Tuesday, September 30, 2014

September 30, 2014 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter

September 30, 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
Anise hyssop in fall.
I was sure glad to see the rain last night.  Our road was resurfaced with limestone last week and the dust has been terrible.  Clouds of white lime dust have been floating by and settling on all my plants and the lawns.  It made the plants look gray and I’m sure all that lime will wash into the soil and wreak havoc with soil pH.  My soil is already alkaline so that isn’t good.  I’ll need to use acidic fertilizer everywhere next spring.

It’s nice to have freshly resurfaced roads but I don’t know if it’s worth the damage to my lungs, the cars, electronics and the plants.  I am glad the rain has settled the dust for a while at least.

Cooler weather is on the way and since tomorrow is October a hard frost is bound to come soon.  If you haven’t moved in those house plants better jump right on it.  Harvest any remaining tomatoes, peppers and such.  You can wait until frost kills the tops of tender bulbs like cannas, dahlias and glads but do dig them before a hard freeze if you want to save them.  And if you want to save any tender perennials like geraniums get them potted and moved inside soon.

It’s a good time to move perennials that aren’t in the right locations.  You’ll have a good feel for their mature size and how they will fit in the new location.   I spent more than an hour on my belly under a huge Euonymus shrub which had devoured a peony bush complete with its support cage.  I got the notion I would rescue the peony and move it to a new location- something I should have done 2 years ago or so. 

After sweating and cussing for an hour or so, with cats gleefully jumping on me and swatting my hands and face because they thought I was playing some kind of game under there I managed to wrestle the peony and its cage out of the ground.  I can’t even remember what color it was but at least it’s in a new location where it can get some sun.

I found that at  the end of summer I had quite a few plants that needed moving because they were either too crowded or could no longer be seen behind other plants.  In the spring when everything is smaller I may forget how they looked later so I am moving them now.

The hummingbirds have left although I am still seeing turkey vultures.  Migrating flocks of songbirds are moving through my pond area, eating various berries and seeds and making bird watching fun.  Keep your feeders full this time of year to aid them on their journeys and let you see some different birds.

Fall color could come later

I am seeing some pretty trees now but the full show is yet to come as far as color goes.  Whether we have good color this fall or not depends on the weather in the next couple weeks.  We need cool but sunny weather for the best show.

Several studies done in the last few years have found that the trees are getting color later in the fall than in previous times.  Trees use both cold temperatures and decreasing daylight to begin the process of shutting down photosynthesis, which causes tree leaves to change from green to various colors.  Because the climate is warming trees wait until later to begin getting color.

Some tree species are more sensitive to temperature fluctuations than others when it comes to fall coloring.  The further south deciduous trees are the more they respond to cold as a trigger for coloring up too.  Researchers predict that fall color will peak in November rather than October in the Midwest and lower Eastern coast within the next 50 years.

Ember days weather predictions

The ember days in September are supposed to predict the weather for October, November and December.  Let’s see if it holds true.  Sept. 17 was a beautiful sunny mild day which indicates that’s the way our October weather should be.  Sept 19 was also sunny but a bit chillier than normal that’s the weather predicted for November.  The 20th was warmer than normal, muggy and stormy, and that is supposed to indicate our December weather. Time will tell.

Using bees to treat trees

Researchers in Australia have found an environmentally friendly way to deliver a non-toxic treatment to cherry trees that prevents Cherry brown rot, a fungal disease that causes millions of dollars of loss to cherry growers.  They had a good fungus that attacked the bad fungus but no good way to deliver it to the cherry blossoms, which the brown rot fungus colonizes.

The problem was solved by putting bee hives in the orchards with small trays of the good fungus just outside the hive opening.  As bees left the hive their feet and body hairs picked up the good fungus and delivered it to the cherry blossoms they visited.  In Europe similar tactics are being used to help control strawberry gray mold.  Scientists call this novel method of controlling pests “entomovectoring.”  They are working to develop other bio-controls delivered by bees to other fruit crops.  What a great idea- its harmless to the bees by the way- and more orchards will be keeping bee hives on hand to help them out.  Let’s hope we can solve the problems we have in keeping bees healthy too.

That cut grass smell means a plant is hurting

I love the smell of cut grass or hay meadows but it turns out what we smell when we mow grass is the distress signal plants emit when injured.  When plants are attacked they respond by making defense proteins, one of which is jasmonic acid, which volatizes in the air and accounts for part of the “mown grass smell”.

As the plants silently bleed their distress smell draws insects intent on attacking them while they are hurt but it also brings helpful insects intent on feasting or laying their eggs on the harmful ones. So remember that when you mow the grass the smell that drifts in your window is the smell of thousands of bleeding and distressed grass blades.  Kind of makes you want to re-think that whole lawn business doesn’t it?


Chokeberry may help pancreatic cancer

Chokeberry, ( Aronia melanocarpa) is a plant native to the wetlands of Eastern North America but it took some researchers at King's College Hospital and the University of Southampton in England to discover that they could help pancreatic cancer victims. (Aronia has naturalized in Europe and Russia.)

Aronia or Chokeberry.  Credit: commons. wikimedia.org
The researchers added chokeberry extract to a conventional chemotherapy drug gemcitabine and found that it greatly increased the effectiveness of the drug, so that the amount of the drug could be greatly reduced.  And in test tubes chokeberry extract killed cancer cells while not harming healthy cells.  Since pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate finding something that helps destroy it is big news.

Chokeberries (not the same as Chokecherries), are in the rose family. They are sometimes used as ornamentals or actually cultivated for the berries which are high in antioxidants and vitamins.  There is also a very similar species Purple Chokeberry   (Aronia prunifolia) that is found in Michigan and a red berry species, Aronia arbutifolia.  Chokeberries have long been used for making wine and jelly.  They are now being used in juice blends for their unique flavor and high level of antioxidants.

Native Americans used chokeberries to make pemmican, in Europe and Russia the berries are dried and used in teas.  The berries are used to reduce high blood pressure, as a liver tonic, for indigestion and are now being tested in the treatment of several forms of cancer other than pancreatic. The berries are high in niacin and are also being evaluated for cardiovascular benefits.

