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The Tollgate Farm News Volume 21 Issue 4 April 2015

TOLLGATE GARDEN VOLUNTEER IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTSTOLLGATE GARDEN VOLUNTEER IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS

APRAPRAPR MEETINGSMEETINGSMEETINGS MAYMAYMAY MEETINGSMEETINGSMEETINGS

15 Fall Fair Meeting 7:00 PM 5 TGAC Meeting 7:00 PM

16 TGV General Meeting 7:00 PM 13 Fall Fair Meeting 7:00 PM

21 TGV General Meeting 7:00 PM

APRAPRAPR ACTIVITIESACTIVITIESACTIVITIES MAYMAYMAY ACTIVITIESACTIVITIESACTIVITIES

18 Spring Clean Up, Nursery Prep 9:00 AM 2 Rose / Rock Ledge Gardens 9:00 AM

25 Spring Clean Up Volunteer Orientation Pancake Brunch at Noon

9 Children’s / Xeriscape Gardens 9:00 AM

16 Nursery Plant Sale Division 9:00 AM

23

Memorial Day Weekend No Directed or Supported

Work Day Activities

30

Farmhouse / Office / Heritage Plant Sale Division / Prep / Plant Drop Off

9:00 AM

9:00 AM

MSU Tollgate Gardens Volunteer General Meeting in the Conference Center Thursday, April 16, 7:00 PM

Ospreys in Metro DetroitOspreys in Metro DetroitOspreys in Metro Detroit Join Tollgate volunteers in the Conference Center on Thursday, April 16, to learn about Ospreys in Metro Detroit. Holly Vaughn will talk about the bird's biology, behavior, life cycle and the history of ospreys in the state, as well as some current research involving ospreys in southern Michigan. Also known as a sea hawk, the osprey is a rap-tor that mates for life and eats fish almost exclusively. Outstanding vision, sharp talons and the ability to plunge from over 100 feet in the air make the osprey a formidable predator that usually finds and kills its next meal within 12 minutes from the start of a hunt.

Holly Vaughn is a Wildlife Outreach Technician with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. She is based out of the Detroit Metro Customer Service Center on Atwater in Detroit. Holly loves to educate people about Michi-gan wildlife. She has a BS in Fisheries and Wildlife and an MS in Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources from MSU. Holly is an avid birder. For two years, she served as President of the Grand Traverse Audubon Club in her hometown of Traverse City.

Holly speaks to many schools and organizations about the reintroduction and comeback of ospreys in southern Michigan. Effected by bioaccumulation of pesticides in top predators, ospreys were nearly absent from most of the

state. As part of a conservation and wildlife management success story, the osprey population continues to grow in southern Michigan despite

only a 30-40 percent survival rate of young ospreys in their first year. The osprey has been removed from the threatened species list in Michigan. In

2013, the DNR identified at least 56 active nests in southern Michigan, an en-couraging increase from one active nest reported in 2002. To learn about the migra-

tion routes of some ospreys wearing tracking “backpack” satellite telemetry units,” visit the website of the Osprey Watch of Southeast Michigan, www.owsem.org.

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f rom the Tol lgate Farm Manager Roy Prentice

Greetings All,

Maple Syrup Making

Although I was afraid that the 2015 maple syrup season would be a total unmitigated bust, favorable weather in late March and early April really pulled us through. Lead by many hard working individuals, the season was a success. Although the season started late and lots of snow made work in the woods difficult at times, we should end up with about 90 gallons of syrup. The maple crew worked very hard this year maintaining and improving the tubing system that connects over 250 trees. We saw lots of drop-by visitors during the season and had many organized tour groups. The youth based visits really in-creased this year. A large debt of gratitude is due to all the maple syrup volunteers who massaged the sometimes meager sap supply so that the kids could see the actual boiling process. The season provided us with enough syrup for our pancake brunch on April 25th and to give and sell to our many wonderful volunteers. In terms of production, this year turned out to be a bit better than average. Sap flow is always subject to the vagaries of the weather. That’s farming!

We Need Volunteers As the snows of the winter of 2015 release their icy grip on the land, the Tollgate volunteers have already had several workdays where we sallied to the gardens to prepare for the coming growing season. Each year the gardens get better. Each year we have more visitors that come to Tollgate to enjoy the fruits of our work. Please help us make Tollgate reach its fullest potential. We still need a few area garden leaders to look after gardens on the farm. Please plan to attend our activity days. Without your help, Tollgate would be just another farm. With your help, we will continue to work toward a high level of true awesomeness.

Thanks for all that you do to make Tollgate such a special place!

