February 10,
2015 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter © Kim
Willis
Hi Gardeners
sm.jpg) |
| Here's your rose for Valentines Day |
I have always said February
is the worst month and this one is no different. I just mark off the days until it’s over and
we are in March- which will probably still be cold but always seems so much
closer to spring. I think we invent silly holidays like Valentine’s Day because
we are all so tired of winter and bored.
We are getting more sun at
least and that makes the cold more bearable.
And I am so glad we aren’t dealing with 6 feet of snow like some places
on the East coast. I have orchids,
African violets, hibiscus, geraniums and impatiens in bloom and soon will have
streptocarpus and abutilon blooming. The
mum that I carried in off the deck last fall is putting out lots of new growth
even though it’s out on the unheated porch. That means the plants sense spring is getting
closer.
Give
your gut a Valentine’s Day present – chocolate
It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without a little discussion
of chocolate- (that’s what polls say most people would prefer to receive on
Valentine’s Day). More and more research
is being done on the bacterial colonies that inhabit our bodies, particularly
those that reside in the gut – or colon.
It’s amazing what those little buggers do for us.
Researchers at Louisiana State University found that
the good microbes in our colon love chocolate. Chocolate, or cocoa to be exact,
has plenty of good antioxidants, and is known to be good for the
cardio-vascular system. But when we eat chocolate the good antioxidants in it
are hard for our bodies to digest. When
chocolate gets to our gut, however, the good microbes jump on it and break the
chocolate molecules and fiber down to smaller molecules that we can easily
digest.
Feeding the good microbes in our guts with foods they
like causes them to increase and lessens the populations of bad bacteria, those
that cause gas, bloating and other problems.
So do your gut a favor and buy it a present of chocolate this Valentine’s
Day.
Plant
or animal?
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to stand
in the sun and produce your own food like plants do? That line between plants and animals has been
blurred, at least in one species, the Emerald Green Sea Slug (Elysia
chlorotica). The sea slug has astonished scientists by being able to absorb
chloroplasts from algae and then using some of its own DNA get those
chloroplasts to start producing food for its body when exposed to light.
Sea slugs get their chloroplasts from ingesting the alga
Vaucheria litorea. They store their
chloroplasts in digestive cells where they photosynthesize for up to 9 months,
which is longer than the alga live on their own. Somehow in evolutionary
history the sea slugs obtained DNA that regulates and repairs the chloroplasts. The sea slugs can coast on the food their own
bodies make for months while waiting for alga to become available again.
If sea slugs have DNA that allows them to store and
then turn on chloroplasts to make food how many other species may have that
same advantage? Could we manipulate our
DNA to do that? What a boon that would
be to the human race. We could
drastically reduce the amount of food we need to grow and simply stand in the
sun to eat. That might not work too well
here in Michigan I guess.
Michigan
allows hemp studies
 |
| Hemp Credit: Himachai Pradesh |
Michigan has a rocky relationship with its citizens
desire to grow and use more marijuana and its legislature’s fear of it. However last week our legislators were able
to get together and agree on letting our universities and scientific community
study the growing of hemp- a type of marihuana that has only minute amounts of
the drug THC and is used in fiber production, as a source of an excellent
cooking oil and other uses. The new
regulation would allow researchers to actually grow hemp in test plots.
Our neighbor Canada has been growing hemp with little
problem for more than a decade and it’s an important and valuable crop for
their farmers. It seems that we could
use their data to develop our own industry, but hey, let’s not move too
fast. All of you would be hemp farmers
out there, beware – you cannot legally plant a field of hemp this spring. That’s reserved for special scientific
studies.
Sex
candy Halva, made from sesame
It’s almost Valentine’s Day and I have done articles on
chocolate and roses in previous years, so this year I decided to do something
different. Have you ever heard of halva- otherwise known as sex candy? It’s a fudge-like treat that has been around
thousands of years made from sesame seeds. Halva is thought to have aphrodisiac
qualities and it just may make one’s sex life better because sesame seeds are
high in potassium, zinc, vitamin E and protein, all things that help regulate
reproductive hormones. And because the
mind is a powerful thing offering your love sex candy may just do the trick.
 |
| Halva in a market in Uzbekistan Credit en.wikipedia.org |
Halva is also sold in stores in areas where there are
many Middle Eastern or Jewish customers.
High end restaurants serving Middle Eastern cuisine may offer halva at
the end of a meal. It is being used in exotic cuisines as a crumbled topping on
meats and vegetables. There are many versions of the candy, most have some sort
of nuts, pistachios and almonds are common, some have dried fruit like dates,
and modern versions are often dipped in chocolate. Peanut butter is mixed into some modern halva
candy too.
