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Tuesday, September 13, 2016

September 13, 2016, Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter

 © Kim Willis - no parts of this newsletter may be used without permission.


Hi Gardeners


I have been enjoying the weather the last few days and I hope you have been enjoying it tooGeese are congregating in the farm fields and robins are forming huge flocks around my pond where they are feasting on Autumn Olive berries before their trip south.  Birds certainly appreciate the food this “invasive” plant offers.

My water hyacinths are blooming like crazy now
The hummingbirds are swarming the feeders.  They will leave soon for their long journey south.  Make sure to keep the feeders full so they will be well fed before the journey.  I am still seeing turkey vultures and red winged blackbirds.  When they leave I know fall is truly here.

The cool nights have me thinking about bringing the house plants inside.   I sat there on the deck and counted more than 60 pots from 4 inches to huge tubs that will need to be brought in.  I usually bring mine in near the end of September here- that will usually beat the first frost.  Some I bring in as nights get cooler even without frost predicted.  It’s a monumental task.

We are harvesting grapes and some apples.  The grapes are small this year and the apples few and also small.  My husband wants some apple butter so I am hoping we can find enough.

In my garden mums, sweet autumn clematis, hardy hibiscus, woodland nictotiana, sedum, phlox, lavender, morning glories, rose of Sharon, dahlias, canna, rudbeckia and a fall flush of landscape roses are joining the wild asters and goldenrod.  I have buds on the moonflower- I may actually get to see it bloom before frost.  The annuals have perked up a bit too.

Beautiful Bouvardia

I was sitting on my deck a few days ago watching a hummingbird go to every flower on my bouvardia plant.  My plant is still small and short so the hummer was close to the ground, which made me worry about his safety with our ever present cats.  But he was sure interested in those flowers.

If you are looking for an interesting blooming plant that attracts hummingbirds then bouvardia may be just the plant you need.  For most gardeners it will need to be a pot plant since it’s only hardy to zone 9.  But it overwinters inside nicely and will bloom on and off through the winter.

Bouvardia ternifolia is also known as Firecracker Bush, Trumpotilla, or  Hummingbird Flower.  It is native to Mexico and the far southwestern United States.  In the wild it’s a shrub that grows to about 4 feet tall.  It responds well to pruning however and potted plants can be kept much smaller.

Bouvardia

Bouvardia has narrow oval leaves on woody stems.  The foliage is attractive as a house plant. The flowers are the spectacular part of the plant.  They are a bright orange-scarlet tube flaring at the bottom into 4 petals.  They are 1-2 inches long and form in clusters at the end of branches. They are full of nectar which attracts hummingbirds, which are the pollinators for the plant.

For me (Zone 5) bouvardia blooms from late winter to mid-spring inside, takes a short break when I move it outside after frost threat is gone and then blooms from mid-summer to late November before resting.  Many gardeners with a very bright, warm indoor location for it report it blooms all winter and summer.

Cultivation of bouvardia

In the north you will have to order your bouvardia plant from a catalog.  In the southwest plants are often sold in garden stores. Plants can be grown from seed, if you can find it.

In the far south bouvardia can be planted in the ground. Choose a sunny, well drained area.  It will grow in partial shade but not bloom as well.  In zone 9 it will probably die back to the ground but return in spring.  In zones above 9 and indoors it is evergreen.  It prefers the drier climate of the southwest rather than the humid southeast.  Bouvardia likes slightly acidic to neutral soil.

Indoors bouvardia needs a potting soil that is lightweight and drains well.  Choose a pot that is appropriate for the size of the plant. Most small plants do well starting out in a 6 inch pot. You will need to transplant into a larger pot every year or so until the plant gets to the size you want it to remain.  You will retain the size by pruning the top growth and not giving it a larger pot.

When inside find the sunniest, warmest spot you can for the bouvardia. If you don’t have a bright south window you may want to provide a grow light to keep it in bloom. Bouvardia benefits from being outside in the summer, after danger of frost has passed and there it can draw hummingbirds for you.  When you move it outside in the spring give it a month in a location that is at least shaded in the middle of the day. Then move it to full sun if desired.  Outdoors they will bloom happily in light shade or when shaded for a few hours of the day.

Bouvardia should dry slightly between watering.  Outside in the ground it is considered to be drought tolerant but if you want consistent bloom inside or as a potted patio plant you’ll want to water it regularly.  Indoors use a water soluble fertilizer for blooming plants according to label directions, about every other week.  Do the same when you move it outside or if you are repotting it then you can mix some slow release granular fertilizer for blooming plants into the potting soil.