Aronia makes a decent landscape plant forming a large bush. Black and purple aronias are less invasive than the red berried form but all spread by suckering.  The Chokeberries have clusters of pretty white flowers in the spring followed by black, purple or red berries in late summer and great red fall leaf color. Birds do not eat the fruit very often which is why they are great for late summer to mid-winter color.  There are several commercial varieties on the market.

Fake beetles help stop Emerald Ash Borer

Penn State researchers are using decoy beetles to lure Emerald Ash Borer beetles to a trap that electrocutes them.  They used two methods to make the lures.  In one method they coated dead female beetles with a nickel vapor to make a mold then cast beetles out of plastic using the molds.  These models even mimicked the surface texture of the beetle and were painted metallic green. The second method used a 3D printer to make the fake bugs out of plastic but this method didn’t create a surface texture.

The researchers found that the beetles preferred the molded bugs with texture.  They found that the texture of the beetle shell disperses light in a way live beetles recognize but that might not be seen by human eyes.  This explains why beetles find it easy to spot a green mate sitting on a green leaf.  The beetles aren’t fooled for long by the fakes.  As soon as they touch them they realize they aren’t what they seem.  But if the fake beetles are electrically charged all it takes is that one touch to do them in.  It’s good that Penn State has developed a non-toxic way to destroy these evil beetles.  Maybe they will have more success eliminating them in their state than we did.

Planting spring flowering bulbs

If you ordered your bulbs from a catalog they will begin arriving about late September.  If choosing bulbs from the store look for plump, big, firm bulbs with their papery skin attached.  They should not look shriveled, moldy or soft, or have big cuts or chunks out of them.  They definitely should not be sprouting.

It’s good to get your bulbs into the ground at least six weeks before the ground freezes in your area.   In Michigan this means before Thanksgiving.   This gives the bulbs time to grow a root system.  If you can, plant them as soon as you get them, especially lilies.  If you can’t plant them right away store them in a cool, dark, dry place. Your refrigerator crisper is a good place.

Tulip -'Sunlover"
Bulbs look better in drifts or groups of the same kind.  You can use a few colors, or use a cottage garden approach and blend all colors together.  To prolong the season of bloom start with early blooming bulbs like crocus and then blend tulips, narcissus and alliums that have early, mid-season and late blooms.   If you choose carefully you can have bulbs in bloom from the moment the snow melts to late June and if you include lilies, through much of the summer.

If you are planting a lot of bulbs in a spot where nothing is currently planted you could excavate the whole site to the proper depth.   Many of us, however, will be tucking the bulbs in among plants that are still growing.  This requires a small hole that won’t damage the roots of perennials in the bed. 

The rule of thumb is to put the bulb in the ground about three times as deep as it is high.  A bulb that is one inch high would be planted three inches deep.  Read the directions supplied to you with the bulbs and see if you have an exception to the rule.  You may want to plant the bulbs a little deeper in very sandy soil and a little higher in heavy clay.

In most bulbs there is a narrow or pointed end and that end goes up.  Some small bulbs are extremely difficult to determine which side goes up or down.  As a last resort plant them sideways.  Some bulbs will grow and eventually right themselves if planted on the side. Most bulbs can be planted about four to six inches apart.

You can buy a little bulb fertilizer to put in the holes as you plant if you like.  Don’t use bone meal or blood meal.  These are often recommended by older books but research has found that while they do contribute some nutrients, they often attract pests like squirrels and mice, who also eat the bulbs.  

Squirrels and mice can be the biggest cause of bulb failure.  Moles don’t eat bulbs but their tunneling sometimes gets bulbs down too deeply to grow well or pushed out of the ground.   Cats may also uncover bulbs when using the fresh turned soil as a toilet.  If you are planting into an established garden the existing plants may hide your new bulbs.   If you are planting a bare area you may want to cover the area with some wire fencing to keep animals out. 

Narcissus, daffodils and alliums are seldom eaten by pests.  These bulbs are poisonous though and should be kept out of reach of some less discriminate animals like dogs, which could die from them.  

This weeks weed- Pokeweed

Pokeweed
Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana), is an interesting plant because it is both eaten and poisonous.  It is a native American plant with both ornamental and useful qualities.  It can be found both in gardens and along roadsides and in fields.  Some other common names for the plant include Ink Plant, Pokeberry and American Cancer, (for reasons unknown).

Pokeweed becomes a large plant, up to 6 feet high, with thick, sturdy reddish stems.  It is a perennial plant that dies to the ground each year and forms progressively larger clumps when it returns.  The leaves are thick, long and oval in shape, larger at the base of the plant, and arranged alternately on the stems.  New spring leaves have red veins and may be tinged with red.  The plant has a big, thick taproot.  The impressive size and color of the stems convince many gardeners to plant it for visual interest.

In Michigan Poke begins blooming in July.  The small greenish-white flowers are on long spikes at the top and sometimes on smaller side shoots of the plant.  Each flower turns into a green berry that ripens to purple black.  The juice of the Pokeberries is a deep red.  It will stain hands and clothing and was used by early settlers in place of ink.   Birds love the berries and spread the seeds far and wide.  The plants prefer rich soil and grow in full sun or partial shade.

All parts of the plant are considered poisonous, although few deaths occur from it.  It is the thick succulent shoots of new leaves that are sometimes eaten and known as Poke Salad. These greens must be boiled in at least 2 changes of water to be safe.  Berries are attractive and care should be taken that children don’t eat them. 


It’s chili weather, have you made some?
Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero


More Information
Consider cereal rye if putting your garden to bed for the winter
Cereal rye makes an excellent cover crop for the garden during winter.
Posted on September 26, 2014 by Hal Hudson, Michigan State University Extension
Fall is the time of year when gardeners are cleaning up plant debris from their gardens. One often overlooked practice before closing out the garden for the season is seeding the garden plot to the grain crop rye, Secale cereal, before leaving it until next spring.

The grain crop rye has a number of advantages gardeners need to take into consideration, including being a nutrient catch crop, erosion reducer, fits many rotations, provides plentiful organic matter, suppresses weeds, suppresses pests, and works well in companion crop or legume mixtures.

