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
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| Wood sorrel. |
Well March went out like a lamb and April is already providing
showers so let’s hope we have May flowers!
I can actually see my crocus coming up now and the tulips and daylilies
too. I saw two turkey buzzards near
our woods and that is a sure sign its spring.
I haven’t heard any frogs yet but when I do I know it will be an even
better sign of spring. But it’s nice to
get outside and work in the sun.
I spent a lot of the day outside yesterday working on
cleaning up the yard from our ice storm way back in December. I have such a mess I think I will spend many,
many days just getting things cleaned up before I can ever get to new
planting. My beautiful white pine in the back yard and
my nice apricot tree are both almost complete losses. There was also damage to our black willows,
some birch, poplars and even the ancient cedars on the west side of my house. All around me neighbors are chain sawing up
trees and burning the brush. Anyone who
burns wood for heat should find plenty of free wood this spring.
I think some of you may have read this in the newspaper but
it looks like the Lapeer Farmers market will be moving to the Center Building-
or at least most of the old vendors will be.
The Lapeer Down Town Development Authority really did market master
Denise Becker wrong- they let her know she was fired when someone called her to
ask how they could access the Farmer’s
Market website and casually mentioned
they fired the market master, not knowing who they were talking to I
guess. ( I wonder if she gave them
access?)
Well the Center Building offered an alternative place for a
market to Denise and the vendors loyal to her and it looks like they will be
there. Good for them. The Center Building is a much nicer place for
a farm market, with easier and free parking, restrooms and much more space. If you liked some of the vendors at the old
market downtown in Lapeer, you’ll most likely find them at the new Center
Building market this spring.
A potato that causes
weight loss will revolutionize diets!
The Peruvian people grow hundreds of varieties of potatoes
for many different uses. Some are for
boiling, some are for roasting, some are for drying and making flour, and some
are for medicinal uses. Researchers at
several colleges have obtained many different types of potatoes for testing and
breeding purposes. Some are used to
bring genetic diversity into current potato cultivars and others were tested
for other uses.
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| Is this a Miracle? Wikimedia commons |
When researchers at Idaho Agricultural Institute were
testing one potato variety found in Peru they discovered something
amazing. Animals fed the potatoes lost
weight while remaining healthy and active and reproducing normally. A study where the potatoes were fed to mice
of a genetically obese strain caused the mice to lose excess fat and become
lean and healthy. Next the researchers
tested the potatoes on dogs which were obese and had diabetes and found that
once again a diet containing the potatoes caused the dogs to lose weight and
after the weight was gone, most of the dogs no longer needed insulin for their
diabetes.
The potato named “Pink57” was found to contain chemical
compounds that acted on body metabolism in several ways. The starch in the potatoes is not turned into
sugar and is almost totally eliminated from the body. The chemical compounds also acted on the
animals brains, causing them to become alert and more active than normally fed
animals. And furthermore the Pink57
potatoes caused fat stored in cells to move into the blood stream and be burned
for energy.
The Pink57 strain of potato was a lumpy, pinkish fleshed
thing that did not cook well so researchers set out to breed it with more
conventional potatoes. After several
years they have a nice, long potato with light pink flesh and darker pink
skin. The potato fries and bakes well
and the taste is indistinguishable from common US potatoes. A second strain is being developed for
making potato chips and a third for making potato flour. The new potato is being called Miracle Pink.
A research trial with 200 human subjects has just ended and
the results are amazing. Subjects that
were at least 50 pounds overweight were fed potatoes for each meal. Hash browns with breakfast, French fries for
lunch and mashed or baked potatoes for dinner.
The subjects were required to eat at least 3 oz of potatoes at each meal
(which is not a lot) and they could eat as much of the potatoes or any other
foods as they wanted. After just 6 weeks
of the Miracle Pink potato diet participants had lost an average of 30 pounds
while a control group eating regular potatoes averaged no weight loss.
