GEM STATE GARDENER ~ SUMMER 2015 JUME 2015; VOL 5, ISSUE 2

GEM STATE GARDENER Summer 2015 Newsletter

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE Hello to all. Summer is approaching and so is our Garden Clubs of Idaho Annual convention in Mc Call. Lynnda Gilbert and Pat Peutz have the Southwest District members working very hard to make it a fun and educational convention. We will be electing new State officers. I hope to see all of you there. Please remember that State Chairmen are to present their 2 minute report. I have enjoyed visiting many Garden Clubs and have had the honor of installing new club officers. It is so rewarding to see what individual clubs are doing and getting to know more of you. Gardeners are special people. I attended the Pacific Region Convention in Eugene, Oregon April 20-23. All eight state Presidents were present. The Awards for the Pacific Region were awarded. I am proud to say Idaho received second place in the Pacific Region Director's project "It's Our World! It's Our Responsibility! Plant Seeds of Knowledge and Stewardship." Accompanying the award was a$150 check. GCII clubs had 7 first place Awards. Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl poster contestants won several Pacific Region awards. Thank you Joyce DiGiovanni for all your hard work promoting this great program to educate our children. We are a small but dedicated group of people. Congratulations to us all. Our new Pacific Region Director Kristie Livreri was installed. Her project is "Looking to the Garden through the Eyes of a Child. A Kaleidoscope of Possibilities". More to come on her project. Peter and I decided to make it a road trip to the National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky May 14-18. Our new President is Sandra Robinson from Kentucky. Her theme is "Leap in to Action". Looking forward to see you all in Mc Call. Janet Petersen, President Garden Clubs of Idaho, Inc. WE ALL LIVE DOWNSTREAM ~ CHOICES MATTER

GEM STATE GARDENER ~ SUMMER 2015 JUME 2015; VOL 5, ISSUE 2

IDAHO GARDEN EVENTS CALENDAR JUNE THROUGH AUGUST

June 14 GCII Convention, McCall, ID June 21 10:00a.m.to 4:30 p.m. Private Gardens Tour Info: www.idahobotanicalgarden.org Aug19-22 Idaho County Fair Weekly June – Sept. The Homedale Farmers Market will begin on Thursday, June 18th weekly through

Sept. 24th. It will be held in the Bette Uda City Park, located on East Idaho Ave, between 2nd and 3rd Streets. The Homedale Farmers Market is a member of the Idaho Preferred Group, as well as, the Idaho Famers Market Association. If you would like to be a vendor or need further information, please contact Denise Dixon at 208-840-0440 or ddixon222@msn.com

IDAHO BOTANICAL GARDEN SUMMER EDUCATION PROGRAM:

Low-Water Landscapes Tuesday, June 9, 7 p.m.

Plant Propagation Wednesday, June 10, 7 p.m.

Firewise Landscape Thursday, June 11, 7 p.m.

Horse Pasture Management Tuesday, June 16, 7 p.m.

Hypertufa Trough Workshop Monday, June 22, 6 p.m. Part I Monday, June 29, 6 p.m. Part II

Fairy Gardens (Adult/Child Workshop) Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m.

Insect Hotel Workshop Wednesday, July 22, 7 p.m.

Yoga in the Garden Mondays: July 27, Aug. 3, 10, 17 & 24, 10:15 a.m.

Crash Course in Fall Gardening Tuesday, August 11, 7 p.m.

Culinary Herbs Wednesday, August 19, 7 p.m.

