These weekly garden notes are written by Kim Willis,
unless another author is noted, and the opinions expressed in these notes are
her opinions and do not represent any other individual, group or organizations
opinions.
Hi Gardeners
Today looks like another beautiful day but beware of the
weather tomorrow. We may get some severe
storms. September has started out as a
wet and stormy month. Keep a watch out
for frost warnings this weekend and early next week.
The gardens are looking a little drab this week. There is a new flush of shrub rose bloom,
mums and hardy hibiscus are still blooming. I have tons and tons of sunflowers blooming
but the plants got huge this year- 8 or more feet tall and then started falling
over. They fell across the rest of the
garden and I have been hacking them up, bringing the flowers inside and
throwing the rest on the compost pile. I
have been trying to leave some for the goldfinches but they have made a mess of
the garden those plants. Next year most
of the volunteers will be pulled early.
I think my veggie garden is just about done. One tomato plant still looks decent, the rest
are really falling victim to blight- although not late blight. The sweet corn is done, the cucumbers dead
from powdery mildew. Once I get the fallen sunflowers chopped up I’ll look for
the shallots I planted. I have one cantaloupe
and 1 watermelon almost ripe and our pumpkins are turning orange. They say it’s a good year for pumpkins
although our crop is much less than last year with smaller pumpkins and vines.
Along the roadsides the leaves are coloring up and the
asters are beginning to bloom. Purple
asters and goldenrod are a pretty combination but it sure looks like fall.
Late blight now in Michigan
Late blight has hit home gardens in Michigan and is causing
the tomato season to wind up early. Some
commercial farms are also experiencing late blight problems. Other fungal diseases of tomatoes have also
caused tomatoes to take a big hit. Late blight
spores can be spread on the wind and conditions are excellent for their
development so if you don’t have late blight yet you may have it before frost. At this point you may not want to spray,
since the season is just about done, but if you want to save your plants until
frost takes them you probably need to start fungicide sprays immediately.
Late blight completely destroys your plants in about 5-10
days. Other blights generally leave some
green leaves growing on the end of branches.
Look for gray-black dried leaves, spots and sunken areas on stems, and
yellow-tan areas on fruit, including green fruit, which quickly turn to soft
rotted areas. See the information on
using and canning tomatoes from late blight infected plants in the section –
More Information- below.
Home owner control is generally a fungicide containing Chorothalonil
commonly called Daconil. Copper products
may have some value and can be combined with Chorothalonil. Make sure to pick a product labeled for food
plants and follow directions exactly.
There is no use in spraying plants already infected with late blight,
the spray only prevents, not cures the infection.
 |
| Late blight |
If you have a plant showing symptoms of late blight pull it
up and place it in a black trash bag, try to get all leaves and fruit around
the plant too. Close the bag tightly and
put it in the sun until you can send it to a landfill. If a landfill isn’t possible dried plants can
be burnt or buried deeply far from the garden. Do not compost the plants; it will spread
spores of late blight. Do not rototill
or add compost, manure or mulch to the bed where the tomatoes were growing
until next spring. Any spores left on
the soil surface will be killed by winter conditions but burying them may let
them survive. And next spring plant
tomatoes and potatoes as far from that spot as you can.
If your tomato plants appear to be dying and you don’t know
for sure its late blight it might be just as well to dispose of them and call
the season over. I suspect we will have
an early frost with weather patterns being what they are and the weather
continues to favor fungal infection.
The domestication of peaches
New research confirms that peaches began to be domesticated
some 7,500 years ago. Using peach pits
found in archeological sites researchers in China and at the University of
Toronto collaborated on a study that found peaches were first domesticated in
the Yangtze River Valley in China and cultivated for about 3,000 years before
they began to resemble today’s peaches.
Wild peaches have little juicy flesh and are small and not
as sweet as domestic peaches. They also
ripen over a long period on each tree, and modern peaches ripen their crop at
one time. Researchers believe that as early as 5,000
years ago farmers were producing peaches from grafting and starting cuttings to
increase traits they liked in certain peaches and creating orchards of similar
trees. This is interesting information
because while grain and root crops history has been widely researched tree
fruit crops have not.
