News for Delaware County Master Gardeners

Vol. 11 No. 1 January 2006

I hope you've recovered from the holiday rush, and are sitting back, feet up, looking through gardening catalogues for 2006. This past year was a busy one for us, and I'm looking forward to working on all of the projects - old and new - that you bring to us this year.

We have a wonderful new group of Master Gardener trainees and they have already offered new ideas and suggestions for our organization. Please seek them out at meetings and while working on committee projects and let them know how valuable they are to us.

Thanks to all of you who sent or entered hours for 2005. If you found that January slipped in before you reported all of your volunteer time, it still isn't too late. The report year ends in September, so October-December time has not yet been tabulated for impact reports.

As of January 1, we have a new state Master Gardener Coordinator. Ginger Pryor has been the coordinator for Lebanon County, and is very familiar with the Master Gardener program. The College of Agriculture has agreed to pay her salary as a part time employee. One significant reason for their decision to fill the position is the number of hours and contacts that Master Gardeners report across the state. The Southeast and Capital region account for 60% of the total Master Gardener volunteer activity in Pennsylvania.

We had a great Holiday Party at Ridley Creek State Park on December 11th. Thanks to the many MGs who helped to make it a success. We had more than 80 members and guests in attendance. Certificates were awarded to Delilah Foldes for 1500 volunteer hours, and Joe Daniels and Gerry Paradis for 1000 hours, Marty Roelandt and Barbara Meahl for 500 hours. Pins and certificates for years of membership were given to Deb Hatton for 15 years of service (Class of 1989), and Joe Casey, MaryAnne Crawford, Maru Hollen, Barbara Knight, Penny Sass, and Chantal Wildman for 10 years of service (Class of 1995).

Please return your Volunteer Opportunities sign-up sheets so that we can prepare the 2006 Membership List.

I also need your contact information form returned - especially if you have a new address, phone number, or email. This list is distributed to the Delaware County Master Gardeners only, and is not to be shared with any other people or organization.

We have had a request for assisting a fourth grade science teacher at a Media school. (There is also a classroom assistant.) They have a curriculum which involves growing plants from seed, effect of soil type and stress on plant growth, and comparing hydroponically grown plants to plants grown in soil. If you would like to know more about this ambitious project, please contact me. This is not an on-going activity, but would involve a few visits to consult with the teacher and meet with the students. The program begins in 2006.

January's meeting will be a buffet - please bring a contribution - and we will share our volunteer opportunities with the new class. I hope to see you there.

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At the beginning of every year we all start out with great intentions of doing things differently with regards to certain garden quirks. We all know what we would like to change but somehow actually making the change is hard to do.

Placing orders from catalogs was one that I was able to nip in the bud last year. Too many years I would order new and funky things but when they came I did not always have a clear idea of what to do with them!

Spring shopping can also bring that plant lust on quite strongly. After being deprived of gardening for at least four months (that is if you were still planting bulbs, shrubs etc until December) and being bombarded by catalogs, either by mail or Internet, most gardeners are chomping at the bit for some indication that spring is coming.

As soon as pansies, primroses and daffodils are for sale, we can be counted on to purchase one if not all three. More lists are definitely a good thing. They can keep us in line and hopefully help us spend wisely. Mine will be: What the deer ate; What did exceptionally well and buy more of; What was a complete waste of money and what kicked the bucket.

I always intend to start a formal journal other than the one recording what I bought the previous year. Why is there not a garden lust journal? Like Jimmy Carter I do lust in my mind about various plants. Peonia obvata and Meconopis,the Himalayan Blue Poppy would be two great acquisitions, but do I really need them?? Some would be just useless lusting because they would not do well in my garden or the deer would enjoy them more than I would. So along with lists I intend to do more research on plants suitable for my conditions.

Efficiency is something I strive for everyday and I can easily drive my husband crazy with quite often. (24 hours is really not enough when gardening so we have to use it wisely) I sometimes equate my gardening as a dog chasing its tail. I go out with one purpose or job and then go round and round and still not get anything 100% accomplished. I vow to start one project and try really, really hard to complete that before moving on to something else. Too many times I have started five tasks and by the end of several hours, none are completely finished. This is usually how I lose my Felcos, trowel, etc and then inefficiently have to retrace my steps looking for them.

Along with the above mentioned intentions, I do intend to spend as much time as possible appreciating my landscape. I feel blessed to spend time gardening as well as being able to spend time with people who are also likeminded. Wishing everyone a productive and enjoyable 2006.

