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Master Gardener News

March 2017

2017 Officers:

Carol Ziehmke, President

Jean Damm, V.P.

Kelly Tomko, Secretary

Jane Considine, Treasurer

Lori Nadolski, Reporter

In This Newsletter

CCMGV 2017 Activities 2 President’s Message 2 Ridges Sanctuary 3-4 Meeting Minutes 5 LGGG Volunteer Opportunities 7

Think

Date Event

March No Meeting Apr 1 LGGG—Rio High School Apr 25 MGV Meeting—6:30pm—Arlington ARS Program: Scott Chapman, “Weather Related Plant Diseases”

Page 2

What a turbulent winter and spring we are having: warm weather, fog, ice, snow, hail, wind and beauty. I guess, if we want variety this is the year for it.

It is the time of year to think about our lawns and gardens. Are there trees and shrubs that should be trimmed? Is there a flower garden that could use some rearranging? Now is the time to get those gardening books out, borrow material from the library, go through gardening magazines, watch those gardening TV shows and search the Internet for ideas. Is there an area that could use more color, or more all season interest? It is time to get those mail orders done. Trees, shrubs and flowering plants that are rare can be purchased from catalogues. The companies will then mail them to you when it is the appropriate time for planting. But of course there is nothing better than our local garden centers for inspiration and ease!

“Lets Get Green and Growing” (LGGG) is coming up April 1. There is still time to sign up if you would like to do some volunteer time. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn new information and to spend time with fellow gardeners.

Thank you to Jeff and Jane Bauer for their program on “Plant Variety Protection Act”. It was interesting to hear about the time, labor and research that goes into developing plants and how our local growers buy and grow their flowers. Also thank you to Jane Considine for the M&M Cookies and Lori Nadolski for the White Chocolate and Cherry Cupcakes. There were delicious and a perfect treat for Fat Tuesday.

We will not be having a monthly meeting in March because of the LGGG event.

Sincerely,

Carol

Page 3

When I was a pre-teen I visited Ridges Sanctuary in Bai-ley’s Harbor (Door County) with my family. It was a very simple property at that time: no visitor center, no four-color brochures, just a simple trail map. But it was one of those quiet, unspoiled places that my mom loved to visit, so my dad and us five kids traipsed along, probably wondering why we were not at the nearby Lake Michigan beach instead. It wasn’t until early Feb-ruary 2017 that I returned to The Ridges, and now I’m like my mom, relishing time spent in quiet, unspoiled places. The Sanctuary has grown from 40 acres to 1,600 acres in the last 75 years, and was Wisconsin’s first land trust. In 2015 the Ridges opened the doors to the Cook-Albert Fuller Center which now provides interpretive media and programs, exhibits and the Nature Store whose sales sup-port the operation of the Ridges, a 501(c)(3) organiza-tion. Albert Fuller was a botanist at Milwaukee Public Museum who frequently visited the Bailey’s Harbor area to study the rare flora. He learned that the land was soon to be developed as a trailer park, and he mar-shalled the support of other ardent conservationists who formed The Ridges Sanctuary in 1937, so named for the 30+ ancient sand dune ridges separated by swales of water. The guided snowshoe hike that I was look-ing forward to on February 4th became, of necessity, a snow walk, due to recent warm temperatures that caused deteriora-tion of snowshoe trails. Nevertheless, there were about 12 of us who hiked the sand dune ridges, and learned much about the unique attributes of the property. One of the signature highlights of the Ridges efforts is

the orchid restoration project. Albert Fuller, surveyed the orchid population in 1935, and determined that there were 26 species. (There are 49 native orchid species in Wisconsin.) Staff surveyed the property in 2013 and located 15 of the 26 species. The restoration process began with hand pollination of seed col-

lection for orchids that would be grown to seedlings, offsite. Hand pollination, seed collection, continued

By Jane Considine

RIDGES SANCTUARY

Page 4

survey and inventory were done in 2014, and the next year 1,400 Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper seedlings were re-turned to the Ridges to be planted in 11 test plots. Project participants were thrilled to discover a 45.7% survival rate, and in the fall of 2016 the project came to the attention of the Smithsonian and some universi-ties who offered to help with technical analysis. Stu-dents from UW-Green Bay collected soil and fungi sam-ples, and high school students and volunteers learned about lab procedures for propagating orchids. Research students partnered with Chicago Botanic Garden to study survivability rates, and all participants were once again amazed to learn that the Ram’s Head orchids plant-ed in May 2016 and monitored in July had a 54.3% surviv-al rate. Work continues, with the ultimate goal of de-signing a native orchid recovery plan for The Ridges and the Door Peninsula. During the course of the morning hike, the guide explained that boreal for-ests are usually found further north --- northern U.S., Canada, northern Eu-rope. But with Bailey’s Harbor facing almost directly south, winds cooled by the lake create ideal conditions for this boreal forest that includes 11 conifer trees. Will there be a boreal forest in Wisconsin as the climate changes? Is the warming climate responsible for possible southern flying squirrel incursion into northern flying squired territory, and will habits of the southern interloper change the chemistry of the forest floor that supports the fungi necessary for orchids to prosper? Monitoring the Flying squirrel population at the Ridges is an ongo-ing project.

Will the Ridges Sanctuary, and other land trusts and preserved areas, be able to continue to acquire parcels of land that will serve as a buffer from other developed areas that may contaminate?

One thing is certain: Ridges Sanctuary is NOW a peaceful place to visit, a treasure that nearly slipped away 75 years ago.

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Columbia County Master Gardner Volunteers

Meeting Minutes—February 28 2017

Carol called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM at the Annex Building in Portage, WI. The group reviewed agenda as it was projected on a screen and given the opportunity to add additional items.