Rye is one of the best nutrient cover crop choices for gathering and holding (recycling) remaining (unutilized) nitrogen in the soil from previous crops. Rye brings potassium up through the soil profile to increase the concentration of exchangeable potassium near the soil surface. Rye’s fibrous root system increases soil drainage and can help conserve late spring soil moisture. The fibrous root system of rye helps to reduce soil erosion. Rye holds soil loss to a tolerable level from the elements, mainly water and wind.

Rye is an excellent fit for home gardeners as it works in rotation with other garden vegetable crops. Rye works well as a strip cover crop and windbreak between vegetables. In fact, when used in strips between vegetable crops it creates a microclimate warming up the soil quicker so vegetables can grow faster.

Rye produces plentiful organic matter. There are a number of benefits to organic matter, including improved soil structure, increased infiltration and water-holding capacity, increased cation exchange capacity, or the ability of the soil to act as a short-term storage bank for positively charged plant nutrients, and more efficient, long-term storage of nutrients.

Rye has an allelopathic effect on many weeds, meaning it performs like a natural herbicide to inhibit germination of some weeds. Rye is known for outcompeting weeds, especially small-seeded, light-sensitive annuals such as lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, velvetleaf, chickweed and foxtail.

As a pest suppressor, rye reduces insect pest problems in rotations and attracts significant numbers of beneficial insects such as lady beetles. Fewer diseases affect rye compared to other cereal grains.

Rye is an excellent companion crop to mix with other legumes or grasses. Including legumes with rye helps offset rye’s tendency to tie up nitrogen. Rye helps protect less hardy legume seedlings through winter. Some legumes that may be used in combination with rye include hairy vetch, crimson clover, medium red clover and mammoth red clover.

In the spring, rye should be terminated or killed at least 30 days prior to planting of the garden crop by tilling it under or by mowing and tilling it under the soil surface. Due to the allelopathic effect of rye, it could slow the growth of some garden crops if not terminated soon enough prior to transplanting or seeding.

Educational information for this article is from “Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd edition,” Handbook Series Book 9, a publication by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). This publication is available for purchase or free download online.

For more information from Michigan State University Extension on consumer or commercial vegetable production, contact Hal Hudson at 989-672-3870 or hudsonh@anr.msu.edu.

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.

New- The World of Cactus & Succulents Wed, October 8, 11:45 at Big Beaver United Methodist Church, 3753 John R Rd, Troy, MI

Sponsored by the Troy Garden Club and presented by Kerry Krivoshein. Cost $7. For more information contact www.TroyGardenClubMI.com.  Register: infoandideas@aol.com.

New- Seasonal Interest in Your Garden Sat, October 11, 9am-1pm - Oakland Co. Exec. Office 2100 Pontiac Lake Rd, Waterford Township,  

Presented by MSU Extension-Oakland. Explore plants that add interest throughout the year. Cost $20 Register: 248-858-08

New-Backyard Gardener: Tree Fruit Workshop October 13, 2014, 5-9 p.m. Fruitful Orchard & Cider Mill, 5740 W M-61, Gladwin, MI

Are you a backyard gardener? Do you need help with the fruit trees in your backyard?
Join us for a fun, hands-on workshop for any backyard gardener with fruit trees! Participants will learn about the selection, planting, care, pruning, and protection of tree fruits from insects and diseases.
This workshop will take place in two locations. Beginning at 5 p.m., Fruitful Orchard & Cider Mill on 5740 W M-61 in Gladwin, MI 48624 will host a live pruning demonstration. Then at 6 p.m., participants will travel to the Gladwin County MSU Extension office at 555 W Cedar Ave. in Gladwin, MI 48624 for classroom instruction using the new MSU Extension Master Gardener Chapter on Tree Fruits.
Workshop will be held rain or shine so dress appropriate for the weather that day!
Presenter: Steve Fouch, co-owner of L&S Tree Health Care Services, brings with him 32 years of experience and knowledge as a retired Michigan State University horticulturalist and educator.
Registration fee is $20 per person. The last day to register online is Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014. On-site registration is available at $30.00 per person.
Please visit the Backyard Gardener: Tree Fruit Workshop registration page for more information. http://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?folder=GladwinTreeFruits2014 Or contact: Marybeth Denton, 989-539-7805, Denton.Marybeth@anr.msu.edu.


Smart Gardening Roadshow, October 16, 2014 5:30 - 9 p.m., Kettunen Center, 14901 4-H Drive, Tustin, MI 49688

Two classes in one night! Bright and colorful gardens using native plants in garden designs for eco-friendly gardening! Join Consumer Horticulture Educators Mary Wilson and Rebecca Finneran from Michigan State University Extension for an evening of fun! Bring your gardening friends, neighbors and spouse to learn the latest in Smart Gardening!

Greening the Garden… A Smart Gardener’s Journey
If you love plants and garden design, but find yourself making resolutions to “green your garden,” don’t assume that all things beautiful must be put out to pasture. During Finneran’s presentation, you will get ideas for plants and design that are water smart, pest free and low input!

Native Trees and Shrubs with Bling!
There are many reasons you might want native plants in your garden, yet a common perception is that they are drab and boring. Not so, as we’ll learn from Mary Wilson. Mary will share some of her favorites, both native species and their cultivars, for a bright and colorful garden in various seasons. No longer the step-children of the plant world, but those with attitude and bling!

Registration fee is $25.00 by Oct. 9, 2014. No refunds will be made after this date, but substitutions are welcome! On-site Registration is $35.00.   Contact: Marybeth Denton: Denton.Marybeth@anr.msu.edu, 989-539-7805


Genesee County Master Gardeners Fall into Spring Conference Saturday, October 4, 2014 - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm- Mott Community College Events Center, 1401 E. Court Street, Flint, MI 48503

Fall Into Spring - what a wonderful way to experience tips and ideas to create a beautiful garden for next year. October 4th will be a fun-filled, inspirational day full of ideas and guidelines to aid the gardener from the basic to the most experienced.

