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Tuesday, June 10, 2014

June 10, 2014 Kim's Weekly Garden Newsletter

June 10, 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.
Can you guess what this is?

Hi Gardeners

Once again I am waiting for rain.  Even the grass is starting to look dry.  I have heard from people south of I69 that say they have had plenty of rain last week but that’s not the case here.  I have been watering and watering and that takes time from things like weeding and planting that I would like to do.

My strawberries are beginning to ripen but I am not getting many of them.  It’s hard to say whether they just aren’t producing many berries or if something is eating them before me.   I surrounded the patch with netting but yesterday I saw a chicken inside the netting, which makes me wonder.  In case you are wondering she got yelled at and my chickens know to run when I yell at them.

The peonies and iris are just gorgeous right now and of course if it rains the peonies will get all bedraggled and droopy, but hey we still need the rain.  The corn poppies are flamboyantly beautiful.  The babtisia is blooming and spirea is spilling over lawns everywhere.  The Black Locust trees are blooming with their lovely fragrance.  Hosta and astilbe are beginning to bloom.

Graduation or Harrison's Rose.
My June “Graduation’ rose is covered in bloom.  The bush is an old variety probably “Harrisons Yellow”.  This variety was carried throughout the US by early pioneers and is incredibly hardy and vigorous.  My bush came from my grandmother’s old yard.  Every one of my siblings and I, and even my mother and her sister, had their picture taken in front of her rose bush, which was trellised in the very front of her yard, when they graduated.

The cottonwood fairies are drifting through the air and my pond is covered in white fluff.  Now there will soon be hundreds of cottonwood seedlings to join the hundreds of maple, catalpa and oak seedlings I am pulling from all my flowerbeds.

New Mosquito carried virus

Everyone is talking about how bad the mosquitoes are this year and I can testify that they are real aggressive this year.  There is a concern that some new mosquito carried diseases may be getting started in the U.S.  Just yesterday the Indiana Health department confirmed a case of Chikungunya virus in Fort Wayne.  Florida has also had at least one case.  In both cases the infected person had recently been to the Caribbean area.   

Chikungunya virus is also common in Africa, India and Southern Asia.  It causes headache, fever, rash and severe muscle/joint aches and pains.  Treatment of the virus is basically the same as treatment for the flu. It is rarely fatal and people generally recover in about a week, although some people have lingering joint pain.  Some people also have relapses of joint pain months later.  Chikungunya virus doesn’t spread from human to human, just like West Nile virus you need to be bitten by an infected mosquito to get it.  Once you have had the disease you are protected from getting it a second time.

Chikungunya virus is very similar to dengue virus and is carried by the same mosquitoes.  Incubation period after a bite is 1-12 days.  People who have the virus should be kept where they cannot be bitten again by mosquitoes because this can result in a rapid local outbreak of disease.  This is why the recent US cases are worrisome- local mosquitoes could have bitten the infected people.

The CDC recommends these mosquito repellants be used whenever you are outdoors to help prevent mosquito bites.

DEET (Products containing DEET include Off!, Cutter, Sawyer, and Ultrathon)
Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin products containing picaridin include Cutter Advanced, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus, and Autan [outside the US])
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD (Products containing OLE include Repel and Off! Botanicals)
IR3535  (Products containing IR3535 include Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition and SkinSmart)

Of course it’s best to avoid peak mosquito flying times in early evening and early morning, avoid marshy areas, weedy areas and wear long sleeves and pants.   Re-apply mosquito repellant often and apply it to thin clothing as well.   Don’t rely on citronella products.  The electric killer/repellant devices are not considered very effective.  Some newer carbon dioxide based attractants/killers may attract more mosquitoes to the area, just like many other insect traps.

Gardeners should also protect themselves from mosquito bites to prevent getting West Nile Virus, which kills people almost every year in Michigan.  There are also several other rarer mosquito borne viruses that can be deadly.  Believe it or not malaria was once a big concern for Michigan residents.  (Malaria is carried by mosquitoes.)   In its early history MSU sometimes shut down because of malaria outbreaks.

