wsu master gardeners, master composters, and … › newsletter › v10.5-2010oct-nov... ·...

Hi everyone. I just want to pass along a few things before heading out to the Master Gardener Conference in Vancouver.

One of the very important functions of any organization is to recognize members for outstanding service. Rather than adding another item to the agenda for our annual meeting on October 21, we will be joining with the Program in November on Tuesday the 16th from noon to 2:30 at the fairgrounds to celebrate with the winners of the awards. The Board is in the process of considering the areas that the Foundation is in charge of, and we are soliciting suggestions for the following:

• Fund-raising Award This award may be presented to a member or members of the Foundation who made outstanding efforts in the area of fund-raising. The efforts of the individual(s) must have brought positive recognition to the Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston County and resulted in significant monetary gain to the organization.

• Advocacy Award This award may be presented to a member or members of the Foundation who have demonstrated outstanding effort in bringing positive public attention to the Master Gardener Program and/or Master Composter Program of Thurston County.

• Service Awards This award may be presented to those people who have been determined to have given outstanding service to the organizations.

• Honorary Master Gardener Certification Award This award is given in recognition of those people who are not Master Gardeners, but who have given recognizable service to the Master Gardener/Master Composter Program or Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston County. Please consider those folks with whom you have worked this last year, and send your suggestions, with a short summary of why you believe they should receive the award, for any or all of the award categories to Barbara Smith

(Continued on page 2)

From the Foundation President by Nancy Mills

October/November 2010

Volume 10, Issue 5

Helpful Websites:

Thurston County Extension:

http://Thurston.wsu.edu

Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston County website:

www.mgftc.org

Compost Bin Sales:

www.compostbinsthurstoncounty.com

Master Gardener State

Program:

http://mastergardener.wsu.edu

WSU Publications:

http://pubs.wsu.edu

The Common Sense Gardener

W S U M A S T E R G A R D E N E R S , M A S T E R C O M P O S T E R S , A N D M A S T E R G A R D E N E R F O U N D A T I O N O F T H U R S T O N C O U N T Y N E W S L E T T E R

([email protected]) by October 11 so we can determine the winners at the next Board meeting on October 13. Your help with this task will make the process much easier for all of us, and we look forward to your suggestions.

The Annual Meeting (October 21, from 6 to 9 at 412 Lilly Road in Lacey) is jam packed with important and entertaining items. • Of course, we have our usual fantastic pot-luck dinner to look forward to. • We will also be having a presentation about endowment funds, a discussion about our proposal and any

questions you may have, and a vote to determine whether we should institute such a fund. Please see what I wrote in the last issue of the newsletter in order to get more details about the reasons we are proposing this.

• Changes to the By-Laws as follows will be voted on. • Adapting the date of the Annual Meeting from October to December in order to allow the budgeting proc-

ess to proceed in a timeframe which will be more appropriate for the groups that are involved. • In accordance with the above change, the required date of nominations for officers will change from

September to November. • We also want to be able to officially notify people about meetings via e-mail, and the wording will be

changed to reflect this. Voting for officers will also be accomplished. This year, we have two positions to vote for, and at this point, Diane Stanger is running for a second term as Treasurer and Penny Locke is running for a term as Secretary. If anyone else is interested in either of those positions, you should make it known to Jackie White ([email protected]) as soon as possible. Finally, we will be having a speaker about mushrooms, and a really fun tour of Ostrom’s will precede the meeting by a week. So you can see that we have lots of important things for you to take part in if you are a Foundation member. Please be sure to attend both of these important events and have your thoughts heard on any of the subjects. Your input is what keeps this organization running well.

(Continued from page 1)

From the Foundation President, cont.

The Common Sense Gardener Volume 10, Issue 5

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Event: MG Foundation Annual Membership Meeting and Potluck Date: Thursday, October 21, 2010 ……. 6:00pm to 9:00pm Location: 412 Lilly Road, Lacey (Department of Public Health Building)

Important for all Foundation members to attend so we can vote on: • Changes to three of the by-laws. • Whether or not the Foundation should establish an endowment fund-after hearing a short

presentation. • New officers. Guest speaker: Mr. Daniel Heath, an expert on native mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. Please bring: A hot dish, salad, or dessert Your own table service-plate, silverware and beverage. Coffee and tea will be provided. See you there!

