Tuesday, April 29, 2014

April 29, 2014 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter



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.

Hi Gardeners
They're here- it must be spring!

What a gray and gloomy day.  But I think we should be hope that it stays cloudy because that will help keep our weather from becoming severe later on today.  Do you have a weather radio?  Sirens can help those in a city that sets them off when a tornado warning is issued but in these days of heavily insulated homes and a multitude of devices inside the home spewing noise you may not hear them.  People who live in rural areas may not be close enough to a siren to hear it. 

Everyone should have a weather radio somewhere near your sleeping area.  Weather radios sound an alarm when the weather service issues a tornado warning.  Weather apps on your phone or computer are not as effective, especially if you turn them off to sleep.  Weather radios can now be purchased that can be set to go off only for warnings you want to hear and in your area.  This avoids being awakened for every flood, or other unwanted warning issued. 

I planted lettuce and spinach last week.  I have been able to do some bed cleaning and checking on plants.  I was surprised to see that my old yellow “graduation” rose is covered in tiny buds right up to the tip of the branches- which are some 5-6 feet long. It had almost no winter kill even in an exposed place.  However an old red rose next to it has a lot of die back.  Some of my other landscape roses had moderate die back.  My azaleas and holly look terrible- I hope they recover.

I spent some time trimming down a bamboo screen I have behind one small garden.  I save all the stems which can be 6 feet or more long, and when I have time I strip off the side branches and leaves to make plant stakes.  I had piled the stems up beside the vegetable garden but yesterday when I went out the wind had blown them all over the yard and down the street.  What a mess. 

Forsythia is blooming in many areas, though for some reason mine isn’t yet.  I have lots of daffodils, some crocus and hyacinth in bloom.  There are lots of pussy willows in bloom along the pond.  The lilacs are showing green.  I saw my first dandelions blooming.  And the grass is growing too darned well.

I haven’t seen a hummingbird or oriole yet.  My hummingbird feeders are out and I filled a dish feeder with grape jelly for the orioles.  I have a pine warbler eating suet from a suet feeder, the first time I ever saw this.  At first I thought it was a goldfinch in its drabber winter colors but the beak was different longer and pointed.  It has an olive colored back and wings, yellow undersides and white bars on the wings.  Warblers are more insect eaters than goldfinches and I suppose that is why it is feeding on suet.  I have never saw goldfinches eat suet.

How nature copes

Nature is a marvelous thing, and the way our earth rebounds with life after the most horrendous calamities fall upon it is indeed wondrous.  After fires, floods, drought, storms, and even nuclear accidents the earth renews herself and eventually life resumes in even the most glaring wounds to her surface. 

Scientists have studied the areas around two of the most severe radioactive events in known history, the accident at Chernobyl and the accident in Japan two years ago.  In Fukushima, Japan, where radiation was released two years ago, there was at first a very obvious decline in wildlife, especially songbirds.  There were some obvious reproductive problems and genetic mutations in animals and plants right after the event.  But some insects such as grasshoppers and dragonflies seemed to be only minimally affected.   And now wildlife is beginning to return to the area. 

At the Chernobyl site in Russia where the radioactive event occurred in 1986, things look quite well for wildlife.  Grass, flowers and trees are growing normally and wildlife may be doing better there, in an area without humans, than in other places in Russia.  Belarussian and Ukrainian researchers found lots of damage to animal and plant life in the first few years after the accident but as time went by animals and plants adapted to higher levels of radiation- and of course radiation levels dropped-  and now little evidence of damage can
be seen. 

Abandoned rail station near Chernobyl 2013.  commons.wikimedia
Dr Ismael Galván, of the Spanish National Research Council, studied 16 species of songbirds at the Chernobyl site.  He found that most had developed the ability to cope with high background levels of radiation by increasing their antioxidant levels, which prevents free radicals caused by exposure to radiation from causing damage.  Interestingly enough birds with feather colors of red and brown had a harder time maintaining body condition than those of darker colored birds.  The theory is that antioxidants are also used to form pheomelanin, which makes the pigment red-brown colors in birds.

Most birds in the study area had body conditions as good as, if not better than birds outside of the radiation zone.  And as researchers study other types of wildlife in the area they are finding a burgeoning population of healthy animals who no longer have to worry about human interference with their activities.  (At least outside of the researchers capturing them, drawing blood and otherwise handling them.)

After a disaster life generally returns to even the most stricken areas.  It may not be the life that was there before.  As people and nature change the earth, the type of plants and animals in an area may also change.  Some species may vanish but others will appear.   But nature heals itself.  Global warming, for example, may change the species of plants and animals in your area.  I suppose it might remove people from the planet, though I rather doubt it.  But life will persist, count on it.

Seeds of Hope- a book review

Jane Goodall, of chimpanzee fame, has written a book about plants- Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and Wonder from the World of Plants.  The first part of the book is quite a wonderful story of her childhood experiences with plants, about daring plant explorers of earlier times and wonderful awe inspiring facts about plants.  The second part of the book fades into a less than interesting rant about GM modified foods and modern farming practices.   While I agree with some of what she talks about she presents nothing new in this part and lots of old, discredited science as well.  

The book is not without controversy, there were many charges of plagiarism when the book was first published and it had to be withdrawn and republished with 50 some pages of foot notes.    Goodall is 80 years old and passionate about saving the environment and I suppose some lee-way can be given for her less than scientific or accurate “facts” and her carefully picking only studies and opinions that support her views.  To be fair, Goodall is not an expert on plants.  But I also found that she had some inaccurate historical dates, misinformation about farming practices and other little errors that to me indicate too much reverence of the author for the editors to do a good editorial review of the book. 

Still, I would recommend reading the book, if just for the first half of the book, which is quite enjoyable.  It’s still a bit expensive; especially print editions, so you may want to wait a few months when the price will probably come down.  It’s available on Amazon and through many bookstores.

Why you should grow your own greens- to prevent diarrhea

Grow your own salad and avoid diarrhea. 
If there is one item of food that most people should grow in their own yard or even on the balcony, it’s the greens that they like to consume raw, whether that is lettuce, spinach, chard, arugula, or any other green.  A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that of the 179 million cases of acute diarrhea reported each year; most were caused by consuming greens contaminated with several forms of food borne pathogens, including Norovirus, E.coli, salmonella and other noxious organisms.  Other fresh vegetables and fruits are also responsible, but greens hold the most risk.  (Of course once someone gets a diarrheal disease he or she can spread it to other people too.)


In the US only 2% of fresh greens you purchase in a store are actually inspected. Of that 2% that is inspected, 40 % fails inspection.  That indicates that there are a lot of greens on the market that could make you sick.  Many of the greens people buy in groceries come from foreign countries.  Even if grown in the US there are many places where greens can pick up organisms that will send you flying for the toilet, from the fields to the packer, to the grocery store.  While most people only experience temporary unpleasantness, some people can actually die from diarrhea caused by these illnesses.

Properly washing greens can prevent most cases of food caused diarrhea.  And you must wash organic produce as well as conventionally grown produce!  In fact organic produce is often grown using manure, which can increase your chances of getting sick.  The only thing organic produce protects you from is pesticide residue.   Experts disagree on washing greens that are packaged and labeled “washed.”  Some say they are pretty safe and some say wash them yourself.

Wash greens by first submerging them in a clean pan of cold water.  Don’t use your sink unless you scrub it with hot soap and water first.  Sinks can have as many “germs” on them as your toilet.  After submerging the greens for a few minutes rinse each leaf with cold, clean, running water.  Pay special attention to crinkled and rough leaves.  If you dry the leaves use clean paper towels to pat them or spin them dry in a clean salad spinner.

Buying local greens is good for the environment but doesn’t make them much safer than greens purchased from a store. (Shipping greens long distance, when they are basically just green, chilled water in leaf form, is environmentally irresponsible.)  However the fewer times greens are handled and the less time they are stored the safer they are.  It just takes one person at the farmers market handling greens with dirty hands to make you sick though.

