Tuesday, March 31, 2015

March 31, 2015 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter

March 31, 2015 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter    © Kim Willis


Hello Gardeners

Well I must say I was disappointed this morning when I woke up to see 4-5 inches of heavy wet snow.  Its melting fast and I guess we did need the moisture but still…  I heard frogs singing yesterday, slow and sleepy but singing.  I hope the poor things don’t freeze before it warms up again.  After being outside yesterday doing barn and yard cleanup having to wear boots to get to the barn this morning wasn’t fun.

I spent Sunday potting up some plants I got from Logee’s, tender perennials like Jasmine, Brugmansia, tropical hibiscus and others.  They were beautifully packed and very healthy plants, but a little large for the 2 ½ and 4 inch pots they were in.  Then I spent an hour or so shuffling things around to find window space for them until the porch is warm enough and the squirrels are gone.  I still have some dahlia and begonia bulbs to get potted this week.  I put in a big seed order too, and now I need to get some decent weather so I can get my raised beds ready for planting.  We are supposed to get some 60 degree weather soon so maybe I can get that done.

The tulips and daffodils are a couple inches above ground and just maybe the crocus will bloom in a few days.  I am actually seeing less winter burn on the arborvitae this spring than last year.  I noticed the forsythia had large buds but whether they are leaves or flowers is hard to say.

While this was one of the driest Marches in history here it looks like we are in for a lot of wet days in the first week of April.  I noticed our pond was lower than last year so maybe we will catch up a bit.   We are predicted to have thunderstorms this Thursday.  It’s time to check the weather radio to make sure it’s working properly because the severe weather season is just around the corner.

How to make salads healthier; add eggs and red lettuce

It’s been known for a while that you need to eat fat with your salad to get all of the healthy carotenes, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals from those greens and veggies. Now research from Purdue University has shown that adding cooked eggs to your salad (or vegetables to your eggs) is the best way to maximize absorption of vitamins, minerals, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. The cooked eggs also provide protein, healthy fats and additional amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin as well as choline, all essential for a healthy body.

And while you are choosing the greens for that salad make sure to include both dark green and red lettuces,(or other greens).  Research done at the University of Pisa in Italy on the antioxidant qualities of lettuce found that red leaved varieties provided the body with a fast release of antioxidants while dark green leaved lettuces provided a slower, more sustained release of antioxidants. Combining red or purple leaved varieties of greens with dark green colored greens provided the best nutrition.  Iceberg type lettuces with their pale green or yellow colors have little nutritional benefit.

So the healthiest salad would be that with red and dark green lettuce, lots of colorful raw vegetables, whole cooked eggs, and maybe some nuts, seeds, or fruit along with a high fat dressing- preferably not one made from soy oil.  The calories in this higher fat salad are more than offset by its greater nutritional value and we now know that healthy fats from eggs and good oils do not transform into body fat.

Making chocolate healthier

At the 249th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society researchers from the University of Ghana described some new techniques they found in processing cacao beans into chocolate that help  the chocolate retain more healthy antioxidants and make the chocolate sweeter and deeper in flavor.  The antioxidants in chocolate have been proven to boost heart health.

Normally cacao beans are fermented shortly after picking.  Research shows that allowing the beans to age for 7 days before fermenting increased the polyphenols (antioxidants) in the resulting chocolate and made it taste sweeter and more “mellow”.  Also roasting the cacao beans at a slightly lower temperature for a slightly longer time than is traditionally done retained the healthy properties and produced higher quality chocolate.  The research got funding from the Belgian government so look for that Belgian chocolate.

Do urban farm markets actually offer healthier foods?

Farmers Market in Lapeer Michigan
While farm markets are certainly great for finding local foods and introducing them into what are known as urban food deserts, researchers are beginning to question just how much better food at a farm market is for buyers than at a conventional store.  In urban areas, those that seem to need farm markets the most, farmers markets may not be the healthiest option for food purchases.

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Montefiore Medical Center studied the 26 farm markets scattered around the Bronx in New York and analyzed the food that could be purchased there over a season.  They found that the farm markets contained a lot of unhealthy foods.  At least a third of the foods offered at stands were sugary, highly processed foods like bread, muffins, fruit juices, and candy.  Other items were obviously not grown locally, bananas, oranges, and so on and were more expensive than the same items at conventional stores.  Food offered as organic often tested positive for agricultural pesticides.

In general they found that the produce offered at urban farm markets was of no better quality than similar foods at conventional markets and almost always more expensive.  And despite the myth of produce being unavailable in these urban areas researchers found that there was a conventional store selling produce within a few blocks of each farmers market, although organic produce and the variety of items offered may not have been as available.

In suburban and rural areas farmers markets may offer slightly lower prices and more produce that is truly grown organically and locally, although that premise is still being tested. Junk food, like pies and breads, may be even more prevalent. But one other research study is pointing out that there still may health concerns with farmers markets that consumers should be aware of.

Researchers at Chapman University's Food Science Program and University of Washington conducted tests for bacterial contamination of foods at farmers markets in California and Washington State.  They found a high percentage of produce was contaminated with E.coli and some produce also tested positive for salmonella. 