GEM STATE GARDENER ~ SUMMER 2015 JUME 2015; VOL 5, ISSUE 2

The following Blue Book addition will be voted on at the GCII June Convention in McCall:

SECTION 1-POLICIES AND PROCEDURES-MEMBERSHIP 4d. Individual Member*: A member not affiliated with a GCII state club but wants to be associated with the State organization. The Member must pay the state dues of $10. Such Member is entitled to attend state meetings, participate in state discussions and is eligible to vote at state meetings. *Parliamentarians from State to National cannot find anywhere in our BYLAWS where it states that a GCII member must be a member of a Garden Club. HORTICULTURE TIPS FROM IRIS VELTROP For Roses in the Spring Prune your roses when the Forsythia blooms, then fertilize it with the following mixture: 1/4 cup Osmocote (14-14-14) slow release fertilizer or equivalent 1/2 cup magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) 1/2 cup blood meal 2 cups bone meal Mix these 4 ingredients together and apply around each rose bush at a rate of 1/2 cup per plant. This is also good for Rhododendron, Peony, Hosta, etc. Also, mulch rose plants with alfalfa pellets at a rate of 3 or more cups pellets. Insecticidal Soap As new growth comes on your plants, watch for aphids. Knock them out with a Safer Soap equivalent. Buying ready-to-use Safer Soap can be an expensive proposition if you have a quantity of plants to spray. The main ingredient is pure soap (no detergent) made up of potassium salts of fatty acids. A 2% solution of pure soap is effective on insects such as aphids and white flies if it thoroughly wets the insect. It does not immediately kill the insect but the soap solution washes away the protective coating on the surface of the insect and disrupts the normal membrane function such that they soon die. It must be directly applied to the insect since any dried soap solution left on the plant itself offers no residual protection in the future. In this detergent-dominated world, it is difficult to find pure soap, I use: Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap 18-in-1 Hemp Unscented Baby Mild PURE-CASTILE SOAP

Good morning. We are looking forward to the State convention to meet so many of you. Here are a few things we have lined up.

VALLEY GARDEN CLUB Presents

“You Light Up My Life” A Standard Flower Show

Lewis and Clark RV and Resort 4243 Highway 12, Kamiah, Idaho 83536

June 11th 2015, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Open and Free to the Public

Entries from the public are invited in all divisions

Member of Clearwater District Garden Clubs of Idaho, Inc.

Pacific Region National Garden Clubs, Inc.

PROUDLY SERVING OUR MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY

Handicapped Accessible

GEM STATE GARDENER ~ SUMMER 2015 JUME 2015; VOL 5, ISSUE 2

Home Made Safer Soap The recipe is: 2 TBS Castile soap 1 Gallon SOFT water or pure water 1 TBS Rubbing Alcohol (optional) Hard water cannot be used since it reacts with the soap and makes a scum, rendering it ineffective. Some people like to add a small amount of rubbing alcohol to the solution in the belief this makes it more effective. I use a small (1 gallon) pump sprayer to apply. Powdery Mildew Spray Roses are susceptible to mildew. An effective solution to spray is the following: 3 TBS Mineral oil (Sometimes called Horticultural oil or Agricultural oil) 1 TBS baking soda 1 gallon water (soft water preferred)

CLUB AND AFFILIATES NEWS: Hill and Valley Garden Club

Several years ago our club started working toward developing the next generation of gardeners. We had fundraisers to sponsor youth gardening incentive scholarships. Each year six scholarships are awarded to Kindergarten through Grade 12 in our local school district.

Students have helped plant the Butterfly Garden in Juliette as well as gardens of their own. A tulip garden at the school was thrilling for Kindergarten students to experience from the bulb planting to the blooming. Last year they planted an empty city lot to Sun Flowers. It was the object of admiration. Each year students in the 3rd grade grow window box gardens and exhibit them in our flower show. We had twelve entries this past year. Our club helped sponsor a greenhouse project at the elementary school. Club member Polly Taylor-Dennler has been proactive in getting the youth involved in gardening. Each year she gives a presentation to the summer reading students at the local library. It is always a gardening theme and around fifty children receive it with tremendous enthusiasm.

Planting the Sunflower Garden

GEM STATE GARDENER ~ SUMMER 2015 JUME 2015; VOL 5, ISSUE 2

Chinden Gardeners

Spring has sprung in Idaho and garden clubs are on the move with plant sales, projects, membership drives, and many other things. Chinden Gardeners is no exception.