After 12 weeks the study was ended because most of the
Miracle Pink potato eaters had lost all the weight that they needed to
lose. Average weight lost in the study
was 75 pounds! No side effects were
reported and the subjects were healthy and reported more energy than before the
potatoes. They were given Miracle Pink
potatoes in frozen French fry form to keep the weight off if they needed it.
Because the potatoes are normal foods and the strain has
been created with normal means of plant breeding FDA approval is not needed to
sell the potato although weight loss claims will have to wait until more
studies confirm the results. Researchers
are growing huge fields of the potatoes in anticipation of releasing seed
potatoes to several commercial growers for 2014. In 2015 small amounts of the potatoes are
expected to be released to home gardeners.
Look for Miracle Pink potato products to hit the store shelves this
fall.
New purple daffodils
When spring comes daffodils are one of the first plants to
bloom. They are deer resistant,
extremely hardy and multiply quickly, making them an ideal garden flower. As a bulb they are easy to plant and grow in
most sunny areas without mu
ch attention needed. They come in various shades of
yellow, orange and white but now two new varieties of daffodils will extend the
color range.
Pretty in Purple is a beautiful daffodil with a deep purple
center cup and white flushed with pale lavender outer petals. It is a medium early bloomer. Late bloomer Jester’s Folly is a daffodil that’s hard to describe but incredibly
beautiful. It has yellow cups with red
veining and deep violet tips and the petals surrounding the cups are pale
yellow shading to white near the tip and a deep violet edge.
Both daffodils are quite expensive, at $20 per bulb average
but remember daffodils multiply. They
should be available this fall in limited quantities.
New garden classes
begin in Michigan- The PRO-GARDENER™ series
A consortium of Michigan garden writers, speakers, teachers,
former Extension agents and other experts decided that Michigan needed a new
model for delivering good, research backed garden information. They wanted to make it available to all
counties in Michigan and affordable to the average person. So they developed the new PRO-GARDENER™
course. The course is supported with
funding from the new Farm Bill and from local and national sponsors.
The PRO-GARDENER™ course is suitable for both the home
gardener and the person who wants to go into gardening or garden related fields
as a professional. A home gardener can
audit the course and the person who wants a professional certificate will pay a
small extra fee and take an exam which when passed will lead to a certificate
suitable to use for employment or as professional credentials. A course completion certificate will be
issued to all persons who complete all course requirements also.
Pro-Gardener course will be offered in every county where a
minimum of 10 people sign up for the course.
One course per county per year with a maximum of 50 people per class
will be offered. People will be able to
take the course in any county, although preference will be given to each county’s
residents for a course in that county. The
course will be offered at a convenient location in each county.
Pro-Gardener program consists of 16 weeks of classes, two
days a week, 3 hours per day and 15 workshops where hands on experience will be
given. No volunteer hours are required,
but volunteer opportunities so students can use their new skills will be
presented. Computer experience is a big
help in this course but will not be required.
No previous garden experience or classes are required.
Subjects covered in the classes include basic botany, soil
improvement, perennials, annuals and tender perennials, interior plants, roses,
native plants, ornamental shrubs,
ornamental trees, small fruit, tree fruit, plant propagation, vegetables,
herbs, composting and vermiculture, lawns and lawn substitutes, garden design,
garden water features, garden hardscape, greenhouse management, hydroponics,
plant diagnostics and pest management, garden and landscape management and
pruning. Some subjects will be covered
in more than one class. Classes are
taught by a number of experienced garden teachers.
The cost of the class is $100. with an additional $30 for the
exam for certification. The cost
includes 3 textbooks and numerous handouts plus most workshop materials. A few workshops may require a materials fee,
not exceeding $25. per workshop. Pre-registration
and payment are required. Beginning
dates will vary. Those who are Master
Gardeners are welcome to attend PRO-GARDENER ™classes.