Home producers of fruits and vegetables and things like baked goods do not have to follow the rigorous rules of wholesalers selling to conventional stores nor are their products tested for contaminants. They may transport items for sale in dirty vehicles and containers and the produce is often unwashed. They may use manure inappropriately on organically grown crops. In addition items displayed in the open air may be handled by people with unclean hands or even have contaminants carried to them by wind.

Shopping at farmers markets is a great way to support the local economy and get locally grown produce.  But shoppers should also be mindful to choose from clean, neat looking stands, to ask questions about the organic status and where the produce was grown and to make sure the produce is fresh and displayed properly.  Never eat things from the stands without washing them thoroughly, even if you are told they are organic.  It does no good to buy organic produce if you are going to come down with a nasty case of diarrhea from E.coli contamination.

Rhodiola rosea may cure depression as well as prescription drugs

Rhodiola rosea, commonly known as roseroot, has been used in Chinese and Russian medicine for a long time.  It’s a sedum relative that grows in cold mountainous regions of North America, Asia and Europe.  It has several short stalks with fleshy leaves and in summer it blooms with tiny yellow 4- petal flowers in clusters at the top of the stalks. Roseroot has separate male and female plants.  The thick, stubby root is the part used in herbal medicine and the ground dried root smells like roses, leading to the common name.

Rosewood.
en.wikipedia.org
In herbal medicine roseroot is used to increase stamina, relieve fatigue and help alleviate altitude sickness.  It was also used to cure sexual and reproductive problems in men and women.  It was thought to regulate the thyroid.  The dried root is usually used in tinctures.

Recently research done at the Perelman School of Medicine of University of Pennsylvania and published in the journal Phytomedicine found that patients with mild to moderate depression had as much improvement taking a roseroot extract as those taking a prescription anti-depressant called sertraline with far fewer side effects.  The improvement in depression was measured by several clinical tests.

Roseroot seeds are available for herbalists to try and grow but they are tricky to germinate.  Plants can also be grown from cuttings.  The plant likes coarse, gravely soil and full sun. Rosewood could be grown in a rock garden. It does not do too well in warmer climates however and must have very good drainage.

Are non-native garden plant species really bad?

The fad is still raging for native plants and many gardeners are a little confused – both about what plants they should grow and whether they are harming the environment if they plant non-natives.  A growing amount of research is suggesting that most non-native plants that “ go wild”  aren’t really that bad for the environment in the long run and that some are actually beneficial.  Of course there are some bad players- plants that poison livestock for example- but in the long run research is saying that most of the worry over non- native plants pushing out natives is much to do about nothing.  Gardeners should stop feeling guilty about causing environmental destruction if they choose to plant
Autumn Olive
exotic plant species in the garden.

Pollinators are one of the concerns of the native plant crowd.  But honey bees, one of the preferred pollinators, aren’t native to North America.  It stands to reason that they adapted to new plants and that native pollinators adapt to exotic plants too.  In fact a bee would rather find a good source of nectar and pollen in a non-native plant then spend a lot of time visiting poor sources of those foods from native plants.  Some non-native plants that provide food for bees in the early spring are the dandelion, crocus, and various fruit trees that are not native plants.  Without them bumble bees and other native bees would have a harder time finding good early food sources.

The worry that non-native invasive plants will crowd out native species is also somewhat dramatized, according to the newest research.  When you look at a field over taken by Autumn Olive, for example, you think it’s a terrible thing.  But the truth is that that abandoned field would have become covered with some other brushy plant if the Autumn Olive hadn’t shown up.  That’s what fields do- if left alone first shrubs grow and then trees.  It’s called succession.

And a native brushy plant may not have been better than Autumn Olive. (This is just one example.) Autumn Olive provides lots of nectar for bees, it is nitrogen fixing and actually improves the soil and it provides berries for birds and other wildlife.  Trees grow faster among Autumn Olives than among many native shrubs. Eventually those trees will replace the Autumn Olive. Yes, the habitat for wildlife changes in the transition from meadow to brush land but it was going to change anyway.

There are cases when non- native plants may need to be severely controlled as when an endangered native plant species may be further endangered by plants that can utilize that environment more efficiently. (And a competing native plant can also endanger a species whose environment has been altered.)  But remember that the non-native species is almost always not the cause of the native plants original decline.  It declined because its environment disappeared or became altered. That allowed a non-native who could utilize that altered environment to occupy it.  When native plants have the right environment they are generally better able to survive than invading exotics. 

For one thing our climate is changing and plant species will need to change with it.  Since man has been on earth we have been responsible for altering the plant species around us, both by changing the environment and by introducing new species through our travels, both deliberately and accidently.  In the vast majority of cases the new plant species have a neutral effect on the natural ecology of an area.  Yes, things change, but the change is the way nature sustains life.

Dames Rocket
The time spent pulling Dames Rocket, a rather pretty plant that’s considered invasive, and some other exotics, is probably wasted.  They have been around for decades if not centuries and in the broad view of things have changed the environment very little.  They may seem overwhelming in some areas- along roadsides and around human dwellings for example- but the roadsides aren’t really natural environments anyway.  They have not caused the extinction of any native species. 

