Issue

SIX

Memos

Master Gardener Monthly Meeting

2019 Officers

President: Annette Lachowsky

Vice-President – Clyde Davis

Secretary – Jane Richards

Treasurer – Nick Auck

If you have any questions about

anything in this newsletter, please

call me at 870-779-3609, email

jcaraway@uaex.edu or visit our

office, located in the Miller County

Courthouse, Room 215,

Texarkana, Arkansas.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Caraway

County Extension Agent

Agriculture

JC:jds

Master A Newsletter for Red Dirt Master Gardeners

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your County Extension office as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

Address: 400 Laurel * Suite 215, Texarkana, AR 71854

Phone: 870-779-3609

Fax: 870-773-3471

E-Mail: jcaraway@uaex.edu

MG Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Miller-County-Red-Dirt-Master-Gardeners

Ag Facebook: www.facebook.com/ millercountyuaex/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Miller CoAg

June 2019

Jane Richards has put out a desperate appeal for tin cans (like what beans, corn, etc. come in). She needs them for a hands-on program at the Southwest Center in June. If everyone would bring 1-2 cans to the June meeting, Jane says she would have enough.

Photos Above: More to be featured next month. Photos were taken from Miller County Judge Cathy Hardin-Harrison’s Facebook page:

She said, “When leaving work, I couldn’t resist taking a few photos around your courthouse. The Miller County Red Dirt Master Gardeners do a fantastic job keeping the courthouse flower beds looking great.

Thank you!!”

MG Monthly Meeting – Thurs., June 13 –

6:00 PM – REA

Our guest speaker will be Vicki Avery of the Native Plant Society.

Garvan Gardens 550 Arkridge Rd – Hot Springs, AR 71913 – 800-366-4664

Concepts in Irrigation

Work smart, not hard, and save water while doing it! Master Gardener Ross (Doc) Sedler, Jeff Finney, & James B. Moore, Jr. present a practical dissection of common irrigation kits available at local retailers on June 8th, 2:00-4:00 PM in the Magnolia Room. Sedler and company explain the utility & disadvantages of various types of irrigation systems. Following the discussion, the crew will demonstrate the assembly of an irrigation kit.

Free Members/$15 Non-Members/Registration Required

Continued on Page 4

Thanks to everyone for placing in Volunteer Hours. You are doing a great job. We are up to 88% of our membership showing active. Now if I can just get 9 more folks to place in time. What’s even better is we already have 22 members with enough time for recertification and 2 Lifetimers with their required sanctioned hours. So far we have 1215.75 sanctioned hours, 577.25 non-sanctioned hours and 952.5 education hours posted in the online system. Keep those hours coming. Great job! Remember, all of your hours are important & needed to keep the MG programs going. So please report all hours

To report hours, go to www.uaex.edu, then Yard & Garden. Click on MG Program, then on Enter Volunteer Hours here and logon. This is the best way to ensure you are at the current version of the online reporting system.

If you have any questions on reporting your hours in the online system or need a password reset, give me a call at 903-832-8111 or email at7550@yahoo.com and I will do my best to help.

I want to make sure that everyone understands about placing in hours for the State Conference this year since we have two categories:

2019 State Conference is for everyone working/volunteering time to prepare for, organize, help out with, etc. the conference, such as the post tours, Miller County Landscape Tour “Gardening on the Edge” and the Howard Co. Farmers’ Market/Local Foods Tour.

State Conference is for everyone attending the State Conference earning education hours.

Here are some examples of Volunteer hours this month.

Volunteer Time Red Dirt MG Minutes

May 9, 2019 ~ REA

Meeting was called to order at 6:15 p.m. by Pres. Annette Lachowsky. A prayer was offered by Sharon Ethridge over the meal and meeting.

Upon motion made by Martha Bean & seconded by James Lamb, the minutes were accepted as presented in the MG Newsletter from April 11, 2019. Motion carried unanimously.

The Treasurer’s Report was printed and presented to members at the meeting. As no corrections or additions were necessary, the report was filed for audit.

Sanctioned Projects: The Courthouse beds are in very good shape & beautiful.

Hospitality: Suzann Howell asked members to sign up to bring food for the July meeting.

Paula Warren stated that there would be a workday scheduled soon for the Welcome Sign. Also, she will call the city and have grass mowed and/or treated around the sign so the roses will show.

