July - Master Gardeners of Hamilton County, TN

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THE GRAPEVINE | Volume 20, Issue 4 1 The Grapevine Master Gardeners of Hamilton County, tn
July 2013 Volume 20, Issue 7 HELPING TENNESSEE GROW BETTER COMMUNITIES IN THIS ISSUE President’s Letter –
Half Empty or Half Full?
President’s Letter .......................................... 1 Secretary’s Report ........................................ 2 arol Mathews “Is tChe glass half full or half empty?” has been a little saying for years that is supposed to determine whether you are an optimist or a pessimist for the psychology minded person. We are half way through 2013. Six more months and we are at the beginning of another year. Time does go by fast and the older we get it passes even faster. For the first six months of 2013, MGHC has had a very full g lass. We have held the 16-­‐
week MG classes and now have nearly one third of the interns to certify. Many have already assumed leadership roles. Beat the Heat! ............................................... 2 A Fair-­‐y Tale .................................................. 3 Tom’s Tidbits ................................................ 4 Tales from the Hotline .................................. 5 July Gardening Tips ....................................... 6 CEU and Volunteer Opportunities ................. 7 We have had our first annual Garden Expo, which was an overwhelming success. Almost the entire membership took part. We had another good year hosting the houses on the Garden Tour for the Food Bank. I believe Jane said money raised was over $10,000. Our monthly meetings have steadily had good crowds; Even for June, the beginning of vacation time, we had over 70 present. Several new projects have been started -­‐ Caldsted Retirement Home, Chattanooga Zoo, and Grandmother’s Garden at Reflection Riding. For the next six months, we will have the annual Fair exhibit entitled, “Treasure Your Trees” which will, as always, need participation from us all. A new part of the Chattanooga Library will be designed and installed. Committees will begin work on the Garden Expo for April 2014 very soon. We are being recognized by the world of Master Gardeners for our innovative presentation of our fair project. About 20 MGHC will be present to receive that award aboard a Holland America Cruise Ship for the International M aster Gardener Conference 2013. If the award isn’t enough, we also have the record for having the most speakers ever from one organization to be presenting innovative and informative programs for the conference. 2013 MGHC Officers: President – Carol Mathews Vice President – Lisa Clark Secretary – Barbara Blankenship Treasurer – Peggy Dyer Certification Officer -­‐ Gretchen Rominger Communications – Dee Clark MGHC Coordinator – Tom Stebbins 1 Year Members Committee Chairpersons: Sandy Bunting Libby Hickman Freeman Powell Bonny Oaks Arboretum – Jack Townsend Chattanooga Market -­‐ Connie Giles Communications -­‐ Dee Clark County F air – Donna Adams Events C oordinator – Gail Tryon Finance – Peggy Dyer Food Bank Garden Tour – Jo Lawrence Garden Expo -­‐ Sue Henley Historian – Joy Wooden 2 Year Members Connie Giles Samantha Pfeiffer Ken Harris We will have two major gatherings; one the annual Bar-­‐B-­‐Q at Chester Frost Park September 27 and the Holiday/Christmas Party in December. We will continue all other regular projects like the Aquarium Garden, Sunday Market, Rain Barrel Classes, Habitat and Siskin summer garden reading/learning program. No way the glass is half empty anywhere during the 2013 year for MGHC. We are full, fuller and will be the fullest st
ever by December 31 . I believe that makes us the absolute of optimistic-­‐ism!!! Hospitality – Lori Ashton Hummingbird & Butterfly Garden – Mike Payne Membership Directory – Wanda Wilkey Mentor Coordinator – Shirley McMasters (Day Class) & Clyde Mathews (Night C lass) MGHC Hotline – Valerie Hargis Projects – Stephanie Payne Speakers B ureau – Sue Henley State Advocate – Patsy Boles THE GRAPEVINE | Volume 20, Issue 4 2 The Secretary's Report
by Barbara Blankenship Sally Wencel was our speaker for June membership meeting. Sally is a founding member of the “Wild Ones.” They have joined with Monarch Watch to study m igration and plant milkweed to help sustain the beautiful little butterfly. If you would like to have a Monarch Watch Station contact Sally at slwencel@gmail.com for more information. Bud Hines had a fair meeting before the membership meeting. The theme of this year’s fair is “TREASURE YOUR TREES.” Lisa Clark will chair the Fair project this year and we appreciate her stepping up and taking the job. I am sure you will be hearing a lot more from Lisa and Bud now that they are off and running with the fair. Barbara Blankenship, Secretary Beat the Heat –
Staying Healthy and Happy
in the Summer Sun
Working outdoors can p ut you at risk for heat-­‐related illness. Take care of yourself! First rule of outdoor work in Summer heat: STOP all activity and get to a cool environment if you feel faint or weak. To help prevent heat-­‐related illness: • Drink from two to four cups of
water every hour while working.