Foundation Annual Meeting Reminder by Julianne Armstrong


Cori’s Corner by Cori Carlton, Program Manager Happy fall, ya’ll. Thurston County MG’s and I just got back from the state Master Gardener Advanced Education Conference in Vancouver, WA. I am so thankful for the opportunity to attend a conference that is so inspirational and challenges me to do better, reach higher. One of my favorite sessions I attended was called “Kick It Up a Notch”. The presentation focused on how as Master Gardeners we can make interactions with our community more meaningful and life changing. Discussions were about how great we are at giving advice but not always walking our own talk and what we can do about it. We also discussed the power of our local food systems to effect positive change in our communities and the role of gardens within our food system. I walked away from that session with a list of tangible, easy to implement changes to make our work more meaningful yet still fulfill the impact numbers that budgets require. I also learned a lot in the “Social Media Boot Camp” workshop which focused on how to get our message across in such a technology based society. Plenty of tips and tricks were shared to make social media outlets work for us instead of against us. All the program coordinators met with our state director, Tonie Fitzgerald, to go over new program changes and resources that will be coming our way, some sooner and some later. All in all a great conference! After such a busy summer I hope you can find some time to rest and renew yourself. November is a time of thanksgiving and I am grateful to be apart of an organization that gives so freely of their time and talents. Thank you for all that you give to the WSU Extension Master Gardener and Thurston County Master Composter programs!

We would like everyone to know that WE ARE IN ACQUISITION MODE, even with the daunting prospect of a move. We still need to have about 5000 pots by early April, 2011 - that's an intake of about 100 pots per week. All that we ask is that you confer with us before you dig, as we have learned a few things about selection, timing and marketing of plant donations and can advise you and even come out and help you with the dig itself. Please contact Bob Findlay or Nancy Mills for questions & donations. Email: [email protected]

These smiling gardeners are happy to accept your plants!!

Answers to Sustainable Gardening Handbook Trivia Quiz-Part One Thank you to everyone who entered the trivia quiz that was in the August/September issue of our newsletter. Everyone who submitted their answers was entered into the drawing. The winner is Sandra Gast who happened to get all the answers correct. She will receive a $20 gift card to Bark & Garden Center. Here are the answers:

1) Rejuvenation pruning of large shrubs is accomplished by? D. Cutting 1/3 of the plant out one year at a time 2) The process during which a plant uses carbohydrates produced during photosynthesis is? C. Respiration 3) Herbicides that circulate throughout the plant are termed? B. Systemic 4) True or False—Raspberries produce fruit on first year canes. B. False 5) Information gained from knowing the “order” of an insect includes? D. All of the Above-Habitation and host, mouthpart type and lifecycle

Hope you had fun and learned something too!


MGFTC 2011 Plant Sale Acquisition News

By filling out your Recommitment form we now have the pleasure of wishing our fellow Master Gardeners and Master Composters a Happy Birthday. If your birthday is in October or November and you don’t see your name on the list, or the date is incorrect, please contact Cori so we can update our files.

October

Joan Hoffmeyer, Oct. 3rd BJ Matthews, Oct. 4th Bret Beardslee, Oct. 10th Mary Cullen, Oct. 10th Ron Casebier, Oct. 11th

Wanda Cross, Oct. 11th Bill Cather, Oct. 12th Bev Postman, Oct. 16th Curt Rosler, Oct. 17th Dan Gadman, Oct. 18th TJ Reinoso, Oct. 28th Karen Walters, Oct. 29th Mary Williams, Oct. 31st November Faith Jeffrey, Nov. 3rd Shirley Erickson, Nov. 4th Evelyn Stewart, Nov. 10th Penny Locke, Nov. 11th Carol Pedigo, Nov. 13th Vicki Briggs, Nov. 14th Pat Huntsman, Nov. 18th Cheri Johnson, Nov. 20th Robyn Tsuji, Nov. 20th

Rebecca Allen, Nov. 21st Rick Finch, Nov. 23rd John Perez, Nov. 24th Lauren Langley, Nov. 25th Ed Shipley, Nov. 25th Mary Snyder, Nov. 25th Tim Erickson, Nov. 29th Bobbie Liberty, Nov. 30th

Wishing you a year full of health, happiness, and gardening bliss!

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey

around the sun.

Enjoy the trip!

Birthdays for October and November


Complete details for the above are listed on the Foundation website at www.mgftc.org.