Jane Richards informed the group that the Come Grow With Us committee will have the library presentations/programs

Continued on Page 5

Thank You

To the Miller County Red Dirt Master Gardeners for all of your condolences during the loss of my Husband, Ron Slack.

I appreciate all the food, calls, visits, texts and everything done to help and comfort our family during this difficult time.

Teresa Lee Slack and the Family of Ron Slack

I would like to take this opportunity to mourn the death of our friend Ron Slack. I did not have the opportunity to know him well but what I saw was an extremely kind and gentle man. Ron was a true fried to Miller County Red Dirt Master Gardeners. From lugging decorations to cooking hamburgers for hordes of hungry gardeners, he was always there with a smile and a kind word. Teresa, we want you to know that the collective heart of Miller County Red Dirt Master Gardeners grieves with you. Thank you for sharing Ron with us!

I think I speak for all when I say please reach out if there is anything any of us can do for you.

Sincerely,

Annette Lachowsky President, Miller County Red Dirt

Master Gardeners

Continued on Page 4

Fertilize your acid-loving houseplants (like ferns) with used tea bags. Simply open the bags and work the used tea leaves into the soil. They will lower the pH level of the soil and provide nutrients, as well as help with pest and fungus control. You can also occasionally water these plants with cooled twice-brewed tea for added nutrition.

From Farmer’s Almanac

Fertilize Your Houseplants

The 2019 Annuals to Perennials programs are for 1st year MGs (who completed basic training from June 1, 2018 thru June 1, 2019) & their mentors. These programs are designed to encourage new MGs to become more involved in their county programs, assist new MGs to grow from an Annual to a Perennial Master Gardener, & show apprec-iation to our Mentors for their vital roles during this process. While we encourage new MGs & their mentors to attend together, it is not neces-sary. You may register for as many programs as you want to attend.

June 24th – Hope (9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.), UACCH, Hempstead Hall, 2500 S. Main). Registration deadline is June 17th. Speaker is Karen Seale who will present, “Plant This, Not That-Give Natives a Chance”.

June 28th – Fayetteville (1:00-4:30 p.m., Don Tyson Center for Agri Sciences, 1371 W. Altheimer). Registration deadline is June 24th. Speaker is Lissa Morrison who will present, “Changing Habits for Healthier Habitats”.

July 13th – Batesville (9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., UACCB, 2005 White). Registration deadline is July 8th. Speaker is Leslie Patrick who will present “Gardening for Pollinators”.

July 14th – Little Rock (2:00-5:00 p.m., UAEX, 2301 S. University). Registration deadline is July 8th. Speaker is Michelle Wisdom, “Pollinator Plants in Lawns.”

Snacks provided at each event.

Are you having thoughts about your outdoor garden and seasonal

Annuals to Perennials

Basic Backyard Beekeeping

The Bowie County MGs/Texas A&M University in Texarkana will present a program on “Basic Backyard Beekeeping,” Monday, June 10, 2019, at Texas A&M University from 6:00 until 8:00 pm. The class is free & open to the public. It will take place in the University Center Building, Room 326. NOTE ROOM CHANGE. No reservation is required to attend.

The program speaker is Robbie Robinson, current President of the Texarkana Beekeepers Club and Bowie Co. Master Gardener.

Robbie will be discussing the basic history of beekeeping along with the basic equipment used, locations such as urban and farms for apiaries, problems in keeping bees as well as the joys, along with uses for the other items bees produce. He will also be sharing what to plant in your backyard to attract bees & will have informa-tion on where local honey can be purchased. Robbie will also be available to answer any questions you may have about Backyard Beekeeping.

For more info call Emily Newsome at Texas A&M at 903-223-3039 or Teresa Slack at 903-831-7494.

Garvan Gardens Continued Gardening 101: Summer Edition

Want to plant a garden but not sure where to start? MGs maintain an area designed specifically with you in mind! The Southern Inspiration Garden serves as the classroom for this hands-on approach to learning about gardening. Come see how much fun you can have digging in the dirt, June 10th at 8:30 AM. Meet in the Welcome Center.