Don’t be afraid to prune bouvardia to shape it or limit its size.  Pruning often promotes blooming in this plant.  Even small plants 8-10 inches high can bloom although the display is better the bigger the plant gets.  Also you should deadhead, (remove dead flowers) to keep it blooming longer. 

Bouvardia can be propagated by stem cuttings so you may want to root those pruned pieces.  It can also be started from seed, although seed is hard to find in catalogs and germination can be slow and erratic.

Bouvardia has few disease or insect problems inside or outside. If the leaves start looking chlorotic (yellow or light green with darker green veins) try using a water soluble fertilizer for acidic plants.  If the leaves are falling it may mean the light level is too low or the temperature too cool.  Bouvardia prefers temperatures above 45 degrees.  It may lose some leaves when brought inside in the fall but this is normal.

Bouvardia is very sensitive to ethylene exposure and it may drop leaves or even die if exposed to the gas.  Fruits and some vegetables give off ethylene gas so don’t store them near the plant. It’s also found in cigarette smoke, auto exhaust and propane heater fumes.

There are other species of bouvardia, some of which are grown for florist use.  The flowers of these are less tubular and more star shaped and they come in a wide range of colors. Bouvardia ternifolia also has some flower color variations in the red-pink range but the cultivars can be hard to find.

Bouvardia is not edible.  Little is known about herbal uses though in Mexico  they are used to “cure” scorpion bites.  A study (link below) did find that an extract from bouvardia roots did relieve the poisonous effects of a scorpion sting.
Bouvardia is listed in the FDA poisonous plant database. 

Plantain- miracle or weed?

Right now the popularity of plantain, a common lawn weed is soaring among herbalists.  If they nominate a weed of the year it has to be plantain.  If you listen to the banter about the plant you would think it could cure anything from baldness to cancer.  And you can eat it too!  So just how wonderful is this plant?

There are over 200 species of plantain around the world.  The two species most familiar to North American gardeners are common plantain Plantago major, and narrow leaf plantain Plantago lancelotaThese plaintains are native to Europe and central Asia so technically in the jargon of some biologists they are invasive plants.

Common or broadleaf plantain


Plantago” in Latin roughly translates to sole of the foot and references to feet are included in several common names.  And common names abound for this plant.  For common plantain (P. major) alone these common names are used: broad-leaved plantain, cart track plant, dooryard plantain, greater plantago, healing blade, hen plant, lambs foot, roadweed, roundleaf plantain, snakeroot, waybread, Waybroad,wayside plantain, and white man's foot prints, Ripple Grass, Cuckoo’s Bread, Englishman’s Foot, slan-lus, and  rub grass.

Description
Both Plantago major, and narrow leaf plantain Plantago lancelota, are perennial plants.  They have tough almost waxy looking leaves with prominent veins running parallel from tip to base.  They can be dark green or have a blueish cast.  Common plantain has broad oval leaves, narrow leaf plantain has, as the name suggests, narrow blade shaped leaves.  The leaves have no true stems, rather the leaf narrows at the base until it attaches to the main stem. The leaves form a rosette shape rarely more than 8 inches tall.

Plantain has a short taproot with a number of finer roots branching off it.  Throughout the summer where the plants aren’t closely mowed plantain puts up long, cylindrical flower stems, with tiny, inconspicuous flowers packed closely along the length of it. The flowers turn into 2 chambered seed capsules with shiny dark brown to black seeds.  When the seeds get wet they are sticky and are dispersed by sticking to the fur or feathers of animals.  Reproduction is by seed and it’s quite effective.

There are supposedly ornamental varieties of plantain.  A long time ago I saw one called “Rubra” which was not impressive with vaguely purple leaf color.  I haven’t seen any ornamentals offered in many years.
Narrow leaf plantain


Edible?

Well yes you can eat this plant.  For a very short time in early spring the leaves of both species might be considered tender enough to some folk to eat.  To me they are very tough, bitter and stringy even when young.  In a survival situation I could eat them.  They are also high in vitamins C, A, and K so if you were suffering from a vitamin deficiency after a long winter they might have some beneficial effects.  And hey, they’re free greens and you don’t have to go to all that bother of planting anything, because almost everywhere you can find them growing in the lawn.