Secretary’s Report: No additions or corrections to the January meeting minutes as they were printed in the February MGV Newsletter.

Treasurer’s Report: Jane Considine reported a balance of $6727.19. Jean Damm reported on the successful audit performed by previously established team.

Introductions were made around the room, each person commenting on the recent “weather”.

Old Business: LGGG update (Ardyce/Becky): Everything is coming together well, with over 100 participants already signed up. The LGGG planning group is meeting at Rio High School on Thursday to review logistics and other needs. Still in need of volunteers for the event so signup sheets were passed around.

Calendar of Events: Plant Sale: (Leah & Carol) Discussion if the sale is benefiting the community and/or CCMG’s, justifying the effort going into it, there seems to be a lack of opportunity to educate. It was moved and seconded to discontinue the plant sale for this year and discuss it again in the future. We will consider a new location and adding educational pieces. The motion passed.

June field trip: Discussion was held on coordinating with the Pardeeville Garden Club or finding a differ-ent location for the trip. One of the important needs is to schedule the bus SOON. The field trip com-mittee will work with the Pardeeville Garden Club to work out the details and communicate the details at a later time.

New Business: Purchase LCD projector – Grant from WIMGA; George presented options he researched. It was moved and seconded to purchase the EX3240 LCD projector for $398.00. After discussion, the motion passed. It was moved and seconded to approve the By-Laws changes that were suggested and reported in the Feb-ruary MGV Newsletter. Lori highlighted the edits for review. Motion passed.

It was moved and seconded to appoint Becky as our local representative to WIMGA. After discussion and explanations, motion passed.

Executive board meeting-survey monkey: Discussion resulted in holding off on the survey until later in the year, perhaps around fee collection time after the seasonal events which may facilitate more useful feed-back and ideas.

Food Security Project: George reported in Sue’s absence. Discussion on how to possibly incorporate the raised beds at the library into a one day a week educational / tasting garden opportunity. The lunch program will run from June – August 2017. Becky Gutzman will partner with Sue Bradley to outline the details before asking for volunteers to help with that.

VFW requested CCMG supply a little something for their 100 welcome bags, needed by 3/23. It was moved and seconded to purchase 100 seed packets for the Portage VFW. Leah Stark and Kelly Tomko will purchase and assemble seed packets with CCMGV literature for them. The motion passed.

George reported that there will be a Portage Community Garden Meeting on April 6, at 6:00 PM at the Annex Building to discuss the upcoming season.

March we will have no meeting due to the timing of LGGG. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 PM. Program after the meeting: We enjoyed muffin, cookie and candy snacks while Jeff and Jane Breuer did a fabulous presentation on “Plant Variety Protection Act”. The presentation was very enjoyable and informa-tive! Thank you to all who attended and shared.

Respectfully submitted, Kelly Tomko, Secretary

Page 6

Friday Night Set Up

1. Becky Gutzman

2. Lori Nadolski

3. Kelly Tomko

4. Ardyce Piehl

5. Rita Socha

6. Terry Socha

7. Marcy Read

8. Jane Considine

9. Leah Stark

10. Kate Rietmann

Vendor Set Up – Assist with carrying items 1. Jean Damm

2. Phyllis Peterson

3. Sue Bradley

4. Marcy Read

5. Mary Jo Wentz

6.

Registration Table

1. Kate Rietmann

2. Linda Haddix

3. Annette Monthey

4. Marcy Read

5. Lila Waldman

6. Jane Considine

Speaker Greeter – Show them to their room

1. Len Betley

2. Kelly Tomko

3.

4.

5.

6.

Door Prize Table

1. Sherryl Stolte

2. Rita Socha

Holding Room

Session 1: Jane Considine

Session 2:

Lunch:

Session 3:

Master Gardener Sales/Book Swap Table

Opening (9:00 am): Bill Damm

After Keynote: Rita Socha

Lunch:

Between Session 2 and 3:

End/Clean up: Donna McElroy

Photographer (Throughout the Day)

1. Donna McElroy

2. Carol Ziemke

“Let’s Get Green & Growing” Volunteer Opportunities - 2017

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Speaker Hosts – Introduce speakers, troubleshoot prob-lems, complete/turn in Session Info Sheet

Session 1

A (Back Protection) Sue Bradley

B (Poultry) Annette Monthey

C (Invasive Plants) Larry Socha

D (Hoop Houses) Len Betley

E (Attracting Wildlife) Lori Richter

F (Weed Tolerance) Donna McElroy

G (Bee Houses) John Waldman

H (Tree Shopper) Mary Jo Wentz

I (Gardening 101)

Session 2

J (Free Plants) Donna McElroy

K (Microgreens) Lori Richter

L (Woody Plants) John Waldman

M (Lawn Maintenance)

N (What’s New) Jean Damm

O (Container Gardening)

P (Changing Climate) Sue Bradley

Q. (Plants and Memory)

R (Sassy Succulents) Robin Abbott

Session 3

S (Plant Forecast)

T (Growing Organically)

U (Birdhouses) Terry Socha

V (GMOs) Annette Monthey

W (Straw Bale Gardening)

X (Food Preservation)

Y (Edible Ornamentals) Lila Waldman

Z (Garlic) Donna McElroy

AA (Sassy Succulents) Lori Richter

Watch Vendor Tables – Super-vise table for vendors who are presenting

Session 2

Bill Link – Link’s Greenhouse and Farm Lori Nadolski

Session 3

Jennifer Blau – Copper Penny Garlic Farm

Clean Up

1. Lori Nadolski

2. Kate Rietmann

3. Mary Jo Wentz

4. Ardyce Piehl

5. Marcy Read

6. Leah Stark

7. Ann Bisping

8. Becky Gutzman

9.

10.

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