These weekly garden notes are written by Kim Willis,
unless another author is noted, and the opinions expressed in these notes are
her opinions and do not represent any other individual, group or organizations
opinions.
Hi Gardeners
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| One of my jungle windows. |
I am surprised by the sun today, I expected another gloomy
day. It’s been so gloomy I have hung
plant gro lights over the houseplants on my porch and in front of the big
window in the living room. I have used
the new CFL grow lights which put out a lot of light for much less electricity cost
than incandescent bulbs. I was tempted
by LED growlights, which while expensive, use even less electricity than CFL
bulbs and their red-blue light ratio is said to be great for plant growth. However
people have told me that the light quality and brightness degrades rapidly and
that they cover much less area per light than other bulbs.
If you have used LED lights for plant growing let me know
your experience. I am not producing any “crops”
just lighting blooming houseplants. I
wanted to keep them blooming and not dropping leaves, as plants commonly do
when moved inside to lower light levels.
I took some ordinary reflector light fixtures, the kind you
hang in shops or over your baby chicks and spray painted the outer metal
surface with matte finish hunters green spray paint. They make great inexpensive grow light
fixtures. They can be clamped on a shelf
or hung above plants.
I just came in from my garden where I harvested 5 nice sized
yellow tomatoes. While my other tomato plants
have died from various blights, this one plant Burpee’s Orange Wellington is still
going strong. At one point it seemed to
be succumbing to blight also, but it recovered and is now green and healthy
looking, and still producing. It has
large yellow, not orange fruit with a great taste. I highly recommend it.
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| The teeny tiny cyclamen flower. |
I have a few things left blooming outside. The dahlias are still going strong. Marigolds, mums, fibrous bedding begonias, buddleia,
sedum, and a few hardy hibiscus are in bloom.
My ligularia is putting out a few new flowers down by the base. I have some colchicums in bloom and one teeny
tiny cyclamen flower. Last fall I
planted a sowbread cyclamen bulb that was 5 inches across and this year I got
the one tiny flower. Hopefully it will
put on a better show next year.
This week my garden task is to finish planting all the bulbs
I ordered. Isn’t it funny how many bulbs
you want to order compares with how many bulbs you are actually eager to plant
when they arrive? But it is fun when they bloom in the spring.
October almanac- the moon gets spooky
Tonight is a full moon, called the Hunters moon, and one of this
years’ so called blood moons. Early Wednesday morning there will also be a
total eclipse of the moon, but it’s not going to be very visible here in the
Eastern time zone. It will start about
4:15 am but won’t be totally eclipsed until 6:15 am- about the time the moon passes over the horizon or sets
here. You can try to see it if the skies
are clear by looking low in the southwest horizon. It’s perfectly ok to look at
a moon eclipse; it won’t hurt your eyes.
During a moon eclipse the moon will look reddish or brown.
Some astronomers list this month’s full moon as a super moon
also. A super moon is when the moon is
at one of its closest points to Earth and looks larger. The disagreement among astronomers comes from
the way the distance is measured. Any way
you look at it the moon should be somewhat larger looking tonight. So depending on your outlook the Hunters full
moon is also a blood super moon with an eclipse. Now you got to see that!
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| Sept. 7,2006 partial lunar eclipse. Credit: geograph.org.uk |
If you are outside sky gazing you may also want to look for the Draconid meteors which are at
their peak right now. This meteor shower
isn’t as frequent or showy as others but who knows what you might see. Look for the meteors in the northwest sky.
The Hunters moon is named such because at this time of year
the moon rises early in the evening and stays bright until almost dawn, letting
hunters easily track animals in the night.
Unfortunately it’s now illegal to hunt most game animals after the sun
goes down.
Octobers birthstones are the Tourmaline and Opal. October’s birth flower was the calendula
originally, but now is listed as marigold.