Why the USDA recommended diet may actually harm the environment
All kinds of studies have been done on how our diets- what
we like to eat- contributes to global warming, water pollution and other environmental
problems. A new study done by the University
of Michigan and published this month in the Journal
of Industrial Ecology examined 100 crops that are considered to be part of
a healthy diet.
The USDA’s healthy diet scheme as revised in 2010 is high in
vegetables and fruits, whole grains, dairy and limited in meats, fats and
sugars. This diet is also being
questioned by new research but the U of M research wanted to find the impact of
asking people to consume more vegetables, fruits and grains on the environment.
The study concludes that if we kept the calorie content the
average person consumes constant and everyone actually followed the USDA guidelines
greenhouse gas emissions would increase by
12% from current levels. If everyone cut
their calorie content to 2,000 calories or less and followed the recommended
diet greenhouse emissions would only decrease 1% from current levels.
Eating local in season fruits and vegetables is good for you
and the environment but the practice of eating out of season produce that has
to travel long distances in refrigerated conditions should not be encouraged if
we care about the environment. Often
these crops require lots of water that ends up being polluted and they are also
major users of pesticides that damage humans and other species.
When people eat more fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products
to fulfill calorie requirements instead of meat the environment is adversely affected
and new evidence now being presented this may not be the healthiest diet
anyway. Our current method of producing
meat, especially beef, does lead to lots of greenhouse admissions. We feed livestock too much grain and confine
them too closely. But if we went back to
grass fed beef and dairy, lessened grain consumption by other animals and we
allowed animals more space, used fewer hormones and antibiotics in meat
production then a diet with more meat and fewer out of season fruits and
vegetables and less grain would actually be better for us and the environment
than the current USDA diet recommendations.
Unusual early spring bulbs to plant this fall
It’s that time of year, time to order bulbs for fall
planting so that you will have beautiful spring flowers. When gardeners think of spring flowering bulbs
they often picture the traditional tulips and daffodils, with an occasional
allium or crocus thrown in. Some
gardeners think these are boring, or that bulbs look best in formal gardens
with straight lines or that mass quantities are needed to look good.
But there are all kinds of spring flowering bulbs out there
and many unusual variations of the common bulbs that can make the early spring
garden interesting. They can be tucked
into informal garden beds, rock gardens or odd corners. Bulbs are easy to plant, and if you buy
healthy bulbs from a reputable company you are almost guaranteed a good spring
show.
Today’s article will discuss the earliest flowering
bulbs. I’ll discuss other spring bulbs
next week.
You may want to begin spring with Snowdrops, (Galanthus sp.)
Snowdrops put up pretty white bell shaped flowers with green markings over
grass-like foliage in the very early spring, often through the snow and before
the crocus bloom. Snowdrops like heavier
soils and tolerate damp areas, and will bloom in sun or can be planted under
deciduous trees where they will finish their life cycle before the trees leaf
out. Look for larger flowered varieties
like G. elwesii or G. Sam Arnott. Plant
them near walkways, outside a window or in other areas where you can see the
spring show. They are also good in rock
gardens.
Leucojum or “Snowflakes” closely follow “Snowdrops” in
bloom. They have similar white nodding
bell shaped flowers but Leucojum are also fragrant. The variety “Summer Snowflake” will extend
the season into late spring. Leucojum
likes the same conditions as Galanthus. Both
Snowdrops and Snowflakes will multiply in good conditions.
If you like a bit of color try Winter Aconite,(Eranthis) tiny bright yellow butter cup type flowers
that bloom about the same time as Snowdrops.
The foliage can emerge bronze or green, depending on species. Winter Aconite likes light shade, even in
spring. Its slightly taller and larger
flowered than crocus and looks nice in drifts or large clumps. It’s animal
proof, just like daffodils. Eranthis can
be a bit tricky to establish, look for nurseries that offer wax dipped bulbs
and plant the bulbs as soon as you get them. Once established it will multiply in good
conditions.
 |
| Iris reticulata |
The iris family has 3 species that are small and early
blooming. Iris danfordiae are usually
shades of yellow with brown markings. Iris histroides are usually shades of
blue with yellow crests or blotches and are often hybridized with other early
iris species. Iris reticulata are generally deep, true blues, with some lighter
colored blues, violets and even pinks. Some varieties are fragrant. Most of these specie iris bloom close to the
ground. Don’t confuse them with Dutch
Iris which bloom much later in spring on taller spikes.