It’s far better to grow your own salad greens and eat greens seasonally.  Salad greens can be grown in containers quite easily.  They are easy to grow and will grow in all but the hottest or coldest weather.  It doesn’t take much space to grow greens and most don’t need full sunlight.  You will not, of course, use manure on your plants, and you will keep animals out of the greens patch.  And you will still wash the greens, even if they are grown at home.  Greens may taste good, but they really aren’t necessary for your health, if your diet is otherwise balanced.

I would strongly recommend you pass on salads in restaurants.  On a cruise ship- forget about it.   Even if the greens were properly washed there are so many ways for them to be contaminated later.  And eating garnishes could make you really sorry.  Getting diarrhea is not a pleasant way to lose weight.

Direct seeding of annual flowers

If you are a frugal gardener who wants masses of annual flowers for color or for cutting, you’ll be happy to know that many annuals can be directly seeded in your Michigan garden and will bloom and provide color for you through much of the summer.  With a little care a small packet of seeds can produce dozens, if not hundreds of flowers for you.
Zinnias make great cut flowers and are easy to grow from seed.


Most flowers need to be started after the danger of frost is passed.  Some can be started a little earlier if the soil is warm.  In Michigan, in the area around Detroit, the last expected frost date is mid-May.  In the northern suburbs it’s the end of May.

Flowers that bloom well when directly seeded in the garden are marigolds, zinnias, calendula, cosmos, tithonia, sweet alyssum, morning glories, moon flowers, annual asters, nasturtiums, sunflowers, statice, bachelors buttons, strawflowers, annual baby’s breath, amaranth, larkspur, four o’clocks, and stock.   Pansies and violas can be seeded in the garden but generally won’t bloom until cooler weather in the fall. 

Some common annuals that people plant in their yards and containers every year such as geraniums, impatiens, begonias and petunias take a long time to bloom and should be started indoors early.

Sweet William and hollyhocks are bi-annuals that can be seeded in the garden.  They will make a rosette of leaves the first year and bloom the second year.

Getting the soil ready

Most annuals need full sun.  Prepare the soil in a sunny place by tilling it and removing grass roots and rocks, or use the lasagna method of gardening.  In this method you scalp any vegetation in the planned flower bed with your mower, add a thick layer of newspaper on top of the soil and then a 6-8 inch layer of potting soil or compost on top of that.

Annuals are heavy feeders and need fertilization to keep flowering all summer.  Before planting work a slow release fertilizer into the soil according to the label directions.  Even though a soil test may indicate good soil fertility, annuals are greedy and will probably exhaust some nutrients.
Great use of annuals at the Garden at Suncrest, Lapeer, MI.


Planting

Read your seed package for how far apart to space plants in the row and how far apart rows should be.  If plants come up too thickly you’ll need to thin them.  The thinned plants can be planted somewhere else if you are careful.  Don’t crowd seedlings.  When they are small the bed may not look full but if they get large and are crowded they are more likely to suffer from disease and not bloom well.

Some seeds like morning glory and moonflower are hard to get to germinate because they have hard seed coats.  Soak a few paper towels in warm water and put a layer in a shallow pan.   Arrange the seeds so they aren’t touching each other on the toweling.  Cover with another damp towel and cover the pan with clear plastic. 

Place the pan in a warm place but not in direct sun.  In just a few days the seeds should have swollen and began to germinate.  You can then plant them in the garden.  If they stick to the paper towel pull off a piece of it with each seed, rather than pull them out of the towel.  Plant them with the piece of towel, but make sure it’s completely covered with soil.   It will dissolve quickly in the soil.

Lightly cover the newly planted seeds with soil and water the seeded area gently.  If the weather is dry water the seeded area every few days.  Be careful to use something on the hose that makes a fine spray so the seeds don’t get washed around.  

Annuals are great for color in the garden and for getting your children interested in gardening.   They are wonderful for keeping the house full of flowers.  Why not plant some annuals from seed this spring?

Some Quick Thrifty Garden tips

I was glancing through a garden supply catalog and noticed several rather expensive items that could easily be made or sourced from a dollar or thrift store to save you money.  They sell red plastic reservoirs (about $8. each) to place around plants like tomatoes so that they can be slowly watered at the roots and avoid getting water on the leaves.  You can drill some holes in the bottom of an old Bundt pan, (look for them in thrift stores and garage sales), paint them red if you like and slip them over plants when they are young.  I suggest using a piece of plastic pipe to fill the reservoir when the plants get large and bushy.

Why spend a lot on melon or pumpkin cradles?  These are lattice like pieces of plastic that keep them off the ground as the fruits mature.  Slip lattice bottomed plastic flats under fruits on the ground or use the plastic paper plate holders sold in picnic supplies.  These usually come in packages of 6 for a very small price. Turn them upside down under fruits.
Bottle tree.  lovemyjunk-jeannie on pinterest

A bottle  “tree” decoration sells for $30 with 12 bottles.  You could easily fashion your own with pieces of reinforcement wire sold in hardware stores and recycled bottles.  Cut each wire at a different length, bind or twist them together at the base, bend the top end out a bit and insert a bottle.  If you can’t find pretty colored bottles paint them some plain ones. 


A lot of people have broken branches around the yard this spring.  Choose the straightest ones, strip off side branches and let them dry in a sunny place for plant supports.  You can cut them in various lengths.  You can also tie them together with wire or twine to make trellises you’d have to pay a lot for in stores.

Stay safe today – keep an eye on the sky.

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

More Information
Winter Freeze Injury
Author(s): 
Ashley Kulhanek  This article is from Ohio State Extension http://buckeyegardening.com/  While the article references Ohio it’s still relevant to Michigan gardens, which also have a lot of freeze damage.


This winter has delivered more than a few punches to the landscape.  BYGLers have reported multiple instances of winter injury to flowering and evergreen landscape plants as a result of the winter wallop.  While it is not unusual to see some freeze damage after an Ohio winter, this year the extent and severity was notable.
For early flowerers, timing was everything. Damage was reported on blossoms of magnolia, redbud, forsythia, and hyacinth.  This occurred sporadically around the state and severity of damage seemed to depend upon where plants were in their blooming phase when the freeze hit and their location in the state.  Flower buds that were still tight may pull through.
Winter burn was also noticed on many evergreen plants across the state from Cincinnati to Northern Ohio.  This winter burn occurs when water is lost from the living tissue faster than the roots can replenish it.  When the ground is frozen, the roots are unable to transfer water into the leaf or needle tissues exposed to biting winds and the winter sun.  This results in leaf and needle desiccation that appears as bleaching, yellowing or browning, and leaf drop.  Damaged plants observed with winter burn include: white pine, arborvitae, rhododendron, boxwood, ivy, weeping cherry, and magnolia.  Turfgrass was also affected by the freeze with BYGL writers reporting patches of brown grass the size of dinner plates throughout lawns in Ohio.  A video on turf winter burn can be viewed on the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation’s YouTube site http://go.osu.edu/OTF.

These freeze injuries can often be confused with salt injury from treating icy roads. In general, if the browning plant is near a sidewalk or roadway where salt or brine could be splashed, sprayed, or become airborne drift, chances are the damage is the result of a chemical burn caused by salt or a combination of salt and freeze.  Salt damage may appear as yellowing or browning and is likely to be one-sided (the side facing the road).  Freeze injury will appear as yellowing, bleaching, browning, or crisping up as well.  Winter burning may, but not always, appear more uniformly across the exposed plant, or on the windward side.  Segments of plants below the snow line may bloom due to the insulating effects of the snow on the buried limbs.  If a plant is not near a roadway, winter freeze damage is likely the culprit of early spring browning.  Also consider the native range of the plant in question.  Some varieties planted in Ohio may be in the northernmost reach of their range and be more susceptible to winter injury.
Here is a list of the species with winter damage found in Ohio by at our BYGL writers this week in one or more counties: magnolia, redbud, white pine, arborvitae, boxwood, ivy, Foster’s Holly, Japanese umbrella pine, rhododendron, forsythia, Canaan & Fraser Fir, yews, weeping cherry, viburnum, spruce, and turf. 
For More Information: 



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

New- 2014 MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION - GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN GARDEN TOUR – June 22nd 2014.

