new calendar of events · 2020. 3. 7. · member of national garden clubs, incorporated vol. 6...
TRANSCRIPT
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 3 FGCM Board Meeting – St. Louis Park Library March 10 President’s Brunch – Arneson Acres March 11 Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 am March 17 St. Patrick’s Day March 20 First Day of Spring!!! March 25 Palm Sunday March 29 Good Friday March 30 Passover Begins at Sundown April 1 Easter Sunday & April Fool’s Day April 13-14 FGCM Flower Show School 1 April 21 FGCM Annual Meeting – Edina Country Club April 22 Earth Day May 1 May Day May 5 Cinco de Mayo May 13 Mother’s Day May 15 Ramadan Begins at Sundown May 19 Armed Forces Day May 21-24 NGC Convention, Philadelphia, PA. May 28 Memorial Day
Save the date: October 22-23 NGC Central Region Convention, Frankenmuth, MI
HIGHLIGHTS
State/NGC/C.R. contacts – page 3 Rusty Patched Bumble Bee – page 16 President’s Message – page 4 Green Tip – page 17 What’s Happening – page 5-6 Creative Design (Multi-Rhythmetic) – page 18 Renaissance Festival – page 7 The Buzzzz/Safety – page 19 Scholarship Corner – page 8 Blue Star/Gold Star Moms – page 20 Horticulture – Rhubarb – page 9 National/CR News – page 21 Flower Show School 1 – page 12-13 Spotlight: Jumping Worms – page 22 Recommended Reading – page 14 FGCM Annual Meeting – page 23 Bio-Indicators/Challenge – page 15 www.mngardenclubs.org Facebook.com/Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota, Inc.
MEMBER OF NATIONAL GARDEN CLUBS, INCORPORATED
Vol. 61, No. 2 March, April, May, 2018
Garden Dirt
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FGCM Newsletter Change of Address, Name or to Add a New Member
In order to ensure continued receipt of the FGCM Newsletter please notify us promptly any changes to your Name, Mailing address, or Email address. If your newsletter is returned and we do not receive your correct mailing information before the next issue is mailed, your name will be dropped from the mailing list until the correction is received. Please advise us of new members promptly to ensure receipt of the Newsletter. If you would like to receive your newsletter via email or would rather view the newsletter on the FGCM website contact Rene’ Lynch, Asst. Treasurer, 112109 Haering Circle, Chaska, MN 55318. Home phone 952-361-6392 or email her at: [email protected] Pertinent information would be: • Name change/New Member’s Name • Address & Phone Number change/New Member’s Address & Phone number • Email Address change/New Member’s Email Address • Club Name must be included with the pertinent information.
Please help us keep you up-to-date with any new and exciting events.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
The Federated Garden Clubs Of Minnesota, Inc. provides education, fos-
ters communication and supports our membership in their endeavors to
promote love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental
responsibility.
OUR VISION STATEMENT
The Federated Garden Clubs Of Minnesota, Inc. will be recognized as an
expert resource in horticulture and floral design. Through relevant and
effective communication and active cooperation of our membership and
the cultivation of partnerships with other organizations and agencies, we
will increase our involvement in civic and environmental efforts.
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Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota, Inc. (mngardenclubs.com) President, Bonnie Schwichtenberg, 3659 12
th Ave. SE, St. Cloud, MN 56304
Phone: (320) 224-5517 Email: [email protected] National Garden Clubs, Inc. (gardenclub.org) President, Nancy L. Hargroves, 300 N. Ridge Rd., #76, Richmond, VA 23229-7450 Home Phone: (804) 285-6470 Cell Phone: (804) 363-0771 Email: [email protected] National Garden Clubs Central Region (ngccentralregion.org) Director, Fran Stueck, 5589 22
nd Avenue Trail, Vinton, IA 52329-9480
Home Phone: (319) 472-3032 Cell Phone: (319) 560-9238 Email: [email protected] WEBMASTER: Carolyn Beach 4046 Zenith Ave N, Minneapolis MN 55422-1595 Home Phone: (763) 208-2077 Email: [email protected] CHANGE OF NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL: Rene’ Lynch, Asst. Treasurer, 112109 Haering Circle, Chaska, MN 55318 Home Phone: (952) 361-6393 Email: [email protected] NEWSLETTER (SEND NEWSLETTER MATERIAL TO): Pat Almsted, 2908 Sunnyside Circle, Burnsville, MN 55306-6951 Home Phone: (952) 892-3457 Email: [email protected]
NEWSLETTER DEADLINES! December/January/February November 1 March/April/May February 1 June/July/August May 1 September/October/November August 1
NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING INFORMATION:
1/8 Page ¼ Page ½ Page Full Page Maximum size: 1 ¾” & 2 ¼” 3 ¾” x 2 ¼” 3 ¾” x 4 ½” 7 ½” x 4 ½” One Issue: $12.50 $20.00 $37.50 $75.00 Two Issues: $23.50 $37.50 $72.00 $146.00 Four Issues: $45.50 $70.00 $137.00 Six Issues: $65.50 $100.00 $198.00 The distribution for the Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota newsletter is approx-imately 500 per issue. There are four issues per year. We encourage our members to support and use the services of our advertisers. You may email your ‘print ready’ advertisement to [email protected] or mail your copy with a check to: Kathleen Alme, 8257 Kentucky Circle S., Bloomington, MN 55438 Make checks payable to: Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota Mail checks to: Kathleen Alme, 8257 Kentucky Circle S., Bloomington, MN 55438
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PRESIDENT’’S MESSAGE By Bonnie Schwichtenberg ‘New Ways to Grow’ Hello Gardeners: Finally, a break in the cold as we all look forward to warmer days. Your Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota board and past presidents spent January 13 at the Terrace Room, Arneson Acres, for a day-long retreat. Our goal was to update our mission: what we actually do, and how we do it. Our facilitator was Erika Schwichtenberg with Fox Advantage, Minneapolis. The entire group agreed it was worthwhile and we are planning a final half day in the spring when Erika can clear her schedule. It took quite a bit of time to craft a new mission statement. However, once we did, it became clear what we wanted to focus on. One thing continuously sur-faced – we want to start helping local clubs in ways that will work for them. Each club is unique. No one idea will fit all. This will be the focus of the Presidents Brunch/Meeting March 10, 2018 at Arneson Acres from 10:00-1:30. We have invited all club Presidents and their Vice Presidents, plus we are asking FGCM Past Presidents to attend as our guests. In addition, we had a Budget Committee Meeting right after the Winter meet-ing at the Penn Lake Library. During that meeting many great ideas were floated to assist local clubs and grow membership generally. However, we will remain focused on what local clubs want/need – and not what we think you need. This is an exciting time. I look forward to it. Sincerely, Bonnie Schwichtenberg 320-224-5517 [email protected]
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WHAT’S HAPPENING –
MEETINGS, PLANT SALES, EVENTS
PLANT SALES May 9-10 Bloomington Affiliated Plant Sale Wed. 2:30-7:00 and Thurs. 8:00-6:00, 8300 Sheridan Ave. S., Bloomington Nursery grown annuals, hanging baskets, patio pots, tomatoes,
peppers, herbs, and several varieties of native milkweed seedlings. perennials grown by members. Great quality, variety, and value.