Siberian Squill, (Scillia siberica)is an early bloomer than
will quickly form drifts of blue or white (or a mixture). It’s earlier than the
more familiar grape hyacinth. The
flowers look like loose hyacinth flowers and are mildly fragrant. It has grass like foliage and be planted in
naturalized lawns without worry as the foliage has generally died before the
lawn needs mowing. It is extremely hardy and grows anywhere. Siberian squill spreads
by seed as well as multiplying its bulbs. The variety “Spring Beauty” is the one often
seen in catalogs and has slightly larger flowers. There are later blooming and less hardy
Squills.
Puschkinia Libanotica is often called Lebanon Squill,
although it is not a squill. It is
hardy to Zone 5. Puschkinia has pale
blue flowers in clusters rather like hyacinth.
It blooms quite early, about 6 inches tall, maybe a bit later than
crocus. It will also spread rapidly through seed and bulbs when its in a happy
place.
Cyclamen coum is a very early blooming cyclamen, hardy to
zone 5. The tiny magenta pink flowers look just like florist cyclamen in miniature. Plants have rounded, plain green foliage. Plant cyclamen in a shady location in compost
rich soil. Cyclamen can be difficult to
get started. Plant bulbs immediately on
arrival. They may not sprout the first
year so mark the spot and be patient. Cyclamen
bulbs don’t make additional bulbs, but the bulb gets bigger each year with more
flowers produced. They can multiply by
seed when conditions are right.
Helleborus orientalis vary in bloom time from very early
spring to fall or mid-winter depending on the weather and variety. They really
aren’t bulb forming plants but are sold with spring bulbs. They have rose like single or double flowers
in a variety of colors and are sometimes called “Lenten Rose.” Plant helleborus
in light, well drained organic and slightly alkaline soil in partial shade.
Deer and other animals do not like them and if they are in the right spot and
not disturbed they will eventually form large colonies, where they will show up
the best. Helleborus now has numerous
hybrids and varieties to choose from. “Midnight
Ruffles” has dark purple almost black ruffled double flowers. “Pink Parachutes”
has very large single flowers of bright rose pink. “Mango Magic” has apricot yellow flowers
speckled with rose.
Crocus are probably the top planted early spring flowering bulb.
Bees like crocus for early foraging so do plant some. The new, large flowered Dutch varieties are great
for early color but don’t forget some of the older varieties and odd
species. “Miss Vain” is an old variety
of Crocus biflorus. It’s white with a
blue base/center and a delightful fragrance. Crocus tommasinianus often called “Tommies” are
a beautiful lavender and are said to be less liked by mice, chipmunks and voles
than other crocus. C. imperati var. DeJager often called Italian crocus, are an
odd violet-rose color crocus with larger, more vase like flowers in clusters. “Negro
Boy” is a heritage Dutch crocus, with almost black purple flowers with a gold
center. “Orange Monarch” is a newer snow crocus on the market, that is golden
orange inside with purple feathering on the outside that is quite stunning in
early spring. Crocus seiberi are native
to Greece and come in a variety of colors with golden throats and a soft
fragrance.
Kaufmanniana tulips are very early blooming members of the
tulip family. They are short, ground
hugging plants which often have variegated foliage with stripes or spots. Most are
single flowered and open wide and flat in sunny weather, often displaying a base
color of a contrasting color. There are
a few double varieties such as “Holland Baby”, a bright red. There are many colors. Kaufmanniana tulips are nice for sunny spots
where they can easily be seen or in rock gardens. They tend to last for many
years in the garden unlike some tulips.
They mix well with the small early iris like Iris reticulate.
This week’s weed- Burdock
If you have farm animals or pets you have probably
encountered the annoying “burrs” in their coats, which are the seed pods of the
common burdock, (Arctium minus). This is an extremely proficient way for the
burdock plant to spread its seeds near and far.
Burdock is a bi-annual plant. In the first year it puts down a thick, long
taproot and a rosette of large broad leaves.
In the late summer of the second year burdock sends up long flowering stems.