OCTOBER 7, THURSDAY, 8:00-5:00 pm – THE BLOEDEL RESERVE, BAINBRIDGE GARDENS & SUNQUIST NURSERY. Join us for a plant-filled day on the Kitsap Peninsula with the first stop at the Bloedel Reserve. We will enjoy a docent-guided tour of this unique blend of natural woodlands and brilliantly landscaped gardens in all its fall beauty. The tour includes the Japanese garden, moss garden, reflection pool and estate house. Bring a sack lunch to fortify yourself for an afternoon of shopping and more gardens. Next we will stop at Bainbridge Gardens, an institution on the island where the owner’s family has lived and gar-dened for a hundred years. This is a full service nursery as well as home to seven acres of unusual trees, shrubs, and perennials in a garden setting. Next we have an exceptional opportunity to visit Sunquist Nurs-ery, which is generally open to the public only four days a year. Sunquist is known for plants that perform well without coddling and includes extensive collections of hardy ferns, epimediums, shade companions, orna-mental grasses, as well as many new and hard to get perennials. Before heading home, we can tour Sunquist’s gardens, which range from damp and shady to dry and sunny and from pastoral to semi-formal all within a short walk of each other. If there are more people than the van can accommodate, carpooling will be arranged. Gas money will be collected the day of the event if we take private cars. Fee: $20 for Foundation Members; $25 for Non-Members. Fee covers garden admission. Contact Penny Locke at [email protected] or 360/352-0959 for reservations. CE Credit 2 hours OCTOBER 14, Thursday 9:30-11:00—OSTROM'S MUSHROOM PLANT AND FARM TOUR. If you eat mushrooms, then you have eaten Ostrom’s. This is an opportunity to take a personal tour of the growing beds and processing plant located right here in our backyard. Ostrom’s is a family-owned business, established back in1928, and produces over 13 million pounds of mushrooms each year. Each mushroom is hand picked and the varieties range from white to specialties, as well as dried and seasonal wild mushrooms. This tour will be a precursor to Daniel Heath’s talk on mushrooms at the Membership meeting October 21. We will meet in Ostrom’s parking lot so there will be no arranged transportation. This trip is LIMITED to 20 people. Fee: $15 for Foundation members; $20 for non-members. 1.5 hours CE. Contact Lois Willman at [email protected] or 264-6683.

Upcoming MGFTC Activities & Events


mailto:[email protected]�


OCTOBER 16, SATURDAY, 10-12 noon – CONTAINERS FOR FALL & WINTER. NOTE: This workshop was originally scheduled for October 9th the new date is now October 16th. Spring isn’t the only time for making fabulous containers for your home and garden. Some of the most beautiful containers are those intended for fall and winter interest with bold-colored bulbs and perennials. JoAnn Mahaffy, who is well-known for her beautiful container arrangements, will lead the class and you will be able to make your own great creation. Bring your own pot/container and there will be a selection of plants for you to choose from. The cost of the class includes enough plants to fill a 12” diameter pot. If you wish to upgrade your design or bring a larger container, additional plants will be available for purchase. The class will be held at the home of Lois Willman and will be inside so you don’t have to worry about weather conditions. Fee: $40 for Foundation Members and $45 for Non-Members. Contact Lois Willman at [email protected] or 264-6683.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

DECEMBER 28, Tuesday—BELLEVUE BOTANICAL GARDEN LIGHTS

Participants took a short ferry ride to Vashon Island where their first stop was at the ever-popular Dig Floral & Garden Nursery. After some excellent shopping they traveled to Walt and Pat Riehl’s garden consisting of the largest, privately-owned stumpery in the United States. After touring this unique and beautiful garden then ended the day with a stop at Tacoma Boys for much needed and yummy sustenance. A glorious day!

Upcoming MGFTC Activities & Events cont.


Activities & Events Trip Photo: The Stumpery on Vashon Island


Additional dates will be added as they are determined. Please be sure to use the Calendar that will be on the website www.mgftc.org since it will contain the most up to date information. Important meetings are in bold. October 1st 2011 Intern Applications are now available 13th MGFTC Board Meeting 9:30am 21st MGFTC Annual Membership Meeting, Potluck, Elections & Speaker 6pm to 9pm November 1st MGFTC Board Retreat 9am to Noon 6th Garden Committee Planning Retreat 10am to 3pm 10th MGFTC Board Meeting 9:30am 16th Annual Awards Potluck Noon to 2:30pm @ Thurston County Fairgrounds 19th-newsletter deadline for December-January Edition December 4th Holiday Party Potluck 11am to 2pm 8th MGFTC Board Meeting 9:30am

presented by Thurston County Master Composters

For more information or directions visit our website at www.mgftc.org or call 360-867-2163.

