February 25, 2014,Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter

Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter February 25, 2014

http://www.examiner.com/gardening-in-detroit/kimberley-willis

http://www.examiner.com/country-living-in-detroit/kimberley-willis

These weekly garden notes are written by Kim Willis, unless another author is noted, and the opinions expressed in these notes are her opinions and do not represent any other individual, group or organizations opinions.

Hello Gardeners

Bee on Bee balm

Well are you ready for another polar vortex? It’s coming tonight.  Are you tired of that word?  Will spring ever arrive?  It looks like March will arrive as a lion, hopefully that means it will go out as a lamb.  I am so tired of this bitter cold and my world being ice locked.  You can feel that the sun is getting stronger but these huge piles of ice and snow negate its affects.

The frozen lakes

The Great Lakes are nearly completely ice covered and in some places the ice is 25 feet deep.  This is the first time this has happened in 20 years.  Lake Superior is 90% ice covered; the other Lakes are 95% or more covered.  After this next wave of polar air it’s possible that some or all of the lakes will be 100% ice covered. 

Experts say this ice cover will affect our spring.  It could mean that we will now get less snow because the west wind blowing over Lake Michigan won’t be able to pick up moisture. That’s good.  But it will mean that winds from the west will be cooled too, as they pass over all that ice and spring may be slow and cool.  That’s bad.  The break- up of the ice this spring and the resulting ice dams could mean a lot of flooding and lots of trouble with shipping on the Great lakes.

Experts also say the frozen lakes may have killed off some exotic species which is a good thing.  They also say the ice cover helps the whitefish population by protecting their breeding areas from early spring storms.  However the ice may allow the movement of some species of animals like wolves, elk, and others to move into new areas.

Gardening things to do while waiting for Spring

The weather is lousy and even tree pruning is hard to do with near 0 temps.  But if you are a hardy soul fruit tree pruning time is here.  Check trees and shrubs for animal damage if you go outside.  Heavy duty aluminum foil can be used to temporarily wrap exposed trunks and limbs.  It won’t help a completely girdled trunk but if damage is minor it can prevent more damage.  Most animals won’t chew through it.  Remove in the spring. But there are gardening chores you can do inside while you are waiting.

It’s time to order seeds and plants.  Most nurseries won’t ship plants until the weather is warm enough but I predict there will be many crop failures and a shortage of some plants this spring due to weather.  Order now so you won’t be disappointed.

Get ready to start seeds. Buy your seed starting medium and get any other supplies you need like gro-lights and pots or flats.  Collect and wash deli “clam” plastic containers.  They make excellent mini-greenhouses.  Make paper pots. (See more information below)  You can also make good seed starting pots from Styrofoam cups, paper cups, fiber egg cartons, and yogurt containers.  Wash all used items with hot water and soap and if the item was ever used for plants sterilize it with 1 part bleach to 3 parts water before use.  (To remove disease organisms.)

It’s still a bit early for starting some seeds like tomatoes and peppers.  They’ll get too lanky and stressed before planting time unless you have greenhouse conditions.   You could start seeds of annual flowers like petunias, marigolds, coleus, snapdragons, violas, and perennials grown from seed like lavender, asclepias (Butterfly weed)Foxglove, hollyhock, seed geraniums and so on.  In general things that need to be blooming size when frost ends or that need a long period of time to begin blooming can be started now.  They grow more slowly than tomatoes but they still need good light to grow strong and sturdy.

Start some cuttings.  If you don’t have over- wintered plants such as geraniums, coleus, sweet potatoes etc., maybe you have some houseplants you can multiply.  Succulents like jade plants, Christmas cacti, African violets, Rex begonias, pothos, bridal veil and many other houseplants can provide cuttings or divisions to relieve gardening addiction.

You can even start plants from supermarket finds such as coffee plants from unroasted beans, pineapple tops, orange and tangerine seeds, pomegranate seeds, you name it you can try it.

Clean and re-pot house plants.  Wash off dusty leaves, give plants a warm shower.  Re-pot plants.  Check for disease and bugs and prune if necessary.

Check your stored bulbs and tubers.  Discard mushy ones and add a little moisture if they look dried up. 

Replace and clean tools.  The garden stores have a good selection out right now and they aren’t crowded if you need new tools.  Paint the handles of tools that have roughened from the weather.  A bright color will help you find them if they should get “lost.”