May 11-12 Edina Garden Council Plant Sale Arneson Acres Park, 4711 W. 70th St. (just east of Hwy 100), Edina Friday from 10 am to 8 pm; Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm
Annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, combination hanging baskets and containers, as well as winter-hardened perennials from EGC mem-bers’ gardens. This year only, a multitude of peonies from the Arneson Acres Park collection are for sale. Parking and drive-thru pick up is available. Cash, check or major credit card is accepted. EGC is a non-profit organization; proceeds are donated to horticultural scholarships and city projects. Info: edinagardencouncil.org or [email protected]
May 11-13 Friends School Plant Sale – MN State Fairgrounds
May 12 Dakota County Master Gardener Plant Sale 9:00-Noon, Dakota Cty Fairgrounds , 4008 220th St. W., Farmington
May 15 Dahlia Society Spring Tuber Sale – Bachman’s on Lyndale 8:00 am – set up and presale to members; 9:30-3:00 open to public
May 18-19 Lake Owasso Garden Club Plant Sale 824 W. County Rd B2, Roseville Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm; Saturday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
May 19 Sweet Sioux Garden Club Plant Sale 9:00 to 3:00, 12921 Nicollet Ave. S., Burnsville (Faith Covenant Church parking lot) – We will have an assortment of garden plants, some pro-vided from members gardens: perennials, annuals, tubers, and bulbs, and colorful Garden Combo Kits from Wagner Greenhouses. Proceeds go toward scholarships and club projects and programs. The sale is in conjunction with the Burnsville City Wide Garage Sale.
May 19 Ramsey County Master Gardener Plant Sale 8:00-2:00 at the Extension Barn, 2020 White Bear Ave., Maplewood – open to the public
June 2 Diggers Plant Sale Robbinsdale Historic Library, 4915 42nd Ave. No., Robbinsdale 9 am to 3 pm
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MEETINGS/EVENTS
March 3 FGCM Board Meeting – 1:30–4:00 – St. Louis Park Library
March 3 Dakota County Master Gardeners Spring Expo, Rosemount
March 3 Carver/Scott County Master Gardeners Garden Fever, Chaska
March 6 Sweet Sioux Garden Club – The Life of Trees Presented by Faith Applequist, Board Certified Master Arborist and owner of Tree Quality, landscape design and tree evaluation. 7:00 pm at River Hills United Methodist Church, 11100 River Hills Drive, Burnsville (corner of Hwy 13 & River Hills Dr.) Free and open to the public. (RSVP to [email protected])
March 10 FGCM President’s Tea – 10:00-1:30 – Arneson Acres, Edina A ‘getting to know you’ brunch for Club Presidents, Vice Presidents and/or a representative from your club. Meet members of the FGCM Board and your fellow Presidents.
March 12 Lake Owasso Garden Club – Botanical Names or Latin 101 6:30-8:00 pm, Presbyterian Church of the Way, 3382 Lexington Ave. N., Shoreview - free and open to the public
April 3 Sweet Sioux Garden Club – Japanese Beetles and other garden pests – presented by Dr. Vera Krischik, U of M Department of Entomology. 7:00 pm at River Hills United Methodist Church, 11100 River Hills Drive, Burnsville (SW corner of Hwy 13 & River Hills Dr.) Free and open to the public. (RSVP to palmsted@gmail. com)
April 9 Lake Owasso Garden Club – New Plants of 2018 The latest research from the UofM for supporting local pollinators. 7:00-8:00 pm, Presbyterian Church of the Way, 3382 Lexington Ave. N., Shoreview - free and open to the public
April 13-15 Flower Show School 1 – House of Prayer Church, Richfield
May 5-6 Daffodil Society of MN – Spring Flower Show Bachman’s on Lyndale – noon to 6:00 pm
May 14 Lake Owasso Garden Club – Flowers for Pollinators 6:30-8:00 pm, Presbyterian Church of the Way, 3382 Lexington Ave. N., Shoreview - free and open to the public
May 21-24 NGC Convention, Philadelphia, PA.
