Over the Garden Gate

Monthly Newsletter Clinton County Master Gardeners

Editors: Carol Machael, cmachael@gmail.com Published on the first Monday of the month.

To submit an article it must be sent by E-mail as a Microsoft Word attachment to the above e-mail address. To be accepted for publication in the next newsletter, articles must be received 10 days be-fore the first Monday of the month. Articles will be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the editor.

Volume 3 Issue 11 December 2012

Notes from Kay, our Chairman

This will be the last notes from me as your Advisory Board Chairman. As the year comes to a close I look back on

all the projects started and completed by the Master Gardeners. I feel very fortunate to have been able to lead

such a great group of volunteers. It is each and every one of you that makes this organization great, we as Ad-

visory Board members are just the ones that help direct. We had a great Master Gardener Class, Plant Sale,

Garden Walk, Master Gardener Day at the Fair, floats for 2 parades, and wrapped it up with a very nice Awards

Banquet and Christmas Party. In between those highlights we had the Eagle Watch, Tractor-cade, Envirokids,

classes at the Arb, Horticulture in the Heartland, the Community Gardens, and many hours spent at the O.L.C. ,

the Arb, and other opportunities by our members. I ask as the new year comes that you look at the new opportu-

nities to help our communities and dig in and volunteer as you did this year. Thank you for letting me be your

leader this last year.

I am enclosing a request for assistance by Mary Lou Hinrichsen, for the Hess Cemetery. Her request is to have

Master Gardeners create a patch of prairie flowers in the area where there is now prairie grass.

She sent the following and asked me to pass it on:

“What now is Hess cemetery in Clinton Iowa was virgin Iowa Prairie when David Hess was laid to rest there in

1885.There are other pioneer families represented there, including four young men who died in the Civil War. 39

prairie species were documented there a few years ago, including 33 species of prairie flowers. Since then the

cemetery has been mowed and the flowers have been lost. Are there any volunteers who would restore those

symbols of Iowa history? Thank you.”

If you would be interested in helping with this project, please contact me and I will direct you to the appropri-

ate people. There is a need for Class Hosts to help with the new class starting in January.

And a reminder to get the last of your volunteer hours in before Dec 31st.

CLINTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ADVISORY BOARD

Volume 3 Issue 11 Page 2 December 2012

.

November 18, 2012 Extension Office 9am

Roll Call-Kay, Roger, Brenda, Willard, Alice, Carol, Sandy, Jerry(int.) Margo, Mark

Approval of Agenda-Approved Carol 1st Alice 2nd

Approval of Minutes-Approved Willard 1st Roger 2nd

Financial Report-Mark-Balance of $4365.50 Approved Willard 1st Carol 2nd

Reports: Committees/projects/events

Bickelhaupt: Margo Hansen-Wreath Class on Dec. 1, Margo working on new calendar for next year, will have MG Education

Hrs events marked.

Publicity: Mark-New MG Classes presented in all area newspapers, people who have shown an interest to join the next

class are being contacted and sent appropriate information. Carol will combine Dec. & Jan. newsletters to include pictures & stories of

Mardi Gras float and Christmas Party.

Old Business:

Advisory Board Election-Ballots opened at meeting, Jerry Richter, Deb Neels, & Alice Machande elected.

Update of guidelines-JoLinda Burr has received update of wording. As soon as new update is approved by Adv. Bd., will go

on Webpage.

Mentoring Interns-Will try to pair up interns & MG’s before classes are over to keep them on track towards their hrs. Will

have Meet & Greet event in Spring to help them next year.

Christmas Party- Dec 3rd at Buzzy’s in Welton, IA starting at 5:30 with Social Hour followed by Buffet and Program.

Door prizes-Motion made to give $120.00($30.00 each) towards door prizes of Arb. Bus trip, Hort. In Heartland, Andresen’s

Nursery, & Paul’s Discount. Roger 1st Roger 2nd . Reminder will be sent on the email about the party, door prizes, getting hrs. in, and

Scholarship-Willard will contact all districts again this year about the scholarship.

New Business:

Home & Garden Show-will contact about table or demonstration

Eagle Watch-Jan 5th this year

Hess Cemetery-Willard contacted about restoring the prairie grasses and flowers- individual needs help finding plants or

seed. Could be good project for next spring.

Master Gardener of the Year-Chosen by Board

Master Gardener Intern of the Year-Chosen by Board

Top 4 Volunteer/Education Hours-Hrs need to be submitted by Nov. 27th to qualify.

Friends of Master Gardener Recognition: all dinners will be paid for all friends of MG’s. These include:

Judges from Fair

Newspaper reporters

Jessica and Catherine

Thank you note: Note will be sent to Jean Maher for a donation of $25.00 to MG’s. She was President of the DeWitt Garden Club.

