Greene County Master Gardener Club Newsletter

MG Meetings second Thursday of the month @ 7pm.

Club Dues $10/year.

January 8th

Club Meeting:

Tom Heater, Vice Chairman Greene County Extension Council:

Extension Office Landscaping

February 12th

Community meeting: Jean Walker: Fairy Gardens hands on

workshop

March 12th

Annual Community speaker Laura & Cassie looking for speaker

April 9th

Club Meeting: Cassie Dozier: Floriculture Open Class County Fair ex-

hibiting

May 14th

no club meeting

May 15th

MG Club Plant Sale Setup 4-7pm

May 16th

MG Club Plant Sale 9:30-11am

May 16th

11:30-12:30pm Plant Extension beds

June 6th

Bus tour: Joan & Renee Newton bus tour

July - no meeting

August no club meeting

September 10th

Club Meeting: Dave presents “Tour My

Hostas”

October 8th

Club Meeting: visit John 15 Vineyards

November 12th

Club Meeting: Potluck & Speaker

2015Greene County Master Gardener Club Schedule

To keep the members of the Greene County Master Gardener Club updated on events and meet-

ings we are emailing a newsletter each month. If someone is not on the email list please inform

them to send it to loisrae@netins.net, or email their mailing address.

We will NOT be sending postcards. This is your notice of the meetings

Jan 2015

Volume 2, Issue 1

Meeting Information 2

Quilt show at Reimann 3

MG Newsletter 4

Upper Midwest Conf 5

Arboretum 6

Riemann Gardens 7

More Riemann Gar-dens

8

Farmers almanac pre-diction for winter

9

Inside this issue:

This newsletter

will take the

place of the Post

card reminders,

It will be emailed

Sent by Post office

only to those

without emails

November Meeting Information

Page 2 Greene County Master Gardener C lub Newslet ter Volume 2, I ssue 1

Nov 13th - Annual Family Potluck,

Cortney Schmidt, GCHS Ag Teacher, FFA Sponsor

Started the evening

with a delicious Pot Luck,

and good conversations.

Cortney Schmidt

gave a very interesting presentation of the FFA program at GCHS.

Building a new greenhouse,

and updating the fish hatchery.

Asking if the MG club would be willing

to volunteer to help the FFA youth

with their various horticulture projects

Plans are for the Youth to attend

some of our MG meetings.

Looking forward to this interaction

with the youth

January 8th

club meeting:

Tom Heater, Vice Chairman

Greene County Extension Council:

Extension Office Landscaping

Location: Extension Office -

Laura to have open

Attending: MG club members,

Cortney Schmidt, & any interested HS FFA members

Laura to confirm & promote

Page 3 Greene County Master Gardener Volume 2, I ssue 1

Greene County Master Gardeners Club Guiding Principles

The Greene County Master Gardner club is a volunteer program supported by Greene County Extension & ISU Extension offices. Club members acquire knowledge & gardening skills, & provide education & service to Greene County residents.

Mission Statement Provide current, research-based, home horticulture education to the community

while increasing personal knowledge through club participation.

Membership: Greene County resident & Completed the Master Gardener program Active: $10.00 annual dues & right to vote at club meetings Active Intern: $10.00 annual dues & right to vote at club meetings Inactive: No right to vote at club meetings

Club Meetings Held at 7pm on the second Thursday each month (except July, August & December) Robert’s Rules of Order are followed (quorum is a majority of active club members present) Fiscal year is January 1 to December 31

Committees Chairperson

Conducts club meetings Takes requests for club participation in volunteer projects In the absence of an elected officer they may appoint a temporary officer Keeps active club member record Appoints committee members

Co – Chairperson: In the absence of the Chairperson, they assume the Chairperson’s role

Secretary: Records summary of meeting proceedings & distributes to club members

Greene County Extension office Coordinator Attends to financial transactions Updates record of membership & presents to the Chairperson annually Attends to club correspondence & event publicity

Committees: selected annually & work time is considered volunteer hours Bus Tour Communications

Demonstration Garden Education & Service hours Local tour Plant Sale Public Education Public Gardens

Fund Criteria Budget planning for each fiscal period is to be completed prior to its start Club expenditures conform to the Mission Statement