The Garden Market will include MG Garden Stones, garden art, herbal products, and gardening supplies. Please bring CASH or CHECKS for your purchases. Speakers and Topics are subject to change. Open to Master Gardener Volunteers and the general public. Master Gardener Volunteers will earn 5 hours of education credit

Registration is $65.00 by September 26th. Registration after September 26th will be $70.00. REGISTER EARLY AND AVOID AN ADDITIONAL $5.00 FEE.  Make checks payable to: MGAGCM

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Download the registration trifold flyer at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByaD3jouRMNReFhKRnpYal9xdVk/edit?usp=sharing

Mail Registration To:
Genesee County Master Gardeners Fall into Spring Conference
PO Box 34
Flushing, MI 48433
Phone: (810) 244-8531

Cottage to Commercial: Ingredients for a successful food business- Several locations and dates
Michigan State University Extension and MSU Product Center Educators will conduct four food business planning classes September through November in Berrien, Muskegon, Ingham and Kent County, Michigan locations.
The two-hour session addresses basic food processing, regulatory requirements, business development resources, and related topics. The program targets individuals who are interested in starting a licensed, commercial food business.
The Niles session will be held 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the Niles Entrepreneur & Culinary Incubator (NECI) 219 North 4th Street/2nd Floor, Niles, MI 49120. NECI, a program of Niles Main Street, is designed to help local entrepreneurs start and grow food businesses. There is a $25 fee. Make checks payable to Niles Main Street, and mail to 333 N 2nd Street Suite 303, Niles, MI 49120 by the deadline of Sept.26, 2014. For more information call NECI at 269-687-4332.
The Muskegon session will be held 3:00-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the Muskegon County (South Campus) Building, 133 E. Apple Avenue, Muskegon, Michigan 49442. The fee is $20, and registration is available online  through Sept. 26. For more information, call 269-944-4126.
The Ingham County program will be held 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2014 at the Hilliard Building, Conf. Room B, 121 E. Maple, Mason, MI 48854. The fee is $20, and registration is available online through the Oct. 10. For details, call 517-526-7895.
The Kent County session is scheduled for 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014 at Kent County MSU Extension 775 Ball Ave. N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The fee is $20 per person, and registration is available online through Nov. 4, 2014.
The MSU Product Center helps aspiring entrepreneurs and existing businesses to develop and launch new product and service ideas into food, agriculture, bioenergy and natural resources markets. A statewide network of Innovation Counselors is available to counsel individuals interested in starting related business ventures. Last year the MSU Product Center assisted 647 clients with business planning.
Those who are unable to attend one of the offerings are invited to request counseling with a field- based MSU Product Center innovation counselor at www.productcenter.msu.edu , or by phone at 517-432-8750 This article was published by Michigan State University Extension.

Grow it! Cook it! Eat it! Workshop, Oct. 1 or Nov. 12. MSU Extension Ingham County Lansing Office and MSU Extension – Livingston County

Learn how to grow, store and prepare a variety of fresh vegetables by attending one or all of these mid-Michigan workshops.
Posted on August 12, 2014 by Diane Brown, Michigan State University Extension

Home vegetable gardening is once again popular. In addition to vegetables you grow yourself, a bounty of beautiful produce awaits at farmer’s markets and from community supported agriculture (CSAs). But do you know the best varieties to select for your home garden? Do you know how to tell when a vegetable is ready to harvest, or what to look for at the market? How to store them? How to cook them? Get answers to these questions and more during a series of three Grow it! Cook it! Eat it! workshops from Michigan State University Extension designed to help you make the most of fresh garden vegetables. Cost: $20 for one session/$50 for all three.

Oct. 1, 2014, 6-8 p.m.  Root for the Root Vegetables – beets, carrots, kohlrabi, parsnips, potatoes, rutabaga, sweet potatoes, turnips
Location: MSU Extension – Livingston County, 2300 East Grand River,Howell, MI 48843
Nov. 12, 2014, 6-8 p.m. Pumpkins and Their Kin – winter squash and pumpkins Location: MSU Extension Ingham County Lansing Office, 5303 S. Cedar St., Lansing, MI 48911
Register online for these exciting workshops, and save $10 over individual workshop pricing when you register early for all three events. Contact the Ingham County MSU Extension office at 517-676-7207 for more information.


UP Smart Gardening Conference, Oct. 4  Learn to create edible landscapes, Ramada Inn, 412 W. Washington St., Marquette, MI

Gardening enthusiasts and those interested in learning more about this type of gardening should consider attending this year’s UP Smart Gardening Conference – Edible Landscaping with Smart Gardening on Oct. 4. This is a one-day conference full of great speakers, a garden marketplace, door prizes and lunch. The early bird registration fee is good until Aug. 30. Plan now to attend and avoid a fee increase. Register online for the early bird reduced fee. http://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?folder=UPSmartGardeningConference

Cost: Early registration fee of $60.00 per participant by August 29th Late registration fee of $70.00 from Aug. 30th to Oct. 2nd . Walk in registration fee of $80.00 (Includes lunch, refreshments, door prizes, handouts)

Kent/MSU Extension Grand Ideas Garden 10th anniversary celebration Saturday, October 4at 5:00pm 775 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

WOW!! Ten Years Old!! Join the merriment and celebration of the tenth anniversary of the MSU Extension Grand Ideas Garden at our annual fund raising auction!  Open to everyone-bring your friends. Auction items include new plants, garden tools and gadgets, beautiful local art, pottery, services and so much more.

This event is sure to please with great food, live music and “competitively fun” bidding. Get involved in the bidding excitement as we raise money to support the ongoing mission of the Grand Ideas Garden—one of Kent County’s hidden treasures!


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, September 23, 2014

September 23, 2014 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter

September 23, 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
Maximilian sunflower blooms late and is good bee food.

Today is the first full day of fall and what a beautiful fall day it is.  The only thing that could make it better is to get rid of the trucks dumping limestone on the road in front of the house.  I hate that beeping noise they make when they back up.  But maybe the roads will be better for a while.  Today sure beats the weekend weather- we had 1 & 2/10 inch of rain this weekend.

In the garden I have hardy hibiscus, sweet autumn clematis, mums, sedum, Echinacea, buddleia, and landscape roses in bloom.  The dahlias are still blooming despite 32 degree temps last week on one evening. The fields are filled with asters both blue and white.  Maximilian or swamp sunflowers are starting to bloom.

The hummingbirds and turkey vultures are still around, so I guess mild weather may stick around a bit longer.  I have a little chipmunk that has moved under our new deck and he has been real busy picking up acorns from the driveway.  I suspect the space under the deck will soon be filled with them.  He pays no attention to me outside and I wonder how he has escaped the cats so far.