Humor is always necessary in any situation or column, so to start off this new year here are some amusing items for you. Hope you like them.

Two older ladies were sitting on a park bench outside the local town hall where a flower show was in progress.

One leaned over and said, "Life is so boring. We never have any fun anymore. For $5.00 I'd take off my clothes right now and streak through that stupid flower show!"

"You're on!" said the other old lady, holding up a $5.00 bill.

As fast as she could, the first little old lady fumbled her way out of her clothes and, completely naked, streaked through the front door of the flower show.

Waiting outside, her friend soon heard a huge commotion inside the hall, followed by loud applause. The naked lady burst out through the door surrounded by a cheering crowd. "What happened?" asked her waiting friend. "Why, I won first prize for Best Dried Arrangement."

MARRIAGE SEMINAR

While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication.

Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor, "It is essential that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes." He addressed the man, "Can you name your wife's favorite flower?" Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, "It's Pillsbury, isn't it?

Garden Quotes

Anyone who thinks that gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year. For gardening begins in January with the dream.
Josephine Nuese

You can bury a lot of troubles in the dirt.
Author Unknown

An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life. Author Unknown

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MOONS THAT WERE NAMED BY THE INDIANS

SECOND SATURDAYS IN 2006

Our Second Saturday Wreath Workshop held on December 10th has become a "Must-do": event, so much so that this year, two seminars were needed to accommodate all the DIYers.

Congrats to the Speakers Bureau Chair, Joe Daniels and his team members, Julia King and Janae Alberts for another successful class.

Click here to go to our list of Second Saturdays Programs and other program offerings.

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HOME GARDENERS' SCHOOL

Gardeners anxious for spring can get a start on the season and pick up tips from the experts at the 10th annual Home Gardeners' School on Saturday, April 1st.

The day-long program of lectures, plus continental breakfast, buffet lunch and garden marketplace is sponsored by Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Delaware County Master Gardeners. The conference will be held in the American College's Gregg Conference Center, 270 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr and the cost is $53.

Beverly Fitts will open the program with her talk , Right Plant, Right Place, followed by Robert herald of Chanticleer who will get gardeners thinking Beyond Spring Shrubs. Presentations by nurseryman David Culp and Leslie Wehr, owner of "Thyme on the Terrace", will round out the day's events. Vendors in the garden marketplace will offer everything from spring blooming plants to garden ornaments, books and herbal soaps.

Continental breakfast and a buffet lunch are included in the $53 registration fee. Early registration is advised. Deadline to register is March 24th. For a conference brochure call 610-690-2655 or 690-7669. Click here for more info and the registration form.

New Turf Grass Website

Penn State has developed a turf grass management site for home lawn care. The address is http://turfgrassmanagement.psu.edu/homelawns.cfm. You'll be able to answer all of the neighbors' questions this spring.

FORCED TO SAVE THE DAY - - - >

Last month I reported on my decision to force bulbs in anticipation of the Ridley Park Historical Society's Spring Tea held on April 30th. Here's my update: I ordered my bulbs from Van Engelen Nurseries and I chose: Triumph Tulips, Narcissus Palmares, Poeticus Narcissi, Muscari (in four lovely shades-white to dark blue) & dwarf Iris Reticulata.

The next (and biggest so far) obstacle was finding Bulb Pans. After much web-searching, I came up with Griffin Greenhouse Supply in Morgantown. After making the 112 mile trip two separate times, I finally came up with the right container, (although I was forced to purchase the case of 50 -I need only 15).

My next step was to add about 1 inch of pea gravel to the bulb pan and then a mixture of sand, bone meal and potting soil. I planted the bulbs and covered them (about 1 inch over their tops) with soil mixture and then watered them well.

Next I purchased a 6 rack system on wheels for the garage where they will stay nice and cool for their 13 week cooling period. I will check to ensure that they do not dry out and stay around 40 degrees.

Barbara Smith

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2006 AAS Winners (All American Selections)

'Dianthus F1 'Supra Purple' fills garden space with color. This dianthus is a cross between various species and the result is a strong plant that will flower under hot summer growing conditions. 'Supra Purple' plants remain under a foot in height, but they are vigorous and continue flowering through the growing season. They are recommended for containers and rock gardens. The 'Supra Purple' single flowers have highly fringed petal edges which are perfect for decorations. Add them to salads, bouquets, or float some on water for an eye-catching centerpiece. The color is closer to a rosy purple than the dark, almost black-purple, seen on some plants. 'Supra Purple' may become one of your favorite new annuals.