Research has found that non-natives may take over certain areas but those areas are generally patchy and already becoming unsuitable for the native plants displaced. The journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Science” have recently published research studies that conclude most non-native plants do little damage to natural environments.  If suitable unspoiled native environments exist they are for the most part occupied by native plants adapted to them.  There are sometimes “bursts” of non-native plants in an area until insects, wildlife, and diseases adapt to utilizing them and control them so that they become part of the environment and not the domineering species.  But over time these bursts and pockets of non- natives do little harm to the environment.

Gardeners should be more concerned about exotic plants overpowering their landscapes than worrying about them “escaping”.  Some plants like Japanese Knot weed and comfrey can make your life as a gardener very hard.  But so can some native plants like Virginia Creeper and Black Walnuts.  Of course you must respect state laws that prohibit certain plants and you shouldn’t deliberately plant non-native plants in wild areas.  But don’t think you are doing something terribly wrong if you decide to grow plants in your garden that aren’t native. Native plants may or may not be easier to grow in your garden.  Some non-native trees, shrubs and garden plants may actually grow better in your human altered environment and be less invasive than natives.  The best gardens contain a mixture of native and non-native plants. 

Facts about dandelions

Did you know that the dandelion is not a native plant?  They were brought here by early European colonists as an herbal plant and escaped to live happily ever after.  Lawns lit up with gold splashes are so pretty after a long winter how could people hate them?  Its likely more people would tolerate dandelions “naturalized” in the lawn if they didn’t turn into those white fluff balls of seed. 

The bees appreciate dandelions too.  They are an important source of nectar and pollen in early spring, and get bee colonies off to a good start.  Birds like the seeds of dandelions even though they are small.  Some farm animals don’t care for dandelion foliage as it’s rather bitter and the plants are often left to flower in pastures to the delight of the bees. The only place that dandelions should really be removed from is orchards.  Bees will often bypass fruit tree flowers for dandelion flowers and that isn’t a good thing if you want fruit.

Dandelions mean spring.
Dandelions are interesting plants. The leaves are grooved and arranged to funnel water to the roots and the root itself is a long sturdy taproot capable of storing water so the plant survives drought well.  The dandelion begins flowering when the day length is slightly below 12 hours, stops flowering when the day gets to its longest point and then begins flowering again in autumn when the day length is about 12 hours again.

Dandelion flowers are actually masses of small flowers bundled together and these flowers do not need pollination to set seed, although they appreciate and reward bees for helping with pollination.  Dandelion flowers close at night and when rain is coming.  The dandelion seed floats away on a tuff of fluff to start new colonies.  Dandelions are perennial and if you dig down beneath the snow you can find the leaves still green in winter.

All parts of the dandelion are used in herbal remedies or for food. Young dandelion leaves are used for salads and are grown commercially for that purpose to include in “green mixes.”  The buds of dandelions and even open flowers can be used in salads also.  The young greens are cooked like spinach, although they are best mixed with other greens as they are bitter when cooked. 

Dried dandelion leaves are used as a tea to aid digestion.  Dried dandelion leaves, dried nettles and yellow dock are turned into an herbal beer once popular in Canada.  The leaves are high in calcium, boron, and silicone and modern herbals suggest them to aid in treating osteoporosis. 

Dandelion flowers are used to make dandelion wine.  Fresh flowers are picked and fermented with sugar and yeast, usually flavored with a little lemon and orange to make a wine that is said to taste good and provide you with lots of vitamins and minerals.  Dandelion flowers contain high levels of lecithin and choline, two substances modern herbalists use for treating Alzheimer’s and other brain disorders.

Dandelion roots are dried and ground and used in a number of medicinal ways.  They are a mild diuretic and laxative and are said to help the liver.  The dried roots are also used as a coffee substitute.  The chopped, boiled and mashed roots are an old remedy for sore breasts and mastitis.

When you pick a dandelion flower the stem leaks a milky sap.  That sap is an old remedy for warts and other skin conditions.  And that sap can be turned into rubber too.  In Germany a manufacturing facility began large scale production of rubber from dandelions in October of 2013.  They hope to have dandelion rubber tires on the commercial market within five years.  Besides tires the rubber will be used in many other applications that traditional rubber and latex are used for, such as latex gloves.

As you can see a lawn full of dandelions is like a giant herb and vegetable garden rolled into one!  Of course when you pick dandelion parts for eating and herbal use pick them from areas that have not been sprayed with pesticides.  Why would anyone want to pollute their lawn with weed killers to get rid of this valuable plant?   Don’t hate this valuable and useful plant-think of it kindly and let some live.

Gardener’s health tips

Gardening season begins soon!  In fact you may already be out cleaning and pruning the garden. Gardening is healthy, both for the body and mind but there are some health considerations gardeners should be aware of. 

Don’t overdo it the first few days, especially if you have been house bound all winter.  It’s so nice to be out in the sun, working in the soil that time passes quickly and before you know it you have spent hours working.  The next day however you may not feel like working at all because you are so sore.  Alternate activities, do some pruning for an hour, then some raking, then some hauling of mulch.  This will keep you from getting too sore. Stay off your knees as much as possible and watch the heavy lifting.  Don’t forget to do some sitting and daydreaming too.