Save the date: June 24 South St. Paul Community Garden Tour July 14-15 Northfield Garden Tour October 22-23 NGC Central Region Convention, Frankenmuth, MI
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RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL – Aug. 18-Sept. 30
By Kathy Compo
If you can still move your frozen fingers, please use them to MAKE GARLANDS! Last year, we just didn’t have enough garlands. We made it through because we had twice as many rain days as usual and that impacted attendance. This year, I think, will be back to high attendance (I just don’t think we’ll get so many rain days) and that means we will need lots of garlands again. We especially need floral garlands—those are the ones that really make the difference. Ann and I are happy to help your club with garland-making workshops or to help teach new members to make garlands. Remember, you get $2 per garland, and your club can make them or you can make them on your own for some extra cash. The new shorter shift for volunteers at the booth is working very well. Booth workers can leave by 4:00 pm (rather than staying until the end of the Festival at 7 pm) and are able to avoid the worst of the traffic jams exiting the grounds. Please consider volunteering for a day—we need you! Those who are worried about their stamina can sit at the counter and be our cashier and there are chairs in the back room for relaxing and taking a break. And don’t forget that you can get out of the booth to shop or see shows, too! You can sign up with your club, your friends or your fami-ly. Please contact Kathy. For garland-makers, there are some floral supplies at the home of Darcy Smith in Richfield (please call her before you go—she is locking the garage now as they had a break-in). Ann Albrecht has ribbon supplies (and some floral) with her. Here are contact numbers for you:
Kathy Compo (763-535-1817)—for volunteering at the booth, general questions
Ann Albrecht (651-699-8832)—ribbons and cord for fairy garlands; some floral materials
Darcy Smith (612-803-3176)—for dried flowers, wires, floral tape, etc.
If you have any questions about garlands or to turn in completed garlands, please call Ann Al-brecht at 651-699-8832 or email her at [email protected]. Call me, Kathy Compo, at 763-535-1817 or email me at [email protected] for volunteering or all other information.
HELP US MAKE 2018 THE BEST YEAR EVER!
Last weekend of RenFest 2017 with Kathy Compo, Mer-cedes Lenort, Ann Albrecht, Stacey Klein
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THE SCHOLARSHIP CORNER By Roberta Turgeon
At this time the Scholarship Fund has received $3,700 from six garden clubs. The deadline was February 1 but the date was changed to March 1 to give clubs the extra time to decide on
their contributions this year. We need at least $6,000 to cover two awards – $4,000 for our University recipient and $2,000 for our college recipient. The deadline for applications was also extended to March 1, as we were not receiving the usual volume of applications for our 2018 awards. This is a strange situation. Hope-fully, the extension of time will encourage more students’ interest. We have always been most generous with our scholarships. Students are extremely gratefully to our Fund for the help we give them to continue or finish their education. We can be proud of our work to aide these scholars. Respectfully submitted, Roberta Turgeon “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” ~ Benjamin Franklin
From the Editor – Pat Almsted Thank you to all who contributed an article or idea for this issue of the Garden Dirt. I often wonder how I’m going to fill all these pages, but you always come through for me. I am grateful for your help. It is not too early to think about our next issue. Let me know what is happening with your club. How about sending in a few paragraphs on the history of your club, or a special member you would like to recognize. If a new plant, tree, shrub, or insect inter-ests you, do a little research and let the rest of us know, too. Photos are always wel-come. Write about something new you tried – was it successful? Even if it didn’t turn out as expected, we can all learn something. The deadline for submission is May 1st, which is right around the corner. This is YOUR newsletter and we want to make it in-teresting and informative for YOU. Remember to notify Rene’ Lynch and/or myself if you have a new email or mailing address so you don’t miss your copy of the Garden Dirt or any updates from FGCM.
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HORTICULTURE – Rhubarb – fruit or vegetable? By – Pat Almsted
Rhubarb, Rheum Rhabarbarum, (also referred to as
the “pie plant”) is often considered a fruit because it is used mainly in desserts. However, it is actually a hearty perennial vegetable (leaf stem) that can be used in dishes both sweet and savory. It is an ancient plant – Chinese rhubarb has been traced back to 2700 BC. According to folklore, Chinese doctors recommended it for its medici-nal qualities as a laxative, to reduce fever, and cleanse the body. Reportedly, rhubarb grown in the U.S. does not
have the same medicinal value as “true rhubarb” or Chinese rhubarb. The first crops were grown for the round pouch of unopened flowers, which was cooked as a delicacy. In northern Asia it is still raised for this purpose. There are several different varieties of rhubarb grown all over the world. Extremely versatile, the stalks are used in pies, tarts, cold soups, jams, sauces and beverages. Its juices have been used to flavor wine, beer, and even maple syrup. Some people actually eat the stalks raw, dipped in sugar or salt. As most of you know, only the stems are edible as the leaves contain high amounts of oxalic acid, a toxic and potentially deadly poison. So, discard the leaves – it is okay to compost them as the acid is broken down and diluted fairly quickly during the decomposition process. Food grown using composted rhubarb leaves is safe to eat. Rhubarb comes in red and green varieties as well pink or speckled. Red stalks are more popular with consumers, but they tend to be more fibrous. Green varieties are higher yielding, longer lived and more winter hardy than red varieties. Before World War II, almost all of the rhubarb grown in the U.S. had green stalks, but sugar, commonly used to offset the crop’s tart bite, was rationed during that time and rhubarb disappeared from the marketplace. Its popularity has come back, but not anywhere near the level of demand as before the war. Consumers often assume the red stemmed rhubarb is sweeter than other colors, but color and sweetness are not necessarily related. Recommended Varieties: Red Petioles (leafstalks): Canada Red (long, thick stalks, extra sweet); Cherry Red (rich red inside and out); Crimson Red (tall, plump petioles); MacDonald (tender skin; brilliant red); Ruby; Valentine (petioles 22” by 1-1/2”, good flavor). Green Petioles: Victoria (shaded with red) can produce some very sweet stems. Buy your plants from a reliable garden center or supplier, or from a trusted gardener. Planting: Rhubarb thrives in cool locations and full sun. When plants become crowded and the leaf stalks are thin (after about five years of full harvest), old roots may be dug and divided in early spring just as they sprout to make new plantings. Cut the roots into four to eight pieces, making sure each piece has at least one to three strong buds. Choose a sunny, out-of-the-way site where it will not be disturbed since it may be productive for five years or more. Planting seeds is possible but not recommended as they can produce plants that are not true to type. Dig a hole at least 1.5’ deep and 3’ wide. Loosen the soil; adding a 6” layer of compost will help increase production. Add a handful of bone meal if your soil is low in phosphorus. Set the crown divisions 1-2” below the soil surface, spacing the roots 36-48” apart in
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rows 3-4’ apart. Good garden drainage is essential. Planting in raised beds ensures against rotting of the crown. Once plants sprout, apply mulch to retain soil moisture and smother weeds. Do not cover the crowns. Renew mulch when the foliage dies down in the fall to protect roots from extremely hard freezes. Provide enough water to keep roots from drying out, even when they’re dormant. Side- dress with compost in midsummer and again in fall. Remove flower stalks before they bloom to encourage leafstalk production.
