December 15, 2017

Volume 18, Issue 12 Greene Garden News

Greene County Master Gardeners Newsletter

Special Interest: • Plant It Forward

Player: Brenda Barr • Dec. Birthdays: Dec. 11: David Jones • NO DECEMBER

MEETING

Individual Highlights:

Pres. Notes/TR 2

Mozart’s Starling 3

Projects/Com. 4

Inside Story 5

Member Pics 6

Greene County CES 201 W. Court Street Room 205 Federal Building Paragould, AR 72450 Phone (870) 236-6921 Fax (870) 239-6328

2017 Officers: President: Connie Whitman Vice President: Bonnie Hamilton Secretary: Libby Christie Treasurer: Holly Fletcher

We finished out the year with our annual Holiday Potluck Dinner Tuesday, November 28th. It was quite a blowout. Twenty Master Gardeners and seven guests attended. The food was fantastic, as always, and many shopped the half-price sale for craft items while they were there.

We thanked Bob Branch for his wonderful support of our program and the extension service staff for their assistance throughout the year. Perfect Attendance was given to Martha Chiles and Libby Christie. Small tokens of appreciation were awarded along with certificates.

Martha Chiles

Recognition Awards for 100 + Hours were also given. Work Hours noted for Holly Fletcher: 113.25 and Connie Whitman: 405.

Holiday Potluck Dinner

Holly Fletcher

Recognition for 100+ Education Hours was given to Brenda Barr: 128.75, Ann Bowers: 110.5, and Wanda Howerton: 305.

Ann Bowers

Wanda Howerton

Members brought gifts to exchange and Dave, as our Santa, enjoyed giving them all away. Christmas cards were shared by Holly Fletcher, and each member went home with a card and gold nugget from Patti Roberts, homemade jam from Donna Jones, and a gift bag from Tammy & Dave Freeze. Thanks everyone!

The evening wrapped up with announcements of our 2017 State Award Nominations, and this year we have three.

(Continued Page 3)

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Serving as Master Gardener President these last three years, I want to say thank you for your continued support. The role has been good to me, and for me in many ways and gave me the distraction and therapy I needed during a most difficult and sad time.

We’ve been on this journey together and have boldly gone where we hadn’t gone before. We’ve tried new things and new ways of doing others, and I know that took courage, trust,

Presidents Notes and commitment. I’m especially proud when members across the state acknowledge our Greene County Program as one to model their own after. What better compliment could anyone have than that!

We’re ending 2017 on a high note and making plans for 2018. I wish the new board all the best in the coming year!

It’s truly been a great ride!

Connie

Final Tallies for Chris Olsen Special

Event • Registered: 21

Greene County MG’s @ 10.00 =210.00 + 43 others @ 15.00 = 645.00 = 64

• Total Attendance Day of Event: 16 GCMG + 36 = 52 (or 57)

• Total Funds from Registration: 855.00

• Less Fee (500.00) & mileage (160.00) = 660.00

• Less 77.28 (Educational Resources)

• Total Balance:

$117.72

The Special Event with Chris Olsen proved that Greene County can support a keynote speaker and that people will come from all over the state to hear a good one! This was another first time for us, and I’m very pleased with the end result and the positive feedback for Chris and his presentation. Never meant to be a fundraiser, this stand-alone event was successful in having enough registrations to cover all expenses!

Thanks to everyone who registered to attend, made refreshments, worked the day before and the day of, and simply enjoyed the time with Chris.

“WHAT the What?”

