May 26,
2015, Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter © Kim
Willis
Hi Gardeners
 |
| One of my flower beds I was working on. |
I hope you planted something this Memorial Day weekend. I certainly did. I have one of those funny afflictions where
my eyes say I can buy far more plants than my hands and energy want to
plant. But I soldiered through and have
finally gotten almost everything I
bought planted. Who needs a Memorial Day
picnic when you can be gardening? So much to do. What
to plant where? Does this pot look
better here or there? What else do I
need to buy to fill that bare spot?
I also moved most of my houseplants outside. The windows are now bare, we might need
curtains now. I was hoping for a cloudy,
rainy stretch of weather for the transplanting and moving out of plants but we
got little rain yesterday, barely a trace, and it was only partly cloudy. Today is hot and sunny so far, I am once again
hoping for some rain tonight. I am
taking a break from planting today to get this newsletter out and enjoying my
time under the ceiling fan. My husband
is actually doing some housework today as I sadly neglect it during this time
of year.
 |
| Mayapple flower. |
The air is perfumed with lilacs, lilies of the valley, and the lovely
little starflower(Isotoma) I buy each year for the porch. The Mayapples are blooming, you have to look
under the umbrella leaves for the little white flowers though. Mayapple makes a good, taller ground cover in
shady or semi-shady spots. I got my plants in an odd way. A Master Gardener student in one of my classes
told me his woods were filled with trilliums in bloom. I told him I would love to have some
trilliums for my woodland garden. The
next day he appeared with a bucket of “trilliums” for me which of course was
not trilliums but Mayapples. They worked
out well though. Mayapple flowers turn
into little fruits that wildlife love and people can eat too.
The rhubarb is blooming also. I
let mine go to bloom; some people take out the flower stalk. They are so pretty
in bloom and can make good flower garden subjects for large informal gardens
even if you don’t like to eat the stalks.
See how to grow it below. And try the recipe for rhubarb cake.
I’ll have lettuce and spinach to harvest this week. My blueberries actually set fruit- I am
amazed. I have strawberries on the plants;
if I can keep the chickens from getting them they’ll be ready in about 2
weeks. My carrots, melons, and pumpkins
have sprouted. I am still waiting for
the corn to sprout.
 |
| Lily of the Valley, wild geranium |
Dames Rocket is in bloom, my bearded iris are starting to bloom,
foxglove is in bloom, the bristly locust is just beginning to bloom. My yellow graduation rose is covered in buds,
I can’t wait for them to open. The
hostas are looking great this spring, despite the hard winter. I found some tiny hosta coming up from seeds
this spring while weeding. Now that’s something
I never had happen before. I am marking
them to keep them safe and I’m curious as to what they will look like.
A book I
recommend
Amazon had an 80% off sale on electronic books and I happened to see a
large, recently published book on perennials in the offerings. Essential
Perennials by Ruth Rogers and Thomas Christopher was published January
2015 by Timber Press and is an updated look at 2700 garden perennials in
alphabetical order, some 452 pages of them.
The authors give short growing details, suggested plant combinations,
their own observations on the plant and other tips. There is updated info on
name changes and new cultivars. Lots of color photos in the hard cover, my
kindle reader only showed them in black and white but some ebook readers
probably show them in color. If you don’t
have a modern perennial guide this one is a great book to have.
I paid $1.99 for the book in electronic format, and it’s well worth it,
even if the color pictures are not there.
Look on the 80% off sale list to see if it’s still there. If not expect to pay $17.25 for ebook, $29.83
for the hard cover edition.
What to
plant now
It’s go time for zone 5-6 gardeners; you can plant all vegetable crops
now. Peppers, eggplant, tomatoes,
melons, beans, cucumbers and pumpkins can all go in the ground, whether as seeds
or transplants. You may want to start a
new crop of lettuce if you have one up and growing, to prolong your harvest.
Shade your new veggie transplants for a few days or plant them when it’s
supposed to be cloudy for a few days. This
keeps them from sunburn in the first days after transplanting and gets them off
to a good start. A single sheet of
newspaper is enough; make a little tent with it to cover the plant. For large
plants you may need an old sheet or some large paper bags. Don’t use plastic or
the plants may overheat. Water the plants daily if it’s hot and dry for the
first week.
You may have to water things like corn and beans to get them to sprout
if it doesn’t rain a ½ inch or so the week they are planted.