We had to go to Saginaw last Wednesday, which was a beautiful day like today.  The drive through the Saginaw valley was pretty, even though the trees haven’t got much color yet.  Everyone had pumpkins out front for sale it seemed.  Sugar beets are being harvested.  We took a side trip to look at the windmills up near Reese.  We got really close to one in a cornfield right close to the road.   We were probably 30 feet away and the windmill was working.  I rolled down the window and could hear nothing but corn rustling in the wind.  I don’t know why people say they are noisy.  I think the white windmills strung across miles of corn and soybean fields are quite pretty. 

Moving your houseplants inside

I have moved most of my houseplants back inside.  Now that many nights are 40 degrees or less most tropical should be brought inside.  Some hardier things, geraniums, spider plants, rosemary, potted citrus can take the cold a little longer but do cover them if a frost is predicted.  If a hard frost or freeze is predicted they should be brought inside. 

The 32 degree weather we had last week was brief, it only lasted an hour or two before clouds rolled in and warmed things up. But had I known it was going that low I probably would have brought all the plants in.  I covered a lot of things with old sheets that evening and everything was fine.

When you cover things to extend the season a bit use cloth or paper not plastic, unless you make sure the plastic is supported so it doesn’t touch the plants.  If plastic is touching plants they will often be damaged there in a frost.  You can cover things like petunias and marigolds to keep them blooming longer.

If summer has caused a growth spurt in your houseplants you may need to repot them before they are brought inside.  If they have insects or scale you want to treat do it before you bring them inside.  Check pots for holes chewed in them near the bottom before you bring them inside.  Mice sometimes establish homes inside large pots and they are really happy when you carry the pot inside.  If you are suspicious dump the soil out of the pot and repot the plant before bringing it inside.

The Rex Begonias did very well outside this year, I have heard that from several people and I know mine are beautiful.  They will stay beautiful inside all winter in a sunny window. However my tuberous begonias pooped out early this year.  I am going to cut the stems back and store the pots inside on the porch.  I do the same with pineapple lilies (Ecomis).  They overwinter in the pots in a dormant state then in the spring I begin watering and fertilizing and have new gorgeous plants.

Best trees for fall color in Michigan

Maples
One of the selling points for Michigan tourism is our beautiful fall show of fall color.  With our mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees our roads and fields are lined with beautiful scenery every fall.  If you want to extend that fall color to your Michigan landscape there are some great trees you can plant.  The list of trees below will give you some of the best.

Sugar maple is one of the greatest trees for color in Michigan.  The fall color can vary from brilliant red to golden.  They are great shade trees also and of course- can be used to make maple syrup.  Other maples also provide color- there are dozens of maples and most are colorful in the fall.  Red maples are commonly called swamp maples and have good red color.  They are the tree most red landscape maples are bred from.  Amur maples are small and more shrub-like and also have good red fall color.  Many Japanese maples have good fall color.

Some maples don’t make good “yard trees” however.  Silver maple and the box elder are two examples of weak wood and weedy growth in the maple family.  Specially bred strains of maple such as ‘Autumn Blaze’ can provide wonderful color and are good landscape choices.


Sassafras is a unique tree with leaves that vary tremendously in shape, all on the same tree.  The mitten shaped leaves make it a good tree for us here in the mitten shaped state.  Color is striking shades of orange and yellow to red.  The bark and twigs of sassafras have a pleasant taste and are used in beverages and other edibles.

Shagbark hickories provide nuts for wildlife as well as beautiful golden yellow fall foliage.  They are slow growing; buying a grafted tree from a nursery will insure better color and faster growth.

Northern Red oak and Pin oak are two oak trees that generally have good fall color in the red range.  Most other oaks have less spectacular color, often tan or brown.  Oaks turn color later than Maples and extend the fall color show.

Ginko bilboa trees are not native but their fan shaped leaves turn a pretty golden yellow in the fall. Katsura trees have apricot colored fall foliage that as it starts to fall leaves behind a cotton candy or caramel smell on the air. 

Redbud trees not only put on a pretty show in the spring with their lavender pink flowers but have excellent yellow fall color on a small tree.  Kousa dogwood are small trees with pretty white spring flowers and purple - red fall color.

Black Gums are not trees for small yards.  They get huge and have small blue fruits that are loved by birds in the fall as well as fall color in shades of yellow, red and purple, often on the same tree. American sweet gums are also large trees with color from orange to purple.

Shrubs that have good fall color are of course Euonymus, Burning bush- scarlet, cotoneaster - red, blueberries- red, grey dogwood- red, Sumac- yellow, orange and red,   Oak leaf hydrangea - red, yellow and purple, and barberry - red.

Trees like aspen and poplar provide good yellow fall color but aren’t very desirable as landscape trees.  They often lose their leaves before much of a color show is obtained.

There are many other non- native and native trees with interesting fall color.  Because fall color can vary from tree to tree within the same species if a certain color is important to your landscape scheme pick out the tree in the nursery in the fall - when it is showing its colors.  Weather can have an effect, but weather doesn’t change tree color from yellow to red.  Remember that it is the nature of some trees however, to have a color assortment on each tree.

Cacti as house plants

Winter is coming and it’s time to think about houseplants, and you know by now that I think every home needs houseplants.  If you fail with other types of plants because you forget to water them or you keep your home warm and dry maybe you should try some cactiCacti are succulents but all succulents are not cacti.  The difference is hard to define but in this article we are discussing those cacti with “spines” that generally come from desert areas.
Pincushion cactus.  commons.wikipedia.org

Any species of cacti can be grown indoors but smaller varieties are usually offered as house plants.  Greenhouses are now offering a good selection of cacti and succulents and they can be ordered by mail from catalogs.  Here are some good cacti to use as houseplants.

Pincushion cacti have several species but most are round in shape with flowers appearing in a ring at the top.  They have clusters of fine whitish looking needles with one darker, larger needle in the center of the cluster. Ball cacti are great for those who don’t have a real sunny window.  They do just fine in good light but don’t need direct sun.  They are oblong or football shape rather than round and have deep segments running top to bottom.  The ridge on each segment has a line of yellowish fine spines.