All gardeners should have a tetanus booster at least every ten years.  Tetanus is a soil borne disease and gardeners have lots of contact with soil.  Wear mosquito repellant when working in the garden.  Mosquitoes carry the West Nile Virus and every year many people in the United States die of West Nile Virus.  If you are handling peat or vermiculite while potting plants wear a dust mask.  These dusty products can harm your lungs.

Wear sunscreen or protect yourself with a hat, long sleeves and pants.  Even if you are not concerned with skin cancer, heavy tanning makes your skin wrinkle and look older much faster than people who keep tanning to a minimum.  Check any prescription medicine you are taking to see if your exposure to sun could cause a reaction also.  Protect your eyes from glare by wearing a hat with a brim or a visor even if you wear sunglasses or color changing lenses.  The glare coming over the top of the frame can damage your eyes.

Don’t get fooled tomorrow.

Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero

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

A new herb group is forming!  The Lapeer Herb Circle will meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month at Rebekah’s Health and Nutrition Store, 6 pm. at  588 S. Main, Lapeer ( next to Office Depot).  March’s topic will be herbs for bees.  They also have a facebook page you can join.

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

Here’s a link to classes being offered at Campbell’s Greenhouse, 4077 Burnside Road, North Branch.  Now open.

Here’s a link to programs being offered at English Gardens, several locations in Michigan.

Here’s a link to classes at Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy and Shelby Twsp. MI, and now combined with Goldner Walsh in Pontiac MI.

Here’s a link to classes and events at Bordines, Rochester Hills, Grand Blanc, Clarkston and Brighton locations

Here’s a link top events at the Leslie Science and Nature Center, 1831 Traver Road Ann Arbor, Michigan  | Phone 734-997-1553 |
http://www.lesliesnc.org/

Here’s a link to events at Hidden Lake Gardens, 6214 Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI

Here’s a link to all the spring programs being offered at Seven Ponds Nature center in Dryden, Michigan. http://www.sevenponds.org/education/progs/springprograms/

Pollinator Gardens and Native Plantings,  April 11, 2015, 10:00 am –noon-  County Farm Field Operations Building 2210 Platt Rd., Ann Arbor right next to the red playground.

This new course will explore developing pollinator gardens and native plantings.

Strong fruit and vegetable production often depends on the tiniest of garden visitors – native bees and honey bees.  Learn how to design a beautiful garden that will boost your crop production, attract beneficial insects, and support native biodiversity. This course is taught by Washtenaw County Naturalist Shawn Severance.

**New for 2015**  $5/class fee for all classes to discourage no-shows;   registration is required.  Call (734) 996-3169. Walk-ins are welcome.

ReLeaf Michigan is having its annual tree sale, order online and pick up at several locations around Michigan.  http://releafmichigan.blogspot.com/p/tree-and-shrub-fundraiser-sale.html  Check out the unusual selection of trees and shrubs.

ReLeaf Michigan's annual tree and shrub sale helps to reverse Michigan's loss of tens of thousands of trees due to the emerald ash borer, storms, and old age.  Our tree sale is a fundraiser that also encourages the public to plant trees to improve the overall tree canopy of their community. Purchasing and planting our trees and shrubs offer environmental benefits that also provide ReLeaf Michigan with much-needed revenue to support our ongoing tree planting and educational programs.  Thanks for your support!

Spring Into Gardening Conference, Saturday, April 25, 2015, 9:00am to 4:00 pm, Mt. Pleasant, MI

A day-long Master Garden Conference held in Mount Pleasant, Michigan at the Comfort Inn and Suites.  Sponsored by the Master Gardener Association of Isabella County.  This conference is for the beginner to advanced gardeners who love to learn about gardening.  Please invite a friend to come along for a fun filled day! Public welcome-Not restricted to MG

Speakers:
Barb Balgoyen, topic - Perennials
Jason Erickson, topic - Water Features
Chuck Martin, topic - Divine use of Vines
Mary K. Hausbeck, topic - research on diseases of ornamentals, herbs and vegetables
Requires pre-registration. $60.00 cost includes - Four Speakers, Lunch, Vendors and door prizes
Phone:  (989) 400 – 1391 contact email:  b.laughlin@cmich.edu

Behind the Scenes at Hidden Lake Gardens- Thu, April 16, 2015, 6:30pm Hidden Lake Gardens,6214 Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI

April’s topic: Harper Collection
Explore behind the scenes with HLG’s Managing Director, Paul Pfeifer. This is an opportunity to enjoy a behind-the-scenes perspective on different areas of HLG’s collections. Bring your questions and learn a few tips and secrets.

Cost: $5 per person / free for Friends of HLG
Registration is required. Approximate class length is 90 minutes. www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu.

Trees for Tomorrow: Planting & Maintaining Healthy Trees, beginning March 30, 6:30-8:30pm, Pleasant Ridge Community Center , Pleasant Ridge, MI

This is a 5 week series sponsored by SOCWA. The $40.  Fee includes a class reference book.  You must register by Feb 23rd  by calling  248-546-5818.
 
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.

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
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

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 controlGet the list of topics and links here.