All those “after frost” flower seeds can also be planted now, zinnias,
cosmos, sunflowers, marigolds, and others. Tender bulbs like canna, dahlias and glads
can be planted or started plants transplanted outside. The bedding annuals and hanging baskets can
go in place. Get those containers for
the porch and patio planted. And it’s
probably safe to take the houseplants outside for their summer
grow-cation. Just make sure to put them
in the shade for a week or two until they adjust to outside conditions.
It’s still fine to plant potted perennials, shrubs and trees. Just make sure to keep them well watered for
the first year. It’s probably getting
too late to plant lawn grass, wait for fall now to seed a lawn.
What’s at
the Farmers Market now?
Lettuce and other greens, peas, green onions, chives, rhubarb, radishes,
early beets, and asparagus should be available as locally grown. Strawberries are progressing nicely and
should be available in a week or so.
You may want to look for a source of local eggs as supermarket egg
prices are expected to rise rapidly because bird flu has wiped out entire
flocks of layers in the mid-west.
How to
Grow Rhubarb
One of the treats of early spring has to be rhubarb pie. Michigan gardeners are lucky that they have
ideal conditions to grow rhubarb and can usually manage a generous rhubarb
harvest. Michigan is also home to a
thriving commercial rhubarb crop, most of it grown under glass or in tunnels to
provide early rhubarb for those who craving the sweet -sour treat before it’s
ready in the garden.
Rhubarb is a perennial crop; once you plant it you can harvest it for
many years. Make sure you choose a
location for it in your garden where it won’t be disturbed. Rhubarb isn’t fussy about soil type or soil
pH as well as it is in a well-drained area.
It will even do well in light shade, although your crop will be bigger
and plants more robust in full sun.
Rhubarb has large, “crinkled” or “rumpled” dark green leaves with bright
red stalks. The stalks are redder in
the early spring. Rhubarb plants slowly
get larger over the years and a clump of rhubarb can be 3 feet high and 5-6
feet wide. In early summer rhubarb puts up tall flower stalks with clusters of
white, airy flowers. It can be quite
ornamental if placed where its large size doesn’t overwhelm the garden.
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| Stately rhubarb in bloom. |
Gardeners usually start with rhubarb “roots”, dormant divisions of a
rhubarb plant. There are several good
varieties of rhubarb. Victoria is an old
variety that grows well in Michigan. Canada Red and Valentine are two other
good varieties. Rhubarb is generally
planted in early spring. One or two well
grown plants are usually enough for a small family.
Rhubarb likes rich, fertile soil.
Work in compost and well-aged manure where you are going to plant it. Plant rhubarb so the sprouts are about 2
inches below the soil. Plants should be
spaced at least 3 feet apart. About 3 weeks after planting, as growth starts,
use a slow release garden fertilizer around the plants. If spring is dry, water rhubarb to keep it
succulent and growing.
Fertilize rhubarb each year as you see growth begin. Keep it weeded,
especially the first year as it establishes itself. Rhubarb has few pests other than kids; make
sure you keep an eye on those so they don’t over harvest.
Unfortunately you’ll need to skip a harvest the first year you plant
rhubarb. The plant needs to establish a good root system and needs all its
leaves. In the second year and every
year after, you can harvest up to a third of the leaf stalks. To harvest rhubarb simply snap or cut the
stalks off the plant. Wash well before eating.
Rhubarb can be eaten raw as most country kids know, or sweetened and
cooked into pies, preserves or jelly. It
is often combined with strawberries for some delectable treats. Rhubarb can be washed, cut into small pieces
and frozen. Frozen rhubarb will be soft
when thawed but can be turned into pies and other treats. It can also be cooked and frozen.
Never consume any part of the rhubarb plant except the stalks and stalks
only in the spring. Rhubarb contains
oxalic acid, which can be poisonous. In
the spring, before the flower stalks start, the stems of rhubarb have little
oxalic acid and are safe to eat, unless you consume huge quantities. Consuming large amounts of rhubarb stalks can
lead to a tummy ache and lots of bathroom trips even in the spring.
Rhubarb may need to be divided if clumps seem to be producing fewer
stalks or thin weak stalks. Simply dig
up the whole clump in early spring and pull apart the roots and stem buds into
separate clumps with several stem buds on each.
Replant as soon as possible. Most
rhubarb benefits from dividing every 3-5 years.