Celebrate spring by enjoying a stroll through beautiful gardens in Genesee County's east side. Each site has its own unique features. The homeowner or a Master Gardener would be delighted to answer any questions. Although each garden looks very different, all of the homeowners share the passion of watching their garden grow and expand each year. Much thought has been put into every loved plant or garden art. The gardeners believe that the garden is an expression of them. Fortunately for us, they want to share their masterpiece with us.

Please join us in touring nine outstanding gardens on Genesee County’s east side Sunday, June 22 10:00AM - 5:00PM.and visit the For-Mar Truck Farm at one of the sites. Mark your calendar for the easy self-guided tour. The total tour is 16.3 miles with easy access from I-69 to start at site #1 and I-75 to end at site #10 home. There are no rules where you start or finish, but the routemoves nicely goingfromnorth to south or south to nor

Advance tickets will be available on May 23rd at the MSU Extension office for $10.00, $2.00 for children under 12. Advance tickets will also be available on May 23rd from the following merchants:

Bordine Nursery 9100 Torrey Rd, Grand Blanc - (810) 655-5588
Jenny B’s Garden Party 9063 Clio Rd. Clio - (810) 687-7742
Piechnik Greenhouse,13172 McCumsey Road, Clio - (810) 686-9211
Walker Farms & Greenhouse 5253 Atherton Road, Burton (810) 743-0260

Tickets may also be purchased the day of the tour (Sunday, June 22rd) at any of the garden sites. Site addresses will be posted on the web page the night before the tour. The photo on the ticket cover was by a student that won the coloring contest at one of Swartz Creek’s elementary schools.

Gardens will be open for viewing on June 22 from 10A – 5P, Rain or Shine.

Visit the web site for driving directions/questions: http://GCgardentour.weebly.com/

NOTE: Gardens open only on this specific day and time. PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE!

Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by calling Jim Harrow, Plant & Pest Hotline (810) 244-8548 two (2) weeks prior to the event to ensure sufficient time to make arrangements. Requests received after this date will be met when possible.

New - Heirloom Tomato & Herb Sale Sat, May 10, 12am – Sun, May 11, 12am,  Heritage Place, Southgate, MI, United States
 Master Gardeners of West Wayne Co. are having a heirloom plant  sale and plant exchange at the  News Herald parking lot. Call  313-719-1181 for more info.

New- Landscaping with Herbs for Large & Small Spaces Wednesday, May 14, 2014 , Noon-2:30pm, Big Beaver United Methodist Church, 3753 John R Road, Troy, MI, United States
Use herbs as part of your landscape. Light lunch included. $7.  Troy Garden Club Register: infoandideas@aol.com.

Tulip Time Festival Sat, May 3, 12am Through May 10- Holland, MI, United States info- 616-396-4221
Take a road trip to Holland Mi. for a delightful Dutch holiday, thousands of tulips, fireworks, great food and more.

9th Annual Plant Sale May 10 – 11, 2014- 10-4pm, Taylor Conservatory, 22314 Northline Road, Taylor, MI, United States - Silent auction Sun, 10am-2pm
This event features unusual varieties of perennials, native & butterfly plants/vines & more. For more information contact  www.taylorconservatory.org.

14th Annual Lake Orion Flower & Art Fair Friday May 9th, 11-8 and Saturday, May 10th from 9-6 In downtown Lake Orion at the intersection of Flint and Broadway Streets. 
Stroll the streets and visit vendors selling all kinds of garden products and plants and also beautiful art.

Habitat for Humanity Plant Sale, Friday, May 9, 2014, 2:00 p.m. 8:30p.m and Saturday May 10, 2014,  8:00 a.m.  6:30 p.m - Oakland County Habitat for Humanity Headquarters at 150 Osmun Street, Pontiac, MI.
There will be lots of interesting and colorful plants for sale and you will be benefiting a good cause if you decide to buy some.

Seven Ponds Nature Fest and Native plant sale, Saturday, May 3, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road Dryden, MI  (810) 796-3200
Landscaping for Birds -11:00 am
Do you love birds and want to attract more to your yard? This program will be a great introduction into all the different elements needed for birds to feel at home. You will not only create a sanctuary for the birds, but also for yourself.
Native plants in an Urban Landscape- 1:00 pm
Do you live in a town or village, and would you like to start incorporating native plants into your landscape? Not sure where to begin? This program is for you. Ruth Vrbensky of Oakland Wildflower Farms, will teach you which plants will work and which ones won’t, which like sun or shade, which like wet or dry, and how easy it is to garden with nature.
There will be other activities for all ages, take a walk to look at frogs, learn about pond critters, do spring crafts and build birdhouses.  There is a wide variety of native plants for sale and a bake sale too.  There may be fees for some activities.

It’s All About Plants, May 3, 2014, 8 am – 4:15 pm.  Plant and Soil Science Building, 1066 Bogue Street, MSU, East Lansing, MI
MSU Horticulture Gardens presnts this day long garden event with four top garden speakers/experts, Art Cameron, Hardy Perennials and Graceful Grasses, George Papadelis, New and Underused Annuals, Tim wood, The Hunt for New and Improved Flowering Shrubs and Steve Keto, Growing Native plants. Approved for 5 MG credits.
Your registration fee includes lunch and parking plus hand outs.  $79.00 until April 21, $89 after April 21.  Email www.hrt.msu.edu/sp-register   or call Jennifer Sweet 1-517-355-5191 ext. 1339

MSU Horticulture Gardens Public Plant Sale May 17th , 7 am-2 pm.  MSU Horticulture Garden, East Lansing, MI.
Your chance to get some of the newest and oddest plants as well as old favorites.  This sale is very popular, arrive early.

Hidden Lake Gardens Plant Sale Sat, May 10,10am-2pm- 6214 W Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI
Lots of plants from natives to conifers for sale.  www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu , 517-431-2060.

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



Tuesday, April 22, 2014

April 21, 2014 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter



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.

Hi Gardeners


Three inches of snow last Tuesday, 80 degrees yesterday, highs in the 50’s the rest of the week, this weather is popping around like the Easter Bunny.  We had a quarter inch of rain last night and we actually needed it.  I expected deep mud conditions this spring but so far that hasn’t materialized.   In fact it’s pretty dry and if you are burning any of those downed tree limbs from the winter be very careful. 

My daffodils are starting to bloom.  They are shorter than last year and the flowers are smaller.  I am not the only person to notice that, several gardeners are telling me that their crocus flowers and now their daffodils are smaller this year.  Its weather related and frankly I am just glad to see them.

The pussy willows by the pond are blooming, maples are blooming too.  I have tiny green leaves on the barberries by the barn.  Lots of very healthy looking catnip is coming up in the raised veggie beds.  I was pulling it and then went in the barn to feed the animals.  The cats kept biting at my hands and at first I was concerned, then I realized they smelled the catnip.

Around me on the farms the calves are being born.  They are so cute when they are tiny and it’s amazing how small beef calves are. I can hear kittens in our barn loft but the mamma hasn’t brought them down yet.   I am getting some baby chicks next week- hope the weather warms up- and I even have a new great granddaughter- baby season is definitely here.

I spoke about chickens in the garden at the Lapeer Horticultural Society meeting last night and it was great to see so many gardeners enjoying a night off from cleaning their yards.    Many were talking about raking leaves.  Here’s a tip-rake the leaves into the lawn and don’t worry about bagging them or taking them to the compost pile.  Then run the mower over the leaves and the pieces will dissolve quickly in the spring rains and they will feed your lawn and improve your soil as they break down.

Get out and sprinkle some slow release fertilizer on your flower beds.  It will get them off to a great start.  Remember to give those houseplants some fertilizer now- especially flowering plants.  Things like overwintered geraniums also need fertilizing. 

I intend to pot up my cannas and dahlias this week to start them growing inside.  And I am planting my lettuce and spinach outside this week- cold or not its time. 