A 13th
century Arabic text gives a recipe for making halva (also spelled halvah). Suleiman the Magnificent, an Ottoman Empire
sultan, had a special kitchen built next to his palace to produce some 30
varieties of halva, which he had always available in his harems. Halva was made on various continents, India,
North Africa, Asia and eventually Europe with many variations but all of them
feature sesame seeds. It was a trade
item as well as a special treat prepared in home kitchens.
In America halva made its commercial debut when a young
Jewish man, Nathan Radutzky, began
making it at home and selling it from a pushcart in Brooklyn in 1907. That
small business turned into a big company selling the product now known as Joyva
that still exists today. The company
actually exports halva candy back to Europe and the Middle East. You can buy Joyva bars in health food stores
or specialty shops or on line.
A halva recipe starts with what we know as tahini, or a
paste made from hulled, roasted sesame seeds. Tahini paste has other uses in
cooking too. The paste can often be
found in the baking or spice section of groceries. You can make your own tahini
but that adds an extra layer of work to a halva recipe. Here’s a simple halva recipe.
You’ll need:
2 cups honey, 1½ cups tahini paste, and if desired, up
to 2 cups of sliced or chopped nuts. Toasted sliced almonds, toasted pecans or
chopped walnuts or pistachios are good choices.
Line a loaf pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil
sprayed with pan spray.
Into a medium sized pan pour two cups of honey (Pure
honey, not corn syrup added, cheap honey).
In another pan place 1½ cups tahini paste. Stir it well to combine the oils that often
separate out with the solids.
First put the honey pan on low heat and cook until it
reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer or soft ball stage. Remove from
heat.
Heat the tahini pan until the tahini is just warm,
about 120 degrees and thin and smooth. Pour the tahini into the honey, stirring
constantly until it’s smooth and begins to thicken. Stir in your nuts if desired. Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan
and refrigerate. Halva should sit at
least 12 hours before slicing for best results and is better a day or so later.
Tightly wrap uneaten halva with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated to store.
More
about sesame
Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is one of
the oldest crops grown. It is native to tropical and semi-tropical areas of
Africa and Asia and grows well in arid conditions. Egyptians, Africans, Indians
and people of South East Asia used sesame seeds in a variety of ways, as flour,
a cooking paste or sauce, and as oil. It is probably the first seed crop used
for oil production. Sesame seeds are 55%
oil and the oil is excellent for cooking, cosmetics, medicine, and fueling
lamps.
Ancient oil presses for sesame seeds and DNA from
sesame have been found in archeological sites from 3, 000 years ago and it is
likely sesame was used well before then.
Sesame was eaten as a pot green when young, the seeds were pressed for
their valuable and highly nutritious oil and the remaining “nut butter” was
either used as a spread on bread much like margarine or it was dried and used
as a flour. Sesame seeds both raw and
toasted found their way into a variety of foods.
In Africa sesame is called benne and slaves brought
“benne cakes” with them to the southern United States. Benne cakes are a type of crisp cookie made
from sesame seeds that are still popular in the south and are used as part of
kwanza celebrations. You can get a
recipe to make benne cakes from Paula Dean at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/benne-seed-cookies-recipe.html
Thomas Jefferson grew sesame on his plantation and
regarded it highly. He is quoted as
saying “Benne is among the most valuable acquisitions our country has ever
made…. I do not believe before that there exists so perfect a substitute for
olive oil."
It was a struggle however to make sesame a commercial
crop in the United States. It grows only
where there is a long frost free season and dislikes wet weather. Texas grew a
lot of sesame for a while in the early 1900’s but when mechanical harvesting
equipment began to be used widely on crops sesame fell out of favor. Early
varieties of sesame didn’t ripen uniformly and required a lot of hand labor to
harvest and thresh.
While sesame can still be a tricky crop to grow
commercially there are new varieties that have seeds that ripen more evenly and
are less likely to shatter in the field.
They are also more productive than older varieties and grow in a wider
range of conditions. Several southern US
Universities including the University of Missouri are encouraging farmers to
grow sesame as a commercial crop in rotation with other crops. They are developing adaptations to farming
equipment for sowing and harvesting sesame.
Sesame seed is in demand and could be an answer to the
drier conditions many agricultural regions in the US are experiencing. Currently sesame is grown in China, Burma, Africa,
India, and the Middle East. About 20% of
the world’s sesame production is now from the US, about 11,000 tons. Burma is
the top producer of sesame.
What
sesame looks like
 |
| Sesame flower. Commons.wikipedia.org |
Sesame is an annual plant. There are now many varieties
of sesame that are derived from several natural species. Some sesame grows as a straight, narrow
stalk, other varieties are branched. The stalk and branches are closely covered
in dark green, thick, lance shaped leaves.
Sesame develops an extensive root and is slow growing
at first. Once root development is
nearly completed it grows rapidly into a 3-6 foot high plant depending on the
variety and conditions.