Calendulas were the “marigold” before the African plant we now call marigold
was discovered. So now either calendula or marigolds is considered
correct. The meaning in flower language
is warm, undying and contented love.
October is National popcorn popping month, vegetarian month,
seafood month, cookie month, pizza month, and applejack month. If you are not into food it’s also National
Diabetes month, National adopt a shelter dog month, National Domestic violence
awareness month and of course the most used and abused “cause” of all, Breast
Cancer awareness month.
Holidays of note in October include the 10th –World
Egg Day, 13th-Columbus Day (why are we still celebrating this one?)
14th – National Dessert day, 18th
–Sweetest Day,(another stupid one), 21st National Pumpkin Cheesecake
day,22nd – National Nut Day, 24th –United Nations day (another
thing that shouldn’t be celebrated, let’s just end that silly excuse of an
organization) and then there’s two of the
world’s favorite holidays, 30th Devils night and 31st
Halloween.
New help for acne- time, Thyme, and
wine?
Acne
sufferers are often told that time will cure their affliction and it often does
but now researchers have found that a tincture of Thyme oil has amazing effect
on clearing up acne. Research done at Leeds
Metropolitan University, UK, found that a tincture of thyme oil cured acne as
well as prescription acne products did.
The tincture applied to acne killed the bacteria on the skin that cause
acne better than standard concentrations of benzoyl peroxide, which is used in
almost all prescription acne creams.
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| Thyme. |
Also tested
were tinctures of marigold and myrrh which also showed good results in halting
acne, although thyme was the most effective herb. Tinctures are made by steeping herbs in
alcohol so researchers accounted for the antiseptic qualities of the alcohol in
their findings. But this leads to
another discovery made by the dermatology division of the UCLA medical school. They found that resveratrol, a substance
found in red wine and grapes also had beneficial effects on acne, especially
when it was combined with benzoyl peroxide.
Perhaps
steeping thyme in red wine and then applying it to acne would be an even better
and safer alternative than benzoyl peroxide, which does have side effects. You would put this on the acne affected areas
of course, not drink the concoction.
Discovering new things about
Monarchs
Being able
to study the genome, or genetic structure of plants and animals has given us
some amazing insights into nature.
Researchers found that monarch butterflies who take that amazing migration
flight from the north all the way to Mexico have a different gene than monarchs
who don’t migrate. There are colonies of
monarchs around the world that don’t migrate; only North American Monarchs take
that amazing journey.
Researchers
at the University of Chicago analyzed the genomes of many different communities
of monarch butterflies from around the world, concentrating on genes that control
muscles, neurons and development. They
found one gene (IV α-1),
involved in wing muscle development, caused migratory monarchs to use less
oxygen and lower their metabolism in flight so that they could travel long
distances. When monarch populations in
an area did not migrate they had a different form of this gene. Monarchs who don’t migrate are generally
found in warmer climates.
There is a
group of monarchs in Hawaii who are black and white rather than black and
orange and this monarch genome research also found the gene that causes the
loss of the orange color. These monarchs
vary from traditional orange monarchs by only one gene, which prevents
expression of the orange pigment.
Researchers
say that the overall population of Monarchs is not in danger but the population
that migrates to North America may soon be lost. This special genetic adaptation is being lost
because populations of migrating monarchs have dwindled due to climate change
and habitat loss.
Plants use sugar to kill bugs
Humans love
the sugar we get from various plant sources even though we know how very bad
for us that sugar is. And the reason
that sugar is bad for us may have something to do with what plants that
manufacture sugar do with that sugar.
Researchers at the Max
Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology studied plants in the grass family such
as corn. They found that plants
manufacture chemical compounds called benzoxazinoids, which they use to kill
insects that feed on them. They attach
these natural pesticides to a molecule of the sugar they produce, because
insects love sugar too.
The sugar
molecule protects the plants from their own poison but once in the gut of the
insect the sugar molecule detaches and the natural pesticide harms the insect
that ate it. Of course some insects have
developed resistance to plant pesticides over millions of years of co-evolution.