Mosquitoes need water to breed in and you have probably heard this before, try to remove any standing water that they can breed in- and it doesn’t take much water to hatch a crop of mosquitoes.  Empty anything that collects water at least every other day, including pet dishes and even stock tanks if mosquito larvae are ever noticed in them.  Clean out gutters.  Get rid of trash and old tires that collect water. 

If water can’t be emptied use treat it with Bt powders or “doughnuts”.  These insecticides kill only mosquito larvae and are safe for humans, wildlife and pets.  Avoid treating with other insecticides, especially those sprayed on land as they kill helpful insects as well.  However if a mosquito borne disease outbreak takes hold in your area it may be required.

Ground Ivy
Ground Ivy

Ground Ivy is not a native plant; it was introduced from Europe as an herbal remedy and as an aid to brewing beer.  Another common name “Gill Over the Ground” refers to a French word for brewing beer.  Michigan gardeners may also know this plant as Creeping Charlie.   Ground ivy is a common lawn and garden weed in Michigan landscapes. 

Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), has pretty, scalloped heart shaped leaves that are attached opposite to each other on the plants square stems.  Leaves and stems may have a reddish-purple cast in early spring.  When any part of the ground ivy plant is bruised or cut a strong but pleasant mint smell is released.  Ground ivy leaves can be used in salads and are high in vitamin C.

Ground ivy stems sprawl on the ground and anywhere they touch the ground at a node they send out little roots.  Ground ivy can cover large areas by creeping and rooting in just a few months.  Small pieces of the plant that are broken off root easily in moist conditions and pieces of the plant are often carried to new locations by farm and garden equipment.

Ground ivy prefers shaded to partly shaded moist areas but will grow in full sun if the area is moist.  Starting as early as April in Michigan, ground ivy sports many small blue-purple flowers.  The flowers are composed of 5 petals fused into a tube at the base, leaving two fused petals on the bottom and 3 separated petals on the top, at the end of the tube.  The throat of the tube is a lighter color with speckles of reddish purple and orange stamens.  Ground ivy rarely produces seeds, but when it does the seeds are small, brown, hard, triangular ovals, flat on 2 sides, rounded on the third.

Ground ivy can withstand mowing and even light foot traffic.  It has been used as a ground cover in shady areas with some success, but it is difficult to control ground ivy to a specific area once it gets established so use care if adding it to the landscape.

Cosmetic uses of the rose

Long before the rose was used as a decorative landscape plant, people had developed all sorts of cosmetic uses for the rose.  It is of course widely used in perfumes.  But rose water or oil is a very old remedy for smoothing and soothing the skin.  Every Victorian lady had her bottle of rose water to use on her face and hands. Combined with witch hazel rose water was used for acne.

Ointments and lotions were made with rose water and rose oil and were the basis of the first “cold creams” for cleaning and moisturizing the face. Rose preparations are used for sunburn and minor skin irritations. Rose water and rose oil are also used as massage oils.  In aromatherapy rose oil is said to relieve depression, symptoms of grief and anger and help headaches.

Rose oil/water was said to be discovered in the Otto Empire in the late 1500’s.  A newly married royal couple was rowing a boat in a canal filled with rose petals when they noticed rainbows caused by rose oil floating on the water surface.  They collected some and were fascinated by the strong rose aroma.  The oil probably developed from the water being heated in the sun.

The Persians took the discovery of rose oil and water to commercial success.  Attar or Otto of roses became a precious commercial commodity.  Later the Romans had a thriving rose industry both for rose oil and water and for roses that every well to do Roman had growing in and around their homes.  They grew roses in greenhouses and learned to force blooms out of season.  Horace was said to joke that the amount of land devoted to roses would cause a shortage of grain.

After the fall of the Roman Empire only the monastery gardens preserved cultivated roses and carried on the processes of making rose oil and water. It wasn’t until the Renaissance period that rose oil and water and roses as a garden plant once again became popular.

Rose oil and water can both be made at home.  For both the best roses to use are older types that are very fragrant and preferably deep pink or red.  This includes damask, centifolia, moss and alba roses.  But any fragrant rose can be used including modern tea roses.  The roses must absolutely not be treated with pesticides however and this includes systemic products.  Keep in mind it takes a lot of rose petals to make only a modest amount of rose oil or water and the plants won’t be so attractive after they are harvested.