Don’t wait until you are thirsty to
drink.
• Avoid alcohol or liquids containing
large amounts of sugar.
• Wear and reapply sunscreen as
indicated on the package.
• Ask if tasks can be scheduled for
earlier or later in the day to avoid
midday heat.
• Wear a brimmed hat and loose,
lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Spend time in air-conditioned
buildings during breaks and after
work.
• Encourage co-­‐workers to take
breaks to cool off and drink water.
• Seek medical care immediately if
you or someone you observe
has symptoms of heat-related
illness.
• For more information, please
visit: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topic
s/heatstress/.
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THE GRAPEVINE | Volume 20, Issue 4 3 A Fair-y Tale of Trees and Treasure
by Bud Hines and Linda Davenport Master Gardeners of Hamilton County are creating a “fair-­‐y” tale world of enchanted trees! Trees with beautiful and unusual decorations will dot the landscape and friendly, knowledgeable “garden gnomes” will be on hand to help people grow their own beautiful trees. Yes, MGHC will once again turn a small corner of the Hamilton County Fair into a gardeners’ paradise. This year’s theme is “Treasure Your Trees.” And what a treasure it is! T here will be plenty of opportunities for Master Gardeners to share their knowledge and have fun creating beautiful trees. Have questions or suggestions to share? Attend the planning th
meeting on July 18 , or contact Bud Hines. Bud Hines 2013 co-­‐chair Ph# 332-­‐2175 e-­‐mail-­‐bjh2222@aol.com Chair Lisa Clark and co-­‐chair Bud Hines are aiming to keep the amount of labor to a minimum while maximizing the impact of the exhibit. Planned educational elements include: Proper Mulching ............................ Marilyn Hipp Proper Trimming ........................... (Open) Board with tools and examples Tree Habitats ................................ Ann Carroll The Right Tree in the Right Place ......................... Judy Smith & Shirley McMasters Oak T ree Identification .................. David Hopkins Bertha Livingston Tree Decoration Group .................. Sara Stanley Protection from Pests and Diseases ................................ Tom Stebbins Our Question and Answer Tent .................................. Sue Henley To add to the attraction, we will also be decorating a number of trees with some possibly unique and different types of ornamentation.
A number of volunteer project leaders have already stepped up and more are needed. T he next planning meeting will be at th
5:00 PM before our monthly meeting on July 18 . Please come and join us. Bud Hines expressed his confidence in MGHC, saying, “I believe with all of the talent in our organization, we will present another incredibly interactive exhibit.” Photographs by Linda Davenport 1
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THE GRAPEVINE | Volume 20, Issue 4 4 Tom's Tidbits – Companion Planting Improves Yields
by Tom Stebbins, UT/TSU Extension Agent for Hamilton County Some plants do better if they have their friends close by. Companion planting refers to the establishment of two or more crop species in close proximity so that some cultural benefit is derived. Most often used in home gardens, University of Tennessee Extension commercial vegetable specialist Dr. Annette Wszelaki says the cultural benefits of companion planting can include pest control and increased yield. Wszelaki also directs UT’s organic and sustainable crop production outreach program. “Interactions between plants can take several forms; they may be either beneficial or detrimental,” said Wszelaki. “For example g rowing basil and tomatoes together may improve the flavor or yield of tomatoes, but using ryegrasses as a mulch can suppress weeds as well as the growth of neighboring small-­‐seeded crops.” The latter is an example of “allelopathy,” which refers to the release of chemicals by one plant that inhibits the growth of another plant. UT Extension provides a gateway to the University of Tennessee as the outreach unit of the Institute of Agriculture. With an office in every Tennessee county, UT Extension delivers educational programs and research-­‐based information to citizens throughout the state. In cooperation with Tennessee State University, UT Extension works with farmers, families, youth and communities to improve lives by addressing problems and issues at the local, state and national levels. For more vegetable garden information contact the Hamilton County Extension Office at 855-­‐6113 For