president’s message by penny claiborne · 2015-09-29 · the drunken botanist : al.com-- my first...
TRANSCRIPT
Dear Friends,
March and April are two of my favorite months of the year. But this year with March
still having some very cold weather, and what seemed to me a lot of rain, I don’t know if
March is really one of my favorite months this year. I say it seemed like a lot of rain
because while we were trying to finish our house there was one delay after another due
to the bad weather. We couldn’t pour the concrete driveway because the ground was
too wet. Then they could not get sod because the ground was too wet to cut the sod
at the sod farm. Now that the sod is in I am hoping for a little (and I stress “a little”)
rain since we do not have an irrigation system. Dragging sprinklers around is one of my
least favorite things to do pertaining to gardening. They say “April showers bring
May flowers” so I am praying for a few showers but not storms!
By the time everyone is reading this letter we will have moved in the new house and
may even be sitting on the back porch overlooking the marsh with a cup of coffee. Of
course my mind will be reeling with ideas of garden projects that need to be done on
the property. As with most of ya’ll I will be thinking of not only the planting, but also
the fertilizing and weeding. Speaking of weeds – why is it that weeds seem to multiply
and double in size overnight? And why are they so hard to pull but the precious
seedlings of our favorite perennials pull up so easily? (If anyone has an explanation for
this please let me know.) Then there is the smell of fresh cut grass. Either you love it
or you hate it. I love it! Ah, Spring!
I do hope everyone had a chance to go to the Festival of Flowers to be inspired by the
landscape exhibits followed by a visit to Mobile Botanical Gardens Plantasia with the
hopes of finding a few new plants to replace the freeze burned ones in your gardens.
And I hope it is obvious that we have begun revamping the gardens around the Jon
Archer Ag Center. Our newest addition is the Herb Garden in the front of the
building which faces Schillinger Rd. I would like to encourage you to take a walk around
the building and check out all the gardens as they each offer something unique. If you
are interested in helping maintain any of the gardens please do not hesitate to contact
me and I will put you in contact with the right person.
In the month of April we have several exciting events planned. The second spring
planting will take place on April 5th. Our learning seminar with Amy Stewart will take
place on Saturday April 12th. Then on Wednesday April 16th we will be going to the
Jim Scott Gardens on Lake Martin. This will be an early morning trip and space is
limited. At the end of the month (April 28-30) the AMGA Conference will be held in
Baldwin County. The fun just never seems to end with Master Gardeners!!!
Blessings to all,
Penny
President’s Message by Penny Cla iborne
Dates to remember:
March 27-30,-Plantasia MBG
April 1,--Board Meeting
April 3,-Member Meeting
April 5,-Rainbarrel
Workshop JAC
April 10,-One Enchanted
Evening MBG
April 12,-9th Annual
Educational Seminar.
April 16,-Jim Scott Gardens
Trip
April 26, -Cathedral Square
Market Opens
April 28-30,-AMGA
Conference, Daphne
In this issue:
Chronicles 2
Lunch and Learn
April Meeting
3
David Holloway
interviews Amy Stewart
4
Echinacea 5-7
Mission Statement
Officers
8
April 2014
I see a few Bradford pear blooms and
some daffodils, so maybe spring is
actually on the way! The long winter
has given us time to dream and plan for
what we hope to soon see blooming.
The DREAM Garden at JAC has
been planted and now needs to be
watered daily. If you have time to help
with this, please let Diane Anthony or
Marsha Stolz know. As of this
writing, most dates are still available.
The workday on March 12 to revamp
the gardens around the JAC was good.
Penny Claiborne and several MGs
cleaned the Native Garden, making
notes about future plants there, and
then they designed a plan for the Front
Garden. Watch for notices about
future workdays for these and other
gardens around the building.
The First Monday Lunch & Learn
programs have us spoiled. We have
learned to expect great programs and,
so far, none has disappointed. And the
crowd keeps growing. For the March
program, Ellen Huckabay’s subject
was Growing Turf. Turf grass is one
of Ellen’s specialties, and her
presentation, followed by the question/
answer session, was timely and
informative.
