A Message from our Vice-President ~~~~~~~~ Next...
Transcript of A Message from our Vice-President ~~~~~~~~ Next...
Volume9,Issue3,March2017
A Message from our Vice-President ~~~~~~~~ IsuggestthatwestartdoingsomedaydreamingaboutthefactthatSpringiscomingsomeday.Ha!Ha!Hopefully,youhaven'tstartedtogrow“Moss”onyourfeetfromallthewetwinterwe’vehadthisyear.Iknowthatwehaveneededtherainbutgiveusabreak.Ithinkwehavereachedapointwherealittlelessrainwouldbeok.It’sbeenscarylatelywiththeproblemsattheOrovilledamspillway.Ihopeeverythingturnsoutokayforthem.
I’vehadafewfriendstellmethattheirdaffodilsarestartingtocomeupallover.Idon’thavetheminmyyard,butIhaveenjoyedseeingthemhereandthere.Mybackyardhasbeenasloshymess.Can’tgetoutthereyet.
JustareminderthatourTourCommitteeisworkingonatriptoDutchHollowFarmsinModestotoseeanincredibledisplayoftulips.WearegoingtocarpoolthereonThursday,March9th.WewillhavemoreinformationatourClubmeetingonMonday,March6thorcontactmeat684-1285.
Finally,ifyouneedsomethingtofillyourschedule,don’tmisstheCalendarbeginningonpage5.Thereisnochancetogetboredinthespring!
HopetoseeyouattheMarchmeeting.Trytostaydrythebestthatyoucanuntilthen.
Bonnie Jones
Next Meeting ~~~~~
Monday,March6,2017
Bee Keeping
SteveHays(atourregularmeetingplace)
Inside This Issue ~~~
2–MarchSpeaker–SteveHays
2–IncredibleEdible
3–IsItPoisonous?
3–MarchGardenChecklist
4–TourReminder
4–PennyPines
5–Calendar
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Our March Speaker ~~~~~~~~~
ByJanFetler
SteveHays,Beekeeper
WhatdoesaretiringSacramentoSheriffdowithhisnewsparetime?Raisehoneybeesofcourse.
Inearly2016,SteveHayscontactedtheElkGroveCommunityGardentoaskifhecouldplacebeehivesthereandtoldmembers
thathewoulddonate80%ofthehoneyproducedfromhishivestotheFoodBank.
ThegardenagreedandthehiveswereinstalledinMay,2016.Forthenextfewmonths,thebeeswerebusypollinatingthegarden’sproduceandmakinghoney.
OnAugust25,2016,aspromised,Stevedonated48jarsofhoneyfromhishoneybeehivestotheElkGroveFoodBank.Everyoneisanticipating2017!
JoinusattheMarchmeetingtohearallaboutSteve’ssweethobby.
Thank You! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ByJanFetler
Speakingofspeakers...WhoeversentinthereviewofmyJanuaryFruitTreetalktotheMasterGardenerspeakercoordinatorgavemytalkthebestreviewforthemonthofJanuary!Theresult?ThespeakercoordinatorawardedmethisredroseattheFebruaryMGmeeting—sharingitherewithyou.ThankyouallsomuchforyoursupportandkindnesstotheMasterGardenerprogramandme.
Incredible Edible ~~~~~~~~~~~
ByJanFetler
TahitianSquashor‘Neck’Pumpkin(Curcurbitamoschata).ThisbutternuttypesquashgrowsanincrediblysweetBIGsquash.Eachvigorousvinewillproduce2ormorefruitweighingfrom10to30poundseach.Didwesaybig?LookforitinspecialtyseedcatalogslikePeacefulValley,PinetreeorSustainableSeed.PlantseedoutdoorsinMay.
Babyplantneedsroomtogrow—thisonewillgrowoutoftheraisedplanterandspreadoutontheground.
Skinturnsorangewhenripe.Seedsarecontainedinthebottomofthefruitleavingthe“neck”seed-free.
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Is It Poisonous? ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everwonderaboutthesafetyofplantsthataregrowinginyouryard?MostpeopleknowthatOleanderisverytoxic(ifyoudidn’t,youdonow!).Belowareafewdangerousbeauties.
Formoreinformationaboutpoisonousplantsandalotmore,visit:http://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/
Thewebsitebreaksplantsdownintocategoriesofdangerfrommajortoxicitytosimpledermatitis.Goodstuff!
Larkspur(andDelphinium).
Azalea(andRhododendrons).
Foxglove.
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March Garden Checklist ~~~
ByJanFetler
Herearesomesuggestionsforgardenchoresthismonth.
• Testthewateringsystemforleaksandpluggedorbrokenparts.Testmonthly.
• Considerinvestinginasmartcontrollerthatadjustswateringbasedontheweather.
• Waterornamentaltreesandshrubsifrainfallisbelownormal.
• Startleekseedsindoors.
• Plantvegetableseedsoutdoors:beets,mustard,lettuce,carrots,chard,radish,turnipsandcilantro.
