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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

September 16, 2014 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter


September 16, 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

Rex Begonia in the Rain


I am hopeful that the fog will lift and leave us with some sun today.  I can take chilly temperatures but I need sunshine.  We just skipped frost Saturday night; the clouds coming in saved us, although it got down to 38 here.  I covered some plants just in case but I am glad it was for only one night.  Temperatures are supposed to slowly get back to normal through the next few days.

I was sitting outside Saturday evening for the hour or two of sun that we got that day, after covering my plants in case of frost.  It started getting dark but the hummingbirds still kept coming to the feeder along with honey bees and yellow jackets. I guess they had to fuel up before the cold night. It was nearly 8 pm before the hummingbirds left and when I went inside the bees were still at it. I’m surprised the hummers haven’t left for warmer places.  Please keep your hummingbird feeders full so they can survive this chilly weather.

People are starting to call this the year without summer but it has been nothing like the year 1816 which held that title before this year.  In 1816 there was a volcano in the Dutch East Indies over the winter and a red fog settled over the northern US, Canada, Northern Europe and China for much of the spring and summer. The fog reflected the sun and kept things very cool most of the year. There was ice on the lakes of Pennsylvania in July and August and there was a killing frost each month that year.  There was snow and frozen ground in upper New England in June.

Crops failed all through the north latitudes and thousands died.  While the weather was fairly normal further south, there was not a good transportation system to bring food to places without it. The weather caused a migration of people from New England to places further south and west. It was also said to inspire Mary Shelley to write Frankenstein when she was cooped up due to cold and rainy weather in Switzerland.

So while we have had a cool, wet summer we can’t really say we had no summer.  We had a comfortable summer, although not an ideal one for the garden. Let’s hope for a more average summer next year.

State of the Birds Report-2014

Cedar Waxwing
The U.S. Committee of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, a group composed of various private and governmental agencies has issued a State of the Birds 2014 report.  The committee issued its first report in 2009 and this report details the decline, and sometimes revival, of native bird species since then.

The committee has suggested a list of bird species that need to be watched and targeted for conservation efforts.  The greatest loss of population numbers and species has occurred in desert and grassland habitats.  Hawaiian bird species also account for one third of the 230 listed species on the watch list.

Some birds that used to be common in our area are listed in steep decline.  They include the Bobwhite quail, Meadowlark, Common Nighthawk, Grackle, and surprise- herring gull.  The decline of quail, meadowlarks and some species that used to be common in rural areas are directly linked to the loss of dairy farms that graze cows outside.  Grazed pastures are ideal habitat for these birds.

The State of the Birds report does prove that conservation can work however.  Bald Eagles, condors, brown pelicans and peregrine falcons are examples of some bird species that have bounded back from a critical state because of conservation efforts.  

Passenger pigeons went from some 3 billion in number to none in less than 40 years so we must protect some of these species if we want them to survive.  So put the cows outside please!

You can see the State of the Birds 2014 report at http://www.stateofthebirds.org/

Nootkatone, a natural mosquito repellant

It’s got a funny name that sounds like it might come from the North Pole but actually nootkatone is a substance derived from grapefruit and clementine peel oil. It’s been used for flavoring foods and in perfumes for several years and is approved by the USDA as generally safe.

Research done by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nootkatone is also very good at repelling and even killing mosquitoes, ticks, lice and bedbugs. It’s non-toxic to humans and as effective as DEET. There was one problem with nootkatone, it’s expensive.  Only small amounts are used in foods and perfumes so the expense isn’t great for those uses.  But using nootkatone as a pesticide would require great quantities and be too expensive to be practical.

Allylix, Inc., a renewable-chemical firm in Lexington, Ky. has developed a way to produce nootkatone in vats of fermenting yeast and has produced a much cheaper version of nootkatone.  Their findings were presented recently at a symposium was that was organized jointly by the University of California, Iowa State University and the USDA Ag Research Station which was seeking information on less toxic, natural methods of pest control.

There is good reason to believe that new, non-toxic, natural, (well sort of) pesticides for personal use will soon be on the market.  Look for nootkatone in insect repellants soon.

And here’s a funny fact I found out about mosquitoes- they are attracted to the smell of limburger cheese.  Scientists found that the cheese produces a bacterium very similar to that produced by dirty, sweaty human feet, so similar that it fools mosquitoes.  And since mosquitoes like the smell of dirty, sweaty feet it might be good to keep your feet cool and clean while gardening.  