Our speaker for the March general
meeting, Pat Heroman, of Heroman
Services Plant Co. LLC based in Baton
Rouge, presented his program entitled
Interior Landscaping: Interior Plant
Design and Care. Using beautiful
plants, pottery, and visual aids to
demonstrate ways that his company
uses houseplants as truly beautiful
works of art in the home and/or the
office, Pat emphasized the importance
of unity: the right plant in the right place
in the right pot.
On April 16 at 6:15 a.m., a bus will
leave Dauphin Way Baptist Church for a
tour of world traveler Jim Scott’s
private gardens - ten acres on Lake
Martin near Montgomery. The cost for
the trip is $20 for Master Gardeners.
Contact Brenda Bolton for more
information.
Volunteers are still needed to help with
setup and details for the Educational
Seminar on April 12 at the JAC.
We are asked to bring appetizers, put
out posters around town, lend planters
to be used in the garden, and provide
items for the silent auction. Sybil
Burnett and Sue Stefan are the
contact persons for appetizers, and
Elisa Baldwin or Annette
Daugherty will be accepting items for
the silent auction. Seminar tickets
are on sale for $20. Checks may be
sent to Susan Morrison, treasurer.
Other Dates: Plantasia – March 27-
30; AMGA Conference in Daphne:
April 28-30 (Regular Registration
$100; Postmarked After April 1 -
$145)
www.baldwincountymastergarden
ers.com or
www.amgaconference.org.
Elevated Walkway—Jim Scott Gardens
Probably the garden’s most remarked-upon feature is its trio of elevated walkways that
lead from the house through the tree canopy. Jim originally built them so that his late
wife, Vivian, who was no longer ambulatory, could still tour the grounds. Today, the
walkways provide visitors with a wider perspective on the plantings below.
Chronic les by Nancy Adams Page 2
April 3, Member Meeting
9:30 Social—10:00 Meeting
John Olive will identify our plants
Limit of 2 plants per member.
Coming Events
Lunch and Learn
A “First Mondays” program presented by Mobile County Master Gardeners, a program of
the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Monday, April 7, 2014
Noon to 1 pm
Where: Jon Archer Center, 1070 Schillinger Road N., Mobile, AL 36608
Bring a friend and a lunch. Free. Drinks are provided.
Presenter: Dianne Sellers, Mobile County Master Gardener
Topic: Growing Roses On The Gulf Coast
For more information: 251-574-8445 or www.aces.edu/Mobile/mg
Page 3
David Hol loway Interv iews Amy Stewart —The Drunken Botanis t
AL.com -- My first thought when I received my copy of “The Drunken Botanist” was to flash back to my college years in a way
that may surprise some of you.
Contrary to what you might think it wasn’t the drunken part, it was the botany part. The study of
plants wasn’t my strongest subject; I think I made a D in the course.
So you can understand my skepticism when I received the book in the mail that explained in detail the
relationship between drinking and plant science. But author Amy Stewart crafted a wonderfully
entertaining book that made me want to rethink my own personal bias against plants.
On April 12, Stewart will be coming to Mobile, Ala., as the guest of the Mobile County Master
Gardeners. She will be appearing at the 9th annual Master Gardener Educational Seminar at the Jon
Archer Center on Schillinger Road.
Stewart, a bona fide botanist who is also the author of the book Flower Confidential, will discuss
plants and gardening. But she will also spend a chunk of time talking about how mankind has used
plants through the ages for something very important – making libations.
My first question to her was simple: Why do a book on plants and drinking?
Here answer was equally simple: “You can’t have the drinking part without the plant part,” she said.
She pointed out the obvious to a dope like me, that all alcoholic beverages are made from plants. All of them, not just a few, but all of
them from a sloe gin fizz to a fuzzy navel have roots in the soil.
At this point, I’m hooked.
Her message, she said, is to remind people that without plants we would have no cocktails. “I’ll be talking about the broad spectrum, how
barley ends up in whiskey and some plants get added at the distillery. How hops in beer and juniper in gin change and improve the flavor
for the better,” she said.
As for the home gardener, Stewart said there’s plenty to learn about how to grow your own plants to enhance your cocktail experience.
“Well, I have a cocktail garden with 40 varieties that can be used in drinks,” she said.
A cocktail garden? Who knew? Maybe I have a green thumb after all.