Roy

GREETINGS

Photos by Darretta Ferasin

Nursery Clean Up and Mulching Day, March 21

Photo by Renee Cottrell

Pond Spring Clean Up, April 11

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“And when your back stops aching and your hands harden, you will find yourself a partner in the Glory of the Garden.” --Rudyard Kipling

Bring Spring! Another cool start to the gardening season has not dampened the enthusiasm of our garden teams. The Tollgate Gardeners are ready for the demands of the season. Volunteers are already busy with clean up and mulching, grass cut back and garden planning. See the posted activities in this issue and on the Tollgate website under the Volunteer tab, look for Calendar. Clean up days and orientation of new volunteers will be big days for our maintenance schedule and chance to make new garden friends. Look for the Volunteer Pancake Brunch date and bring a garden friend to join you as a Tollgate volunteer.

NEW: E-Mail Notification - As a trial we will be sending out our usual reminders for Saturday Activity days with an ADDITIONAL link to “Doodle”. This will be set up as an RSVP of sorts that has some additional benefits for volunteers.

It allows each volunteer to indicate if/when they may be attending by checking the time frame for that activity day

It allows you to comment: just add your name, comment and save. Example “I will be arriving at 10:00 AM and looking for others to help me weed the rose garden” All volunteers will be able to see your response, and know to join you!

Roy or myself, as well as any other volunteers who received the link for each activity day will be able to click that same link frequently up until the activity day to see who and how many are attending that day.

As an organization, we attempt to try to meet the needs of the membership and are open to new ideas such as this ‘Doodle’ link. Any assistance we can give volunteers to meet, work with other gardeners and enjoy the social aspect of being in an organization such as ours is worthy of a trial. Please try the upcoming announcement links and give me some feedback by using the comment section! I will check these periodically and share the results at future meetings and newsletters.

It is never too early to be planning for the Plant Sale! Dividing a little earlier will help get those divisions potted so they are healthy looking by the plant sale date. Your contribution of non-invasive plants for the Plant Sale this spring will help us with this major fundraiser. Pots, in one and two gallon sizes are needed, please no other sizes at this time since smaller ones are quickly overgrown and larger ones, hanging basket pots, clay and decorative pots are NOT appropriate for our intended use (consider recycling!). Our early season efforts will be for division, potting of donated plants for a successful sale.

There are still many gardens in need of Garden Team members for organization of maintenance activities in specific gardens. Ask me or any TGAC member for ways you can contribute.

That’s all for now. Happy Spring! Thank you for being a Tollgate Garden Volunteer.

Renee Cottrell, President

NotesNotesNotes from the President

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Photos by Renee Cottrell

NURSERY WORKDAY MARCH 21 , 2015

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A Special Thanks!A Special Thanks!A Special Thanks!

To all of you who made a donation to help the Tollgate Gardeners make Tollgate a more beautiful place. Your donation is greatly appreciated! The support that you have provided will

continue to help our program prosper and grow. Thanks again and Happy Gardening!

Pat Beck Linda Bodzin Marie Collins Mary Courvisier Yvonne DeMattos Irene Fahey Laura Gaunt Connie Gregory Melissa Herrmann

Marge and Bill Johnston Deb Kearney Lee Kindermann Genine Lang Katherine Ligon Nadine Linden Carolyn McQuiggan Catherine Monchamp Sherry Mueller

Carrie Richardson Pam Rusin Tom and Laura Steiner Lynn Strong John VanderAue Brad Vanderwege Kurt and Debra Westermann

Proper tool and hand disinfection is required at Tollgate when working with hosta and roses to prevent the infection of the Hosta Virus X (HVX) and the Rose Rosette Disease (RRD). The process appears on the following pages for those who are new to Tollgate and for those who need a refresher.

Currently, there is no cure for these viruses. We can only take steps to prevent the spread to healthy plants.

Additional Hosta Virus X Information

The American Hosta Society’s sponsored Hosta Virus X research by Dr. Ben Lockhardt. Please review the findings in the brochure found at this location:

http://www.americanhostasociety.org/Education/HVX_Brochure_Revised_Dec_2013.pdf

Additional Rose Rosette Disease Information

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/rose_gardeners_should_learn_the_symptoms_of_rose_rosette_virus

It is always a good practice to disinfect your garden tools before starting your workday in a garden.

Darretta Ferasin

Have you been out and about taking photos of Tollgate? Would you like to share them with the rest of the membership? The Tollgate cal-endar is the perfect opportunity to do so!! I am collecting photos of the farm for the 2017 cal-endar. You have plenty of time to take pictures and submit them as the cut off date for consid-eration is October 31, 2015.