The stems may be streaked with purplish red and they have a grooved, rough
surface. Burdock has purple tuft-like flowers at the top of a rounded mass of
green, hooked bracts. The bracts turn
brown and form the familiar round burr as the seeds ripen and dry.
Left alone in good soil burdock leaves can grow huge - 2
foot long and wide. The leaves have a grayish looking underside because they
are covered with fine white hairs. The
hollow flowering stems can reach 5 feet into the air and are thick and tough.
 |
| Cut down burdock that kept producing burs. |
Burdock usually grows in full sun and prefers rich soil
although it can pop up in other places.
You must be vigilant and remove young plants from pastures and other
areas as soon as you see them as the older they get the harder they are to
remove, and letting them go to seed compounds the problem. Even when kept mowed, burdock will struggle
along and produce its burrs on plants a few inches from the ground. The flowers will continue to ripen and become
burrs if cut from the plant while still green and are often found in hay.
Asian species of burdock are cultivated for their roots and
American species also have edible roots.
The young leaves of burdock can be eaten as a salad green. The stems can
be peeled and cooked also. Burdock has
many medicinal uses, the roots, seeds and dried leaves are used.
Enjoy the good weather while it lasts- get outside today.
Kim Willis
“He who has a garden and
a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero
More
Information
Are tomatoes and potatoes with late blight safe for eating and
canning?
Late blight on tomatoes and potatoes is a devastating fungal
disease that has surfaced in Michigan.
Posted on September 1, 2014 by Jeannie Nichols, Michigan
State University Extension
Late blight is
affecting Michigan tomato and potato growers and home gardeners alike. The late
blight has already been reported in Allegan, Clinton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia,
Isabella, Macomb, Montcalm and St Joseph counties on USA blight. USA blight is
a national website project on tomato and potato late blight in the United
States. At this site you can report disease occurrences, submit a sample
online, observe disease occurrence maps and sign up for text disease alerts.
There are also useful links to a decision support system, and information about
identification and management of the disease.
Late blight in both tomatoes and potatoes is caused by the
fungus Phytophthora infestans and is a worldwide destructive disease. It is
what led to the Irish potato famine in 1845.
Under favorable weather conditions, tomato and potato crops
can be destroyed within days. Cool, moist conditions are considered most
favorable for this fungus to develop and spread. This blight is highly
contagious to other plants in home gardens and commercial fields.
Do not can tomatoes with late blight. Tomatoes showing signs
of late blight disease have firm, dark brown lesions that quickly become large,
wrinkled and somewhat sunken. Fungus infestation may lower the acidity of the
tomato flesh to a level that makes it unsafe for canning. Even tomatoes with
the infected parts removed should not be canned. The United States Department
of Agriculture Complete Guide to Home Canning recommends that only
disease-free, preferably vine-ripened, firm tomatoes be used for canning.
According to Dr. Barbara Ingham, food safety specialist with
the University of Wisconsin Extension, you can safety eat and preserve
unblemished tomatoes growing on plants with leaves, stems or adjacent fruit
showing signs of infection. However, these tomatoes are at a higher risk for
developing the late blight lesions after they are harvested, so make sure to
eat or process these tomatoes as soon as possible after harvesting them.
Michigan State University Extension always informs home
canners of the importance of acidifying tomatoes. Adding bottled lemon juice or
citric acid to your disease-free tomatoes raises the acidity level enough that
Clostridium botulinum spores cannot survive, and produce a deadly toxin that causes
botulism. Add two tablespoons of bottled lemon juice or a half-teaspoon of
citric acid to each quart of tomatoes. For pints, use one tablespoon of bottle
lemon juice or one-quarter teaspoon citric acid. Just add the lemon juice or
citric acid before filling the jars with tomatoes or tomato juice.
It is also not recommended to eat fresh or frozen diseased
tomatoes even if the diseased parts have been cut out. The disease organism by
itself is not harmful but the tissue damage causes the tomatoes to have lower
acidity and creates conditions that promote the growth of other potentially
harmful microorganisms. The tomatoes may or may not have an off flavor.
The exact same advice is given for potatoes. Only use firm,
disease free potatoes for eating, canning or freezing. Never use potatoes
showing sign of late blight. Discard the whole potato rather than cutting off
diseased parts because the fungus may spread to the inside of the potato.