While the information offered is the newest and best
available the course is also a place to meet other people who share your love
of gardening. You’ll have fun while
learning, we guarantee. Accommodations
for handicapped individuals can be arranged. To find PRO-GARDENER™ courses near you please
call 1-555- 552-2525 or email www.PROGARDENER.com/
New way to get rid of
Japanese beetles!
Here’s a nifty and organic way to get rid of Japanese beetles
and it works on all kinds of plants.
Simply soak a handful of paper clips or old fashioned bobby pins in
Tabasco sauce overnight. Then using
gloves, put one soaked paper clip or bobby pin on each plant branch you want to
protect. It helps to clip one paper
clip beneath each rose blossom also. Put
a soaked paper clip next to each clump of grapes you want to protect.
These paper clips must be removed and re-soaked in Tabasco
sauce after each rain. It is best to
have two sets, one soaking and one on the plants so you can rotate them. This method of protecting plants was studied
by the North American Plant Research Council and found to be 99% effective.
Killer plants
Be wary of new plants on the market, especially if they are carnivorous
ones. Researchers were growing a new specimen
of carnivorous plant brought back from a South American jungle two years ago
and named Pulcher funestus. It’s
growing in a greenhouse at the Center for Plant Discovery and Adaptation in
Greenway, Iowa. The plant has upright
facing tunnel like flowers about 20 inches long and maybe longer as ages. The flowers of Pulcher funestus are gorgeous,
with swirls of lavender and pink on a translucent cream background. They have an intoxicating scent, truly
intoxicating it seems, which is described as a mixture of sweet orange and lily,
and each flower has at its bottom a small amount of sweet pink nectar.
The plants grow like a vine with a thick sturdy stem that
attaches to anything in sight. The
original one at the research center has quickly grown to more than 25 feet in
length with the main vine as big around as a human arm. The plant starts easily from the smallest
cutting and the research center had high hopes of developing the plant into a
viable commercial plant. They had more
than a 100 small plants started. The
vine had even sent roots beneath the greenhouse floor, coming up on the outside
of the greenhouse and surviving the Iowa winter.
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| Beautiful Deceiver Flickr.com |
Personnel at the greenhouse had noticed the plant attracted
mice and dead mice were often found in the flower tunnels. The mice were left and it was found that they
dissolved in less than a week. When a
greenhouse cat went missing and was found in the flower tunnel of the vine it
was assumed the cat tried to get mice caught in the tunnel and was overcome by
the intoxicating fumes of the flower.
The cat too, was left for the plant to eat and was gone in 22 days. The plant was nicknamed the Beautiful Deceiver.
Researchers began to study the scent of the Pulcher funestus
flowers as they noticed that people working near the plant often complained of
feeling drowsy and dizzy. As the plant
grew and produced more and more flowers, with fifty flowers often open at one
time, this “intoxication effect” became even more pronounced. Signs were posted near the plant warning
people not to linger by the plant.
Last month however, the child of a greenhouse employee was
in the greenhouse when his school had a snow day. When his father noticed he hadn’t been seen
lately he searched for him and found him passed out near the Pulcher funestus
vine. One of the child’s arms was inside
a flower of the vine. When the child’s
hand was removed it was found that the ends of his fingers had dissolved up to
the first knuckle.
As you can imagine the area of the greenhouse where the Pulcher
funestus vine is growing has been isolated with all the smaller propagated
vines moved to that area also. Only
certain lab personnel are allowed to enter.
Plans to sell the plant have been put on hold but researchers are avidly
studying the plants scent and nectar for pharmaceutical use. There is some
concern because it is believed several started cuttings of the plant are
missing, probably stolen by employees and that the plant may end up growing
where it will become a serious problem.
Here’s hoping you have a great April Fool’s Day and get a good
laugh out of this issue. Back next week
with more accurate information. PS. Below
here all the info is true and factual to the best of my knowledge.