Michigan forests changing from climate change

As part of the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework, a group of more than 30 people, scientists and forest managers, has produced a report called "Michigan Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis."  The report suggests some changes to Michigan woodlands as the climate warms and the pattern of rainfall also changes.

Tree species now common in northern areas such as balsam fir, black spruce, white spruce, tamarack, jack pine, northern white-cedar, and paper birch may give way to forests of basswood, black cherry, and white oak, species that prefer warmer climates.  Fires and insect pests will impact the forest to a greater degree and low diversity in species will also have an Impact on forest health.

The report predicts that the weather will become hotter, with more periods of heavy precipitation interspersed with drought periods- dry especially in the fall.  In Michigan, we have already had a 180-percent increase in rainstorms of 3 inches or more between 1960 and 2011.  Winters will be wildly variable in temperature- which can be hard on plants (and people).   

Pruning spring flowering shrubs

While most aren’t blooming yet, spring flowering shrubs will soon be blooming.  You don’t want to prune them before bloom or you will lose the flowers.  Most shrubs begin the process of producing new flower buds shortly after the current years blooms fade. But be ready to prune soon after they stop flowering if you need to shape them or lower the height.  Pruning may also create more vigorous blooming next year in some species.

Flowering Quince
Some flowering shrubs may not need much pruning at all.  Others need pruning to keep the flower show at its best.  Some shrubs simply get too large for their location if they are never pruned and need to be kept within a reasonable size.  Spring flowering shrubs include forsythia, lilacs, spirea, azaleas, rhododendrons, flowering quince, some forms of dogwood and willow, Witch or winter hazel, Abelia, Oregon grape holly, Daphne, Pierus,  Kerria,  Beauty Bush, heaths and heathers. 


Some early flowering shrubs such as bush cherries, service berries, hollies, and certain dogwoods that are prized for the colorful fruit they produce should not be pruned if you want that color show.  However you may need to take off some height or width and sacrifice some fruit.

Make every pruning cut just above a node for the best appearance and health of the plant.  A node is a joint on a stem where you see a leaf or bud.  That’s the only place new growth can occur.  Plants vary in how far apart these nodes are on a stem.   If you make your cut too far above a node you will have little dead stubs on the end of branches for a long time.  Cut on a slant just above a node and the stems will quickly be hidden by new growth.

Begin your pruning within a month after bloom has ended. Start by removing any dead branches, broken branches or branches that seriously offend, such as those sticking into paths or blocking windows.  Then step back and evaluate the shape of the shrub.  In most cases flowering shrubs look best when allowed to have a natural form and are not trimmed into hedges or balls.  If the shrub has a naturally arching form, such as spirea try to maintain that shape.

It’s best not to remove more than a third of the shrub when pruning.  Prune back the height to about a foot below your desired height and cut back the width if needed.  While pruning cut off any seed pods or dead flower clusters.  Unless you want to try and grow some new shrubs from seed these seeds detract from the shrubs looks and also divert energy into seed production that could go into new flower buds.

Abelia should have about 1/3 of its older stems removed to the ground each year as well as shaping if needed.  Service berry ( Amellanchier) doesn’t have to be pruned but if it’s too large it can be heavily pruned back without much effect.  Flowering Quince can have all the second year stems removed each spring after flowering to keep the plant smaller. Dogwoods don’t have to be pruned but can be shaped or reduced in size by careful pruning after flowering.  Daphne is usually just shaped a little. 

Witch hazel  is just lightly pruned to reduce size and improve its shape  if necessary.  Kerria needs 1/3 of the stems cut back to ground level each year after flowering.   Every third year Grape Holly should the oldest woody stems removed to ground level.  Pieris should be trimmed and shaped lightly as needed.

Forsythia should have 1/3 of the oldest, thickest stems removed each year. Thin out thickets of it and shorten if desired.  If you have old, very large and thick stemmed plants you can take the whole mess down to the ground and it will rejuvenate, but it may not bloom well for a few years.   Wait to trim forsythia kept as a hedge until it has flowered. 

Lilacs require some additional pruning care.  In order to keep lilac borer under control some older, woody barked stems need to be removed each year.  This pruning is best done in winter when the plants are dormant.  Remove about a third of the oldest woody stems each year if there are many.  Space the stems you leave so that they don’t touch. Keep lilac suckers which come up around the plant pruned out except for one or two.  You can prune for height and width right after bloom.  If lilacs are seriously overgrown they can be thinned out and cut right to the ground.  It will take several years before you will get blooms again after this.
Lilacs.


Rhododendrons and azaleas rarely need much pruning in Michigan and other really cold areas.  You can reduce the size if needed, don’t take off too much of the plant in any year if you want to have blooms the next year.   If you do have old, very large plants they can be cut back severely to a foot or so above ground but they will probably not bloom for years afterward.  

Shrubs that flower all season or in late summer and fall are best pruned when dormant. 

For the small amount of care that they take flowering shrubs are great investments for your landscape.  If you visit one of Michigan’s many nurseries or garden shops you will find a wide variety of flowering shrubs available for purchase.  Why not add something new this spring?

Hummingbirds are coming

Do you have your hummingbird feeder out yet?  Its time, they are being reported as far north as Traverse city –take a look at the map or go to http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html    There aren’t many flowers out yet for them to get nectar from so be kind and make them some sugar water.  I have a hummingbird feeder I got last year that has a big wide mouth to make it easy to fill.  You push the bottom up before you fill it so the fluid doesn’t run out, then twist the lid on tight to make a vacuum, then pull the bottom down to let fluid fill the base.

A hummingbird is attracted to red but just a bit of red around the feeder holes is plenty; you don’t need to color the water red.   To make your own feeder fluid bring some water to a boil, turn it off and add plain white sugar about 1 cup of sugar to 2 cups of water, stir to dissolve it and let it cool before filling the feeders.
Ants and bees will use the feeders as much as hummingbirds.  I don’t begrudge the bees, indeed I had my feeder on the ground last week to let the honey bees feed but the ants can be a problem as they climb right into the tiny sipper holes and drown in the fluid, clogging things up.  It amazes me that ants can find those feeders suspended way off the ground and climb poles to reach them.  Even when I hung my feeders from the tree the ants managed to find them by climbing down the tree limb and the wire that suspended the feeder.
Dots indicate sightings of hummingbirds this spring. See a larger updated map at link above. 


Some people grease the poles that suspend feeders. One clever person I knew used a bundt cake pan filled with water around the base of the pole, threading the pole through the center hole, and this kept most ants out.  Some however learned to tunnel under the bottom of the pan to reach the open area in the center and then climb the pole.  Ants are clever things.

Plants make people happy

Could the answer to curing the stress and depression so often associated with inter-city life be simply to plant more trees and grass?  A new study suggests that it would definitely help.  Dr. Kristen Malecki, assistant professor of population health sciences at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health has analyzed the results of a health survey done on Wisconsin residents.   She compared satellite data showing how much vegetation was in any census block of the survey with data showing how many people in that block were depressed or had other mental problems.

She found that the “greener ”an area was the less likely it was to have a high percentage of unhappy, stressed and depressed people.  Race, age, employment, income and other factors were all taken into account and still the happiest, most mentally stable people were in the greenest areas.  The study results were recently published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Many studies have found that children who spend some time outdoors each day in a natural environment were able to concentrate better when solving mental tasks and were less likely to be depressed.  They coped better with the minor problems of life.  Maybe the issue of bullying that everyone is so obsessed over now could be solved by making children take a hike in the woods every day!
My sisters in the woods many years ago.


I know that when I’m angry, when my mind is racing and I’m upset I can get calmed down by simply going outside and weeding a garden bed or finding a quiet place to bird watch.   When I need to make a tough decision or think on a pressing problem working in my garden always helps.  Wouldn’t it be great if all schools had a green spot to send kids who seemed depressed, who had anger issues or were just too full of energy to sit still and concentrate?  A nice secluded courtyard garden or even a greenhouse could work because in this day and age we certainly wouldn’t want to send any kids outside into the actual woods would we?