Date Garden Topic Time

10/9 Closed Loop Park Worms 10am

10/16 Dirt Works Garden

Compost Bins and Supplies Onsite for Sale

Yard Waste 10am

Date Garden Topic Time

10/9 Closed Loop Park Worms 10am

10/16 Dirt Works Garden

Compost Bins and Supplies Onsite for Sale

Yard Waste 10am

2010 Master Calendar Dates


2010 FREE Composting Workshop Schedule

What to Do in Your Garden in October and November Visit http://gardening.wsu.edu for more helpful tips.

OCTOBER Garden essentials: • Sharpen shovels and tools--it's a great planting month! • Divide and add new perennials, plant ground covers, shrubs and trees. • Transplant from now through March. • Choose and plant crocus, daffodils, and tulips. Veggies year-round: • Plant garlic cloves now for a pungent harvest next summer. • Compost garden wastes as you tidy for winter. • Sow a green manure crop such as crimson clover, vetch or field peas, in empty spaces. • Green manures suppress weeds and add nitrogen and organic matter when dug in next spring. Lawn care: • Thatch, aerate and install sod. • Top dress with a light layer of sift compost if lawn was planted with very little organic matter. • Turn off irrigation system.

NOVEMBER Garden essentials: • Finish garden cleanup and weeding; leave some seeds on flowers for birds. • Mulch roses but don't prune severely now. • Move container plants into winter shelter. • This is a good time to take cuttings from rhododendron, camellia, photinia, and laurel (see PNW 152,

Propagating Deciduous and Evergreen Shrubs, Trees, and Vines with Cuttings). Veggies year-round: • Plant out onion transplants sown in July; they'll be ready next June. Garlic, onion sets, and peas can still be

planted. • Spread dolomite lime over beds that haven't received lime or wood ashes for the past two years. • Pile fall leaves over unplanted areas and over any root crops saved for winter eating. • Don't remove the foliage and stems from rhubarb, asparagus, and artichokes if they are still green and

healthy. Wait until the really cold weather comes. • Blueberries, currants, gooseberries, grapes, kiwis, and caneberries can be planted now and through the

winter so long as the soil is not frozen. • Cut raspberry canes to 5 feet and tie them to a trellis. Cut off the top sections of everbearing raspberry

canes that fruited this fall. The lower parts of the canes will fruit again next summer. Lawn care: • Fertilize your lawn at the end of November to help retain a deep green color through the winter. Use a fer-

tilizer with approximately a 3-1-2 (N-P-K) ratio. For late fall use, choose a fertilizer that contains mainly a slow-release form of nitrogen. Highly soluble nitrogen can leach away rapidly, not only being lost to the grass, but possibly contributing to groundwater pollution.

• If moss is a problem in your lawn, you may apply an iron compound to kill it. But unless you correct the excess shade, soil compaction, or poor fertilizer practices, it will return. Contrary to popular belief, lime will not control moss, though it may benefit your grass.

• Mow when ground condition permits. Grass grows slowly throughout the winter. • It is best to withhold fertilizer from houseplants from mid-November to mid-March unless they are

actively growing.


http://gardening.wsu.edu/�

Photos from the Foundation Appreciation Picnic in August!


Our gracious hosts, Julianne & Mack

Armstrong.

The master chef, Bill Longnecker, working his

new grill and serving tasty BBQ.

THANK YOU to everyone for sharing your time and talents with our programs!!!

Give your best guess to the following questions and send them by Friday, November 19th to: Mail: WSU Extension Office Email: [email protected] or Attn: Master Gardener Trivia

4131 Mud Bay Road Olympia, WA 98502

Please include your name with your answers. Of those who answered them correctly one winner will receive a $20 gift certificate to Bark & Garden Nursery. Happy Guessing!

Sustainable Gardening Handbook Trivia Quiz-Part Two


Take a guess or you can find the answers in your Sustainable Gardening Handbook. 1) Thatch is primarily composed of: A. grass clippings B. grass stems and roots C. soil minerals D. accumulated leaves from not raking in the fall 2) Non-selective herbicides are: A. used where all vegetation is to be eliminated B. used only where certain weeds are to be eliminated C. used when other products failed D. there is no such thing 3) Adding organic matter in the soil improves: A. water-holding capacity B. soil structure C. slow release of nitrogen D. all of the above 4) Non-toxic pest control methods: A. are less effective than pesticides B. should be used only by home gardeners C. result in pest eradication D. can be used in combination with each other 5) An important consideration in choosing trees for a home orchard is: A. disease resistance B. rootstock selection C. pollination requirements D. all of the above