Rose buds are harvested just as they begin to open.  Harvest is best done in the morning just after the dew has dried.  Plan to use the roses the day they are gathered.  Some people insist that the small white triangle at the base of each petal be removed but that is tedious work and not essential.  Make sure there are no insects in your rose petals.

The rose oil you make at home is not the same as commercial essential rose oil but it can be used in many of the same ways.  There are several methods but basically you are steeping rose petals in some form of neutral smelling oil.  Grape seed oil and extra virgin olive oil are two examples.  Place the rose petals in a glass or ceramic container.  Metal shouldn’t be used because it may react with the oil and plastics absorb the scent and some of the oil.

Bruise or crush the rose petals with the back of a spoon or a pestle.  Then cover the petals with oil.  Cover the container and set the container in the sun or another warm location.  You can place a glass container in a crock pot and heat it on low.  Never get the oil to the point of bubbling or “frying”.  Rose petals added directly to the crock pot may “flavor” it.

After a few days strain out the rose petals and keep the oil.  The best, most fragrant oil occurs when you add fresh crushed petals to the oil and repeat the process one or more times.

Rose water is made by distilling rose petals with pure water.  There are many methods but just putting rose petals in water and not using a form of distillation will probably result in a moldy mess.  Use rose petals above as described for making rose oil.  The water you use should be distilled water or clean rain water.

Here’s one method of making a homemade “still” for rose water.  Find a glass or ceramic container that will fit inside a big pot, like a canning kettle or big soup pot leaving a few inches between it and the wall of the pot.  A tall, heavy container is best.  A shallow container may need to be elevated off the floor of the pot a bit with a rack or even some flat stones, so there is some depth around it for rose petals.  The outer pot needs a lid that has a dome shape for best results.

Place crushed rose petals in the outer pot, all around the center container, as deep as possible.  Pour in the distilled or rain water until it just covers the rose petals.  Place the lid on the pot upside down.  Place the pot on a heat source and heat until it is gently simmering.  Then place ice cubes in the upside down lid of the pot.  Keep simmering.

What should happen is that the steam from the heated rose and water mixture should condense on the lid of the pot and then fall back into the container in the middle of the pot.  If the pots lid doesn’t slope to the center where water will run to the middle before dripping in the center container the still won’t be as effective. 

Don’t let the distillation process go on for more than 30 minutes or after the water is all gone from around the petals.  That will weaken the fragrance of the rose water.  More ice cubes may be needed from time to time.  Don’t add more water to the pot after distillation begins.

After the pot has cooled remove the center container with your rose water.  It should smell like roses and it may be pink in color if you used red or pink rose petals.  Discard the rose petals after one distillation period. There probably won’t be a lot of rose water from one distillation but you can make more from fresh rose petals.  Keep the rose water you collected in the refrigerator.

Your rose water or oil can be used as a skin toner and conditioner, as a fragrance spritz or even in cooking.  I’ll discuss some culinary uses of rose next week.

Rose chafer beetles

It’s June and in Michigan that means it’s time for the rose chafer beetle invasion.  If you live on sandy soil your garden may be particularly hard hit.  The name rose chafer is misleading.  While they are very attracted to rose flowers, they’ll eat the leaves and flowers on many kinds of plants.

Rose chafer beetles are tan, sometimes with a greenish cast, with reddish orange legs and short antennae.  They are about a 1/2 inch long when mature and are strong fliers.  In June they emerge from the soil where they have been pupating and begin feeding on everything in sight.  Plants are sometimes covered with the beetles.

Damage to plants is mainly cosmetic; the plants do recover when the beetles stop feeding and die, near the end of June.  But the loss of flowers and the sight of leaves with only the veins remaining make many gardeners ready to fight.  In June lots of chewed up leaves and flowers may mean a rose chafer invasion is taking place.
Rose Chafer beetles.  Photo daBinsi Flickr.com

For those who grow grapes, rose chafers mean more than cosmetic damage.  Grapes are generally blooming at the time the rose chafer emerges and the hungry beetles love to eat grape flowers and buds, which means the loss of the grape crop.