Fairy castle (Cereus tetragonus) and Peruvian apple (Cereus peruvianus) are cacti that form tall spikes for vertical accents.  They sometimes produce side “branches”.  Both bloom fairly easily with spiky colorful blooms appearing at the top of stems.  Bunny Ears (Opuntia sp.) have big flat round segments, (more like mouse ears) covered with dots consisting of clusters of fine reddish needles.  You won’t want to get these needles in your hands because they are very irritating and hard to remove without a magnifying glass and fine tweezers.  Bunny ears can make large clumps in a good location.
Bunny ears (Opuntia) wikipedia.com

Many cacti offered as house plants come with tiny dried strawflowers stuck in them and people think they are blooming.  The true flowers are much more beautiful but harder to achieve indoors.  But with a little care you can enjoy the flowers of cacti and some are quite spectacular.

Cacti need a sunny window, preferably with southern exposure or strong artificial light.  Most cacti are slow growing inside, which is generally a good thing.  Pots for cacti should be quick draining, clay pots allow moisture to escape through the walls as well as the bottom. Use a potting soil especially designed for cacti or mix regular potting soil and sand in equal parts.  Some cacti become top heavy for their shallow root system and tend to tip over and expose the roots.  A few stones on the top of the soil may help prevent this.  Don’t use too large of a pot for cacti as this encourages over-watering.

Cacti do need water, although they should be allowed to dry out between watering.   In fall and winter they become semi-dormant, especially if in a cool environment.  They need very little water at this time.  When the days begin to get longer in spring, you will need to water more frequently.  The extra watering and a weak fertilizer low in nitrogen may encourage blooming.

Place your cacti where you will not regularly brush against it or where small fingers cannot touch it.  If the spines get in the skin they often are very painful and can get infected.  A piece of tape placed over the spine can often pull it out.  You may want to handle the cacti with tongs or stiff paper wrapped around it when re-potting or working with the plant.

Eating fruits and veggies makes your skin prettier

Red, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables contain carotenoids, and those carotenoids color the skin of those who eat them in a pleasing manner.  Researchers asked people to judge how attractive the skin of people who had a high carotenoid level was in comparison to people who had skin colored primarily from melanin, the pigment our bodies make from sun exposure.  In almost all cases people found the skin colored by carotenoids was more attractive.

The moral is skip the tanning bed and eat more carrots.  This research was published in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology

Let’s feed oranges to cows

Feeding oranges and other citrus fruit to cows, pigs and chickens may soon become one of the green and safe ways to combat food borne illness.  Animals shed salmonella and other organisms in their feces and no matter how careful we try to be when butchering animals some of those organisms may remain behind and can cause bouts of food borne illness that sicken millions of American each year.  Recent research has found that feeding citrus peel and pulp to animals significantly lowers the number of harmful bacteria in their gut without affecting the helpful bacteria they need to efficiently digest their food.

The way farmers have conventionally tried to reduce the number of “bad” organisms in animals has been to feed them antibiotics.  In recent years we have come to understand that this may be causing strains of bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics and this could have serious consequences for human health.  Animal rights movements and human health advocates have been clamoring for laws against the feeding of antibiotics to animals as disease preventatives and growth enhancement aids.

Scientists have been busy searching for alternatives to antibiotics that would keep animals growing and healthy but not contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria and pollution of our land and water.   Microbiologist Todd R. Callaway and animal scientist Tom S. Edrington, with the Food and Feed Safety Research Unit in College Station, Texas; ARS animal scientist and research leader Jeffery Carroll with the Livestock Issues Research Unit in Lubbock, Texas; and John Arthington at the University of Florida in Ona took on the challenge in a different way.

These researchers knew that oils from citrus had long been used for cleaning and were known to deter pests, and kill many types of viruses and bacteria.  They are relatively non-toxic and the researchers decided to feed the left over peels and pulp from citrus processing plants to cattle and pigs to see what would happen.

While people find citrus peel rather bitter and not very tasty the animals seemed to enjoy them.  They readily ate the leftovers without having to be coaxed.  And the researchers found that not only did the citrus waste provide vitamins and roughage for the animals, they also did what researchers hoped- they reduced the amount of harmful bacteria in the guts of animals without harming the good bacteria animals need to digest food.

When there is less harmful bacteria produced and shed by animals there are fewer chances for bacteria to contaminate food and cause illness.   While total elimination of harmful bacteria like salmonella is probably impossible, reducing the numbers substantially goes a long way toward safer food.

Further research both in the field and in the lab have shown very promising results. Collaborations with University of Arkansas-Fayetteville researchers Steven Ricke and Philip Crandall have identified specific essential oils that kill pathogenic bacteria.   Microbiologist Calloway is studying ways to make citrus waste into lightweight pellets so that farms away from citrus producing areas can share in the benefits of feeding citrus to their animals.

Natural solutions to problems are a win-win situation for all.  Citrus producers get another source of income from a waste product, which they will no longer have to find a way to dispose of.  Animals get a tasty and nutritious feed supplement that keeps harmful bacteria from causing digestive and other problems.  Livestock producers get a reasonably priced, all natural alternative to antibiotics that food critics approve of.  And people will have a reduced chance of getting food borne diseases without worrying that those organisms are developing resistance to life saving antibiotics. 



This week’s weed- New England Aster 

New England Aster, ( Aster novae-angliae), spreads its pretty purple flowers along sunny roadsides and in fields in late summer and fall.  It often grows in the same areas as Goldenrod, producing a stunning color combination gardeners often imitate.  In fact, cultivars of both plants are available for gardeners to use in gardens for fall color.
New England Aster

New England asters are perennial plants that die to the ground each winter.  The stems are stiff and hairy and feel sticky to the touch.  The long dark green leaves seem to clasp the stems at their base.  The plants grow to 5 or more feet in ideal conditions but generally range from 2-3 feet high.

New England Asters have clusters of small purple daisy-like flowers with yellow centers.  The flowers range from 1-2 inches wide depending on growing conditions and individual plant characteristics.  In Michigan they start blooming in late August and continue until a hard frost.  They prefer sunny, moist areas.

New England Asters are excellent plants for native plant gardens and even for more conventional gardens to bring late fall color.  They also make good cut flowers.

