AAMG News

It’s time for another Ice cream social! Add

on a raffle and a talk about the HGIC web-

site and you’ve got a magical meeting!

The meeting will be held at our normal

meeting place, St. Margaret’s Fellowship

Hall, and at our regular time – 7:00 PM. Of

course there will be plenty of ice cream and

LOTS of toppings. In addition Lew Shell and

Christine McComas of HGIC will give us a

presentation about using the HGIC website!

I know from personal experience that this

website is a marvelous reference tool!

To make our ice cream feast go even better,

I am looking for volunteers to either bake a

pan of brownies or bake a plate of cook-

ies. Please e-mail me at joe-marsala@

comcast.net if you would like be one of

our bakers. The reason for the e-mail is

so I can keep track of the amount of

brownies and cookies to count on. In

general we think 15 pans of brownies

and 16 dozen cookies would be about

right.

So, let me know if you’d like to furnish

two dozen cookies or a pan of brownies.

I don’t know about you, but I’m really

looking forward to this meeting!!

August Meeting—ICE CREAM SOCIAL and Using the HGIC WEBSITE

I hope that everyone has had a great summer despite the heat and has found time to relax as well. This has been a busy summer for many managing your gardens and still finding volunteer time for the Master Gardener projects. Your support is vital to our Master Gardener program and I thank everyone for all of your contributions and dedication for making Anne Arundel’s program “top notch”.

The Intern Master Gardener classes be-gin September 15, 2011, and will

The Coordinator’s Corner

Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners

August, 2011

Volume 15, Issue 8

AAMG Project Reports

Ask a Master Gardener

Apprentice Garden

Dairy Farm

Habitat for Humanity

Learning Landscape

London Town Plant

Propagation

Monastery Garden

Woodland Garden

2-6

AGNR Open House Info 7

MG Fall Class Schedule 8

News from the State MG Office 9

Watershed Stewards Academy 10

Inside this issue:

Mike Ensor, Anne Arundel County Master Gardener Coordinator

Joe Marsala, MG, EAB President

continue until November 3, 2011.

This year’s class will be an afternoon class meeting on Tuesdays and Thurs-days from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM. All classes will take place at Anne Arundel Community College located at 101 Col-lege Parkway, Arnold, MD. We are an-ticipating 25 new Interns, so please join me in giving them a warm wel-come when you begin meeting them at the Master Gardener monthly meet-ings.

(continued on page 11)

P a g e 2 A A M G N e w s V o l u m e 1 5 , I s s u e 8

So far this year our group has been fortunate – great partici-

pation – great results – lots of fun! As of July 16th, we have

completed 1,841 client educational sessions! Virtually all 55 of

our volunteers have been actively working to answer client

questions! Our newest venue, the West County library is well

underway thanks to the efforts of the team there.

We have sixteen team leaders who see that all works well.

These folks are the backbone of our program. The combined

efforts of Linda Martinich, Robin Costas, Helen Loughery,

Kathy Enderle, Bonnie Pavlak, Catherine Salam, Lise’ Craf-

ton, Sandra Patterson, Lew Shell, Lisa Winters, Janet

Clauson, Kay Ford, George Lambert, Kim Eckert, and

George Honeycutt are those I count on to keep every-

thing going well. They always are more than up to the

task!

Ask a Master Gardener

Joe Marsala, MG, Project Chair

The high temperatures and humidity of July has not kept the industrious and enthusiastic Apprentice Gardeners and Mas-ter Gardeners (including Interns) from working in the garden-at least part of our time together. After about a half hour outside we’ve been moving indoors or under the pavilion. The usual tasks of weeding, picking off pests and watering have continued. We’ve had successful harvesting of zucchini, cucumbers, beans, tomatillos, some peppers, carrots and lots of herbs. Watchful eyes of some of the children convinced us that one of our “Sugar Baby” watermelons was ready to be picked, so we decided to cut it open to see if it was ready to eat. Al-though the flesh was not totally pink the group enjoyed the sweetness the watermelon provided. We’ll try again for a better picking in a few weeks. The corn in “Three Sisters Garden” is growing tall and some

huge yellow squash was collected to be distributed to the families. The pole beans, watermelon and pumpkins that had been planted from seed are also doing well. And, it looks like birdhouse gourds will be harvested later in the season.