The fall armyworm for example has developed defenses in the gut that put the
sugar molecule back on the pesticide molecules in the opposite way that the
plant attached them and that renders the natural pesticides harmless. It is then excreted from the insect.
Now this is
speculation on my part but the newest nutrition research is finding out just
how badly sugar screws up the human body.
When we eat plant derived sugars in concentrated form, such as cane and
beet sugar, we probably get a high dose of benzoxazinoids, substances produced
by plants to kill insects. These plant compounds
may be what causes obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other woes which
befall us due to high sugar consumption.
Our bodies do not need sugars from any outside source to remain
healthy. We can make our own glucose
from carbs, fats and proteins. This also
makes me wonder about the natural sweeteners such as stevia that are on the
market.
A apple a day may help you lose
weight- if it’s a Granny Smith that is
Here’s some
interesting research. I don’t know how
it fits with the research I just wrote about above, since apples contain
fructose, a sugar molecule, which may just be associated with harmful plant
poisons. But a study done at Washington
State University and just published in the journal Food Chemistry, found that
Granny Smith apples had a beneficial effect on weight loss.
Apples
contain non-digestible fiber and polyphenols.
When these fibers reach the human colon they are fermented by bacteria
and benefit the good bacteria that regulate healthy metabolism. We now know that humans who are overweight
have a different bacterial colony in their colon than those who remain lean. Those
with diabetes and other metabolic disease also had different bacterial colonies
than healthy people. Eating apples,
particularly Granny Smith apples, can change the gut colony to bacteria that
favor a healthy metabolism and weight loss.
Granny
Smith apples were found to be far better at normalizing gut bacteria than other
types of apples. Granny Smith apples have less sugar and more indigestible
fiber than other apple varieties. There may also be other genetic factors that
favor good gut colonies. Research done on mice found that the Granny Smith
apples rapidly changed gut bacteria in a beneficial way. Researchers suggest
that people eating one Granny Smith apple a day could help change gut bacteria
and normalize metabolism so that it would be easier to lose weight. It sure wouldn’t hurt to try.
This weeks weed- wild grapes
In Michigan
wild grapes are often spotted in the fall, when they are loaded with small
purple, sour grapes. Birds and small
animals feast on the bounty and there are seldom any left for the winter. Humans sometimes collect the small but
perfectly edible grapes to make jelly and wine.
Grapes are
native to several parts of the world.
North America has several species of native grapes, the most common in
Michigan being the Fox grape, Vitus labrusca or Frost Grape Vitus vulpina. Both have 3 lobed leaves, the Fox grape has
more rounded lobes and the Frost grape has a more deeply serrated edge. Both grapes have leaves that are lighter and
somewhat fuzzy on the underside.
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| Wild grapes. |
Grapes form
vines that climb into trees and may climb to the very top- 60 feet or more of a
large tree. They also cover thickets and
fences. Grapes climb by using tendrils, small modified stems that wrap around
things like green wire. Wild grapes
should be removed from landscape trees as they can overwhelm them and cause
stunting or death. Grapes develop woody
stems as they age and some very old vines may have stems a foot or more wide. The bark on older stems is composed of
shaggy, loose strips. Wild grapes are
very long-lived, with vines living to be a 100 or more years old.
Grapes
flower in early summer and the small greenish white flower clusters have a
pleasant aroma. Clusters of small green
fruit develop that ripen into blue- black or purple-red grapes. Wild grapes are said to be sweeter after a
frost, but many are gone long before that.
Grapes can be found growing in the sun or shade, in many kinds of soil.
Grape
leaves are used in cooking and the vines are used in many types of crafts. Grapes are also used medicinally- (not just as
wine!)- as a laxative, and for liver and kidney problems. Grape leaves have been used on wounds to stop
bleeding. Oil can be pressed from grape seed.