It’s time for a fall nature hike!
Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero


More Information
Colorful stems, bright green leaves and a powerhouse of nutrients
Swiss chard is a vegetable “star” with its impressive list of health promoting nutrients.
Posted on September 2, 2014 by Eileen Haraminac, Michigan State University Extension

A vegetable that has become popular and is very nutrient dense is Swiss chard. Chard is a tall, leafy green vegetable commonly referred to as “Swiss chard.” It belongs to the same family as beets and spinach, sharing a similar taste profile with a bitter, pungent and slightly salty flavor.

Chard
Swiss chard is truly one of the vegetable “stars” with its exceptionally impressive list of health promoting nutrients. Chard is an excellent vegetable source for vitamin K; four ounces provides about 700 percent of recommended intake. Vitamin K has a potential role in bone health by promoting bone formation and strengthening activity. Adequate vitamin K levels in the diet help limit neuronal damage in the brain. It is also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids; vitamin A and flavonoids, anti-oxidants such as carotene, lutein and zea-xanthin. Carotenes convert to vitamin A inside the body.

Michigan State University Extension recommends chard’s at its peak season, when it is at its best and in the greatest abundance at your local market, ranging from June through September. Swiss chard, along with kale, mustard greens and collard greens is one of several leafy green vegetables often referred to as “greens.” It is a tall leafy green vegetable with a thick, crunchy stalk that comes in white, red or yellow with wide fan-like green leaves. Choose chard that has leaves that are vivid green in color and that do not display any browning or yellowing. The leaves should not be wilted nor should they have tiny holes. The stalks should look crisp and be unblemished.

Do not wash Swiss chard before storing as the exposure to water encourages spoilage. Place chard in a plastic storage bag and wrap the bag tightly around the chard, squeezing out as much of the air from the bag as possible. Place in the refrigerator where it will stay fresh for up to five days.

United States Department of Agriculture offers information and recipes for cooking greens from the SNAP-Ed Connection Recipe Finder database. Here is a quick and easy recipe for you and your family to enjoy.

Swiss Chard Salad with Cranberries, Almonds and Feta
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 bunch rainbow chard
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
Fresh ground black pepper
12 breakfast radishes, thinly sliced
1 shallot, minced
1/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries
1/4 cup almonds, toasted
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 bunch parsley, chiffonade
1 avocado

Directions
Wash the chard well and spin dry. Thinly slice, taking special care to slice the ribs particularly thin.
Add the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper to the chard. Massage well for about 15 seconds.
Add the radishes, shallot, cranberries, almonds, feta, parsley and avocado. Toss lightly to combine.
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.


Free- Free- Roosters-  2 banty roosters- one purebred Golden Sebright, one Sebright-Porcelain cross and one full size rooster- Ameraucana    have a few banty hens for sale also. Write Kim for more information Kimwillis151@gmail.com


Smart Gardening Roadshow, October 16, 2014 5:30 - 9 p.m., Kettunen Center, 14901 4-H Drive, Tustin, MI 49688

Two classes in one night! Bright and colorful gardens using native plants in garden designs for eco-friendly gardening! Join Consumer Horticulture Educators Mary Wilson and Rebecca Finneran from Michigan State University Extension for an evening of fun! Bring your gardening friends, neighbors and spouse to learn the latest in Smart Gardening!

Greening the Garden… A Smart Gardener’s Journey
If you love plants and garden design, but find yourself making resolutions to “green your garden,” don’t assume that all things beautiful must be put out to pasture. During Finneran’s presentation, you will get ideas for plants and design that are water smart, pest free and low input!

Native Trees and Shrubs with Bling!
There are many reasons you might want native plants in your garden, yet a common perception is that they are drab and boring. Not so, as we’ll learn from Mary Wilson. Mary will share some of her favorites, both native species and their cultivars, for a bright and colorful garden in various seasons. No longer the step-children of the plant world, but those with attitude and bling!

Registration fee is $25.00 by Oct. 9, 2014. No refunds will be made after this date, but substitutions are welcome! On-site Registration is $35.00.   Contact: Marybeth Denton: Denton.Marybeth@anr.msu.edu, 989-539-7805

Flint River Wild Ones September Event -Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 2:30PM - 4:30PM at For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum, 2142 N. Genesee Road, Burton, MI
Discussion: Viewing of Urban & Suburban Meadows - Bringing Meadowscaping to Big & Small Spaces Companion DVD (Total Running Time: 60 Minutes) is an enticing introduction to meadowscaping. Author and photographer, Catherine Zimmerman, combines her expertise in photography, storytelling, environmental issues, horticulture and organic practices to offer meadowscaping as an alternative to reduce monoculture lawns.
Please RSVP to Melville Kennedy at (810) 275-8822 (leave message) or via email at mkennedy60@charter.net.

Genesee County Master Gardeners Fall into Spring Conference Saturday, October 4, 2014 - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm- Mott Community College Events Center, 1401 E. Court Street, Flint, MI 48503

Fall Into Spring - what a wonderful way to experience tips and ideas to create a beautiful garden for next year. October 4th will be a fun-filled, inspirational day full of ideas and guidelines to aid the gardener from the basic to the most experienced.

The Garden Market will include MG Garden Stones, garden art, herbal products, and gardening supplies. Please bring CASH or CHECKS for your purchases. Speakers and Topics are subject to change. Open to Master Gardener Volunteers and the general public. Master Gardener Volunteers will earn 5 hours of education credit

Registration is $65.00 by September 26th. Registration after September 26th will be $70.00. REGISTER EARLY AND AVOID AN ADDITIONAL $5.00 FEE.  Make checks payable to: MGAGCM

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Download the registration trifold flyer at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByaD3jouRMNReFhKRnpYal9xdVk/edit?usp=sharing

Mail Registration To:
Genesee County Master Gardeners Fall into Spring Conference
PO Box 34
Flushing, MI 48433
Phone: (810) 244-8531