Flowers develop from the leaf axils of sesame, one or
more per axil depending on variety. The flowers are tubular, with one bottom
petal protruding as a lip. They dangle on small stems and range from white to
yellow, pale pink or lavender. Bees are greatly attracted to the flowers and
make a nice honey from them.
The sesame flowers turn into long, narrow seed capsules
with several internal divisions and a “lip” on one side. When they ripen they open first at the top
then split along the sides. There can be up to 70 sesame seeds in each
capsule. The seeds range in color from
nearly white to black, depending on variety, with the lighter seeds preferred
for culinary use.
Sesame likes warm weather and is killed by the first
frost. It has few pests or diseases. It’s a good pollinator attractor and is also
used to attract wildlife such as game birds.
Medicinal
and culinary uses of sesame
Sesame seeds are very nutritious, having as much or
more protein per ounce as meat and are great for vegetarians. They are also
full of vitamins and minerals including iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, Vitamin
E and B6. The oil is equally nutritious
and full of healthy antioxidants. Both
the seeds and oil are described as having a nut-like flavor.
Sesame oil can be pressed from the seeds before or
after roasting, producing a different flavor with each method. Most sesame seed production now goes to
produce oil. The oil is used in many
ethnic sauces and condiments and is used for cooking. Margarine is made from sesame oil in some
places. Sesame is an expensive but very
excellent, healthy oil for frying, salad dressings and other culinary uses.
Chewing the seeds of sesame or swishing sesame oil
through the mouth will help with sore gums and mouth infections. It has an antibacterial action and is known
to kill staph and strep germs.
Sesame oil has long been used on burns and skin
conditions for its soothing and healing qualities. Since it is high in Vitamin E there is
probably a real value. Skin softening
balms and lotions made with sesame oil are used cosmetically. Sesame oil is
rubbed into the skin over aching joints for pain relief. Since the oil is high in copper there may be
some therapeutic value there.
Sesame oil and seeds were an old remedy for diabetes
and a study in 2011 found that the oil improved the action of diabetic drugs
when taken with them. It is probably due to the magnesium in the oil; magnesium
lowers blood glucose levels and may also lower blood pressure- ongoing studies
are testing sesame oil for treatment of high blood pressure.
Sesame oil contains an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
compound known as sesamol, which is being studied in the treatment of
cardiovascular disease. Sesamol also
decreases the damage from radiation poisoning in animals. It may also reduce
the risk of colorectal cancer.
Sesame seeds are high in fiber and are a natural
laxative. They were once prescribed for
constipation so keep that in mind when consuming foods made from them.
Whole sesame seeds are used to top many baked goods or
baked into foods liked benne cakes.
These seeds are generally light colored and have the hulls removed. (Most sesame seeds on McDonald’s buns are
grown in Mexico.) But the seeds are also made into flour, usually after the oil
is pressed out, and baked into various breads and cakes.
A paste of crushed, toasted sesame seeds is called tahini
and is used to make hummus, tempeh, and other dishes. It is also used like peanut butter in many
places as a spread for bread and crackers. The candy halva described earlier is
also made from sesame paste. Oriental
cooking often uses sesame seed paste made from unroasted seeds which has a
different flavor. Many Japanese dishes
are made with sesame oil.
In Africa sesame seeds are used in soup and crushed
seeds are used in seafood dishes. In Mexico sesame is known as Ajonjolí and
used in mole and adobo sauces. Indian and Malaysian cooking uses lots of sesame
seeds and oil, usually mixed with ginger and chili’s.
In the past wine was made from sesame seeds. It flavors some beverages today. The pressed
meal left after commercial oil production is used as a high protein animal
feed. The young leaves of sesame are used for a spring tonic green much like
dandelions.
Caution: There has been an
increased incidence of food allergy to sesame in the last few decades. Use
sesame seeds or oil in small amounts until you see if you are allergic to it.
Growing
sesame in the home garden
While you might not be able to grow a commercial crop
in any zone lower than 8 you can grow sesame for home use in most zones with a
little care. You’ll probably have to
start from seeds since plants are rarely offered. Don’t use seeds from the grocery store- these
are roasted, irradiated, or too old to germinate. Instead buy seeds from a
catalog or shop. Here are a few sources:
Start the seeds indoors about the same time as you
would start tomatoes inside- about 6 weeks before the last frost. Sesame is tricky to transplant so plant your
seeds in peat, paper or other pots you can plant right in the garden, a few
seeds in each pot. Deeper pots are best. Use seed starting medium for best
results. Barely cover the seeds and
press firmly into the soil.