Louisa Cone, State Parliamentarian, presented a very good program on Parliamentary Procedure at our first “Annual Meeting”. As a new club, it was felt that we needed to learn the basics, how to make a motion, how to give reports, and how to conduct a meeting properly. Three Goals and the Objectives were accepted at this meeting (1) to increase membership and regular meeting attendance, (2) to develop a long term project that could be supported by the number of members currently in the club, and (3) implement tools, such as a yearbook and newsletter, to keep our members informed of activities and events. The common theme was to place the emphasis on the members. One member suggested that a Values Statement should be included in the Bylaws. The purpose of the Values Statement was to set tone of conduct within the club and especially at meetings. Chinden Gardeners is striving to be a club that is inviting to others and caring toward its current members.

Our Library Planter Project is in full bloom. A few plants were lost over the winter but will be replaced some bulbs and some annuals will be added. Teams of two members each will do weeding and/or deadheading every two weeks.

In early April there was a joint club venture with our sister club, Golden Garden Club. Seven garden club members from the two clubs did general maintenance at the Wild Bird Center for Birds of Prey at Condors Cliffs. We trimmed, lopped, clipped and cleaned the area to prepare it for visitors. This area had been planted and maintained by the Idaho Horticultural Society and Sandy Ford suggested it as a volunteer project. Donating back to the community can done with helping hands as well as money.

A long term project is being considered by our club. Club member, Judy Snow, presented a program about Bees at the March meeting and has recently spoken on behalf of The Chinden Gardeners to the City Council of Garden City. We would like to partner with Garden City on a community project that will focus community education on establishing habitats for Pollinators.

SMALL DONATIONS OR GRANTS CAN GO A LONG WAY INFLUENCING THE LIFE OF OUR YOUTH

THE THREE YEAR OLD COUNCIL POND PROJECT CONTINUES Three years ago the now dissolved Idaho Horticulture Society granted a small amount of funds to a very well organized and multi-agency collaborative project dubbed the Council Pond Project. Its success is definitely the result of dedicated educators, government agencies and an involved community. According to Leslie Freeman, Project Lead, planting is delayed at the Council Pond until top soil is delivered--it's coming free from a local landowner so the delivery keeps getting delayed (but we have all the plants purchased and ready to go--they are at the school greenhouse and also at a local nursery) In the meanwhile, we wanted to share this video of a student's floating island project with you: https://youtu.be/sHZjQFBDWPM Thank you so much for the Idaho Horticulture Society funding--as soon as we have the plants planted, we'll follow up with pictures of that. We apologize for the delay in getting the project completed. ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------- ------ ------ ------

IF YOUR GARDEN CLUB HAS A SUCCESS STORY TO SHARE, LET US KNOW ABOUT IT!

GEM STATE GARDENER ~ SUMMER 2015 JUME 2015; VOL 5, ISSUE 2

NGC Conservation Pledge ‘I pledge to protect and conserve our natural resources of planet earth and to promote education so that we may become caretakers (stewards) of our air, water, forest, land and w ildlife.’

Listed below are ways we in Idaho can each protect the air, water and land we cherish and call home. Air Reducing our use of fossil fuels is the most important step we can take to protect our air. Reduce consumption of fossil fuels, be aware of how you use fossil fuels and be conscientious consumers.

• Keep woodstoves and fireplaces well maintained. • Reduce use of products with excessive or single end use packaging • Recycle paper, plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. • Keep woodstoves and fireplaces well maintained. • Conserve energy - turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room. • Consider replacing old wood stoves with EPA-certified models. • Plant deciduous trees in locations around your home to provide shade in the summer but to

allow light in the winter. • Buy ENERGY STAR products, including energy efficient lighting and appliances. They are

environmentally friendly products. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES.

• Choose efficient, low-polluting models of vehicles. Visit www.epa.gov/greenvehicles. • Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently. Consider replacing gas powered lawn

mowers with reel mower or electric mowers. While electric mowers often rely on fossil fuel electricity generation that process and is controlled.