Newsletter information
If you would like to pass along a notice about an educational event or a volunteer opportunity please send me an email before Tuesday of each week and I will print it. Also if you have a comment or opinion you’d like to share, send it to me. Please state that you want to have the item published in my weekly notes. You must give your full name and what you say must be polite and not attack any individual. I am very open to ideas and opinions that don’t match mine but I do reserve the right to publish what I want.
Once again the opinions in this newsletter are mine and I do not represent any organization or business. I do not make any income from this newsletter. I write this because I love to share with other gardeners some of the things I come across in my research each week. It keeps me engaged with local people and horticulture. It’s a hobby, basically. I hope you enjoy it. If at any time you don’t wish to receive these emails just let me know. If you know anyone who would like to receive these emails have them send their email address to me.  KimWillis151@gmail.com




Tuesday, March 24, 2015

March 24, 2015 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newslette

March 24, 2015 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter    © Kim Willis

Hello Gardeners

While today doesn't seem too bad, a little cold, but get prepared for tonight and tomorrow morning.  We may have freezing rain and wind, which is a bad combination.  Get some gas for the generator, store some water and find the flashlights just in case.  I am really, really hoping this misses us- I hate what freezing rain does to the trees, and I don’t like being without lights and heat.

Actually, outside of the freezing rain predicted, this spell of weather isn’t much different than the same days in March 2014 and 2013.  Of course 2012 was a bit abnormal, with its 80 degree weather.  Last year on the 24th the high was 28 and the low 10 – we may get a bit warmer than that today. So actually we seem to be having pretty typical March weather with its swings from cold to mild.  We are low on the precip side though, and it looks like we may be setting up for a dry spring.

I went to Campbell’s Greenhouse Monday just to get somewhere warm and sunny filled with plants.  I came home with two new plants, both indoor plants.  The urge is strong; I have to keep reminding myself it’s still March.   And last Friday I got a mail order delivery of a new apple tree and a dogwood.  They are bareroot and dormant thank goodness because the ground isn’t ready to plant them.  I have stored them on the cool porch in the box they came in and I’m hoping to be able to plant them in a few days.

I don’t know how many of you find the garden events and classes that I post here helpful.  I have decided to just list links to garden store and nature center websites instead of listing individual classes.  Those few who are still trying to meet MG rules about education need to ask whoever is in charge whether those classes count for ed. credit.  Many retail garden places have classes in early spring before they get too busy, check with your favorite place if you don’t see it listed here.   And by the way if you want to list an event, class or have garden plants or items to sell send me a line at kimwillis151@gmail.com telling me what you want printed and I will do it here for free.

By the way I have seen 2 turkey vultures and actually saw 3 robins in North Branch Sunday so spring is coming.  Expect to see crocus soon.

Light pollution harming bats

Because people see bats by the light of street and yard lights flitting around, they assume that bats are benefiting from eating the insects attracted to the lights. But several research studies have found the opposite effect.  They found there are actually fewer bats in areas lit up at night, you just see them better.  And where there are many lights on at night bats are actually can’t feed as well and populations plummet.

Bats do have fairly good eyesight, but their eyes are designed to see in the dark. You know how hard it is to see in the dark after being in a brightly lit place and for bats it’s much worse.  While they do locate prey by echo location it turns out that seeing the prey is also important for catching it.  Researchers found that bats usually avoided areas lit up at night and when they did hunt in the brighter areas they caught fewer insects. 


Now some of you who are afraid of bats are probably running out to buy a new

sodium vapor lamp for the yard.  But many of us know that bats are extremely valuable in nature.  They consume their weight in insects nearly every night and for the most part they avoid humans as much as possible.  Bats are rapidly becoming endangered in many areas and the yards and streets lit up at night may be contributing to the problem.  And not just bats are affected by light pollution at night.  Research has found that birds reproductive hormones are disrupted, insect, reptile and amphibian life cycles changed and many types of plants are harmed by the night being lit up.

We may need to light some streets to keep humans safe but wherever possible we should eliminate lights being on at night.  The type of light and where it shines are also important to nature. Lights that shine downward are less disruptive than lights that are unshielded, except to plants just below them. Yellow toned lights such as old incandescent bulbs are less harmful than the bright white light of LEDs. 

If you want to attract bats to that bat box you hung in the garden, turn off the lights at night. You may want to help nature by re-thinking how much light you really need to have on outside at night.  Use motion detector lights for safety or set lights on timers if needed.  A few solar lights along a path probably don’t hurt much but if you are covering the yard with glowing objects at night you are doing more harm than good.  Light pollution is a serious problem affecting natural systems.  You can plant native plants and a pollinator garden but if you keep them brightly lit at night you may not be helping the environment like you think you are.

Nine foods that research says are superfoods

Here’s the latest list of foods everyone should eat; Chia Seeds, Flaxseeds, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Blueberries, Acai Berries, Tart Cherries, Avocados, and Cranberries. These foods are said to have beneficial effects on health by the Institute of Food Technologists in the latest issue of Food Technology.  Now your job is to combine all of these into a healthy meal- maybe a gorp mix?  I can see everything but the avocado in it.

I am glad I don’t see kale and broccoli on that list.  Maybe those fads are done.