Sesame seed only germinates in warm soil, 70 degrees is
ideal. You may want to use a heating pad
under the pots if the room isn’t warm. Germination
should happen in 10-14 days. The sesame seedlings must be in bright light-
either a greenhouse, south window or under grow lights and kept warm, 70
degrees is preferred, higher temperatures generally don’t hurt. Keep seedlings moist but be careful not to
overwater and get the soil soggy. Growth
will be slow at first but don’t worry.
When the sesame plants have several true leaves you
should thin to 1 plant per pot by cutting off the other plants. If the potting medium doesn’t have fertilizer
mixed into it feed the plants with a diluted liquid fertilizer for flowering
plants, half the recommended strength, once a week.
When the danger of frost has passed and the soil is
warmed to 70 degrees the sesame can be transplanted to a sunny spot in the
garden. Shade the plants for a few days
to get them used to full sunlight. Water
when the soil feels dry or if you notice wilting. The plants will sulk for a
bit after transplanting but should begin growing rapidly after a couple
weeks. Remember that the sesame plants
will get quite tall and may shade smaller plants.
Fertilize with a granular slow release fertilizer mixed
into the soil before transplanting, or use your favorite organic fertilizer in
amounts recommended for tomatoes. Sesame doesn’t require lots of fertilizer if
the soil is moderately fertile. Soil pH
is best at neutral or slightly acidic. Heavy clay soil that holds a lot of
water isn’t recommended.
Plants will bloom about a month- 6weeks after being
transplanted. It’s normal for the first
flowers to not produce seed pods. When
pods do develop let them dry on the plant until they are dark brown and opening
at the top. Then pick them and place
them in a paper bag in a dry, warm place to finish drying. If you don’t pick
them when they first begin to open you’ll probably lose a lot of seeds. Pods
will ripen over several weeks on the plant but the first frost or really cold
night will stop the process. When the
pods in your bag have split all the way down the side you can shake any
remaining seeds out. Spread the seeds
thinly over a screen and dry for a few more days. Then store your seeds in clean containers
with tight lids.
Sesame has few garden pests or diseases, especially in
the north, but plant it in different location each year. It’s an annual so plants die and should be
removed to the compost pile after the first frost.
Sex candy and chocolate or chocolate covered sex candy, which will
you choose for Valentine’s Day?
Kim Willis
“He who has a garden and
a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero
More Information
Love is in the garden-or the spice rack
A repeat article on plants that promise passion by Kim Willis
Valentine’s
Day is this week and you may be wondering what kind of gift you could bring
someone to make him or her love you more in many senses of the word. Jewelry and flowers may evoke warm feelings
but some people are looking for something more, let’s say, efficient.
Some of the
earliest written herbals contain references to plants that have aphrodisiac
properties and potions that are said to bring true love. Many think that chocolate is a popular
Valentines treat because it enhances sexual desire but modern science has
proven that chocolate doesn’t have an effect on actual sexual performance. It does however affect the pleasure areas of
the brain and causes people to feel happier.
And since desire is largely produced in the brain bringing someone a box
of chocolate isn’t a waste of time, not only does it show you care but it makes
the recipient happy. Interestingly in
Japan women send chocolate to men on Valentine’s Day. Just don’t mention to your love that Aztec
prostitutes were paid in cacao beans.
However
there are some common plants, (herbs) that you may have in the house or yard
that do enhance desire and sexual performance. The scientific community has
been exploring plant pharmaceuticals intensively lately and there is great
interest in finding a substitute for the “little blue pill” which has so many
deadly side effects. So if you want your
Valentine to love you more in every way you may want to try some of these
plants that recent science has confirmed could enhance your love life.
Nutmeg,(
Myristica fragrans) has long been used in magic love potions and since a
chemical found in nutmeg, myristicin, is used to produce the illegal street
drug ecstasy it was no wonder that animal tests found that it enhanced male
sexual performance. Studies on females
have not been done but folklore and common practice suggest that is also
effective on females. Mace is another
spice from the same plant and is said to have similar effects. In the amounts you would use in foods or
teas nutmeg would not be harmful or have bad side effects; however you can
overdose on the street drug and I don’t recommend it.
Both garlic
and garlic chives were found in animal studies to have aphrodisiac
effects. If you can find a way to slip
them into a Valentine meal you could improve your love life and your health
since garlic has many other health benefits.
Saffron, a
spice made from the sexual organs of a type of crocus (Crocus sativus) has also
been found to enhance sexual performance in animal studies. These studies typically use male animals and
an aqueous extract of saffron but herbal lore suggests use of the spice in
cooking is also helpful.
Two common
garden weeds have recently been evaluated for their love enhancing
abilities. Lambsquarters, (Chenopodium
album) and Beggers ticks, Stick tights or Tickweed (Bidens frondosa) have both
been shown to have significant aphrodisiac abilities in recent scientific
studies. In animal studies extracts of
the herbs were used. The seeds of
lambsquarters are used in herbal remedies and were dried and ground into flour
by Native Americans. The young greens
are also eaten as a spinach substitute.