Gardeners Link to Protecting the Air: http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Impact_of_Air_Pollution_on_Gardening Water Conservation and Protection The 2 biggest users of water in your home are toilets and landscape watering. In fact, during the summer, half of all household water use is for the lawn and garden.

The largest polluter to our water is the result of polluted runoff, or non-point source pollution. Polluted runoff is caused by rainfall and snowmelt moving over and through the ground that picks up and carries with it natural and human-made pollutants, depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and our underground sources of drinking water

GEM STATE GARDENER ~ SUMMER 2015 JUME 2015; VOL 5, ISSUE 2

Conservation – Choices Matter • Add organic matter to your soil.

Organic matter, in the form of compost, chopped up leaves or composted manure will improve the texture and water-holding capacity of your soil. Add at least an inch of compost each year.

• Deliver water to the root-zone. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses ensure that up to 90 percent of the water you apply to your garden is actually available to your

• Use mulch to retain water. A six to eight-inch layer of organic mulch can cut water needs in half by smothering thirsty weeds and reducing evaporation. Organic mulches retain some water themselves and increase the humidity level around plants.

• Use free water. Rainwater is the best choice for your plants. It's clear, unchlorinated and free. Use rain barrels or a cistern to collect water from your downspouts. A 1,000 square foot roof will yield 625 gallons of water from one inch of rain

• Reduce your lawn. Turf grass is one of the most water and labor-intensive types of "gardens" you can have. Consider planting groundcovers or low-maintenance perennials instead.

• Plan before you plant. By planning your garden before you plant, you can take advantage of the characteristics of your site, such as sun, shade, wind and soil. Group plants with similar water needs.

• Choose plants carefully. A plant that's satisfied getting most of the water it needs from natural rainfall will require a lot less work from you. For drought-tolerant perennials, choose varieties that are native to your area (or a region with a similar climate). These plants will be naturally adapted for your local climate and soils. Take good care of your plants.

Healthy plants need less water, fertilizer and pest controls than stressed plants. By keeping on top of tasks, such as weeding, thinning, pruning and monitoring pests, you'll be able to ease off on watering. Link to EPA Water sense:

http://www.epa.gov/watersense/http://www.epa.gov/watersense/outdoor/landscaping_tips.html

Protect our Resource Important Links: EPA Link to Watershed Protection http://water.epa.gov/scitech/climatechange/upload/epa_2012_climate_water_strategy_sectionIV_watersheds_and_wetlands_final.pdf Virtual Tour of Water Treatment Plant: http://water.epa.gov/drink/tour/ EPA Link to Drinking Water Contaminants – http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/index.cfm#List Idaho Rivers United Link to Waterwise Protection of Rivers and Streams http://www.idahorivers.org/protectrivers/conservation.aspx?page=troutfriendlylawns Chemicals Used in Gardening which end up in our watershed and our drinking water: http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/index.cfm#List

GEM STATE GARDENER ~ SUMMER 2015 JUME 2015; VOL 5, ISSUE 2

Natural Pesticide http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/natural-home-pesticides-organic-garden-pest-control.htm Storm Water Runoff Pollution http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/chap3.asp

Forests, Land and Native Species Idaho encompasses a wide variety of terrain from high desert to sub alpine meadows, river valleys and the rolling glacier till of the Palouse. The resulting plant life and wildlife that thrive in these vastly different environments are as varied as the terrain. September 3rd 2014 was the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act which today protects 110 million acres nationwide including 4.5 million acres in Idaho. Idaho has the 4th highest total acreage in protection of the 50 states, and the largest contiguous acreage in the lower 48 states. Our wilderness is our treasure. The most important action we can all take to protect our wilderness is to get out there and experience the vast wild places we call our home. What we know and love we will work to protect. Share your love for Idaho’s wild places with those you love. The Idaho Conservation League is dedicated to protecting Idaho’s lands and forest, through education and congressional action. Their actions often bridge the gap between extractive business and environmentalists.