Cottage to Commercial: Ingredients for a successful food business- Several locations and dates
Michigan State University Extension and MSU Product Center Educators will conduct four food business planning classes September through November in Berrien, Muskegon, Ingham and Kent County, Michigan locations.
The two-hour session addresses basic food processing, regulatory requirements, business development resources, and related topics. The program targets individuals who are interested in starting a licensed, commercial food business.
The Niles session will be held 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the Niles Entrepreneur & Culinary Incubator (NECI) 219 North 4th Street/2nd Floor, Niles, MI 49120. NECI, a program of Niles Main Street, is designed to help local entrepreneurs start and grow food businesses. There is a $25 fee. Make checks payable to Niles Main Street, and mail to 333 N 2nd Street Suite 303, Niles, MI 49120 by the deadline of Sept.26, 2014. For more information call NECI at 269-687-4332.
The Muskegon session will be held 3:00-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the Muskegon County (South Campus) Building, 133 E. Apple Avenue, Muskegon, Michigan 49442. The fee is $20, and registration is available online  through Sept. 26. For more information, call 269-944-4126.
The Ingham County program will be held 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2014 at the Hilliard Building, Conf. Room B, 121 E. Maple, Mason, MI 48854. The fee is $20, and registration is available online through the Oct. 10. For details, call 517-526-7895.
The Kent County session is scheduled for 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014 at Kent County MSU Extension 775 Ball Ave. N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The fee is $20 per person, and registration is available online through Nov. 4, 2014.
The MSU Product Center helps aspiring entrepreneurs and existing businesses to develop and launch new product and service ideas into food, agriculture, bioenergy and natural resources markets. A statewide network of Innovation Counselors is available to counsel individuals interested in starting related business ventures. Last year the MSU Product Center assisted 647 clients with business planning.
Those who are unable to attend one of the offerings are invited to request counseling with a field- based MSU Product Center innovation counselor at www.productcenter.msu.edu , or by phone at 517-432-8750 This article was published by Michigan State University Extension.


Workshops for the Garden, Saturday, September 27, Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road, Dryden, MI 

We are offering two projects to enhance your garden. Sign up for just one or, bring a lunch and join us for both workshops. Each workshop is limited to 10 participants. Must pre-register by September 23. To register call 1-810-796-3200

Introduction to Rain Barrels: A Make It and Take It Workshop
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Learn all about rain barrels and their importance to water conservation with Karen Page, owner and Environmental Educator of Back Track to Nature. Not only will you learn but will also have the opportunity to make your own barrel. All supplies are included. Fee: $70.00.

Build a Backyard Hypertufa Water Feature
1:00 to 3:00 pm
Using 10″ leaves as a mold; we will create a lovely container to hold water for toads, insects and more. This small water bath will provide habitat and beauty to your garden. Fee: $15.00 (members $12.00).

Grow it! Cook it! Eat it! Workshop, Oct. 1 or Nov. 12. MSU Extension Ingham County Lansing Office and MSU Extension – Livingston County

Learn how to grow, store and prepare a variety of fresh vegetables by attending one or all of these mid-Michigan workshops.
Posted on August 12, 2014 by Diane Brown, Michigan State University Extension

Home vegetable gardening is once again popular. In addition to vegetables you grow yourself, a bounty of beautiful produce awaits at farmer’s markets and from community supported agriculture (CSAs). But do you know the best varieties to select for your home garden? Do you know how to tell when a vegetable is ready to harvest, or what to look for at the market? How to store them? How to cook them? Get answers to these questions and more during a series of three Grow it! Cook it! Eat it! workshops from Michigan State University Extension designed to help you make the most of fresh garden vegetables. Cost: $20 for one session/$50 for all three.

Oct. 1, 2014, 6-8 p.m.  Root for the Root Vegetables – beets, carrots, kohlrabi, parsnips, potatoes, rutabaga, sweet potatoes, turnips
Location: MSU Extension – Livingston County, 2300 East Grand River,Howell, MI 48843
Nov. 12, 2014, 6-8 p.m.Pumpkins and Their Kin – winter squash and pumpkins Location: MSU Extension Ingham County Lansing Office, 5303 S. Cedar St., Lansing, MI 48911
Register online for these exciting workshops, and save $10 over individual workshop pricing when you register early for all three events. Contact the Ingham County MSU Extension office at 517-676-7207 for more information.


Advance Garden Design 4-5-6 September 13, 2014 - September 27, 2014 9:00am-1:00pm Oakland County Executive Office Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, 41W, Waterford, MI

This workshop is $125. The fee includes light morning refreshments each day and instructional handouts. There will be a wide variety of design exercises and a recommended garden design book list and web site used in formal and informal gardens. During this workshop, participants will develop skills in the layout of garden beds and small landscape areas using the principles of floral harmony, balance and color. The workshop takes the participants through a successive series of training stages, from simple to advanced garden design planning techniques. This is a comprehensive training class for advanced level gardeners who are interested in learning to expand their garden design skills. It is recommended that you have taken Garden Design 1-2-3 or have other garden design class experience and understand of design concepts of plant layering, spatial balance and axial symmetry. Master Gardeners will receive credit for twelve education hours for attending this 3 day workshop. Contact Linda Smith at 248-858-0887

UP Smart Gardening Conference, Oct. 4  Learn to create edible landscapes, Ramada Inn, 412 W. Washington St., Marquette, MI

Gardening enthusiasts and those interested in learning more about this type of gardening should consider attending this year’s UP Smart Gardening Conference – Edible Landscaping with Smart Gardening on Oct. 4. This is a one-day conference full of great speakers, a garden marketplace, door prizes and lunch. The early bird registration fee is good until Aug. 30. Plan now to attend and avoid a fee increase. Register online for the early bird reduced fee. http://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?folder=UPSmartGardeningConference

Cost: Early registration fee of $60.00 per participant by August 29th Late registration fee of $70.00 from Aug. 30th to Oct. 2nd . Walk in registration fee of $80.00 (Includes lunch, refreshments, door prizes, handouts)

Kent/MSU Extension Grand Ideas Garden 10th anniversary celebration Saturday, October 4at 5:00pm 775 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

WOW!! Ten Years Old!! Join the merriment and celebration of the tenth anniversary of the MSU Extension Grand Ideas Garden at our annual fund raising auction!  Open to everyone-bring your friends. Auction items include new plants, garden tools and gadgets, beautiful local art, pottery, services and so much more.

This event is sure to please with great food, live music and “competitively fun” bidding. Get involved in the bidding excitement as we raise money to support the ongoing mission of the Grand Ideas Garden—one of Kent County’s hidden treasures!


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