a large variety of insects that birds and other wildlife depend on for survival. This is a wonderful book for Master Gardeners, and free copies are available at the Harford County Public Library. I’ll see you in May,

~Ellen Haas - 2013

Inside this Issue President’s Message 1 Deer Tick Report 2 Out-of-Box Gardening 2 National Public Gardens 4 Garden Tours 5 Annual Training Day 6 Training 7 Calendar of Events 10 Officers Ellen Haas President Anne Spelman Vice President Nancy Cohen Secretary Jane Howe Secretary Kathy Ullrich Treasurer Quick Links Harford County Extension Office Home & Garden Info Center MG Hours Online HCEO Closed Memorial Day

President’s Message

Recognition Banquet Volunteer of the Year

Ellen Haas 2015 Volunteer Hours- 529 2015 Education Hours- 59

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IPM Weekly Report March 11, 2016 In the University of Maryland IPM Report it was noted the early spring warm weather has brought out deer ticks! Be sure to check yourself regularly if you are working in areas at the edge of woodlands, in tall grasses or visiting a nursery. The deer tick has to feed on you for several hours to transmit Lyme disease so rapid removal is your best protection. Deet products can be applied to clothing or skin as a tick repellent. Labeled Permethrin sprays can be applied to clothing, hung to dry and then worn outdoors for tick protection. Pre-treated permethrin clothing can be purchased under several brand names.

April 22nd was Earth Day: in my family it’s a holiday celebration. For the past six years my sisters, nieces, cousins and friends have gathered in April to enjoy the blooms of a new spring with a light and healthy lunch and “Earth Day” activities. We have tried our hands at soap making, wind chimes, hypertufa planters, wooden berry baskets, birdbaths, mason bee homes, and more; always working with recycled materials when possible. This year the focus was container gardening and we used Linda Masland’s (MG’99) Planting a Picture Frame idea from the Out-of-the-Box Garden Series lecture.

Linda's Frame Ginny's Frame Stapling Empty Basket

Deer Tick (Black-legged) Activity Reported

Out-of-the-Box Gardening on Earth Day

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Recycled picture frame Supplies Chicken wire Picture hanger eyes & wire Paint / Sealer Coco fiber liner Lightweight potting mix Plants (Succulents – for less maintenance, annuals – require more watering maintenance) Tools: Staple gun & staples, wire cutters, paint brushes/sponges, pliers for turning edges of chicken wire under or getting staples out of your sister’s plastic portable table.

Directions 1. Paint picture frame and allow to dry. 2. Seal frame with varnish if desired. 3. Cut chicken wire the size needed to form a basket the width of the

frame and about one third the inside height of the frame. 4. Form a basket with the chicken wire and staple it to the back of

the frame. Turn sharp edges of the chicken wire towards the frame using pliers.

5. Attach the picture hanger eyes to the sides of the frame and string the wire across. Securely wrap the wire for hanging the frame.

6. Turn the frame over and adjust the chicken wire into a basket shape.

7. Fill the basket with coco fiber liner, lightweight potting mix and plants.

8. Water and hang.

As I reflected on Earth Day this year, I wondered about its origins and found the history at www.earthday.org.

“The idea for a national day to focus on the environment came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda. Senator Nelson announced the idea for a “national teach-in on the environment” to the national media; persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair; and recruited Denis Hayes from Harvard as national coordinator. Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land. April 22, falling between Spring Break and Final Exams, was selected as the date. On April 22,1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.

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Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders. By the end of that year, the first Earth Day had led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. “It was a gamble,” Gaylord recalled, “but it worked.” As 1990 approached, a group of environmental leaders asked Denis Hayes to organize another big campaign. This time, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It also prompted President Bill Clinton to award Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1995)—the highest honor given to civilians in the United States—for his role as Earth Day founder.”

