Jack of All Trades

"Jack of all trades ~ Master of none"

Although that description is sometimes used in a negative way, it is a positive/good description of the Master Gardener.

Master Gardeners (MG) don't profess to know everything about everything in the horticultural world. It isn't how they are taught nor the purpose of their education.

Master Gardeners may indeed have mastered many things, but, they don't profess to know it all. Nor is it necessary they serve others in every way others may desire.

~I thought a little tutorial on the Master Gardener program might be beneficial~

Usually a State University provides the education necessary for the Master Gardener program through it's Extension Offices. In Illinois, the University of Illinois and in Indiana, Purdue University. Contact your county Extension office for your specifics.

The MG classes may be held in each county or as funding for Extension programs are being reduced, the classes may be a cooperative effort between several counties. Typically, the instructors are University faculty. The University also provides the books, reserves the classrooms, and functions similar to in-house college courses. There is a charge for the MG course, books and supplies.

The program is very intensive, both in material and structure. It is graded and doesn't allow for failure or absence.

It teaches an in-depth overview (is that an oxymoron?) of all things horticulture - It does not specifically apply to farm and commercial businesses. It is updated as conditions, knowledge, and practices change.

One of the best taught courses of the program is where and how to find the correct information and answers. With this under a MG belt (or shovel), a MG becomes much more knowledgeable for their own benefit and the benefit of others.

Essentially, the MG program is offered to teach enthusiasts, which in turn allows them to help others. It is the main criteria for being accepted into the program.

Not only does a graduate MG walk away with their Master Gardener certification, they must agree to perform certain tasks for a certain number of hours yearly to keep their active MG status.

There are several misconceptions among the public:

• MGs are not free garden labor. Volunteers may choose to do projects that involve physical labor but that isn't necessary to participate in the program. The MG will not be providing services that takes business away from area professionals.


• MGs may choose what projects they wish to volunteer or they may develop ones of their own (with University approval).


• MGs are not contestants from a horticulture game show. They can almost always get an answer but they may not always have that answer on the tip of their tongue.


• MGs may not wish to host a garden walk, allow garden visitors, or showcase their yard simply because they have horticulture knowledge.

Some benefits of being a Master Gardener:

• The immediate and expanded resources that are made available through the MG program is a wonderful thing to those involved in a broader gardening effort. Some may be people who have personal gardens on a larger scale, a nursery owner, a plant breeder or others with broader horticultural interests.


• It will be a group of like-minded garden enthusiasts that will open doors to new interests.


• It is often a place where you will make new friends and colleagues.


• The books & supplies will be a home reference for years to come.


• The MG program will help you find outlets to volunteer and give back to your community.


• Resources, faculty, and information will be available to the MG for as long as they carry the MG title.


• MGs are often invited to participate in more high level programs. A few of these could be: 4-H Fair judge, own a test garden for a breeder or nursery, and invitations to private garden tours.


• The program teaches tolerance and appreciation for others' garden efforts and ideas.

Things To Do - Places to Be

Fun in the sun and perhaps some rain but that's why umbrellas were invented!

Please notice some of these are for my Illinois readers and others for my Indiana readers.

The Galva Arts Council (IL) annual Photo Show is July 4, 2010. Whether you enter your photos or come to look and enjoy, it's a good time. This year's theme is "Outdoor skills and creativity of photographers."

Notice of the Summer Garden series of Teleconference classes at the U of Illinois Extension office. Be sure to call the extension office for reservations and to make sure of the location. These are always good series and presented by the experts.

These notifications are from the Indiana Soil, Water and Conservation District.

Also, note the "save these dates" for the Howard County, Indiana, 4-H Fair on July 12-17.

The top notice is for the Bi-County (Indiana) Pond Workshop. I would love to attend this seminar because it has about everything to make a good "pond loving" day.

~{*}~

The yellow bottom one is how to access the University of Illinois Web site - lots of good stuff no matter where you live in the Midwest.