The Idaho Conservation League is Idaho’s leading voice for conservation. With offices in Boise, Ketchum and Sandpoint, working hard to protect the air you breathe, water you drink and wild places you and your family love.You can also check out the ICL through their blog, or Facebook page and twitter feed, @iclnaturerocks.

• http://www.idahoconservation.org/issues/land • http://www.idahoconservation.org/issues/land/wilderness/clearwater-basin/clearwater-

basin-collaborative • http://www.idahoconservation.org/issues/land/wilderness/owyhee-canyonlands

• BLM Wild and Scenic Rivers Protection and Designation http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/Idaho_WSRs.html

Photo by Susan Drumheller

GEM STATE GARDENER ~ SUMMER 2015 JUME 2015; VOL 5, ISSUE 2

Native Plant Society of Idaho The Idaho Native Plant Society (INPS) is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting interest in native plants and plant communities, and collecting and sharing information on all phases of the botany of native plants in Idaho. The Society seeks to foster an understanding and appreciation of our native flora and to preserve this rich heritage for future generations. In keeping with our mission, it is the intent of the INPS to educate its membership and the public about current conservation issues that affect Idaho’s native flora and habitats. Membership is open to anyone interested in our native flora.

Activities include:

Each year the Society sponsors the Idaho Rare Plant Conference, which brings together professional botanists statewide. One product of the Conference is the Idaho Rare Plant List.

Promoting the use of native plants in landscapes Educating the public about native plants and native plant communities. Supporting local university and college herbaria. Sharing botanical information and experiences at chapter meetings with other members. Participating in field studies on rare plants in Idaho. Conducting field trips to areas of botanical interest

Submitted by Laurie DuRocher

GEM STATE GARDENER ~ SUMMER 2015 JUME 2015; VOL 5, ISSUE 2

WHITEBARK PINE (Pinus albicaulis)

Robyn McCarthy, Trees and Shrubs Chairman

If you have had experience skiing or hiking in the high mountains of the northern Rockies, you have probably seen the whitebark pines. In a brutal environment at high altitude they take on a dwarfed form with twisted branches – called krummholz. KRUMMHOLZ FORM (Photo by Walter Siegmund) These incredible trees live in an environment where the drying wind is almost constant and in any month of the year a blizzard can occur. At 50 – 70 years old these pines reach maturity and produce egg-shaped densely scaled cones. The cones rarely open and seed dispersal depends on the Clark’s Nutcracker to pry open the whitebark cones. These birds pack the fat-laden seeds into a special pouch beneath their tongues and fly off to bury them in seed caches. Some forgotten seeds will grow into baby trees. The cones are also a favorite food of the grizzly bear. The high fat content of the pine’s seeds help the grizzly get through winter hibernation to give birth to healthy cubs.

Many living things depend on the whitebark pine. Even people benefit because the trees slow spring runoff from the mountain slopes and contribute to water supply in the valleys below. Right now the whitebark pine forests are endangered as they contain more dead trees than living ones. Three problems are combining to imperil this species. Blister rust, a fungus imported to western North America in 1910 kills young whitebark pines, weakens mature trees

and reduces cone productions. Animals that rely on the high-calorie seeds find less food each year. Mountain pine beetles lay eggs under the tree’s bark. The beetle larvae make feeding tunnels that block the flow of water and nutrients from the roots to the needles which slowly starves the trees. Fires have increased and killed mature trees as climate change lengthens summers and drought seems to be the norm. Thankfully, forest management is working to restore the whitebark pine. Cones are being harvested from rust-resistant trees, which will produce rust-resistant seed cones in 50 years. Beetle-repelling pheromone is being placed on the pines to save the trees from attack. Fire burned areas are often used by Clark’s Nutcrackers for their seed caches. Only our children and or grandchildren will know how successful these efforts will be in 50 years when they visit a high ridge and look for the whitebark pine.