Connie

Treasurers Report FNB Beginning Balance 11/01/17-11/30/17 1613.08 Debits 11/2 Change/Craft Show 60.00 11/6 DFA/Taxes Craft Show 52.00 11/11 Whitman/Office Supplies 19.60 11/14 Glickert/Booth Rental/CS 20.00 11/17 Change/Olson Seminar 30.00 11/17 Fletcher/Office Supplies 49.02 Credits 11/6 Deposit Craft Show Change 60.00 11/6 Craft Show 576.50 11/29 Change Olson Seminar 30.00 11/29 Holiday Dinner Craft Sale 148.50 Ending Balance 2197.46 Outstanding Checks 11/14 Glickert/Booth Rental/CS 20.00 Total Funds Available 2197.46

Respectfully submitted 12/9/17 Holly Fletcher, Treasurer

Events Calendar * No December Meeting * Jan. 9: BBL, GC Library, 12-1, Speaker TBD Jan. 20 - Feb. 17: 2018 MG Training, Craighead Ext Ofc., Jonesboro Extension Service March 16: Spring Gardening Seminar, The Natural State Goes Native, Paragould Community Center, 9:30-1 pm March 12: District Dig Ins: Forrest City May 5: Spring Plant Sale, Centennial Park, 9-2 June 21-22: ATC: Growing Tomatoes with Emphasis on Heirloom Varieties, Drew Co.

The extension office will be closed Friday

December 22nd until Tuesday

January 2nd

(L-R) 2018 Officers Jean Crossno, Treasurer, Linda Glickert, Vice President, Pauletta Tobey President, Brenda Barr Secretary

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A charming story of Mozart and his pet

starling, along with a natural history of the bird.

Did you know that Mozart had a pet starling that he loved so much that he held an elaborate funeral for it when it died? Although starlings today are one of the most reviled birds in North America, outcompeting native birds and destroying some $800 million dollars’ worth of crops; in Mozart’s day, they were often sold as pets. One day as he was walking down the street, Mozart was surprised to hear a starling whistling a phrase from his brand new piano concerto. Delighted, he brought the bird home where it soon became his “companion, distraction,

Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt

consolation, and muse.” (In the words of one reviewer) Starlings, it turns out, are bright, inquisitive, playful, highly sociable and extraordinary mimics-much like Mozart himself. They are closely related to mynas and their songs, which have always sounded like random squawking, are actually bits of mimicked sounds they weave together into complex, individual compositions. Mozart’s Starling is both entertaining and inspiring, and you’ll learn a lot from it about birds, Mozart, creativity, animal intelligence, and what we all have in common with wild creatures-including those you may have once scorned as nothing more than pests! “Each moment of the year has its own beauty, a picture, which was never seen before, and which will never be seen again.” Ralph Waldo Emerson (Article, Seeing Nature with New Eyes, provided by Cora Flanery)

(Continued Dinner, Page 1)

Master Gardener of the Year Joy Gatlin

Rookie of the Year

Sue Gilmartin

Project of the Year

Rainbow Garden

Congratulations to all!

Those in attendance were: Connie Whitman, Ann Bowers, Kathy Graber, Joy Gatlin, Bonnie Hamilton, Cora Flanery, Susan Youngblood, Pauletta Tobey,

Donna and David Jones, Jean Crossno, Wanda Howerton, Linda Glickert, Patti Roberts, Hannah Williams, Sue Gilmartin, Tabitha McFadden, Ken and Holly Fletcher; Agent Dave Freeze and guests, wife Tammy, Bob Branch, Tom Graber, Garrett Youngblood, Seth Williams, Michaelena Edgar, Sylvia Edgar, and Dennis Flanery.

(L-R) Kathy Graber, Martha Chiles

Gift Table

Members & Guests

(L-R) Joy Gatlin, Cora Flanery

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Rainbow Garden: Joy Gatlin & Richard Yeazel Chairs: We have talked about putting a statuary in the center of the triangle beds in front of the Rainbow Garden in 2018. We will discuss that with Micah Brinkley and see what we can come up with.

GC Fairgrounds: Connie Whitman & Nancy Rogers Chairs: I hope to add barn quilts to the buildings, trees to the grounds, and a wildflower bed to the south end of the tractor shed.

Centennial Park: Bonnie Hamilton & Marilyn White Chairs: Snowflakes at Centennial!

GC Museum: Linda Glickert & Wanda Howerton Chairs: Thinking of adding a bird feeder at the museum and plan to continue planting around the old water trough base.