Landscape format is preferred. Photos can be sent to tollgatemembership@gmail.com or submitted on a memory stick, with your name so it can be returned to you. Drop of the memory stick off at Roy's office or give to me at a Volunteer Meeting.

Thank you in advance. Without your photo sub-missions the calendar would not be possible.

Nancy Roggers

T H E H O S TA V I R U S X

R o s e R o s e t t e D i s e a s e

2017 Tollgate Calendar Photos

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THE HOSTA VIRUS X THE HOSTA VIRUS X Disinfecting Garden Tools Coming into Contact with Hosta Plants

All garden tools coming into contact with hosta plants must be cleaned before and after each hosta is touched to avoid the spread of the Hosta Virus X (HVX) whether you are cutting leaves, scapes (flower stalk) or digging near the root system. The hosta sap and soil must be removed from the tool. Disinfecting kits or small cleaning packs can be carried to your worksite. Buckets and a large tub are available to scrub large tools. Below is the current cleaning process:

Spray pruners or scissors with bottle labeled “Alcohol”. Wipe with blue toweling swatch to remove any hosta sap.

For trowels, hand weeding tools or hedge trimmers use the “Lysol® Dual Action Disinfecting Cloths” and let the tool air dry. If these tools are heavily soiled, it may be necessary to scrub the tool in a bucket of water with a couple of drops of “Dawn®” concentrate detergent first.

For shovels, garden forks or rakes scrub the tool with a brush in a bucket of water and a couple of drops of “Dawn®” concentrate detergent and water. Take the bucket to the water spigot that is on the side of the shed and do your cleaning outside the shed. If you are working in the hosta garden add some detergent to the bucket and fill it with water at the spigot in the hosta garden. A large kitty litter box is available for scrubbing rakes. Use the “Lysol® Dual Action Disinfecting Cloths” to disinfect the tool. Let the tool air dry.

Collect used blue wipes, disinfecting cloths and disposable gloves in the provided kit carrier (plastic tea jug) and dispose of them into the trash can near the Tool Disinfecting Station in the shed. The trash can also be taken to the worksite.

Used detergent water can be dumped in the dry rock ravine bordering the hosta garden. Other locations will be determined.

Disposable gloves have been provided to wear alone or over your garden gloves. You will find these at the Tool Disinfecting Station in the tool shed. Clean and disinfect gloves that come into contact with the hosta sap.

The cleaning regimen may extend to other garden areas to prevent the spread of new garden viruses.

Darretta Ferasin

Portable Disinfecting Kit for Pruners Scissors, Trowels,

Hand Weeding Tools or Hedge Trimmers

Disinfecting Kit Contains Alcohol, Blue Shop Towel

Swatches and Lysol® Disinfecting Cloths

Buckets, Dawn® Detergent, Brushes, Lysol®

Disinfecting Cloths and Disposable Gloves are also

Available at the Tool Disinfecting Station

Tool Disinfecting Station in the Tool Shed

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THE HOSTA VIRUS X Disinfecting Garden Tools When Working with Roses

Rose Rosette Disease (RRD) is a virus that endangers all ornamental roses. The disease is spread by a microscopic wingless mite and could be transferred by the sap of an infected plant via garden tools to an uninfected plant. Symptoms vary but will be obvious. Unusual leaf color and growth habits are common and the rose often displays ‘witches broom’ type branching. There is no cure. The rose will eventually die.

All garden tools coming into contact with a rose must be cleaned before and after each rose is touched to avoid the spread of the Rose Rosette Disease. The rose sap and soil must be removed from the tool. Disinfecting kits or small cleaning packs can be carried to your worksite. Buckets and a large tub are available to scrub large tools. Below is the current cleaning process:

Spray pruners or scissors with bottle labeled “Alcohol”. Wipe with blue toweling swatch to remove any rose sap.

For trowels, hand weeding tools or garden saws use the “Lysol® Dual Action Disinfecting Cloths” and let the tool air dry. If these tools are heavily soiled, it may be necessary to scrub the tool in a bucket of water with a couple of drops of “Dawn®” concentrate detergent first.

For shovels, garden forks or rakes scrub the tool with a brush in a bucket of water and a couple of drops of “Dawn®” concentrate detergent and water. Take the bucket to the water spigot that is on the side of the shed and do your cleaning outside the shed. If you are working in the rose garden add some detergent to the bucket and fill it with water at the spigot near the tool shed. A large kitty litter box is available for scrubbing rakes. Use the “Lysol® Dual Action Disinfecting Cloths” to disinfect the tool. Let the tool air dry.