~{*}~

And a final reminder for our Illinois gardeners:

The Henry County IL 4-H Fair is the week of June 21. Check the U of I Extension web site for exact dates and times of events.

~{*}~

I'll be doing one of my favorite garden tasks: judging the 4-H entries in Floriculture, Horticulture (garden) and Flower Gardening.

It's a pleasure. I enjoy a chance to encourage and coach young gardeners.
~{*}~
Pack up your umbrella, water bottle and head out for some good summer fun at any of the above events. It's the places to be for things to do.

~{*}~

I'm not sure why I feel the need to quote this song, but here goes, "Pack up your troubles in your old silk hat and smile smile smile." Just seems summer time right!

Likes Waves on the Dunes

This is a photo of my Leymus arenarius "Blue Dune" grass. It is an ornamental.


The little tag read: 3 foot strappy dusty blue leaves are really beautiful and have pretty wheat looking seed heads. It's tough and doesn't get beat down by wind or rain. It will grow in most any soil and conditions and light and moisture. Hardy to minus 30. And the clump will be 3 x 3 ft.

Unless you are wanting to cover a large area with nothing but this grass - DO NOT PLANT IT - IT IS INVASIVE. Not just invasive but hard to pull, destroy and kill. Because it is so dense and spreads by rhizomes it will kill most other plants in it's way; including perennials and bushes.

My reasoning for purchasing: I like a few blue flowers because I have a blue porch and accessories. I don't do too many because they aren't very attractive to beneficial birds and insects. When I saw this pretty blue grass (with no warnings attached) I thought I'd found another innocent pretty.

The lesson learned: Research before you buy an unknown. Perhaps in the dessert it would be contained. Perhaps in the sand dunes. But, place it in the good Illinois soil and conditions and "Katie bar the door" it is off and running.


I dug up the original patch that was threatening my entire southern bed and had to continue to pull starts for two years. I put the original patch out by a fence I didn't want to constantly trim around and a bare spot by my husband's shed where nothing would grow. Guess what - it is growing and rapidly.

A Stitch In Time #2

As I write this, we have had abundant rain. Abundant, to plentiful, to flood warnings, to

MAKE IT STOP!

As with all weather conditions, this year has its good and bad news. The good news is anything transplanted, large trees and bushes, and the spring growth have benefited greatly. The bad news is flooded basements, crop damage, and some things are not growing in sync.

We’re seeing plants behaving like an eleven year old boy: some things maturing before other things. As with that eleven year old boy, it makes for some visual disparity.

Here are some things that have happened and what you may want to do to help:

Hostas are loving the moist spring. Mine are huge, including the new transplants. It is alright to trim back hosta leaves if they are shadowing summer flowering plants. If you’d like to permanently solve that problem, dig up the entire plant, divide and transplant small portions. I have one hosta blooming which is way early.

Phlox, a fall blooming plant, are growing like crazy and may also be shadowing summer plants. It’s the perfect time to prune them. Not only will it keep them from shading other plants, it will make them less prone to falling over. Most phlox will begin to mildew because they need dry circulated air. Live with it or apply some mildew powder.

Bearded iris rhizomes will rot if they stand in soggy soil for any period of time. Either dig the entire clump, divide, and transplant to a drier area (good luck finding that place) or hope for the best (my plan.)

Remember, most summer flowering plants seldom do their best when shaded. Just yesterday, I had to “uncover” several daylilies from abundant hosta growth.

Weeds and grass (always a bane in my gardens) are growing fast but are much easier to pull right after it rains. Mulching helps deter weeds but also holds the moisture.

Insects are in huge quantities. Make sure you use a repellant when working in the garden. No sense tempting diseases or, at the very least, irritations. We seem to have more insect eating birds, bats, and insect quantities – it’s good when they increase proportionally.

Natural deep watering always trumps hand watering. The good news is plant roots reach downward making them more stable, drought resistant, and healthier. The bad news some plants would just as soon bake in hot dry sun.