How honey could save us

Honey has been used as an antibiotic salve for thousands of years.  Modern researchers have confirmed that honey has antibiotic properties and one type of honey, Manuka honey made from the flowers of Manuka trees in New Zealand and Australia is included in many modern wound care products.


Now however researchers have teased out some of the secrets of honeys antibiotic properties and believe they may even have found a natural solution to conquer antibiotic resistant bacteria. All types of honey have several properties that make it deadly to bacteria; hydrogen peroxide, acidity, an osmotic effect from its high sugar concentration and polyphenols.  Honey also contains a protein called defensin-1 which attacks bacteria and that is produced by the bee’s immune system and is added to honey by them.

Some of the latest research, done by Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., and presented at the 247th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) found that all honey has a broad range of antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Some of these honey ingredients disrupt the “communication” systems of bacteria and prevent the formation of biofilms, which serve to protect bacterial colonies.  Others destroy bacteria, fungi, and viruses directly.  Since honey has a number of ways that it strikes at these pathogens there is little chance of any organisms developing a resistance to honey.  Researchers are hoping find ways to use honey extensively in antibiotic resistant infections and in day to day care of wounds and infections.

If you want to try honey as a home remedy on wounds make sure you use raw honey that’s fairly fresh, preferably from a local beekeeper.  Honey you buy in stores has been heated, and adulterated with various things and probably will not do any good.

Growing crops may help prevent more global warming

In another about face on what could be causing global warming, researchers have decided that removing forested areas and planting crops on the land doesn’t cause global warming. That’s because trees emit several gases that contribute to global warming and their dark color absorbs and holds heat better than lighter colored crop plants.

Research done at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and recently published suggests that those factors, gas emissions and heat absorption, effectively cancel out the beneficial effects forests have on global warming by their trapping of carbon.  Therefore whether more crops or forests are growing on earth has little effect on global warming.

That doesn’t mean forests aren’t important, forests are valuable in many ways, for animal and plant habitat, protecting groundwater and providing valuable resources. They should still be protected most experts agree.  But using the land to grow crops is not contributing to global warming.

Toad lilies (Tricyrtis species)

Tricyrtis flower
If you are looking for something different for a shady spot why not try some toad lilies. These interesting plants with their dainty, exotic, orchid like blooms in late summer add color to the shade when few other shade plants are blooming. They are perennial plants and relatively easy to grow.  They are also deer resistant but rabbits are said to eat them.

No one knows how Tricyrtis got the common name Toad Lily.  It might be because it likes to grow in shady damp areas where toads might be found.  Or it could be because of the splotched and spotted flowers although they look nothing like the spots on toads.  Despite the name Toad Lilies are charming. They are relatively new to the modern garden scene- probably first seen in garden stores in the early 1990’s.

Toad Lilies are native to Eastern Asia, China and Japan and into the Himalayans.  There is a great deal of confusion still in the market place as to the proper labeling of the different species, some 20-22 of them- and the many hybrids coming on the scene don’t help matters. Toad lilies are members of the lily family (well, most agree on that). 

Tricyrtis likes cool, moist areas and does best in zones 5-7 (some species hardy to zone 4). It can be grown in warmer zones if it is in a very shaded location and kept consistently moist.  In the north partly shaded or lightly shaded areas are ideal.

Tricyrtis sends up 1-3 foot stems from rhizomes just under the ground. The oval leaves of trycyrtis clasp the stem and partially surround it.  Some species have leaves only on one side of the stem; others look fuller, with leaves on both sides of the stem. The leaves are dark green in most species but there are now many cultivated varieties of Toad Lilies with variegated leaves.  In some species the stems are slightly hairy.

Tricyrtis blooms in late summer and early fall and the blooms appear at the end of the stems. The flowers of Toad Lilies are quite interesting and most face upward so you can admire their beauty more closely. (Some tricyrtis species also have dangling bell shaped flowers.)  Despite the attempts of many catalogs to make them appear larger, the flowers are only an inch to 2 inches long. There are six long narrow petals.  (Actually like most members of the lily family there are actually 3 petals and 3 sepals which look like petals.)

The toad lily flower stamens are fused together in a cone in the center of the flower and three feathery pistils, or female parts are prominent in the center, these are often forked or lobed at the ends and dotted with color like the petals.  Some flowers are solid colors in white, lavender, yellow or pink but most Toad Lilies are known for their speckled and spotted flowers.