One of the indoor activities this past month included a discussion of the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables followed by a special coloring activity in a booklet that children will take home after the program. An-other day a presen-tation on herbs was given by MG Anne Nourse along with a taste of sprigs of each herb grown in our garden sprinkled on crackers with cream cheese. A favorite was chives, basil and even French tarragon (which causes a numbing sensation on your tongue that people long ago would eat before tak-ing bitter medicines)! And, did you know that sweet basil was named after the dragon-snake King Basilik whose strong breath killed plants and one stare from this king could kill a person? Don’t forget to grow sage in your garden. It assures that the woman of the house is the boss! Next, families made their own “Herb Bingo” cards to use after their appetizing treats. Nature-oriented prizes were selected by the winners.

On a different day, after gardening chores were done, interesting facts were shared about a non-plant that we categorize as a vegetable and eat-the mushroom. MG

Apprentice Garden

Anne Nourse, MG, Project Chair

ANNE ARUNDEL MASTER GARDENER PROJECT REPORTS

AGs Angela and Hailing displaying just picked potatoes and radish

while Leah looks on

Planting in the "Three Sisters Garden" by (CW from top)

Maureen and son Michael, Abbie and Chris

P a g e 3 A A M G N e w s V o l u m e 1 5 , I s s u e 8

ANNE ARUNDEL MASTER GARDENER PROJECT REPORTS Anne Nourse ordered a “Ready-to-Pop” Hantana Pearl (Oyster) Mushroom (aka Pleurotus ostreatus) Kit that she ex-citedly spoke about and showed to the curious Apprentice Gardeners and MGs. The mycelium of this incredible fast-growing fungus consisted of fine white threads growing in a “brick” of sawdust, coffee grounds, limestone, gypsum and water encased in a plastic bag that was cut into a 2-inch cross

shaped hole on one end.

Because the cut area needed to be misted 3-4 times daily outside, Anne asked Co-leader Trish Lilek if she would take over that task. What a terrific job Trish did of watering the fungus every day as well as sending superb photos of the various stages the mushroom formed with

fantastic explanations to the group! It was amazing how fast it expanded through the hole and matured. Just as the mush-room was ready to eat unfortunately gnats overtook it and

the process needs to begin again. In the next newsletter you’ll find out if the mycelium produced another crop from the other side of the plastic bag and how it tasted.

The Apprentice Garden/Sprouts Program is successfully continuing to produce large quantities of radishes, beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, yellow squash, and zuc-chini for eating. The other crops of watermelon, cotton, tobacco potatoes, corn, pumpkins and peanuts are rap-idly growing and will soon be ready for picking. If you’d like to help out and get rewarded by harvesting some of these vegetables for yourself and your family, please let Anne know at aonourse@verizon.net. The happy goats that you see frolicking and enjoying the grass/weeds in the fenced area around the garden like having people visit.

We offer our grateful thanks to those of you who con-tinue to be a part of the Apprentice Garden Team every Wednesday at Kinder Farm Park and to the interns who join us and help out with the activities. Once again, you are all welcome to be a part of our weekly meetings. Please email Trish at trish.lilek01@verizon.net if you’d like to come.

If anyone thought MGs were soft, then there’s news for them! July has been a challenge, weather-wise (to say the least), but MG stalwarts Maida Bilson, Carolyn Shrenk, Sue Owens, Noreen Krispin, and Debbie Werre trimmed all the bayberry bushes (Myrica pensyl-vanica) on July 9th, cleared out the invasives, and spread several bags of mulch.

Then, on July 21st, Sandy Patterson and Sue Owens weeded the “butterfly” bushes in the Village Gar-den and put mulch down. The gravel in the Village Garden needed weeding, so they started on that project, too.

Cleaning up the gardens around the Pavilion is one of the readily visible accomplish-ments at the Dairy Farm. Right: pictures of the “MG Dairy Farm Gang” who have been doing all the hard work in the

heat.

Selected Thursdays and Saturdays (0930-1230) are work-days at the DF, so if you can spare a couple of hours in the morning, let Sue Owens know. (Sowens05@comcast.net). She has been the preemi-nent force behind all the work at the DF during July.