Historical Herb Garden: Libby Christie & Nancy Rogers Chairs: No report.

Bland Baseball Park: Kathy Graber & Sue Gilmartin Chairs: Finished for the season.

GC Library: Sue Gilmartin & Linda Glickert Chairs: The

Project Updates library is now ready for winter.

GC Courthouse: Nancy Rogers & Patti Roberts Chairs: Work has been done on the First Responders Memorial Bed. Urn was added and planted in pansies; boxwood moved. Plans include lowering berm and additional planting with warmer weather. See Pg. 6

Airport: Kathy Graber & Tabitha McFadden Chairs: No report.

East Sign: Pauletta Tobey & Dr. Laird Chairs: No report.

Trellis Garden: Pauletta Tobey & Dr. Laird Chairs: No report.

South Sign: Brenda Barr & Pauletta Tobey Chairs: The South Sign is currently asleep for the winter unless we have some unusually warm weather. There are no current plans other than cleaning and cutting back in Feb.

Main Street Caboose: Tacie Huffman & Jean Crossno Chairs: The train is draped in holiday greenery and lights!

2018 Spring Gardening Seminar: Linda Glickert, Lead: No report. 2018 Spring Plant Sale: Libby Christie Lead: No committee meeting until January.

Committee Comments

Sunshine: Joy Gatlin, Lead, & Cora Flanery: In 2018 Our Sunshine Committee could recognize member accomplishments and invite new members with our cards. We will try to come up with some different things to do during the year. Scrapbook: Carolyn Palmer, Lead: Need articles and pictures. Plant Markers: Martha Chiles, Lead: Need plant lists. Membership: Connie Whitman, Lead: Hoping for new trainees. Publicity: Sue Gilmartin Lead: No report. Hours Management: Patti Roberts, Lead: All hours must be posted be Dec. 15th.

Main Street Caboose

(Above) Bonnie Hamilton, & (Below L-R) Patti

Roberts, Libby Christie December 9th, GC Courthouse

The Brown Bag Lunch Program will resume on January 9th. Speaker TBD.

Think about your favorite part of gardening. What aspect or type of gardening are you really good at?

I ask because I'm hoping to tap our talents for speakers/programs. Like Cora and wildflowers and

Wanda and daylilies. I realize many would be reluctant to speak before the group, but we would be

a very appreciative audience. Linda Glickert

GC Flower Entries Booth: Coordinator Needed: Finished until 2018!

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The best time to sow the seeds of many native plants is during the cooler months (Janet Marinelli, Gardening Nov 30, 2017) ACROSS MUCH OF THE COUNTRY, most gardeners this time of year pack up their clippers, stash their trowels and resign themselves to waiting out the winter. But late fall through early spring is the best time to sow the seeds of many of the native wildflowers that support birds, bees and other wildlife. By planting these seeds, you may also promote local genetic diversity. Most garden centers selling plants today stock only cultivars of native species—plants that have been selected for characteristics such as a

This Winter Think Spring

specific flower or leaf color. To perpetuate such traits, commercial suppliers often produce their stock clonally: by rooting small cuttings of plants with the desired traits. Cloning by definition, limits plants’ genetic diversity. But if you grow your plants from seed, you can boost the genetic variation of local plant populations and therefore their capacity to adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions. Seed sowing’s multiple benefits What’s more, by growing plants from seed obtained from a known source, “you can make sure the seed is appropriate for your region and that your source is using sustainable practices,” says Mary Phillips, director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife™ program. The former is important because some commercial suppliers

sell “native” seeds that originate in a different region—or even another country—with genes that may not be ideally suited to your area. Unless they are labeled organic, the seeds of plants sold by commercial sources also may be treated with pesticides—including neonicotinoids, insecticides that have been implicated in the decline of bees and other pollinators. And growing natives from seed is much less expensive than purchasing plants. If you gather the seeds from your own plants, “you can expand your wildlife garden for free, serving more hummingbirds, butterflies and bees the following spring,” says Phillips. She adds that one should avoid obtaining seeds by removing plants or seeds from the wild. Beyond your own backyard, other good seed sources include native plant societies, garden clubs, nature centers, NWF community habitat groups, fall and winter seed swaps organized to promote genetic diversity and many public gardens. The latter often provide not only the seeds themselves but also written information or workshops on how to cultivate the seeds. Once you obtain your seeds, here are some tips to get them growing: • The easiest way to germinate native seeds is to sow them outdoors. The best time varies by species.