The life cycle of the rose chafer begins when adult beetles lay eggs in sandy soil in June.  Tiny grubs soon hatch and burrow deeper into the soil.  Unlike the European chafer beetle grub the rose chafer grub does not damage turf grass roots.  It grows all summer, and then goes deep into the soil to rest for winter.  In the spring grubs move toward the surface, eat for a short time then turn into pupae for a couple of weeks, before emerging from the soil in June to start the cycle over.

Since female rose chafer beetles prefer to lay eggs in sandy soil, higher numbers of the beetles are found in gardens planted on sandy soil.  But the beetles can fly quite a distance to feed.

To control rose chafers gardeners can hand pick the beetles, dropping them into a container of soapy water.  Shaking a plant lightly will often dislodge dozens of the beetles.  On sturdy plants a hand vacuum can be used with the dirt cup full of beetles emptied into soapy water.  

Common garden insecticides such as sevin and malathion will kill the beetles.  But insecticides will need to be re-applied after each heavy rain and every 10-14 days.  Systemic insecticides, like those found in rose care products, will work but the beetle has to take a bite of the plant before it is poisoned, so some damage continues to occur. 

Whenever using a pesticide, read and follow the label directions for mixing and applying the product exactly.  Make sure the plants you want to protect and the insects you want to kill are listed on the label.  Different insects or different plants can have different application and mixing instructions.

Plants could be covered with row cover material while the beetles are heavy.  It must be securely anchored to the ground so beetles don’t crawl under it.  Grapes though, need to have visits from pollinators to make fruit so a row cover won’t work.  Pesticides may also kill some pollinators but are the best option for grapes if beetle numbers are high.

Some early studies by the USDA have found that spraying the kaolin clay based product called Surround® on grape vines helped repel rose chafer beetles.  That product could also be sprayed on trees and shrubs being eaten by rose chafers but be aware that it gives sprayed plants a whitewashed appearance.

There is a lure scent that has been developed for rose chafers that can be used in Japanese beetle traps.  If you use a product like this put it far away from the plants you want to protect.  Otherwise it will draw more rose chafers to the area which may feed on plants before entering the trap.

One thing you do not want to do is to encourage your chickens or other birds to eat the beetles.  Rose chafer beetles contain a toxin that can sicken or kill birds and small animals. That’s why they are so abundant and damaging; they are not eaten by other wild things.

The good news is that the invasion is short lived.  By the end of June in most areas of Michigan the adult rose chafer beetles are gone, leaving behind eggs for next year’s beetle crop.

Ah June, strawberries on the lips, roses in the hand, cottonwood fairies in the air.
Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero

More Information
Bumble flower beetles: Not your typical grub
“Little brown bumble bees” buzzing around low to the ground are actually beetles that pollinate flowers and decompose organic matter.
Posted on May 9, 2014 by Ben Phillips, Michigan State University Extension

On a farm visit this week for Michigan State University Extension, I was asked to look at a bee infestation around the base of a tree that flared up when a mower came through. Much to my surprise and delight they were not angry wasps or bees, but bumble flower beetles (Euphoria inda).

I had just seen bumble flower beetles in a garden in Cincinnati two weeks previous, visiting flowers and buzzing around the ivy. These beetles are related to other white grub beetles, such as June beetles, Japanese beetles and chafer beetles, but are not a pest of major concern. They are furry with yellowish brown hairs on the front of their backs and undersides, with a mottled gray and brown shell. They are roughly the diameter of a nickel and are unique among beetles in that they do not lift their hard protective shell when flying. This lends them the appearance of a flying rock or clod of dirt.

Bumble Flower beetle.  Photo by J. Berger, Bugwood.org
As grubs, these beetles feed on dead and decaying plant matter. Once they molt into adults, they exhibit very convincing bumble bee behavior and sounds as they search for pollen, nectar, plant sap, fruit juices and mates. Once mated, they lay their eggs around dying vegetation. They can sometimes be found feeding on secondary injuries to trees and herbaceous plants that cause sap flows, and also on over-ripe, damaged or dying fruit and vegetation.

Typically, they are not of economic consequence in crops or turf, and live more of a gleaning lifestyle, taking advantage of damage done by other causes. They do not transfer any known diseases.