Harvesting Do not harvest rhubarb during the first year of planting. Newly set plants need all their foliage to build a strong root system. Stalks may be harvested for 1 or 2 weeks during the second year and for 8 to 10 weeks (a full harvest season) during the third and subsequent years. Stalks can be pulled or cut out; to pull, open up the rhubarb plant, grasp a stalk near the base, and pull slowly but firmly while twisting the stalk. Trim off the leaf blades. To keep the plants healthy, vigorous, and producing well, remove only about one-third of the leaves from a plant at any one time. Harvest in the fall only when the plants are to be discarded the next season. When you make the last rhubarb harvest of the season, remove all of the leaves to avoid rotting leaves affecting the crown. If seedstalks and flowers develop during the spring and summer, cut them from the base of the plant as soon as they appear and discard them. Vegeta-tively propagated, named varieties usually have been selected to produce fewer seedstalks than cheaper, seed-produced plants. The petioles (leafstalks) are of the highest quality (maximum color, flavor and tenderness) in early spring. They should be crisp and fairly thick; if harvested too late, they be-come tough. Medium sized stalks are generally more tender than larger ones, which may be stringy. Yield and quality are highest if petioles that have just reached full size are harvested before any coarse fiber can develop. In northern U.S. rhubarb can be harvested about every 4-5 weeks, or about 3 times a season. Lack of water, intense heat, and frost all affect the harvest. Stalks should be free of insect damage and disease. If the leaves are spotted, have a hole in them, or the edges ‘eaten’ by insects or slugs, that will not affect the stalks since the leaves are discarded. You can use these stalks without concern.
Common Problems If you find a jelly-like, clear substance on your rhubarb stalks, most likely the Rhubarb curculio paid a visit to your rhubarb patch. Rhubarb curculio, a snout beetle, bores into the stalks, crowns and roots of rhubarb plants. It also attacks wild dock, a weed that is prevalent in many areas of the country, so destroy any wild dock growing around the garden. Treat the base of plants with an appropriate insecticide. Burn badly infected rhubarb plant parts in July after the beetles have laid their eggs. Home Preparation First, trim and discard the leaves. The freshly harvested stalks can be kept in the refrigerator, unwashed and wrapped tightly in plastic, for up to three weeks. To freeze, chop into 1/2” pieces, spread them on a sheet pan and place in the freezer. Once fro-zen, slide the rhubarb into heavy-duty plastic freezer bags. Seal tightly and put back in the freez-er. Frozen rhubarb will keep for up to six months and can be measured from the freezer bag. When cooking fresh rhubarb, use a vegetable peeler to remove any brown or scaly spots. Peeling the entire stalk is unnecessary; simply trim the ends with a sharp knife and wash and dry the stalks.
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Always use a non-reactive pan for cooking this high acid plant. Use anodized aluminum, stainless steel, Teflon coated aluminum or enamel-coated cast iron cookware. Rhubarb cooked in reactive metal pots (aluminum, iron and copper) will turn an unappetizing brown color. Metal ions flaking off the pan interact with acids in the fruit to form brown compounds that darken both the pan and the rhubarb. While people in the U.S. most often prefer to pair rhubarb with strawberries, a typical English preparation would use ginger, and the French may puree it into a sauce to be served with fish. Rhubarb can be combined with almost any fruit in your recipes. Try it with blueberry, peach, orange, even pineapple. Rhubarb recipes abound on the internet; check out a quick Rhubarb Butter, or a Rhubarbarita, from the Splendid Table (splendidtable.org/recipes). Nutritional facts: Each cup of diced, uncooked rhubarb contains 26 Calories, 2 grams of Dietary Fiber, 1 gram of Protein, 6 grams of Carbohydrates, 10 mg of Vitamin C, 122 IU of Vitamin A, 8.7 mcg of Folic Acid, 105 mg of Calcium, and 351 mg of Potassium. The sugar necessary to make it palatable, however, somewhat offsets these benefits. How much will you need: (approximately) 1 pound of rhubarb = 3 cups chopped rhubarb 3 cups chopped rhubarb = 2 cups cooked rhubarb 15 medium stalks of rhubarb = 6 cups chopped rhubarb Below is my favorite rhubarb recipe – quick, easy and yummy, the creamy sweet/tart combo is hard to beat. Make it easier with store-bought pie crust or save the calories and skip the crust, placing the rhubarb mixture in a greased pie pan or baking dish.