In the fall, after rhubarb leaves are killed by frost, trim them
off. After the ground freezes throw a
layer of straw or oak leaves over the rhubarb crown. Remove the mulch in early spring. It’s a good idea to mark the location of
rhubarb clumps with a stake if early garden work could damage them.
If you love rhubarb, you can tuck a clump into all but the tiniest
garden and enjoy it for many years. The
best tasting rhubarb is right from your own garden.
Rhubarb
and pineapple cake
This cake is fairly easy to prepare and tastes delicious. You could
frost it, but it’s great with a scoop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream,
especially while warm. It’s not as sweet as some cakes, but soft, moist and
flavorful. This makes a good potluck dessert, something different. Rhubarb and
pineapple cake also freezes well.
 |
| Rhubarb-pineapple cake |
* 2 cups of peeled, sliced rhubarb
* 3/4 cup of sugar
* 3 tablespoons butter (or margarine)
* 1 yellow cake mix
* 1 20 oz. can of unsweetened crushed pineapple, don’t drain.
* 3 eggs
Grease a 13x9 inch cake pan. Preheat oven to 350.
In a microwave safe bowl combine rhubarb and sugar. Cover bowl and
microwave on high for about 3 minutes. The rhubarb should look like the
consistency of the crushed pineapple.
Add the butter to the rhubarb bowl and let it melt. In the meantime
combine the cake mix, 3 eggs and can of pineapple in a big bowl. Pour in the
rhubarb-butter mixture.
Beat with the electric beaters until the cake mix and other ingredients
are well combined, about 2 minutes. Pour into greased pan and bake for about 35
minutes- until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool slightly and serve.
Bleeding
Hearts
Bleeding heart, Dicentra spectabilis, is an old fashioned charmer that
belongs in every Michigan garden. It’s
charming and also deer resistant a great combination for most Michigan
gardeners. Bleeding heart is also known
as Dutchman’s breeches or trousers.
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| Bleeding Hearts |
Classic bleeding heart has clusters of 1-2 inch pink and white heart
shaped flowers with a little upward curl on each side at the bottom. Flowers dangle along tall stems over
fern-like blue-green foliage. Bleeding
heart blooms in early spring about the time mid-season tulips and daffodils
bloom and in cool springs may continue blooming through June. Some newer varieties will re-bloom several
times if kept moist.
Gardeners will find bleeding heart offered in the catalogs and stores as
bare root plants and as potted plants. If bare root they can be planted in the
spring as soon as the soil has thawed.
Potted plants already blooming should be planted out about the time
forsythia blooms. Bleeding heart is hardy
to zone 4, which makes it safe for most of Michigan.
There are now varieties of bleeding heart that have white or red flowers
and even a variety with lighter, yellow green foliage. Some of the newer, more
sun tolerant varieties of bleeding heart have more tubular shaped flowers
rather than heart shaped flowers.
‘King of Hearts’ is a red flowered, heat tolerant hybrid. ‘Aurora’ is a white flowered variety. Rosy pink ‘Bacchanal’ is said to be the most
sun and heat tolerant bleeding heart.
“Gold Heart’ is the variety with golden leaves.
Old fashioned bleeding heart can get to 2 feet tall in a favorable spot
but many new varieties are more compact and get 15 -18 inches high. Clumps slowly enlarge over the years. Give bleeding heart plenty of room so it can
develop its graceful arching form.
Traditional bleeding heart likes to be under deciduous trees where it
will get some sunlight in early spring but then be shaded when the trees leaf
out. Newer varieties on the market will
take some sun later in the season if they are kept moist. Still a partly shaded to light shade location
is the preferred planting spot.
Bleeding heart prefers a rich, moist organic soil. If the soil is good fertilization probably
isn’t necessary. A nice layer of leaf
mulch or finely shredded bark would keep the soil moist and cool around the plant’s
roots.
Keeping bleeding heart plants well watered will ensure the best show of
flowers. If the plants are subjected to
too much heat and dry out they will go dormant and the foliage will die back to
the ground. This tends to happen to
older varieties anyway by mid-summer. They
generally return in the spring when conditions are better, so don’t forget to
mark their spot.
To prolong bloom and encourage repeat bloom in some of the newer
varieties keep bleeding heart flowers trimmed off as they fade.
Leaf miners are bleeding hearts biggest pest. These tiny worm-like critters leave white
trails across the leaves. A systemic
insecticide could be used on the plants but the miners seldom do any serious
damage to the plants health.
Bleeding Heart mixes well with spring bulbs and shade lovers like hosta
and heuchera. It is a shady cottage
garden staple but looks good in any shady location.