Genetically modified potatoes

One of the foods I used to love- well I still like them, just don’t eat them much-and that is a great comfort food for many people is the potato.  But in recent years research has found that potatoes may not be very healthy for us.  Besides the fact that potatoes are filled with unhealthy carbs that rapidly increase blood glucose and cause diabetes and weight gain, they also create a chemical called acrylamide when subjected to heat.  Acrylamide consumption is linked to several forms of cancer and the FDA is urging people to consume less of foods that can create this compound.  In the US, French fries and potato chips are the foods with the greatest amount of acrylamide.

Could these fries cause cancer?
commons.wikimedia.org
So big AG and big Pharm have come galloping to the rescue.  They have invented a genetically modified potato that produces less – not zero- acrylamide.  They were proud to report this month that people, once they are “educated” about the dangers of acrylamide, would pay more for those lower acrylamide containing potatoes.  The research was done by Iowa State University- see any conflict of interest there?

(Boiling potatoes causes little acrylamide formation. Other foods such as coffee, bread, crackers and many types of baked goods, breakfast cereals and dried fruit also contain lesser amounts of acrylamide.)

Why are we spending billions creating genetically modified potatoes and “educating” people to buy them when we should just be warning people to consume fewer potatoes, particularly if they are fried? It’s not like potatoes are actually needed to feed the population or that they contain any nutrients that can’t be obtained from other foods. It’s all about money.  It is truly making lemons into lemonade when you can actually get people to pay for more a product that may be harmful to them.

Want more info on acrylamide?






Ashwagandha, a plant that may help cure Alzheimer’s

Ashwagandha, (Withania somnifera), has long been considered a miracle herb, and has been said to cure almost everything.  It has been used in Indian and African traditional medicines for thousands of years.  Traditionally the herb was most often used for stress, anxiety and depression although it also has a long history of use in herbal cancer treatment.

Many recent research efforts have focused on using ashwagandha for the treatment of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.  Now a Michigan State researcher has patented a compound made from Ashwagandha seeds that has great promise as a treatment to prevent Alzheimer’s and repair damage done to the brain by Alzheimer’s disease.  Clinical trials in humans may start as early as this year, because the herb is a natural product listed as generally regarded safe by the FDA.

Dr. Muraleedharan Nair found that a compound derived from ashwagandha seed, (“withanamides”), blocks a fragment left when proteins split from entering brain cells.  This “bad” protein fragment leads to the formation of plagues in the brain which eventually destroy brain cells.  According to research published in Neurosignals in 2005, ashwagndha compounds also showed the ability to enhance growth and repair of nerve cells in the brain.  In another research trial ashwagandha extracts inhibited acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down one of the brains important chemical messengers.  So there are many ways that the compound may be acting to protect and repair brain cells.

Ashwagandha
en.wikipedia.org
If you have ever had someone you love diagnosed with Alzheimers, a disease that is 100% fatal, you understand how wonderful this new treatment sounds.  However don’t rush out and buy the Ashwagandha supplements sold in groceries. This particular compound is not being sold in stores. Be very careful of nutritional supplements and over the counter herbal remedies as many of them contain no active ingredients at all and some contain harmful ingredients.

Other herbal uses of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry.  It is native to Africa, India, the Middle East and Southern Asia.  Ashwagandha is a member of the nightshade family and shares many traits with our native North American nightshades, including a strong smell, which is said to smell like horse sweat.  The name comes from the Sanskrit language, and refers to the horsey smell.  It may also refer to the supposed aphrodisiacal qualities of the herb- making a man “like a horse.”  And like other nightshades all parts of the plant are poisonous and should be used with some caution.  Usually the dried roots and berries are used in natural medicine.

Ashwagandha grows as a small bush, about 3 feet high, with narrow, glossy evergreen leaves. It is a perennial but since the roots are harvested it is usually grown for 1-2 years before being harvested.  The herb has small inconspicuous greenish flowers which turn into papery husks containing a fruit that turns red when ripe and looks somewhat like a small cherry.  The fruit has several black seeds inside.  Fruits and seeds are also dried for herbal use.

Ashwagandha is used in herbal medicine for insomnia, depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, arthritis, liver problems, diabetes, tumors and cancer, TB, skin problems and wounds, fertility problems in men and women and as an aphrodisiac.  The herb is high in iron and can be used for anemia and as a blood tonic.

Among modern herbalists it is most often used as a sedative, anti-anxiety or depression treatment. Ashwagandha is a safe sleep aid. It is said to increase energy and a feeling of well-being. Research has shown that Ashwagandha  reduces cortisol levels in the blood- a sign of stress, and that it does have sedative, calming effects. People who are calm but energetic and not depressed, and who have been getting good sleep may also experience some of those magic aphrodisiac properties.

Ashwagandha is also anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and enhances the body’s immune response, according to many research studies. The herb does reduce blood glucose.  The leaves of the plant contain saponins (they create lather) and can be used as a soap substitute or crushed and used as an insect repellant on the skin. So indeed, it is quite a handy herb to have around.