Fun Fact: Did you know you can ‘force’ rhubarb? Grown indoors in the dark at temperatures of 50-65 F enables you to enjoy fresh rhubarb nearly year-round. The stalks are thinner, sweeter, and more tender than rhubarb grown outdoors. It grows about an inch a day – so fast that you can actually hear it squeak and pop as it grows. Forcing rhubarb is a 200 year-old practice and was once somewhat common.
Sources: gardeningknowhow.com; rhubarbcentral.com; extension.illinois.edu/veggies/
rhubarb.cfm; Rodale, and various other internet sites. p.s., Do not confuse Wild Rhubarb for garden varieties of rhubarb. Wild Rhubarb is another name for Common Burdock, a weed that looks similar to rhubarb but is not edible.
Rhubarb Custard Pie Ingredients Directions Crust for 9” pie Line pie dish with pastry; add the rhubarb 4 C. rhubarb, diced Mix sugar & flour together; add beaten eggs 3 eggs, beaten Pour mixture over rhubarb 1 1/2 C. sugar + 1/2 C. div. Sprinkle on top: 1/2 C. sugar mixed with 1/2 tsp 3 Tblsp. flour Cinnamon, or to taste 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes; Reduce heat to 350
and bake for one hour or until custard is set.
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Flower Show School Course 1 April 13 - 15, 2018
Location: House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 7625 Chicago Ave., Richfield Registration Deadline: April 1, 2018. Required reading, if attending for credit, “National Gardener Magazine”, subscription included in Registration fee. Required reading materials, if attending for credit listed below: (available from Registrar by sending check at time of registration)
1344 Handbook for Flower Shows, 2017 Revised Edition (3 Ring Binder) $25.00;
1173 | Outlines of Period Flower Arrangement (Hannay) $5.00
1341 | Horticulture Exhibiting and Judging $30.00
You MUST purchase #1344 for use throughout the four (4) schools. You can borrow a copy of #1173 and #1341 to use for Course 1, but must have them to review prior to and during Course 1. An outline of the course study will be provided at time of regis-tration. Flower Show Schools were formed by the National Garden Club to train Judges, but they are a great place to learn horticulture flower show procedure and design. Every-one is welcome to attend all or part of the program with registration fees paid. There are four (4) schools. We plan to hold the schools, sponsored by the Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota in the Minneapolis, St. Paul area with Course 2 on October 4 - 6, 2018, Course 3 in May 2019 and Course 4 in September 2019. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flower Show School Course 1 Registration Form
Make check payable to: FGCM Send to Registrar: Letti Delk, 1882 29th St S, Saint Cloud, MN 56301, attach and e-mail to lmdelk@charternet. You can call registrar for more information at 320-250-9647 __ Fees for both days if attending FOR CREDIT and testing $50.00 __ Fees for both days if NOT attending for credit $40.00 __ Fee for Design portion only $25.00 __ Fee for Horticulture portion only $25.00 __ Handbook for Flower Shows(required all schools) $25.00 __ 1173 Outlines of Per. Flower Arrg, 1341 Hort Exhibit and Judge $35.00 NAME: _________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________ PHONE: ______________________ E-MAIL:___________________________
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Schedule - FRIDAY April 13, 2018 8:00 am Registration and announcements, Coffee and water (provided by FGCM) 8:15 Flower Show Procedure: Intro to Handbook of Flower Shows, basic require-
ments of Flower Shows, Standard System of Awarding, Overview of the Flower Show Schedule. Instructor Karen Booker
10:15 Morning break 10:30 Horticulture: Cactus & Pansy, plant nomenclature, filling out Entry Tag,
Horticulture Commenting Vocabulary, Judging Procedures. Instructor Karen Booker
12:30 Lunch - On your own. Sandwich, chips, fruit, dessert provided for purchase 1:00 Continue Horticulture and oral practice point scoring 4:00 Break 4:15 - 5:15 pm Written point score exam. Graded but not recorded.
Schedule - SATURDAY April 14, 2018 8:00 am Registration and announcements, Coffee and water (provided by FGCM) 8:15 Design: History of European and American 20th Century designs.
Elements and Principles of Design. Design Commenting Vocabulary. Judging procedures. Instructor Judy Binns
10:15 Morning break 10:30 Continue Design study 11:30 Lunch - On your own. Sandwich, chips, fruit, dessert provided for purchase 12:30 Continue Design study and oral practice point scoring 2:30 Break 3:00 - 4:00 pm Written point score exam. Graded but not recorded. Written exam for Flower Show Course I at 4:30 Saturday or 10 am Monday morning.
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RECOMMENDED READING –
By Catherine Williams
“The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate” by Peter Wohlleben
Based on his experience managing the forest in the Eifel mountains in Hummel, Germany. Trees are social beings. They work together in community "creating an ecosystem that moderates extremes of heat and cold, stores water, generates humidity," and share food with their neighbors. "Even sick individuals are sup-ported until well again." Together they can live to be very old. Trees taste the saliva of a leaf eating caterpillar, or detect other predators; then they send warnings as scents disbursed in the air, or as chemicals and electrical im-pulses through their root systems. "Fungi around the roots help the trees exchange news about insects, drought, and other dangers." Fungi carry electrical impulses to other trees, and use water to break down nutrients in the soil to equalize the amount of food each tree in the forest gets. Trees do best if they stay within this realm of fungi communication. Once they are separated from it, they tend to die. Dominant mother trees live with their offspring surrounding them, supporting them with nutrients, shading them from too much sun, allowing them to grow slowly with a stronger thicker trunk. "A good upbringing is necessary for a long life." When the mother tree dies, some of the offspring sprint to the sun and the others die off and become humus. When younger trees reach the middle story, they again wait for the demise of another tree so they can sprint to the canopy and become a dominant tree. "When you know that trees experience pain and have memories and that tree parents live together with their children, then you can no longer just chop them down and disrupt their lives with large machines. Trees interact with their environment and how we interact with them affect their success and play a part in making our world the kind of place where we want to live. Perhaps on your next walk in the forest, you will dis-cover for yourself wonders great and small."