As a child I had plenty of opportunities to go off alone or with friends into the woods and fields.  I always felt happy when roaming through the “wild”.  I remember sitting in school in the spring when they still opened windows when it was warm, smelling freshly cut grass and listening to frogs and birds singing and wanting to be gone into the spring woods and fields so bad it almost hurt.  Instead of giving kids snow days we should be giving them spring fever days.

So be happy- get outside!
Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero

More Information

Armillaria root rot in the Great Lakes region
Armillaria root rot affects hundreds of plant species throughout Michigan. Learn more about the biology, symptoms and control of this devastating fungus.

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Erin Lizotte, and Jill O’Donnell, Michigan State University Extension
 Armillaria root rot occurs naturally in the majority of the United States and the Great Lakes region and is caused by a number of fungi in the genus Armillaria. These include A. ostoyae, A. mellea, A. gallica, A. calvescens and A. sinapina, all of which have been documented in the Great Lakes region. Common names for these fungi and their associated disease include honey stumper, honey agaric, oak fungus, honey mushroom, shoestring root rot, mushroom root rot, resin glut, and toadstool disease.

The host range of the fungi is vast with hundreds of vines, shrubs, shade and forest trees, as well as horticultural crops affected. Some of the Great Lakes plants and crops that are susceptible include maple, oak, white pine, red pine, aspen, peach, cherry and potato.

Armillaria root rot eventually girdles and kills host plants. The loss of agricultural crops is most notable on sites where forested land has been cleared and the fungi are already present when the crop is planted. Unfortunately, the Armillaria fungus can remain latent in the soil for many years, making infested land unsuitable for agricultural production of susceptible hosts for many years.

Biology
Armillaria root rot overwinters in the same fungal form present during the growing season (rhizomorphs or mycelium) on diseased or decaying plant materials and roots. Armillaria root rot may also overwinter as basidiospores – the sexual spores of the fungi – produced by honey-colored mushrooms that form at the base on infected plants in the fall. The principal method of spread of the fungus is root-to-root through rhizomorphs, or root-like structures, or direct root contact during which mycelium invades healthy roots directly.

Rhizomorphs grow from infected plants or decaying material to healthy trees in the surrounding area. Basidiospores typically colonize decaying materials or compromised host tissue with the subsequent rhizomorphs infecting healthy hosts. Armillaria root rot is capable of attacking healthy hosts, but the greatest mortality occurs in stressed trees. In cultivated settings, infected debris and basidiospores can be spread through cultivation.

Symptoms
Affected plants may exhibit reduced growth, small chlorotic leaves, branch dieback and the slow or abrupt death of the plant. Symptomatic plants may appear random spatially, but over time a pattern of circular expansion often becomes evident. Symptomatic trees have decaying bark at the soil line and on the roots.

Mycelial fan


Tart cherry trunk with bark removed, showing the white fungal body of Armillaria root rot that girdled the tree. Photo credit: Erin Lizotte, MSU Extension

The key diagnostic sign of Armillaria root rot is a white mycelial mat, or spongy fungal sheet, between the bark and wood in the cambial layer. The mycelial fans appear veined and may extend up the trunk of the tree several feet. Rhizomorphs are another distinct sign of Armillaria root rot. Rhizomorphs are brown-black “shoestring” structures, 0.01 inch in diameter with an outer black mycelium and a white core. Rhizomorphs have the same growth pattern as roots and may form under the bark or spread into the soil surrounding the root zone of host plants.

Cross section of tart cherry trunk


Cross section of tart cherry trunk showing ring of white mycelium in the cambial region, just below the bark. Photo credit: Erin Lizotte, MSU Extension

If the cambium has been invaded, resin or gum is often exuded into the soil surrounding the trunk and roots. At the base of dead or dying trees, speckled mushrooms 3 inches tall with 6-inch diameter caps grow in clusters. These mushrooms appear in the fall and have pronounced gills that produce basidiospores.

Control
According to Michigan State University Extension, there is no known control for Armillaria root rot. Control has been attempted via root excavation, trenching and fumigation with little to no effect. Current areas of treatment research include biological control and innate resistance screening of host plants.
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension.

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

New - If you are looking for poultry or other birds and small animals there is a small animal swap meet at the Imlay City Fairgrounds, on M53, Imlay City, Mi. this Saturday, April 26.  It starts about 8 am and is over by about 1 pm.  Free admission.

New - Tulip Time Festival Sat, May 3, 12am Through May 10- Holland, MI, United States info- 616-396-4221

Take a road trip to Holland Mi. for a delightful Dutch holiday, thousands of tulips, fireworks, great food and more.

New - 9th Annual Plant Sale May 10 – 11, 2014- 10-4pm, Taylor Conservatory, 22314 Northline Road, Taylor, MI, United States - Silent auction Sun, 10am-2pm

This event features unusual varieties of perennials, native & butterfly plants/vines & more. For more information contact  www.taylorconservatory.org.

New- Spring Garden Show April 26, 2014 9:00 am – 5 pm - Ray Wiegand's Nursery 47747 Romeo Plank Road, Macomb, 48044(586) 286-3655  All classes free!

Celebrate spring with us! Enjoy a great line-up of informative seminars and creative workshops. Become inspired by the new trends of the coming season and discover great ideas to bring to your home.
On Saturday, April 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., product vendors will be here to answer all of your questions and showcase their greatest gardening products.

Class line up
Caring for Perennials: Dividing- 9:00 a.m. with Janet Macunovich
Are your perennial plants in too big of a clump or have lost their vigor? They may need to be divided.  Join hands-on expert Janet in a lesson on splitting your perennials to help them re-gain their vibrancy.
Soils: Working from the Ground Up 10:30 a.m. with Lisa Grant from Dr. Earth
Lisa will share her knowledge on how to protect the health and the life in your soil as well as to promote success in your own fruit, vegetable and ornamental gardens
Presenting the NEW American Lawn 12:00 p.m. with Barry Green of Jonathan Green
The New American Lawn is an approach to lawn care that promotes growing genetically superior grass seed along with having biologically healthy soil. This approach uses both traditional and organic fertilizers and targets weed control to where and when it’s needed.
What’s NEW & HOT for 2014 1:30 p.m. with Nancy Szerlag, Garden Writer
Nancy will fill you in on the latest and greatest plants and products hitting the market in 2014.  If you’re the trendsetter of the neighborhood, this is the seminar for you!
Gardening for Butterflies 3:00 p.m. with Tamara Menas from The Michigan Native Butterfly Farm
Butterflies add a touch of whimsy to the garden. Tamara can help you choose the right plants to support them

GreenFest 2014 -  Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 2014, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak, Mi.
In observance of the global holiday celebrating life on our planet, the Detroit Zoo hosts its annual GreenFest celebration on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The Zoo-wide celebration includes earth-friendly crafts, an endangered species scavenger hunt, animal enrichment activities, zookeeper talks and exhibits by local conservation groups.  All GreenFest activities are free with Zoo admission.
Each GreenFest guest who brings a wine cork, rinsed Capri Sun pouch, empty chip bag or cell phone for recycling or who is carrying a refillable water bottle will receive a reduced admission price of $8.  Admission for Detroit Zoological Society members is free.

For information on GreenFest at the Zoo contact Jennifer Clarke at 248-541-5717 X 3725 or JClarke@dzs.org

14th Annual Lake Orion Flower & Art Fair Friday May 9th, 11-8 and Saturday, May 10th from 9-6 In downtown Lake Orion at the intersection of Flint and Broadway Streets. 
Stroll the streets and visit vendors selling all kinds of garden products and plants and also beautiful art.

Habitat for Humanity Plant Sale, Friday, May 9, 2014, 2:00 p.m. 8:30p.m and Saturday May 10, 2014,  8:00 a.m.  6:30 p.m - Oakland County Habitat for Humanity Headquarters at 150 Osmun Street, Pontiac, MI.
There will be lots of interesting and colorful plants for sale and you will be benefiting a good cause if you decide to buy some.