~Ginny Zahner - 2012

Taken from American Public Gardens Association – www.publicgardens.org

About the American Public Gardens Association The American Public Gardens Association is the leading professional organization for the field of public horticulture. They advance the field by encouraging best practices, offering educational and networking opportunities, and advocating on behalf of their members, their programs and public gardens worldwide. They work together with their members and others to strengthen and shape public horticulture, providing the tools and support industry professionals need to better serve the public while preserving and celebrating plants creatively and sustainably. Since 1940, they have been committed to increasing cooperation and awareness among gardens. Their members include more than 585 institutions, spanning all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and 24 countries. Their members include, but are not limited to, botanic gardens, arboreta, zoos, museums, colleges and universities, display gardens, and research facilities. What is a Public Garden? A public garden is an institution that maintains collections of plants for the purposes of public education and enjoyment, in addition to research, conservation, and higher learning. It must be open to the public and the garden's resources and accommodations must be made to all visitors. Public gardens are staffed by professionals trained in their given areas of expertise and maintain active plant records systems. About National Public Gardens Day In celebration of botanical gardens, arboreta, conservatories, educational gardens and historical landscapes, many of the American Public Gardens Association's 590+ member institutions will mark the day with special events and activities for schools, families and thousands of visitors. Many of the activities will continue through Mother's Day weekend, offering you time to enjoy the beauty of the gardens while learning about each garden's commitment to education, research and environmental stewardship.

National Public Gardens Day – May 6, 2016

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Earth Day Events 2016

Local Area Public Gardens Participating in National Public Gardens Day Garden Address Website Bartram’s Garden 54th St &Lindbergh Blvd.

Philadelphia PA19143 http://www.bartramsgarden.org/

Green Spring Gardens 4603 Green Spring Road Alexandria VA22312

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/

Longwood Gardens 399 Longwood Rd. Kennett Square PA19348

http://longwoodgardens.org/

Mill Pond Garden 31401 Melloy Court Lewes, DE 19958

http://millpondgarden.com/

Mt Cuba Center 3120 Barley Mill Rd Hockessin, DE 19707

http://www.mtcubacenter.org/

Nemours Estate 850 Alapocas Drive Wilmington, DE 19803

http://www.nemoursmansion.org/

Nemour Mansion and Gardens

1600 Rockland Road Wilmington, DE 19803

http://www.nemoursmansion.org/

Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College

500 College Avenue Swarthmore, PA 19081

http://www.scottarboretum.org/

Shofuso Japanese House and Garden

Horticultural & Lansdowne Drives Philadelphia, PA 19131

http://www.japanesehouse.org/

Smithsonian Gardens 600 Maryland Ave, SW Washington, DC 20013

http://www.gardens.si.edu/

Tudor Place Historic House & Garden

1644 31st St NW Washington, DC 20007

http://www.tudorplace.org/

United States Botanic Garden

245 First Street, SW Washington, DC 20024

https://www.usbg.gov/

Welkinweir Green Valleys Assoc 1368 Prizer Rod Pottstown, PA 19465

http://www.welkinweir.org/

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May 7 (evening) & 8, 2016 – 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour, Washington, DC http://chrs.org/house-and-garden-tour/more-about-the-house-and-garden-tour-2016/ May 7, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. Georgetown Garden Tour, Washington, DC www.georgetowngardentour.com May 7, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage, Harford County, MD http://www.mhgp.org/harford-2016 May 8, 2016 – 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. 45th Annual Fell’s Point Historic Harbor House Tour, Fell’s Point, MD http://www.preservationsociety.com/tours-events/historic-harbor-house-tour.html May 14 & 15, 2016 – 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. 10th Annual Havre de Grace Secret Garden Tour, Havre de Grace, MD http://patch.com/maryland/havredegrace/garden-mart-10th-annual-secret-garden-tour May 14, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm. Catonsville Heritage Home Tour, Catonsville, MD catonsvillehistory.org May 15, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage, Baltimore County, MD http://www.mhgp.org/baltimore-county-2016 May 21 & 22, 2016 – 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. Beyond the Garden Gates, Frederick, MD http://www.celebratefrederick.com/events/garden-tour/ June 4 & 5, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm. 17th Annual Secret Garden Tour of Annapolis, Annapolis, MD http://hammondharwoodhouse.org/secret-garden-tour/ June 5, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm. 25th Annual Garden Tour Horticultural Society of Maryland, Baltimore, MD http://mdhorticulture.org/programs-events/garden-tour/ June 5, 2016 – 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm. Charles Village Garden Walk, Baltimore, MD http://www.charlesvillagefestival.net/index.php#2015_music_schedule