2011 WSU Master Gardener Class Training Information Spread the word…. The new 2011 applications are available online at our websites (http://thurston.wsu.edu & www.mgftc.org). An email alert has been sent to everyone whose name is on our interest list. We will also be mailing them to folks who we don’t have an email address for or they requested it to be mailed. Applicants accepted into the Master Gardener Training Program attend seventeen weeks of classes either in person or by using the on-line training program. For 2011, class will be held once a week on Friday’s beginning on February 4, 2011 and finish on May 27, 2011. Half of the weeks trainees will be doing their assignments at home on their own time. The other half of the time they will be meeting in a classroom to hear a presenter speak on a subject or to do a hands-on activity/lesson. They will be expected to take bi-weekly on-line quizzes and a final exam at the end of class. When we meet as a group class will begin at 9am and go until 4pm. Volunteer Service Internship: In addition to class and on-line training time all interns are required to complete 95 hours of volunteer service within their first two years as Master Gardeners (between February 4, 2011 and December 31, 2012). The 95 hour volunteer service commitment is broken down into a 60 hour internship and 35 hours of yearly volunteer service. Initially 95 hours of service may seem like a lot. If you break it down over two years it averages out to volunteering 5 hours a month. Some months they’ll end up volunteering more, others less based on their schedule. Interns who attend all training sessions, complete on-line training sessions, and complete their volunteer service hours will become a certified Master Gardener. These conditions are not applicable for those in the Non-Volunteer Track. Training Materials: All training materials are included in the $275 class fee. This includes your on-line class registration fee, Sustainable Gardening Handbook, and other publications/handouts. This fee also covers all room rental fees, speaker fees, transportation fees, and lesson supplies. You will also receive a name tag that we ask you to wear at all times during training and other Master Gardener functions. Computer Technology: The use of computer technology is now a mandatory element of the Master Gardener Training Program. Trainees must have access to the internet (including an e-mail address), preferably with high-speed connection. In the future we will be looking for veteran Master Gardener who are computer savvy so we can pair you up with someone who less proficient in computer systems. High speed computer access at the Extension office is also available during afternoon business hours (M-F 1pm to 5pm).

http://thurston.wsu.edu/�


Applicants will be asked to fill out an application and bring it with them to one of four mini-orientation sessions in October and November. These mini-orientation will explain what it means to be a Master Gardener and the time commitment involved. After attending a mini-orientation they can decide if they want to turn in their application or not. Mini-orientation sessions will be on: • October 11th from 4pm to 5:30pm • October 23rd from 10am to 11:30am • October 27th from 6pm to 7:30pm • November 2nd from 5pm to 6:30pm Once we review their applications we will contact those who best fit our program needs and interests. Since a good portion of the class will be on-line, having computer access will be a determining factor if they will be part of the 2011 class. This will be stated in the application. Applications are due to the office by Friday, November 12, 2010.

MENTORS NEEDED I will be posting the mentor job description, in the Friday Flash, for those who may be interested in becoming a mentor for the 2011 class. Mentors are an essential part to the new class training.

Think about what it meant for you to have a mentor through your initial training process. What did you enjoy about your mentor and what would you have had them do differently? Mentors are asked to participate in an orientation session so that we are all on the same page. This training will be done on January 6, 2011. You will have an opportunity to make a difference in the life of an intern and have lots of fun doing so. If you are interested please contact Cori.

2011 WSU Master Gardener Class Training Info cont.


One of the greatest things to happen to CLP is the two-page spread (plus an additional page) of our sedum garden in the September issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine. This article touts sedums as “glorious bookends to an extended eight-month gardening season” with a “list of good qualities (that) could go on and on-and it usually does.” You can see some of the late blooming sedums mentioned in the article at CLP now. Sedum spectabile is an old-fashioned perennial with cabbage-like rosettes of succulent foliage throughout summer. Towards mid-summer, flat tightly-packed heads of green buds appear just above the foliage; these form a feature in their own right, and floral artists often cut them at this stage. In late summer the buds gradually open to reveal masses of tiny flowers. They are highly attractive to butterflies, and several species can be found crowding over the flowers, making an additional attraction in the autumn garden.

In addition, the article has given us exposure we’d never thought possible!

Three women came to visit the garden because a brother in Texas had read the Martha Stewart magazine and called her to tell her about it. She said she hadn't heard about our garden. By Mary Snyder

A neat thing happened on MGFTC picnic day. At 6 PM, my husband & I were just finish-

ing our dog walk at the LOTT holding ponds on Hogum Bay Road (not far from CLP) when a van came into the lot, parked right in the middle, the doors flew open, and an older couple got out and made straight for us. They spoke broken English. The wife said, "Do you know Closed-Loop-Park? They have a garden there with sedums?"

continued on next page

Closed Loop Park (CLP) Update


By then the facility was closed, but Dick and I had them follow us to the gate so they could see where it was. They'd been driving for some time trying to locate it. They were on their way home to Portland after visiting their son in Seattle, and the wife said with conviction they would be back to see the garden!