Seven Ponds Nature Fest and Native plant sale, Saturday, May 3, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road Dryden, MI  (810) 796-3200

Landscaping for Birds -11:00 am
Do you love birds and want to attract more to your yard? This program will be a great introduction into all the different elements needed for birds to feel at home. You will not only create a sanctuary for the birds, but also for yourself.

Native plants in an Urban Landscape- 1:00 pm
Do you live in a town or village, and would you like to start incorporating native plants into your landscape? Not sure where to begin? This program is for you. Ruth Vrbensky of Oakland Wildflower Farms, will teach you which plants will work and which ones won’t, which like sun or shade, which like wet or dry, and how easy it is to garden with nature.

There will be other activities for all ages, take a walk to look at frogs, learn about pond critters, do spring crafts and build birdhouses.  There is a wide variety of native plants for sale and a bake sale too.  There may be fees for some activities.

It’s All About Plants, May 3, 2014, 8 am – 4:15 pm.  Plant and Soil Science Building, 1066 Bogue Street, MSU, East Lansing, MI

MSU Horticulture Gardens presnts this day long garden event with four top garden speakers/experts, Art Cameron, Hardy Perennials and Graceful Grasses, George Papadelis, New and Underused Annuals, Tim wood, The Hunt for New and Improved Flowering Shrubs and Steve Keto, Growing Native plants. Approved for 5 MG credits.

Your registration fee includes lunch and parking plus hand outs.  $79.00 until April 21, $89 after April 21.  Email www.hrt.msu.edu/sp-register   or call Jennifer Sweet 1-517-355-5191 ext. 1339

MSU Horticulture Gardens Public Plant Sale May 17th , 7 am-2 pm.  MSU Horticulture Garden, East Lansing, MI.

Your chance to get some of the newest and oddest plants as well as old favorites.  This sale is very popular, arrive early.

Peppers: Selecting, Growing, & Cooking, April 24, 12am  6:30pm, At Telly's Troy.

Learn how to grow many of the varieties that are available while enjoying recipes & samples. $5. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735.

Landscape Design Fri, April 25,1-3 pm and Sat April 26, noon- 2pm, 2014,  Auburn Oaks, 3820 W Auburn Rd, Rochester Hills, MI,

Landscape designer Paula Smith helps you learn about designing a garden.  Call 248-852-2310 for fees and registration.

International Herb Day Sat, April 26, 10am-3pm, At Hidden Lake Gardens 6214 W Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI,

Herb Day is an international celebration of herbs and herbal products. This one-day event is aimed at educating and sharing ideas about the many ways herbs bring joy and well-being into our daily lives. We celebrate herbs’ use in food, beverages, medicine, beauty products, and crafts, along with the art of growing and gardening with herbs. There will be cooking demonstrations, gardening tips, educational seminars, activities, and a wide array of plants and products for sale.  $5 per person
www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu,   517-431-2060.

Sustainable Gardening Practices Sat, April 26,  1-2 pm At Campbell's Greenhouse, 4077 East Burnside Road, North Branch, MI 48461,

Clay Johnson discusses maintaining healthy soil, crop spacing/rotation, crop nutrition & companion plants for insect control. $5.  Call  810-688-3587.

Hidden Lake Gardens Plant Sale Sat, May 10,10am-2pm- 6214 W Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI
Lots of plants from natives to conifers for sale.  www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu , 517-431-2060.

“Gardening and All That Jazz!”  Saturday, April 26, 2014, 7am to 4:15pm-Oakland Schools Conference Center, 2111 Pontiac Lake Rd., Waterford, MI. 

Speakers include Allan Armitage "Buying the Right Plants", Stephanie Cohen "Native Plants", David Perry, Garden Photo Magic" and Stacy Hirvela "Shrubs, Making your Dream Garden Reality".  Sponsored by the Master Gardener Society of Oakland Co. Jazz concerts at morning check in and lunch.
$70 before March 15, $80 after March 15.  Pricing includes continental breakfast, lunch, snacks, and program materials. 

  Direct conference registration questions to: Registrar Phone: 248-770-0524  E-mail: registrarmgsoc@gmail.com

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

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







Tuesday, April 15, 2014

April 15, 2014, Kim's Weekly Garden Newsletter



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.

Hi Gardeners

So much for spring.
I woke up this morning to about three inches of snow- the record has now been officially broken so enough already!  After the nice weekend weather this is sure a let down.  I wanted to go outside to look at the eclipse last night but that was worthless.


I noticed that dozens of honeybees were clustered around the small bunch of crocus that had opened up outside my back door.  I couldn’t imagine crocus having that much nectar and pollen so I filled up a hummingbird feeder with sugar water and set it by them on the ground.  They swarmed it.  I had to refill it the next day and they drained that too.  Hopefully they got enough to stay alive through this cold spell.  I haven’t seen any bumblebees yet, they must be waiting for dandelions. 

I put the hummingbird feeders away last night but forgot to empty the rain gauge and I think it cracked.  This weather is just too much.  We had some high winds but nothing like what Lake Orion had.  It’s a mess down there I’m told.  We are still working on the mess from the ice storm here.

Assessing tree damage

Speaking of tree damage, whether from the recent storm or last winter’s weather please be very careful in your clean up.  Look up.  If you see dangling branches in the tree, held up by being caught on other limbs, use extreme caution under the trees.  These are called widow makers for a reason.  Pulling on lower limbs or just working under the trees cleaning up fallen branches could be dangerous.  Large limbs like this should probably be removed by professionals.

Cut off jagged stumps on a tree evenly.  They may bleed a lot this spring as sap rises but don’t worry and don’t paint the stub unless it’s an oak tree.   Research has shown that tree paint doesn’t help and may harm a trees healing of the wound.   Oak trees are an exception because the sap leaking draws bugs that transmit deadly Oak Wilt disease to the trees. 

People have been asking me if this or that tree will recover from its damage.  If a large tree is badly broken it will probably never look good again, although it may go on living.  Some trees with moderate damage will recover in a few years to look pretty decent.  It’s sometimes a judgment call between sentimentality and practicality as to whether you leave a tree or take it down.  (It may also be a financial decision.)  If the tree is leaning, is heavily damaged on one side and unbalanced or has many cracked or split limbs you may want to think of how safe it is for your home or property if you leave it.

If you decide to give the tree a chance fertilize it this spring, take off any sucker shoots that develop on the roots or close to the ground on the trunk, and water it when it gets dry.  If a few “sucker shoots” develop high on a tree you can leave them to see if new strong limbs develop.  You can always prune them off later if they make the tree look worse.

What you can plant now outside

I know it doesn’t look like anything could be planted outside with snow on the ground but actually there are things that can be planted outside in mid-April.  You can sow grass seed right on the snow, although birds may find it easy to see that way.  Do sow your grass seed soon, though, it likes to germinate and grow when it’s cool and wet.

Garden peas can be planted as soon as the soil thaws.  You’ll have crisp little snow pea pods to go with your early salads if you sow them soon.  Lettuce of various sorts will also germinate in cooler soil.  By the end of the month onion sets or seed, radishes, beets, carrots, cabbage, turnips, rutabagas, can be planted. 
Some flower seeds such as bachelor’s buttons, calendula, dianthus, pansies, violas, sweet peas, stocks, snapdragon, and candytuft can be planted mid to late April.  Garden stores are offering hanging baskets and flats of pansies, which can provide early color to the garden.   And many stores are offering flats of sprouting tulips and daffodils if you forgot to plant the bulbs last fall.

Beer and a grill

Here’s another good use of research dollars and it must have been fun for the researchers.  As you have probably heard cooking meat on a grill creates some carcinogenic chemicals.  That hasn’t done much to stop people from cooking on grills so I guess some research needed to be done on how to make some of those cancer causing compounds less toxic.


The ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reports that researchers found that marinating meat in beer before it was grilled could reduce the Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are produced when meat is grilled and that are associated with a high risk of colorectal cancer.  Researchers marinated pork in a dark ale, non-alcoholic beer, and Pilsner beer for four hours.  They then grilled the meat until it was well done and tested it for PAHs.  They found that all of the marinades reduced PAHs but dark ale reduced it by more than half.   No word on which marinade tested better.