The grower was pleased that he did not have to treat and to know that these beetles were likely assisting with nutrient turnover and pollination on his property, and not hurting.
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- Rochester WNF&GA- Garden walk Thursday, June 19, 2014, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm  Rochester Hills Museum, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills.
The Garden Walk is an intimate look at the unique and private gardens in our community. It is co-hosted annually on the third Thursday of June by the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm and the Rochester Garden Club. You are invited to attend a program at 2:00 pm in the newly renovated Calf Barn. Kathy Miller from Fogler’s Greenhouse will present, Creative Container Gardening. This is your opportunity to learn how to spice up your containers with interesting combinations of flowers.
The Open Aire Garden Market will feature vendors on the grounds of the Rochester Hills Museum from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  And don’t miss the Cookie Room in the Dairy Barn for delicious refreshments. Tour tickets can be purchased at the Rochester Hills Museum Dairy Barn Wed-Sat 1:00-4:00 p.m. in advance and on the day of the Garden Tour   - In advance – $10 for Museum members, $12 for non-members, $14 the day of the Tour. Museum Phone: (248) 656.4663

New- Crocker House Garden Walk Saturday, Jun 21, 2014 9am-4pm, Crocker House Museum, Union Street, Mount Clemens, MI,
Sponsored by the By Macomb County Historical Society at Crocker House Museum. Cost is $15.which includes the walk, breakfast & presentation.   More info contact www.crockerhousemuseum.com.

New- Monarch Butterfly Conservation Kickoff Saturday, Jun 21, 2014 1-3pm, Leslie Science & Nature Center, 1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor, MI
Help us develop our "Monarch Waystation" & learn how to create your own.  Register: 734-997-1553.  Cost is $38/family, $11/person.

New- Summer Solstice Concert- Sun., June 22, 3 pm Matthaei Botanical Gardens 1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor
Join us for a free outdoor concert of live music at Matthaei in celebration of the year’s longest day. Headed by local musician and composer Robert Spalding Newcomb. Free.

New- Walking Tour of the Herb Garden, Mon., July 7, 7 pm Matthaei Botanical Gardens 1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor
Description: Presented by Evening Herb Study Group July is a peak month for the Alexandra Hicks Herb Knot Garden at Matthaei. Meet outside in the Gateway Garden prior to 7 pm.  Free

What is Popping in the Ponds?, Sunday, June 29, 2:00 pm Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road, Dryden, MI  (810) 796-3200

Wetland plants will be blooming and birds will be singing on our walk to see what is popping.

Build a Hypertufa Leaf Birdbath, Saturday, July 5, 10:00 am Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road, Dryden, MI  (810) 796-3200

A hypertufa birdbath nestled into a garden space will attract a myriad of bird species. In this class we will learn the process using a real leaf as a mold. Please bring a blanket to cradle your project on the way home and a bag lunch. Please call to preregister for this adult (12 and up) class. Fee $15.00 (members $12.00).

Rose Show Sat, June 14, 1-5 pm,  Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI,

Sponsored by the Grand Valley Rose Society at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.  See a variety of rose blooms--hybrid teas, miniatures, floribundas and old-fashioned types, all locally grown and carefully prepped for this judged show. Vote for the most fragrant rose and see lovely rose arrangements. Grand Valley Rose Society members will be available all weekend to answer your questions and provide growing tips. Anyone can enter roses in this show--a special section will be reserved for "novice" entries. Bring your finest roses (along with their names) to Meijer Gardens on Saturday between 8 am and 10 am. Rose Society members will provide guidance and encouragement.

Fee: Free For more information www.meijergardens.org.

24th Annual Ann Arbor Garden Walk Sat, June 14, 10am-4pm, Ann Arbor, MI,
Winter has been brutal this year, but Spring has arrived, and that means it will be time for Ann Arbor Farm & Garden's 24th Annual Ann Arbor Garden Walk on Saturday, June 14th, from 10 am to 4 pm. We have six unique private gardens lined up in the Ann Arbor Hills area and one public garden at Arbor Hospice.

Waterfalls and ponds; arbors and pergolas; hillside plantings; terracing and hardscaping; evergreen borders and an extensive array of perennials -- all this and more awaits you. Come find the next idea or inspiration for your own green space!