May is Garden Tour Month

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The Annual Training Conference is open to all Master Gardeners (e.g., Active, Interns, Trainees) and Master Naturalists. Registration for this event is now open! The $74.00 Early Registration (March 14-April 30) includes

• Keynote presentation with Sara Via • Concurrent sessions with 29 presentations to choose from • Plenary presentation with Claudia West • Master Gardener Expo • Master Naturalist Class Reunion and Recognition Ceremony • Continental breakfast and choice of four lunch options • Free parking • Trade Show • Opportunities to share experiences with over 900 enthusiastic volunteers across the state

For a complete overview of the conference details and registration options, please download the conference brochure.

Wednesdays, June 15, 22, & 29 - 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Flowering Shrubs, Charlotte Hall, Md, St. Mary’s County

Extracted from https://extension.umd.edu/mg/advanced-training/flowering-shrubs This class will cover approximately 45 flowering shrubs. We will go over identifying characteristics, distinguish between confusing look-alikes, and discuss cultural requirements and use in the landscape.

Class will count as 9 continuing education hours and will count towards Woody Plants Certificate Fee: $45 – Registration Ends June 8th June 18, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Native Plant Essentials, UME Calvert County office, Prince Fredrick, Maryland Extracted from https://extension.umd.edu/mg/training/hands-graft-your-own-tomatoes

The course serves as the basic introductory course to all of the Master Gardener Advanced Training Native Plant classes. Topics include the consideration of what is native and why it is considered native, soils, ecology, climate and the concept of native plant communities.

Class will count as 6 hours of continuing education and will count towards the Native Plants Certificate Fee: $40 – Registration Ends June 10th

Annual Training Day

Advanced Master Gardener Training

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June 20 & 21, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Entomology-Ecological IPM, UME Calvert County office, Prince Fredrick, Maryland Extracted from https://extension.umd.edu/mg/training/hands-graft-your-own-tomatoes

Bugs are fascinating. Learn how to recognize them, how they work, and how to safely deal with them as you begin to better understand how they fit into the timing and ecology of the garden.

Class will include the fundamental concepts of population biology, community ecology, and ecosystem functions/services as they relate to urban ecosystems and IPM.

Class will count as 12 hours of continuing education and will count towards the Plant Diagnostics Certificate Fee: $50 – Registration Ends June 13th

May 1, 2016 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Right Plant, Right Place, Mt. Cuba Center Hockessin, DE Avoid costly errors by choosing the right plant for the right place based on environmental conditions, available space, and desired outcome. Learn how to select native plants and organize them into combinations that reduce maintenance and look good year-round. Fee: $30 https://education.mtcubacenter.org/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=162GAR102B May 2, 2016 – 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 pm. Gardening for Pollinators with Natives, Baltimore County Master Gardeners, Cockeysville, MD Barbara Gruver – Pollinator Expert Fee: $25; http://mgis16.eventbrite.com May 4, 2016 – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunny Container Gardens, Mt. Cuba Center Hockessin, DE Add a bit of summertime flair to your garden with a colorful container of sun-loving perennials. Donna Wiley, Mt. Cuba Center's Formal Gardens Horticulturist, unlocks the secrets of design as you combine native plants into an eye-catching display that lasts throughout the season and into the fall. Bring pruners, gardening gloves, and your own container (12 to 14 inches wide and at least 10 inches deep). We supply the rest. Fee: $55 https://education.mtcubacenter.org/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=162GAR182 May 12, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Growing Native Orchids, Mt. Cuba Center Hockessin, DE Whether you are a rank beginner or a master gardener, hardy native orchids can grow and thrive in your garden with proper care and planning. Begin with a tour of the orchids at Mt. Cuba Center with Phil Oyerly, current president of the Native Orchid Conference, and then learn the cultural practices that lead to success, including ideal soil conditions, bed preparation, planting techniques, and correctly siting orchids. Finish the day by potting up some young transplants to take home and leave with the necessary information to start growing these wild beauties in your garden this year. Be prepared to walk outdoors. Fee: $55 https://education.mtcubacenter.org/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=162GAR263