For the good of the cause: meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted: Brenda Council, Secretary

Volume 3 Issue 11 Page 3 December 2012

Master Gardener classes begin in January

“Classes for Clinton County Master Gardeners will begin Tuesday, January 15th, with a “meet and greet” start-ing at 6:30 p.m. See schedule below.. Classes will start at 6:30 p.m. and continue until 9:30 p.m. at the ISU Extension office in DeWitt, 400 East 11th Street. Deadline to sign-up for classes is December 27 for early bird special ($150) or by January 7 ($175).

Any Master Gardeners who wish to serve as hosts for any of the sessions are asked to e-mail Mark Schroe-der marks2@iastate.edu with the dates you plan to serve. You can volunteer for more than one session. Serving as a host is a great way to listen to the class and at the same time pick up 3 education hours. Times to be there are from 6:15 PM-to 9:30 PM.

Date Focus Presenter Location

January 15, 2013

Introduction and Orientation Local MG Coordinator/Board Members

Extension Office - DeWitt

January 22, 2013

Adobe Connect – Turfgrass Management

Dave Minner Extension Office - DeWitt

January 29, 2013

Adobe Connect – Soils and Botany

Lee Burras; Denny Schrock Extension Office - DeWitt

February 5, 2013

Adobe Connect - Plant Pathol-ogy/Entomology

Erika Saalau-Rojas & Donald Lewis

Extension Office - DeWitt

February 12, 2013

Adobe Connect - - Weed Man-agement, IPM, and Pesticides

Kristine Schaefer & Laura Jesse Extension Office - DeWitt

February 19, 2013

Adobe Connect – Landscape Trees and Shrubs

Jeff Iles Extension Office - DeWitt

February 23, 2013

Saturday Class - On Campus Campus Instructors ISU Campus - Ames

February 26, 2013

Adobe Connect – Animal Ecol-ogy

Rebecca Christoffel Extension Office - DeWitt

March 5, 2013 Adobe Connect – Fruits Paul Domoto Extension Office - DeWitt

March 12, 2013

Adobe Connect - Sustainable Landscape Design

Ann Marie VanDerZanden Extension Office - DeWitt

March 19, 2013

Adobe Connect - Agricultural Best Practices - Food Safety

Cathy Srohbehn; Paul Do-moto;Angela Shaw

Extension Office-DeWitt

March 26, 2013

Vegetables Patrick O'Malley Arboretum - Clinton

April 2, 2013 Houseplants Margo Hansen Arboretum - Clinton

April 9, 2013 Herbaceous Ornamentals Margo Hansen Arboretum - Clinton

April 16, 2013 Graduation-6PM MG Board Members Extension Office-DeWitt

HOURS

If you have not yet turned in hours for 2012 there is still time to do so. For hours to count toward the county’s total for 2012 they must be recorded by December 31.

Volume 3 Issue 11 Page 4 December 2012

. . . and justice for all

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disabil-

ity, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative

format for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Wash-

HORTICULTURE IN THE HEARTLAND

Save March 2, 2013

Keynote speaker will be Kelly Norris of Rainbow Iris Farm in Bedford Iowa. He is an excellent speaker, having been keynoter at many similar events. Kelly has received the Iowa State Horticulture Society’s Presidential Citation. His presentations are known for his energetic style and enthusiasm for gardening.

Other speakers and general topics:

Dan Carlson: Growing giant pumpkins Chuck Porto: Landscaping

Richard Juron: Lawns / Garden stories Rebecca Christoff: Wildlife Management

Shirley Camp: Food preservation David Bridges: Trees

Some of the speakers will present two different programs.. The cost of the program will be $30.

Finding Fun in Fungi! (adapted from Home Pest News– ISU Extension)

Good fungi can be easily overlooked by most of us. Most grow in dark, damp places, they are often microscopic, and

they come in so many shapes and forms that it's difficult to recognize them! However, we are surrounded by them and

many of us probably use fungi or products that come from fungi every day. Fungi are used in our food, drinks, medi-

cines, and industry- actually; some fungi are used to control plant diseases and pests!

Fungi are delicious. They are so much more than just mushrooms on our pizza! For example, Camembert, Brie, and

blue cheese are ripened with different fungi that provide the taste and texture that characterize them. Also, a fungal

protein called mycoprotein, can also be highly nutritious and used a substitute for meat and it tastes good!

Fermentation. I love Brie cheese, but it wouldn't be the same without good bread and a glass of wine. Yeasts are

fungi used in baking and brewing processes. They convert sugars into carbon dioxide and alcohol. The carbon dioxide

produced is what allows bread to rise prior to baking. In the case of beer and wine, yeasts are used to ferment sugars

and produce alcohol but different strains may contribute subtleties in flavor that make the final product special.

Fungi can make you feel better. Penicillin is a great example of a fungus-derived medicine but there are several other

compounds from fungi that help combat bacterial and fungal infections. Other medications derived from fungi are used

to reduce cholesterol, decrease organ transplant rejection, and treat tumors.

Fungi clean the environment. Fungi can feed off organic matter and recycle nutrients. They make soils richer and help

decompose dead plants and animals. Fungi are also used to clean up chemicals in the environment. Scientists are

exploring new ways to clean pollutants from soils and water. Some fungi have been found to break down petroleum

and pesticide compounds- fascinating!