Pollen allergies and foods

You wouldn’t know it by looking out the window this morning but pollen season is upon us.  Trees are already blooming or getting ready to bloom and tree pollen starts the allergy season.  Maples, poplar, willows and birch trees are early pollen makers and they will be followed by a host of trees from pines to oaks. And then of course, grass pollen season starts. If you have seasonal allergies you may have had allergy testing and that testing may have identified specific trees to which you are allergic.

When you have pollen allergies your body mounts a defense and becomes hypersensitive and may also react to other stimulus such as certain foods you eat.  You may be able to eat these foods when the pollen count isn’t high but will have an allergic reaction when it is.   Avoiding these foods right before pollen allergy seasons begin may help keep allergic reactions like sneezing and itching eyes from being overwhelming as well as eliminating gastrointestinal problems food allergies can cause.

If you know you are allergic to tree pollen, specifically birch and oak, avoid carrots, celery, almonds, apples, peaches and pears from now until trees stop pollinating.  If you have grass pollen allergies you’ll want to avoid melon, tomatoes and oranges, and add bananas, cantaloupe, cucumber, zucchini and chamomile tea in late summer when ragweed pollen is in the air.

Gardeners who have seasonal pollen allergies can time their gardening activities to avoid heavy pollen exposure but if you go outside at all chances are you will encounter some pollen.  Most pollen is released in the morning, right after the sun comes up so allergic gardeners may want to garden in the evening.  Warm, breezy sunny days will generally have the highest pollen counts and rainy cool days the lowest.  However wet weather can make the mold spores proliferate, and many people have allergies to mold spores in the air too
When you come inside after gardening, take a shower and wash your hair then change into clean clothes to lessen the chance that pollen is clinging to your hair and clothes. Leave outdoor clothing like hats and garden shoes outside of the house.  If you must garden outside when pollen counts are high you may want to wear a face mask.   Keeping the windows shut and using the air conditioner when you are inside may help the severely affected.  If over the counter allergy medications and avoiding cross sensitizing foods doesn’t help you should see an allergy specialist.

Growing Sweet Peas

American gardeners don’t grow sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) as often as their English counterparts, and that’s a shame.  While it may take a little more care and using heat tolerant varieties in the Midwest having some sweet peas in the garden is well worth your time.  These little beauties will fill the air with their delightful sweet scent and there is a pleasing range of colors to choose from.  If you like heritage vining flowers there are sweet pea varieties to suit you.  If you don’t care for annual vines there are now sweet pea varieties that are great for hanging baskets, spilling out of containers or forming groundcovers.  As a bonus, bees and other pollinators love sweet pea flowers.
Red Sweet Pea.  wikimedia commons

In earlier times sweet peas were grown for cut flowers and they still make sweet smelling long lasting bouquets.  English gardeners grew them, and still do, for flower competitions.  Dozens and dozens of varieties were developed; thankfully many of those have been preserved if you take time to search them out.   Some of the earliest genetic and plant breeding experiments were carried out on sweet pea plants.  Several species of wild sweet peas were used to make garden sweet peas.

Most sweet peas are annuals, but they will often self-sow when grown in the garden.  There are perennial varieties but these, while pretty, are smaller flowered and not fragrant.  In general sweet peas form long vines which cling by curling tendrils around the object they are climbing.   Shorter vined plants have been developed for baskets and containers and bushier plants for ground covers.  The leaves of sweet peas vary from thick fleshy rounded leaves to narrow grass like foliage.

Sweet Pea varieties and where to get them

Most seeds and plants are sold as mixed colors although you can find named color varieties.  Plants may be hard to come by at your local nursery although at least one on line garden catalog-
http://www.selectseeds.com  - carries potted plants.  Other catalogs that carry sweet pea seeds are

Some of the larger flowered, newer sweet peas are less fragrant than older varieties.  If fragrance is important look for varieties labeled very fragrant.  Here are some cultivars to look for.

Larger vine varieties
Fragrantissima  many vibrant  colors and very fragrant, large flowers
Old Spice, mixture of colors, fragrant, heat resistant and strong vines.
Spencer mix- variety of colors, large ruffled flowers with moderate fragrance
Chocolate Streamer- White flower base with chocolate speckling,  rare
Beaujolais red wine color flowers, fragrant
Blanche Ferry, rose pink flowers an old American variety. named for daughter of DM Ferry seed comp.
Prince Edward of York- cerise and carmine flowers fragrant- 8 feet vines,
Prince of Orange Spencer – large clear orange clusters of flowers, mild scent
Queen Alexander – Scarlet flowers- fragrant
Lady Grisel Hamilton- lavender and mauve flowers, very fragrant.
Mollie Rilestone- cream flowers edged with pink with a light yellow flush
Rose pink Mammoth- very large pink flowers with white center but only mildly fragrant
Blue Celeste- large ruffled blue flowers with a strong fragrance

Short or compact vines
Sugar and Spice- smaller, good for baskets compact growth- color variety, fragrant
Cupid Black – dark purple, 8 inches high for baskets or ground cover
King Tut- blue flowers smaller – 3 feet vine, good for warmer areas
Color Palette- mixture of colors, compact for baskets
Windowbox Cupid – color variety, short vines

Perennial, wildflower types – not fragrant

Lathyrus sativus azureus- tiny blue flowers on short vines, sometimes sold as variety ‘Electric Blue’
Lathyrus latifolius- usually sold as a mixture of pink, white and lavender flowers, smaller than cultivated flowers and long vines.

Sweet pea culture
Sweet peas like a sunny location in rich moist, but well drained soil.  The seeds or even plants can be planted a few weeks before your last expected frost as light frost won’t harm them. Plant them early because they love cool weather.  Mice and birds can be a problem when seeds are planted as both love the seeds.  You can place netting over spots where seeds are planted.  If mice keep getting your seed sprout the seeds inside and transplant seedlings outside.   In fact northern gardeners may want to start their sweet peas inside in April so that they get flowers before late summer.
 
Sweet pea seeds can be a bit stubborn in germinating as they have a tough seed coat.  Many gardeners nick each seed coat with toenail clippers or a similar item.  You can soak them until slightly swollen before planting but don’t let them soak more than 12 hours or you will probably “drown” them.  You can also place the seeds between layers of damp paper towels and place the towels in a plastic bag in a warm place.  When the seeds begin sprouting plant them outside.  If the tiny roots are anchored in the toweling tear off pieces of the paper towel with the plant attached rather than yanking them off the towel and plant paper and all.


No matter whether you plant seeds or seedlings keep them moist during their early growing periods.  And as warm weather comes make sure to water your sweet peas regularly as they do not like drought conditions.  Sweet peas are also heavy feeders so mix some slow release flower fertilizer into the soil before planting or water occasionally with water soluble fertilizer.  This is especially important to keep container and basket plants blooming.

Vining types of sweet peas will need something to climb.  Trellis or teepees of bamboo stakes can be used or plant them where they can climb fences.  They don’t climb building walls well as they need to twine around something.

Your plants will begin blooming anywhere from 60 – 90 days after they were planted, depending on variety.  If summer is very hot blooming may be delayed until cooler weather.  Pick the flowers or keep the dead blooms picked off before they develop seeds to prolong blooming time.  Once they begin blooming if they are faithfully dead headed they may bloom until a hard frost.  At the end of the season you may want to let a few seed pods develop and ripen to store the seeds for next year.  Since sweet pea varieties cross pollinate easily you may get different looking flowers next year.

The most common problems with sweet peas are aphids and powdery mildew.  Aphids can be controlled by washing them off the plants.  Powdery mildew usually doesn’t strike until late in the season, right before the plants will die anyway.  To help prevent it make sure the plants aren’t crowded and have good air circulation.  You can also use garden fungicides if you wish.

Sweet Pea seeds are not edible and some are poisonous so don’t let children or pets eat the seeds.  Don’t cook the pods or seeds or use them in salads.  Sweet pea flowers also should not be eaten.