Some people boil the slightly older leaves of plantain and if you like slimy, bitter boiled greens you might like them.  Some people can’t taste bitter very well so to them boiled greens are tasty. If you like cooked spinach or dandelions then you’ll probably like plantain. And you don’t have to rinse and boil them a second time like you would poke greens.

The tiny seeds of plantain are also sometimes tediously gathered and eaten.  Once again, its survival food.  However be aware that our common plantains are related to Plantain psyllium which is grown as a commercial crop in countries like India to produce the fiber psyllium which is used in laxatives.  The seeds in any quantity would probably have the same effect.

Birds are fond of the seeds and it is sometimes gathered for cage birds and included in bird feeds.

If you want to simply remove plantain from your yard, good luck.  Digging up the plants is your best bet unless you don't mind using a broad leaf weed killer. Mowing doesn't faze them.

Medicinal and herbal value

The use of plantain for folk medicine is ancient. The Greeks and Romans wrote about it.  All parts of the plant seem to have some use in herbal medicines.

There have been many chemical compounds found in plantain that are being studied.  But here is the caveat to that.  Modern medicine isolates compounds from plants, concentrates them and studies their properties.  While a study finds that a chemical isolated and concentrated from plantain may have a certain effect consuming the whole herb may not.  That’s because other chemicals in the plant may affect the outcome or that to get a benefit huge amounts, amounts unfeasible in common use, would have to be consumed.

When herbal practitioners read the results of a study that says, for instance, that a certain isolated and concentrated chemical in plantain may inhibit tumor growth they jump to the conclusion that home concoctions of plantain can cure cancer.  And most often those conclusions are false.

Plantain is a useful herb, even more so because it’s easy to find. But it isn’t a miracle cure for whatever ails you.  Let’s start with what home remedies made with plantain parts can’t do, at least according to modern science.  Plantain cannot cure cancer, even skin cancer.  It cannot cure colds and flu, they are caused by viruses. It cannot cure viral pneumonia. Plantain doesn’t cure leprosy or epilepsy.  It cannot “clean” the blood.  It cannot make you stop smoking – a new claim.  It doesn’t cure baldness.  It is not aphrodisiac. It doesn’t cure venereal diseases.  It will not cure you of a poisonous snake bite or rabies.  It does not remove moles or birthmarks.  It cannot make you lose weight- unless that’s all you eat and you get a bad case of diarrhea.  I probably missed some claims for plantain but remember if it’s too good to be true it probably is.

Plantain has these helpful compounds, aucubin, allantoin, ursoli acid asperuloside, various flavonoids and mucilage.  It’s high in calcium and vitamins A, C, and K.  These things in the whole herb, have mildly anti-microbial properties, and reduce pain and discomfort with the mucilage properties.  Seeds are a laxative/stool softener.

Plantain is best used as a salve or poultice for minor skin irritations, insect bites, mild sunburn or mild kitchen burns.  As a salve it could be used for diaper rash.  If you have nothing else it could be used for poison ivy rash but other products will work better.  A salve can be used for hemorrhoids.

A tea made from plantain can be used to soothe sore throats, ease coughing and relieve symptoms of colds, flu and minor respiratory infections. It helps symptoms, only time can cure these things.  Seeds can be used as a laxative.

Medical studies of compounds isolated from plantain have found these properties; it increases uric acid elimination, and has possible use in gout treatment.  Some mild antiviral effects are being studied for use in herpes treatment, cytotoxic effects on some cancer cell lines have been found in the lab, and a study found it could help restore liver function after acetaminophen overdoses. 

Interestingly enough an extract of some plantain compounds showed it could kill another weed- beggers ticks (Biden) in one study.  Some references for more reading are provided at the bottom of the article.  Remember these effects were found in labs, and most of these studies need to be replicated.  Also you cannot achieve the same results with home preparations of plantain.

Cautions with using plantain

Heavy doses of plantain can cause a severe drop in blood pressure. Plantain should not be used if you are taking blood pressure medications. Some people have contact allergic reactions to plantain and if you have grass pollen allergies you should be very careful about ingesting plantain or using it on the skin as you will often be allergic to plantain also.  If you are taking blood thinners or have trouble with blood clotting plantain should not be used because it’s high in vitamin K.  Pregnant women should not use plantain because of the blood thinning properties and laxative effect.

Plantain should not be used on severe burns, or badly infected wounds.  If you suspect you have pneumonia, cancer or other serious diseases see a doctor.