You can sharpen the blades of shears and pruners if you fold up some aluminum foil multiple times and then make multiple cuts through it with the shears or pruners.  Used foil is fine, as long as there aren’t big pieces of food on it.  Oil your pruning instruments.

Order mower/machinery parts or get repairs.  If you know you need a new belt or spark plugs for your mower now is the time to get them.  Get mowers repaired or serviced now before the busy season.  Sharpen mower blades or buy new ones.

Read a garden book or book about gardening.  I just read The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert.  It’s about people who made their living (a rather grand one in this case) from the early botanical trade but especially one woman botanist’s rather lonely life.  It’s fiction but has some fascinating information about the great Dutch and American botanical gardens and people who traveled the globe looking for that next plant pharmaceutical or spice or popular ornamental.  It’s also got a good human story weaved in it.

Attend a garden talk or seminar.  Check out the list at the end of the newsletter.  Nothing gets your gardening juices flowing like being around other crazy gardeners talking about your favorite subject.

Some new plant/ seed companies to explore.  You can find a large list of links to nurseries and seed companies on my blog but here are some links that aren’t on the list.

Rohrer Seed – www.AGRP-FEB.com/RSEED

Plow and Hearth- www.plowhearth.com

Big Rock Trees www.bigrocktrees.com

Botanical Interests – www.botanicalinterests.com

Seeds Now – www.SeedsNow.com

Happiness Farms Caladiums- www.happinessfarms.com

Growing Mukdenia

Mukdenia in spring.  Credit - wikimedia commons

Want something new for your shady garden?  Mukdenia might just be the plant you are looking for.  Mukdenia is a cousin of the popular heuchera and it’s also grown for its fabulous foliage, especially for fall color in the shade. 

Mukdenia (Mukdenia rossii) is native to China and Korea and is hardy to zone 4.  It has broad divided fan shaped leaves that start out medium green in the spring but as summer progresses the leaves gradually redden until by fall you have completely red foliage.  In early spring it has stems of tiny white flowers much like coral bells.

Mukdenia - fall.

Mukdenia likes a moist, partly shaded area with good fertility.  It dies back to the ground each winter but is a reasonably long lived perennial.  It naturalizes easily and spreads slowly through underground runners.  The plant has a mounded shape about a foot high.

The variety of Mukdenia most often sold is ‘Karasuba’ often translated to Crimson Fans. 

2-4-D resistant crops – Should they be allowed?

In the next few weeks the USDA will decide whether or not to allow corn and soybeans genetically modified to resist the effects of the weed killer 2-4-D (2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid).  The makers (Dow Chemicals) claim the new strains of these crops are needed because weeds have become resistant to “Round Up” (glyphosate).  The new products are called “Enlist.”

First let’s get a few facts straight.  When crops are genetically modified to resist weed killers they do not contain the weed killer in their plant parts.  Just like some tomatoes have resistance to blight and other tomato diseases, these new plants resist dying from 2-4-D.   In this case a bacterial aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase gene is added to help them survive 2-4-D. When sprayed with 2-4D the corn or soybeans don’t die.  The weeds around them however will die. Because it takes a lot of money and time to develop resistant crops these plants are usually patented.

2-4-D is a common agricultural chemical and is currently being used on many agricultural fields.  It can’t be applied directly to some crops of course, because it kills some plants (like corn and soybeans.)  It is usually used to burn off weeds before a crop is planted.   2-4-D is a very common ingredient in lawn care products, like “Weed and Feed”  and “Weed Be Gone” and homeowners use a lot of it.  Golf courses are literally doused in it.   These products usually have other toxic ingredients as well.

Here’s the problem, as many see it.  When crops can withstand a pesticide it is used on them.  The corn you eat now is probably not very likely to contain high levels of 2-4-D on it because the pesticide would have been used well before the corn was planted.  Now, because the pesticide might be liberally sprayed on corn fields, harvested corn could have the pesticide on it.  The makers of the new plants claim that 2-4-D doesn’t enter the plants and doesn’t last long on the corn.  But to many it seems that 2-4-D is much more likely to enter the food supply if it is applied to crops as they are growing.

2-4-D has a nasty reputation because it was half of the chemical concoction of a defoliant that was labeled “Agent Orange”.  Agent Orange has been found to be responsible for many health problems including a number of cancers, to soldiers exposed to it during the Viet Nam War.  However research has proven that it was dioxin, a contaminant of Agent Orange produced during its manufacture, which caused the problems. 