more information on Companion Plants contact Dr. Annette Wszelaki, 865-­‐974-­‐8332, annettew@utk.edu Wszelaki adds that plants may also interact with other organisms. “Some plants repel pests. When onions and leeks are grown alongside carrots, they can act as a repellant to the carrot fly. Other plants attract beneficial insects that help manage pest populations or enhance pollination,” she said. “Flowers and perennial p lants may provide habitat and food sources to predatory beetles and attract bees and butterflies.” More information about companion planting is available from your local county UT Extension Office or online in in a fact sheet co-­‐authored by Wszelaki, Trap Crops, Intercropping and Companion Planting, UT Extension publication W235-­‐F, available online at http://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/W
235-­‐F.pdf Another useful UT Extension publication is Planning the Vegetable Garden, UT Extension publication SP291-­‐M, online athttp://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/
SP291-­‐M.pdf You may also consult the national extension website: http://www.extension.org/ Search the terms“ companion plants” and “vegetable gardens.” THE GRAPEVINE | Volume 20, Issue 4 5 Call the Hotline –
423 855-6113
by Valerie Hargis, Hotline Chairman Q. Can I grow palm trees in Chattanooga? A. Yes. In fact, the UT Extension Agriculture Center on Bonny Oaks has a planting of palms on the side of the building that have been there since 2003. Pictures below. Hardy palms compliment both native and subtropical gardens, and are especially attractive as a focal point. Following are three palms that are not only beautiful, but are also hardy in the Chattanooga area and have been grown successfully for many years. Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix). This palm’s gracefulness and hardiness make it a natural for nearly all of T ennessee. Mature plants are hardy to at least -­‐10 degrees, making the needle palm the world’s most cold-­‐hardy palm. In the wild it ranges from Florida north to central Alabama and Georgia and eastward to westward to coastal South Carolina and coastal Mississippi. The needle palm grows into a beautiful, multi-­‐stemmed mound of green leaves. It can form a small trunk after many years, with fronds reaching 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. Established needle palms are free from pests and disease. Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal minor). This cold hardy palm can withstand -­‐5 degrees though it may suffer some leaf damage. T he dwarf palmetto ranges across the lower Piedmont from North Carolina to Arkansas and Texas, and south to central Florida. It even grows in the shadow of Lookout M ountain in Alabama. Leaves are blue-­‐green and the plant grows from 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, producing cream-­‐colored flowers on tall stems, followed by small seeds which birds find tasty. T he Louisiana variety (Sabal minor var. Louisiana) forms a small trunk with age. It’s disease and pest free. A specimen has grown at Tennessee Temple University since the mid-­‐1980’s. Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei). Trachycarpus palms come from China, the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. The hardiest species actually prefer cooler weather. The Windmill palm is the hardiest tree palm, and once established is happy enough in even the nastiest of red clay in the Piedmont and lower Tennessee Valley. It will endure a short spell of 0 degrees with leaf damage beginning at about 5 degrees. It’s a good idea to site the windmill palm next to a house or building where it will receive extra protection. A distinctive feature is its trunk, which is covered with burlap-­‐like fiber. Though it can reach 40 feet in height, 15 or 20 feet is more likely in the southeastern United States. The crown spans up to 9 feet, so plan accordingly. Small windmill palms may occasionally suffer from a fungal rot that makes the newest fronds die and pull out, and is occasionally fatal. Fungicide pored in the crown can treat or prevent this problem. 1
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THE GRAPEVINE | Volume 20, Issue 4 6 Gardening Throughout the Year
A guide for Tennessee Gardeners
July squash. Trees and Shrubs Start seeds indoors for fall crops of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. Prune hydrangeas right after bloom for those that bloom on year-­‐old wood. (H. macrophylla and H. quercifolla) Perennials, Annuals and Bulbs Keep feeding all aquatic plants every two to three weeks until late August at a rate of one (1) tablet per gallon size pot. Continue to deadhead annuals and perennials to encourage more blooms. Cut back tall fall-­‐flowering perennials (swamp sunflowers, Joe Pye weed, iron weed, mums and asters by one-­‐third to one-­‐