~By Barbara Smith Another plant that shows it colors late in the summer is the Hardy Fuchsia. Those found at CLP have been donated by the Fuchsia Fanciers of Centralia and Jackie Crossman. There are currently several varieties in bloom in almost all the beds throughout the garden.

Genus: Fuchsia Skill Level: beginner Exposure: full sun, partial shade, shade Hardiness: hardy Soil type: moist, sandy, well-drained/light Height: 1.5m Spread: 0.75m Flowering period: June to September Time to take cuttings: March to August Time to prune: March to April

Hardy fuchsias grow well in many positions and soils, and are a popular choice for shaded borders, especially where they are also shielded from cold winds. Even the hardiest kinds usually lose their top growth to frost except in the mildest gardens, but provided the roots are safe new growth will revive in spring.

Submitted by Bobbie Liberty, CLP Garden Committee

Closed Loop Park (CLP) Update cont.


Straw Bale Veggie Bed A Success @ Closed Loop Park

Straw Bale Veggie Bed A Success An experimental straw bale garden built at Closed Loop Park in early May became my primary focus in order to prove a point. A person doesn’t need a large plot of land to grow a variety of vegetables. This straw bale garden took up no more than about 6-1/2 square feet of space. The height of the straw bales made it a nice sized raised bed as well, giving my back and knees a nice reprieve. The variety of vegetables included carrots, beets, bush beans, summer squash, and one tomato plant. Despite the cool wet summer and the very slow start for the veggies, the good news is that the straw bale provided, for the Olympia Food Bank, approximately 5 pounds of carrots, 10 pounds of beets, 1-2 pounds of beans, and so far about 10 pounds of summer squash. The bad news is that like everyone else’s, the tomato plant suffered—got only one ripe tomato with very little flavor. There are lots of green tomatoes on the vine but the hope of their ripening at this point is not encouraging. I didn’t have a lot of luck with the Swiss Chard either, but I’m not giving up on it. Weeds were not an issue, slugs were minimal, and better yet, the deer left the straw bale bounty alone. Perhaps it was the types of planted veggies that weren’t to their liking. I plan to do this again next year with the idea of planting root veggies after the initial harvest that can over-winter, such as leeks, carrots, and beets as the straw bales would be a great in-sulating factor. Stay tuned, I’m not done experimenting with this unique concept.

Submitted by Diane Stanger, CLP Garden Committee


It is that time of year again; the Market is open until December 24th . The garden clinic will be open Thursday-Sunday until the end of October. Beginning the first of November the garden clinic will only be open on weekends, as staffing is available. This has been an amazing season with all the volunteer help we had on a weekly basis. We were able to not just keep up with the garden but actually jump in and get some projects done thanks to the volunteers and the mentors that brought their interns down in groups. I think it really helped the interns feel more comfortable to be in a group and have their mentor on hand to show the way. THANK YOU! Each season is unique in the garden but this time of year is particularly special, lots of color. Right now the fall Crocus is in bloom, the rose hips on the Rosa Rugosa are turning and the Virginia Creeper is beginning its spectacular fall show.

Thank you all for yet another great summer and keep checking

back with us to see what will be coming up next season.

Submitted by Catherine Eddington, OFMG Committee

Olympia Farmers Market Garden Update


Spotlight Volunteer: Cindy Cartwright Class of 2009 Where did you grow up? I grew up in San Antonio, TX. I have lived in Mexico. I spent eleven years in Portland, OR. During my husband’s army career, I lived in California, Texas, New York, Arizona, and now Washington. How long have you lived in Thurston County? Since 2003. I moved to Washington in 2001 but lived in Pierce County while we were in government housing on Fort Lewis. Family or Pets? I have a wonderful supportive husband who encourages me to garden, his name is Brett and we have been married for twenty years. I have three children, Brandon, age 16, Trevor, age 15, and Brittany, age 14. They are a real joy and a delight plus they make great garden helpers. A yellow lab named Jireh. He is nine years old. Hobbies? Gardening, of course, teaching, sewing, reading, cooking, camping, walking, scrapbooking, women’s ministries at my church and children’s ministries, meeting new people, going to new places, visiting museums. My favorite part of being a Master Gardener? My favorite part of being a Master Gardener is the camaraderie I share with other Master Gardeners who have the same passion(addiction?) for gardening that I do. I have truly enjoyed being able to mesh my passion for teaching children and gardening by means of the Children’s Garden program at DirtWorks. It is very fulfilling to see the amazement and wonder in a child’s eyes when they make new gardening discoveries. It is very satisfying to be part of a team of people who also desire to see children learn lessons about gardening and perhaps “sprout” future gardeners. Other Comments: I have learned so much from so many Master Gardeners and am thankful for their willingness to share knowledge and information with me . I am grateful for the grace that is extended as I learn new things along the way. I especially appreciate Karen Walters for all she has contributed to making the Children’s Garden a reality and for asking me to help with this aspect of the Master Gardener Program.