Pesticide manufacturers claim that the method of producing 2-4-D they use now does not result in dioxin contamination.  However some studies have shown some weed killer brands using 2-4-D do have dioxin contamination.  And even if dioxin is absent 2-4-D is not a harmless pesticide. 

2-4-D is not generally ingested, rather people get it in their systems by absorption through the skin and by breathing it in.  The EPA has ruled that it does not cause cancer in humans. (But dioxin does.) Some scientists disagree. But we can’t legally test 2-4-D on humans by having them eat it.  We can only test it on animals.

However persons who are exposed to 2-4-D in manufacturing plants and who are agricultural or lawn care personnel that are regularly exposed do have higher rates of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.  Studies have also confirmed that regular exposure to 2-4-D causes male reproductive problems, including defective sperm.  Other studies have linked even smaller exposures to liver damage- including the study which claimed that golfers who regularly play on treated courses have higher rates of liver cirrhosis.  It has also been linked to eye and lung damage.

Dogs are very susceptible to liver and other problems including rare cancers if they are exposed to lawns regularly treated with 2-4-D products.  This is thought to be because they consume treated grass and lick themselves, ingesting the herbicide.  (This is why you should never use these products on lawns that dogs use, despite the claims of lawn care companies.)

Farmers (or maybe just the companies who want to sell to farmers) say they need 2-4-D resistant crops because weeds have developed resistance to glyphosate.  If they are able to rotate the two types of crops, glyphosate resistant and 2-4-D resistant, weed resistance to the pesticides is much less likely to develop.  They point to the fact that 2-4-D has been used on crops since 1946 – without fanfare and without appreciable damage to the environment.  And there is a good chance that any exposure to 2-4-D by the average consumer comes from their use of it at home.

My personal thoughts are this. I am not against all genetic modification of plants.   I think we should stop developing plants that resist pesticides because that means more pesticides will be used.  I would rather see genetic modifications that make plants survive weed competition without pesticides.  I also believe that we should not allow companies to collect fees from farmers who save seeds or who have crops contaminated from pollination by modified crops.

If we do allow the growing of these new resistant varieties I suggest a trade off.  Let’s ban the use of 2-4-D on lawns, sports fields and golf courses.  That would probably keep the level of 2-4-D used in the US the same as before the modified crops or even reduce it. Make it a restricted use pesticide that requires a licensed applicator.  Homeowners are more likely to be exposed to 2-4-D from lawn care/ weed killer products than agricultural use and they are more likely to use these pesticides in careless and illegal ways. 

Those of you who know me know that I do not believe weed free lawns or golf courses are a justification for pesticide use.  If weeds bother you so much pull them by hand or use safer methods of getting rid of them such as vinegar.  If we banned toxic chemical use on lawns, sports fields and golf courses we would reduce pesticide levels in the environment by at least 50%.

The USDA is still taking public comments on whether 2-4-D resistant crops should be grown until March 11.  Here is the site where you are supposed to be able to leave those comments. 

http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0042

Organic growing may pollute groundwater

A study done in Israel confirms studies done in other places.  Using large amounts of manure on crop land as is practiced in many organic operations can have serious impacts on groundwater and even surface water.  Groundwater is the water found underground that is often tapped for water wells.  The breakdown of manure in soil produces nitrates which are slowly leached through the soil into the ground water.  Nitrates have serious health consequences, and there are standards for how much nitrate can be in drinking water before it is deemed unfit to drink.

Manure applied heavily to fields may also be washed into nearby drainage canals or creeks and rivers and pollute surface waters.   The Israeli study found that drip irrigation is the safest method of feeding crops, conventional salt based fertilizers next safest and manure the riskiest method of crop feeding.  How much and how quickly nitrates reach ground water levels depends on the soil type and management practices.  The study was done at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel and published in the Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Journal.

While manure improves soil structure and feeds crops with a natural product it is not harmless.  Gardeners and organic farmers must be very careful when and how they apply manure to crops.  Gardeners should not apply manure to gardens located within 50 feet of their well or anyone’s well.  Manure should be applied in the fall to home gardens. (That’s also for food safety.) 

Composting manure before applying it is probably the safest way to use it in home gardens.  Manure should not be applied to cropland before the soil has thawed because it is more likely to run off into surface waters.  If you live near land that is being used for organic crops and manure is applied to that land frequently you should periodically have your well water tested for nitrates.  Nitrates also come from conventional fertilizers so if your well is within 50 feet of fertilized cropland have your well water tested every other year or so.