Many research studies have been done with Ashwagandha as a cancer treatments and no effective treatments have been found.  Women who are pregnant should not take the herb since it can cause abortion.  Some people have allergic reactions to the herb and everyone should be careful when trying a new herbal product.  Since too much Ashwagandha could be harmful pay careful attention to doses.  The herb is usually taken as a tea made from dried roots, but tinctures are sometimes used.  Ashwagandha is nasty tasting and most people use sweeteners and other herbs to mask the taste.

Can you grow Ashwagandha in the garden?

You can, but in any planting zone lower than zone 10 it is going to take more care than other herbs.  Ashwagandha likes heat and needs a long frost free growing season.  In areas where it is grown commercially they give it about 180 days to harvest. That’s 60 days or so longer than most zone 5-6 gardens get as a frost free season. You can start it inside and maybe extend the fall season with covers or a hoop house to get a decent crop.  You could also grow it in a greenhouse for part of the year. The roots can be used at any stage but you will get a better harvest at 150 days or more of growing time.

You can buy seeds which are fairly easy to start, or plants of Ashwagandha from seed catalogs and nurseries. The plants require full sun, warmth, and prefer slightly alkaline,(7.5-8 pH), sandy soil. They will withstand drought but you’ll get bigger roots and more berries if you water when the soil gets dry.  They do not need fertilizer. 

To harvest the plants pull up the whole plant, remove any ripe fruits for separate drying if desired and dry in a warm dark place.  Remove the roots after the foliage has dried and discard the foliage.  Do not feed the foliage to livestock or pets!  It’s poisonous.  The roots can be further dried until brittle enough to powder or stored whole, in a dry, dark location.  

Usually tea is made with a small pinch of the herb per cup, along with nicer tasting herbs and sweetener for medicinal purposes.  The herb is often taken in milk in India, it could be added to warm milk to induce sleep or reduce anxiety. Ashwagandha can also be made into a tincture with alcohol and used as drops.

You can also purchase dried Ashwagandha from reputable herbal companies in its whole state if you want to experiment.  That’s better than buying capsules of what is said to be Ashwagandha in groceries and discount stores.

Here are some sources for Ashwagandha.


www.richters.com - seeds, plants, dried herb

   
Growing Peace lilies

Do you need a larger, graceful houseplant that will bloom without a sunny window?  Or a tropical looking plant for the shady porch or patio?  Why not try a Peace lily?  Spathiphyllum species are not true lilies and have been used as houseplants for hundreds of years.  Peace lilies are great indoor air cleaners and are fairly easy to grow.  They also make great patio container plants in the summer.

Peace lily 
There are some 40 species of Peace lilies, they are native to South America, and southern Asia, and many are in cultivation.  They range in size from about a foot tall to over 6 feet tall at maturity.  The large, glossy green leaves of Peace lilies appear to rise right from the soil, there is no noticeable main stem or trunk.   

In spring and into summer Peace lilies that are happy and healthy will have numerous white blooms similar to a calla lily bloom.  There is a rod shaped, white bumpy true flower surrounded by a big white bract, which most people see as a flower.  The flowers are interesting but the plants foliage is pretty all year around.

Peace lilies like bright, indirect light.  They can be several feet from a west or south window, by a north or east window or even do well in brightly lit rooms without windows. If many leaves are turning yellow or looking browned on the edges or the leaves look bleached out the light level is too high.  Don’t let leaves touch cold windows.  When moved outside Peace lilies must be kept in a shaded area, direct sun will quickly kill them.

Peace lilies want temperatures about the same range as humans like, 65-85 degrees, with no cold drafts.  They will not survive temperatures that go below 45 degrees so wait before bringing them outside in the spring until it has warmed up and bring them back in before temperatures drop too much in the fall.  When they are outside keep Peace lilies protected from the wind. Of course they will gladly stay inside all year round if they are not situated over an air conditioning vent. 

Peace lilies one special requirement may be that they need a fairly high humidity level.  Keeping them in groups of other plants, giving them a shower once in a while, or using a humidifier in the home will help keep them glossy and happy.  Plants like growing by aquariums or water features also.  They are great for well lit baths or laundry rooms.

Water the Peace lily as soon as the pot gets just a little dry, but before it wilts. When you do water, soak the pot well and let it drain from the bottom.  Wilted plants will generally recover when watered but don’t allow this to happen too often as it stresses the plant.  Using rain water, untreated well water or distilled water is better than chemically treated city water for all plants.

Use fertilizer sparingly on Peace lilies; start fertilizing in late winter using a flowering houseplant fertilizer mixed according to directions at every other watering.  Stop fertilizing in mid-summer.  Some growers claim Peace lilies are sensitive to artificial fertilizers and use only natural fertilizers like fish emulsion.  But others say it doesn’t make much difference what type of fertilizer is used.

Peace lilies don’t require a lot of pruning or shaping.  Trim off any dead leaves or flowers.  Re-pot the plant only when it is so root bound that it needs very frequent watering. Use any light weight potting medium.  Aphids are occasional problems for indoor Peace lilies.  You can treat them with an insecticidal soap spray or houseplant insecticide.

Peace lilies are mildly toxic to pets, keep pets from eating them and the kids too.

With a name like Peace lily everyone needs one of these beauties in their home.  Maybe we should place them all over the senate and congress floors too.