“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second best time is now.” ~Chinese Proverb
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Bio-indicators, what are they? By Rene’ Lynch
Bio-indicators are a species that can be used to monitor the health of an environment or ecosystem. For example, lichens are often used as indicators of air quality. Since they don't have roots and get a lot of their nutrients from the air, they are a trustworthy indicator of an area's air quality. Some species are very sensitive to environmental changes. Frogs and toads fit into that category. Take time to learn more about our 14 frogs and toads that live in Minnesota. Why we want to protect them and how they act as bio-indicators of our wetlands, streams, lakes and rivers. Their numbers have been declining for many reasons. I encourage gardeners to be mind-ful of our local frogs and toads. Rene’ at the Winter FGCM Mtg.
“Leap into Spring,” is a program suitable for any time of year; this program originated from a National Garden Club, Inc. initiative. As spring approaches, get ready to listen for a chorus. National Garden Clubs, Inc. encourages you to read and discuss the book The Frightened Frog with the children in your life. Even better, take them on a quest to find an egg mass, tadpoles, frogs and other amphibians. Become an environmental hero! Sit and listen while enjoying the mystery and magnificence of the natural world with the most important people anywhere, our children.
SWEET SIOUX SIX-PACK COLOR CHALLENGE By Doris Miller This is a challenge given to our garden club members one year – we were to report back in the fall how it turned out.
The challenge: Buy one to three six-packs of one plant in the same color. Plant them in the ground or in containers in three different styles. You may buy new fillers or use plants from your garden. Stage these “incidents” in your existing garden.
In his book “Shocking Beauty,” Thomas Hobbs tells us “Controlling color makes your garden more exciting. You need confidence in your own judgment to stage ‘incidents’. Incidents are not per-manent. Plant densely so you don’t have to explain what your vision was. Solid plantings need a broken (high-low) surface to be interesting. Use repetition of plants for a color echo. Accentuate focal plants with other shapes and colors. Elevate color by using containers, trellises, table, chair, etc. Containers are the jewelry – color and decorate them to suit your ‘incident.’ Always remem-ber: light colors advance, dark colors recede. ‘No Risk – No Art.’”
If you decide to take on this challenge, send photos of your results for possible inclusion in the September/October/November issue of the Garden Dirt – photos due August 1st.
“Gardening without fear means taking risks that saner heads would never contemplate.” ~ Thomas Hobbs in his book “Shocking Beauty”
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An Endangered Bee in Northfield, MN ! by Catherine Williams
Photo by Arlene Kjar. This Rusty Patched Bumble Bee was seen On Arlene’s garden asters in Northfield, MN.
Northfield, Minnesota is on the map! The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee's map of sightings that is. Arlene Kjar, mem-ber of Northfield Prairie Partners of Wild Ones, was so excited to see this endangered species in her garden this past fall. Arlene's neighbor, Scott King, author of Wasps and Bees of MN, observed a Rusty Patched Bumble Bee in his yard about a block away from Arlene's place. He came over to see if they were in Arlene's pollinator friendly gar-den. They were there too!
Arlene said, "We watched them through most of September, sometimes seeing three at one time. Maybe they had a nest in the area or maybe it was the same bee." Ar-lene and Scott will be very diligent in looking for signs of this endangered bee next season. There were only two other sightings in Minnesota in 2017.
Rusty Patched Bumble bees were declared an endangered species March 21, 2017. In the online article: "A Ghost in the Making: Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee", "the decline of its numbers in the United States is estimated at 87% of its historic range (28 states and 2 Canadian provinces).
"This bee is an excellent pollinator of wildflowers, cranberries, and other important crops, including plum, apple, alfalfa and onion seeds." It needs a diversity of flower nectar and pollen available through its colony's life, April -September".
In the same article "The decline of this species is thought to be the result of commer-cial bumble bees (Bombus occidentalis and Bombus impatiens) raised in Europe and shipped to the US for pollination of greenhouse tomatoes and other crops.
"Bumble bee expert Robbin Thorp has hypothesized that these commercial bumble bee colonies acquired a disease (probably Nosema bombi) from a European bee and was transferred to colonies of the Rusty Patched Bumble bee." As with any new dis-ease introduced, native species do not have the immunity bees had in Europe." Other reasons the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee is declining is possibly due to: Intensive Farm-ing, Pesticides, and Global Climate Change.
The photo on the left is by Dan Mullen, found on the website "Endangered Species Midwest Region - Fact Sheet Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Rombus affinis). Notice the rusty colored patch in the middle of the second abdominal segment. In the Fact Sheet article: "Only males and workers have this (rusty patch) marking. From early April to
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September, the queen bee and females (workers) live in a colony in grasslands and tallgrass prairies. Nesting sites are underground and in abandoned rodent holes or clumps of grasses. Overwintering sites for hibernating queens are found in undis-turbed soil. "The males and new queens are produced in late summer. This is probably the reason the Northfield bee with the rusty patch was noticed in the early fall. "The new queens store the sperm gathered in the fall to be used to fertilize eggs in a new colony the next spring. Founding queens, workers, and males die off before the winter." "What can you do to help conserve the Rusty Patched Bumble bee? "Grow a garden with flowers and/or add flowering shrubs to your yard. Even flowering containers help. Use native plants such as lupines, asters, bee balm, native prairie plants and spring ephemerals. Keep those pussy willows! Provide areas of undisturbed soil, rodent holes, and clumps of grass, where the bees may nest. If you find a nest, "let it be" for the season. Join a Citizen Science project monitoring the numbers and species of bees in Minneso-ta. Visit the website for more information:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/environment/citizen-science/bee-atlas/
GREEN TIP – Soap Nuts
By Pat Almsted Have you ever heard of using Soap Nuts for your laundry? I stumbled across this green tip on the internet (where else?). The odd looking ‘nuts’ are actually berries that come from a tree that grows in the Himalayas. When agitated in water, they produce a natu-rally occurring surfactant called saponin, which gently cleanses laundry. Soap nuts are gentle on both clothes and skin, making them ideal for those with sensitive skin and/or sensitivity to artificial fragrance. They double as a fabric softener so your clothes come out smelling fresh, clean, and soft. While they do not produce lots of bubbles or foam, suds are not necessary to get clothes clean. Rather, it is the agitation that does the work to clean the clothes. The berries can be reused up to ten times, making them very affordable, especially considering they are a 2-in-1 detergent and fabric softener. Reviews are mostly positive (I have not yet personally tried them). Like all products, buy from a reputable company. Eco Nut is a supplier that states their trees are sustain-ably and organically grown without chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides. Since saponin tastes bad to insects, pesticides are not needed. Soap nuts got the name because of the way they dry into hard shells resembling nuts. Because the berry fruit is related to the lychee and isn’t actually a nut, they are nut allergy safe.