Diascia F1 'Diamonte Coral Rose' is an improved variety in a class that was relatively unknown five years ago. Diascia is native to South Africa, like gerbera and dimorphotheca. 'Diamonte Coral Rose' exhibits earliness, freedom of bloom and hybrid vigor as improved traits and is a frost tolerant annual. The plants perform well during the hot summer growing season and under cool growing conditions. plants have a spreading habit and are perfectly designed for any container. Planting them close to the lip will encourage the plant to cascade over the side. Needing a full sun growing location, it combines well with other cool tolerant annuals, such as snapdragons or dianthus.

Nicotiana F1 'Perfume Deep Purple' flowers are shaped like stars. The stars shine at night and this is when 'Perfume Deep Purple' begins its performance. The unique quality is the strong fragrance which scents the air in the evening. The rich, lavish deep purple flower color is another unique trait, distinct from other nicotianas. 'Perfume Deep Purple' is easily grown from seed, young green bedding plants or flowering pot plants. Nicotiana, named for Jean Nicot, who introduced tobacco to the French Court, needs a sunny location and is perfectly adaptable to container culture.

Ornamental Pepper 'Black Pearl' is a handsome plant with black foliage. But the standout quality is that 'Black Pearl' looks better as the summer season progresses. The plants branch, producing more clusters of black, pearl-like, shiny peppers. The plant grows taller and wider developing into a black pyramid shape without pinching, pruning, or grooming. 'Black Pearl' is exceptionally heat tolerant and requires minimal water and fertilizer. It is easy to grow from seed, bedding plants or pot plants with fruit set. As the plant matures, the black peppers turn red, adding a new color to the plant. While edible, the peppers are very hot.

Salvia farinacea 'Evolution' is the first Salvia farinacea with lilac flower spikes. From a distance, flowers are several shades lighter than its closest comparison. This new color is desirable for garden use as it widens the color choices for "blue" annuals. Belonging to the mint family, 'Evolution' is easy to grow.

VIOLA F1 'Skippy XL Red- Gold' is the first Viola cornuta to earn the prestigious AAS Award. The unique combination of colors is first to be observed. Flowers are ruby red with a violet red shading below the golden yellow face containing whiskers. The round 1 ½ inch flower is similar to a pansy, and larger than many viola blossoms. The lasting and enduring flower color provided by 'Skippy XL Red-Gold' is another notable trait. The freedom of bloom is attributed to the plant's ability to bud and flower under a wide range of temperatures.

Zinnia F1 'Zowie! Yellow Flame' is the first semi-tall zinnia with a unique bicolor pattern. Each bloom flames with a scarlet-rose center and yellow petal edges. There is no other zinnia with this fiery design. In addition, this bicolor pattern is consistent from one plant to another. As expected, there are more desirable traits from 'Zowie! ' . Gardeners will be glad to learn 'Zowie!' is easy to grow from seed, young bedding plants or flowering potted plants and will prove its long flowering season with dazzling blooms from early summer to final killing frost.

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Frederick Law Olmsted's CENTRAL PARK

What artist so noble...as he who, with far-reaching conception of beauty, in designing power, sketches the outlines, writes the colors, and directs the shadows of a picture so great that Nature shall be employed upon it for generations, before the work he arranged for her shall realize his intentions.

Central Park is one of the urban wonders of the world, a green oasis in the great concrete, high-rise landscape of New York City. It is so naturally part of the Manhattan environment that many people may not realize it is entirely manmade.

It is hard to imagine that Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the designers of Central Park, could have foreseen the impact the Park has had on so many people. They certainly knew their 1858 "Greensward Plan," the design for Central Park, was in the American grain: a master plan for the first major park intended entirely for public use. And they knew the Park would be a healthy refuge from the over-crowded living sections in southern Manhattan. (After all, the City had been developed only to 38th Street when construction on Central Park began at 59th Street.) As true 19th century romantics, they also trusted in the power of nature to lift man's spirit above the drudgery of city life. But could they have envisioned the skyscrapers and high-rise apartment buildings that provide the backdrop to so many Park views? Could they have anticipated over a quarter of a million people streaming into Central Park on a spring weekend? And could they have foreseen the Park succumbing over the years to New York's "tough love," only to be saved by a unique public/private partnership between the City of New York and the not-for-profit Central Park Conservancy?
Want more information about Central Park? - go to http://www.centralparknyc.org

MASTER GARDENERS TOUR CENTRAL PARK
June 24, 2006
Bus Trip to Central Park includes Round Trip transportation,
box snack and a guided tour.
Cost: $55 per person

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