Kim Willis
“He who has a garden and
a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero
More Information
Caring for
Spring Bulbs
By Kim
Willis – previously published on Examiner.com
All of the wonderful spring flowering bulbs like crocus,
tulips and daffodils make spring in Michigan a sight to behold. Generally
spring flowering bulbs are planted in the fall, although you can now find
spring bulbs in pots and flats in some garden stores in the spring. For those of you who forgot to plant bulbs
these can be a quick garden fix, but planting the bulbs in the fall is really
the best way to go.
As soon as you see the green shoots popping up and the
ground begins to thaw sprinkle a little slow release fertilizer around the
bulbs. A basic garden fertilizer such as
5-10-5 or a flower formula fertilizer will work. The fertilizer helps the bulb prepare
healthy foliage to make food. Leaves
producing food allow the plant to make next years flowers and enables some
types of bulbs to produce “baby” bulbs.
Don’t worry if the weather turns colder or if it snows and
covers emerging bulbs. For most bulbs
that emerge early this doesn’t harm them.
Sometimes snow after bulbs have come into full bloom will smash the
flowers or wilt them but this doesn’t happen often. Many pictures have been taken of flowers like
daffodils and crocus blooming right through a late snow.
If you have had a deer or rabbit problem in the past you may
want to add a light barrier of some black nylon netting. You can use thin garden stakes to hold it up
and if stretched tightly the netting won’t be too visible from a short distance
away. For deer the netting must also
cover the tops of plants. Put stakes
behind the plants and put the netting over the stakes in front then over the
back stakes. This deer or bird netting
is found in most garden stores.
Usually Michigan springs have plenty of moisture but if we
get a dry spring water your bulbs once a week.
This is especially important if spring is hot and windy. But after bulb foliage has died down they do
not need watering, in fact most bulbs prefer dry conditions when dormant.
Remove the flowers of bulbs as they fade, unless you are
trying to get seed from something.
Producing seed takes energy away from the bulb which needs to store
reserves of food to produce next year’s flowers. Sometimes the seed heads of bulbs like large alliums
are left for structural interest. A hint
here- the seeds of alliums will drop off and readily start new bulbs, although
it may take a few years before they bloom.
Do not remove the foliage of bulbs until it has yellowed and
died down on its own. The foliage is
needed to produce food for the bulb.
After a bulb blooms its leaves start producing food reserves for the
bulb and next years flowers. If leaves
are removed too soon next years flower may be smaller, or the bulbs may not
bloom at all.
If you naturalized bulbs in a lawn this means you cannot mow
until the bulb foliage has yellowed and withered. This is difficult for some people to
tolerate, because they like a neat, mowed look to the lawn. That’s why naturalized bulbs work best when
planted in groundcovers or at the edges of lawns.
Yellowing bulb foliage can be hidden by emerging perennials
or you can plant hardy annuals around the bulbs to hide the foliage. Daylilies make excellent perennial covers for
dying bulb foliage. If you are planting
something to hide the foliage, make sure you don’t disturb the bulbs.
How long bulb foliage takes to die back depends on the
species of bulb and the weather but most bulb foliage will be gone by the end
of June. After the foliage is gone there
is little you need to do for bulbs until next spring except remember where they
are so you don’t disturb them planting other things. Anytime after the bulb foliage has died back
you can dig the bulbs to divide them or move them. You can plant them immediately or store them
in a cool, dry place until fall to plant them.
Tulips may not reliably return each year in Michigan
gardens. That is because they prefer to
be dry over the summer and because they are eaten by many animals. Many people dig up tulip bulbs after the
foliage has died down and store them inside in a cool dry place until fall,
when they are again planted in the garden.
If this seems like too much work choose tulip varieties that
are marked as being “perennial” varieties or chose the smaller flowered species
tulips. Or you can simply plant more tulips each year to make up for those that
are lost.
