Tuesday, December 1, 2015

December 1, 2015, Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter

December 1, 2015, Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter    © Kim Willis


Hi Gardeners
Off to the woods on the last day of November.

Ah Michigan.  One weekend we have 8 inches of snow on the ground, the next weekend its mild and the grass is once again showing and as green as it was in October.  As the mounds of snow melted away from my patio pots I thought the Calibrachoa, (Million Bells) would finally be dead and I would no longer feel guilty about taking it out of the containers to put Christmas greens into them.  But no, there they were, vibrantly green and springy looking, although they are no longer blooming.  And the pansies that had come up in one of the containers were still blooming their heads off.

But off I headed to our wooded area to get some branches from the spruce and pines.  The sun was shining and I was distracted by finding a new plant with pretty berries in the fence row and by deer bounding away crashing through the swampy area of the woods in an explosion of cracking branches and splashing.  But I managed to cut some evergreen branches, some red furry sumac heads and some bittersweet berries (yes, I cut some of that “terribly invasive” plant and moved it), pile them on an old wheelchair I use as a cart, and trundle back to the house.

There I bit the bullet and cut out the million bells from the pots.  I potted up the pansies and brought them inside.  The soil in the pots was still partially frozen but I managed to stick in the evergreen branches and the spikes of fuzzy red sumac and then add stems of red-orange bittersweet for more color.  It’s not the most impressive Christmas décor ever but I like the fact that it’s all natural.

I took the baskets of warty orange gourds that had sat on the deck until the snow out to the barn for the chickens.  While they chowed down immediately on the one small pumpkin that was in the offering they seemed a little unsure of the warty gourds.  But this morning I noticed they had started to eat on the gourds so I guess the re-cycling has begun. Perhaps my eggs will take on a deeper shade of orange.

While I will no longer be able to see how hardy calibrachoe can be, I can say the osteospermum is still green, the white sage still looks healthy, the roses still have their leaves and even some buds, and I noticed that the arum italicum and heuchera actually have new leaves.  This next weekend is supposed to be sunny and mild again although we have to endure some rain and maybe even snow between now and then. I can look out my window and see green, even through the rain drops, and my canaries are singing their heads off here in the house, so all is good.  I am sure hoping our winter continues in such benevolent fashion.

December almanac

This month’s full moon is called the Full Cold or Long Nights moon and occurs on December 25th .  Santa will be outlined against a full moon. There are two meteor displays that may be visible in December.  On the 13th and 14th there is the peak of the best regular meteor event, the Geminids meteor shower. This year should be good viewing if it’s clear because the moon will be dark.  Some
Geminid meteor shower.
Credit: nasa.gov
meteors may be visible from the 4th through the 17th.   But on the peak days around 120 meteors or shooting stars may be seen per hour.  The best viewing is after midnight.  On December 21st – 23rd will be the peak of a lesser meteor shower, the Ursids meteor shower, which typically produces about 10 meteors per hour at its peak.  However since the moon will be nearly full it will be difficult to see them.

Monday, December 21, 2015 at 11:49 PM EST is the winter solstice. It marks the longest night of the year and the beginning of winter.  At this time the sun is at its farthest point in the south and lowest point on the horizon.  For an interesting site that will show you where the sun and moon are in the sky at the exact time you access the site go to http://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/usa/flint  

You’ll notice that the earliest sunset and the shortest day are not the same.  The earliest sunset occurs December 5th when the sun sets at 5 pm in the Flint area.  And the sun will set at that time until December 14th – when it gains a minute. It’s the day break time that makes the difference in day length.  On the solstice the sun rises at 8:03 am and sets at 5:03 pm in the Flint area.

Many people including myself consider the Winter Solstice to be the end of the old year.  Now the days will be getting longer, if only by seconds at first. Re-birth, renewal, the conquering of death, the return of the sun are symbolized in the solstice. It’s a time for celebration as it was for our early ancestors.  Christmas is celebrated near the solstice because people already celebrated re-birth and promise at this time and early Christians frequently borrowed old rituals.  Burn some oak wood at midnight and make a wish for what you desire as you look into the fire.  Take some time to reflect on what you could have done better last year and decide your path for the new year.