Katsura- The Caramel Tree
You don’t
get caramels from it, but some think the wonderful Katsura tree smells like
caramel or cotton candy when it loses it’s leaves in the fall. Besides being wonderful to smell in the fall,
the Katsura sports a lovely blend of orange, raspberry and apricot colored
leaves. The Katsura is no slouch in
other seasons either. In the spring
Katsura has reddish-purple new growth, in summer heart-shaped blue-green
leaves, and in winter the gray, slightly exfoliating bark lends winter
interest. This lovely shade tree is
hardy throughout most of the United States and deserves to be planted more
frequently.
The Katsura
is native to Japan and eastern Asia, and is widely used as a landscape tree in
those areas. The Latin name,
Cercidiphyllum japonicum, refers to the leaves, which look like one of our
native trees, the Redbud. Katsura leaves
are blue-green, lighter below, and heart shaped. In the spring, the leaves emerge tinged with
purple or red, and some trees hold a trace of color in their leaves throughout
the summer. Katsura blooms in early spring, the flowers are not showy, and they
are produced on separate male and female plants. On the female Katsura, the flowers turn into
clusters of small pods, which open and release winged seeds in the fall. The pods and the seeds are not very
noticeable and do not make a mess.
The shape
of the Katsura tree is variable. Some are multi-stemmed with broad, flat crowns
and others are single stemmed and more pyramidal in shape. There are also a few weeping varieties of
Katsura. The trunks of young Katsura
trees are thin barked, this becomes thicker, furrowed, and lightly peeling as
the tree ages. Katsura trees have a
distinct root flare and some roots are developed right at the surface of the
soil, and can get quite large with time. These roots lend an architectural
appeal to the Katsura form.
Katsura
trees can mature to 40 feet or more. There is another species, Cercidiphyllum
magnificum, even less seen outside of Japan, which is smaller in height but has
larger leaves.
Growing
Katsura trees
Katsura
trees are hardy from zone 4-8. In the
north they should be in full sun. In the
south they will grow in light shade also.
Katsura trees like moist, fertile, loamy soil. Katsura does well where the water table is
high. They tolerate a wide range of
soil PH.
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| Katsura tree. Credit: wikimedia commens |
The roots
are shallow and the tree must be kept well watered, especially when getting
established. The biggest problem with
the Katsura tree is they are a little tricky to establish. Once they settle in a place to their liking
however, they grow rapidly.
Smaller
trees transplant the best, and they should be planted when dormant in the early
spring. Keep them well watered. If the Katsura experiences drought conditions
it will lose its leaves. Usually the
leaves will be replaced when water is again available, but if this happens
frequently, you will probably lose the tree.
The thin
bark of young Katsura trees are prone to sunscald and splitting in the
winter. Protect young trees with tree
wrap or shade on the south and west side during the winter. Tree tubes may help
small Katsura’s establish easier.
Since the
Katsura has roots close to the surface, deep mulch should be avoided. You can plant under the tree if care is taken
not to cut too many roots. Before
planting Katsura, remember that the tree may form surface roots and these might
make mowing difficult.
After the
first year an application of 10-10-10 or other tree fertilizer in early spring
may help get the Katsura tree off to a good start. Katsura trees have few insect pests or
disease problems and rarely require pruning.
The
caramel, cotton candy, or brown sugar smell, [depending on your nose], comes in
the fall, when the Katsura tree is losing its leaves. Most people find it quite pleasant. It is strongest in warm, sunny weather and
can perfume the whole yard.
Choosing
varieties.
Two weeping
forms exist in Katsura. ‘Pendulum’ is upright, with a strong
trunk and weeping branches. It is also
sold as ‘Morioka Weeping’. Another type has no central trunk- it is
more like a weeping bush. ‘Tidal Wave’ is one variety name of this
type.