Upcoming dates for the Dairy Farm

Sat. Aug. 13 Thurs. Sept.15

Thurs. Aug. 18 Sat. Sept.10

Thurs. Oct. 20 Sun. Oct. 16

Dairy Farm

Elizabeth Matarese, MG, Project Co-Chair

Sue took this picture of a lovely Swallowtail enjoying the flowers of the Village Garden. While this butterfly frequents flowering plants as a pollinator, it puts its

eggs on parsley and dill plants. The beautiful caterpil-lar gorges itself on (your) parsley and dill and then

finds a safe spot for a chrysalis. Within 10-13 days, it metamorphoses into a beautiful butterfly just like this one. Saving these and other butterflies and bees is a valuable contribution the Village Garden offers at the

Dairy Farm.

AGs Marching on path in Sprout Garden looking for crops to pick

P a g e 4 A A M G N e w s V o l u m e 1 5 , I s s u e 8

ANNE ARUNDEL MASTER GARDENER PROJECT REPORTS Habitat for Humanity

Meg Kauder, MG, Project Co-Chair

Events and work days for the Habitat at Clay Street Native

Gardens project occurred early in the spring and were spurred

by dual interest in native plants and Habitat for Humanity.

More than 17 Master Gardeners, interns, student relatives and

spouses arrived on each work day in April at the Annapolis

site. They were more than up

to the task of rototilling and

planting 100 plus native plants

in the ten porch gardens.

MG Sandy Patterson, co- chair

and I worked for two months

prior choosing dwarf varieties

of native plants, getting city

approval on the plant list, de-

signing plot drawings, and

submitting a successful grant

request of $1000.00 to Unity

Gardens.

Of the two in-the-dirt work

days, the first, April 16th, was

the most difficult, in terms of heavy labor and bad weather.

We had planned to rototill all ten garden sites. Four tillers

were on –site, rented

by Habitat for our use,

and ready to go. How-

ever, the very com-

pacted soil, and heavy

rain conspired against

us.

After three plots were rototilled by stalwarts Keith Mar-

nell (intern), and Lon

Kauder(spouse), the

rains began again.

Habitat crews tilled

the remaining seven

during a dry day later

that week.

Our planting day,

April 30th, went very

smoothly. MG’s and

interns brought their own favorite tools, plants went into

porch gardens and corner marker plots amended with six

cubic yards of Leaf Grow.

Student volunteer Jen Crafton and Auntie Lise Crafton,

MG

The newly planted Clay Street Gardens, Annapolis

Project Co-Chairs Meg Kauder, MG (left) and Sandy Patterson, MG (right)

Many hands make short work: Intern Cynthia

Wells, with MGs Polly Katauskas, Keith Marnell

and Deb Werre

MGs Rosemary Council & Judy Graham

P a g e 5 A A M G N e w s V o l u m e 1 5 , I s s u e 8

The October 22nd project is underway. We welcome anyone interested in helping plan and present at the Crofton Library from 9-12. Composting, rain gardens, Bay-wise yard visits, tree and shrub planting, fall/winter vegetable gardens are the ma-jor topics and we’d love to make room for more. Contact Bar-bara Crispin at barbcrisp@yahoo.com. We have made progress in our maintenance of the land-

scaped areas over the summer with help from the Crofton

Village Garden Club members and students needing volunteer

hours. While we won’t win any garden awards yet, we are

improving.

A basic compost demonstration area is ready for public visita-

tion and a rain barrel provided by the CVGC is to be installed

soon to provide water when necessary. CVGC is also providing

funds for mulch and plants to be added in the fall. We are

pleased to be working together to improve the library land-

scape and provide environmental education to the public.

Speaking of public education, our next demonstration

area to be developed is the ‘pollinators garden’ in the

established planting area at the curved window side of

the building. A design and plant list will be prepared in

the coming months and presented for approval with the

goal of a spring planting.

With the start of the new environmental education com-

ponent in public schools, it is our goal to provide a demo

area within easy walking distance to a number of Crofton

elementary public and private schools. Once the area is

planted, we will prepare written material and presenta-

tions that meet the school needs and contact the schools

to introduce the project.

Anyone interested in working on this aspect of the Learn-

ing Landscape project can contact Barbara.

Learning Landscape at Crofton Library

Barbara Crispin, MG, Project Chair

London Town Propagation took a little break for the month of July, mostly due to the weather.

We'd like for you to mark your calendars early for the Fall Plant Sale. It will be on September 24th.

Check your gardens now for areas you'd like to fill in for late Summer plants and be ready to buy them at London Town. More reminders to come.