Keep on the lookout for plants that need trimmed, moved, pulled or their shade removed (a stitch in time) and you’ll have fewer problems as summer progresses (saves nine.)

Garden Things To Do In June 2010

A few garden things going on:

• Hornbaker Gardens Open House, Princeton IL (address on web site) June 10-11-12. Typically, they feature discounts on some items for attendees.
• David Davis Home Tour and the 14th Annual Glorious Garden Festival Garden Walk, Bloomington IL (see my 5-2-2010 article) June 18-19. 309-828-1084
• Sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Bradley University (309-677-2523): Photography Experience II: Luthy Botanical Garden with experts Ray Keithley and Barb Hoffman. June 11-18. Cost is $29 and includes a breakfast buffet, admission to Luthy, transportation and supplies.
• Plant propagation Workshop by Master Gardener and Hoerr Nursery Horticulturist, Ella Maxwell June 21 (free) - 6 p.m. MG Philip Adams will discuss growing hydrangeas at 10 a.m. July 24 and MG Sunita Shastry will discuss growing and using herbs at 10 a.m. Aug. 21. All in the demonstration garden on ICC's East Peoria campus. (309-282-6310 or 309 282 6310).
• Princeville Garden Club garden walk June 19 from 9 to 2 rain or shine. 309-385-4590 or 309 657 3495 for more info.
• Rock island Co. extension will be hosting garden classes from June 9 through Aug. 25. Check site for info. (registration and info www.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland)

Many nurseries are already marking down the prices of some plants. It's not too late to plant annuals or perennials.

And I've mentioned before, but it is the time of the year for garden walks so a repeat is in order:

1. Stay only on the paths marked for foot traffic.
2. Do not throw money in ponds; this isn't a movie.
3. Don't feed fish or animals without permission.
4. Many places won't allow baby strollers.
5. Take your own water, a sun hat, fan and comfortable shoes.
6. Many walks will still be held in the rain - take an umbrella and boots.
7. Never pick anything - plants, flowers, fruits or seeds.
8. Do not critique others' efforts while on tour. It's hurtful and rude.
9. Thank the host and those working the event - it takes a lot of work.
10. Take a notepad and pencil to write down things that you want to remember.
11. Ask for permission before you take pictures.
12. Do not stay in a garden past the end time.
13. Ask polite questions and engage in conversation with the hosts if they indicate they are willing. But, don't ask the hosts or helpers to explain in detail everything in the garden nor ask them to name every plant. You are not their only guest and they are not a paid instructor.
14. Being in some one's garden is like being in their home - respect and manners are important.
15. Don't ask to go inside their home or use their private bathroom facilities. It's a tour not a party.

Today is beautiful - humid and my thermometer in the sun is reading 105.0 degrees. Yes, there's a reason I'm inside right now. I was weeding and became so hot rivers of sweat were running down my sunglasses. After several weeks being gone on vacation, weeding has been an everyday task (except during storms).

An old Farmers' Almanac quote, "Give some weeds an inch, and they'll take a yard."

Highways and Byways

This is a street we traveled many times in Albany GA with the Spanish Moss hanging from the trees. Spanish Moss lives from the nutrients it obtains from the air and dust and not from the trees. Fortunately, we knew not to handle or try to bring home. It is infested with painfully biting insects. Plus, it simply can not live up North. But, oh so beautiful in it's natural environment.

Heading towards Mount Eagle with the lush country side. This area has extreme poverty in some places and tourism has been hit very hard in most places. Lots of "mom and pop" motels and restaurants are shuttered.

A gated garden behind a historic home in Savannah GA. This is a beautiful city to wander and enjoy. The seafood is wonderful and plentiful. Everyone in these southern states talks of the possibility of how the oil spill might affect their tourism, fishing, and lives. Even vacationers from New Jersey were concerned for their beaches and waterways. Most coastal cities are dependant on tourism and fishing and eliminating that would plunge them into financial chaos that might not repair itself perhaps for centuries.