• Plantpotatoesoutdoors.
• WaittoplanttomatoandeggplantseedlingsuntillateApril.
• Fertilizeblueberries,youngfruittreesandgreen-in-winterlawns.Useaslowreleasefertilizer.
• Testsoilacidity(pH)forblueberries,addsulfurifneeded.Considertestingvegetablegardensoilonceevery3to5yearsforpHandnutrients.
• Divideand/ortransplantsummerorfallbloomingperennialssuchasdayliliesandasters.
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• Spraygrapesforpowderymildewasshootsbegintogrowanddaytimehightemperaturesare73°Forover(seeGardenGuide).Continueweeklyuntildaytimetemperaturesareover95°F.
• Lookforaphids,slugsandsnails.
Upcoming Tour Reminder ~~~~~
ByBonnieJones
Don’tforget!
DutchHollowFarms,ModestoThursday,March99a–CarpoolfromElkGroveMeetatBurlingtonparkinglot
Itwillbetulipseason.You’llhavetheopportunitytobuybulbsandplants.Wewillalsotakeaone-hourpersonaltouroftheiroperation.
Can’tmaketheMarchmeetingbutwanttogo?Contactme:684-1285
Penny Pines ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ByDianneCadwallader
Weallrecognizethelittlepiggybankbeingpassedaroundatmeetings.Wedutifullyreachintoourwalletstoridourselvesofsparechangetofeedthepiggy.Butwheredoesthatmoneygoandwhyareourdonationssoimportantnow?IdidalittleresearchandfoundsomesaddeningfactsaboutthePineBarkBeetleinvasioninourforests—pleasevisit:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_pine_beetletolearnmoreaboutthedevastationitiscausing.
ThePennyPinesprogramisonesmallwaywecanhelp.Here’swhatIfoundoutaboutitontheUSDAForestServiceWebsite.
Asdestructiveasfiresare,diseaseandinsectinfestationdestroyseventimesmoreforestvegetationannuallythanfires.PennyPines,apartnershipwithNationalGardenClubs,providesahelpinghand.Itisaconservationprograminwhicheveryonecanparticipate.
AtthestartofthisUSForestServiceprogramin1941,seedlingscouldbeproducedforaboutonecenteach.Approximately680seedlingswereusedtoplantatypicalacre.For$68.00,seedlingsfortenacrescouldbepurchased.SitepreparationandplantingcostsweremetthroughregularForestServiceappropriations.
ThePennyPinesprogramwassosuccessfulthatmoneycontributedtopurchaseseedlingssoonfarexceededappropriatedfundsavailableforsitepreparationandfortheactualplantingjob.
In1964,theoriginalcooperativeagreementwasrewrittentoprovidethatfundscontributedunderthePennyPinesprogrambeusedforreforestation,ratherthansolelyforpurchasingseedlings.
OurdonationshelpwithreforestationoftheTahoeNationalForest.Seedlingsaregrownfromlocalseedsandacorns,andreplantedneartheareaswheretheseedswerecollectedtoimprovetheirchanceofsurvival.
Thefundsmayalsobeusedtomaintainexistingtreestandsandimprovewildlifehabitatorreplantburnedorotherwisedamagedforestsinconjunctionwithfederalfunds.
ThePennyPinesReforestationProgramplaysavitalrolebothinrenewingthenationalforestsinCalifornia,andinmultiple-usemanagement.Treeshelpthegroundstorepreciouswater,protectagainstsoilerosion,andaddtothescenicbeautyofthenationalforests.
Throughstatewidedonations,morethan27millionseedlingshavebeenplanted,renewing88,000acresofnationalforestlandinCalifornia--trulyanoutstandingachievement.
Keepthosenickelsanddimescoming!
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Gardenism ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the Birds ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Repurposethatgaragesalefind.