The bark of the stems of Sticktight ( Bidens) was the part used in studies. It could possibly be made into a tea.
Goji berry
or Wolfberry is being touted as the next wonder food and among its good
properties is apparently the ability to increase sexual hormones. Several garden catalogs are offering Goji
berry plants for sale and they are said to grow as far north as Zone 5. If you are in a hurry to obtain the benefits
of Goji there are many juices and other products on the market, probably in
your local store.
Common tea
(Camellia sinensis) had a marked aphrodisiac effect on rats. Perhaps that’s why the English preferred tea
as a drink. Tea has been used as a drink
for many centuries and it seems that if people were getting a love boost from
it that effect would be well known.
Maybe a little tea spiced with nutmeg would be an improvement.
Damiana is
an herb you can grow although it may be hard to find locally. It has proven aphrodisiac qualities. Dried leaves of damiana are smoked or made
into a tea. Read my article about it
here.
Other
common plants that have some scientific validity as aphrodisiacs include
Maypops or Passionfruit, (Passiflora incarnate), panax ginsing, yohimbe, velvet beans (Mucuna
pruriens), and African basil (Ocimum gratissimum).
If a
stimulating massage oil is desired Ylang-ylang and rosewood (not rose)
essential oil mixed with coconut oil is said to be very exciting to women. Just smelling Ylang ylang is said to increase
sexual desire in women. Maybe you guys
out there might want to dab it behind your ears. (This hasn’t been proven scientifically,
it’s just folklore.)
If you
decide to experiment with a love potion this Valentine’s Day use a little
caution as people can have an allergic reaction to anything. It’s a good idea
to tell a person what they are being fed.
Many of these herbs would probably take days of treatment to work and
most studies used concentrated extracts that are hard to duplicate at home. Still a little imagination may work wonders
as after all, love and desire are strongly seated in the brain.
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. Kimwillis151@gmail.com
Attention Beekeepers!!! We are looking for individuals to
participate with a state-wide apiary registry. We are currently developing the
website/database for this project and we are looking for beekeepers who will
come in on the ground floor of this project and help us get it launched. Not
asking for any money, only your time and/or input. Please send us an e-mail if
you are interested in helping the bees or want to know more.
In specific, we are
looking for people with beekeeping experience to be board members for the
organization, inspectors for different areas around Michigan and volunteers to
help us get the word out at different clubs, festivals, etc. Please consider
helping us and the bees too! Visit our website and let us know if you can help!
www.MichiganApiaryRegistry.org
17th Annual Conference ASSOCIATION OF
PROFESSIONAL GARDENERS Saturday, March 7, 2015, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Waldenwoods Banquet and Conference Center, 2975 Old US-23, Hartland MI.
Drawing Inspiration from Japanese
Garden Design
Our Guest Presenter for the day will be Greg Afman,
Head Horticulturist for the Japanese Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand
Rapids, Michigan. This phenomenal new garden will debut in June 2015, and as
part of his presentation, Greg will share a first-hand review of its
progress. Greg is a knowledgeable,
enthusiastic, and engaging speaker, whom we discovered last August, when he led
APG members on a tour of the future Japanese Garden.
His presentations
will cover:
The Evolution of the
Japanese Garden
Applying Japanese
Aesthetics to your Garden - This presentation conveys how Japanese design
principles are universally applicable to all gardens especially here in
Michigan.
Create Your Own
Bonsai Planter - In the afternoon Greg will facilitate a hands-on workshop, in
which all Conference attendees will create and take home their own Bonsai. All materials will be supplied with the
exception of wire cutters and a small pair of scissors or pruners, which we ask
you to bring.
Cost: APG Member
$60; Non-member $80. Includes Continental breakfast, lunch, conference materials,
and workshop supplies. Registration Deadline: Friday, February 20, 2015.
Seating is limited, so please register early! Registration at link below or
call/email Sue Grubba, president, (248) 535-4940, or suegrubba@sbcglobal.net
Bringing Birds & Bees Through the
Use of Native Plants Fri, February 27, 10-11:30am Meadow Brook Hall, Rochester,
MI,
Laura Zigmanth
shares what native plants bring in butterflies & native bees. Sponsored By
Meadow Brook GC. Cost: $5. Coffee at
9:15. For more information call 248‑364‑6210.
Never Stop Growing Tue, March 3, 2015, Ypsilanti
District Library, Ypsilanti, MI
Join Garden A to
Z.com's Janet Macunovich for tips on gardening as the years add up. Part of a new series. Call 734-482-4110 for more information.