December’s birthstone is turquoise. The December birth flower is oddly enough the narcissus.  This may be because it was associated with death, (its poisonous) by the ancient Romans and Greeks but now it is often used as a symbol of hope.  We are entering the time of the death of the old year but still, it seems odd.  In flower “language” narcissus is said to mean “you are the only one” or alternatively faithfulness, respect and modesty.

Recently holly has been favored to replace narcissus as the December birth flower and to me seems more appropriate.  Holly is a symbol of domestic happiness in flower language. Orchids are also listed as the December flower in some places.

Things to celebrate in December besides the solstice and Christmas include National Mutt day the 2nd ,  Pearl Harbor Day- the 7th  and Poinsettia day on the 12th, also on the 12th its Gingerbread house day and National cocoa day, National Bake Cookies day, the 18th , Look for Evergreens day the 19th .  Besides being Christmas Eve the 24th is National Chocolate day and National Egg Nog day. December 31st is World Peace Meditation Day as well as New Years eve.

December is National Bingo month, National AIDS awareness month, National Buckwheat month and Universal Human Rights month.

Garden and Plant books to give as gifts- or keep for yourself

If you have been racking your brain trying to think of a gift for a friend or relative who is into gardening or who enjoys reading about the natural world why not give them the gift of a good book?  Many places like Amazon have a variety of books on sale for Christmas giving.  And don’t forget to treat yourself; there are many boring winter days ahead.  Here are some great books about plants or the natural world you may want to consider buying.

Wicked Plants, the Weed That Killed Lincolns Mother by Amy Stewart

This is an excellent book about the poisonous and dangerous plants that surround us and that have been used by man for thousands of years.  Read about strychnine, oleander, rosary pea, peyote, deadly nightshade, hemlock, coca, opium, death camas and some 200 toxic plants.  Tales of botanical crimes and intrigue are sprinkled through the book.  It’s written in a charming manner that will make you want to sit and read the book at one sitting.

The Drunken Botanist, also by Amy Stewart

This one is about all the plants that make the alcoholic beverages man has been enjoying since the beginning of time.  Without plants the liquor counter at the local store would be empty.  Stewart explores the grains, fruits, vegetables and herbs that make up common and uncommon alcoholic drinks.  And for those of you who like to experiment with alcoholic beverages she sprinkles recipes for unusual cocktails and mixed drinks through the book.

If you don’t know what absinthe is made from or what a marasca cherry (not maraschino) is then this book is a fascinating read.  Both of these books are packed full of odd and unusual things you didn’t know about plants.  Amy Stewart is a fascinating garden writer and also writes Garden Rants- a popular garden blog.

Buffalo Bird Woman’s Garden published in 1918 by Gilbert L. Wilson

I was searching for a book on line when I came across this book.  Wilson was pursuing a doctorate in anthropological studies at the University of Minnesota and decided that for his thesis he would study the agricultural practices of the Mandan-Hidatsa Native American culture.  Wilson had already been a missionary among the tribes and had collected historical artifacts for the American Museum of Natural History.

Wilson chose for his study to interview a 75 year old Hidatsa woman, Maxi’diwiac or in English, Buffalo Bird Woman, who had always been a gardener/farmer for her family. Her son was Wilson’s interpreter and also contributed some drawings to illustrate points of his mother’s conversation.  The interview was conducted over several years.  When Wilson’s book was first published it was called Agriculture of the Hidatsa Indians, An Indian Interpretation.

Wilson faithfully recorded Buffalo Bird Woman’s recollections, using her words as well as they could be interpreted and for an older book it is easy to read and quite fascinating.  It is written in the story telling mode that many Native Americans find easy to use, but it is all factual information.  Buffalo Bird Woman is careful to remind readers that this is how her family and she herself did things and sometimes mentions how other families differed from hers.