Education Opportunities

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May 14, 2016 – 10:30 a.m. Wild Walks, Garden Design, Ladew Topiary Gardens, Monkton, MD In this stroll through the gardens, we will study key elements of the garden design principles of Harvey Ladew and relate them to ideas for today’s home landscapes. Members $5, Non-Members $15, Advanced Registration is required. http://www.ladewgardens.com/EDUCATION/Wild-Walks-and-Talks May 10, 2016 – 7:30 p.m. Horticultural Society of Maryland Lecture Series, Vollmer Center Auditorium Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD Kerry Ann Mendez, Superhero Flowering Shrubs and Groundcovers for Right-Size Flower Gardens In her recent book, The Right-Size Flower Garden, Mendez provides strategies for simplifying outdoor spaces with smart, time-saving designs that utilize exceptional plants. In this new talk, she will focus on eye-catching, low-maintenance flowering shrubs and groundcovers that provide interest for more than three seasons. Emphasis will be on varieties that are drought-tolerant and pollinator-friendly. Many new plants will be showcased. Admission non-members $10 at the door. http://mdhoriculture.org/programs-events/lecture-series May 14, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Hometown Habitat: Lecture and Screening, Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD Catherine Zimmerman, documentary filmmaker, author and landscape designer. Learn how and why native plants are critical to the survival and vitality of local eco-systems with author, landscape designer and documentary filmmaker Catherine Zimmerman. Talk will be followed by a screening of her latest documentary, Hometown Habitat, made in partnership with the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council and featuring Doug Tallamy, entomologist and author of Bringing Nature Home. Fee: $15; http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/documents/xper_sp2016_v2.pdf May 17, 2016 – 6:00 p.m. Longwood Lecture Series, Grand Ideas that Scale, Longwood Gardens, PA Join Claire Agre for an exploration of great garden architecture through the millennia. This lecture will compare the design work at our Main Fountain Garden with an investigation of great gardens’ themes and details-Italian, Baroque, American and imagined. Finally, the living and dynamic topics of site-specificity, maintenance, weather, and horticultural techniques will be discussed as the foundation to all grand, garden design. Fee $29-Non Members, Free Members – Ticket does not include admission for the Gardens https://enroll.longwoodgardens.org/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=161LLGIE May 17, 2016 – 9:30 a.m. In the Garden Series: Knots for Gardening, Ladew Gardens, Monkton, MD Learn advanced gardening skills directly from the Ladew professional gardeners in “behind the scenes” gardening demonstrations. http://www.ladewgardens.com/EDUCATION/Adult-Education/In-The-Garden-Series Members: Free, Non-Members $13, includes admission to the Gardens and Nature Walk May 19, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Allure of Native Azaleas, Mt. Cuba Center Hockessin, DE Are you fascinated by native azaleas but aren't sure how to grow them? Steven Kristoph examines several species and cultivars of these attractive yet under-appreciated shrubs and discusses the basic elements of successfully growing them. Discover azaleas that have intoxicating fragrance and extraordinarily colorful flowers, and learn the best ways to integrate these graceful plants into your garden. Be prepared to walk outdoors. Fee: $25 https://education.mtcubacenter.org/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=162GAR120