Club reviews guiding principles every January

Revisions require written submission,

read to the club & require quorum approval

Revised Sept 2014

Page 4 Greene County Master Gardener Volume 2, I ssue 1

Congratulations to our Super Sleuths from November. We received many correct

responses within a few hours of sending out the newsletter. Included in the group

of correct respondents are Jeanne Myers; Jack Robertson, Poweshiek County,

Nancy Dahl, Black Hawk County; Kitty Clasing, Cerro Gordo County; Janet Lange,

Scott County; Laura Hahn, Johnson County; Eldon Everhart, Cass County; and

Linda Schreiber, Johnson County. All of them identified the pictured plant as Eruca

vesicaria sativa, commonly known as arugula, rocket, or rockette. Currently

trendy among hipsters, leaves of this mildly pungent plant add a bit of zing to sal-

ads. As a cool-season annual vegetable, it grows best during spring or fall, and

once established, is quite frost tolerant.

Denny Schrock, State Master Gardener Coordinator

Congratulations Jeanne Myers

Master Gardener Survey Plans

Why did you become a Master Gardener? What projects are you involved with as a vol-

unteer? Over the next couple of months, Master Gardeners will have the chance to share their thoughts about their volunteer experiences. ISU graduate student Bryn

Tackle will be conducting a research survey to learn from Master Gardeners about what it takes to be successful & what you find rewarding about the Master Gardener

program. statewide survey planned for early 2015. Watch for it!

Raising Our Standards

Iowa has great Master Gardener volunteers. The state Master Gardener Advisory Committee is look-

ing at implementing more of the recently established national Extension Master Gardener standards

in Iowa. One change that has already been put into place for 2015 is an increase in the number of

volunteer service and continuing education hours required to maintain active status.

Complete at least 40 hours of volunteer service to become a full-fledged Master Gardener.

In 2015 the requirement for MG will be - 10 educational and 20 volunteer

The Master Gardener Advisory Committee will be voting in April on adding two additional national

standards: an annual volunteer agreement form and an assessment of learning that takes place dur-

ing the Master Gardener core course training.

The annual volunteer agreement is a document that volunteers sign to abide by ISU Extension & Out-

reach policies and Master Gardener program guidelines. The volunteer assessment would likely be an

open book pre- and post-training measure of knowing where to find the right answers to typical home

gardening questions posed by the gardening public. Be sure to contact the Advisory Committee if you

have comments on these two additional standards.

International Master Gardener Conference.

September 22-25, 2015 Iowa and Nebraska

will co-host the

International Master Gardener Conference.

Iowa is proud to be co-hosting the 2015 International Master Gardener Conference September 22-25,

2015 in Council Bluffs, IA.

Registration will be open by March 1, 2015. As a participant in the conference, you will have the

opportunity to hear from three great keynote speakers and choose from more than 70 breakout session

topics. We think that once you see the program line up, you'll want to attend the entire conference, but

single day registrations will also be available.

Watch for updates on the conference website, and sign up to "Like" the conference on Facebook.

Page 5 Greene County Master Gardener Volume 2, I ssue 1

Join local Master Gardeners at a location near you for the upcoming winter webinar se-ries. Supporting Local Food Systems will provide a total of 6 hours of education on best practices for Master Gardeners to engage in lo-cal foods projects. Learn more here: http://www.mastergardener.iastate.edu/training.html

The state Master Gardener Advisory Com-

mittee is now accepting submissions for the

Iowa Master Gardener Search for Excellence

Awards. We are looking for impactful com-

munity projects from youth gardens and

public workshops, to horticultural therapy

and applied research for home gardeners.

1875 Peach Avenue, Madrid, IA 50156

515.795.3216 www.iowaarboretum.org

Page 6 Greene County Master Gardener Volume 2, I ssue 1

Historic Homes and Gardens of the Scottish Highlands May 22-31 2015

Be inspired by the world’s most beautiful gardens!

• Tour 10 public and private gardens in the magnificent Highlands of Scotland

• Ride behind a steam locomotive over the famed West Highlands Railway

• See Inveraray Castle & Gardens, ancestral home of Clan Campbell

• Visit a historic distillery to see single malt whiskey being made

For more information visit iowaarboretum.org

What: Jardin a la Francaise When: Saturday, Jan. 10, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Who: Suzette Jensen

Price: $5 members; $10 nonmembers for all Botanical Garden events

What: Australia: Land of Ahhhs When: Saturday, Jan. 10, 11:00 a.m.

Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Who: Deb Wiley

What: Safari to the Cape Floral Kingdom, South Africa When: Sat, Jan. 10, 11:30 a.m.

Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Who: Margo Hutcheson

What: Pedal to Petals, Netherlands from a Barge When: Saturday, Jan. 10, noon

Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Who: Carl Varley

What: Crazy for Containers When: Saturday, Jan. 17, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Who: Marcia Leeper

What: An Introduction to Permaculture When: Saturday, Jan. 17, 11:30 a.m.

Where: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Who: Melissa Sharapiro

What: Iowa Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show When: January 20-22, 2015

Where: Prairie Meadows Events Center, Altoona, Ia Who: Iowa Turfgrass Office 515 635-0306

Price: varies, see website, www.iowaturfgrass.org

What: Regional Food System Working Group: Winter Gathering Wed. Jan 21, 9AM-3PM

Where: Kildee Hall, Ames Who: Iowa State University Extension

Price: contact Lynn Heuss, leheuss@iastate.edu

What: Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Conference January 29-30, 2015

Where: DMACC campus, Ankeny, Ia Who: www.ifvga.org Price: $75/day; $90 after Jan. 22

What: Iowa MarketReady When: January 31, 8AM-5PM Where: Iowa City

State Wide Upcoming Events for Master Gardeners

Reimann Gardens Programs. Check the web site for more information about these events

reimangardens@iastate.edu

Page 7 Greene County Master Gardener Volume 2, I ssue 1

2015 —Reiman Gardens —20th Anniversary.

All year, the Gardens will celebrate the amazing achievements of the past and look forward to new goals. You'll enjoy a year featuring festive displays, punch, parties, cool tree houses, and more. Learn about Reiman Gardens' past, and be inspired by what the future will bring

An Orchid Extravaganza

Appreciate this unique group of plants with hundreds of color-

ful blossoms that will surely brighten any winter blues. Also

learn how these flowering plants interact with insects in their

native environments, and gain a new admiration for these

amazing, diverse and beautiful blooms.

January 11

Through

April 25

Treat Yourself to a Show at Stephens Auditorium & Save $5.00

We're delighted to announce a very special offer for Reiman Gardens' visitors and members. Save $5 on any of these great upcoming shows at Stephens. Just complete this form and bring it into Stephens Ticket Office, open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Danu, A Christmas Gathering, December 16

Sister Act, December 18

Anything Goes, January 22

The Great Gatsby, February 12

The Australian Bee Gees, February 20

State Symphony of Mexico, March 3

Stomp, March 4 & 5

The Chieftains, March 13

Mummenschanz, March 28

Million Dollar Quartet, April 12

Whether you're exploring Reiman Gardens or settling into your seat at Stephens Auditorium, there's always something great waiting in the wings.

You can mail, fax, or bring the order form in person to the Ticket Office. The Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and open 1 ½ hours prior to a show on week-ends. Instructions are on the order form.

More Reimann Gardens Programs

A Trip to a Cloud Forest, Bands and Beer, Aquaponics, & More Visit Fabulous Costa Rica in February What an incredible trip! Treat yourself to a nine-day trip to the lush tropical beauty of Costa Rica on this Reiman Gardens sponsored trip. This nature-focused journey includes a visit to the Monte-verde cloud forest, the Caño Negro Refuge, Arenal Volcano, and a cruise on stunning Lake Arenal.

Star Light and Star Bright Holiday Display

November 19—January 11 Stars and other celestial bodies have always been an important part of the holi-day season. Their light is reminiscent of the glow that is central to the holiday traditions many of us celebrate - from guiding stars to Hanukkah's eight days of light to the twinkling strands that cover our homes! Visit the Gardens during the holidays with friends and family to be enchanted by the displays in the Hughes Conservatory and Exhibit Hallway, inspired by the stars and comets that radiate in the wintry night sky.

Nathan's Note

Even with our recent snap of cold weather, there are some Iowa butterflies that stay around through the winter. These include the morning cloak (Nymphalis an-tiopa), question mark (Polygonia interrogationis) and the comma (Polygonia c-album). The metabolisms of these hardy souls slow down and they hide in sheltered areas, such as under loose tree bark and in brush piles. On mild, sunny winter days, they venture out to find sweet tree sap that melts in warmer weather or other nourishment. Look for them sunning them-selves on rocks or clinging upside down in the sun on the side of a tree.

Photo caption: Polygonia interrogationis

Plant Particulars: Bringing Plants Indoors for Winter With cold temperatures finally arriving, all of those tropical plants and houseplants on summer "vacation" on the deck are back inside. Below are a few tips to overwinter those tropical plants indoors with success.