Bleeding heart has been reclassified in some books as Lamprocapnos
spectabilis.
Drink
your chamomile tea
Mexican Americans are fond of chamomile tea and recent research
published in Gerontologist has found that drinking the tea has some
great benefits for them, especially for women.
Chamomile tea can probably help people of all ethnicities.
Researchers from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston studied
Mexican–American populations age 65 and older in 5 southwestern states,
tracking their use of chamomile tea over the previous 7 years. They found that Mexican American women who
drank chamomile tea had a 29% lower mortality rate from all causes than women
who did not drink chamomile tea. The mortality rate of men was not affected.
Chamomile tea reduces anxiety, aids in sleep, and helps indigestion. The tea has been found to lower cholesterol,
lower blood glucose slightly and it has antioxidant, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory
effects on the body. All of these
factors probably account for a lower mortality rate among chamomile tea
drinkers.
Growing Chamomile-
Cultivating Calmness
Chamomile has been used as a remedy for calming the nerves and the
stomach, and easing sleep, since herbal remedies were recorded. Chamomile is
one of those herbs that even beginners can grow and it is hardy through much of
the United States. Chamomile is also
used in a variety of beauty products currently on the market from shampoo to
skin cream.
Modern medical research has determined that chamomile has
anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties, good for use on minor
wounds, and skin conditions and as a gargle for sore throats and inflamed
gums. Chamomile also relaxes the smooth
muscles, particularly in the intestines and is used to calm upset stomachs, and
to relieve gas pain, cramping, and minor diarrhea.
The most common herbal use of chamomile however, is to calm the nerves
and aid in getting a good night’s sleep. Research has confirmed that it has
sedative properties. It can be used alone or with other herbs with sedative
properties such as valerian and catnip.
Chamomile is widely available on the market as a tea, capsules, powdered
herb, or essential oil. It is easy to
grow your own chamomile for herbal use also.
 |
| Chamomile |
There are two types of chamomile grown by herbalists, German, (Matricaria recutita), and English or
Roman (Chamaemelum nobile). Both are easy to grow, similar in appearance,
and are used for the same medicinal purposes.
German Chamomile is the plant used to grow commercial crops. It is the most studied, but most experts
believe the medicinal qualities are very similar between the two types of chamomile.
German Chamomile is an annual plant that needs to be planted each year;
Roman Chamomile is a perennial, hardy in zones 3-9. German Chamomile gets about 2 feet tall but
Roman Chamomile is a groundcover plant that rarely gets more than a foot high.
Both types of Chamomile have tiny, narrow gray-green leaves that give
them a ferny appearance. German
Chamomile grows upright as a single plant.
Roman Chamomile grows as a tangled mat of plants produced by rhizomous
roots. The leaves of both types have a
characteristic smell when crushed, somewhat like apples.
It is the daisy like flowers that produce the medicinal qualities. The
flowers are white, with 15-18 petals drooping down from a raised yellow
cone. They are about an inch across.
Plants begin blooming in mid-summer. A
double flowered variety of German Chamomile has been grown since the 16th
century
Growing Chamomile
German Chamomile is started from seed or small plants can be
purchased. In cold climates it would be
wise to start the seeds inside about 6 weeks before the last frost. Transplant them outside after your last frost
as they are not frost hardy. Seeds can
also be sown in the garden when the soil is warm.
Roman Chamomile can be started from seed but germination is less
reliable than German Chamomile. Roman
Chamomile produces runners, little plants that can be separated from the main
plant. New gardeners will probably want
to buy plants or get a start from a friend.
To make tea you’ll probably need several plants.
Chamomile likes a sunny spot, with sandy soil. It tolerates dry conditions but will bloom
more freely if watered regularly. It
will not grow in wet areas. Unless the
soil is very poor chamomile does not need fertilizer. If you are growing Roman Chamomile do not cut
the plants back in the fall. Wait until
spring to carefully remove the dead branches from the previous year.
Growing chamomile near other herbs is said to make those herbs have
stronger medicinal qualities and make the neighboring plants stronger and
healthier.
Harvesting and Using Chamomile
Harvest the flower heads as they bloom.
You can just clip them off the plant. You can use them fresh or dry them
for later use. To make an herbal tea, you can steep about a cup of fresh flower
heads in a pint of boiling water. Use
about 2 tablespoons of dried powdered flower heads to a cup of boiling
water. Keep a lid on steeping chamomile
as some of the medicinal qualities may be lost if it is left open. Strain
before drinking.