Calendar ~~~~~~~~~~~
Next GOTG Meetings
March6(Monday)6:30pm
Beekeeping–SteveHays
April3(Monday)6:30pm
Herbs–RoseLoveall,MorningSunHerbFarm
May1(Monday)6:30pm
Wildflowers–ChrisWassermann
June5(Monday)6:30pm
GardenChatter–MasterGardeners
Franklin School Garden Club
March13(Monday)2:30till3:30pm
March27(Monday)2:30till3:30pm
April3(Monday)2:30till3:30pm
April24(Monday)2:30till3:30pm
May8(Monday)2:30till3:30pm
GOTG Tour
March9(Thursday)9a
DutchHollowFarms,ModestoCarpoolfromElkGroveMeetatBurlingtonparkinglot
Other Events
March4(Saturday)9atill4p
CymbidiumShowandSaleSacramentoValleyCymbidiumSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
March11(Saturday)9atillNoon
OpenGarden–wanderandaskquestionsaboutveggies,fruit,herbs,landscapeplants.SacramentoCountyMasterGardenersFairOaksHorticultureCenter11549FairOaksBlvd,FairOakshttp://sacmg.ucanr.edu/Fair_Oaks_Horticulture_Center/Workshop_Schedule/
March11(Saturday)9atill1p(membersonly1st2hours)
SpringPlantSaleUCDavisArboretumMap:http://campusmap.ucdavis.edu/?b=204More:http://publicgarden.ucdavis.edu/plant-sales
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March18(Saturday)9atill5p
VintageTrailerShow/AntiqueFleaMarketOldTownElkGrovePlazaCornerofElkGroveBlvd./RailroadStreetSponsoredbyTheRedDoorAntiquesMore:http://www.thereddoorelkgrove.com/
March19(Sunday)9atill4p
DigIntoSpring-IdeasFairGreenAcresNursery(ElkGroveonly)9220EastStocktonBlvd,ElkGroveMore:http://www.idiggreenacres.com/events/
March18/19(Saturday/Sunday)10atill4p
SpringPlantSaleSacramentoPerennialPlantClubShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
March19(Sunday)1till4p
BackyardButterflyGardeningUCDBohartMuseumofEntomology1124AcademicSurgeBuildingCrockerLane,DavisFreeadmissionandparking!http://bohart.ucdavis.edu/
March25(Saturday)9atill3p
SmallandSpecialtyVendor(includingBigOak!)SpringPlantSaleSponsoredbytheSacPerennialPlantClubShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
March25(Saturday)10atill3p
SpringNativePlantSaleCaliforniaNativePlantSocietyElderberryFarmsNursery/SoilBornFarms2140ChaseDrive,RanchoCordovahttp://sacvalleycnps.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=180
April1(Saturday)1ptill4pApril2(Sunday)11atill3p
AfricanVioletShowandSaleCapitolCityAfricanVioletSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
April8(Saturday)9atillNoon
PlantSale(veggies,herbs,flowers,succulents)ElkGroveCommunityGarden10025HamptonOakDrive,ElkGrove
April8(Saturday)TimeTBA
GardensGoneNativeGardenTourCaliforniaNativePlantSocietyhttp://sacvalleycnps.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23&Itemid=179
April8/9(Saturday/Sunday)10atill4p
BonsaiSpringShowandSaleAmericanBonsaiAssociationShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
April12(Wednesday)9atillNoon
MidweekOpenGarden–wander,askquestionsaboutveggies,fruit,herbs,landscapeplants.SacramentoCountyMasterGardenersFairOaksHorticultureCenter11549FairOaksBlvd,FairOakshttp://sacmg.ucanr.edu/Fair_Oaks_Horticulture_Center/Workshop_Schedule/
April15/16(Saturday/Sunday)9atill4p
IrisShowandSale(pottedplants)SacramentoIrisSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
April22(Saturday)10atill4pApril23(Sunday)10atill2p
ChrysanthemumShowandSaleChrysanthemumSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
April29(Saturday)10atill4p
RoseShowandSaleSacramentoRoseSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
April29/30(Saturday/Sunday)11atill4p
GardenTour—6beautifulgardensFolsomGardenClubTickets$20Moreinformationandtickets:http://folsomgarden.ipage.com/ftp.ipage.com/Grdn_Tour.html
May6(Saturday)9atill4pMay7(Sunday)10atill4p
CactusandSucculentShowandSaleSacramentoCactusandSucculentSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
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May13(Saturday)9atill3p
GeraniumSaleandShowSacramentoGeraniumClubShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
June17(Saturday)9atill3p
FuchsiaSaleandShowAmericanFuchsiaSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
July15/16(Saturday/Sunday)10atill4p
IrisSale(barerootrhizomes)SacramentoIrisSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
July22/23(Saturday/Sunday)10atill4p
BromeliadandCarnivorousPlantShowandSaleSacramentoBromeliad&CarnivorousPlantSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento
Co-PresidentsKathleenAlbianiandConnieAdamsGeorgiu
Vice-President–BonnieJones
Secretary–DianneCadwallader
Treasurer–LindaLichtenberg
POBox2418ElkGrove,CA95759-2418
http://www.gardenersofthegrove.orgFacebook:
https://www.facebook.com/GOTGElkGrove2016/
GardenersoftheGroveisamemberof:
SacramentoRiverValleyDistrict
CaliforniaGardenClubs,Inc.
PacificRegionofNationalGardenClubs,Inc.
NationalGardenClubsInc.
Support Our Local Friends ~~~~~ BigOakNursery
ElkGroveCommunityGarden
ElkGroveFoodBank
ElkGroveGreenerGardens
ElkGroveHistoricalSociety
GreenAcresNurseryandSupply
TheSecretGarden
UCCEMasterGardeners
~~~ The Scarecrow ~~~ Editor–JanFetler
This Month’s Contributors:
BonnieJonesDianneCadwallader
ForthoseofyouwhomissedtheFebruarymeetingonIrrigationatGreenAcres,sharingthisphotoofthechocolatecakestheyservedthatlookedlike(big)ladybeetles.Andtheyweredelicious!