* Watch for insects. Almost any plant coming in from the outside will have insects whose populations will explode in the warm home. Treat before bringing them indoors with an insecticidal soap and isolate from other plants for several weeks.

* Don't fertilize. Lower light levels and shorter days means plants are not actively growing, so no need to fertilize or promote growth.

* Reduce watering. Check the soil before each watering. Lower light levels indoors usually mean there is less need to water.

* Find a bright location. After spending a summer outside, most plants will have become acclimatized to higher light levels. To prevent shock and leaf drop, find a bright indoor location, even if that is under artificial light.

* Pitch the garden soil. If digging a plant out of the garden to bring in, remove as much soil from the roots as possible. Then plant in potting soil. Since much of the root system was compromised, it's beneficial to reduce the top growth as well. Cut back foliage by half.

* Consider cuttings. Many houseplants can be kept going more easily and with less space with cuttings.

- Prepared by Aaron Steil, Manager of Public Programs

Iowa's Largest Gardening Fair Set for February 21 ISU Extension and Outreach's Linn County Master Gardeners will hold their annual Winter Gardening Fair on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Winter Gardening Fair is the largest event of its kind in Iowa, a day-long event which will include a choice of 3 keynote presentations and more than 50 different workshops, all designed to inform and entertain the home gardener who wants to learn tips, techniques, and problem-solving for any landscape. There is something for everyone, from beginning gardeners to seasoned veterans. The large variety of topics range from trees and shrubs, sustainable lawn care, bees, square foot and organic vegetable gardening to garden art, photography, food preservation, butterfly gardening and so much more. Tuition is $59 for all day and includes a boxed lunch. An additional materials fee applies to the hands-on classes. View a complete list of classes and register online. Class sizes are limited. Register early for best selection. Registration opens Jan. 5th!

Farewell Note from Director, Teresa McLaughlin

Dear Members, Colleagues and Friends,

After more than 15 years at Reiman Gardens, I am excited to be making a job change and so apprecia-tive for all the people that have helped make Reiman Gardens what it is today.

Starting January 20th, I will become the full-time director of the Nature Connects LEGO® sculpture traveling exhibits. Right now there are two Nature Connects exhibits, and soon two new exhibits will be unveiled. In the two and one-half years since we premiered Nature Connects at Reiman Gardens, we hold signed leases worth $2.55 million dollars from gardens and zoos all over the USA and Canada, making Na-ture Connects an international success.

In my new role, I will still be working for ISU, although I will have an office in a different part of campus. That will allow our new director to lead Reiman Gardens with the full confidence of everyone who participates in our many endeavors.

We are coming upon some very dynamic moments for Reiman Gardens; the new strategic plan adopted in 2014 is refining and creating dynamic programming and plans, our master plan debuts in spring 2015, and our 20 year anniversary will be celebrated throughout the upcoming year.

It takes a lot of hands to build and keep this garden so exquisite, and I have many people to thank. Of course my sincere gratitude to Roy and Bobbi Reiman and their children and families. To the many administrators who assisted Reiman Gardens during my tenure: the current President Steven Leath and particular apprecia-tion to Murray Blackwelder who hired me, Wendy Wintersteen who continually provides great insight and ad-vice, and Warren Madden who is hands down the best boss I've ever had in my career.

I also thank the many people from so many departments at Iowa State, from the Ames and central Iowa area in the tourism and economic development industry, the staff, the students, our many donors, members, and vol-unteers - all who make Reiman Gardens one incredible experience.

Sincerely, Teresa McLaughlin

Greene County Master Gardeners

Edward Lyon has been named director of Reiman Gardens.

. He will begin his new post on Jan. 20, 2015.

Lyon's responsibilities will include:

- Providing leadership in operation and continued development of the Gardens' 17-acre site

- Representing the premier university botanical garden both internally and exter-nally

- Playing a significant role in the planning and implementation of the Green Space project underway in connection with the stadium expansion

"I am pleased that Ed has accepted this position at Iowa State," said senior vice president for business and finance Warren Madden. "His background and experience will be an asset to the university as we continue to develop educational programs, attract visitors to central Iowa, support university-related research and outreach, and attract volunteers and financial support of the Gardens' continued growth and development."

Lyon, who has more than 20 years experience in the industry, currently serves as director of Allen Centennial Gardens, Madison, Wisconsin. He earned a bachelor's degree from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, and a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Early in Dec I sent out a email from Bill Doubler about his leaving Madison Wis, LRB