London Town Plant Propagation

Marilyn Kinkel, MG, Project Co-Chair

ANNE ARUNDEL MASTER GARDENER PROJECT REPORTS

P a g e 6 A A M G N e w s V o l u m e 1 5 , I s s u e 8

We have been very busy at the garden the last few weeks.

Our new trellis is up. It is made of ash wood. Our roses are starting to grow through it.

In early June, while working in the garden on a Wednesday, we found out we were going to be on the Annapolis Secret Garden Tour the following Saturday and Sunday...just three days away!

We worked very hard as soon as we heard. A lot of people came back on Friday to get more done. We planted more

ferns that Roberta was so kind to share with us.

I stayed in the garden on Saturday and Sunday for the tour to answer questions.

So very many people came by. Hundreds. Lots of ques-tions. Almost everyone had a question.

Lots of our Master Gardeners came through. It was a beautiful day and our garden was outstanding.

Thanks to all the Master Gardeners that have been help-ing. It has been fun.

Monastery Garden

Dottie Oliff, MG, Project Chair

Woodland Gardens

Bonnie Pavlak, MG, Project Chair

ANNE ARUNDEL MASTER GARDENER PROJECT REPORTS

On June 29, 2011, MGs Jim MacNicholl and Mary Jo Robey inspected the Woodland Garden and awarded it a Baywise Certification.

On July 13, We removed a Tree-of-Heaven and many weeds and invasives based on their recommendations.

More wood chips were deposited along the path, thanks to the work of Sue Maher and Rosemary Council.

Mary Jo Robey watered the dry gar-

den. Laura Pecoraro planted Hellebores, ferns and Columbine.

A special thanks to Alissa Ellison for watering in 90 degree heat.

Intern Alissa Ellison patiently waters in 90° heat.

MG Laura Pecoraro really

“digs” her volunteer work with

MGs Mary Jo Robey and Rosemary

Council admire their work

MG Candicé Rockwood and her friend

check out the Woodland Garden

MGs Jim MacNicholl and Bonnie Pavlak take a break after a day of hard work.

ANNE ARUNDEL MASTER GARDENER PROJECT REPORTS

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P a g e 9 A A M G N e w s V o l u m e 1 5 , I s s u e 8

MG ADVANCED TRAINING IN

PLANT DISEASES

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011, 9:30 am-3:30pm

Carroll Co. E xtension, Westminster

Presenter: Dave Clement, Ph.D., Extension Specialist in Plant Pathology

Reg. Fee: $35; Reg. Deadline: Wed. 8/31

Plant diseases often seem like exotic mysteries left up to the experts to solve. Well, guess what- we MG’s can now begin to unravel some of these mysteries ourselves. In this course you’ll learn all about the bacteria, fungi and viruses that cause plant problems. You’ll also learn about their symptoms, cycles and controls. In addition to the lecture and handouts you will get hands-on training using both samples and field walk. We hope that you’ll feel comfortable enough with the basics of plant diseases to be able and to recognize problems in your own gardens and to use the information to competently help clients at plant clinics. This class counts as your Plant Disease requirement for your Plant Diagnostics certificate.

To Register: Use Registration Form or send your name, address, email, phone, MG county you work with, name and location of class you want to take, and a check for registration fee (payable to the University of MD). Mail to: MG classes, HGIC, 12005 Homewood Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042.

Robin Hessey, State Master Gardener Advanced Training Coordinator

NEWS FROM THE STATE MG OFFICE

The University of Maryland Extension (UME) conducts the Maryland Master Gardener Program.

The Master Gardener Program’s mission is to edu-cate Maryland residents about safe, effective, and

sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.

We’re on the web! Visit us at

www.annearundel.umd.edu/MasterGardeners

It is the policy of the University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, and University of Maryland Extension that all persons have equal opportunity and access to programs and facilities without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital or parental status, or disability.

Anne Arundel County Master Gardener

Program

Anne Arundel County Extension (410) 222-6757 FAX (410) 222-6747 Anne Arundel County Government Office Building 7320 Ritchie Highway, Suite 210 Glen Burnie, MD 21061

If any of our current Master Gardeners would like to attend the any of the classes, then please let me know in advance. I have included the syllabus for this year’s class for your convenience.

I hope everyone will enjoy the ice cream social in August. Unfortunately, I will not be there as I will be on vaca-tion the first two weeks of August, but hope to see everyone at the September monthly meeting.