Proceeds from the 2014 Garden Walk will benefit two organizations: Leslie Science & Nature Center (LSNC) and Edible Avalon. At LSNC, Garden Walk funds will support rejuvenation and expansion of the Center’s landscaping using native grasses, plants, and shrubs. These native plantings will provide educational and demonstration opportunities for visitors. Edible Avalon, a non-profit program of Avalon Housing, develops community gardens tended by residents, along with nutrition and health-related programs and youth programs focused on local food and sustainable gardening.

Tickets are on sale now; cost is $15 per person. Tickets can be purchased at any of the gardens on the day of the event, or in advance at these locations: Dixboro General Store, Downtown Home & Garden, Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Nicola's Books. You can also purchase tickets online using PayPal through June 4 (a small handling fee is added to each ticket) For more information  and online tickets www.annarborfarmandgarden.org.

The Lapeer area Horticulture Society is looking for new members.  There are no education or experience requirements to join; only a love of gardening is needed.  The Horticulture Society meets the third Monday of each month for socializing, networking and a brief educational presentation.  Next meeting is at Swoish’s Greenhouse, North Branch, May 19th 6:30 pm.  Everyone is invited to join.  Dues are only $15 a year.  For more information on joining or meeting locations contact Bev Kobylas at bkobylas@yahoo.com

The 3rd Annual Michigan Honey Festival- Saturday, July 12, 2014 10am - 5pm at  The Harvey Kern Pavilion in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Attend educational seminars and learn all you need to start beekeeping! Purchase all your beekeeping supplies from a variety of vendors.  Lots of Michigan honey for sale. Learn how to brew honey beer and mead and attend the many cooking with honey demonstrations.   There is a children’s craft area and a demonstration garden done by Master Gardeners.  Watch a bee beard demonstration.  There will be lots of interesting products to sample and buy made from honey or bee’s wax. 

This year’s festival is all indoors, so no weather worries.  Admission is $5 for adults, children 12 and under free.  More information ? http://www.michiganhoneyfestival.com/contact.html


Master Gardener College (open to public) June 20-21, MSU, East Lansing, MI
This year’s event features exciting full day tours and hands-on workshops on Friday followed by a delicious dinner at the University Club in East Lansing. Saturday features two entertaining and educational keynote speakers, as well as eighteen exciting sessions to choose from in order to feed your mind with science-based gardening knowledge.  And, of course, there will be plenty of buying opportunities.
Key note speaker Charlie Nardozzi will speak on Foodscaping...A Growing Revolution   Almost a third of American households now do some kind of food gardening. While everyone wants  to grow their own food, many are unwilling to give up precious yard space or have their yard, perceivably, look unruly.

You do not have to be a Master Gardener to attend. Re-certified MG get a discount. There is a wide variety of pricing options for this event starting at about $65 for a single workshop to about $200.00 for the 2 day event.  Please go to http://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?folder=mgcollege14  for more information and to register.

You must pre-register. Registration fees are refundable until May 31, 2014, less a $20 cancellation fee. After May 31, refunds are no longer available.  For more information, contact Betsy Braid at 517-884-7081 or braidbet@msu.edu.

Garden Day August 2, 2014, 8 am – 4:15 pm,  Michigan State University Department of Horticulture, East Lansing Mi.


MSU’s annual garden day is on Saturday this year.  The keynote speaker is Amy Stewart, author of Wicked Plants, Flower Confidential, and The Drunken Botanist and other books.  Ms Stewart is also the concluding speaker and you can also stay for a reception after the event where she will discuss the Drunken Botanist. You can choose from a number of excellent workshops/classes, 1 morning and 1 afternoon session. Classes include Herbal housekeeping, Best Herbaceous perennials, Creative Containers, Dividing Perennials, Herbs at Home, Pruning Basics, Gardening in the Shade, Unusual Trees and Shrubs, Creative Edge, and Going Native.

Cost of the event is $85 until July 22nd , $95 after.  Lunch and free parking included. Additional $39 for evening reception.  Go to hrt.msu.edu/garden-day-2014  for class descriptions and to register.


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.



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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