Potatoes are a low acid food and should be pressure canned.
Up to date recipes for canning can be found at the National
Center for Food Preservation.
This article was published by Michigan State University
Extension.
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.
New- Genesee
County Master Gardeners Fall into Spring Conference Saturday, October 4, 2014 -
8:00 am - 4:00 pm- Mott Community College Events Center, 1401
E. Court Street, Flint, MI 48503
Fall Into Spring - what a wonderful way to experience
tips and ideas to create a beautiful garden for next year. October 4th will be
a fun-filled, inspirational day full of ideas and guidelines to aid the
gardener from the basic to the most experienced.
The Garden Market will include MG Garden Stones, garden
art, herbal products, and gardening supplies. Please bring CASH or CHECKS for
your purchases. Speakers and Topics are subject to change. Open to Master
Gardener Volunteers and the general public. Master Gardener Volunteers will
earn 5 hours of education credit
Registration is $65.00 by September 26th. Registration
after September 26th will be $70.00. REGISTER EARLY AND AVOID AN ADDITIONAL
$5.00 FEE. Make checks payable to:
MGAGCM
FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION: Download the registration trifold flyer at this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByaD3jouRMNReFhKRnpYal9xdVk/edit?usp=sharing
Mail Registration To:
Genesee County Master Gardeners Fall into Spring
Conference
PO Box 34
Flushing, MI 48433
Phone: (810) 244-8531
New- Flint
River Wild Ones September Event: Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 2:30PM - 4:30PM
:
For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum, 2142 N. Genesee Road, Burton, MI
48509–1209
Viewing of Urban & Suburban Meadows - Bringing
Meadowscaping to Big & Small Spaces Companion DVD is an enticing
introduction to meadowscaping. Author and photographer, Catherine Zimmerman,
combines her expertise in photography, storytelling, environmental issues,
horticulture and organic practices to offer meadowscaping as an alternative to
reduce monoculture lawns.
Please RSVP to Melville Kennedy at (810) 275-8822
(leave message) or via email at mkennedy60@charter.net.
New- MSU
Extension Workshops for Beekeepers September 12, 2014-1-4 pm
Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center 3775 S Reese Rd Frankenmuth, MI
48734 AND September 19, 2014 1-4 pm, Forgotten
Harvest Farm 9153 Major Rd Fenton, MI 48430
Contact: Call or email MSU Extension - Saginaw Office
989.758.2500 or vanpopp8@anr.msu.edu
MSU Extension Specialist, Walter Pett, has placed two
demonstration honey bee hives at the Forgotten Harvest Farm, near Fenton, and
two at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center, near Richville. Along
with Extension Educator, Ben Phillips, we would like to invite beekeepers of
all ages and experience levels to learn about the various methods for removing
honey from honey bee hives, inspecting the colonies for Varroa mites, and
wintering strategies. Bring protective equipment for interacting with
demonstration hives.
New- Cottage
to Commercial: Ingredients for a successful food business- Several locations
and dates
Michigan State University Extension and MSU Product
Center Educators will conduct four food business planning classes September through
November in Berrien, Muskegon, Ingham and Kent County, Michigan locations.
The two-hour session addresses basic food processing,
regulatory requirements, business development resources, and related topics.
The program targets individuals who are interested in starting a licensed,
commercial food business.
The Niles session will be held 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.
30 at the Niles Entrepreneur & Culinary Incubator (NECI) 219 North 4th
Street/2nd Floor, Niles, MI 49120. NECI, a program of Niles Main Street, is
designed to help local entrepreneurs start and grow food businesses. There is a
$25 fee. Make checks payable to Niles Main Street, and mail to 333 N 2nd Street
Suite 303, Niles, MI 49120 by the deadline of Sept.26, 2014. For more
information call NECI at 269-687-4332.
The Muskegon session will be held 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the Muskegon County (South Campus) Building, 133 E. Apple
Avenue, Muskegon, Michigan 49442. The fee is $20, and registration is available
online through Sept. 26. For more
information, call 269-944-4126.
The Ingham County program will be held 10 a.m. - 12
p.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2014 at the Hilliard Building, Conf. Room B, 121 E.