The Hidatsa tribe Buffalo Bird Woman belonged to lived at the headwaters of the Missouri river in the Minnesota-North Dakota area.  The Hidatsa tribe’s agricultural practices were probably pretty typical of Northeastern Native Americans.  And in her early adulthood her tribe had little influence from white settlers.

When Wilson interviewed her in her 70’s Buffalo Bird Woman was still mentally sharp and physically active.  Her thoughts were well organized and she was very through in giving information.  She talks about each of the five crops they typically grew, corn, squash, beans, sunflowers and tobacco in great detail from preparing the ground, to how they selected good seed, to cultural practices to harvesting and even how they cooked the crops.

I found the agricultural knowledge the native people had to be amazing and I loved the humor and little insights into tribal relations that she included in her story.  Besides gardening she told how certain tools were made- such as how they made baskets from the scrotum of a buffalo.  The lifestyle was very rigorous for women, who did most of the gardening, and it was sobering how much time and effort went into growing and storing food in earlier times.  However Buffalo Bird Woman never complains about the work and seemed to enjoy gardening.

If you are interested in farming history or origins of American crops, or you enjoy reading about Native American customs this book will give you much enjoyment.  It includes some photos from the early 1900’s and drawings.  I bought mine as an e-edition on Amazon ($2.99) but I understand a hard copy is available.  It’s pretty inexpensive.

Seeds of Hope- Wisdom and Wonder from the World of Plants- Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall, of chimpanzee fame, has written a book about plants. The first part of the book is quite a wonderful story of her childhood experiences with plants, about daring plant explorers of earlier times and wonderful awe inspiring facts about plants.  The second part of the book fades into a less than interesting rant about GM modified foods and modern farming practices. While I agree with some of what she talks about she presents nothing new in this part and lots of old, discredited science as well.  Still, I would recommend reading the book, if just for the first half of the book, which is quite enjoyable. 


Fastest Things on Wings- Rescuing Hummingbirds in Hollywood by Terry Masear- Published June 2015

I loved this book about a woman who rescues hummingbirds in California.  She spends 4 months a year feeding baby hummingbirds every 30 minutes, healing adults and releasing them and rescuing trapped hummingbirds.  California has 4 types of hummingbirds and she handles hundreds of hummers in her rehab center every summer.  Here in Michigan with our 1 species of hummingbird rehab places rarely get 50 birds in a season.

The book was an enjoyable, easy read. You’ll learn a lot about these tiny birds.  What it takes to rehab hummers will amaze you and the efforts of a few people to care for these birds is truly heart-warming.  How Terry Masear finds time to write with her teaching career and work as a hummer rehabber in the summer is hard to imagine but the book is well worth reading.
 
What a Plant Knows by Daniel Chamovitz

This is a book on plant senses. One example is that while plants don’t have eyes they do have photoreceptors similar to those in animal eyes.  One type of receptor is located in the tips of shoots and tells the plant to grow toward light.  There are different types of light receptors in leaves that measure how long the day is.  The day length determines many plant processes, such as flower initiation.  Only one leaf exposed to light can relay that information to the plant.  For parts of the plant to send information to other parts of the plant implies a “nervous system” and some sort of conscious “control”. 

I used to joke that vegetarians were worse than meat eaters because they ate defenseless creatures alive. (A carrot is alive until you cook it.)  What will it mean to vegetarians if we find out that plants actually feel fear and pain, if even in a primitive sense? Even seeds are tiny plant embryos and they are alive.  There are some intriguing hints that this may be so.  A fascinating book well worth reading.

Essential Perennials by Ruth Rogers and Thomas Christopher

This book 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.



The Unexpected Houseplant –220 extraordinary choices for every spot in your home by Tovah Martin- 2012

This is a delightful read, not just a care primer for houseplants.  The author talks about her love for houseplants and all plants, her experiences with them, her charming older home and even her cat.  Ms. Martin has written numerous popular garden books and is a frequent article writer for popular garden magazines.