Bulbs are only effective if you see them bloom. Plant small bulbs like crocus, snowdrops,
grape hyacinths and iris reticula close to the house so you will see their
cheerful blooms. Buried in the garden
somewhere they may bloom and die before you get out there to see them. Bulbs planted near the house may bloom weeks
before those out in an exposed place.
Warm weather when bulbs are blooming will speed up the bloom
cycle with many species blooming all at once instead of an orderly progression
of bloom. And each individual flower
won’t last as long in the garden when it is warm. We can’t change the weather but luckily
Michigan gardeners usually get a long spring full of gorgeous flowers
blooming. With careful selection of
early, mid and.
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- 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
New- 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.
New- Growing Beautiful Hydrangeas, April 10, 7 pm –
Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois Street, Ferndale, MI.
Learn about hydrangeas from Cheryl English. Presented by the Ferndale Garden Club. Call 248-541-6427 for more information.
New- 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.
New- 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.
New- 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.
New- 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.
New- 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.
Growing and
Cooking with Herbs- April 5, 2014 10 am – 1 pm Heavenly Scent Herb Farm, 13730
White Lake Road, Fenton, Michigan.
Steve Mathews will give you tips on growing and cooking with
a wide variety of herbs. There will be
lots of taste testing. Reservation
required, $28.75, call 810-629-9208
New- Come Hang with
Steve- April 12, 2014 10:30 am – noon. Heavenly Scent Herb Farm, 13730 White
Lake Road, Fenton, Michigan.
Learn all about hanging baskets, window boxes and cascading
containers in this class. It’s free, no
registration required.
New- Detroit Garden
Works Spring Fair – April 12- 9-5 pm, April 13 – noon to 4 pm. 1794 Pontiac Drive, Sylvan Lake, Michigan.
Local growers will be offering plants, garden art and
supplies. Snacks and drinks provided,
free admission. Detroit Garden Works was
named in 2004 one of the top 25 garden stores in America by Garden Design
Magazine, we are equally as pleased to be included in The Garden 50: 50
favorite products, projects and places inspired by the world of gardening in
the March 2011 issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine. (248) 335-8089.
The Sensual Garden of
the Night -Wed, April 9, 12am –2:30 pm at Big Beaver United Methodist Church,
3753 John R Road, Troy.
Troy Garden club presents a session on planting a garden
that will be beautiful at night and appeal to the senses. $7 includes lunch.
Gardening in
Containers & Raised Beds Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m. All English Gardens
stores
Just about anything can be grown in a container. We’ll share
tips and information to make you successful when growing plants and vegetables
in containers and raised beds.
Free. Click here for a store near
you. http://www.englishgardens.com/shop-online/workshops.html
Woodland Wildflower
Workday Friday, April 4, 1:00 pm Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road
Dryden, MI (810) 796-3200
Come help us ready the Woodland Wildflower Area for the
beautiful array of blossoms that will be coming our way soon. Fulfill Master
Gardener Hours.
Botanical Easter
Eggs- Sunday, April 13, 2:00 pm- Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road
Dryden, MI (810) 796-3200
Sign up to learn this old-fashioned way of coloring Easter
eggs. Wrapped in flowers and leaves and soaked in a natural dye, these
beautiful eggs are sure to become a yearly tradition in your house. Pre-registration
is required. Ages 12 and up. Fee: $5.00 ($2.00 members).
Gifts from the Herb
Garden, April 5, 2014, SMITH FLORAL, 1124 E. Mount Hope Ave, Lansing, MI from
10am until noon.
Coleen French will be showing you how to make Layered
Fragrant Bath Salts, Personal Perfumes, Herbal Dryer Sachets, Room Sprays, Car
Fresheners, and More! Recipes and handouts included. $10 per class,
pre-registration is REQUIRED. Sign up by calling 484-5327 or 484-6085 or stop
in and register in person.
“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.
Register at. http://www.mgsoc.org/registration.htm 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
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