Maple, Mason, MI 48854. The fee is $20, and registration is available online
through the Oct. 10. For details, call 517-526-7895.
The Kent County session is scheduled for 10 a.m. - 12
p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014 at Kent County MSU Extension 775 Ball Ave. N.E.,
Grand Rapids, MI 49503. The fee is $20 per person, and registration is
available online through Nov. 4, 2014.
The MSU Product Center helps aspiring entrepreneurs and
existing businesses to develop and launch new product and service ideas into
food, agriculture, bioenergy and natural resources markets. A statewide network
of Innovation Counselors is available to counsel individuals interested in
starting related business ventures. Last year the MSU Product Center assisted
647 clients with business planning.
Those who are unable to attend one of the offerings are
invited to request counseling with a field- based MSU Product Center innovation
counselor at www.productcenter.msu.edu , or by phone at 517-432-8750 This
article was published by Michigan State University Extension.
Heritage
Harvest Days September 13&14, 2014, Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854
Crawford Road, Dryden, MI
It’s back – that fall fun festival at Seven Ponds. You can see old time farm equipment and watch
demonstrations of farm activities, visit lots of nature exhibits, take a horse
drawn wagon ride to see the prairie, take a guided nature hike, or eat one of
the amazing meals planned. On the 13th
Country Smokehouse will be offering a pulled pork dinner, and on the 14th
there is a bratwurst dinner. This year
the festival will also have a beer tent.
Folk and blues music will be performed throughout the event. Many vendors will be selling country and
nature themed items.
Admission to the event is $6 for adults, children under
12 free. ( Food and beer extra) For more information call 1-810-796-3200
Workshops
for the Garden, Saturday, September 27, Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road, Dryden, MI
We are offering two projects to enhance your garden.
Sign up for just one or, bring a lunch and join us for both workshops. Each
workshop is limited to 10 participants. Must pre-register by September 23. To
register call 1-810-796-3200
Introduction to Rain Barrels: A Make It and Take It
Workshop
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Learn all about rain barrels and their importance to
water conservation with Karen Page, owner and Environmental Educator of Back
Track to Nature. Not only will you learn but will also have the opportunity to
make your own barrel. All supplies are included. Fee: $70.00.
Build a Backyard Hypertufa Water Feature
1:00 to 3:00 pm
Using 10″ leaves as a mold; we will create a lovely
container to hold water for toads, insects and more. This small water bath will
provide habitat and beauty to your garden. Fee: $15.00 (members $12.00).
Cranbrook
& Friends Garden Walk Sat, September 13, 10am-4pm,
Cranbook House & Gardens,Bloomfield Hills, MI,
View 4 private home gardens & a demo on dividing
perennials. Gift shop sale. Tickets: $15 call 248-645-3149.
Farm
& Gardens Fall Fair Sat, September 20, 10am-3pm, MSU Tollgate Educational Center,
28115 Meadowbrook Rd, Novi, MI
Family fun on the farm. Children's crafts, hayrides,
entertainment & more. FREE. www.tollgate.msu.edu, 248-347-3860.
Grow
it! Cook it! Eat it! Workshop Sept. 2, Oct. 1 or Nov. 12. MSU Extension Ingham County Lansing
Office and MSU Extension – Livingston County
Learn
how to grow, store and prepare a variety of fresh vegetables by attending one
or all of these mid-Michigan workshops.
Posted
on August 12, 2014 by Diane Brown, Michigan State University Extension
Home vegetable gardening is once again popular. In
addition to vegetables you grow yourself, a bounty of beautiful produce awaits
at farmer’s markets and from community supported agriculture (CSAs). But do you
know the best varieties to select for your home garden? Do you know how to tell
when a vegetable is ready to harvest, or what to look for at the market? How to
store them? How to cook them? Get answers to these questions and more during a
series of three Grow it! Cook it! Eat it! workshops from Michigan State
University Extension designed to help you make the most of fresh garden
vegetables. Cost: $20 for one session/$50 for all three.
Sept. 2, 2014-6-8 p.m. Go for the Greens – beet greens,
bok choi, cabbage, collards, kale, napa, spinach, swiss chard, turnip greens
Location: MSU Extension Ingham County Lansing
Office,5303 S. Cedar St. Lansing, MI 48911
Oct. 1, 2014, 6-8 p.m.