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CREATIVE FLORAL DESIGN – MULTI-RHYTHMETIC DESIGN Submitted by Bonnie Schwichtenberg
Multi-rhythmetic is a creative design with two or more rhythms, one rhythm being dominant, and each creating a different pattern. The rhythms may go in any direction.
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The Buzzzz… By Rene’ Lynch, Bee Gap Chairman For those gardeners who might be wanting to add native Blue Orchard Mason Bees to your yard, it’s time to consider ordering bee cocoons for salting your nesting box or at least bee attractant. A recommended supplier by National Garden Clubs, Inc., Crown Bees, says the supply of bees is low this year and you should reserve your bees now.
I’m taking this opportunity to update you about another vital pollinator, the Monarch Butterfly. In a recent column in the Star Tribune, Sunday January 28
th, Joe Trezza
reported that Monarchs, particularly in the Eastern Migration Flyway, were way behind schedule this year due to a late fall.
“A warm fall does often delay migration in various ways.” “Migration conditions are a ‘Goldilocks’ sort of thing. Weather, like porridge, can be too hot, too cold or just right,” said Chip Taylor who heads the University of Kansas’ Monarch Watch, the country’s most comprehensive Monarch research program. “Late Monarchs just don’t get to Mexico as well as early Monarchs do. The difference is quite striking.” This spring they will know the results of the late migration of last fall when an annual census will be done to determine the results of last year’s migration. There is consid-eration by the Fish and Wildlife Service to have Monarchs recommended for Federal Protection under the Endangered Species Act. They will make this decision in 2019. Please protect and enhance our pollinator habitat. Plant native and encourage pollina-tors to visit your yard this growing season. Perhaps your club could work with others and establish a Monarch Way Station.
PUTTING SAFETY FIRST– By Pat Almsted
Spring is soon upon us and we are anxious to get out in the garden. I’ve said it before – be careful out there! Watch your step and take it easy. As most of you can attest, accidents happen in an instant and before you know it, you’ll find yourself falling and know there is nothing you can do about it. If you are lucky, the only thing you’ll hurt is your pride, but bruises, sprains or breaks are always a possi-bility. Remember, not everything has to be done in one day.
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HISTORY OF GOLD STAR FAMILIES – By Carol Oeltjenbruns, Blue Star Marker Chair Gold Star Families is a 501(c) (3) not for profit organiza-tion created to provide support to those who have lost a loved one in service to our country through the United States Armed Forces. Family members of the fallen and/or survivors are referred to as Gold Star families. Their mission is to provide honor, hope and healing through remembering fallen heroes in several ways. While their hero paid the ultimate sacrifice for our free-dom, survivors live daily with the pain of loss. Gold Star Families endeavor to provide an atmosphere of emo-tional and psychological support for healing. Gold Star Families believe in giving back to their families. An annual scholarship is given to a Gold Star family each year. Vegetable gardens are grown where all the pro-duce is donated to local veterans and their families. They provide embroidered me-morials to the surviving family members of a fallen hero and have various events for families to get together and support each other. Many people do not know the significance of the Gold Star banner. Their organization is committed to educating others on their important symbol and how to properly re-spond when they meet someone who has a fallen hero in their family. The name Gold Star came from the custom of families of service members hanging a banner called a service flag in the window of their homes. The service flag had a star for each family member in the United States Armed Forces. Living service members were represented by a Blue Star and those who had lost their lives were represented by a Gold Star. Gold Star Markers were developed for these families. The marker looks like a Blue Star Marker and has the same regulations for installment and placement. A Gold Star re-places the Blue Star and the tribute line reads, ‘A tribute to Gold Star Families whose loved one paid the ultimate price defending the United States of America.’ The By-way Memorial Marker also has the blue star replaced with a gold star. The tribute line on the Gold Star Memorial By-way Marker reads, ‘A tribute to all Gold Star families – Honor – Hope – Healing.’ To learn more about the Gold Star Mothers organization, visit their website, www.goldstarmoms.com.