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May 14, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Maryland Natives: On Land and by Sea, Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD Discover more about the plants in your own backyard. We’ll begin the day at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary for a wetland ecology tour by canoe. In the afternoon we will stop by Chesapeake Natives, Inc., an organization that is working to promote, propagate, and protect the native plants of our region. Includes transportation and brown bag lunch. Fee: $65; http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/documents/xper_sp2016_v2.pdf May 26, 2016 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. False Indigo – True Beauty, Mt. Cuba Center Hockessin, DE False indigo (Baptisia spp.) is a great plant for the sunny border and has a broad range of flower colors. George Coombs, Mt. Cuba Center's Research Horticulturist, highlights the breadth of diversity within this group of plants and reveals the top performing selections from a five-year evaluation of 52 different varieties. Learn how to grow and use Baptisia species in the landscape and enjoy a trip to the Trial Garden to see the plants in peak bloom. Be prepared to walk outdoors. Fee: $30 https://education.mtcubacenter.org/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=162GAR140 June 2, 2016 – 5:00 p.m. Dinner, 7:00 p.m. Lecture. For the Love of Bees, Ladew Gardens, Monkton, MD Special 45th Anniversary lecture by Dennis vanEngelsdorph, Ph.D. This lecture will cover honeybees, unique and fascinating insects, from biology to communication, and what the public can do to promote and conserve them. Tickets $45. http://www.ladewgardens.com/EDUCATION/Adult-education/Lecture-Series Grow It Eat It Preserve It - Led by Shauna Henley, PhD

Schedule: 4/21/16 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm Strawberry Jam 5/07/16 10 am - 2 pm Asparagus 5/07/16 3 pm - 5:30 pm Strawberry Jam 6/24/16 1 pm - 4 pm Cherry Pie filling 7/23/16 10 am - 1 pm Peach Salsa 7/23/16 2 pm - 5 pm Low sodium pickles 8/24/16 12 pm - 4 pm Blood Mary Mix (Tomato juice) 9/06/16 6 pm - 8:30 pm Peaches packed in water

10/12/16 10 am - 2 pm Apple-Tomato chutney 11/8/16 6 pm - 8:30 pm Apple Butter

LOCATION: Harford County Extension Office, Call for more information and to register.

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Calendar of Events May 3 1:30 p.m. Brightview Brightview May 5 10:00 a.m. MG Monthly Meeting HCEO May 7 10:00 a.m. Ladew Garden Fest Ladew May 7 10:00 a.m. Ask a MG Plant Clinic Bel Air Library May 12 6:30 p.m. GIEI – Propagation Whiteford Library May 14 7:00 a.m. Bel Air Famer’s Market Bel Air, MD May 14

8:00 a.m.

Scarboro Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day

Scarboro Landfill

May 14

10:00 a.m.

Garden Mart

Havre deGrace, MD Maritime Museum

May 16-19 12:30 p.m. Harford Glen Classes Harford Glen May 18 10:00 a.m. Daytime Study Group HCEO May 18 7:00 p.m. Evening Study Group HCEO May 19 10:00 a.m. MG Steering Committee Meeting HCEO May 21 10:15 a.m. Garden Series – Backyard Foraging Bel Air Library May 21 10:00 a.m. Ask a MG Plant Clinic Havre deGrace Library May 21 9:00 a.m. Havre de Grace Farmer’s Market Havre deGrace, MD May 26 MG Annual Training Day College Park, MD May 28 7:00 a.m. Bel Air Farmer’s Market Bel Air, MD

May 30 Memorial Day

Extension Office CLOSED

Harford County is starting a county-wide habitat restoration program and is seeking willing participants to accept free restoration services on their property! The Department of Planning and Zoning (P&Z) would like to reforest land, as well as restore streams and wetlands, to promote better environmental health. Restoration of a natural habitat reduces soil erosion, mitigates flooding, greatly contributes to better water quality, and creates sustainable wildlife habitat. For any questions, or if you are interested in accommodating this habitat restoration effort, please contact Bryan Lightner, Environmental Planner in P&Z, at (410) 638-3103 ext. 1386 or bclightner@harfordcountymd.gov.

FREE TREES – Habitat Restoration

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Joyce Browning Urban Horticulturist Master Gardener Coordinator Harford County Office

Taken From Doug Tallamy’s presentations

The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion,

ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, or gender identity and expression.

The Maryland Master Gardener Mission Statement

The Maryland Master Gardener mission is to support the University of Maryland Extension by educating Maryland residents about safe effective and sustainable horticultural practices

that build healthy gardens, landscapes and communities.