Traveling bottle gourds

Bottle gourds seem inconsequential in the scheme of things but they were very important to our early ancestors.  Before the invention of ceramics, wood carving knives and metal working, bottle gourds carried everything from water to seeds.  They were eaten from, drank from, they stored things and became decorations.  Young bottle gourds were also eaten. Many early archeological excavations have turned up bottle gourds and ancient art often depicts them.

 

The origin of bottle gourds was thought to be Asia for a long time.  Their use was also prominent in Africa, and in North and South America.  Scientists have now determined that bottle gourds first came from Africa through genetic analysis, comparing them to the few remaining populations of wild gourds in Africa.

While people surely carried bottle gourds on their migrations out of Africa scientists also believe that whole gourds floated across the ocean to the Americas long before people arrived there.  They conducted experiments and found that gourds could float across the Atlantic in as few as 100 days or take as long as 10 months.  When they arrive on American shores the seeds are still viable.  They believe large animals carried the seeds inland, eating the gourds and passing the seed in their dung.

Such a simple thing, the bottle gourd, a simple plant seed container.  But so important to man’s history and culture and one of the earliest of domesticated plants.   Where would man be without plants?

Wish for warm winds and bright sun.

Kim Willis

 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero

More Information

How to Make Re-cycled Paper Pots

By Kim Willis

Many gardeners are beginning to prepare for spring by starting seeds indoors.  Instead of going out and buying peat pots why not make almost free pots from waste newspaper, junk mail and office mistakes?  You won’t need to buy any fancy gadgets either to make your pots.  Your recycled pots will break down in the garden soil just as quickly as peat pots, if not more quickly.  These paper pots are good for starting cuttings in also.  They’re so simple to make that even small children can help with the project.

What you will need

You’ll need waste paper or thin cardboard.  Newspaper, cereal and cracker boxes, old poster board, junk mail, and used copy paper are good examples. You don’t want to use glossy colored pages from magazines or junk flyers because the colored ink on those items may contain lead.

Newspaper and thin copy paper are good for starting seeds that will only need to be in pots for a couple weeks before transplanting outside or into larger containers.  Thin cardboard and poster board are better for starting seeds that will need a month or longer until transplanting.  Don’t use cardboard that food has been in direct contact with, such as pizza boxes.  This can cause mold to grow in the planting medium.  Most packaged products have an inner liner which can be discarded and the cardboard box can be used.

You’ll also need a regular office stapler with staples and a pair of scissors.  That’s it.  You will need seed starting medium for filling the pots.  Don’t use garden soil or compost unless you sterilize it.

Directions

Start by deciding how big of a pot you want.  Two- three inch pots would be a common size for starting seeds or cuttings.  They can be made from 1 layer of thin cardboard or several layers of thin paper.  Larger pots should be made of cardboard, even doubled cardboard. 

Cut your paper or cardboard into squares, ( 4 even sides), 3 times the size of the pot you want to make.  For a 2 inch pot start with a square of 6 inches, for a 3 inch pot start with a 9 inch square, and so on.  

Now fold or mark your squares into 3 even parts going in each direction.  You should have a grid of 9 even small squares on your larger square.  

With the scissors cut down the 2 creases or marked lines on one side to the first line or crease going in the opposite direction.  Turn the cut side away from you and cut the 2 crease line or marked line on the other side to the first line going the other way.    Cut only 2 sides directly opposite each other.

With a cut side facing you, fold the center square upward and then pull the two uncut sides up and fold over the center square.  Staple the 3 pieces together and repeat on the other end.   You should have made a square cube open on one end.  To make a thicker pot, stack several cut pieces of paper and treat them as one when folding.   You’ll have several layers to staple through.

Instead of using staples you could glue the ends together, or use a paper clip to hold the ends together and remove it at planting.    The paper pots should be put into trays before filling with planting medium.  Save plastic deli trays, foam meat trays, aluminum cake or pie pans etc. for this use.

Events, classes and other offerings

Please let me know if there is any event or class that you would like to share with other gardeners.  These events are primarily in Michigan but if you are a reader from outside of Michigan and want to post an event I’ll be glad to do it.

Master Gardeners if you belong to an association that approves your hours please check with that association before assuming a class or work day will count as credit.