An interesting new development links the spotting and blotching in some varieties of toad lilies to a virus similar to Mosaic Bean virus.   The University of Minnesota did some tests on blotched and spotted Toad Lilies and found the virus.  The infected plants seem to grow normally otherwise and more work needs to be done to see how the virus affects the various species.

Growing Tricyrtis

Toad lilies need a shady moist area to do their best.  They prefer a rich, organic soil. They are plants that need several years to fulfill their best potential.  They normally bloom the first year but often on only one stem.  They may need several years to spread and form a nice vigorous clump to make an impact.  Heights vary from compact varieties about 8 inches tall to species ranging about 2 feet tall.

Toad Lilies must have consistent moisture or the leaves dry on the edges and look ratty.  Too much sun will also cause the drying.  They benefit from the addition of compost and a good slow release fertilizer in the spring and again in mid-summer.  They are best planted in the spring.

The plants can be propagated from cuttings, seeds or dividing the rhizomes. Dividing takes some care, as a new growth bud must be on each division of the crown.  Tricrytis seeds germinate easily if they are given a cold, moist treatment for several weeks before planting.  Most gardeners will want to buy their Toad lilies as bare rhizomes or as potted plants. The plants spread slowly in the garden and are not considered to be invasive.

Toad Lily 

Remember the flowers are small, and to be seen and appreciated, Toad Lilies need to be close to the front of the bed or along a woodland path. They are charming in naturalized settings.

Choosing Varieties
There are new hybrids, varieties and species being offered each year as the plants become more popular.  Here are some named selections.
‘Togen’ is one of the oldest varieties on the market.  It has white petals with lavender edges. ‘Taipai Silk’ has purple flowers with white edges.  ‘Sinonome’ has white flowers with purple specks and the leaves are on both sides of the stem, and the plant is compact.

‘Empress’ has the largest flowers of the Toad Lilies, they are white dotted with purple. ‘Raspberry Mousse’ is a solid wine red.  ‘White Towers’ has solid white flopwers.

‘Golden Leopard’ is a shimmering yellow with brown spots. ‘Moonlight Treasure’ has rounded, variegated leaves and large golden yellow flowers. ‘Lightning Strike’ has tall arching stems of golden foliage with green markings and light lavender flowers.  ‘Imperial Banner’ is a sport of ‘Empress.  It has the same flowers but the leaves have a broad white streak down the middle and are slightly wavy.  ‘Gilt Edge’ has leaves outlined in gold. ‘Lunar Landing’ is a hybrid toad lily with silvery, velvet like leaves, each bordered in dark green, reddish stems and purple flowers.

Caution : All parts of the Tricyrtis plant are poisonous.

This week’s weed- Common reed

The Common Reed, (Phragmites australis), is found along Michigan roadsides and ditches, wetlands and even in shallow flowing water.  It is often mistaken for Pampas grass, which is not hardy in Michigan.  Phragmites is a perennial grass that returns each spring, forming large colonies over the years.  It prefers sunny areas with damp or wet soil.

The Common Reed looks like a large sturdy grass plant, which it is.  They can grow to over 6 feet high in good conditions.  The seed heads have tufts of filaments on each seed which gives them a hairy, fluffy appearance as the seed heads mature.  These picturesque seed plumes can persist all winter and are excellent for dried flower arrangements.  They are a purplish gray in early fall that fades to silver gray. 

Despite the lavish seed heads Phragmites rarely has fertile seed.  It spreads primarily through the root system.  Small pieces of the roots carried on farm equipment or even shoes can begin plants in new locations. 

Phragmites or Common Reed along the road.
Phragmites is interesting because it represents something biologists are just recognizing, the spread of foreign genotypes which look similar to native species and therefore often go unrecognized.  Phragmites, or Common Reed, is a native to the Americas.  However before the 1900’s it was a relatively uncommon species confined to marshy lands along both the east and west coast.  In the 1900’s it began to rapidly expand its range across the U.S.  and became much more prevalent in wet areas everywhere. 

Biologists recently discovered that this is probably because of genes introduced from Europe and Asia from the Phragmites that grow there.   Somehow the genes from these areas made the Common Reed hardier and more aggressive in colonizing new areas.   This is remarkable because these plants do not readily reproduce by seed, which is necessary to incorporate genes from new locations.  The genes that did recombine produced remarkably adaptable varieties of the Common Reed, which made the rapid spread of the plant possible.