References
Duke, James A. (2001). "Plantago major". Handbook of Phytochemical Constituents of GRAS Herbs and Other Economic Plants. CRC Press. p. 471. ISBN 9780849338656.
A Modern Herbal, Volume II, Mrs. M. Grieve
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 71, Issues 1–2, July 2000, Pages 1–21  anti-herpes study
Antiviral Research Volume 55, Issue 1, July 2002, Pages 53–62 study on anti-bacterial properties
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Volume 103, Issue 1, 3 January 2006, Pages 36–42  cancer use study
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Volume 88, Issues 2–3, October 2003, Pages 125–130 study of bioactive molecules in plantain
Industrial Crops and Products Volume 83, May 2016, Pages 213–226, laxative, anti-microbic properties
Egyptian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences Volume 2, Issue 4, December 2015, Pages 303–309 Phytotoxicity of three Plantago species on germination and seedling growth of hairy beggarticks (Bidens pilosa L.)
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine Volume 5, Issue 9, September 2015, Pages 728–732 study using plantain compounds to treat acetaminophen toxicity 

Bulbs that bloom in fall

Gardeners are aware that they need to plant spring blooming bulbs in the fall but they may not know that there are some bulbs to plant in the fall that will actually bloom in the fall.  These bulbs often bloom when other garden plants have faded and provide a needed burst of color to the garden.  Most of these bulbs are easy to grow and once established will multiply and provide you with reliable show each autumn.  Gardeners from zones 3 through 9 will be able to grow at least some of these bulbs.
There are four main types of fall blooming bulbs that are hardy in zones 5-6, the Cyclamens, the Colchicums, the Fall Crocus, and Sternbergia.  Nurseries that sell other fall planted bulbs that bloom in spring will usually sell some of the fall bloomers, although some unusual species may be hard to find.

Cyclamen family

The Sowbread Cyclamen, C. hederifolium, sometimes sold as (C. neopolitanum) and the rarer Cyclamen cilicium are two members of the Cyclamen family that bloom in the fall.  Other species of Cyclamen bloom in early spring or are grown in pots for the florist trade.  Sowbread Cyclamen is much prettier than its name and is hardy to zone 5.  It has pretty triangular shaped dark green foliage with silver spots and streaks that may appear before or after the plant blooms.  The foliage often persists well into winter.  In zone 5 C. hederiflolium usually blooms in September.  The flowers are tiny pink “shooting star” versions of the familiar florist cyclamen.  They will be put up in succession and last a long while in cool weather.
Sowbread Cyclamen corms (bulbs) are large- good bulbs will be 4-5 inches across.  The bulbs are round with a slightly flattened top. They can be offered for sale in the spring or fall.  Bulbs planted in the fall probably won’t bloom until the following fall.  C. hederifolium doesn’t reproduce by splitting off new corms, rather the bulb itself gets bigger each year, eventually forming a large clump of foliage and flowers.

Cyclamen cilicium has heart shaped foliage of green mottled with a lighter color.  The undersides of the leaves are purplish red.  The tiny flowers are variable shades of deep pink to lighter pink with a red blotch at the center.  If you can get close enough the tiny flowers smell like honey.  C. cilicium is only hardy to Zone 6.  Both Cyclamen species prefer light to partial shade and rich organic soil.  They like to be dry in the summer.

Colchicum Family
Colchicum

There are numerous species of Colchicum that can be grown in the garden including C. autumnale. C. bornmuelleri, C.Byzantium, C speciosum, C.cilicicum.  There are also numerous hybrids and species variations.  Most are hardy from zones 5-9 but some are hardy to as far north as zone 3.  Some species have narrow crocus type foliage and others have broader, more strap shaped foliage.  Depending on species the foliage may appear in spring and summer or after the plants bloom in the fall.

Colchicums have flowers similar to crocus but much larger.  However there are double flowered varieties that look like either small peony flowers or water lilies.  The flowers appear from the bare ground on long stems ( about 6 inches high).  They range in color from white through shades of pink, carmine, mauve and lilac.   Some species such as C.bornmuelleri and C.speciosum are fragrant.   Flowers may be produced in succession and last well into freezing weather.  Large groups make a fine show of fall color.