Do you have plants or seeds you would like to swap or share?  Post them here by emailing me at kimwillis151@gmail.com

Oh Deer! Saturday, March 22nd  Bordines Rochester Hills & Clarkston locations at 10:00 AM  Rochester- 1835 S Rochester Rd • (248) 651-9000 or Clarkston 8600 Dixie Hwy • (248) 625-9100  Free

Oh, Deer!  Protecting Your Landscape - Wildlife in the garden is part of nature.  We enjoy watching the rabbits hop across the lawn or the deer trot through the yard.  But when they start using the landscape as their personal salad bowl something has got to give!  Our expert Purple People will provide you with the tips and products you will need to protect your landscape from the munching of these cute little critters so you can, once again, enjoy their presence in your yard.

Bring Your Lawn to Life- March 29  Bordines Rochester Hills & Clarkston locations at 10:00 AM  Rochester- 1835 S Rochester Rd • (248) 651-9000 or Clarkston 8600 Dixie Hwy • (248) 625-9100  Free

After such a harsh, cold winter you are probably wondering if you will ever see a blade of green grass again.  Fear not!  The warm weather of spring is coming. Let our lawn care experts give you the tools and knowledge to bring your lawn back to life.  We will cover fertilization, watering, insect and disease control and even how to keep those pesky Moles away!  You will leave with all the information you need to have the greenest lawn on the block!

Spring Into Gardening Sat., March 29 Sat., March 29 Knights of Columbus Hall Knights of Columbus Hall 1038 S. Van Dyke (M- 1038 S. Van Dyke (M-53), Bad Axe, MI

Day-long gardening classes including a catered lunch, Goodie bag and door prizes Also includes Free admission to Yard & Garden Expo.  $50 registration/person ($60 after March 1)  For details on this seminar you need to request a flyer from Marie at 989-859-1294

Michigan Beekeepers’ Association Spring Conference: The Wonder of Honeybees- Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 Kellogg Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing Mi

Why are bees important to us? What is local honey? How can I become a beekeeper? What do I need to get started? Are there any beekeepers near me? Find out the answer to these and many more questions at the Michigan Beekeeper’s Association Spring Conference. If you’d like to talk to a beekeeper, become a beekeeper or just find out about honeybees, this is the place to get started.

Beekeeping supply vendors will be on hand, and breakout sessions will cover the many aspects of beekeeping.

The public is welcome. Register online or at the door. For further information, please contact us at Michigan Beekeepers’s Association. http://www.michiganbees.org/

Michigan Wildflower Conference: “Becoming Native to the Place” March 2 & 3- 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Kellogg Center, Big Ten Wing, Michigan State University, East Lansing Mi

The Michigan Wildflower Conference, sponsored by the Wildflower Association of Michigan, is open to all who are interested in Michigan native plants and their habitats. General and concurrent sessions take place both days. The keynote speaker will be Rick Darke, author of The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest and co-author with William Robinson of The Wild Garden. Find additional program information and a registration form at the Wildflower Association of Michigan. Lunch is included with pre-registration.

http://www.wildflowersmich.org/index.php?page=44

Horticultural Therapy: Connecting People and Plants -Friday, March 7- 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Plant and Soil Sciences Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing Mi

The Michigan Horticultural Therapy Association’s (MHTA) annual conference is an opportunity for those interested in learning about using horticulture as therapy to gain understanding and skills.

Nancy Chambers, HTR, and Gwenn Fried will present the keynote address “Horticultural Therapy: A Continuum.” Breakout sessions will cover a variety of topics related to horticultural therapy practices. This event includes displays, exhibits and door prizes. 

Registration: Early Bird Special (postmarked by Feb. 27): $60 for MHTA members, $80 for nonmembers. Regular registration (postmarked after Feb. 27): $70 for MHTA members, $90 for nonmembers. Registration includes lunch. Membership is $20 per year and is open to all.

Contact Cathy Flinton, HTR, at 517-332-1616, ext. 16238 or John Murphy at 269-345-6039 for more information; or visit the Michigan Horticultural Therapy Association for a brochure, registration form and membership information. http://www.michiganhta.org/index.php/35th-annual-conference

Michigan Herb Associates 27th Annual Conference: A Sensory Approach to Herbs Friday, March 7, 8:15 a.m. ‒ 5 p.m.- Eppley Center and Business College Complex -Michigan State University, East Lansing Mi

The theme of the 27th annual Michigan Herb Associates (MHA) Conference is “A Sensory Approach to Herbs.” The Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Horticulture and Michigan Herb Associates sponsor the conference.