Peace out

Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero

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

A new herb group is forming!  The Lapeer Herb Circle will meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month at Rebekah’s Health and Nutrition Store, 6 pm. at  588 S. Main, Lapeer ( next to Office Depot).  March’s topic will be herbs for bees.  They also have a facebook page you can join.

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

New- Here’s a link to classes being offered at Campbell’s Greenhouse, 4077 Burnside Road, North Branch.  Now open.

New -Here’s a link to programs being offered at English Gardens, several locations in Michigan.

New- Here’s a link to classes at Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy and Shelby Twsp. MI, and now combined with Goldner Walsh in Pontiac MI.

New- Here’s a link to classes and events at Bordines, Rochester Hills, Grand Blanc, Clarkston and Brighton locations

New- Here’s a link top events at the Leslie Science and Nature Center, 1831 Traver Road Ann Arbor, Michigan  | Phone 734-997-1553 |
http://www.lesliesnc.org/

New- Here’s a link to events at Hidden Lake Gardens, 6214 Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI

Here’s a link to all the spring programs being offered at Seven Ponds Nature center in Dryden, Michigan. http://www.sevenponds.org/education/progs/springprograms/

New- Pollinator Gardens and Native Plantings,  April 11, 2015, 10:00 am –noon-  County Farm Field Operations Building 2210 Platt Rd., Ann Arbor right next to the red playground.

This new course will explore developing pollinator gardens and native plantings.

Strong fruit and vegetable production often depends on the tiniest of garden visitors – native bees and honey bees.  Learn how to design a beautiful garden that will boost your crop production, attract beneficial insects, and support native biodiversity. This course is taught by Washtenaw County Naturalist Shawn Severance.

**New for 2015**  $5/class fee for all classes to discourage no-shows;   registration is required.  Call (734) 996-3169. Walk-ins are welcome.

New- ReLeaf Michigan is having its annual tree sale, order online and pick up at several locations around Michigan.  http://releafmichigan.blogspot.com/p/tree-and-shrub-fundraiser-sale.html  Check out the unusual selection of trees and shrubs.

ReLeaf Michigan's annual tree and shrub sale helps to reverse Michigan's loss of tens of thousands of trees due to the emerald ash borer, storms, and old age.  Our tree sale is a fundraiser that also encourages the public to plant trees to improve the overall tree canopy of their community. Purchasing and planting our trees and shrubs offer environmental benefits that also provide ReLeaf Michigan with much-needed revenue to support our ongoing tree planting and educational programs.  Thanks for your support!


Smart Gardening Apple Tree Pruning & Care Workshop, March 28, 2015, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 9558 AA Lane, Rapid River, MI

Attend this apple tree pruning and care workshop to learn about basic pruning techniques, apple selection, care, and management. Dress for the weather as we will be outside. Bringing your own, clean pruners is optional. $5 fee per person for registration; please send fee with name and contact information to: MSU Extension, 2 South 6th St., Ste. 14, Crystal Falls, MI 49920 by March 27th. Contact: Rebecca Krans, kransr@anr.msu.edu, 906-875-0606

Spring Into Gardening Conference, Saturday, April 25, 2015, 9:00am to 4:00 pm, Mt. Pleasant, MI

A day-long Master Garden Conference held in Mount Pleasant, Michigan at the Comfort Inn and Suites.  Sponsored by the Master Gardener Association of Isabella County.  This conference is for the beginner to advanced gardeners who love to learn about gardening.  Please invite a friend to come along for a fun filled day! Public welcome-Not restricted to MG

Speakers:
Barb Balgoyen, topic - Perennials
Jason Erickson, topic - Water Features
Chuck Martin, topic - Divine use of Vines
Mary K. Hausbeck, topic - research on diseases of ornamentals, herbs and vegetables
Requires pre-registration. $60.00 cost includes - Four Speakers, Lunch, Vendors and door prizes
Phone:  (989) 400 – 1391 contact email:  b.laughlin@cmich.edu

Behind the Scenes at Hidden Lake Gardens- Thu, April 16, 2015, 6:30pm Hidden Lake Gardens,6214 Monroe Rd, Tipton, MI

April’s topic: Harper Collection
Explore behind the scenes with HLG’s Managing Director, Paul Pfeifer. This is an opportunity to enjoy a behind-the-scenes perspective on different areas of HLG’s collections. Bring your questions and learn a few tips and secrets.

Cost: $5 per person / free for Friends of HLG
Registration is required. Approximate class length is 90 minutes. www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu.

Woodland Treasures for the Shade Garden Fri, March 27, 10am, Meadow Brook Hall, Rochester, MI       
How to use shade plants to extend the flowering season. Sponsored by Meadow Brook Garden Club. $5.  MBHGCMembers@gmail.com.

Trees for Tomorrow: Planting & Maintaining Healthy Trees, beginning March 30, 6:30-8:30pm, Pleasant Ridge Community Center , Pleasant Ridge, MI

This is a 5 week series sponsored by SOCWA. The $40.  Fee includes a class reference book.  You must register by Feb 23rd  by calling  248-546-5818.
 
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.

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.

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
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

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 controlGet the list of topics and links here.


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