You may not find your houseplant in this book; many of the plants Martin describes are the unusual and eclectic houseplants.  The more common houseplants are left to other authors to worry over.  But when she’s through discussing her choices, you’ll want to run out and try to find some of them. 

She talks about the plant’s needs, how to display them, what type of container to grow them in, and many other things woven into a narrative story beginning from the best fall houseplants through summer and permanent houseplant residents.  Martin is an organic grower, so there are no plants discussed that require intensive pest control, although she lists what pests and problems a plant may have.  There is a summary of care requirements at the end of each section. And there’s a section devoted to houseplants that Martin doesn’t recommend.

This may not be the book for you if you are looking for basic houseplant care.  But if you are looking for houseplant inspiration this is it. When you get done reading this book you’ll know there is no excuse not to have houseplants. 

The New Wild: Why Invasive Species Will Be Nature's Salvation-  by Fred Pearce
This new book explores why we need to think differently about invasive species.  If you have always been a bit skeptical of the scare mongering done by many organizations and “experts”  this book will confirm your suspicions that much of the hoopla around invasive species is not justified.  And if you are one of those native plant Nazi’s you need to read this book with an open mind.  And if you know a plant Nazi buy them this book!

Nature knows more than we do about what species should grow where and it’s time we start respecting that.  Invasive species are what drives change, adaptation and the evolution of new species in the environment, all vital for continuing life on this planet.  It’s not man’s place to decide what’s native, what’s invasive and what species are right for any environment.  Invasive plants have helped the environment much more than they have harmed it. Why worry what trees make up the forest as long as there is a forest? 

This book should be read by every gardener as well as every conservationist so that you have a balanced perspective on the natural world.

The Triumph of Seeds: How Grains, Nuts, Kernels, Pulses, and Pips Conquered the Plant Kingdom and Shaped Human History by Thor Hanson

This book is a fascinating look at seeds and their adaptations for survival.  It’s a well written, easy to read book even though the author rambles a bit with personal stories. It’s written with a bit of humor even as it explores scientific details and most gardeners will find it pleasurable reading as they gain a lot of information.

Many people are unaware of how important seeds are to life on earth and how they shaped our civilization.  If you like reading fascinating facts about nature and our relationship with it this book should be on your reading list and it makes a great gift too.





Glorious Histories: Tales from the Traditional Kitchen Garden by David Stuart

At the cost of only $3 every food crop gardener should buy this book in its ebook format because you will find some new and interesting information on a very broad number of crops, some of which I have to admit, I had never heard of before. The book has tips on how to harvest/ cook/prepare each crop and some recipes are given.  

This is an English writer and some of the information given seemed skewed a bit toward European experiences and customs but that of course can't be helped. But for the price this book is an excellent reference if you need a brief history of a food crop. (This book does not cover medicinal plants except that when a food plant also had some medicinal uses they were briefly mentioned. People who are looking for herbal medicine information won't find it here.)


This seems a labor of love by the author.  I like that the author can relate personal experiences with even some obscure crops. It’s well edited for an ebook and you won’t find the annoying spelling and grammar mistakes many ebooks contain. There are pictures and illustrations with every crop mentioned.  It might be hard to give an ebook as a gift - and I don’t see it listed in any other format- but it’s worth buying for yourself.

Raising Chickens for Dummies 2nd edition- Kimberley Willis

Fair warning- I’m the author of this book and it’s not about plants, it’s about the next best thing- chickens.  Every gardener wants chickens; they are the perfect re-cyclers and provide lots of manure for building good soil.  And as living garden art they can’t be beat.

If I do say so myself this book is a very complete and detailed reference for beginning chicken owners or even those who have had chickens for a while.  And it’s written in an easy to read, slightly humorous format I’m sure you will enjoy.  In fact you’ll enjoy reading this book even if you don’t have chickens.