A market of vendors will offer gardening tools, herbal topiaries, herbal oils and vinegars, decorative garden-related jewelry and other garden-related items, and many other gift items. MHA will also have a gift shop featuring a variety of items. A live plant auction will take place Friday and Saturday.

On Friday morning, Janet Macunovich will open the conference with “Designing for All Five Senses.” She is a professional gardener, author and educator, recognized for her engaging how-to presentations, innovative hands-on workshops and down-to-earth writing and speaking style. She will be followed by ethnobotanist, garden author and lecturer Sharon Ackland, who will present “Aromatic Plants: The Power of Scent.” She will explain and demonstrate how to extract fragrant and healing plant chemicals for at-home perfumery, medicine and cosmetics.

On Friday afternoon, two concurrent sessions will take place: 1) Susan Betz, a charter member and past president of MHA, will present “Native Treasures: Tales from the Plant Kingdom,” a research project she’s conducting with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It focuses on land owned by Susan and her husband, a virtually untouched historical landscape located in southern Hillsdale County. 2) Coleen French, owner of French Garden Creations in Portland, Mich., and the MHA membership chairperson, will present “Herbal Housecleaning.” Coleen will demonstrate how to make at-home “green” cleaning products while having fun doing it.

Friday’s daytime program will conclude with Dr. John Biernbaum, professor of horticulture and faculty director of the MSU Student Organic Farm (SOF), lecturing on “Culinary Herbs at the Liberty Hyde Bailey Greenhouse and Urban Farm.” He will explain this new SOF project: how it supplies fresh organic herbs and produce to the Brody Cafeteria, and how it helps students learn more about herbs. Friday night’s banquet address, “Myths, Mugs, Worms & Green Fairy!” will be presented by Carolee Snyder, owner of one of the Midwest’s largest retail herb farms where she grows more than 2,000 varieties of herbs, perennials, everlastings and old-fashioned flowers. She will briefly introduce the lore and members of the artemisia family, and the history and uses of artemisia.

Saturday’s program will begin with “Hot Herbal Trends,” Carolee Snyder’s take on the hottest and latest herbal trends. She’ll let us know which plants and herbal topics are getting the most attention now and promise to be “hot” in the coming year.Later in the morning Sharon Ackland will present on “Aromachology: The Power of Healing Herbs.”

On Saturday afternoon, two concurrent sessions will take place: 1) Susan Betz will present “Landscaping with Herbs,” detailing how to incorporate herbs into the landscape for greatest impact and enjoyment. 2) Physical therapists Mary Thiel and Gayle Durnin of the MSU Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic will present “Don’t Let Your Green Thumb Feel Blue: Gardening Shouldn’t Hurt!” They’ll show techniques to prevent injury and increase tolerance for gardening.

Saturday’s program will conclude with “Every Gathering Should Have a Theme.” Annie Gruber will give expert advice on planning a relaxed, meaningful and fun gathering for family and friends. Annie, long-time MHA member as well as creative and expert cook and party planner, will demonstrate favorite recipes with tastings all around.

Nonmembers of MHA: $75 for one day or $110 for both days MHA members: $50 for one day and $85 for both days.  ALL walk-ins will be charged an additional $10 fee over the pre-registration rates.

The fee for the Friday evening banquet and program is $35. A delicious lunch provided each day is available at $12 each. Advance registration is required for all meals and must be received by Friday, Feb. 28.

To register for the conference, visit the MHA website at http://miherb.org/  to register online or download the registration form. Send completed forms with payment to Dolores Lindsay, Mid-Michigan Mechanical Contractors Assoc., 901 S Cedar Suite 200, Mason, MI 48854 or call 517-676-0390 to pay by credit card or contact one of the following to request a registration form: Coleen French, 517-647-7814; Marilyn Ferguson, 616-754-9652; Karen Beekman, 517-349-1709. Note: the Friday night banquet is open to everyone; you do not need to attend the conference sessions to attend the banquet.

Birding 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Birding-  Saturday, March 1, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing Mi

Michigan Audubon and the Quiet Water Symposium sponsor this workshop. The morning portion takes place indoors and includes use of binoculars and field guides, and bird identification and habitat. It also helps participants discover when, where and how to find our feathered friends. After a lunch break, participants will meet with the instructor to put their newfound knowledge to use on a birding walk around the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education. In case of inclement weather, participants will spend the afternoon birding at a nearby nature center.