half to prevent them from lodging. Be sure to keep plants watererd, especially container gardens. Plant fall-­‐blooming perennials such as anemone, hardy sunflowers, goldenrod, sedums and toad lily. Harvest corn when the ears are full and silks are brown and dry. Harvest garlic when leaves have died back by approximately one-­‐half. Hang (bulb end down) in a covered, warm, dry location for two to three weeks to dry and cure. Cut tonps back and sgtore in net bags. Miscellaneous It’s hot, but keep weeding. Reduce mosquito populations by finding and draining sources of stagnant water. Keep bird baths clean and filled with water through the hot weather. Clean out cold frames for use in the fall. Fruit, Vegetables and Herbs Cover fruit trees and berries with netting to protect fruit from birds. Prune blackberries after their harvest has ended. Harvest vegetables regularly from your garden to keep it productive. Consider taking extra produce to your local food pantry. Participate in the “Plant a Row for the Hungry” campaign. Mulch the vegetable garden with straw or newspaper to control weeds and to conserve moisture. Remove dead and diseased foliage to discourage the spread of diseases. Mulch the vegetable garden with straw or newspaper to control weeds and to conserve moisture. Direct-­‐seed Crowder peas, beans for drying, and winter Photo by Linda Davenport THE GRAPEVINE | Volume 20, Issue 4 7 CEU Opportunities Tennessee Valley Bonsai Society UT Gardens Summer Celebration – Jackson, TN – July 11; UT Gardens, Jackson, located at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center on Thursday, July 11. The cost of admission is $5. The Tennessee Valley Bonsai Society is conducting meetings on the second Saturday of the month from 2:00 -­‐
4:00 p.m. at the Agriculture Center (6183 Adamson Circle, just off of Bonny Oaks Drive). Brainerd by Grace (B2G) Community Garden, Sunday, July 14 – ‘Growing Herbs’ class. T he class is free and open to everyone. The Community Garden at the Pavilion/Garden is located behind Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave., Chattanooga, TN. New Volunteer Opportunity Cullowhee Native Plant Conference – Cullowhee, NC – July 17-­‐20; Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. We will be setting up informational booths at some of the local markets to promote this new initiative. The M ystery & Magic of M onarchs – Chattanooga State Humanities Auditorium – August 25; Discover the fascinating behavior of the Monarch from butterfly expert and Earth Kinship educator Wanda DeWaard. Sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones. The Chattanooga Area Food Bank is reaching out to local farmers, community gardens & home g ardeners to work more closely with them through our new Farm to Family initiative. We are looking for volunteers to help us man booths at the Chattanooga Market, Main Street M arket & the St. Albans Market. Please email Jane Mauldin, Garden Coordinator, Chattanooga Area Food Bank, if you would like to help. Chattanooga “Herbies” The Chattanooga Herbies meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Master Gardeners, friends, and anyone interested in herbs are welcome to attend and Master Gardeners can earn continuing education and teaching credits for participating. Chattanooga Regional Hosta Society The Chattanooga Regional Hosta Society meets at 1:00 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month at East Ridge Community Center. M aster Gardeners and anyone interested in growing beautiful Hosta and learning about companion plants are welcome. If you have questions, contact Shirley McMasters at 423-­‐
344-­‐5876 or visit the Chattanooga R egional Hosta Society website. Tennessee Valley Wild Ones Are you interested in plants native to this area or have you always had a soft spot for wildflowers? The Tennessee Valley Chapter of the Wild Ones was designed for you. The meetings are usually held on the first Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at various locations and destinations. “You'll never know everything
about anything, especially
something you love.”
― Julia Child
THE GRAPEVINE | Volume 20, Issue 4 HELPING TENNESSEE GROW BETTER COMMUNITIES Master Gardeners of Hamilton County, TN
6183 Adamson Circle Chattanooga, TN 37416 8