Root for the Root Vegetables – beets, carrots, kohlrabi, parsnips,
potatoes, rutabaga, sweet potatoes, turnips
Location: MSU Extension – Livingston County, 2300 East
Grand River,Howell, MI 48843
Nov. 12, 2014, 6-8 p.m.Pumpkins and Their Kin – winter
squash and pumpkins Location: MSU Extension Ingham County Lansing Office, 5303
S. Cedar St., Lansing, MI 48911
Register online for these exciting workshops, and save $10
over individual workshop pricing when you register early for all three events.
Contact the Ingham County MSU Extension office at 517-676-7207 for more
information.
Annual
Herb & Gourd Fest, September 20, 2014, 10 am - 5 pm and September
21, 2014 -11am - 5 pm at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000
East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 4952 (888) 957-1580.
There is not a more enjoyable weekend anywhere that you
can attend where you can share your gourd art and meet guests from all over the
world in this magnificent setting.
Throughout the two days we will have members demonstrating and showing
some of the different techniques that they use on their gourds. We show examples of painting, pyrography,
chip carving, filigree work, coiling, weaving just to name a few, and as in
past years, we have vendors selling their creations of bowls, vases, sculptures
and gourd jewelry. $12 adult admission
to the park.
Kim’s note: The
Michigan Gourd Festival at Imlay City Fairgrounds will not be held this year.
Advance Garden Design 4-5-6 September
13, 2014 - September 27, 2014 9:00am-1:00pm Oakland County Executive Office
Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, 41W, Waterford, MI
This workshop is
$125. The fee includes light morning refreshments each day and instructional
handouts. There will be a wide variety of design exercises and a recommended
garden design book list and web site used in formal and informal gardens.
During this workshop, participants will develop skills in the layout of garden
beds and small landscape areas using the principles of floral harmony, balance
and color. The workshop takes the participants through a successive series of
training stages, from simple to advanced garden design planning techniques.
This is a comprehensive training class for advanced level gardeners who are
interested in learning to expand their garden design skills. It is recommended
that you have taken Garden Design 1-2-3 or have other garden design class
experience and understand of design concepts of plant layering, spatial balance
and axial symmetry. Master Gardeners will receive credit for twelve education
hours for attending this 3 day workshop. Contact Linda Smith at 248-858-0887
UP Smart Gardening Conference, Oct. 4
Learn to create
edible landscapes, Ramada Inn, 412 W. Washington St., Marquette, MI
Gardening
enthusiasts and those interested in learning more about this type of gardening
should consider attending this year’s UP Smart Gardening Conference – Edible
Landscaping with Smart Gardening on Oct. 4. This is a one-day conference full
of great speakers, a garden marketplace, door prizes and lunch. The early bird
registration fee is good until Aug. 30. Plan now to attend and avoid a fee
increase. Register online for the early bird reduced fee. http://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?folder=UPSmartGardeningConference
Cost: Early
registration fee of $60.00 per participant by August 29th Late
registration fee of $70.00 from Aug. 30th to Oct. 2nd . Walk in
registration fee of $80.00 (Includes lunch, refreshments, door prizes,
handouts)
Kent/MSU Extension Grand Ideas Garden
10th anniversary celebration Saturday, October 4at 5:00pm
775 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
WOW!! Ten Years
Old!! Join the merriment and celebration of the tenth anniversary of the MSU
Extension Grand Ideas Garden at our annual fund raising auction! Open to everyone-bring your friends. Auction
items include new plants, garden tools and gadgets, beautiful local art,
pottery, services and so much more.
This event is sure
to please with great food, live music and “competitively fun” bidding. Get
involved in the bidding excitement as we raise money to support the ongoing
mission of the Grand Ideas Garden—one of Kent County’s hidden treasures!
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
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reserve the right to publish what I want.
Once again the
opinions in this newsletter are mine and I do not represent any organization or
business. I do not make any income from this newsletter. I write this because I
love to share with other gardeners some of the things I come across in my research
each week. It keeps me engaged with local people and horticulture. It’s a
hobby, basically. I hope you enjoy it. If at any time you don’t wish to receive
these emails just let me know. If you know anyone who would like to receive
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