Register through the Michigan Audubon website at www.michiganaudubon.org.   The workshop fee, which includes price of admission to the Quiet Water Symposium, is $35 for Michigan Audubon and Quiet Waters members, $40 for nonmembers and $25 for students (must provide student ID). Lunch is not included in the fee.

A Matter of Balance: Approaches to Soil Health and Water Quality Friday, March 7 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Registration opens at 8:00 a.m.) Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, Room 103AB

Soil health and water quality are intrinsically linked. Management of these resources faces great challenges due to emerging ecological, economic and climatic pressures. Now more than ever, we must support soil’s natural ability to filter water that moves across and through a landscape. Establishing conservation practices that support a balanced relationship between soil health and water quality is a proven best management practice in agricultural production. Management choices that fail to recognize and protect the physical, chemical and biological attributes of healthy soil have the potential to jeopardize water quality and ecological productivity.

For more information, agenda, speaker biographies, presentation abstracts and registration information, go to Michigan Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society at www.miswcs.org/Local_Events.html.  Registration includes lunch.

Smart Gardening Conference- Saturday, March 8, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm  Ballroom C/D DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan

To bring home the message about smart plants, nationally-known entomologist and author Douglas Tallamy is lending his expertise to help gardeners choose plants that make wise ecological sense as well as being easy on the pocketbook. Tallamy’s message connects our everyday actions at home to the balance that sustains nature’s food webs. Tallamy believes that humans generally think of themselves as “outside” the system that keeps our planet green and yet our actions, no matter how small, can affect just how green we are— and will be.

To get more information about how to enroll in the 2014 Smart Garden Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., contact MSU Extension’s Ginny Wanty at wanty@msu.edu or download the brochure.

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/234/41667/2014_Smart_Gardening_Brochure.pdf

Cost is $59 Enrollment Deadline is Friday, February 28, 2014 or until full

Perennial Gardening 101 Saturday, March 8 at 1 p.m. All English Gardens stores Free In-store Presentation.   Click here for a store near you. http://www.englishgardens.com/shop-online/workshops.html

Make it & Take it Workshop: Kitchen Herb Garden Saturday, March 15 at 2:30 p.m  All English Gardens stores FEE: $19.99

Enjoy fresh herbs from your windowsill. Select your choice of four herbs to plant in a stylish container. We’ll provide everything you need to make and take this garden home! Container may vary.

Click here for a store near you and to sign up on line http://www.englishgardens.com/shop-online/workshops.html

The Secrets to a Beautiful Lawn - Saturday, March 22 at 1 p.m. All English Gardens stores.  Free In-store Presentation.  Click here for a store near you. http://www.englishgardens.com/shop-online/workshops.html

How & When to Prune Trees & Shrubs Saturday, March 29 at 1 p.m. All English Gardens stores- Free-

Keep the garden healthy by regularly dividing perennials and pruning trees and shrubs. We’ll tell you what needs to be done and when. Plus, we’ll show you how to do it. Click here for a store near you. http://www.englishgardens.com/shop-online/workshops.html

"Practical Knowledge for the Avid Gardener"  St. Clair County Master Gardeners Annual Spring Symposium Saturday, March 22, 2014, Cornerstone Church, 4025 North Road, Clyde, MI 48049.

Speakers include Dan Heims, Pearl Fryar, David Culp & Fergus Garrett. Early Bird Registration is $80.00 and includes all speakers, breakfast, lunch snacks and shopping. After February 21 the cost will be $90. Contact sanderan51@yahoo.com. for a brochure.

Newsletter information

If you would like to pass along a notice about an educational event or a volunteer opportunity please send me an email before Tuesday of each week and I will print it. Also if you have a comment or opinion you’d like to share, send it to me. Please state that you want to have the item published in my weekly notes. You must give your full name and what you say must be polite and not attack any individual. I am very open to ideas and opinions that don’t match mine but I do reserve the right to publish what I want.

Once again the opinions in this newsletter are mine and I do not represent any organization or business. I do not make any income from this newsletter. I write this because I love to share with other gardeners some of the things I come across in my research each week. It keeps me engaged with local people and horticulture. It’s a hobby, basically. I hope you enjoy it. If at any time you don’t wish to receive these emails just let me know. If you know anyone who would like to receive these emails have them send their email address to me.  KimWillis151@gmail.com