Raising Chickens for Dummies covers everything from baby chick care to collecting your own eggs to butchering your own meat. Learn which chickens make good pets or great layers. Learn how to build a coop and what to feed your chickens.  Learn how to protect your chickens from disease and predators.  And the new edition actually has color photo’s.

If you or someone you know wants chickens for Christmas- (don’t laugh – chicken keeping is actually a popular trend and people are asking for chickens and related items for Christmas) - then this is the book you need.

All of the books listed above can be found on Amazon or most can be found in any good bookstore.   

Feeding oranges to cows

Feeding oranges and other citrus fruit to cows, pigs and chickens may soon become one of the green and safe ways to combat food borne illness.  Animals shed salmonella and other organisms in their feces and no matter how careful we try to be when butchering animals some of those organisms may remain behind and can cause bouts of food borne illness that sicken millions of American each year.  Recent research has found that feeding citrus peel and pulp to animals significantly lowers the number of harmful bacteria in their gut without affecting the helpful bacteria they need to efficiently digest their food.

The way farmers have conventionally tried to reduce the number of “bad” organisms in animals has been to feed them antibiotics.  In recent years we have come to understand that this may be causing strains of bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics and this could have serious consequences for human health.  Animal rights movements and human health advocates have been clamoring for laws against the feeding of antibiotics to animals as disease preventatives and growth enhancement aids.

Scientists have been busy searching for alternatives to antibiotics that would keep animals growing and healthy but not contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria and pollution of our land and water.   Microbiologist Todd R. Callaway and animal scientist Tom S. Edrington, with the Food and Feed Safety Research Unit in College Station, Texas; ARS animal scientist and research leader Jeffery Carroll with the Livestock Issues Research Unit in Lubbock, Texas; and John Arthington at the University of Florida in Ona took on the challenge in a different way.

These researchers knew that oils from citrus had long been used for cleaning and were known to deter pests, and kill many types of viruses and bacteria.  They are relatively non-toxic and the researchers decided to feed the left over peels and pulp from citrus processing plants to cattle and pigs to see what would happen.

While people find citrus peel rather bitter and not very tasty the animals seemed to enjoy them.  They readily ate the leftovers without having to be coaxed.  And the researchers found that not only did the citrus waste provide vitamins and roughage for the animals, they also did what researchers hoped- they reduced the amount of harmful bacteria in the guts of animals without harming the good bacteria animals need to digest food.

When there is less harmful bacteria produced and shed by animals there are fewer chances for bacteria to contaminate food and cause illness.   While total elimination of harmful bacteria like salmonella is probably impossible, reducing the numbers substantially goes a long way toward safer food.

Feed me.
Further research both in the field and in the lab have shown very promising results. Collaborations with University of Arkansas-Fayetteville researchers Steven Ricke and Philip Crandall have identified specific essential oils that kill pathogenic bacteria.   Microbiologist Calloway is studying ways to make citrus waste into lightweight pellets so that farms away from citrus producing areas can share in the benefits of feeding citrus to their animals.

Natural solutions to problems are a win-win situation for all.  Citrus producers get another source of income from a waste product, which they will no longer have to find a way to dispose of.  Animals get a tasty and nutritious feed supplement that keeps harmful bacteria from causing digestive and other problems.  Livestock producers get a reasonably priced, all natural alternative to antibiotics that food critics approve of.  And people will have a reduced chance of getting food borne diseases without worrying that those organisms are developing resistance to life saving antibiotics. 

Sustainable solutions to the over use of pesticides and antibiotics are there- and we are working on finding them.  Our agricultural system remains the best and safest in the world.

Keep the holiday green and support American farmers

Are you one of the happy Michigan citizens who buys a real Christmas tree each season?  Thank you for being environmentally responsible and buying American. 