A sad note: for those of you who know Jim Sillers, his wife Ann, a person who gave much back to the community, lost her long battle with cancer last week.  Please send Jim your warm thoughts and prayers.
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Read a good garden book and stay warm.
Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero

More Information

Snow drops are spring’s joyful, early warning system
Minor bulbs such as snow drops can have a major effect on your seasonal outlook.
Posted on April 8, 2014 by Gretchen Voyle, Michigan State University Extension
 
Snowdrop.  wikipedia photo
As the snow retreats after the longest winter of our lives, those first green shoots and flowers are long-anticipated events. Often, the first flowers are snow drops. They come by their common name, honestly. It is because of the white flowers and their ability to push their way through the snow. In Europe, they are sometimes referred to as snow piercers. Their botanical name is Galanthus nivalis. The Galanthus name means “milk flower” and nivalis means “of the snow.”

These small, white flowers with nodding heads are known for naturalizing. This indicates that the plants multiply and soon there are more without any work by the gardener. Michigan is only one of 16 states that snow drops have naturalized in. This bulb is originally from Europe and can handle cold temperatures and is hardy from zones 3 to 6.

Smart gardeners may appreciate the current season, but are always looking ahead. In the fall, they plant any one of a number of small, spring-flowering bulbs that group together under the name of “minor bulbs.” They can be considered minor because of their diminutive size or the fact they are not as popular as the big bulbs like tulips, hyacinth and daffodils. Some of group includes Scilla or Squill, which can be blue or white; Chionodoxa or Glory in the Snow, which are blue and white; Puschkinia, which are pale blue; and Eranthus or Winter Aconite, which are a brilliant yellow. Many gardeners are already familiar with Muscari or Grape Hyacinth. These little beauties even smell like grapes.

A big advantage to snow drops and other minor bulbs is that they are almost always resistant to deer and other critters. Another advantage is that they are usually not expensive and they multiply on their own.
Michigan State University Extension horticulture educators are often asked about good places to plant spring-flowering bulbs. Bulbs will do poorly in heavy clay soils and wet soils. They will be very comfortable in partial sun or light shade.

Snow drop carpet at Banks Hall, Bretheton Eng.
wikipedia photo
If having spring bulbs bloom a bit earlier is a goal, plant bulbs on the south or west side of a large rock or building. Heat will be absorbed and the ground will warm earlier than more exposed areas. These little gems are equipped for frosts and freezes so they are rarely damaged.

If early spring color is on your Smart Gardener hit list, look to purchase these bulbs this fall. Plant them immediately and be ready to be amazed in the spring of 2015.
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension.

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

New- GreenFest 2014 -  Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 2014, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak, Mi.

In observance of the global holiday celebrating life on our planet, the Detroit Zoo hosts its annual GreenFest celebration on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The Zoo-wide celebration includes earth-friendly crafts, an endangered species scavenger hunt, animal enrichment activities, zookeeper talks and exhibits by local conservation groups.  All GreenFest activities are free with Zoo admission.
Each GreenFest guest who brings a wine cork, rinsed Capri Sun pouch, empty chip bag or cell phone for recycling or who is carrying a refillable water bottle will receive a reduced admission price of $8.  Admission for Detroit Zoological Society members is free.

For information on GreenFest at the Zoo contact Jennifer Clarke at 248-541-5717 X 3725 or JClarke@dzs.org

New- 14th Annual Lake Orion Flower & Art Fair Friday May 9th, 11-8 and Saturday, May 10th from 9-6 In downtown Lake Orion at the intersection of Flint and Broadway Streets. 

Stroll the streets and visit vendors selling all kinds of garden products and plants and also beautiful art.

New- Habitat for Humanity Plant Sale, Friday, May 9, 2014, 2:00 p.m. 8:30p.m and Saturday May 10, 2014,  8:00 a.m.  6:30 p.m - Oakland County Habitat for Humanity Headquarters at 150 Osmun Street, Pontiac, MI.

There will be lots of interesting and colorful plants for sale and you will be benefiting a good cause if you decide to buy some.

Seven Ponds Nature Fest and Native plant sale, Saturday, May 3, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road Dryden, MI  (810) 796-3200

Landscaping for Birds -11:00 am

Do you love birds and want to attract more to your yard? This program will be a great introduction into all the different elements needed for birds to feel at home. You will not only create a sanctuary for the birds, but also for yourself.

Native plants in an Urban Landscape- 1:00 pm

Do you live in a town or village, and would you like to start incorporating native plants into your landscape? Not sure where to begin? This program is for you. Ruth Vrbensky of Oakland Wildflower Farms, will teach you which plants will work and which ones won’t, which like sun or shade, which like wet or dry, and how easy it is to garden with nature.

There will be other activities for all ages, take a walk to look at frogs, learn about pond critters, do spring crafts and build birdhouses.  There is a wide variety of native plants for sale and a bake sale too.  There may be fees for some activities.

It’s All About Plants, May 3, 2014, 8 am – 4:15 pm.  Plant and Soil Science Building, 1066 Bogue Street, MSU, East Lansing, MI

MSU Horticulture Gardens presnts this day long garden event with four top garden speakers/experts, Art Cameron, Hardy Perennials and Graceful Grasses, George Papadelis, New and Underused Annuals, Tim wood, The Hunt for New and Improved Flowering Shrubs and Steve Keto, Growing Native plants. Approved for 5 MG credits.

Your registration fee includes lunch and parking plus hand outs.  $79.00 until April 21, $89 after April 21.  Email www.hrt.msu.edu/sp-register   or call Jennifer Sweet 1-517-355-5191 ext. 1339

MSU Horticulture Gardens Public Plant Sale May 17th , 7 am-2 pm.  MSU Horticulture Garden, East Lansing, MI.

Your chance to get some of the newest and oddest plants as well as old favorites.  This sale is very popular, arrive early.

Peppers: Selecting, Growing, & Cooking, April 24, 12am  6:30pm, At Telly's Troy.
Learn how to grow many of the varieties that are available while enjoying recipes & samples. $5. www.tellys.com   Register: 248-689-8735.

Landscape Design Fri, April 25,1-3 pm and Sat April 26, noon- 2pm, 2014,  Auburn Oaks, 3820 W Auburn Rd, Rochester Hills, MI,

Landscape designer Paula Smith helps you learn about designing a garden.  Call 248-852-2310 for fees and registration.

International Herb Day Sat, April 26, 10am-3pm, At Hidden Lake Gardens 6214 W Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI

Herb Day is an international celebration of herbs and herbal products. This one-day event is aimed at educating and sharing ideas about the many ways herbs bring joy and well-being into our daily lives. We celebrate herbs’ use in food, beverages, medicine, beauty products, and crafts, along with the art of growing and gardening with herbs. There will be cooking demonstrations, gardening tips, educational seminars, activities, and a wide array of plants and products for sale.  $5 per person
www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu,   517-431-2060.

Sustainable Gardening Practices Sat, April 26,  1-2 pm At Campbell's Greenhouse, 4077 East Burnside Road, North Branch, MI 

Clay Johnson discusses maintaining healthy soil, crop spacing/rotation, crop nutrition & companion plants for insect control. $5.  Call  810-688-3587.

Hidden Lake Gardens Plant Sale Sat, May 10,10am-2pm- 6214 W Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI
Lots of plants from natives to conifers for sale.  www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu , 517-431-2060.

“Gardening and All That Jazz!”  Saturday, April 21, 2014, 7am to 4:15pm-Oakland Schools Conference Center, 2111 Pontiac Lake Rd., Waterford, MI. 
Speakers include Allan Armitage "Buying the Right Plants", Stephanie Cohen "Native Plants", David Perry, Garden Photo Magic" and Stacy Hirvela "Shrubs, Making your Dream Garden Reality".  Sponsored by the Master Gardener Society of Oakland Co. Jazz concerts at morning check in and lunch.
$70 before March 15, $80 after March 15.  Pricing includes continental breakfast, lunch, snacks, and program materials. 

  Direct conference registration questions to: Registrar Phone: 248-770-0524  E-mail: registrarmgsoc@gmail.com

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

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