The Price of Freedom “If you want to thank a veteran, be the kind of American worth fighting for.” Unknown
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NATIONAL NEWS
National Garden Week June 3-10, 2018
Perusing the Winter 2018 issue of “The National Gardener Magazine” I learned that approximately 200 replacement seedlings can be planted with our $68 donation to the Penny Pines program. The Penny Pines program began in 1941 in California but has since expanded to all 50 states. Early on, seedlings could be produced for one penny each and approximately 680 seedlings could be planted in a typical acre, with 10 acres of seedlings costing $68. This is where the $68 figure came in. Now, of course, it costs considerably more (inflation) but NGC has kept the amount accepted in increments of $68. The replacement trees are indigenous (not only pine trees) to forested areas damaged by insects, fires or natural catastrophes. The trees provide soil and water-shed protection and soil stabilization, as well as beauty and shade for recreation. If your club isn’t already participating in the Penny Pines program, it is easy to do and a worthwhile project. Collect spare change at your meetings and when you have accu-mulated $68, send it in to NGC. You can find the donation form on the NGC website, www.gardenclub.org under “Ongoing Projects” and select “Penny Pines.” You may designate an individual, club, or organization, or event/theme (Plant America, Arbor Day, National Garden Week, Support our Troops) to honor if you wish, or in memory of someone special. Donors will receive an NGC Penny Pines Certificate.
FGCM NEWS –
Check out the interesting video on raising Monarchs on the Central Region website: www.ngccentralregion.org under “CR at work”. This would be fascinating for children who are interested in nature, especially critters, to watch as the caterpillars are found on the milkweed leaf and as they go from stage to stage in their development. They can see how the chrysalis is formed and watch the Monarch bust out of the cocoon and develop its beautiful wings. “I think the true gardener is a lover of his flowers, not a critic of them. I think the true gardener is the reverent servant of Nature, not her truculent, wife-beating master. I think the true gardener, the older he grows, should more and more develop a humble, grateful and uncertain spirit.” ~Reginald Farrer, In a Yorkshire Garden, 1909
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SPOTLIGHT ON –
Jumping Worms
By Bonnie Schwichtenberg
There is a new critter invading our dirt that could become a real dan-ger to our forests and garden beds. Amyanthus spp was discovered at the Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin about 5 years ago. It is commonly called the jumping worm due to its characteristic thrashing around when disturbed or held. The Jumping Worm can also be identified by the large, cloudy white, smooth band (clitellum) around its body. Other earthworms have raised clitellae. Many people do not know that no species of earthworm is native to North America. In the beginning they likely hitchhiked aboard early ships bringing supplies and plants from the Old World in Europe. They have been an environmental problem ever since. Contrary to common knowledge, they are NOT good for the soil and are not good at aerating the ground with worm tunnels. The reason they are harmful is because they eat and digest leaf litter on the forest floor, including the mulch you so carefully place around your garden plants, leaving behind a lot of worm poop aka casings or cocoons. This result is a loss of organic matter in the soil, changing the soil structure, chemistry, and nutrient dynamics.
The Jumping Worm is a voracious leaf litter consumer, leaving behind a material that has the composition of dried coffee grounds, contributing to soil dehydration and absence of useable nutrients. The Jumping Worm is known in Asia and also likely hitchhiked on ships carrying con-taminated dirt. The adults grow all summer, mate and deposit eggs (cocoons) that over win-ter. Most species are annuals but the cocoons survive to hatch in the spring after winter. They are not harmed by cold winters either, so we cannot count on that to help us combat the prob-lem. They now have been found in Minnesota and even in material that fishing bait is often sold in. They are susceptible to heat, however. Compost that has been heated will kill the eggs (co-coons) that are laid every year. These cocoons are brown like dirt and about the size of the head of a pin. They are particularly hard to spot in dirt. They are easily unknowingly moved from place to place.
There is no known selective poison that attacks only earthworms while keeping the other mi-crobes and critters safe. So, that is not an option at this time. The Renville County Master Gar-deners have listed some realistic best practices for us to follow while we look for a solution. 1. Educate yourself and others to recognize jumping worms 2. Watch for jumping worms and signs of their presence. 3. Arrive clean and Leave clean - clean soil and debris from vehicles, equipment, and personal
gear to and from a garden or recreational area. 4. Dump your extra fishing bait in the trash. 5. Only use, sell, plant, purchase or trade landscape materials and plants that appear to be free of
jumping worms. 6. Only sell, purchase, or trade compost that was heated to the appropriate temperatures and
duration that reduce and kill the cocoons that have over wintered so they will not hatch. Ideal-ly this is somewhere between 125-158 F.
7. When possible remove most if not all the dirt from suspect plants and discard it in the trash before planting the plant in your garden.
Resources: The Renville Master Gardeners - Garden Gatherings, vol 112 July 2017- Sandy Feldman www.dnr.wi.gov/topic/invasives/fact/jumpingworm/index.html www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasive/terrestrialanamals/earthworms/index.html www.scientificamerican.com/article/invasive-earthworms-denude-forests/
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Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota
Annual Meeting
“New Ways to Grow”
Saturday, April 21, 2018 Edina Country Club, 5100 Wooddale Ave., Edina
Registration/Social Hour 9:45 AM Speaker: Larry Cipolla – Hydroponics 10:30 AM
Larry will be joining us for lunch - time for more questions Lunch at 12:30 – Business Meeting to follow
Registration form: Please return the attached registration, along with your check to FGCM for $15.00, to Kim Turner
Prior to, but NO LATER than, April 10th, 2018
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Name________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________
Cell Phone ____________________Home Phone_____________________
Email__________________________ Club __________________________
Send to Kim Turner, 6544 Brook Lane, Savage, MN 55378 Questions: [email protected] or 952-226-1410.
Please coordinate transportation among your members and guests. Anyone needing special assistance or transportation, please let me know and we can assist you. Our Plated lunch will include ECC House Salad, Entrée of your choice, Roasted Baby Red Potatoes, Asparagus & Baby Green Top Carrots, rolls, & Mignardies:
Assorted Chocolates, Tartlets and Petite Desserts, hot coffee-tea-iced tea.
Please Select one: _____ Sautéed Chicken Breast in a Lemon Beurre Blanc with Capers (Gluten Free) _____ Butternut Squash Ravioli, topped with Sautéed Asparagus, Red Peppers and
Toasted Pecans in a Blue Cheese Cream Sauce (Vegetarian)
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