Master Gardener Advanced Education Conference Photos Close to 400 Master Gardeners attended the state WSU Master Gardener Advanced Education Conference in Vancouver, WA. Thurston County was well represented with 22 in attendance. The days were filled with informative sessions, inspirational speakers, fabulous prizes, meeting new friends, shopping in the MG conference store and of course plenty of eating. A grand time was had by all! Next year the state conference comes closer to home…. Ocean Shores. Hope to see you there!!


In 1830 Clark County’s first apple harvest occurred-one apple. Planted near Fort Vancouver in 1826, the Old Apple Tree is considered the oldest in the Northwest and the matriarch of Washington State’s apple industry.

Its modest beginning had been traced to the whimsical flirtations of an English woman in 1825. Historians have learned from diary entries that Lt. Aemilius Simpson, an officer in the Royal Navy, was attending a formal dinner on the eve of his departure to the rugged Pacific Northwest. At that dinner, a young woman admirer collected some apple seeds left over from the fruit dessert and dropped seeds in Lt. Simpson’s dinner jacket pocket saying, “Plant these when you reach your Northwest wilderness.” Simpson forgot about the seeds until he found them in his pocket months later at Fort Vancouver.

In 1826, under the direction of Dr. John McLoughlin, gardener James Bruce planted the seeds. Of the five original apple trees, the Old Apple Tree is the only one remaining. It has withstood decades of flood, storms, ice and steady encroachment of development, the railroad and SR-14.

On October 19, 1984, the Old Apple Tree was recognized during the festive opening of Old Apple Tree Park (112 Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA). The community celebrates the Old Apple Tree Festival each year on the first Saturday in October to commemorate this historic tree.

The Old Apple Tree is a tangible reminder of the power of trees to bridge generations and provide continuity between the past and the future. By planting trees today, we leave a legacy for future generations to enjoy. Trees greatly enhance our quality of life by beautifying our neighborhoods and parks, cleaning the air and water, and providing numerous other environmental, social and economic benefits.

The Pacific Northwest’s Oldest Apple Tree, Vancouver WA


AmeriCorps Member Updates

August 13th was Lauren’s last day as our AmeriCorps member. Lauren did a tremendous job with all the artistic and organizational projects needed for our program as well as keeping our new MG training class informed. She has brought so much positive energy to the office and will be greatly missed. Best wishes to Lauren!

Meet our new AmeriCorps member……... Rachel Mockler hails from Blairstown, New Jersey. She earned a B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Urban and Ethnic Studies from the College of New Jersey. Rachel studied abroad at the University of Ghana and interned with the Ghana Health Service in a rural clinic. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys vegan cooking and baking, biking, gardening, reading, environmentalism, knitting, making art, photography, hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. After driving cross-country from the Garden State, Rachel is ready and excited to be part of the team at the WSU Thurston County Extension!


No endorsement of products or information at these sites is implied. Mary Robson (Ret.) Area Extension Agent Fall and winter brings time for pruning trees, to maintain their health and to correct occasional damage from storms. Gardeners get lots of information on how to prune but less on what to do if the tree shows some disease problems. Must we handle tools with disinfectants? What about keeping the wood? This article by the Master Gardeners in King County uses information gathered by Dr. Warren Copes, Plant Pathologist, Washington State University, Puyallup.

One suggestion often made is to dip pruning tools in a disinfectant between each cut as the surest way to prevent the spread of disease. It makes sense that if you cut through a section of stem where a disease organism is present, then structures of that pathogen spread to the next ten or more cuts made with that tool. The easiest disinfectant to use is alcohol in a spray bottle, but this will not necessarily get rid of all disease if it's present.