To calm the nerves and bring on restful sleep, the dosage is about a cup
of warm tea. Cooled tea can be used as a
gargle for sore throats or inflamed gums and cold sores. Tea is often mixed with ginger ale to help
upset stomachs.
For use externally, as a poultice for skin problems or minor wounds make
the tea much stronger, about 3-4 cups of fresh flowers to a pint of water or
6-8 tablespoons dried herb to a cup of water.
Cool before using. This can also
be used as a rinse for blond hair to restore highlights. Cool chamomile tea is also used as a spray
for seedlings, to prevent fungal disease.
The flowers can be crushed and then slowly steamed, which will produce
pale blue oil. When such oil is produced
at home it is hard to judge the quality and strength. It’s also hard to produce a sizable
quantity. If you would like to use
chamomile oil for herbal lotions or remedies it might be wise to purchase a
standardized extract at a health food or drug store.
If you don’t like tea and want to try chamomiles soothing properties you
can purchase capsules and tinctures in many stores. Follow the label directions for dosage.
Precautions for chamomile use
Adults should drink no more than 2-3 cups of chamomile tea a day. Children under 5 should drink no more than
half a cup and ages 5-18, about a cup. Follow label directions on capsules and
tinctures. Chamomile thins the blood and
can cause excessive bleeding. It may also mimic the effects of estrogen.
Chamomile should not be used by people allergic to ragweed,
chrysanthemums, or asters. It should not be used by persons with asthma before
consulting a doctor. Use chamomile cautiously in small doses until you
determine if you are allergic to it.
It is thought that chamomile may have estrogen like effects on the body
and those with breast or uterine cancers should not use chamomile. Pregnant
women should also avoid chamomile because can cause excessive bleeding during
childbirth or cause uterine contractions. and is passed to the infant through mother’s
milk.
People on blood thinners should not use chamomile. Chamomile reacts with many drugs. If you are on ant-depressants, sleep
medicines, birth control pills, sedatives, anticonvulsants, some allergy
medications, statins or pain medications you should talk to your doctor about
using chamomile. In fact, you should
always consult your doctor before mixing herbal and other medications. Alcohol use with chamomile should be avoided.
Go
Garden- you won’t need chamomile tea for sleep!
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.
Here’s a seed/plant
sharing group you can join on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/875574275841637/
Here’s a facebook page link for
gardeners in the Lapeer area
Free Garden tour by Michigan Hosta
Society, Saturday June 13th, 9 am – 5pm.
Take a self-guided
tour through 5 beautiful gardens, public welcome and it’s free! There will be refreshments at some gardens
and vendors will be offering items for sale and demonstrations. To
get more info and a map go to http://easternmichiganhostasociety.blogspot.com/
Peonies Galore Sale, Sat, May 30, 2015, 10am, Nichols
Arboretum,1610 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI
Locally grown
heirloom peonies for sale set amid the largest collection of heirloom peonies
in North America. 734-647-7600.
Welcoming the Summer
Get-Together, Auction & Plant Exchange Mon, June 1, 2015, 7pm,
Congregational Church of Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Get
to know your fellow gardeners, share secrets & bid/exchange great plants.
Hardy Plant Society 248-693-0334
Here’s a link to
classes being offered at Campbell’s Greenhouse, 4077 Burnside Road, North
Branch. Now open.
Here’s a link to
classes and events at Nichols Arboretum, Ann Arbor
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 to
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/
Here’s a link to events
and classes at Fredrick Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids Mi
http://www.meijergardens.org/learn/ (888) 957-1580, (616) 957-1580
Back Track To Nature offers the
following programs to inspire you and deepen your relationship with
nature! In partnership with the Lapeer Land Conservancy and Seven Ponds Nature
Center these programs are a perfect way for families and adults to enjoy the outdoors.
JUNE 2015
Learn in the Garden Tour - A
Visit to Three Roods Farm
Monday, June 1,
2015 9:30AM to
11:30AM and 3:30PM to 5:30PM
4821 One Acre Drive,
Columbiaville, Michigan 48421
In this tried and
true farm and garden tour we will discover what’s growing at 3RF and learn the
meaning of CSA. See what goes into managing a beehive, discover how
permaculture garden design uses the inherent qualities of plants and animals
combined with natural characteristics of the landscape, and visit with the chickens, ducks and peahens
all living in harmony with one another. Dress for the weather. No admittance
fee. Please call 810-969-1023 to
register, children under 17 must be accompanied by a registered adult.