‘Heronswood Globe’ is a compact, rounded
variety, seldom over 20’ high, that is good for small yards. Several varieties of Katsura exist which address
fall leaf color. Most Katsura have
variable fall color, with each tree having a somewhat different blend. ‘Strawberry’ Katsura has pink-red fall
color and touches of pink in the spring leaf color. ‘Raspberry’ Katsura has wine-red fall color.
Using Katsura
Katsura
makes an excellent shade or specimen tree.
Once established, Katsura is a no-muss, no-fuss tree with great
structure for the landscape. It is also a good choice as a street tree, where
it could possibly be a good replacement for ash trees dying from Emerald Ash
Borer.
Have you got your pumpkin yet?
Kim Willis
“He who has a garden and
a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero
More Information
Creatures that invade
your home in the fall
By Kim Willis
When the
weather turns colder there are a lot of small critters that would like to spend
some time in your nice warm home. Most
people however, would prefer that they remain outside in the natural
environment, whether that means they will survive or not. The good news about the coming of colder
weather is that some pests will actually cease to be a problem.
Insects
that become problems in the home in the fall include cluster flies and house
flies, box elder bugs, Asian lady beetles, spiders, leaf and stink bugs. Small animals such as mice, voles, rats,
squirrels, chipmunks and snakes also look for warm homes come fall. Even the occasional larger animal such as
skunks, raccoons and opossums may find their way inside attics, crawl spaces
and garages.
One of the
first things to do of course is to prevent small critters from ever getting
into your home. That means sealing all
cracks and crevices. You can use putty,
expandable foam or various forms of weather stripping to plug holes. Pay special attention to cracks and holes in
foundations and around doors.
To keep
larger animals out make sure there are sturdy screens on any windows or vents,
that there are no holes or open spots leading under crawl spaces. You should
consider adding a chimney cover. Avoid
storing pet food or wild bird seed where any critters can get to it. Having a food source close to the bedroom is
ideal for any critter. Store such items
in metal trash cans with tight fitting lids or another vermin proof
container. Also store trash in containers
pests can’t get into.
Insects in
the home
Most insect
entering the home in the fall are hard to kill with conventional insecticides
and the last thing you should do is follow them around with a spray can. Insecticides sprayed inside a home closed up
for winter are more harmful to you than the insects themselves. Pesticide residue gets on counters, tables,
toys, windows, and other things and from there on your hands and into your
body. Most of the fall insect pests
don’t want to feed on you or your food; they are just looking for a warm place
to sleep and pesticide use is overkill.
In the case
of most insects the vacuum cleaner is your friend. Simply vacuum them up and empty the bag
immediately outside (far from the house) or into a bucket of hot soapy water.
You may have to do this numerous times, but its harmless to you and your
family. You might want to purchase an
inexpensive hand vac to make it easy to suck up the invaders.
Cluster
flies, which look like large houseflies and may congregate on the sides of
light colored homes or inside on a window may be hard to vacuum. You can hang sticky fly paper strips near
where they congregate and dispose of the strips as they fill up. An old fashioned fly swatter also works
well. These pests are usually gone in
about 2 weeks after the weather turns cold enough outside to freeze the
ground. They do not breed in homes.
Keep food
covered and clean up spills promptly in the case of houseflies. If they keep reappearing well into cold
weather they are breeding somewhere in the house, something other insect pests,
even cluster flies, don’t do. Look for
decaying food, (maybe in a kids room), wet areas in the crawl space or
basement, in the bottom of dirty hamster cages or other pet enclosures and the
bottom of trash cans for maggots, which are the larvae that turn into flies. These must be cleaned up and the areas kept
clean and dry. Hang sticky fly paper and
use a fly swatter to get the adult flies.
Spiders
should be tolerated in out of the way places such as crawl spaces and attics as
they eat other pests. They are generally
harmless inside too, but most people don’t appreciate them. Remove spider webs as soon as they appear and
use a fly swatter to kill spiders you see.