Although 130,000 Savannah natives work the 2nd largest shipyard in the US, tourism is what keeps the town portion alive.

An instant waterfall in Nashville during a blinding rain storm on the interstate. Memorial Day traffic had packed the highway and we were all going 10 mph. The waterfall was coming from the road above. No wonder they had floods in Nashville with that quantity of water. Although we were not able to see the flood damage, it is so sad for the residents and businesses. They are tough and one could see billboards stating they will recover without making it a political nightmare. I had to admire that attitude.

Beaches at St. Simon Island, GA, looking at the ocean. The dunes (protected from foot traffic) in the front. This coastal area has mostly high end vacationers. Few weekly vacationers and more summer homes - very large and expensive homes. The downward economy hit very hard and building has almost stopped. Many building trade workers are unemployed and many huge homes in foreclosure as are businesses. We saw very few vacationers and the result is many of the small tourist businesses are struggling or out of business.

No matter how hard our area may be affected by the downward economy, it was a reminder we have not been hit nearly as hard as the beautiful coastline cities nor many of our south eastern states.

_____________________________________________________________

We just got back from a two week visit with family in Georgia. A wonderful time visiting with children, grandchildren and other family members.

As we drove through Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, it reminded me my gardening in Illinois is so precious with the black soil and changing seasons. Each area we traveled had their own special plants and beauty but "there's no place like home!"

I used to try to bring a bit of other areas to my own yard but that is often tempting fate (fate being they die because they just can't adapt here). Now, I simply enjoy and take pictures. Isn't it grand we love our own area more than others? Kinda like grandchildren, there are none more beautiful than our own.

Those Silly Muffets

“Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet. Eating her curds & whey.” Good grief, it’s no wonder there were problems with the Muffet family; do you realize how uncomfortable those tuffets can be?

“Along came a spider. Who sat down beside her. And frightened Miss Muffet away!” Miss Muffet obviously hadn’t been schooled about beneficial insects, including spiders.

Of all insect species, over 97% of those usually seen in the home landscape are either beneficial or are “innocent bystanders.”

There are two categories: predators and parasitoids. Both can effectively control insect and mite pests in your home landscape.

• Predators kill and feed on prey. They are generally larger than their prey.


• Parasitoids are typically smaller than their hosts and lay eggs on or within them. When the eggs hatch into larvae, these larvae develop and feed on these host insects, causing their death.
  

If you’d like to attract “friendly/beneficial” insects, these plant families will usually do the most for you:

1. The Apicaceae - carrot family.
2. The Asteraceae daisy family.
3. The Fabaceae - bean family.
4. The Brassicaceae - mustard family.

About 90% of all flowering plants need help to move pollen from flower to flower for the production of fruits and seeds. Most pollinators, about 200,000 species, are beneficial insects such as bees, flies, beetles, wasps, ants, butterflies, and moths.

Insect pollination is critical for the production of alfalfa, almonds, apples, blackberries, blueberries, canola, cherries, cranberries, pears, plums, squash, sunflowers, tomatoes, and watermelons. In the U.S, honey and native bee pollination accounts for approximately $19 billion worth of crop production.

Following are suggestions to attract those beneficial native pollinators:
· Native plants are four times more attractive to native pollinators.
· Avoid horticultural plants bred as “doubles” that provide little or no pollen & nectar.
· Choose several colors & shapes of flowers to accommodate different species.
· Provide a succession of blooming plants throughout the growing season.
· Plant flowers in clumps.
· Plant host plants to feed caterpillars as well as nectar plants for adult butterflies.
· Choose non-chemical solutions to insect and plant problems.
· Provide nesting habitat for bees such as bare ground, wood and dried plant stems.
· Practice peaceful coexistence. Bees sometimes choose to nest in inconvenient places.

Rather than exterminating them, think of it as an opportunity to see & learn about them.

With this little bit of insect education, our Miss Muffet poem will say: “Along came a spider and sat down beside her and the spider was invited to stay!”