One of the biggest environmental myths is that buying an artificial Christmas tree is somehow saving the environment.  The mistaken theory is that you are keeping a tree from being cut down each year you use one of those awful plastic trees.    What some people don’t realize is that Christmas trees are a crop, grown to be cut, and that they are constantly being re-planted.  Over 95% of Christmas trees sold come from tree farms and are not harvested from the wild.

It takes water and some protective chemicals to grow great Christmas trees but it takes a lot of far more harmful chemicals and water to make that plastic tree.  Dangerous chemicals are used to make the fake trees including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and lead.  The manufacturing of products from PVC releases dioxins into the environment.  Dioxins accumulate in fatty tissues and become more concentrated as in the tissues of animals high in the food chain, like man.  There they cause cancer and other dangerous health problems.

While many of those toxins remain in China- where most, (85%), artificial trees are produced by minimum wage workers, some does make it into our food supply.  Some chemicals, like lead, may be given off as the plastic slowly degrades and reacts to other environmental chemicals and those go right into the air of your home, where the tree is displayed or stored.  In fact California requires plastic Christmas trees to have a warning label about lead poisoning.

Fake trees sometimes have actual wood “trunks” or other parts and this wood from China has been responsible for at least one exotic pest, a wood boring beetle, to be brought into the US and has the potential for other pests to be carried in the plastic tree shipments.

Plastic trees cannot be recycled; the plastic used in them is not commonly recycled.  A real tree will break down in the environment and actually do good instead of harm like the plastic trees leaching chemicals into the air and soil.
The White House uses real trees.

Are you worried about fire safety with a real tree?  Thinking a plastic tree is safer is wrong, fire statistics say its faulty wiring that causes most Christmas tree fires and both real and fake trees will ignite.  

If you buy a real Christmas tree in Michigan the chances are very good it was grown in Michigan, we are a top Christmas tree producing state.  You are helping the local economy as well as the environment.  Christmas tree production and sales employ thousands of Michigan workers. Let’s keep Michigan people employed, not Chinese.

The production of Christmas trees uses land in a sustainable way and fewer fertilizers and pesticides are used on tree crops than conventional crops so it’s good to encourage the local tree farmers.  While trees are growing they release oxygen, moderate the temperature, filter the air and provide homes for wildlife.  Help our environment and help keep dioxins in China.

It takes a little more time and effort to use a real Christmas tree each year but the smell alone is worth it.  And who doesn’t want to do good in the holiday season?  Many Christmas tree lots are run by charitable organizations who use the money they make to help people in need.

Do your part to be an environmentally friendly person and help the local economy.  Buy a Michigan grown Christmas tree this season. To find a Christmas tree farm or retail location near you go to this site http://www.mcta.org/home-page

Curl up somewhere with a good book.

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.

Do you have plants or seeds you would like to swap or share?  Post them here by emailing me.

Free seeds
I have these seeds that I collected from my garden that I am willing to share free.  Look at the list and if you would like some contact me at kimwillis151@gmail.com

I will tell you where to send a stamped self-addressed envelope for the seeds. If you want popcorn or black walnuts it will take several stamps.  I have published this list on the seed swap sites also.  I’ll try to give everyone who asks some until they are gone.

Lilies, a seed mixture of assorted hybrids, oriental- Asiatic- trumpet- Casa Blanca, Stargazer, La Reve, purple tree, yellow tree, Silk Road, more
Anise hyssop
Morning glory – common purple
Scarlet runner bean - few
Japanese hull-less popcorn
Hosta asst.of seed from numerous varieties- lots
Ligularia desmonda (daisy–like flower)
Ligularia rocket – spires of flowers
Yucca
Glad mixed
Zinnia mixed
Foxglove Dalmation peach
Calendula mixed
Baptisia blue
Jewelweed
Cleome white
Columbine mixed- small amount
Nicotiana small bedding type- mixed colors
Nicotiana alata ( woodland tobacco, Only the Lonely)
Daylily mixed
Kangaroo Paws orange
Hollyhock mixed
Black walnut- few hulled nuts


An interesting Plant Id page you can join on Facebook

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


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 nature 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


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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