Backyard Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop Saturday morning, March 28, 2015
from 10am to 12:30pm, Greater Holy Temple C.O.G.I.C. , 6702 N. Dort Hwy, Flint,
MI
Bob Tritten, MSUE
District Fruit Educator will give an outdoor demonstration workshop at two
community orchards. We will also visit the Uni-Corn Community Garden to cover
pruning of older fruit trees. Participants will learn the basic methods of
pruning young and bearing fruit trees. Pre-registration required by 3/25/15. Workshop
to be held rain or shine (walking required)
Contact: Deb
Hamilton at 810-244-8547 or email: hamiltod@anr.msu.edu Cost per person: $10.00 Make check payable to edible
flint Mail to: MSU Extension, 605 N. Saginaw Street, Suite 1A, Flint, MI
48502. Please include NAME, ADDRESS,
PHONE # AND EMAIL ADDRESS.
Spring 2015 Symposium by the Master
Gardeners of St. Clair County, Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Cornerstone Church, 4025 North Road, Clyde,
MI 48049 - (Two miles west of Port Huron, MI)
Keynote speaker
Sean Hogan Portland,
OR. Cistus Nursery. Class topics:
Richard Bitner- “Designing with
Conifers”, Panayoti Kelaidis, “Rockgardens”,
Susan Betz: “Magical Moons &
Seasonal Circles”, Sean Hogan: “More Than Meets the Eye”.
Early bird
registration: $80.00, includes all speakers, continental breakfast, lunch, and
snack break. Late registration,(after February 20, 2015), $90.00. Make check
payable to MGSCC (Master Gardeners of St. Clair County) Checks or money orders
only, to be cashed upon arrival in the mail – no refunds can be made after
February 20.
Mail registration
to: Sandy Billings, 99 Richman Rd., St. Clair, MI 48079, call Sandy at (810)
367-3399; E-mail: sanderan51@yahoo.com or Lisa Sharrow at (810) 329-3722. More
information and Registration forms are also online at www.mgoscc.org
The MSU Hort Club 2015 Spring Show
and Plant Sale Saturday April 18th 2014, 9am-6pm and Sunday April
19th 2014, 10am- 4pm located in the head house of the Plant and Soil Sciences
Building (PSS) at Michigan State University, 1600 Bogue St, East Lansing (located
on the corner of Wilson and Bogue.)
No information is
given about what the show entails or whether there is a fee to enter but if you
want to see the list of plants they are selling you can go here.
There is parking in
the 4H Children’s garden parking lot just south of the PSS bldg, in the vet med
lot across Bogue and the Horticulture Department lot to the west of PSS.
(*Note: locations are marked on the map with 'Parking') Be sure to read parking
signs as parking tickets are common on MSU's campus. Please enter through
either the south door of the head house or through the greenhouses.
Growing Bee Friendly Plants Workshop February 12, 2015, 1:00pm - 3:00pm-
Tollgate Conference Center, 28115 Meadowbrook Road, Novi, MI
Are you concerned
about all of the media hype around pollinator health or buyer restrictions on growing
plants without neonicotinoids? Do you want to ensure that the plants you
produce will be bee-friendly? Dr. Dave Smitley will share his research results
from recent studies on the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on bumblebees
and share best management practices in order to grow bee-friendly plants.
Topics to be covered include: • Overview of neonicotinoid and bee issue •
Biorational products • Alternatives to neonicotinoids • Biological control as
an alternative pest management practice • Bee-friendly insecticides • Safe use
of systemic drenches • New products available • Best management practices for
producing bee-friendly plants Cost: FREE! But it does require an RSVP* by
February 9, 2015 to Kristin Getter at 517-355-5191 x1341 or getterk@msu.edu *If
fewer than 10 attendees are registered by February 9, 2015, this workshop will
be canceled.
MSU Horticulture Gardens’ Spring
Program: Can You Dig It?, May 2, 2015 8
a.m. - 4 p.m., Plant and Soil
Sciences Building, 1066 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI
Sessions include: Woodland wonders from the wild, Art
of Gardening, Joy of Propagation,
Cultivating the recipe garden, lunch from Grand Traverse Pie Company
included. Rare plant sales. Early registration (on or before April 21)
for MSU Horticulture Garden Member $69 Early registration (on or before April
21) for non-MSU Horticulture Garden Member $79 Registrations received after
April 21 $89
Register
online: http://events.anr.msu.edu/register.cfm?eventID=F981110CAB81205F®isProcessID=78A6375F6399E682
Contact:
517-353-0443, hgardens@msu.edu.