She recommends amateur gardeners grow the things that they like to add to your cocktails. If, for instance, you like to sip on a mojito or
a mint julep in the evening, then a nice array of mint plants would be an excellent idea. “We can be specific enough to tell you which
mints to plant for which drink,” she said.
Herbs and some flowering plants also are wonderful add-ons for making cocktails more flavorful and Stewart said she will offer
suggestions for how to maximize your plant production.
Living here in the humid subtropics, though, we can’t always grow everything we need when we need it. Stewart’s advice is quite logical:
adapt and overcome.
“It’s all about growing what you can and making the best of where you live,” she said.
She pointed out that living in the Northwest as she does, she’s envious of our long and early growing season. “We can’t grow melons,
watermelons and things like that. I have a wonderful watermelon tequila drink that is flavored with basil so you learn to love what you
have,” she said.
Stewart’s presentation will be at 2:30 p.m., but the event starts at 1 p.m. when the county’s master gardeners will host a reception in their
demonstration garden at the center. A host of tasty appetizers and some non-alcoholic infusions will be served.
The seminar is open to the public, but seating is limited and reservations are required. Tickets are $20 and the deadline for reservations is
April 4. Send ticket information and a check to Mobile County Master Gardeners, 12915 Dauphin Island Parkway, Coden, AL 36523.
E-mail the author | [email protected] | Follow on Twitter
Author
Amy Stewart
Echinacea Chosen 2014 Perennial of the Year by the National Garden Bureau
Because of the vast assortment of flower colors and shapes available to
today’s gardener, and because they are such an American staple,
Echinacea was chosen as the 2014 Perennial of the Year by the National
Garden Bureau. The classic flower shape continues to be a favorite in
home and public gardens so it’s time we highlight the history of the
“tried and true” classics as well as some of the newer varieties sure to
please any home gardener.
History
The coneflower is a native to central and eastern North America and is a member of the Asteraceae family. Other flowers in the
Asteraceae family include daisy, sunflower and aster. The name “Asteraceae” finds its origin from the Greek word for star. The
main family feature is its composite flower type: Its capitula (flower head) is surrounded by involucral bracts. Most Echinacea
blooms are oversized bright disks atop rings of downward-curving petals. The name “Echinacea” is also derived from the Greek
word “echino,” which means spiky or prickly, referring to the plant’s floral center. The florets are hermaphroditic, with both male
and female organs on each flower. Pollination occurs most often with the help of butterflies and bees.
Medicinal Uses
Besides its native landscape and prairie appeal, the herbal and medicinal use of Echinacea has been documented through the
years. Herbalists use the roots/rhizomes and herbs of Echinacea to treat or ward off various infections and maladies. It offers a
general boost to the immune system, and has antidepressant properties. Echinacea angustifolia was used by Native Americans to
soothe sore throats, headaches or coughs – symptoms of the common cold. They first saw the benefit of using Echinacea
medicinally by observing elk that sought out the plant and ate it when wounded or sick. In the mid-19th century Echinacea was
used as a pain reliever and increased in use as an herbal medicine through the 1930s in America and Europe. The plant E.
purpurea contains the chemical compounds cichoric acid and caftaric acid. These phenols are common to many other plants.
Other phenols include echinacoside (found in E. angustifolia and E. pallida roots). These phenols can serve as markers for the
quantity of raw Echinacea in the product. Other plant components that contribute to health effects include alkylamides and
polysaccharides.
Breeding Resurgence
Since its popularity as an herbal supplement has grown, many consumers may not be aware that Echinacea can be grown easily
and enjoyed as a garden flower. Today, more and more gardeners are seeking out perennial plants as long-term investments
that offer good value at an effective cost. Perennials are the building blocks of any home garden. Planting foundation beds of
perennials is a practice widely used by landscape designers as a way to provide multi-season color, texture, shape, and to reduce
garden maintenance. Gardeners perceive perennials in general as a good value as their hardiness and forgiving nature equates to
less risk.