Mice, rats
and other rodents
Unlike
insects, mice, rats, voles, chipmunks and other rodents can do considerable
damage to the home and can carry diseases.
You must work quickly to kill them because they do multiply inside. It’s senseless to live trap these pests and
release them outside. They will immediately come back inside if you release
them nearby and if you release them out into a natural area they generally
become fast food for the current residents, which I suppose might be just fine,
but it isn’t the humane method of disposal most people assume it is.
There are
numerous styles of better mousetraps (and rat traps) on the market. Many feature designs that allow you to
release the dead animal without having to touch it. Place the trap near where you see damage or
have seen the pest. Peanut butter is
great bait for all rodents. Place the
traps where pets and kids won’t be harmed.
You can put a trap under a milk crate which will keep pets out and allow
mice and rats in.
Mice are
generally trapped pretty quickly as they are curious and explore things in
their environment. Chipmunks and
squirrels are a little wary and they require a rat trap to kill them quickly. In the case of larger rodents the traps
should be wired or chained to something so an injured animal doesn’t drag them
off.
Rats are
quite wary of new things in the environment and you may need to leave the trap
up for a week or so before they are caught.
Once you begin trapping mice and rats keep resetting the traps until you
haven’t caught anything in two weeks.
Place traps in several areas of the home and remember to check them each
day.
Poison is
the other method of destroying mice, rats and some other rodents. It generally doesn’t work well on
squirrels. Poisons must be handled with
extreme caution if there are pets or children in the home but they are very
effective. Consider placing them in attics
and crawl spaces if pets and children don’t get into those places. There are
metal bait boxes which have locks that you can purchase but some kids and pets
are adept at getting things out of the holes in the boxes that allow mice and
rats in.
There may
be some smell if poisoned rodents die in the attic or crawl space and occasionally
a dying animal may wander into view.
Just keep in mind that a big infestation of mice or rats will also cause
a smell and could cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to wiring or other
parts of the home. Never let pets eat or play with poisoned animals because
secondary poisoning can occur.
Snakes
Snakes
sometimes enter basements to hibernate for the winter. They are more likely to enter through old
stone foundations. Snakes are protected
animals and valuable in the environment so they should not be killed, even if
they are venomous. If you find the
snakes early in the fall they can be taken a good distance from the home and
released. After freezing temperatures have
set in putting a snake outside will kill it.
In many cases a nature center or zoo will take the reptiles until they
can be released in the spring.
The vast
majority of snakes that enter homes in the northern states for hibernation are
not poisonous. You can sometimes catch snakes that are still active with glue
traps that are sold for rats. Put them
close to the wall and to a water source if there is one. To release the snake
from the trap pour cooking oil on it. If
you have snakes in the home you are afraid to deal with consider calling a
professional animal control service.
Large
animals
Most large
animals can be live trapped. While
skunks may spend some time in deep winter sleep and not be attracted to bait
once they enter that state, opossums and raccoons are ready to eat all year
round. Skunks will often wake and become
briefly active in mid spring during warm spells. The problem with live trapping is that you
have to handle the animal and either release or dispose of it. You may want to contact an animal control
company if you feel you can’t do this.
Sometimes
animals can be encouraged to leave on their own. Noise, lights and frequent hassling will
often cause them to leave. Do not use
moth balls in an effort to get rid of them.
Not only is this not effective but moth balls contaminate the soil and
your home and can cause human and pet health problems when the vapors are
inhaled. Ultrasonic devices are also
ineffective so don’t waste your money on them.
Make sure
to remove any source of food that large animals can get to; this may cause them
to leave. And once the animals are gone
make sure any openings they entered through are sealed up.
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.
I have several free roosters, bantam and full sized if anyone
is interested. Young, healthy. 3 month old muscovy mostly black ducklings
for sale $5. Kimwillis151@gmail.com
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.
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
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
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 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, 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.
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.
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