The History of the Land Series -
Introduction to Land Stewardship
Thursday June 4,
2015 6:00PM to
8:00PM
Entrance and parking
is located across from 4090 Columbiaville Road, Columbiaville, Michigan In this
History of the Land Series, our focus will be on land stewardship of the
Tibbits property. You will gain valuable
information and understanding about what a land steward is required to do: we
will discuss how to monitor property, identify encroachments both the animal an
human impact and show you how to perform trail maintenance and identify
invasive species. Join Karen Page land steward, at the Tibbits Nature Sanctuary
a Lapeer Land Conservancy property. Cost is $3.00 per person, children 12 and
under are free. Groups of 5 or more please call Karen at 810-969-1023 at least
3 days prior to reserve your spot.
Wild Springtime Tea Party
Saturday, June 13,
2015 10:00AM to 12:00PM
Cassie M owner of
Hilltop Barn will guide us through field and forest to show us how to identify
native plants and brew up some tasty teas and learn the how wild edibles are
beneficial to your overall health. Please contact Karen Page at 810-969-1023 to
register, children 17 and younger must be accompanied by a registered adult. No
admittance fee and donations accepted. Please park in the designated parking
area.
Living with Less: Talk and Tour of
the Tibbits Nature Sanctuary
Saturday, June 13,
2015 1:00PM to
3:00PM
4107 Columbiaville
Road, Columbiaville, Michigan 48421 Rewire your brain to repurpose, reuse,
recycle, harvest rainwater and grow your own foods, begin a new lifestyle
recreated by living with less, Tibbits Nature Sanctuary owner Clark Tibbits
will share his successful experiences creating a life long choice to live on
less. A step you can make toward a living with less can be as simple as adding
a rain barrel and a square foot garden to your home landscape. Back Track To
Nature owner Karen Page, will demonstrate how to harvest rainwater and grow
your own food in a small spaces. Please
call 810-969-1023 to register, children under 17 must be accompanied by a
registered adult. Follow the signs and park in the designated parking area.
The History of the Land -
Introduction to Wetland Restoration
Monday, June 15,
2015 9:00AM to 11:00AM
and 6:00PM to 8:00PM
Entrance and parking
is located across from 4090 Columbiaville Road, Columbiaville, Michigan. In
this History of the Land Series we will explore, observe and study the wetlands
and learn about rich and exciting varieties of wildlife and plants, focusing on
water lilies, Today, this wetland is cared for by the Lapeer Land Conservancy
but it could have been in the backyard of the famous painter Monet who in 1890
developed his own outside studio where water lilies influenced his paintings.
Cost is $3.00 per person, children 12 and under are free. Dress for the weather. Groups of 5 or more
please call Karen at 810-969-1023 at least 3 days before to reserve your spot.
Change of the Season – A Guided
Nature Walk
Saturday, June 27,
2015 9:30AM to 11:30AM and
3:30PM to 5:30PM
Entrance and parking
is located across from 4090
Columbiaville Road, Columbiaville, Michigan Join us for a guided nature walk on
the trials of the Hilton and Marjorie Tibbits Nature Sanctuary a Lapeer Land
Conservancy property. Bring water bottle, binoculars, camera and field guides.
Dress for the weather. This is a walking tour on uneven terrain. No Admittance
fee. Groups of 5 or more please call 810-969-1023 at least 3 days prior to this
walk.
Learn in the Garden Tour - Planting,
Composting and Water Harvesting
Monday, June 29,
2015 9:30AM to 11:30AM
and 3:30PM to 5:30PM
In this tried and
true garden tour you will learn basic techniques, of planting, composting and
water harvesting to promote sustainability and keep your own garden growing in
abundance. This farm and garden tour will be held at Three Roods Farm at 4821
One Acre Drive, Columbiaville Michigan. Dress for the weather. Class size is
limited to 15, children 17 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult.
No admittance fee. Call 810-969-1023 to reserve your spot.
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.
I write this
because I love to share with other gardeners some of the things I come across
in my research each week. It keeps me engaged with local people and
horticulture. It’s a hobby, basically. I hope you enjoy it. If at any time you
don’t wish to receive these emails just let me know. If you know anyone who
would like to receive these emails have them send their email address to
me. KimWillis151@gmail.com
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