Collect used blue wipes, disinfecting cloths and disposable gloves in the provided kit carrier (plastic tea jug) and dispose of them into the trash can near the Tool Disinfecting Station in the shed. The trash can also be taken to the worksite.

Used detergent water can be dumped in the dry rock ravine bordering the hosta garden. Other locations will be determined.

Darretta Ferasin

Portable Disinfecting Kit for Pruners Scissors,

Trowels, Hand Weeding Tools or Saws

Disinfecting Kit Contains Alcohol, Blue Shop Towel

Swatches and Lysol® Disinfecting Cloths

Buckets, Dawn® Detergent, Brushes, Lysol®

Disinfecting Cloths and Disposable Gloves are Available at the Tool Disinfecting Station

Tool Disinfecting Station in the Tool Shed

Rose Rosette Disease

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The 2015 Tollgate Quilt, “Tollgate Summer Nights”, will be at our next Tollgate Volunteer meeting.

  Quilt: Tollgate Summer Nights

Pattern: Disappearing Hourglass

Approximate Size: 75” x 85”

Raffle Date: Saturday, July 18th at the close of the 2015 Tollgate Open House, Art in the Gardens.

Tickets: $2.00 each or (3) for $5.00

Quilter: Pam Heldt

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE APRIL TOLLGATE VOLUNTEER

GENERAL MEETING

Live, Laugh and Eat Dessert First…before every meeting Baked goods are needed for our Tollgate Volunteer General Meetings. The desserts can be store bought if you don’t have time to bake. We are also in need of a volunteer to coordinate desserts, set up beverages and clean up. Please contact Roy or Renee if you or a team are interested in taking on this role.

Membership Please send in your membership form by May 25, to ensure continued mailings of the Tollgate newsletter, workday notices and other information that comes along throughout the year. If you are not sure that you have sent your form in or not you can contact me, Nancy Roggers, at tollgatemembership@gmail.com and I will check our list.

The membership form can be downloaded from the Tollgate Education Center website: http://tollgate.msu.edu/volunteering/membership_form

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Volunteer Activity Day and Meetings Information

248-347-3860 ext. 400

● The Tollgate Gardens Advisory Council next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 5. 2015 at 7:00 PM in the Tollgate Office Building. All Tollgate Gardens Volunteer members are welcome to attend.

● Listings to contact individual Council Members and Area Garden Leaders are available at all general meetings and in the Volunteer Communication Center.

● Tollgate Volunteer Membership is renewed annually. The 2014 Tollgate Garden Volunteers membership is from December 1, 2014 to November 30, 2015.

Farm Manager Roy Prentice - 248 347-3860 ext. 251 e-mail - prentic1@msu.edu

President ........................... Renee Cottrell Vice President… ............... Peg Palmer Secretary… ........................ Dave Komraus Treasurer ........................... Sue Janczarek Membership ...................... Nancy Roggers PR ....................................... Yvonne DeMattos Fall Fair .............................. Dennis Roggers Programs ........................... Jackie Stengel Hospitality ......................... Yvonne DeMattos Farm News Editor ............. Darretta Ferasin

For membership questions or to update your current membership information send e-mail to:

tollgatemembership@gmail.com

MSU Tollgate Gardens Volunteers For general information and questions

Contact Roy Prentice

Activity Days Activity day hours are 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM unless otherwise noted on the Tollgate Garden Volunteer Important Dates and Events listed on the first page of the Tollgate Farm News or by the Area Garden Leader (AGL).

Lunch will be provided - veggie alternatives are available upon request.

This schedule does not exclude you from working independently on the site. However, on non-scheduled days, your efforts will need to be self-directed with guidance from the garden area clipboards located in the Volunteer Communication Center.

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Tollgate Volunteer InformationTollgate Volunteer InformationTollgate Volunteer Information

THE TOLLGATE FARM NEWS

Tollgate Gardens Volunteer Office 28115 Meadowbrook Novi, MI, 48377-3128 www.tollgate.msu.edu

Tollgate Garden Advisory CouncilTollgate Garden Advisory CouncilTollgate Garden Advisory Council

Trowel Hand Pruners Loppers Garden Scissors Your Favorite

Weeding Implement Hand Saw

Plant Division Forks Shrub Rake Sun Screen Gloves Knee Pads Insect Repellant

List of Suggested Gardening Implements to Bring

from Home as Needed

Spades

Garden Rakes

Brooms

Wheel Barrels

Weed Buckets

Leaf Rakes

Garden Hoe

Long Handled

Garden Forks

Garden Tools Available for Use at Tollgate