Have a mug of warm spicy cider and relax today.
Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero


More Information
What apple is best for what use?
By Kim Willis- previously published in Examiner

Its fall and apples are showing up at the farm markets.  Of course you want to buy Michigan apples and help Michigan’s economy but what apples are right for each purpose?  Do you like tart crisp apples or sweet soft ones? All apples can be eaten or cooked of course, but some apples are better for some purposes than others.  Michigan grows many varieties of apples commercially and the guide below will help you choose from the 18 top varieties to get the best apple for your purposes. 
Organic home grown Red Delicious apples.

There are many other varieties of apples, including some heritage apples, on sale in Michigan but the guide would be far too long and confusing if all were listed. Taste is subjective of course, but an attempt has been made to define the taste also.

Apple varieties are listed in alphabetical order.  The color of apples can vary with growing conditions to some extent.

Braeburn - red-yellow- green apple- sweet, crisp for cooking or eating.

Cortland- greenish yellow, blushed with red apple - sweet- good for cooking.

Empire- red and yellow, sweet-tart- crisp- good for eating and cooking.

Fugi- yellowish with red blush, juicy, sweet-tart- best for eating.

Gala- early red apple with yellow stripes, soft, sweet- good for eating or cooking.

Ginger Gold- yellow, round, medium sized, early apple, sweet-tart, best for eating.

Golden Delicious- bright yellow, oblong, sweet gingery taste, good for cooking and cider as well as fresh eating.

Ida Red - red with a touch of yellow, tart, firm, juicy eating apple.

Honeycrisp- red and gold apple, juicy but firm, sweet- best for fresh eating.

Jonagold- yellow with a red blush, sweet, firm and juicy, good for eating or cooking.

Jonamac - red and green, rich spicy taste good for eating and cider.

Jonathan - mostly red - crisp, spicy and tart - good for eating and cooking, cider.

McIntosh - yellow and red, very white flesh, juicy, crisp, tart, eating, baking, cider.

Mutsu- red-yellow- sweet yet spicy, good eating or cooking

Northern Spy- red and yellow- mildly sweet, juicy good for cooking

Paula Red- yellow blushed red, Michigan’s earliest apple, sweet-tart- eating or cooking

Red Delicious- bright red, oblong shape - sweet, crisp, best for eating

Rome- mostly red, mildly tart and juicy, good for eating or cooking.

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- 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

New- 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

Flint River Wild Ones September Event: Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 2:30PM - 4:30PM : For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum, 2142 N. Genesee Road, Burton, MI 48509–1209

Viewing of Urban & Suburban Meadows - Bringing Meadowscaping to Big & Small Spaces Companion DVD 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.

MSU Extension Workshops for Beekeepers September 19, 2014 1-4 pm, Forgotten Harvest Farm 9153 Major Rd Fenton, MI 48430
Contact: Call or email MSU Extension - Saginaw Office 989.758.2500 or vanpopp8@anr.msu.edu
 
MSU Extension Specialist, Walter Pett, has placed two demonstration honey bee hives at the Forgotten Harvest Farm, near Fenton, and two at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center, near Richville. Along with Extension Educator, Ben Phillips, we would like to invite beekeepers of all ages and experience levels to learn about the various methods for removing honey from honey bee hives, inspecting the colonies for Varroa mites, and wintering strategies. Bring protective equipment for interacting with demonstration hives.

New- 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).

Farm & Gardens Fall Fair Sat, September 20, 10am-3pm, MSU Tollgate Educational Center, 28115 Meadowbrook Rd, Novi, MI

Family fun on the farm. Children's crafts, hayrides, entertainment & more. FREE. www.tollgate.msu.edu, 248-347-3860.
       
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.

Annual Herb & Gourd Fest, September 20, 2014, 10 am - 5 pm and September 21, 2014 -11am - 5 pm at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 4952 (888) 957-1580.
There is not a more enjoyable weekend anywhere that you can attend where you can share your gourd art and meet guests from all over the world in this magnificent setting.  Throughout the two days we will have members demonstrating and showing some of the different techniques that they use on their gourds.  We show examples of painting, pyrography, chip carving, filigree work, coiling, weaving just to name a few, and as in past years, we have vendors selling their creations of bowls, vases, sculptures and gourd jewelry.  $12 adult admission to the park.
Kim’s note:  The Michigan Gourd Festival at Imlay City Fairgrounds will not be held this year.

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









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