Gardening and All That Jazz –
Innovation and Sustainability For Your Garden, Saturday, April 25, 2015 – 7 am –
4:15 pm, Oakland Schools Conference Center 2111 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford
Sessions
include: Will Allen – Growing Power and the Good Food Revolution: A visual
story of how Growing Power came to be and of Will Allen’s personal journey, the
lives he has touched, and a grassroots movement that is changing the way our
nation eats., Will Allen – How To Put “Growing Power” in Your Backyard: How to
make your own compost bin, outdoor and indoor worm bins and raised beds.
Matthew Benson – Growing Beautiful Food: Cultivating the Incredible, Edible
Garden - Kerry Ann Mendez – Gardening Simplified for Changing Lifestyle:
Exceptional Plants and Design Solutions for Aging and Time-pressed Gardeners
Lunch and snacks
included in cost. Garden marketplace and
jazz musicians. Early Bloomers Registration Fee: $70 After March 14, 2015 Fee:
$80 Registration at the door is not available. Registration Deadline:
Wednesday, April 20, 2015 Registr by
going to http://www.mgsoc.org/2015Conference_registration.pdf
For more info: Nancy Strodl, Phone:
248-552-5095, E-mail: nancy_strodl@comcast.net
Horticultural Therapy: Connecting
People and Plants-March 13, 2015 - March 14, 2015 Plant and Soil Sciences
Building, 1066 Bogue St., East Lansing, MI 48824
The Michigan
Horticultural Therapy Association is excited to present two events 36th Annual
Conference ‒ Friday, March 13, 8:30 a.m. ‒ 4 p.m. and a workshop ‒ Saturday, March
14, 8:30 a.m. ‒ 12:30 p.m. in conjunction with Agriculture and Natural
Resources Week at Michigan State University. Join us for presentations,
networking, vendors, books sales and more as we learn more about using
horticulture as therapy.
For complete program
and registration information, go to www.michiganhta.org or contact Cathy Flinton at cathy@michiganhta.org.
Michigan Herb Associates Annual
Conference- March 13, 2015 - March 14, 2015 Eppley Center and Business College
Complex/Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, MSU Campus, East Lansing MI.
The theme of the
28th annual Michigan Herb Associates (MHA) Conference is “Sensational Savory.”
The Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Horticulture and Michigan
Herb Associates sponsor the conference. The two-day MHA conference is filled
with programs of interest to beginning and advanced herb gardeners and crafters
who enjoy growing and using herbs as a hobby.
Lectures and
demonstrations will take place at the Eppley Center and Business College
Complex. A market of vendors will offer herbal plants and topiaries, herbal
food-related items, decorative garden ornaments and jewelry, and many other
gift items. MHA will have a small gift shop along with speaker book sales and
signings. A live plant auction will take place Friday and Saturday.
Organic Farming Intensives Initiative
Classes March 12, 2015 - 9 am- 4 pm - Michigan State University, Brody Complex, East
Lansing MI.
The Organic Farming
Intensives Initiative will offer three to four all-day classes of single topics
with a focus on organic farming. Possible topics include vegetable production,
fruit tree management, soil health, transplants, pest management, farm-plan
building and organic certification.
For more information,
contact Vicki Morrone at sorrone@msu.edu or 517-282-3557. To learn more about
the Organic Farming Exchange, visit http://www.michiganorganic.msu.edu/.
Michigan Beekeepers Association
Spring Conference Friday, March 13, 2015 and Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the
Kellogg Center on the Michigan State University campus, East Lansing, Mi.
There will be
break-out sessions on both days covering a wide range of topics that should be
of interest for both the beginner and advanced beekeeper alike. And, of course, the ever-popular vendor area
will be back so that you can see all of the latest beekeeping equipment in one
place. Also, this year we will be
expanding the vendors to include a “beekeeping” trade show. The trade show will feature major
manufacturers of beekeeping equipment and gear.
Here will be your opportunity to see what’s new in the beekeeping world
and meet the folks who actually make your stuff!
Pre-registration is
available on-line and we encourage all attendees to do so. When you pre-register you get a discount
too! We encourage all conference
attendees to pre-register. If you
pre-pay when you pre-register, your conference material will be available for
immediate pick-up… no waiting in line.
For more information go to http://www.michiganbees.org/2015-spring-conference/
MSU Tollgate Maple Tapping and
Pancake Celebration March 15, 2015-10 a.m. - 12 p.m. or 1 - 3 p.m. 28115 Meadowbrook Rd, Novi, MI,
Celebrate
the Maple Tapping Season with Pancakes at MSU Tollgate! With a full-on pancake
breakfast or lunch!
Identify
and tap a maple tree, tour the sugar shack with ongoing evaporation, take a
wagon ride, taste maple syrup, and tackle historical tools! Prior to the 2-hour
program, enjoy a pancake celebration in the historic, 19th-century barn.
Pancakes, coffee, cocoa, and of course, real maple syrup will be provided!