The bulbs of colchicums are large also and should be planted as soon as you receive them.  They will often bloom even before you plant them, if you delay, and this isn’t good for the plants.  Colchicums will thrive in sun or semi-shade and like good, organic soil.  They spread in good conditions by making daughter bulbs and also though self- seeding.  Ants like the seed coating and carry them into tunnels, effectively planting them.  Colchicums are poisonous so are seldom eaten by wild animals.  Make sure pets and children don’t eat the bulbs or other parts of the plant.

Crocus family
There are several species of crocus that bloom in the fall instead of the spring.  They include the saffron crocus, C. sativus,  from which the very expensive spice is made and other species such as C. speciosus, C. kotschyanus, C.laevigatus fontenayi, C. medius, C. ochroleucus.  These have foliage and flowers much like the familiar spring flowering crocus.  Most bloom in October in zone 5 and are hardy from at least zone 5-9 but check the zone hardiness when you purchase autumn blooming crocus.
Most autumn blooming crocuses have flowers that are shades of blue or purple or white.  Plant the small bulbs as soon as you receive them and some will bloom the same year.  Others will need a whole year to bloom so mark the spot.  If they aren’t eaten by mice and squirrels which like them, crocus will multiply through new bulbs and through seed.   You will get better blooming if large clumps are dug every 4 years, separated and replanted. Crocus will grow in full sun to partial shade and like sandy soil.

Sternbergia lutea
There is only one member of this family that is fall blooming.  Sternbergia flowers have 6 petals and look much like golden yellow crocus. In fact they are often sold as yellow fall crocus.   They help to add yellow to the fall blooming bulb palette.  The foliage of Sternbergia is broader than the narrow grass-like foliage of crocus.  Sternbergia are only reliably hardy to zone 6.  They prefer to be planted in full sun in a spot that will be dry in the summer.

Where to plant fall blooming bulbs
Since fall blooming bulbs have flowers close to the ground they need to be planted where mature perennials and annuals won’t block your view of the flowers.  Rock gardens are good spots for them as is the very edge of a path.   Low growing groundcovers like small sedums or thymes may allow the flowers to peek through.  Since many won’t have foliage part of the year, even when they are blooming, you should mark the location that these bulbs are in so you won’t dig them up when planting other things.

If the fall blooming bulbs are planted under deciduous trees, watch that leaves don’t cover the flowers as they fall.  After the flowers are finished however, it’s fine to rake a layer of leaves over them for winter protection.  Fall blooming bulbs are a gardener’s special treat, something pretty and blooming when everything else is dying.   Try some in your garden soon.

Copper Pennies (Carrots)

If you grew carrots this year they should be ready to harvest now.  Here’s a recipe to use some of those carrots.  This is usually served cold, after a day of marinating.  It’s a tangy tasty side dish that’s excellent at a barbecue or any meal.

You’ll need
4 cups of washed, peeled and sliced carrots (Sliced about the width of pennies)
1 small onion, washed, peeled and diced
1 small green pepper, washed and diced
1 cup tomato sauce
¾ cup vinegar
¾ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup olive oil
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 tablespoon Worchester sauce
Place the carrots in a pot, cover with water and cook until softened but still firm. (Note:  you can use canned, sliced carrots without cooking them. Drain off any canning liquid.)

Place drained, cooked carrots in a large bowl and allow it to cool.  Add onion and pepper and mix well.

In a pan place tomato sauce, olive oil, vinegar, brown sugar, mustard and Worchester sauce. 

Place pan over medium heat and stir until sugar is melted and mixture just begins to boil.  Turn off heat.  Cool to room temperature.

Pour mixture over carrots/pepper/ onion mix and refrigerate 24 hours before serving.

Pick some wildflowers before they’re gone.

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. You can also ask me to post garden related events. Kimwillis151@gmail.com

An interesting Plant Id page you can join on Facebook

Here’s a seed/plant sharing group you can join on Facebook

Invitation
If you are a gardener in Michigan close to Lapeer we invite you to join the Lapeer Area Horticultural Society. The club meets once a month, 6:30 pm, on the third Monday at various places for a short educational talk, snacks and socializing with fellow gardeners. No educational or volunteer requirements for membership, all are welcome. Membership dues are $20 per year. Come and visit us, sit in on a meeting for free. Contact susanmklaffer@yahoo.com     Phone 810-664-8912

For Sale:  I have baby parakeets for sale, hatched this spring $10 each without cage, $20 for bird with small, new cage of assorted colors.  They are not hand fed.  Beautiful colors, lutino, (yellow) and shades of pale green, olive green, and sea green.  Some I can sex now, others are a guess.  You’ll need to bring your own cage if you don’t purchase one.  Parakeets are active birds that are a lot of fun to watch.  Call at 989-761-7609.