In New Mexico, a broad-tailed hummingbird feasts on nectar of desert penstemon, one of more than 200 penstemon species native to North America. In gardens, the plants’ seeds should be sown in fall or early winter. Sow seeds outside about as deep as the seed is wide in pots, flats or beds.

Plants such as penstemons, blazing stars and shrubby dogwoods, which need a cold period to germinate, should be sown in fall or early winter. Milkweeds and coneflowers are among plants best sown in fall or early spring. Each species also has its own germination timetable, varying from a week to a year or more. When sown in winter, some woodland wildflowers, including trilliums and Solomon’s seal, do not germinate until the second spring. • Sow seeds in flats or pots (4 inches to 10 inches in diameter and at least 3 inches deep) or carve out a 4-foot-wide by 10-foot-long germination bed. • Fill containers or bed with a weed-free, compost-based potting mix. • Sow seeds about as deep as they are wide and roughly 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch apart. Cover with a thin layer of coarse sand or sawdust to prevent seeds from splashing out in rain. Label with plant name and date. • Sow seeds of woodland wildflowers in full to part shade and those of plants that require dry, sunny conditions in full sun. • Keep the soil moist by watering when it begins to dry out. Following these simple steps this winter will provide more food for pollinators—and provide you the pleasure of watching life contained in a tiny seed unfold next spring. (www.nwf.org)

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Greene Garden News

Greene County Master Gardeners Newsletter

Greene Garden News Contributors

Holly Fletcher Libby Christie Cora Flanery

Pauletta Tobey Wanda Howerton

Greene Garden News Editor

Connie Whitman

Submit articles by the15th of each month to: cwhitman@grnco.net

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons

regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Master Gardener Online Reporting System will go offline/down for maintenance starting December 19, 2017. We expect the system to be up and running on January 15, 2018. The 2017 reporting year ends on December 15, 2017. Thanks for all you do for the Arkansas Master Gardener Program. We appreciate you all! Janet Carson Consumer Horticulture Specialist Master Gardener Coordinator

New urn added to GC First Responders Memorial,

GC Courthouse December 9th

(L-R) MG President Connie Whitman presents Loice

Kendrick-Lacy’s signed book, “Gardening to Attract

Butterflies; The Beauty and the Beast” to Diana Brummett and Mike Rogers December 13th in

appreciation for use of the library by GC Master Gardeners

throughout the year.

CLEANING YOUR OUTDOOR TOOLS: It's not too late (warm days or inside the garage) to clean your garden and hand tools. It will give them a long life and they will be ready for next spring. Wash tools in warm, soapy water with a little Clorox added. Hose rinse. Pour old or new motor oil on old towels/tee shirts and rub your tools-handles and all very generously, let set at least 1 hour in sun if possible, this lets it soak in better. Take clean towels and rub, rub, rub -- until it wipes clean. SMALL HAND TOOLS:

Fill a small bucket (I use a gallon coffee can) with sand. Add 1/2 -1 C. motor oil into sand, stir up with trowel then poke all tools up and down in sand several times. This will sharpen and clean your rose trimmers, knives, etc. I even leave mine stuck in there all winter sometimes. Put a lid on the can and do this throughout the summer when tools get sap on them. TOO BUSY NOW--- GOOD JOB FOR THE MAN OF THE HOUSE WHILE WE WOMEN ARE BUSY IN THE KITCHEN! HA MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! Wanda Howerton