But if the cut is made where no pathogen is present, disinfecting the tool is a waste of time and a genuine nuisance that can slow down the task. How can you decide? Deciding not to disinfect requires a correct diagnosis, plus knowledge of how a specific pathogen spreads. Learning to distinguish disease patterns takes time. If you are in doubt, disinfect the tool after cuts.

Here are some specific problems that can cause branches to die. (This is, of course, conveniently called "dieback".)

• 1. You see a specific spot or blotch on a branch, where the pathogen is localized in a lesion or canker. This can result in the entire branch dying back. Phomopsis blight on juniper (caused by Phomopsis juni-perovosa) is an example of this type of disease. The pathogen can cause a lesion, which you can compare to a wound on an animal, and girdle a stem at one point. When stems are completely encircled by a disease, the plant can no longer get water through to keep tissues alive and the branch dies above the lesion. The pathogen will not have spread far, possibly 2 inches or less out of the lesion. In this case, a cut can be made in healthy wood that is 4 inches or more away from (usually below) the edge of discolored wood. Be sure to cut back to healthy wood and bag up the dead and diseased piece. Many of the diseases in this category are more likely spread in water that washes fungal spores or bacterial cells down a limb than on pruning shears. If you stay below the disease, you would not need to disinfect tools.

• Plants exhibit dieback or blight and the pathogen is present in the discolored wood and in healthy looking wood well beyond but still associated with the discolored wood. Diseases such as bacterial blight on lilac, maple, and cherry (caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae). The pathogen, whether bacterial or fungal, will advance in to healthy looking wood and be present 3 to 10 or more inches from the dieback. The pathogens often move down the water conducting tissue (xylem). Pruning cuts should be made just above a bud or branch in healthy-looking wood that is at least 12 inches away from the edge of discolored wood. You will probably get the pruners contaminated while exploring the edges of the affected wood.

Pruning out Disease to Keep Trees Healthy


The main purpose of pruning far enough away from dieback is to completely remove the pathogen so the pathogen will not continue to kill that limb or be spread to healthy limbs. If you have encountered any discolored wood, disinfect before pruning into healthy wood.

• We've been describing disease that is localized and then one that's less localized. Sometimes the entire plant can be affected. Plants exhibit dieback or blight and the pathogen is distributed considerable distances from the dieback and possibly throughout the vascular system of the plant.

• This category includes a range of bacterial and fungal diseases such as leaf scorch of elm, maple, oak, and sycamore (caused by Xyella fastidious), Verticillium wilt of maple (caused by Verticillium spp.), and Dutch elm disease (caused by Ophiostoma spp.). Symptoms often do not develop until after the pathogen has become established and potentially spread throughout the plant. Although these diseases are not easily transmitted on pruning tools, it can happen. Diseases in this category usually cause decline and death of a tree. Because of the seriousness of these diseases dipping pruning tools in disinfectant after every cut would be justified. Do not chip or recycle the wood from these trees.

• Plants exhibit dieback or blight and the pathogen is present on the roots or collar of the plant. Phytophthora spp., Armillaria spp., and various root pathogens can kill a portion or all of a root system, which limits water and nutrient uptake and causes limb dieback. The pathogens are not present in the limbs and it is not necessary to disinfect pruning tools.

• Plants that exhibit a wide array of possible growth abnormalities, such as yellow patterns on leaves or stunted growth, and the pathogen is spread throughout the vascular system or through numerous types of plant tissue. Viruses and viroids primarily cause the types of diseases in this category. Although transmission on pruning tools may not have been demonstrated for many viruses and may range from common, unlikely, to impossible. If you suspect a virus, a good general rule would be to either prune those plants last or disinfect pruning tools between each plant, and definitely disinfect tools between plants. Learning all this takes some time but this provides a guide to use when working with and observing problems during tree pruning.

Pruning out Disease to Keep Trees Healthy cont.

The Common Sense Gardener WSU Thurston County Extension 4131 Mud Bay Rd. Olympia, WA 98502

Master Gardeners and Master Composters have many talents to share with the public and with each other. One of those talents is photography! Whether it’s a hobby or a profession, you all have fabulous garden photos to share. If you would like to have one of your photo’s highlighted in one of the upcoming newsletters please send a print or file to the office or by email at [email protected]. If you want submit a short caption with your photo to describe the image. If you submit a print please make sure you have your name on back of the photo and state if you would like it returned or not. Thanks & enjoy! Photo submitted by: Charlie Keck DirtWorks Garden in full purple glory!

All WSU Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, sex, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin: physical, mental or sensory disability; martial status, sexual orientation, and status as a Vietnam-era or disabled veteran. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension Office.

Volunteer Snapshot-October/November


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