Also for sale Muscovy ducklings, black laced, about 3 months old, fine to be without mom but you must buy at least 2, unless you have other ducks.  $5 each. Call the number above.  Muscovy are flying ducks, large sized and make good meat ducks.  They do not quack- and are very quiet.

Mary Lou Lafond has a huge, 5 feet +,  Norfolk Island Pine to give away.  You must move it.  Norfolk Pines are indoor plants, must be inside before frost.  For more info contact her at  marylafond@frontier.com


Two silkie white roosters (young- born this April) for sale and four khacki campbell Ducks, also born in April for sale.  They need to go!! $7 each.   Take all the ducks and the two roosters for $30.  Also raw honey for sale.  Contact Bev at      bkobylas@yahoo.com

New- Seven Ponds Nature Center  40th annual Heritage Harvest Days Festival is set for Saturday and Sunday, September 17 and 18, from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm.  Admission for the event is $6.00 for adults.   The festival features heritage and nature related activities, including antique vehicles, crafts, hobbies, games, farm animals, music, and food including pulled pork sandwiches, bratwurst, hot dogs, corn-on-the-cob, sno-cones, popcorn, ice cream, and gingerbread. There is a Harvest Pub Tent, selling beer and wine. Homemade jams and bread for sale.
Schedule and map at the link below.

New- Fall mum and garden sale, Sept 17 at Lapeer Auto and Truck plaza, 1900 North Lapeer road, Lapeer, Michigan from 8 am to 3 pm.
Mums, other plants, garden items, and garden books will be on sale.  This is a fund raiser for the Lapeer Area Horticulture Society.  Please stop by and support us.


New- 2016 Native Plant Sale Oct 1 – 2, 2016 10am-4:30 pm, Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI

The gardens will be selling native plants grown on the site. For more information contact  mbgna.umich.edu, or call 734-647-7600.


13th Annual Fall Into Spring 2016 - October 1, 2016, 8 am – 3 pm. Mott Community College Event Center, 1401 E. Court Street, Flint MI

Master Gardener Association Genesee County presents:
- A wonderful way to experience tips and ideas to create a beautiful garden for next year. A fun-filled and inspirational event full of ideas and guidelines to benefit any gardener -- from basic to the most experienced.

**Early Registration is $65.00 by Friday, September 23, 2016.
Registration AFTER Friday, September 23, 2016 will be $70.00**

Registration form is at this link: http://fallintospring.weebly.com/

The Speakers:
Janet Macunivich Professional gardener. garden designer, educator, author, columnist for Garden A to Z. Her topic: “Low Maintenance Gardening.”

Jan Burns, Owner, Burns Botanicals, Oxford, MI, will teach us the many ways we can grow anduse garden herbs in “Herbs: How to Grow and Harvest”

Jan Bills, Owner/operator Two Women and a HoeTM. Her topic“Dirty Little Secrets”gives us insight into practical gardening secrets that will make us love, not labor over our gardens.

George Papadelis, Owner, Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy, author & educator. George will give us a sneak peek at the new annuals and perennials for 2017.

The Garden Market: Shop our market of vendors who offer for sale many hand-made or one-of-a-kind items, including garden stones, garden art, herbal products, unique gardening supplies & more! *Note: Some vendors take only cash or checks.

Make checks payable to: MGAGCM
Mail registration to:
Genesee County Master Gardeners
Fall Into Spring Conference
P.O. Box 34
Flushing, MI 48433

Questions? Call or email Loretta (810) 344-7383 ldellwood@aol.com



Here’s a facebook page link for gardeners in the Lapeer area.  This link has a lot of events listed on it.

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

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

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 events and classes at Fredrick Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids Mi
http://www.meijergardens.org/learn/ (888) 957-1580, (616) 957-1580


Newsletter/blog 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 or you can comment directly on the blog. Please state that you want to have the item published in my weekly note if you email me. 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 people and horticulture. It’s a hobby, basically. I hope you enjoy it. If you are on my mailing list and at any time you don’t wish to receive these emails just let me know. If you know anyone who would like to receive a notification by email when a new blog is published have them send their email address to me.  KimWillis151@gmail.com



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