To supply this new demand for perennials, Echinacea has been one of the varieties seeing a significant growth in breeding
activity. It remains a “top five” perennial in terms of retail sales. Several advances have produced plants that have set a new
standard in compact-growing, well-branched Echinacea. Breeding trials have resulted in bringing free-flowering plants to market
that overwinter successfully in cooler zones. Poor winter hardiness is a source of frustration with some gardeners. However,
recent breeding has developed seed-grown varieties selected specifically for their bold coloring and trialed for overwintering
success to USDA Zone 4.
Echinacea in the Garden
You’ll find wild growing Echinacea in sunny, dry open woodlands and prairies. The plant prefers loamy, well-drained soil, but it is
little affected by soil pH. Cultivated Echinacea offer reliable performance as a perennial plant under a wide variety of conditions.
Echinacea can be propagated from seed or vegetatively using various techniques, such as division, basal cuttings, or root
cuttings.
Echinacea is attractive to birds, bees and butterflies making it a great choice for a pollinator-friendly garden. It is generally deer
resistant. Because of their root structure, the plants are drought tolerant and can withstand heat and wind. Used in garden
borders or backgrounds, Echinacea adds color and texture for a wildflower or prairie-style garden. For best visual impact, plant in
masses. Deadhead florets to encourage further blooms. Echinacea flowers through the summer (June through August). Its
seedheads can be left to dry on the plant to feed wild birds through the fall and winter. Continued on page 6
Page 5
Echinacea Continued from page 5
Echinacea plants will reseed in the fall, with new flowers growing the following season. Hardiness zones vary by variety, with
a range from USDA Zone 4-9.
Starting from Seed
When growing from seed, Echinacea will flower in 11-15 weeks so if started indoors early enough, it is possible to get flowers
in the first season. With most varieties, sow seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before outdoor planting date. Plant the seeds 1/8"
deep in soilless growing medium. Cover lightly with 1/4" fine soil and keep moist at 65-70 F. Seedlings should emerge in
approximately 10-20 days.
As with most seedlings, you can transplant them to larger containers when seedlings have at least 2 pairs of true leaves.
Before transplanting the young plants to the outside garden, harden off by exposing the plants to outdoors for gradually
increasing time frames.
How To Grow
Echinacea are generally low maintenance. Plant in full sun, or light shade in hotter climates. Dividing every few years will
keep them healthy. No additional fertilizing is necessary as heavy fertilization leads to tall, leggy plants that flop. Also, avoid
over-watering as Echinacea prefer drier conditions once established.
While most home garden Echinacea is ornamental, it can be grown as a fresh or dried cut flower. Allow flowers to mature on
the plant before harvesting. Dry by hanging upside down in a well-ventilated, dry area. Fresh Echinacea has a short vase life
of seven days.
Pests and Diseases
Echinacea may be affected by slugs, Japanese beetles, Bacterial Leaf Spot, Powdery Mildew, or botrytis.
Species
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizes nine distinct species of Echinacea:
Common/Popular Varieties ‘
Cheyenne Spirit’ is a seed grown hybrid Echinacea with excellent overwinter performance on drought tolerant plants. It is
an All-America Selections winner, regarded for its brilliant segregated color range: red, orange, purple, scarlet, cream, yellow
and white. Hardy to USDA Zone 4. It grows 18-30 inches (46-76 cm) tall and 10-20 inches (25-51 cm) wide.
‘Double Scoop™ Orangeberry,’ available as vegetatively propagated plants, grows 24-26 inches (56-66 cm) tall and
spreads 16-22 inches (41-56 cm) wide. It is hardy to USDA Zone 4 with a high count of fully double, pompom flowers in
bright colors.
‘Kim’s Knee-Hi’ grows 18-30 inches (46-76 cm) tall, spreading 24-36 inches (61-91 cm) wide. It is a vegetatively
propagated variety with mauve-pink petals drooping back around a burned-red center.
‘Magnus’, a basally branching seed grown variety, grows to 26-36 inches (66-91 cm) tall and produces large 4.5-inch (11
cm) blooms. Petals are held flatter than other varieties in a pink-rose color with orange-brown center. Tolerates heat,
drought and wind.