Fertilizing Your Bonsai

By fertilizing your bonsai, you replenish lost nutrients and ensure that it has the requirements to flourish. We will discuss the why and how to fertilize your bonsai and some easy, affordable ways to make fertilizer, June 22nd from 10:00-11:00 AM in the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Learning Center. Both of the above classes are free to members/$15 to non-members with registration required.

\

Red Dirt Master Gardener Minutes

Educational Class at Genoa Elementary

on June 13 at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and members will be asked via email to volunteer their help for these programs.

Clyde Davis announced the Gateway Farmers Market needs volunteers. The plan is to be present every Saturday; 3 or 4 MGs are needed. Members will be contacted to volunteer.

Unfinished Business:

President Lachowsky announced that the change to the By-Laws as printed and given to members is to be discussed before vote. Treasurer, Nick Auck, presented the change verbally to members, with President Lachowsky reading correspondence from Berni Kurz regarding the change. The floor was opened for discussion, not to exceed 6 minutes for pros and cons, on the By-Laws’ change and a discussion followed. Ballots were passed to members for their vote. Outcome announced later in the meeting.

President Lachowsky asked for members’ comments on the State Conference held in Hope, AR, at the U of A, Hempstead Hall. All remarks made were positive.

New Business:

Teresa Slack announced that as REA building is not available for Christmas party, that she has inquired into Silvermoon on Broad. The cost is $400 and a contract must be signed so it will need to be sent to Little Rock if members vote to have the party there. A motion was made by James Lamb and seconded by Becky Barrett to have the Christmas party at Silvermoon on Broad at a cost of $400 with food being extra. The motion passed unanimously.

The Program Committee has suggested that the June meeting include a tour of a local garden and a hamburger cookout with a short business meeting. After a discussion regarding the change of the meeting date, it was decided to have it on the regular date, June 13. The plan is to tour the vegetable garden of C. E. Solley at 5:00 p.m., then on to the Slack Farm for hamburgers & meeting. MGs have budgeted for the meat & buns for event. Nick Auck made the motion, Scottie Burnett seconded; it carried unanimously.

James Lamb announced the Hope Field Day is May 16 at the experiment station & gave an overview of the itinerary. MGs can go online and reserve a spot and pay at the door. Lunch is included.

President Lachowsky announced that the PNG Leadership Conference will be held August 23 & 24 and members were asked to consider going to this very educational conference.

Pam Rayburn was featured in HER magazine for her beekeeping and President Lachowsky recognized her for this honor.

Rita Nichols announced the number of votes on the By-Laws change which was 39 for and 3 descending votes. The By-Laws change will be effective immediately.

Upon motion made by Clyde Davis and seconded by Becky Barrett, the meeting was adjourned. The motion carried unanimously.

The program following is on Herbs and present by John Vaughan.

Respectfully submitted,

Jane Richards, Recording Secretary

Sanctioned Hours

Come Grow With Us – Have you given a presentation to a Garden Club, another MG group, Mondays at Texas A&M, senior group, etc.? Count time preparing the presentation, the actual presentation, and travel time if you are bringing items for a demo.

Hospitality/Social – bring a dish for the monthly meeting, help set up? Count time it took to prepare the dish & time in the store picking up ingredients for the dish. You cannot count travel time to the store or time visiting in the store.

Non-Sanctioned Hours

Monthly meeting. You get 1 hour for the business part, even if it ran shorter.

Articles/photos for the newsletter.

Education

The monthly meeting program counts as 1 hour education.

The MG Monday Zoom meetings. Watch it live, watch the recordings or read the pdf.

Seminars and/or workshops on gardening.

Touring public gardens (Garvan Gardens, Dallas Arboretum, Rose Garden, etc.). Report under Garden Tours. It must be a public garden, not a private or individual’s garden.

Reading horticulture magazines or books. You get 1 hour each month.

Watching a horticulture program on TV and/or the internet or listening on the radio. You can report 1 hour each month.

Travel Time

The exception to the rule that you cannot count travel time is if you transport items for a project. You may count time loading, unload-ing, & moving/transporting items. Examples might be hauling compost or mulch for the courthouse flowerbeds or downtown garden or display items as at the Ag Expo. Count under the project you are doing it for but only the time spent transporting items. Bringing your own personal gloves, shovel, etc. to a project does not count.

Continued from Page 2

Volunteer Time Continued from Page 2