Fungi are great partners. Mycorrhizal fungi grow with plant root systems and serve as an extension to bring in more

nutrients to the plant. Plants become healthier and grow faster. Lichens, a partnership between fungi and algae, are

able to live almost anywhere and they have been used to study air pollution and other environmental disturbances.

Finding the 'Fun' in fungi. Fungi are beautiful and diverse! I can spend hours looking at fungi through a microscope,

they have amazing structures and fantastic colors. See 'bird's nest' on the next page.

HERE’S HOW MASTER GARDENERS VOLUNTEER :

Extension Office Landscaping: Willard Larsen willardllarsen@gmail.com 563-249-2476

Eagle Point Nursing Home and Rehabilitation or Community Garden: Willard Larsen

OLC/County Fair: Roger Rittmer rogr@iowatelecom.net

Bickelhaupt Arboretum: Margo Hansen dir-programs@bick-arb.org

Curtis Mansion: Liz Clements 563-243-3254

Volume 3 Issue 11 December 2012

Stewards Monthly Bird Walks

Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge (SUMRR) will continue to host their monthly migratory bird walks on the 2nd Saturday of each month. ( 1/12, 2/8, 3/8 and 4/13) Starting at 9:00 a.m. birders will meet at the Sloane Marsh located across from the Inger-soll Wetlands Learning Center. The center is located at 7071 Riverview Rd. Thomson, IL (a couple miles south of Savanna off of highway 84). Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Meet local experienced birders as they identify birds by sight and sound, which you might not normally see in your own backyard. The bird walks usually last 1 ½ to 2 hours depending on weather conditions. Registration is not required but highly suggested. Please listen to WCCI, 100.3 FM for any weather cancellations. If you have any questions please call the refuge office at 815-273-2732 or send an email to info@sumriver.org.

EAGLE WATCH

We will again have an exhibit/display at Eagle Watch in Clinton on January 5 from 9:00 to about 2:00. Materials

needed for this will be put together. If you would be willing to help at this event contact Willard Larsen at willard-

flarsen@gmail.com or Roger Rittmer at rogr@iowatelecom.net. Two people at each time slot work well.

8:30-10:15: Included in this time slot will be to set up materials by 9:00; 10:15-12:00 and 12:00-2:00

At the Arb in January:

January 8 Program- 2pm Yellowstone National

Park, a priceless treasure. If you

have never visited Yellowstone this

is your chance to see it through

photographers eyes. If you have

been there before then this is your

chance to relive your memories.

( MG Ed-1)

January 19 Frosty Flicks: 2 pm Featured film

entitled “The Man Who Planted

Trees” ...Academy Award winning

story with an amazing narrative of a

simple man who planted 100 acorns

daily as his life’s work with music by

Paul Winter. ( MGEd-1)

Volume 3 Issue 11 Page 6 December 2012

We Know How To Plant AND We Know How To Party!!!

Special Recognition

Award: Alma Gaul

Top Total Education

Hours: Al Rathje

Master Gardener of

the Year: Carol Miller

Thanks to the Planning Committee: Brenda Cou ncil,

Carol Miller, Bill Gustafson, Linda Lamp, LeAnne Lar-

son, Alice Machande and Phyllis Henry...it was fun as

usual and the food and company were great!

A BIG welcome to the new MG’s!!

Karen Bradway Chuck Duax

Jacob Lemkuhl Judy Mowry

Glenn Petersen Jerry Richter

Sue Ann Knoblauch Gloria Hoegger Other Awards

Intern of the Year: Jerry Richter

500 Hour Recognition: Brenda Council

Special Recognition: JoLinda Birt

From Carol Machael: A big thanks to Kay Bates, as she

leaves the position of Chairman, for the assistance and

timely reports making the newsletter editor job much eas-

ier!

Volume 3 Issue 11 December 2012

Iowa State University

Clinton County Extension

400 East 11th Street

DeWitt, Iowa 52742

Take a Road Trip...Check Out Reiman Gardens!

Do you know what this bird is?

The gorgeous Red-headed Woodpecker is so

boldly patterned it’s been called a “flying

checkerboard,” with an entirely crimson head,

a snow-white body, and half white, half inky

black wings. These birds don’t act quite like

most other woodpeckers: they’re adept at

catching insects in the air, and they eat lots

of acorns and beech nuts, often hiding away

extra food in tree crevices for later. This

magnificent species has declined severely in

the past half-century because of habitat loss

and changes to its food supply.

Adults have bright-red heads, white underparts, and

black backs with large white patches in the wings,

making the lower back appear all white when perched.

Immatures have gray-brown heads, and the white

wing patches show rows of black spots near the trail-

ing edge.

Backyard Tips

Red-headed Woodpeckers occasionally visit

feeders in winter, especially suet. They will

eat seeds, corn, acorns, beechnuts, pecans,

and many kinds of fruits (including apples,

pears, cherries, blackberries, raspberries,

strawberries, grapes, mulberries, and poison

ivy fruits).