‘PowWow™ Wild Berry’ is an All-America Selections winner. This seed-raised Echinacea has intense rose coloring and
produces many flowers in its first season. It is very drought tolerant and doesn’t experience color fade. Remains compact at
16-20 inches (41-51 cm) tall and spreads 12-16 inches (30-41 cm) wide in the garden. Continued on page 7
Echinacea angustifolia – Narrow-leaf Coneflower
Echinacea laevigata – Smooth Coneflower
Echinacea paradoxa – Yellow Coneflower
Echinacea sanguinea – Sanguine Purple Coneflower
Echinacea tennesseensis – Tennessee Coneflower
Echinacea atrorubens – Topeka Purple Coneflower
Echinacea pallida – Pale Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower
Echinacea simulata – Wavyleaf Purple Coneflower
Page 6
Echinacea continued from page 6
‘Prairie Splendor’ is an American Garden Award Prize Winner from 2010, as voted on by the gardening public and it’s no
wonder! ‘Prairie Splendor’ offers non-stop blooms almost a full two weeks earlier than most Echinacea and blooms right through
fall. It is 24 (61 cm) inches tall and available from seed.
‘Primadonna White’ is a white compact plant with nice, bright white flowers, perfect for the evening garden. It also has‘orange-
green cones that stand up erect from the petals. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-9, this variety, available from seed, grows 28- 36 inches
(68-91 cm) tall and can also be used as a cut flower.
‘Sombrero™ Hot Coral’ grows 22-24 inches (56-61 cm) tall, spreading in the garden 24-26 inches (61-66 cm). Available as
vegetatively propagated plants, it blooms June through August and has vibrant color with overlapping petals which leaves no
gaps. It grows on sturdy stems, and is floriferous for many months of enjoyment each season.
‘Tomato Soup’ is a beautiful tomato-red Echinacea with large 5” blooms that are deliciously fragrant. These long-blooming plants
grow up to 32 inches (80 cm) tall and are available as vegetatively propagated plants.
‘White Swan’ is a white-flowering Echinacea growing 18-22 inches (46-55 cm tall). Raised from seed, it has a yellow center over
dark green, coarse and serrated leaves, and is heat and drought tolerant.
For More Information
The National Garden Bureau recognizes Ball Horticultural Company as the author of this fact sheet. Ball, through their breeding
companies PanAmerican Seed, Kieft Seed, Ball Floraplant and Darwin Perennials, offers many new varieties of Echinacea.
This Fact Sheet is provided as a service from the National Garden Bureau. The use of this information is unrestricted. Please credit
the National Garden Bureau as the source.
Cheyene Spirit Pow-Wow Wildberry
Tomato Soup White Swan
Prairie Splendor
Double Scoop Orangeberry
Page 7
Kim’s Knee High
Prima Donna White
Raspberry Truffle
Sombrero
Mobile County Master Gardeners
Mobile County Office
1070 Schillinger Rd. N.
Mobile AL 36608-5298
Phone: 251-574-8445
E-mail: aces.edu/Mobile/mg
Twitter: @MoCoGardeners www.facebook.com/MoCoGardeners
Officers
President Penny Claiborne ‘10
1st Vice President Regina Gunn ‘11
2nd vice President Brenda Bolton ‘12
Recording Secretary Nan Costello ‘10
Corresponding Secretary Beth Walmsley ‘11
Treasurer Susan Morrison ‘07
Board of Directors Term Expires
Glenda Eady ‘09 2014
Greer Wilhelm ‘10 2014
Jackie Jenkins ‘11 2015
Joe Pippin ‘11 2015
Mary Ann Days ‘11 2016
Carol Eskridge ‘12 2016
Past President - Connie Barron ‘08
Appointees
Newsletter Editor Alice Marty ‘07
Volunteer Activity Coordinator Elisa Baldwin ‘06
Volunteer Hours Coordinator Jo Hayes ‘99, Genie Schneider ‘12
2013 Class Representatives Kathy Sanders and Jan Tanner
ACES Advisor Ellen Huckabay
Mission Statement:
The Alabama Master Gardener
Volunteer Program is an educational
outreach program provided and
administered by the Alabama
Cooperative Extension System.
Alice Marty will publish the Dirt on the 25th of each month. Articles for inclusion must be received by the 15th of the
month and may be submitted to Alice Marty
[email protected] or the Extension Office.
Issued by
Ellen Huckabay
Regional Extension Agent
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M
University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity
educator and employer. www.aces.edu