Eat your
fill of yummy food and grab a cup of coffee 9 - 10 a.m. before your 2-hour
program. Enjoy entertainment in the 19th century barn while you eat and relax.
Need to
sleep in? Join us at 12 p.m. for a pancake lunch before heading out to the
sugar bush at 1 p.m.
Cost is
$12.00 per person. If cancellations are needed, please do so before March 11,
2015, to avoid cancellation fee of $5 per person registered.
The last
day to register online is March 11, 2015.
Landscape Design Workshop Sat,
February 14, 1 pm
at All English Gardens locations- see below.
FREE. We
provide the supplies & suggestions you need to plot an area & create a
successful design. www.EnglishGardens.com.
Sign up
in-store or on-line: www.EnglishGardens.com. Locations: Ann Arbor, Maple Village Shopping Center, 155
N. Maple Rd., Ann Arbor, Phone: (734) 332-7900, Clinton Township, 44850
Garfield Rd. at Hall Rd., Clinton Twp., MI, Phone: (586) 286-6100, Dearborn
Heights, 22650 Ford Rd., Dearborn Heights, MI
Nursery: (313) 278-4433, Eastpointe, 22501 Kelly Rd., Eastpointe, MI,
Phone: (586) 771-4200, Royal Oak, 4901 Coolidge Hwy, Royal Oak, MI , Phone:
(248) 280-9500, West Bloomfield, 6370 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, MI,
Phone: (248) 851-7506
Grand Rapids Smart Gardening
Conference March 7, 2015- 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monroe Meeting Rooms DeVos Place, Grand Rapids,
Michigan
Classes include: “Smart Design of the Living
Landscape-Putting back the Layers”, Rick Darke, “Tapping the Smart Gardener’s
Work Force—Predators, Parasitoids and Pollinators!”, Elly Maxwell, Entomologist,
Dow Gardens, Vegetable Potpourri for the Smart Gardener”, Rebecca Krans, “Grow
More with Less-a Smart Approach to Gardening!”, Vincent Simeone Horticulturist,
Author, Lecturer, Oyster Bay, New York.
Cost: Early Bird Registration by Feb. 13 - $59 Late Registration - $70 Must pre-register. Enrollment
deadline is Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 or until full. More info and online
registration http://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?folder=smartgardening2015 or
Contact: finneran@msu.edu, 616-632-7865
28th ANNUAL MICHIGAN WILDFLOWER
CONFERENCE- Sunday
March 8 and Monday March 9, 2015- Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center , MSU
campus, East Lansing MI.
$65 for one
day, $120 for both until 2/25/2015, after that $75 and $140. WAM membership required, add $15. Laura Liebler, Registrar Phone:
734.662.2206
MSU offered a variety of on line
seminars for those who were interested in beginning farming topics of various
types. Some of those are now available
free to watch at the address below.
Gardeners may be interested in topics like organic pest control. Get the list of topics and links here.
Dow Know and Grow Seminar February 21, 2015
Bullock Creek High School, 1420
Badour Rd. Midland, MI
This
seminar consists of 3 classes, “Creating
Your Perennial Plant Community:The Know Maintenance Approach”, “Living Soil: How it Works”, and “Year-Round Vegetable
Gardening”. There will be a vendor’s
area. Lunch is included. The early registration fee is $60.00. Registration
after February 6, 2015 is $75.00.
To
REGISTER BY PHONE call Dow Gardens at 631-2677 or 1-800-362-4874. Please have
your credit card information ready.
To
REGISTER BY MAIL send the form in this brochure with a check or credit card information
to: Dow Gardens, 1018 W. Main St., Midland, MI 48
To look
at a brochure, get more information and register on line please use this link.
Conifer Propagation Seminar at Hidden Lake
Gardens, March 7, 2015 – 9am – 4pm, 6214 Monroe Road (M-50),Tipton, MI
Join us
as we share what we know about some of the rare plants of the Harper Collection
of Dwarf and Rare Conifers. Now condensed into one day!
Learn
the art and science of making more conifers (cone-bearing plants). Staff and
volunteers will share their extensive knowledge and experience on the nuances
of propagation. Seminar includes:
Hands-on
grafting of 6 different plants*
Cuttings
of at least 16 plants*
Lunch,
and
Tour of
Harper Collection or propagation facility
*
Species will likely include Thuja, Juniperus, Pinus, Picea, and Abies.
Extensive care instructions provided.
Designed
for the beginning propagator, this seminar will share techniques even
experienced propagators will appreciate. Advance registration is required, but
experience is not.
Cost:
$100 per person early registration ($90 per person for Friends of HLG) $125 per
person after Feb 21. Registration is limited and will close on March 1st.
Registration is required. Hidden Lake Gardens - www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu (517)
431-2060
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
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You must give your full name and what you say must be polite and not attack any
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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
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